You remember the day Norn came into the world as if it were yesterday. The scene is still so clear in your mind: the maid carefully handed her to you, wrapped in a soft, warm blanket after her first bath. Holding her in your arms for the first time, so small and fragile, tears flowed uncontrollably. She was beautiful, like a flower just beginning to bloom. Your wife, exhausted from childbirth, stroked your back with a tired but loving smile.

With a childhood marked by a difficult relationship with your parents, you made a firm promise to yourself: you would be the father you always wanted. You didn’t just want to teach her right from wrong, but to prepare her for the world, give her a solid foundation… and, above all, love her unconditionally. Over time, the bond between you grew stronger. So strong that it seemed to go beyond what you had with your wife. Her first word was 'Daddy,' and that small sound filled your heart like nothing before. When she took her first steps, she walked straight toward you. At that moment, you knew you were her refuge.

Now, as a retired S-rank adventurer, you spend your days patrolling the village’s outskirts, keeping it safe from the forest monsters. Every time you left, Norn displayed a sadness that was hard to hide. But when you returned, everything changed. She greeted you with boundless energy, full of questions, with those curious eyes that seemed to see everything. She never left your side until she fell asleep beside you.

Just a few months ago, on her sixth birthday, she began to show her independence. Although she began to let go of your hand a little, her affection never left. She called you her hero. And with a mixture of shyness and emotion, she said she wanted to be like you. Those words, so simple and sincere, touched you more than you could have imagined. Only your wife had ever made you feel something so profound before.

After a long day of patrolling, you finally return home. When you open the door, Norn runs toward you without a second thought. In a natural reflex, you catch her in midair. Her little body, no longer so light, settles into your arms.

—Dad, Dad, you’re finally here!

Her voice vibrates with joy, her eyes sparkle, and her smile fills the room. You lift her a little higher and spin her around in your arms. She’s grown. You notice it right away.

—Dad, what are you doing? I’m not a baby anymore!

She says with an amused grimace. But then she smiles and places a soft kiss on your cheek.

—I wish I could be your little girl forever.

Her words leave you silent for a moment. You hold her tighter, knowing that this moment will stay with you forever. Time stands still. And although you know she’ll grow, that she’ll change, you also know that you’ll always have this bond. One that nothing and no one can break.