Morning arrived with the sound of rain.
Not a heavy downpour.
Just a gentle drizzle that covered the mountain in a thin silver veil.
The roof of the cabin echoed softly as droplets pattered against the old wooden shingles.
Kael slowly opened his eyes.
"...Rain."
He smiled.
Rainy days meant one thing.
Grandpa Elias always made soup.
Sure enough, by the time he stepped into the main room, a large clay pot was already simmering over the fire.
The rich aroma of mushrooms, herbs, and mountain chicken filled the cabin.
Grandpa Elias glanced over his shoulder.
"I was wondering when you'd wake up."
Kael sniffed the air.
"...You used wild ginger."
"I did."
"And cloud mushrooms."
"I did."
"There are also..."
Kael leaned closer to the pot.
"...three different herbs."
Grandpa Elias laughed.
"Looks like your nose is getting sharper."
"I was following the smell."
"That's usually how noses work."
Kael blinked.
"...That's true."
The old man shook his head with a smile.
"You make it too easy."
---
Breakfast passed with the comfortable ease of routine.
Outside, the rain continued to fall.
Grandpa Elias looked through the open doorway before nodding to himself.
"No hunting today."
"The animals will stay hidden."
Kael nodded.
"So we'll repair the eastern fence?"
"No."
"The roof?"
"No."
Kael thought for a moment.
"...Then what are we doing?"
The old man's eyes sparkled.
"We're cleaning."
Kael's shoulders slumped.
"...I'd rather repair the roof."
"I know."
"That's exactly why we're cleaning."
---
For the next several hours, the cabin became unusually lively.
Grandpa Elias swept the floor while humming an old melody.
Kael dusted shelves that hadn't been touched in months.
He carefully arranged clay jars filled with dried herbs.
As he reached for one of the highest shelves, he noticed something tucked behind several old books.
A faded wooden carving.
It depicted a hawk spreading its wings.
He picked it up.
"Grandpa?"
"Hm?"
"Did you make this?"
Grandpa Elias looked over.
His smile softened.
"...A long time ago."
"It's beautiful."
The old man chuckled.
"I thought so too."
"But your carving was much better."
Kael looked confused.
"I've never carved anything."
Grandpa Elias walked over and gently tapped Kael's forehead.
"When you were six."
"You insisted on making me a birthday present."
Kael frowned as he searched his memory.
"I don't remember."
"You carved a bird."
"It looked more like an angry potato."
Kael couldn't help laughing.
"I really did that?"
"You were very proud of it."
"Do we still have it?"
Grandpa Elias walked to a nearby cabinet and opened the bottom drawer.
From inside, he carefully pulled out a tiny wooden figure.
It leaned slightly to one side.
Its wings were uneven.
Its beak was far too large.
Kael stared at it.
"...It does look like a potato."
The old man burst into laughter.
"It certainly does."
"But it was made by someone important to me."
He carefully placed it back into the drawer.
"So I kept it."
Kael smiled quietly.
---
The rain finally stopped shortly after midday.
Sunlight broke through the clouds, illuminating countless droplets clinging to the pine trees.
The mountain seemed to sparkle.
Grandpa Elias stretched his back.
"Enough cleaning."
"Come."
"We'll collect firewood."
---
The forest after rain was peaceful.
Everything smelled fresh.
Small streams formed where there had been only dry earth the day before.
Kael carried a rope over one shoulder while Grandpa Elias whistled cheerfully as they walked.
Halfway through the forest...
They found a massive fallen tree.
Grandpa Elias pointed toward it.
"That should last us a while."
Kael nodded.
He placed one hand against the trunk.
It was enormous.
Almost twice as wide as he was tall.
Grandpa Elias folded his arms.
"How should we move it?"
Kael studied the tree for a few moments.
"Cut it into smaller pieces?"
"That's one way."
"What would you do?"
The old man smiled mischievously.
"I asked you first."
Kael stepped around the trunk, examining the slope beneath it.
Finally, he untied the rope from his shoulder.
Instead of lifting the tree, he secured the rope around one end and guided it toward a gentle incline.
Using the mountain's natural slope, the enormous trunk slowly rolled into a clearing where it could be cut safely.
Grandpa Elias nodded with satisfaction.
"You've started using your head."
"It seemed easier."
"It usually is."
---
On their way back, they passed a small family of mountain rabbits nibbling at patches of fresh grass.
Kael instinctively reached toward the bow slung across his back.
Grandpa Elias gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Leave them."
Kael lowered his hand.
"But we'd have dinner."
"We already have dinner."
The old man smiled.
"They're having theirs."
Kael watched the rabbits for a moment before nodding.
The two quietly continued walking.
---
That evening, they sat outside the cabin watching the sunset paint the clouds shades of crimson and gold.
Grandpa Elias poured two cups of warm herbal tea.
Kael accepted his with both hands.
They drank in silence.
After several minutes, Kael spoke.
"Grandpa."
"Hm?"
"Do you ever get lonely?"
The old man looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"Why would I?"
"It's only the two of us."
Grandpa Elias chuckled softly.
"The mountain keeps me company."
He pointed toward the forest.
"The birds argue every morning."
"The squirrels steal from my garden."
"The wind complains whenever I forget to close the windows."
Kael looked toward the trees.
"...I don't think the wind complains."
"It does."
"It whistles."
"...Maybe it's just windy."
Grandpa Elias laughed.
"You'll understand when you're older."
Kael looked down at his tea.
"I'm already eighteen."
The old man smiled warmly.
"Then perhaps..."
"...I'll understand when I'm older."
Kael laughed.
The two sat together until the last light disappeared beyond the endless sea of clouds.
For Kael...
It was another ordinary day on the mountain.
One more peaceful day spent with the man who had raised him.
He had no way of knowing that before another sunrise came...
Everything he had ever known would change.
End of Chapter 3