Aisha bowed before me and said with a serious voice:
"Father… please, teach me how to fight. What will I do if danger finds us again?"
Honestly, I've never taught anyone before… let alone my own daughter.
I looked at her face—it was different. Serious. Sincere. I had never seen her like this. The other girls remained silent, as if they knew this request would open something deep within all of us.
I knelt down and looked into her youthful eyes.
"Aisha… you don't need to learn how to fight or wield a sword. I know you feel responsible, but I promise… I'm not weak. I'll protect all of you. I don't want any of you to get involved in bloodshed or war."
But she interrupted me, her voice trembling as though haunted by a painful memory:
"I… I don't want to feel helpless again! I want to be able to protect Cathy… Donna… Anastasia… even you, Father! Just standing there watching you risk your life for us made me feel powerless. Sad. How could I bear watching you fight while I stood by—afraid, weak… unable to even lift a sword?"
She continued, her voice cracking:
"Please, Father… I don't want to be a burden. Make me strong… I beg you."
I stood silent. Her words pierced my heart. I wasn't ready to hear them.
"…Alright. I'll teach you how to fight—but on one condition."
It felt like something no sane father should say, but still:
"I'll make you the strongest. I'll teach you everything I know. But when you reach the top… only use your strength to protect your sisters. They're the only ones who deserve it. In this world, you only have each other."
She looked at me, concerned.
"And what about you, Father?"
"I'll protect myself if I must. In fact… protect them even from me. That's my only condition."
She stared at me, confused. After a pause, she said something I didn't expect:
"Impossible, Father… I'll protect you too, just like I'll protect them. You're part of this family. I can't accept that condition."
I smiled from the depths of my heart, chuckling inside.
"…At least, deny it in your heart. Alright. I'll teach you."
Before training, I said:
"We should tidy up the living room first."
"How about we build a room for each of you?"
Aisha smiled, and the others chimed in together:
"Yes! We'll help you!"
The wooden cabin was easy to modify. I started planning like I was building my dream home. Thanks to my skills, I envisioned a full layout: four rooms, a long hallway, a cozy living room. Each room had a bed, closet, mirror, and small table.
I got to work—chopping trees, raising walls.
Aisha helped me gather wood, Donna tended the garden, Anastasia picked the furniture layout, and little Cathy… she commented on the design and gave me ideas. Sometimes I think she's secretly an architect, but I never ask—I don't want to reopen their wounds.
After two long days of hard work, it truly felt like a home.
That evening, after a meal I cooked with Donna's help, we laughed together. Then I dimmed the magical lanterns and said:
"Bedtime, girls."
I wished them goodnight and headed to my room. I lay down… but something felt strange.
Was my bed always this cold? This wide? Why did it feel so empty… so spiritless?
Ah… I feel lonely.
"I never knew that warmth didn't come from fire, but from the souls who share the night with you."
It's only been a few days since I met them, and already… I can't sleep alone. Strange. Or maybe… painful.
I lay there trying to shake the feeling. The girls wouldn't want to sleep next to a strange man like me—even if I call myself their "father."
They haven't told me their pasts yet… I haven't earned their hearts.
Then I heard soft footsteps.
I opened the door and saw four little faces looking up at me: Cathy, Donna, Anastasia, and Aisha—all in their pajamas.
Surprised, I asked:
"What are you doing here? Is something wrong?"
Anastasia said shyly:
"We're not used to sleeping in new rooms… they still need some work."
But Donna spoke honestly:
"She's lying. We just want to sleep with you, Father."
Anastasia blushed. Aisha and Cathy smiled.
Aisha said hesitantly:
"It's okay if you don't want to…"
I gently interrupted:
"You know… I've slept alone for years, but tonight felt like the loneliest night of my life. Do you want to sleep with me again?"
They all smiled and jumped onto the bed, as if they'd found their safe place.
I laughed and thought to myself: "Maybe I've misjudged them… I truly love them."
I said:
"It's okay if you can't sleep in your beds yet. Mine is always open, until you feel safe."
Each of them picked a spot. After some giggles and warmth… silence took over, and the girls fell asleep.
I felt like a father.
Looking at their peaceful faces, I whispered in my heart:
"Dear God… let me be a good father to them. If I carry sins, let me pay for them—but not them. I swear I'll give everything I have to be worthy of them."
Then I closed my eyes… and drifted into sleep.
But outside… hidden among the trees, a strange woman was watching the cabin from atop a tree.
She said:
"Hmmm… I sense four new souls here. I was only gone for a few days, and now the cabin is bigger? Since when does this gloomy man care about flowers and appearances?"
She stared at the house with curiosity and said:
"I'm really curious now… I need to check this out."