Eclipsed

Chapter 5

It was early morning, and the sun had just begun to break through the trees, casting long shadows over the village. The air was crisp, with the faint scent of woodsmoke from the previous night’s fire still lingering. Miyako was packing her things, preparing to leave. Everyone had gathered to say their goodbyes, standing in a quiet circle around her.

Ren stood a little to the side, his expression more serious than usual. Jiro, standing next to him, gave him a quick look, but said nothing. The bond between Miyako and Ren was clear, even without words, and they shared a long, quiet moment before she turned to face him.

Miyako smiled, her usual calm demeanor never wavering, but there was something in her eyes—a hint of something she wasn't saying. “I’ll be back soon, Ren,” she said, her voice soft but confident.

Ren hesitated, as if holding something back, then finally asked, "When will you be back?"

Miyako paused for a moment, her fingers brushing over the straps of her pack as she considered the question. "It depends, hopefully next month." Her voice was matter-of-fact, but there was a subtle weight to the words that made Ren’s heart tighten just a little.

Ren nodded, though a slight frown tugged at his lips. "Okay, take care."

She gave him a knowing look, the same one she always had when she saw him worried. "Don’t get into trouble while I’m gone, alright?"

Ren managed a half-smile, his usual guarded expression returning. “I’ll be fine.”

Miyako turned to leave, stepping toward the gate with the others following her. Ren watched her go, his thoughts clouding over for a moment.

As the last of the group disappeared around the bend, Ren stood still for a long beat, staring at the empty path. He muttered under his breath, “It’s uncertain whether she’ll return or not.” The uncertainty gnawed at him, even though he knew better than to dwell on it.

Jiro, who had been watching the exchange from a distance, walked over, clapping Ren on the shoulder. "You can’t spend your days thinking like that, Ren."

Ren blinked, looking up at Jiro, who gave him a small but understanding smile.

"You’ve got to always think positively for instances like these," Jiro continued. "If you start thinking about all the bad things that could happen, you’ll just get caught up in worrying about things that might not even happen."

Ren’s gaze softened as he absorbed the words. Jiro was right, of course. He had a tendency to expect the worst, to prepare for the worst-case scenario, even if it never came to pass.

“Yeah, I guess so.” Ren let out a sigh, shaking his head at his own tendency to overthink things.

Jiro chuckled. “Alright, kid. Don’t let your head get lost in the clouds too much.”

---

A few days passed, and the village returned to its normal, peaceful routine. The usual bustle filled the air—people gathering food, children running around, and the smoke from the forge rising in the distance.

Ren, feeling the need for something to do, stood up from where he had been sharpening his blades. “I’m going for a hunting trip now,” he said, looking over to Jiro. “I’ll be back before sundown.”

Jiro nodded, adjusting his cloak. “Alright, Ren. Stay safe, kid. And don’t get too cocky out there.”

Ren grinned, the usual confidence in his step returning. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

With that, he turned and disappeared into the woods, the trees closing in behind him.

Ren's boots crunched softly against the forest floor as he moved deeper into the woods. The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting playful shadows that danced across the ground. His mind was occupied with thoughts of the hunt and the village’s food stores, but there was something else—something about the feeling of being out here alone, away from the village and the weight of expectations.