Chapter 66

Chapter 66: After the Old Friend

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The town was filled with the grim sight of corpses scattered among ruined buildings. The invading forces must have been in a hurry; they hadn't even bothered to clean up the dead, and there was no sign of logistical support in the area. Not a single sign of life remained—only vultures circled, flying ominously above the city.

"...No one's left. Did they escape? Or... did they die outside?"

Ash stood in front of the only familiar building on the street, now burned to ashes. His expression turned gloomy as he took in the scene, the quiet devastation of a place he once knew.

But with no one remaining, he naturally couldn't linger here. He took off, flying above the land to search among the scattered groups of refugees forced to abandon their homes, hoping to find some trace of familiar faces.

Even if Anderson himself was probably no longer alive, his grandson—now around thirty—might still be. The years might have changed him, but Ash figured he'd still be able to recognize him… probably.

As he scanned the crowds, he couldn't find anyone he recognized, yet something else caught his attention. High above the refugees, he noticed a strange young girl gazing up at him with an expression of shock.

This wasn't just the usual surprise at seeing someone flying. Her reaction held a deeper familiarity, a kind of recognition that struck him as strange.

Curious, he descended to the ground, crouching down to look at her more closely.

The child before him was dirty, dressed in a simple gray uniform that looked like something a magic apprentice might wear. Her purple hair and matching violet eyes were strikingly familiar, echoing the features of Anderson and his great-granddaughter.

While he studied her, she held a familiar wooden box tightly in her hands. Her wide eyes filled with disbelief as she finally spoke, her voice uncertain: "Are you… Master Ash?"

"…The name's right. You're Anderson's great-granddaughter? I remember your name being Marian? Wait, that doesn't seem right."

He remembered Anderson's great-granddaughter had been around ten years old last time, yet this girl couldn't be more than seven or eight. It didn't make sense that she'd somehow aged backward. Which could only mean…

"Marian is… my mother."

"Really? She… well, maybe it's better if I don't ask."

The question lingered, but there was no need to press further. He simply looked at the child before him, who continued to gaze at him with an intense, silent stare, her expression filled with a mixture of distress and silent relief.

The two looked at each other in silence.

The girl appeared at a loss for words, while Ash himself wasn't sure what to do about her.

She was the descendant of an old friend, standing alone amid the chaos. Ignoring her wasn't an option.

But the idea of him taking care of a child… no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't see himself as a guardian.

Still, judging by her frail appearance and the absence of any adults, it was clear she couldn't survive alone. He didn't need to ask what had become of her elders to understand the situation.

After a long while, Ash finally reached out, placing his hand on the girl's head, and said hesitantly, "How about you come with me, at least for a while?"

"Follow… you?"

"Yes. I can probably only provide food and clothing, but if that's all you need… Well, why don't you come with me for now? I'll see to it that you're taken care of until you're grown."

"...Why?"

The girl's expression didn't light up; instead, she looked confused, almost troubled.

It was as though, even in her current situation, being offered help wasn't something that brought her any comfort. Perhaps the loss of her family had struck her too deeply.

Ash let out a quiet sigh, noting her sadness. "No matter what, I can't just stand by and watch the descendant of an old friend die by the roadside, can I?"

"Is that so?"

"That's right. And if it helps, you can think of me as your dad. After all, I did carry your mother around when she was little."

"…"

The statement sounded strange, and the girl seemed at a loss for words. She only looked at him with a faintly puzzled expression, saying nothing.

Ash felt he should say more, but seeing her in such a fragile state, he decided against it. He was conflicted about the whole situation and even wondered about who would take care of her in the long run, but for now…

"Well, if you're not saying no, I'll take that as agreement. Just come along with me for now."

He took her hand.

The girl opened her mouth as though to object, but he didn't give her the chance. He took her along without waiting for a reply.

It wasn't until they had left the devastated town behind and reached a nearby city that Ash suddenly remembered something. He turned back to the girl, who was still perched on his shoulders, looking tired and quiet.

"Oh, right. What's your name?"

"...Fern."

"Well then, Fern, just stick with me for now. I'll do my best to find someone dependable to take care of you."

"Aren't you…?"

