Clare Skymer’s childhood begins with the tragedy of losing his mother in an earthquake, and his deep bond with his father and life in nature shape his sensitivity. Amid the absence of parents and his move into a new household, he forms relationships with brothers and gradually learns the harsher sides of the world through farm and town life. As he helps the poor and sets out on the road, he encounters society’s margins and many faces of humanity. Meetings with bakers, blacksmiths, and townsfolk instill compassion and responsibility in him, yet also bring misunderstanding and conflict. This section portrays a pure boy’s first collision with reality and the strengthening of his inner character.
