The old woman returned home with heavy steps, her weary body burdened even further by the ordeal at the market. But the moment her eyes fell upon her yard, she froze.
A massive stack of firewood now stood in front of her hut, nearly blocking the entrance. Her breath caught. Eyes wide in disbelief, she whispered, "Who did this?" With the last of her strength, she called out, "Felix!" But there was no answer. A creeping worry stirred in her chest.
Rushing into the hut, she found Felix fast asleep on the floor, resting atop a tattered cloth. His breathing was calm, his face peaceful. With trembling hands, she shook his shoulder. "Felix, wake up! Explain this!"
Felix blinked his eyes open slowly and let out a yawn. "What is it, Grandma?" he asked innocently.
"Where did all that firewood come from?! And—" Her eyes darted to the corner where a bucket overflowed with fruit and fresh fish. "Did you steal all this?!"
Felix frowned. "Steal? What does that mean? How does one do that?"
The old woman paused, then sighed deeply. "Stealing means taking something that doesn't belong to you—without permission. Now tell me, where did you get all this? Even if we're poor, we must never steal!"
Felix furrowed his brow, then picked up a few pieces of fruit. "These... I got them from the forest. I asked a troop of monkeys to gather them. So... if that means stealing, should I return them? What about the fish—should I put them back in the river, too?"
The old woman's expression softened. She now realized Felix truly didn't understand the human concept of ownership.
"Wait," she said, "You gathered all of this from the forest? And the fish—from the river?"
Felix nodded. "Yes, Grandma. Before I came here, in the land of Blasic, I only ate the fruit and fish given to me by Bora. I brought plenty of fruit because I didn't know what you liked to eat. And I caught river fish for you. You liked fish yesterday, right? River fish is fresher than ocean fish."
The old woman stiffened. "Wait... Bora? Who is that? Your brother? Your parent? Where are you from? Blasic... Isn't that just a myth? A legend of a wild beast island?"
Felix shook his head. "I don't know who Bora really is. I just call him that. He said he's over a thousand years old. He used to tell stories, but I always fell asleep before he finished them." He smiled faintly. "But now that you've taught me the human language, I'm starting to understand more of what he said—about people like us."
The old woman fell silent. Her mind swirled with questions, but she chose not to dwell on what she couldn't comprehend for now. She sighed and patted Felix's shoulder. "Alright... you can keep the fruit and fish."
Trying to shift the subject, she said, "You liked the wheat porridge I made, didn't you?"
Felix's eyes lit up. "I loved it, Grandma! I'm so tired of fruit. Ever since I came here, I just want to eat your cooking!"
The old woman chuckled warmly. "Then tonight, I'll make something special just for you. I'll cook the fish properly so you don't have to eat it raw anymore."
Felix nodded enthusiastically. But before the old woman could leave, he suddenly remembered something. "Oh! I almost forgot! I have something for you—a gift."
He looked at her with genuine curiosity. "What's a gift, Grandma?"
"A gift is something you give to someone to show love or gratitude," she replied with a smile.
Felix frowned. "Getting a gift isn't the same as stealing, is it?"
The old woman laughed gently. "Of course not. A gift is given freely, not taken. And because you helped me gather so much firewood and caught fish for our dinner, I want to give you something to say thank you."
With great care, she pulled out a set of clothes from beneath her worn cloak. Felix's eyes widened. He touched the fabric gently, then quickly tried the outfit on.
"How does it fit?" she asked.
Felix beamed and nodded. "Perfect, Grandma! It feels like it was made for me."
That day, the two of them shared laughter and warm conversation. They cooked together, enjoyed a humble yet fulfilling dinner, and before falling asleep, the old woman once again taught Felix about the ways of human life—about hard work, honesty, and love. Beneath a sky blanketed in stars, inside that small, humble hut, Felix began to understand that life was not just about survival—it was about sharing, and learning to care.
The old woman knew that sooner or later, Felix would have to face the world beyond their hut. He couldn't hide away forever. So, once she felt he had learned enough of the human tongue, she took him to the marketplace where she usually sold firewood.
When they arrived, Felix was overwhelmed. His eyes grew wide at the bustling crowd—people speaking animatedly, haggling prices, debating, shouting, laughing, bartering goods of every kind. The air was thick with scents—cooked food, salt from the sea, spices, and the faint smoke of burning wood.
He clung to the old woman, uncomfortable under the sudden stares directed at him. People whispered, pointing at the boy with puzzled expressions. Everyone knew the old woman lived alone, barely scraping by selling bundles of firewood. But today, she had arrived with a teenage boy by her side—carrying her load with steady hands.
Suddenly, a broad-shouldered man with a rough face—known around town as the lumber broker—approached them with a sneer.
"Hey, old woman," he barked, his voice deep and grating. "Where'd you find this kid? Don't tell me you kidnapped him?"
Felix frowned, not entirely understanding the man's words, but the tone alone was enough to make him alert.
"He's not a street urchin or a stray," the man went on, narrowing his eyes. "What kind of spell did you put on him? Or maybe... he's already your little slave?"
The old woman shot him a sharp look, her displeasure plain. "He's my grandson," she replied firmly. "My son brought him to me from far away, with nothing on his back but the breath in his lungs. He's alone now. He's all the family I have."
The lumber boss let out a scoffing laugh. "That so? Then how about you let me take him? I could put him to work. Teach him what real labor is. I'll even pay you enough to eat for a month. That's better than having him as a burden, isn't it?"
The old woman shook her head without hesitation. "I won't treat him like a slave. He's my blood now, and I treat him as such."
The man sneered. "You do know the world isn't as kind as you think, don't you? Don't get your hopes up. Maybe tomorrow, his real parents will show up and take him back. Or maybe the pirates will come again—like they did two years ago. You'll lose him... just like you lost your granddaughter."
The woman's face tightened. His words cut like a blade, reopening wounds she had spent years trying to forget. But she straightened her back and met his gaze without flinching.
"I don't care," she said. "The boy beside me now is my grandson, and I won't let anyone lay a hand on him."
The lumber boss grunted, annoyed, but said nothing more. Once the transaction was complete, the old woman took Felix's hand and led him away.
They made their way to the fish market, where she sold fresh river fish—still alive, wriggling in their bucket. She priced them a little lower than usual, hoping for a quick sale. After earning enough coins, she brought Felix to a small food stall tucked in a quiet corner of the market.
"Have a seat, Felix," she said gently, pulling out a chair for him. "Today, we're eating well."
Felix looked curiously at the plate set before him. "Grandma, what is this?"
"Just try it."
He hesitated, picked up a small piece, and popped it into his mouth. His eyes widened. "This... this is amazing!" he exclaimed, and immediately began devouring the rest.
The old woman smiled, watching him eat with such joy. "If we want to eat like this every day, we'll need to earn more money," she said softly.
Felix paused mid-bite and looked up at her. "Alright! I'll work even harder, Grandma. But only if you promise to eat more too, okay?"
She chuckled, her eyes softening. "You really are a good boy."
That day, they spent time exploring the small town together. The old woman introduced Felix to a few kind-hearted locals who knew her well and trusted her. They helped Felix begin to understand more about the human world. Though many still eyed him with suspicion, some greeted him warmly.
For the first time, Felix realized the world was far bigger than he'd imagined. And perhaps... just perhaps, this was where he truly belonged now.