A long journey awaited us. Straight path to the Noreka Clan would take around three or four days but since the ship stops in a few other cities and it needs to get around other clans' territory it’ll take a whole week. At least this time I don’t have to paddle since I paid for the ride. Of course, it wasn’t a calm ride since that girl was coming with me. Since she is a kid she asks so many questions that have obvious answers… At least to me.

Skyge on the other hand took a liking to Stella. Since she is always patting him and playing together. Once when we were eating he even eat from her hands, not mine! He ignored his own MASTER?! I’m not jealous… I’m just irritated by his loyalty toward his owner…

The longer I spend time with that brat the more used to her I got. Her stupid questions didn’t annoy me like earlier. It was like a daily routine to me. Guess I just didn’t spend enough time with kids. At least this one isn’t a little baby. This way it would’ve been worse.

[ Eric ]

“Here is a portion for you.” I said as I gave food to Stella.

While I was eating I noticed that she was just watching the food. At first, I ignored her but the food was getting cold. It annoyed me in a way so I finally asked.

[ Eric ]

“Is there something wrong with your food?”

[ Stella ]

“What’s that green thing… I don’t like it…” She said as she poked her food.

[ Eric ]

“That’s asparagus. Did you even try it?”

[ Stella ]

“I don’t want to…”

[ Eric ]

“So you don’t like it even though you don’t even know how its tastes?”

She looked at me with a confused facial expression and then she looked at the asparagus. The longer she looked the more disgusted she got.

[ Eric ]

“Fine. Give me that and I’ll give you some of my potatoes.”

She ate her food with joy on her face. It kind of reminded me of my own childhood. I was very picky with food. The smallest sign of onion on food made me lose my appetite. When you got almost no money you began to value every gram of food on your plate.

Nights were calm since there were no storms or monsters to attack the ship. Since it was cheap transport all passengers had to sleep on the floor. The captain only had blankets for us. Normally I would use Skyge as a pillow but if he would change into his bigger form people would panic. That’s why he sleeps with Stella. For some reason, the view of them sleeping makes me calm.

[ Stella ]

“Mister… Are you sleeping?” Silently asked Stella as she poked my arm.

[ Eric ]

“I was a minute ago… What is it?”

[ Stella ]

“I can’t sleep…” She said while hugging Skyge who was asleep.

[ Eric ]

“You didn’t have that problem yesterday and two, three days ago.”

[ Stella ]

“Well… yes… but…” She tried to explain but all that came out of her mouth was stutter.

[ Eric ]

“Okey. Come here.”

I clapped on the floor next to me. She hesitated for a second but then crawled toward me. She was looking at me with curiosity in her eyes. What could make a kid like her fall asleep? I only had one idea in my mind that was also from my childhood. One of my few good memories.

[ Eric ]

“When I was young I had problems with sleeping. My mom found a way to help me with that.”

[ Stella ]

“What did she do?”

[ Eric ]

“She told me a bed story.”

[ Stella ]

“What was it about?”

[ Eric ]

“Don’t know if you’ll like it. Boys were more interested in that than…”

[ Stella ]

“Tell me the story!” Said Stella with enthusiasm in her voice.

[ Eric ]

“Okay. It’s a story about a young boy who had one dream. Become the strongest and most respected warrior. Compared to his friends he was skinny and weak. He lost all the games that he played with his friends. No matter what he didn’t cry. He was always saying ‘Next time I’ll get better!’ He never gave up. Year after year he was getting better than his friends. He got faster, stronger, and smarter. After years of hard work, he became the strongest and most respected warrior in his village…” As I told the story I noticed that she fell asleep at the end. I was gently patting her. “Hard work pays off. I hope this one will pay off too…”