Since Ethan's return from Shadowbrook, he had undergone a noticeable change. He had once been cheerful, energetic, and always radiating light around him, but now he was filled with deep sorrow. There was something lost in his eyes, as if a part of his soul had stayed behind there. He had started visiting the friendship house more frequently. It used to be a special place for Rowena and him. But now, for Ethan, this house had become more of a refuge.
Rowena was deeply saddened by Ethan's silence every time. Seeing him like this, knowing how much he was suffering, broke her heart a little more each time. However, she understood Ethan's desire to be alone. So, she respected his wish and chose not to join him. But one day, when Rowena realized just how fragile Ethan had become and how his loneliness was pulling him deeper into darkness, she instinctively decided not to leave him alone.
That day, Ethan had gone to the friendship house again. He quietly entered through the door and took in the old wooden scent that filled the house. Everything was in its place; it seemed like nothing had been touched for years. But now, the walls of this house reminded him not of joyful memories, but of a lost time. Ethan slowly moved into one of the rooms. He sat by a small, narrow window and, staring at the gray sky outside, took a deep breath. Memories began to swirl in his mind, but they were blurry. Fragments of his past, pieces of a puzzle that could never come together.
Rowena had followed him. She didn't want to leave him alone; she wanted to share his pain, to lighten his burden. She hesitated as she reached the front of the house. Should she enter, or should she leave Ethan to himself? But then the thought of helping her friend won over. She gently pushed the door open and quietly made her way to the room where Ethan was.
When she saw Ethan sitting by the window, silently crying, her heart ached. In that moment, for Rowena, the most important thing in the world was to soothe Ethan's pain. She quickly went to him and without hesitation, embraced her friend. Ethan, in Rowena's warm arms, let out the tears he had bottled up for so long. For a few minutes, both of them remained silent. Only Ethan's sobs echoed in the room.
Rowena gently rubbed Ethan's back and said softly, "You can tell me if you want, Ethan. I promise, I won't tell anyone."
Ethan lifted his head from Rowena's shoulder and, trying to wipe away the tears in his eyes, looked at her. There was deep sorrow and helplessness in his gaze. "Rowena," he said in a trembling voice. "I miss my real family so much. But I can't even remember their faces. It's so painful… I can't remember who they were, what they looked like, their voices… It's like they've been erased from my mind."
These words had exposed the deep wound inside Ethan. A dark void, a giant hole in his memory. Rowena felt his helplessness and, not knowing what to say, took his hand. "I know, Ethan," she said gently. "But you're not alone. I'm here. No matter what happens, I'm by your side. And if you want to remember, we'll find a way together. We'll do whatever it takes."
Ethan saw a determined sparkle in Rowena's eyes. In that moment, Rowena's presence felt like the greatest gift to him. He nodded silently and, through his tears, whispered, "Thank you, Rowena. Really… thank you."
From that moment on, Ethan felt a bit stronger with Rowena's support. Maybe the memories of his family were still blurry, but at least he had a friend like Rowena, and that gave him a little more courage to move forward.
"If you want, we can walk in the forest for a while. Walking in the forest after crying helps to relax," Rowena said. "Whenever I cried before my mom passed away, she would take me out to walk in the forest."
When Ethan looked into Rowena's eyes, he noticed that for a brief moment, her eyes welled up with tears, but then quickly returned to normal. Perhaps for Rowena, the concept of 'mother' was a very sensitive subject. He decided to pretend not to notice. They quietly stood up and left the friendship house. Passing through the small, old, and gravelly path in front of the house, they returned to the main road.
Rowena tried to seem cheerful as she said, "I'm going to take you to a beautiful place!" But she couldn't hide the sadness in her voice. She was still feeling the traces of the touching moment they had just experienced.
They walked for a long time. During this time, neither Rowena nor Ethan spoke. Only the sounds of leaves, branches, and small stones could be heard. Various animal sounds accompanied them as well. Both of them were lost in their thoughts.
Just as Ethan was about to ask where they were going, they started to hear voices speaking in a different language. It sounded like a group of people. "Where is Rowena taking me?" Ethan wondered. He was scared of this strange language, but he trusted Rowena completely.
Before they could part the large bushes ahead, Rowena smiled and said, "I'm going to introduce you to some of my friends. They're so positive! We'll feel better."
Ethan just nodded, signaling that he understood. As Rowena pushed the bushes aside, a small village appeared before them. But this place was a little different. Instead of houses, there were tents. A large fire had been lit in the center to grill fish, and around it, young girls and middle-aged women were cooking. The elders were telling stories to younger children, and other children were playing games.
Everyone had light brown skin, black or dark brown straight hair, and dark brown or hazel eyes. Their prominent cheekbones and slightly round faces stood out.
Ethan was staring around, mesmerized. This village seemed like something out of a fairy tale. Everyone looked happy and healthy.
A girl approached them, and Ethan stopped examining his surroundings. She was looking at Ethan curiously, while he was fascinated by her unusual braids, decorated with feathers and beads. He had never seen anyone wear a braid with feathers and beads before.
Ethan spoke first. "Hello! I'm Ethan. What's your name?" he asked, in a friendly tone.
The girl replied cheerfully, "I'm Wenona. I'm 12 years old." Then, she hugged Rowena first and then Ethan. Ethan was taken aback by the strength of her hug. Struggling to breathe, he gently hugged Wenona back. When the hug ended, Ethan finally managed to catch his breath and asked, "Where is this place, Rowena?"
Rowena smiled, seeing Ethan's breathless state, and explained, "This is a Mikmak village." "We should leave now, Ethan. We've spent a lot of time outside today. See you, Wenona!"
Ethan also said, "See you!" to Wenona, and they quickly started walking back toward the palace.
After they had walked out of hearing range of the Mikmak village, Ethan chuckled and said, "Wenona was even stronger than me! If we fought, she'd knock me down in two minutes."
Rowena, with a half-serious expression, said, "Mikmaks eat natural food. That's why it's normal for them to be stronger than us. You don't want to upset them."
Seeing the fear on Ethan's face, she added, "I was just joking! They're very nice people." Then, with a lowered voice, she added, "And I'm sure a pirate like you couldn't be beaten by them."
Ethan and Rowena's spirits were lifted. They chatted cheerfully all the way back to the palace. Ethan couldn't help but wonder, "Could the Mikmaks help me remember my family?" But for now, he decided not to share this thought with anyone.