Heron had grown. His black hair fell past his ears now, and when he turned to say something to Agnus, Haran caught a glimpse of his profile. He looked like Loretta. He already had her eyes and jawline, but now he also had her wavy hair.
Martina touched Haran's arm gently. "Please come inside."
He followed her inside, setting the water bucket down near the hearth. Agnus looked up, and his weathered face broke into a genuine grin.
"Haran! I told Martina you'd stop by. Malcolm's meetings never take as long as he thinks they will." He gestured with his cane toward a chair. "Come and sit. Been wondering how things have been with you since the incident."
Heron stood silent, a bowl in his hands, with his dark eyes fixed on Haran.
"Heron," Agnus said gently. "You remember Haran."
"Yes." The boy set the bowl down carefully. His voice was level, neither warm nor cold. "Thank you for coming to help us when we needed it."
"Of course I would come," Haran said.
Heron studied him for a long moment, as if weighing something. Then he picked up another bowl. "Mama made stew. Please have some too."
It was an invitation, and that was more than Haran had expected.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
They ate as evening deepened outside. The conversation was careful at first. There was talk about the weather, the fields, and minor repairs needed around the village. But gradually it loosened. Agnus complained about his inability to help out. Martina asked about Haran's assignment and if there were any other villages in his circuit. And Heron, after long silence, began asking questions.
"Is Jamtara very different from here?" the boy asked, pushing pieces of potato around his bowl.
"Very," Haran said. "Larger. More people. Buildings made of brick and stone instead of wood."
"And they all use crystal technology?"
"Most of it. For lighting, heating, sewage, and machinery." Haran replied.
"And there is peace in the city, even with all that technology?"
It's a weird question. Haran thought that after the serpent incident, Heron probably overheard the other villagers gossiping about Adel.
"No, no one is afraid of the crystal technology. Everyone understands that there can be risks, but also no technology is released to the public without rigorous testing and approval from the church."
"I overheard others talking about it being evil."
"Heron—" Agnus was going to say something, but he got interrupted by Haran.
"Heron, crystal technology will frighten those who have never used it. Anyone who hasn't seen it firsthand will be afraid when they see an aura around the person who is interacting with the crystals. That is why there were many efforts made by citizens to have villagers at least grasp some understanding, with the hope one day it would be accepted throughout the federation."
"But Grampa Adel said it was dangerous," Heron said, his voice quieter now. "He told me stories about his father, who used crystals and lost himself."
The room went still. Agnus's hand tightened on his cane, and Martina paused at the hearth.
Haran chose his words carefully. "Adel wasn't wrong. Crystal use is dangerous, especially soul crystals or even the pure ones. However, there's a notable difference between the tainted crystals used in our cities' tools and what Adel witnessed."
"But his father died," Heron said.
"He did because he didn't understand what he was handling. Because there was no one to teach him the proper protocols." Haran met the boy's gaze directly. "That's why the cities have laws, testing, and the church's oversight. It's not perfect, but it's meant to prevent tragedies like what happened to Adel's family."
"And what about you?" Heron's voice was steady, but there was something sharp beneath it. "You have crystals in your body. Are you safe?"
Agnus shifted uncomfortably. "Heron, I think you asked enough."
"No, it's all right," Haran said. He set down his spoon, giving the question the weight it deserved. "The honest answer? I don't know. I try to be. I follow every protocol I know. But Adel was right to send me away when he did. I wasn't in control then."
"And now?"
"I am cured of the main illness." Haran's jaw tightened slightly. "But to get better, I had to pay. That is why I couldn't stay, Heron. Why I still can't. But one day will come and I'll be freed from my service."
Heron absorbed this in silence, his expression unreadable. Then he returned to his stew, the conversation apparently finished for now.
But later, as Haran prepared to leave, the boy walked him to the door.
"Thank you," Heron said quietly. "For not lying to me. About the crystals. About why you left."
"You deserve the truth," Haran replied.
"Will you be around more now? Papa said you will visit us more often."
"Yes," Haran said. "If you want me to."
Heron nodded slowly. "I do. Papa could use the help. And I..." He trailed off, then finished, "I'd like to learn more. About where I came from. About you."
As Haran walked back toward the village gate, he found something had shifted in his chest. Not absolution, as he didn't deserve that. But the first step toward something that might, one day, resemble peace.