CHAPTER 3: MOURNING

Minutes passed, and I remained there, holding the lifeless body of the one who had taken me in. I had to come to terms with it; he died because of me, and I couldn't do anything about it anymore. I didn't even have the strength to cry anymore.

Gathering my last strength, under the rising sun, I decided to stand up and dig him a grave. I carried the corpse on my back, leaving that of his killer impaled on the ground, and took him behind his house, into his garden. I laid him against a wall and started to dig the soil with my hands. The earth was as hard as stone, and the more I dug, the more my fingers suffered.

Suddenly, as I had already dug deep into the ground...

*scrhhhl*

Two of my nails were torn off, remaining in the soil.

"RAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH...

Fuck it…"

Despite the pain, I couldn't stop here. To pay homage to the old man, I had to finish digging the place where he would rest in peace.

Hours passed, the sun was at its zenith, and I had finally finished. My fingers were scraped, and I was missing half of my nails, but at least I had succeeded. I approached the body slowly. The smell of the corpse could have disgusted me, but for this one, it was different. I had such respect for him that I didn't even notice the stench emanating from the body. I gently placed him in the hole I had prepared for him, delicately, carefully, with precision, afraid of damaging the body of the one who had risked his life to protect me.

Once finished, I had to close the tomb again, but I didn't have the courage. I stayed there, next to the hole, waiting for a miracle that would never come. I waited for a good hour, keeping company with the lifeless body, wondering if I should wait for my own death to join him. But after a long reflection, I remembered his last words.

-His last wish was for me to fly on my own. He even prepared something for me to start with... If that's his will, I should respect it, I suppose.-

With that thought, I closed his grave, covered it with dirt, and headed back into the living room. I went to the table and saw a package laid out for me. On it was a letter addressed to me:

"Hi Naboru,

I apologize for having to address you through this letter, but it's the only way I have to communicate with you. Indeed, if everything goes as I imagine, I should have been killed by the time you wake up.

That's why in this letter, I will share my last wishes with you:

First and foremost, before anything else, I don't want you to fall into despair or murder after my death. You're a good boy, so I know I can trust you on this.

Now, let's get to the point...

Now that you find yourself alone in this town that hates you, you'll have to leave. I don't know what you're going to do, but I'm convinced that a smart kid like you will figure it out!

Anyway...

In the package in front of you, which you must have recognized as made from the blanket I gave you when we met, you'll find certain things that I set aside for you in anticipation of this day.

You'll find in the package a leather jacket that belonged to me when I was younger, and most importantly...

Your mother's sword.

When I found you, you were holding it tightly in your arms. I took it from you because I thought leaving it to you would have been a bad choice, but now, I believe you have the right to reclaim your property.

Forgive me for abandoning you like this, and above all, don't blame yourself. You've lost many loved ones in your life, but it's not your fault.

Take care of yourself. I love you, Naboru…"

Reading his letter, I couldn't help but cry, realizing that I had already broken one of his wishes. I wiped away my tears and delicately opened the blanket. I put on the jacket, which warmed me with an affectionate warmth similar to that of the old man, and took my mother's dull sword. I felt nothing anymore; I was just as empty as the eyes of the dragon on the blade.

With a stroke of the sword, I sliced the blanket and transformed it into a scarf that I wrapped around my neck. I decided to go outside to stand by the old man's grave, crouching down in front of it and speaking in a calm tone.

"Hey old man... thank you for everything.

You've been like a grandfather to me.

You've given me so much, I can only thank you.

But I also have to apologize;

I may not be able to make you proud.

I've already committed murder, and I fear I can no longer follow what you wished.

By taking my mother's sword, I realized that it was my true desire.

I will find the one who caused all this trouble and kill him...

The one who caused the murder of my parents and inevitably yours...

I will find him and kill him with my own hands.

Farewell, old man."

I weakly got up and returned to the house that had welcomed me for many years. I slowly made my way to the kitchen to fill my pockets with some meager provisions for my journey. It was relatively quick; the cupboards were already almost empty, and I could only take a few nuts.

-Well, I'll have to steal something to eat before I leave.-

I went out this time through the front door and found myself facing the impaled corpse of the person I had killed. Knowing that no one could remove the ice spike piercing him, I decided to take it out myself. I crouched down in front of him, took off the jacket I had just obtained so as not to stain it, and with the help of my sword, I tore off his skin bit by bit. The smell was horrendous, a mixture of decay and filth.

Despite the pieces of flesh and blood splattering on me, I remained unperturbed, as if I were doing nothing repulsive. I stood up, looking lifelessly at the chopped human remains on the ground. I dug a pitiful hole, into which I pushed the visible remains of the body with my feet. I covered it all with dirt, picked up my jacket, and walked towards the town without even paying attention to how I looked, covered in blood, while all the inhabitants already took me for a monster.

I headed to the town market and entered as if nothing had happened. While everyone stared at me and threw objects at me, I helped myself at the stalls directly in front of the vendors, who fled as soon as I approached them too closely. In just a few minutes, I managed to acquire enough food to last me approximately a week and, most importantly, a map of the Alamyst region, my village's region.

Once I had all of this in my possession, I sat down under a tree and stared at the map for a long time.

-Mm... it's all well and good to have a goal, but how do I go about achieving it...-

I leaned in closer to the map and noticed that almost a week's walk away was the capital of Alamyst.

-This is the largest city in the region, and that's where the king is. I suppose going there would be a good start. Plus, I have enough provisions to survive the journey; it should be fine.-

I stood up, tucked the map into an inner pocket of my jacket, and looked towards the path leading to the capital.

I stood up, tucked the map into an inner pocket of my jacket, and looked towards the path leading to the capital.

-I suppose every journey has a beginning. And this one starts today. Farewell, village.-

I took one last look at the old man's house and left the village forever.

To be continued...