Move Forward [5]

The next day.

The morning sun rose, casting a warm glow over the remnants of the village. Arthanis stood before the building he had called home, the place where he and Vaendalle had lived just a day before. It was a humble abode, a sanctuary that had sheltered him since his arrival in this strange new world.

Just yesterday, he had fallen asleep peacefully within its walls, woke up to the sight of Miyera and Ciyera. He remembered walking out into the village, the laughter of children playing in the streets, the warmth of the villagers going about their daily lives. He recalled the argument with Vaendalle on the repaired bridge leading to the forest.

But in a cruel twist of fate, yesterday's end took it all. The village, now a silent graveyard, left Arthanis a solitary figure among the echoes of memories.

He had survived, but at what cost?

Arthanis stood alone amidst the rubble and right now dressed in simple cloth clothes, a simple pouch pinned to his belt, and a bag slung over his shoulder.

The right side of the house has a hole showing the interior of the first and second floors, making the front entrance no longer functional; the gap is an open invitation to anyone outside. Next to it, where the Vaendalle gardens were once filled with fruitful fruits and vegetables, only empty branches and fallen leaves remained with no roots in the ground.

Arthanis stepped through the doorway, his breath catching in his throat as a wave of cold air washed over him. The warmth of the past was gone, replaced by a chill that seemed to seep from the very walls and floor. A notification appeared, its glow casting a pale light on the desolation around him.

[「Origin (Rank: Immeasurable) 」has been triggered automatically!]

With the activation of his abilities, the atmosphere shifted. Memories of the past came rushing back, coalescing into a reality that was both familiar and surreal.

Before him stood a younger version of himself, a child of twelve, his eyes alight with anticipation. Vaendalle was there as well, his presence as comforting and solid as it had always been.

Just like that he could see little Arthanis and the younger Vaendalle in the dining room. The atmosphere changed as well. It was as if the current Arthanis now went back in time as an unseen spectator.

"Today is my 12th birthday," the young Arthanis declared, his voice echoing in the room. "Give me something, old man. I heard other children receive gifts from their relatives on their birthdays."

Vaendalle nodded in acknowledgment. "Very well, I'll give you something."

"Where is it?" the young Arthanis asked, his impatience palpable.

"I wish you a very happy birthday," Vaendalle responded, his voice filled with warmth. "There, I gave you my birthday wishes."

"Just words?" the young Arthanis retorted, disappointment etched on his face. "I hoped for something more."

Vaendalle shook his head, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Don't expect too much at your age, kid. It's enough to be thankful for what you have. Someday, even a birthday wish might be a rare gift."

As the conversation faded, the memories dissipated like sand in the wind, leaving the room cold and empty once more. Arthanis was left standing in the frigid, barren shell of what was once his home, the weight of the past heavy on his shoulders.

"This is different from before," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper in the stillness of the room. "Before, they were just memories in my head. But now... they're materialized in front of my eyes."

Arthanis ascended the stairs to the second floor, where his and Vaendalle's rooms were located. He entered his room first, surprised to find that despite the chaos outside, it remained untouched - clean, dim, yet strangely cozy. It was a stark contrast to the first time he had entered the room, when his belongings were scattered haphazardly about. But as he let go of the doorknob, another memory came into view, one that Arthanis recognized with a sense of familiarity.

[「Origin (Rank: Immeasurable) 」has been triggered automatically!]

It was the morning after a night where he never expected to get the ability of 「Jump」. It all happened because he had inhaled a poisonous plant in the forest, because of his sensory ability that exceeds normal limits he thought the scent was just an ordinary scent but the longer it caused him to feel sick and confused so he fell from the tree in the middle of some goblins. After the incident he asked Miera to teach him the basics of medicine and poison.

Vaendalle's voice sounded from the doorway, a scolding tone in his words. "Arthanis, your room is a mess. Miera must feel uncomfortable here."

Arthanis shrugged, unperturbed. "It's comfortable for me. Miera offered to clean up, but I declined because I didn't want to inconvenience her. Besides, if I tidied up, I'd lose track of where everything is."

Vaendalle laughed, his voice filled with mirth. "No one would want to marry someone with a room like this."

Arthanis shot back with a grin, "Then I'll know they truly love me if they clean it up, right?"

Vaendalle's laughter rang out once more, his words tinged with amusement. "In that case, you'll end up marrying a cleaning maid."

Before Arthanis could respond, Miera's voice cut through the air, a note of defiance in her tone. "But I'm not a maid!"

An awkward silence descended, the air heavy with unspoken words. Finally, Arthanis spoke, his voice hesitant. "Um, Miera, let's just say that being skilled at cleaning is a desirable trait in a wife."

Miera's eyes sparkled with mischief as she asked, "Does that apply to you as well?"

"I suppose it does?" Arthanis replied, a note of uncertainty in his voice.

What followed was a whirlwind of activity as Miera set to work cleaning Arthanis' room, her hands moving with brisk efficiency. All the while, she kept up a steady stream of conversation, imparting nuggets of wisdom and knowledge to Arthanis.

The memory began to fade, slipping away like sand through his fingers. Arthanis whispered a promise to the fading images of Miera and Ciyera. "I'll rescue you both from that devil, I swear it."

Arthanis set to work, rummaging through the room and salvaging anything of value. Thanks to Miera's thorough cleaning, he was able to find his belongings with ease. He stowed them away in his bag, his heart heavy with the weight of memories and unfulfilled promises.

Reluctantly, he then crossed over to Vaendalle's room. Order and the faint scent of healing potions filled the room. Sunlight streamed in through a large slit in the corner, illuminating the meticulous arrangement of Vaendalle's belongings and highlighting the emptiness left behind.

"Not even the light of the sun can overpower the radiance of his presence missing in this room," Arthanis muttered, his gaze fixed on the empty spaces where Vaendalle's belongings lay.

As he turned to leave, his eyes fell on a framed photograph hanging behind the door, a flickering green light dancing within its frame. Beside it hung a small pouch, its contents jingling with the sound of coins.

He took the photo and the pouch and sat on the bed, scrutinizing the image of a well-dressed boy, a young Arthanis, smiling beside Vaendalle.

Turning the photo over, he found a small green crystal flickering on the back, along with a message.

"To Arthanis Excalin. If you are reading this, then I am gone. Even though I am not beside you anymore, know that I am always there for you, even in death. This is my parting gift to you. Wear it with the pendant that I always use. Keep moving forward in your life, and remember that it's okay to look back as long as you don't dwell in the past. And happy birthday. That is my last wish for you. I hope you find people who will give you a better birthday than I ever gave you. From Vaendalle Excalin."

Arthanis bowed his head, a wave of emotion sweeping over him. "It's a good thing I wasn't too close to the old man," she said, her voice almost a whisper. "I could have cried all day."

He took a deep breath, wiping away the tears that were about to fall. Despite the pain, he knew he had to keep moving forward, just as Vaendalle wanted. Grateful for the pain, Arthanis realized it allowed him to truly experience a normal life in this new world.

Because what was life without pain?

With one last look at the photo, he placed it in his bag and walked out of the house, leaving behind the memory of a man, a hero, and a father who had sacrificed everything for him. But even as he left, he knew that Vaendalle's presence would always be with him, a guiding light in the darkness.