As Dama, Mumu, and Nini strolled along the familiar riverbank, the sound of flowing water mixed with the crunch of their steps against the rocky path.

  The sight of the shimmering river brought vivid memories flooding back to Dama, making him pause mid-step. He glanced at the spot where he had first found Giona months ago, a bittersweet expression settling on his face.

  He remembered standing at this very bank with Mumu and Nini, staring in disbelief at the drenched figure lying motionless on the shore. The image of her marred face and frail body was seared into his mind, and he could still feel the whirlwind of emotions—fear, anger, and determination—that had overwhelmed him.

  Dama shook his head though, as if trying to shake off the memory. "I'm glad I found her that day." He said aloud, more to himself than his companions. "I can't shake the feeling that moment changed everything… Maybe even the whole trajectory of my life."

  He looked ahead, then glanced behind him at Mumu and Nini. "Wherever this path leads, I think I'll be okay. I’ve got you two, Granny Tsu and Gramps Owain, now even Giona too!"

  Mumu and Nini, walking just behind him, nodded in unison in agreement. Picking up their pace, they hustled to either side of Dama, looking at him with soft, encouraging smiles. Their silent reassurance made Dama’s heart swell with gratitude, and a tear glistened in his eye.

  "Thanks, you two," he said, his voice slightly shaky from bubbling gratitude, "I don’t know what I’d do without you two."

  As their smiles grew larger, both Mumu and Nini’s ears would twitch suddenly, their expressions shifting to alertness. They came to an abrupt halt, causing Dama to stop as well.

  "What is it?" He asked, following their gaze.

  A short distance away, standing at the riverbank, was an old man wearing a white kimono, his hands perched on the top of his walking cane. His weathered face and long, silver hair framed piercing eyes that seemed to carry the weight of countless years.

  Dama's breath hitched as recognition dawned on him. "Gramps Owain…?"

  The old chief of Enohay Village—and Tsubasa’s husband—stood by the water, his serene posture at odds with the tension in the air.

  Mumu and Nini glanced at Dama, then back at Owain, their heads tilting indicating they heard the same question Dama heard in their heads: "What's Owain doing out here?"

  Owain then turned his head a bit, his warm gaze, though at first a little startled, settling on Dama. Despite his frail appearance, his presence was commanding, his aura unmistakable.

  Dama's eyes lit up as he ran up to Owain, nonetheless happy to see the old chief out and about. "Chief Owain! What are you doing out here by the river?"

  Owain’s lips curled into a faint smile, and he nodded in acknowledgment. "Dama, lad," he said, his voice deep and calm, yet carrying an undertone of gravity, "I was wondering when I might see you again."

  As Dama reached him, Owain greeted Mumu and Nini, "And you brought the two most trusted pals of the village, I see," who nodded in response, their expressions calm but curious.

  Before Dama could ask his question again, Owain spoke first, his voice warm and fatherly. "How are you, lad? Ready for the festival today?"

  Dama answered eagerly, "I'm doing great, Gramps Owain! I'll be doing a booth with Ms. Alder for the festival, isn't that awesome?"

  "Good, that's good to hear, lad." Owain said as he ruffled Dama's hair with one hand and patted his left shoulder with the other. "Also, yes indeed, I have heard about you and little ol' Kina teaming up this year, the idea sounds lovely! I cannot wait to see what you two have in store."

  Dama laughed, his dimples in full view. "Who told you?"

  "Oh, it was TsuTsu. Speaking of TsuTsu telling me things..." Owain answered, his tone mischievous as a smirk crept onto his face. Then, without warning, he asked, "How is Giona doing?"

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  The sudden question made Mumu and Nini jolt back in surprise, their black slit eyes widening into shocked ovals. Dama, however, answered automatically. "She's doing great! Her recovery's been—!" He stopped mid-sentence as the realization hit him like a lightning bolt. Owain knew about Giona.

  Dama stood frozen for a moment, his mind racing. "W-Wait… What? Could you…repeat that?"

  Owain chuckled lightly and repeated himself, "How is Giona doing, lad?"

  The confirmation left Dama reeling. He stared at the chief, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and concern. "How do you know about Giona!?" He blurted out.

  Owain stroked his beard with a small chuckle. "So, TsuTsu never told you, eh?" His gaze softened. "She shared it with me a few weeks ago. I noticed something off about her recently, something stressing her out—call it a husband’s intuition—and when I asked, she caved and told me the truth. About everything."

