The morning after his victory over Grey, Ethan's wounds had been carefully tended to by Anna's healing abilities. Though his shoulder still bore a dull ache where Grey's blade had struck, the flesh had mended cleanly under her gentle touch, and there was a new lightness in his step—a confidence born not just from winning the duel, but from earning a place of respect among Rivermoor's extraordinary children.
As Ethan finished preparing breakfast—a hearty meal of oatmeal sweetened with honey from Greenhaven's wild bees and forest berries—he sensed a presence behind him. Turning from the stove, he found Garrick watching him, the old man's weathered face bearing an expression Ethan hadn't seen before. Pride.
"Walk with me after the children have eaten," Garrick said simply before taking his usual seat at the head of the long wooden table.
The meal passed with unusual energy. Word of Ethan's victory had transformed the children's perception of him. The younger ones peppered him with questions about his teleportation technique, while the older ones studied him with newfound respect. Even Grey, seated at his usual place at the far end of the table, seemed different—his typical scowl replaced by thoughtful contemplation as he ate in silence.
When the dishes had been cleared and the children dispersed to their morning duties, Ethan followed Garrick out onto the porch and beyond, to a small clearing near the edge of the orphanage grounds. Here, a simple wooden bench faced eastward, offering a view of Greenhaven Forest stretching toward distant mountains.
Garrick sat heavily on the bench, his joints creaking with the movement. He gestured for Ethan to join him.
"You've surprised me, Ethan," the old man began, his voice carrying the weight of decades. "Not many do that anymore."
Ethan smiled faintly, still feeling the glow of yesterday's accomplishment. "Grey is an incredible fighter. I was lucky."
Garrick shook his head. "Luck had nothing to do with it. Your victory was earned through dedication and strategic thinking." He placed a calloused hand on Ethan's shoulder, squeezing gently to avoid aggravating the recently healed wound. "You've shown incredible courage and determination. But if you truly want to save your wife and fulfill your quest, you need to become even stronger."
The mention of his wife sobered Ethan immediately. For all his progress, the goal that drove him remained distant. "What do I need to do now, Garrick?" he asked, his voice low with sincerity.
Garrick took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping across the vast expanse of forest surrounding them. The morning light filtered through the ancient trees, dappling the undergrowth with shifting patterns of gold and shadow. "This forest only has a limited number of monsters. You've mastered everything there is to learn here." He turned to meet Ethan's eyes directly. "Now, it's time for you to leave this place and explore the outside world. Your journey won't be easy, but you need to face stronger opponents and gain broader experience."
Though Garrick's words confirmed what Ethan had already begun to suspect, hearing them spoken aloud made his heart beat faster. The thought of leaving Rivermoor—leaving the safety and routine he had established—was both terrifying and exhilarating.
"I understand," Ethan nodded, his mind already calculating what supplies he would need, what route he might take. "I'll start preparing for departure."
A faint smile crossed Garrick's face, softening the deep lines carved by age and hardship. "You already have everything you need to survive." He tapped Ethan's temple gently. "In here, and here." His hand moved to rest over Ethan's heart. "Use your skills and your powers wisely. Learn from every opponent you meet and keep strengthening yourself."
His voice grew more thoughtful as he continued. "The path ahead won't be easy. You'll face challenges that will test everything you've learned here."
Ethan felt a surge of determination rise within him. The conversation felt different now—not like a revelation, but like a confirmation of plans already set in motion. "I know the road ahead is difficult," he said steadily. "But I won't give up. I can't."
Garrick studied him for a long moment, his weathered face reflecting something that might have been approval. "You've changed since that day in Eldervale's square," he said quietly. "The man who was beaten and mocked... he's still there, but he's not the same person sitting beside me now."
"That man was broken," Ethan replied, his voice carrying the weight of hard-won understanding. "He thought love alone would be enough. But I know now that love without strength is just wishful thinking."
"And what will you do when you find her again?" Garrick asked, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer.
Ethan's hand unconsciously moved to the ring hanging beneath his shirt. "I'll show her the man I've become. Not through words or pleas, but through actions. Through the strength I've gained and the person I've chosen to be."
He paused, then looked up at Garrick with eyes that held both vulnerability and determination. "Garrick... do you believe me? When I say Emberlyn is my wife—do you trust that I'm telling the truth?"
Garrick was quiet for a long moment, his weathered face betraying a flicker of something—perhaps understanding, perhaps sympathy. When he finally spoke, his voice was measured and thoughtful.
"Whether you're telling the truth or living a delusion doesn't matter to me as much as you might think," he said slowly. "What matters is the man you're becoming in pursuit of that truth." He studied Ethan's face carefully. "I've watched you this past year. I've seen you cook for children who rejected you, train until your body screamed for rest, and face opponents who could have broken you."
The old man's expression softened slightly. "If Emberlyn truly is your wife, then you've got the heart of a man fighting for love. If she's not..." He shrugged. "Then you're a man who's found something worth becoming stronger for, even if it's built on hope rather than memory."
Ethan felt something tight in his chest loosen at those words. "So you'll take my word for it?"
"I'll take your actions for it," Garrick replied firmly. "Words are cheap, boy. But the way you've conducted yourself here, the dedication you've shown—that speaks to character. And if the Blazing Valkyrie did choose you once, it would have been for that character, not for pretty promises."
Garrick stood, his joints protesting the movement. For a moment, he simply looked down at Ethan, his expression thoughtful. "The Blazing Valkyrie didn't become a legend by accepting weakness in herself or others," he said matter-of-factly. "If you want to stand beside her again, you'll need to be worthy of that title she carries."
"I will be," Ethan vowed, his voice steady despite the magnitude of the promise. "Whatever it takes."
Garrick nodded slowly, then turned and began walking back toward the orphanage. Over his shoulder, he called out, "Prepare yourself today. You'll leave at first light tomorrow."
As Garrick walked away, Ethan remained on the bench, thoughts turning to the challenges ahead. If he was to reclaim his place beside his wife—an S-rank hunter whose abilities far exceeded ordinary humans—he would need every advantage, every lesson, every hard-won skill he had developed. The knowledge of her true strength wasn't new to him, but it reinforced the magnitude of his quest and the man he needed to become.