Kian, still engulfed in the torrent of tears and sobs, found solace in the tender embrace of his mother. Sor's hands cradled his tear-stained cheeks, her thumbs sweeping away the remnants of distress. With a soothing reassurance, she questioned, "Why the tears, my love? Look at me, I'm here and unscathed!"

Amidst his sobs, Kian confessed, "It's my fault! The master hurt you because of me!"

Young Sor, initially composed, was suddenly overtaken by a wave of sorrow at her son's words. Swiftly, her demeanor shifted, and a bitter, sardonic smile curved her lips. "Me? Beaten? Who said that?"

Kian, still distraught, argued, "Your clothes, your face! It's obvious he hurt you!"

Sor countered, her voice tinged with a hint of emotion, "That's not the whole truth. You should've seen the foreman's face when I was through with him!"

Interrupting his tears momentarily, Kian inquired, "What do you mean?"

Sor, wearing a triumphant smile, revealed, "Sure, he struck me once or twice, but I struck back harder! He could barely stand after I was finished!"

" Truthfully?" Kian's tears subsided, curiosity taking hold.

Meeting her son's gaze, Sor affirmed, "Absolutely! He even offered extra bread as an apology. Behold!" With a dramatic declaration, she produced a piece of bread from her pocket, placing it gently in Kian's lap. "Your reward for being brave!" Her words carried a sincerity that banished any suspicion. Despite the lingering pain in Sor's ribs, Kian joyfully embraced her.

"How about a midnight swim at the pond?" Kian proposed, eyes sparkling with newfound excitement.

"Tonight? It is too late! By the time we get there, it's morning!" Sor replied, causing Kian's cheerful demeanor to crumble into disappointment and sadness.

The abrupt shift in Kian's expression tugged at Sor's heart. Despite the hardships of the day, she couldn't bear to see her son so dejected. Her body, though battered and bruised, still retained strength. A desperate desire to bring joy to Kian overcame her weariness. Perhaps the soothing waters of the pond would work wonders for her injuries.

"You know what? Let's go! If we leave now, we can get back before the morning shift starts!"

In the heart of the night, with the moon absent and the forest draped in complete darkness, the lush land transformed into a chaotic, turbulent realm. The absence of moonlight intensified the eerie atmosphere, amplifying the terrifying face of the forest.

Moving through the dark and noisy jungle, under branches quivering in the wind, and stepping on invisible, wet ground that occasionally emitted unsettling sounds, the journey might terrify most. Yet, for Kian and Sor, the gloomy forest held no fear. Accustomed to the shadows, they faced the nightly challenges with the resilience of those who understood the woods intimately.

It seemed as if the forest sounds no longer held terror for them, the nightly struggles akin to a playful child demanding attention with excited moans. For Kian and Sor, the forest and its inhabitants were toothless lions ready for a harmless encounter. With Kian gripping his mother's palm tightly, the forest held no menace. His mother's warm touch was his anchor, providing security and comfort inside the obscurity’s mouth.

"I’m tired! Aren’t we there already, Mom?" Kian grumbled.

Sor, holding onto his small hand, tightened her grasp and replied compassionately, "We’ll arrive in a little while! Keep going!"

A few steps ahead, one of Kian's soles sank into a puddle, sending a frog leaping away. "Oh! I got wet!" he complained.

Sor stopped momentarily, sat down, and blindly examined the boy's legs with her hands. Concerned about insects and leeches attacking his bare limbs, she removed his footwear and carefully inspected his ankles and soles with gentle touches.

"Ah! Don't! It tickles, mommy!" Kian laughed lightly.

However, Sor continued her inspection, eventually putting the shoes back on the boy's feet. "It's nothing!"

"Why haven’t we arrived yet? I'm dying of exhaustion!" He repeated his grievance like a broken record.

"Mister! Why are you grumbling so much? Didn't you want to swim in the pond?" Sor rebuked.

Playing innocent, Kian said with sad regret, "Yes, but I'm very tired! I can't walk anymore!"

Sor, not in the mood to argue, sighed deeply and then fell on her knees. "Come! Take a ride on my back! Come on already! It’s getting really late.”