  Dama let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair. He couldn’t be mad at Tsubasa; hiding something at all from her husband would’ve been awkward, if not impossible.

  Owain stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on both of Dama's shoulders. "Don’t fret, lad. I promise I won’t breathe a word of this to anyone else. Not without your permission—or hers."

  Dama met his eyes, gratitude washing over them. "Thank you, Gramps Owain."

  Owain smiled, giving Dama’s shoulders a small squeeze. Then he turned his gaze back toward the river, his expression thoughtful.

  "But still, what are you doing out here, Chief?" Dama asked, still curious.

  Owain chuckled again, his tone light but cryptic. "Ah, that's a story in itself. Do you have some time, lad? Because the reason I’m here, especially today, is…special to me."

  Dama exchanged a quick glance with Mumu and Nini, both of whom nodded as if urging him to listen. Turning back to Owain, Dama nodded. "Yeah, I’ve got time. What’s the story?"

  Owain’s face softened into a wistful smile, and he gestured for Dama to walk with him along the riverbank. "Come along, and I’ll tell you."

  As Dama walked beside Owain, the rhythmic sound of the river flowing beside them added a tranquil backdrop to their conversation. Owain glanced at him with a thoughtful expression and asked, "Tell me, lad, what do you know about Tsubasa's past and how she ended up here in Enohay?"

  Dama furrowed his brow, bringing a finger to his chin as he pondered the question. "Hmm, well, I know that Granny Tsu was part of a nomadic beastmen pack. But when she was still young, she got separated from them and eventually stumbled upon Enohay Valley. Then she met you, you two got married, and, well, the rest is history, right?"

  Owain chuckled heartily, shaking his head. "Ah, you've got the gist of it, Dama, but not the whole story."

  Dama tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"

  Owain’s mischievous smile returned as he glanced at the river. "You found Giona unconscious on the riverbank, didn’t you?"

  Dama blinked, startled by the sudden change in topic. "Yeah, I did. Why?"

  Owain stopped walking and turned to face Dama fully, his expression now tinged with nostalgia. "Because, lad—I found Tsubasa the exact same way." He said before turning to face the river. "Unconscious on this very riverbank. And not just that—it was on the day of a previous Enohay Spirit Festival."

  Dama’s eyes widened, his mind reeling from the revelation. "Wait, what!? You mean Granny Tsu was…?"

  Owain nodded, the sound of the river feeling louder in the moment. "Aye. She was just a young girl back then, barely older than you and Giona is now. I was making my way along the river while participating in a scavenger hunt activity during the festival when I saw her. While she wasn't battered or bruised, unlike Giona, she still had open injuries and clear signs of a fever, dehydration and malnourishment, not to mention completely alone..."

  His eyes softened as he gazed at the river, lost in the memories of his and Tsubasa's past. "She was barely holding on. I carried her into the village and brought her to Donnel Leir, Liam's grandfather, who was the village doctor at the time. Donnel did everything he could, and for a week and a half, we waited, hoping she'd wake up."

  Dama listened intently, his expression growing more serious.

  "Then, one night, she did wake up," Owain continued, "but it wasn’t clean, so to say. She woke up in the middle of the night, confused and terrified. Before anyone noticed, she left the infirmary and tried to escape the village."

  Adopting a smile, almost grateful smile, Owain put a hand on his stomach. "Funny thing is," he added with a small laugh, "I had a bad feeling that night myself. It was a churning, gut wrenching feeling, woke me up out of nowhere. When I checked on her, I found her trying to sneak out the gate, still weak and unsteady from her injuries."

  Dama tilted his head, surprised. "What happened next?"

  "I tried to reassure her." Owain said, his voice taking on a somber tone. "I told her I was happy she was awake, that she was in Enohay Valley, and that she was safe. But the moment she saw me take a step toward her, she panicked. She tried to run, but her body was too weak, and she fell after just a few steps."

  Owain paused, his gaze distant. "When I hurried to help her, she flinched. Put her arms up to defend herself, crying, and spoke in a language I couldn’t understand. The look on her face…it was pure fear."

  Dama’s heart sank as he recalled Giona’s reaction when she first woke up, how she had done the exact same thing. "That sounds just like Giona..." he muttered.

  -

  Next: (Extra Chapter 24) Dama and Owain: Part 2