Ashe stood at his humble hut, his heart a tumult of emotions. He had been there waiting for Stank. The promise of his past weighed heavily on him, as if the very trees whispered his name, reminding him of the bond he once shared with Kyde, the druid. "Will he come today?" Ashe wondered aloud, his voice barely more than a whisper in the vastness of the forest.
Ashe knelt by the stream, staring at his reflection. The face that looked back at him was older, wearier, but still hopeful. Memories flooded his mind—days spent learning the secrets of the forest from Kyde, laughter shared under the stars, and the unspoken promise of a reunion.
"I miss those times," he murmured, tracing a finger through the water, watching as ripples distorted his image.
Ashe turned at the sound, his heart skipping a beat. For a moment, he imagined that it was Kyde, stepping out from the shadows. But as the deer vanished, so did his fleeting hope.
"Maybe it's a sign," he thought, trying to find meaning in the encounter, searching for reassurance in the quiet of the grove.
As the hours passed, Ashe felt a shift within himself. The anticipation that had been his constant companion began to ease, replaced by a calm acceptance. The forest seemed to embrace him, offering solace where none had been before.
"Perhaps," he mused, "it's time to let go, to cherish the memories and move forward."
With a deep breath, Ashe made his decision. He stood, feeling lighter, as if the grove itself had granted him permission to release the past. As he turned to leave, the gentle rustle of leaves seemed to whisper a farewell, a promise of peace. "Until we meet again, Stank," he said softly, a smile touching his lips as he walked away, the forest behind him a tapestry of memories and possibilities.
Ashe turns to the torch grabs it as he bows to the hut. He burns it not let the Lapas Gild know the truth of his bond. Each step carrying him further from the hut and closer to a new beginning. The future awaited, full of unknowns, but for the first time, he felt ready to embrace it. "This is not the end will find you in time," he thought, feeling the weight of the past lifting as he ventured into the unknown, the forest behind him a silent guardian of all that had been.