"I'd like to, but the situation doesn't allow it. You see, I'm… well, an evil magician."

He paused for a moment, then smiled slightly, patting her head once more.

"Evil magician…" Fern muttered, as if trying to understand what that meant.

After all, he'd just taken her along, then complained about her pace, ultimately carrying her on his shoulders, and only now thought to ask her name… He didn't seem very considerate, she thought.

This man didn't match the gentle magician her mother used to describe in her stories. Could he really be an evil magician?

—At that moment, Fern, sitting on his shoulders and shifting slightly to get comfortable, found herself pondering this thought as she looked down at him.

Though, truthfully, she didn't fully understand what being "evil" even meant.

　　.....

In the city, Ash found an inn where they could rest.

After buying some new clothes for Fern, he stood outside the bathroom, his arms crossed as he stared up at the ceiling, deep in thought about her future.

"Aura's not an option… Serie did adopt Flamme, so maybe that's a possibility. Then there's Heiter, Eisen, and Frieren… but Eisen's situation is far too complicated, and Frieren's location is still unknown. Heiter… Is he even alive? Maybe I should check."

He remembered attending Himmel's funeral over a decade ago, after which he chose to keep his distance from others.

But now he was feeling torn. If he didn't reconnect soon, wouldn't that be too cold? He felt unsettled, wondering if missing another final farewell would eventually lead him to a regret he could never undo.

However, his worries didn't lead to any answers. Instead, the sound of water from the bathroom gradually stopped, and Fern, wrapped in a misty layer of steam, emerged first.

Noticing Ash's troubled expression, Fern seemed a bit embarrassed. She tilted her head slightly, hesitating. "Master Ash…"

"Ah, are you finished?"

"Yes, thank you."

Her hair still damp, Fern stood there, hands clasped between her thighs, bending slightly in a shy, reserved manner.

Now that she's washed, she's surprisingly cute. She looked like a little beggar before, but I bet she'll grow into a beautiful girl one day, he thought. Casually, he grabbed a towel and pressed it to Fern's hair.

He rubbed her hair roughly, drying it a bit, then blew a gentle, warm stream of air from his palm to finish drying it before leading her to the room she'd be staying in.

"You'll sleep here tonight. I'm right next door. If you need anything, just call."

"I understand. Thank you… Master Ash."

"No need to be so formal."

Fern still looked a bit awkward and timid, and he shook his head helplessly before retreating to his own room.

Originally, he'd planned to spend the night pondering over where he could place Fern in the long term.

But in the middle of the night, he heard muffled sobs coming from the next room.

With a faint, wry smile, he threw off his blanket, floated out his window, and gently opened the window to her room.

Once inside, he saw her curled up in a corner of the room, arms wrapped tightly around her knees, trembling as she cried.

How long has this kid been on her own? What has she been through? he wondered. But instead of asking, he quietly moved closer.

After a moment's hesitation, he crouched beside Fern and reached out to stroke her purple hair, which looked dull and brittle from malnutrition.

The frightened girl flinched slightly, then glanced up at him. Recognizing him, she relaxed a bit but remained silent, burying her face back in her knees.

As he continued to stroke her hair, her crying grew louder, as though his touch had unlocked a well of sorrow.

Ash said nothing, choosing instead to hold her close.

He understood that sometimes a warm embrace could be more comforting than words.

Even though he wasn't sure if his hug was comforting, it was all he could offer at that moment. Yet, whether it was the wrong approach or not, he couldn't tell.

In his arms, Fern's sobs grew more intense, her restrained tears now flowing freely.

No matter how he tried to soothe her, it was of no use—his efforts only seemed to deepen her grief.

A few annoyed tenants knocked on his door, muttering complaints, but they quickly backed off after a single glare from him.

The crying continued until, exhausted, Fern finally drifted off to sleep in his arms.

"Kids today are hard to raise… Even more difficult than teaching Serie how to cook."

Though it was only his first day of caring for her, Ash already felt overwhelmed. His clothes were damp from her tears, and he sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that night.

Yet even so, he didn't let her go. And at some point, her tiny hands had found their way to his shirt, clutching it tightly as she slept.

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T/N: Let's go guys give me some power stones