Little Kian approached Sor's slender shoulders. Sor didn't hesitate and with one swift motion, threw the playful child on her shoulder. "Let's move it!"

The woods, once cloaked in pitch-black blindness, were now bathed in the beauty of the rising sun, dispelling the darkness. The savage jungle transformed into an extraordinary land, appearing much less intimidating.

Kian ran back and forth, circling the trees while Sor struggled to keep up, taking long, heavy steps to avoid being left behind. Despite her immense fatigue and painful wounds, she worried for her son, attempting to reach the energetic and impatient boy.

Gradually, the continuous sound of falling water became audible, though its clear figure remained obscured by the thick forested area ahead. However, the powerful roar of the falling water promised their imminent arrival at the destination.

"Hurry up!! It's getting late! You just have to walk a bit faster!" Little Kian shouted fretfully.

The relentless sound of running water cascading over huge rocks, and splashing on hard surfaces, was thrilling enough to render the mischievous child defenseless against the temptation to speed up.

Sor, her patience wearing thin as she struggled to catch her breath, barked with a mix of anxiety and playfulness, "Oh, mister Kian! Wasn't it you who had been riding on my measly shoulders all the way here? And now that you’re finished with me, you’ve turned into a monster defying your mother?"

With her breath now restored, Sor suddenly leaped up, adopting a jokingly animalistic demeanor as she sprinted after little Kian, shouting, "Just pray that I don't catch you, mister!"

Kian screamed with laughter and dashed away, Sor hot on his heels, both fully immersed in the joy of their playful escapade. Amidst the laughter and carefree running, an unusual noise resonated in Sor’s sharp ears. Sor had an unrealistic hearing ability and she was proud of it. She could recognize different sounds just by hearing them at once and her predictions were always annoyingly on the money.

Beyond the bushes, near the thunderous waterfall, a mild yet peculiar commotion echoed—a fusion of footsteps and watery sounds. Sor, boasting the keenest hearing and exceptional reasoning, halted abruptly. Signaling Kian to be still and silent with her index finger on her nose, she crouched down stealthily, intensifying her focus.

Though Kian was initially oblivious to the situation, Sor's abrupt change in demeanor prompted him to grasp the seriousness of the moment. Fueled by curiosity, both mother and son covertly advanced toward the source of the peculiar sounds, moving as quietly as mice on a nocturnal quest.

Sor walked on her toes, Kian tiptoeing a step behind. They reached the pond area, surrounded by towering tree trunks. From a surreal perspective, the raging waterfall dominated the scene, casting a mesmerizing spell. Their eyes widened at the sight of a handsome man standing by the cave wall behind the gushing water.

Swiftly, both hid behind the bushes, startled by the unexpected presence. The man descended the giant rocks with a certain clumsiness, draped in a luxurious crimson velvet cloak over an expensive tunic. Despite the apparent awkwardness, he moved with nimble skill, determined to keep his attire dry.

"Heh! Heh! With that appearance! He is definitely getting wet!" Kian chuckled lightly.

"Hush! Be quiet! He’ll hear us!" Sor admonished in an extremely low and inaudible tone. The hushed exchange heightened the suspense, and in response to their voices, the young man abruptly turned, fixing his gaze on the opposite side of the forest with curiosity.

As the kid and his mom concealed themselves behind the bushes, Kian’s sudden burst of laughter rippled through the air, unsettling the mysterious man on the edge of the cave. Alarmed by the unexpected sound, the tininess of the noise made the uneasy man visibly uncomfortable. 

For a fleeting second, his piercing gaze transformed into a distrustful search, scouring the surroundings for any sign of intrusion. However, finding nothing dubious, he halted his probing, though an air of caution lingered.

A few moments later, seemingly relieved and sensing no other presence in the vicinity, the enigmatic man resumed his unbroken movement along the stone side of the cave. Determined to keep his fabulous outfit dry, he navigated the challenging terrain with careful steps. However, despite his best efforts, the cascade of the waterfall betrayed his intentions, and all his exquisite clothes were soaked in an instant.

"I told you so!" Kian's voice erupted, breaking the silence settleing around Sor's sharpened ears.