Journey to Happiness

n. Finally, on a quiet afternoon, his eyelids fluttered open. He blinked against

nfused, he turned his head to take in the small room, the cot he

is voice raspy from disuse

cing blue eyes, so striking against his pale skin and tousled black hair. "I'm Zazriel," she said, stepp

the fragments of his memory. "St. Haven's? I

lden and I found you and brought you here

d, still trying to shak

om, his face beaming with excitement. "He's awake! He's fin

ween Zazriel and the young man. "Oh, um... hi! I'm

den dashed out of the room, leav

Troi said, his gaze lingerin

g a shy smile tug at her lips. "

ng the importance of the name he was ab

ettle in her mind. "It's nice to meet yo

s... with my fellow knights. We were on a mission. There was an ambush. I

r curiosity piqued

voice tinged with frustration. "I need to

her brow furrowed in concern. "But for now, you

yes reflecting a mixture of gratitude a

sure you were okay. You've been unconscious for a

r brown ones, searching for sincerity.

ssed. "You would have done the

expression. "I would have. But it's not often someon

ed by Sister Margarete and the priest, th

ete exclaimed, rushing to Troi

ough he could feel the weight of t

n through quite an ordeal. Let's give you some time to r

thought, his mind racing with unanswered questions. She sensed his worry about his fellow knights,

growing familiar with its residents. The children were as curious as they wer

atching a group of little ones play. Zazriel sat nearby, ca

. "The children really seem to like yo

faint smile. "It's not hard to be m

earby, chimed in. "You don't talk much, but... you're definitely

t. I come from... well, let's just

ve him an appraising look. "Your clothes gave that

ncomfortable. "I'm a knight,"

interest. "Just a knight? I don't know many knigh

re serious in his blue eyes. "It's... a long story. Maybe one day I'll t

h. Anyway, the younger kids keep asking if you're here to prote

ust someone passing through. Besides," he added, glancing back at the bustling o

"We do what we can. T

,

m on the table. His eyes traced the familiar routes, though he knew each turn by he

Troi?" she asked softly,

ed. "Yes. I need to be sure of the

on his face. "Are you going back

ated. "It's... complicated. There are people

eyes. "But where is it you're going, really? I me

he map. "Let's just say... I have responsibil

veryone here-Alden, the kids-they're all curious about you. And... s

oi is enough for now. It's safer that way." He glanced at the map once more.

d what you're looking for, then. And that

he promised, though something in his expression

,

g the rooms. Troi moved quietly down the dim hallway, his pack slung over one shoulder. He didn'

rly ran into the priest, who stood jus

ftly, as if he'd been wait

have to go, Father. I've already

ected as much. There's a village up the road where you'll find a sta

acing it in the priest's hands. "Here. Ten gold coins. It should be

i, this is... generous. You have done more for us than you realize

nge mix of relief and sadness welling inside him.

have a duty waiting for you, I can see that. But know that you'll always

allowed himself a fleeting thought of Zazriel-her kind brown eyes, the way she watched him with curio

ped into the cool night air, walking awa