Ch. 3 – Maiden Voyage: Inaugural Steps into the Unknown P.3

...

After that, I finished cooking a meal and looked at Elijah, who had grown up so much over the past few years. He was no longer the little boy who followed me everywhere with wide eyes and unending questions. Still, there was a part of him that remained innocent and curious. I knew he might wonder about our mother and father, a curiosity that had likely only grown stronger with time.

"Did he remember them?" I wondered. The thought lingered in my mind as I watched him. "I hope you could get to meet them later," I mused silently. "I promise I will let you see them."

My life had settled into a rhythm of training and taking care of Elijah. Without him, I might have lost my mind from the loneliness that came with being isolated in this world. His presence was a beacon of hope and sanity, a constant reminder of my purpose.

At least I had someone to play around with. Despite our age difference being only two years, it was clear that Elijah was more childish than me. It made sense, given everything we had been through and the responsibilities I had taken on.

"Is it because my soul is a 30-year-old man?" I wondered, a rueful smile tugging at my lips. The experiences and burdens I carried had aged me far beyond my years.

"Elijah," I called, watching as he perked up and came over. "Dinner's ready."

He sat down, and we ate together, the bond between us strengthened by shared meals and quiet conversations. I could see the questions in his eyes, the unspoken thoughts about our past and our parents.

"Elijah," I began gently, "I know you must wonder about our mother and father. One day, I will take you to them. I promise."

He looked at me with a mix of hope and uncertainty. "Really, brother?"

"Yes," I assured him. "When the time is right, you'll get to see them."

Our days continued in this manner, filled with training, hunting, and learning. Elijah grew stronger and more skilled, and I found solace in watching him develop. The nights were filled with stories and plans for the future, and though the darkness within me remained, I fought to keep it at bay for Elijah's sake.

"Together, we'll face whatever comes our way," I whispered to myself each night, feeling the warmth of Elijah's presence beside me. He was my anchor, my reason to keep going, and with him, I knew we could overcome any obstacle.

…

We started to climb a mountain after leaving the forest where we had spent the night. Within an hour, we reached the top and were greeted by a breathtaking view.

"Brother, look! There is a village," Elijah exclaimed, pointing excitedly.

"Yes! There might be nice people there," I replied, feeling a sense of hope.

"And delicious food!" Elijah added with enthusiasm.

"You might be hungry, right?" I asked, smiling at his eagerness.

"Totally!" he confirmed.

"Me too. I will treat you to nice food when we get there."

We were both starving, and it had been a long time since we'd had a proper meal. After several hours of walking down the mountain, we finally reached a rural village surrounded by a wooden gate for protection. As we entered, the villagers were staring in surprise at the sight of a young child carrying a toddler on his back.

An old man approached us, leaning on a stick. "What a poor young kid. Where are you coming from?"

"Oh, nice to meet you, sir. I'm a traveler from a nearby village," I replied politely.

"What a surprise! He can talk fluently at that age," the old man thought. "Did you mean Laven village?"

"Yeah, that one!" I said, grateful for the knowledge I had about this world.

The villagers gasped in shock. "You came here by crossing the mountain?" the old man asked, incredulous.

"Yes, sir," I answered.

An old woman stepped forward from behind the crowd. "Alright, that's enough. This is not some kind of show. Go back and continue with your work. I will handle this myself," she said, her concern evident.

She invited us into her house, where it became clear that she and the old man were a couple.

"Hey kid, are you sure you are human?" the old woman asked, her expression serious.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I responded with a frown, worried they might uncover our hidden identity.

"I'm surprised a human can survive at such a young age alone without their parents. You must be a genius," she remarked. "Aren't there many monsters at the bottom of the hill?"

"Erm, do you mean the big monster with fur?" I replied, relieved she wasn't probing too deeply.

"Gosh, you really came from there! Did you run until you got here?" she asked, astonished.

"No. I already killed them," I said nonchalantly.

"It would be a miracle to come here safely," the old man noted.

"Kill them with what?" the old woman asked, intrigued.

"Magic," I replied.

"Impressive. You are young yet so talented. Did your parents teach you?" she inquired.

"Yes, ma'am. I really love magic. My parents said I am talented," I said, trying to sound proud.

"Maybe you should enroll in the academy," she suggested.

"There is a school here?" I asked, curious.

"The magic school," the old man interrupted before she could continue. "Not here, but at the Capital."

"I'm sorry. But I don't have much money to do that. It would cost a lot to get in there," I explained.

"What about your parents?" he asked.

"They're gone and didn't leave any savings for us," I said quietly.

"Well, that's a pity. We can't do anything about that if you have financial problems. But don't worry, school is not everything," the old woman said sympathetically.

"Don't worry. I don't mind it at all. I also have something to do," I reassured them.

"I wonder where you are going," the old man mused.

The old woman got up and went to the kitchen to prepare us something to eat.

...