Hei was dragged out of sleep by the sound of raised voices.
Great. Bandits again?
He blinked against the harsh sunlight filtering through the leaves, squinting until the world stopped spinning. A shadow stood over him — a guard, spear leveled at his chest.
From behind the man came a furious, ragged voice.
"Have you lost your mind, girl? You're lucky we found you before that cockroach could do you harm!"
Cockroach? Hei thought, groaning inwardly. I've been called worse, but that one's new.
"He didn't do me any harm, father!" Amada's voice cut sharp through the air. "Leave him out of this!"
So the scholar finally found her, Hei realized. It would've been stranger if a rich man hadn't sent half his household searching for his runaway daughter.
The guard shifted uneasily. "He's awake, my lord."
Then Hei saw him — the scholar himself. His presence was loud even in silence: robes white as bone, threads of gold shimmering in the sun, and jewels bright enough to hurt Hei's eyes.
"Morning, lowborn peasant," the man said flatly, flicking his fingers in command.
The guard shoved Hei to the dirt, grinding his cheek into the earth.
Welp, there goes the last of my clean clothes.
"Did you poison my daughter's mind?" the scholar demanded, voice dripping venom.
"STOP IT ALREADY, FATHER!"
Amada's scream cut like glass, freezing the moment. The scholar's head snapped toward her, jaw tightening.
"Young lady," he said, voice dropping cold and heavy, "you will return with me once this farce is finished."
"I don´t want to." She replied firmly like an unwavering tree in a storm.
"You don't understand, child. That boy has nothing. No land, no name, no future. With me, you have everything. Wealth, safety, purpose."
"I do not wish to continiue a legacy which isn´t mine."
The scholars cold expression cracked. "Why won´t you just live a good life? Must you throw away everything I bled for?"
Hei tried to supress a chuckle. ´The good life huh?´
The scholar turned sharply, eyes narrowing on him. "What´s so funny?"
"..."
"Don´t hold me for a fool child. What can you even offer her? You can't even feed yourself."
Hei remained silent.
"You're a rat," the scholar continued, voice sharpening. "You've achieved nothing. What makes you think a rat like you can change his fate?"
A soft wind rustled the leaves. Hei looked down at the dirt.
´He is right.´ The truth stung sharper than a sword.
Suddenly the scholar formed a wicked smile. "Since my daughter refused my legacy I´m offering it to you. Everthing you want. Money, fame, wives. Perhaps then you can achieve something meaningful."
The words hung in the air — tempting, glittering.
Everything he'd been told to chase.
Perhaps he would finally be praised — called successful.
And yet, his heart remained still. The promise felt hollow.
Was he willing to betray someone who opend up to him?
He looked up, meeting the scholar's gaze.
"Tell me… what do you even call achievement?"
"Achievement?" The scholar scoffed. "It's wealth. Fame. Kindness. What else?"
"Maybe," Hei murmured. "But that's what you were taught to value. What are the things you are proud of? Was it praise? Riches?"
The scholar remained silent. After a long pause, the guard stepped back, releasing him.
"I see."
The scholar said nothing more. He glanced to Amada, his hand twitched as if to reach for her, then stilled. A moment later, he turned and walked away.
The guard handed the dazed Amada a letter before following after the scholar.
´That's it?´ Hei thought. ´He didn't even try to fight my words?´
"I really thought he would drag me home." Hei heard Amada mumble under her breath as she opened the letter.
When she did a small tear went down her face. There was only one sentence written inside.
"Go. Live the life I didn´t."
She smiled faintly, wiping her eyes. The paper trembled in her hand, and the forest around them fell silent — as if even it understood the weight of goodbye.
***
Soon after, the two prepared to leave.
Hei paused, the letter still in his hand.
For a moment, he hesitated — then unfolded it and read the words once more.
"Shall we go?" Amada's voice broke the silence, her smile brighter than the morning sun.
Hei looked at her, then closed his eyes. The letter crumpled softly in his fist before he let it fall to the wind.
Without another word, he followed her — toward an unknown future.
Without fame. Without money. Without praise.
And yet… this was the life he had chosen.
As their figures faded into the horizon, the fallen letter fluttered open upon the road.
Its words glimmered faintly in the sunlight:
"Life gives you a pair of feet — where you go is your choice.
It gives you hands — what you hold or let go of is yours to decide.
It gives you a heart — who you love is for you alone to choose.
Whether you laugh or cry in the future depends on the choices you make.
So choose the ones you can look back on… with a smile."