I almost made the same mistake, even after Miss Eina reminded me.
My breathing was ragged.
Feeling the tingling pain on back. I stumbled on my steps as I leaned closer to the wall with my hand.
Miri hurried to support me. Taking out the medicine, she started to undress my shirt and armour.
"Toma, guard them. I will be looking out. After Miri treated Kael's wounds, we will be heading back."
Roivan commanded as he grip hilt of his broadsword with his hand.
Toma, while catching his breath, stood beside us. Constantly looking toward sealing.
———
We started to head back, but their eyes, looking at me, started to change.
Since yesterday my wounds have been healing even faster than before
I was starting to feel uncomfortable because of being stared at as a weirdo.
I was covered with my own blood and sweat as well as medicine, but by the time we reached the entrance, my wounds already stopped bleeding.
I started to walk on my own.
In this world, being different from others earns you jealousy or admiration, but if you are too different from others, you will have only one result.
You will be isolated.
I have learned this lesson back in the city of Karuna, but being looked at like some kind of monster still feels bad.
Probably understanding my feelings, Miri still holds me as we walk.
That's the only thing that comforts me, as elves are very obsessed with hygiene, so much so that they even refuse to touch others.
Outside the Dungeon, nobody spoke.
Then Rovan said quietly:
"…You shouldn't run with us."
I nodded.
"…You will slow down when you're worried about us."
"And you're faster when you're alone."
I didn't argue.
Because he was right.
I don't want to watch someone die.
And I don't want to die because someone else makes mistakes.
Miri wants to say something, but in the end, she doesn't say anything.
Toma's face holds hesitation, but he also doesn't say anything, just bumps his fist on my chest.
We shook hands.
"Come to me in loki family if you have any problem"
Miri said. Standing on her toes Her hand was weaving, while I was walking away
———
After Roivan divided loots we parted ways. I don't go to the adventurers' guild.
I don't have the mood for that, I will go tomorrow morning
Thinking like that, I began to walk through West Main Street.
Looking around, compared to the morning when West Street was filled with adventurers, now the entire West Street was much emptier.
It's some time for sunset.
During the afternoon, most of the level 1 adventurers remain on the upper floor ( from floor 1 to 12.)
You can only see senior adventurers who are level 2 and above. Most of them usually go to the middle floors ( from level 13 to 24) for quests.
They basically spend several days inside the dungeon, then come back.
Back at the abandoned church.
Looking inside Lady Hestia wasn't home.
After taking a bath and washing my blood-soaked clothes.
I started to cook for tonight's dinner, wearing an apron while cutting vegetables and a little meat I brought
—skills I picked up when I was working part-time.
"I wonder when Lady Hestia return home."
She usually takes care of me, tonight let me give her a little surprise
My lips start to curl up as I imagine her adorable expression. Humming slightly I started to store cooked food.
Hanging my apron on the hanger, returning to the empty space in front of the abandoned church. I started to clean and maintain my equipment
"Tomorrow I have to go to Hephaestus' weapon stone to fix it"
Looking at battle–worn equipment
— a sword with more chips at the edges, light armour ripped from the back. ext
I began to clean and repair what I could while humming continuously.
gripping my sword with one hand and cleaning it with the other.
Suddenly I stop.
The absence of my melody leaves a ringing stillness in the air.
Lowering my gaze, the midday sun bathes my shoulders but leaves my face in a pool of darkness, masking whatever I might be feeling.
I feel. I feel so lonely
Hardening my grip and taking a deep breath, I cheer myself up.
It's not like this is my first time experiencing this.
Back in the city of Karuna, one of the reasons I didn't stop at one place was also because of others looking at me like a monster.
Not only do my wounds heal fast, but my learning speed is also far faster than that of others.
Because of this the few friends I make sometimes also often left me alone.
After all, no one wants a friend who at the beginning is completely a novice yet after a few days he surpasses you.
After repairing and cleaning my equipment.
I stood up and started to pick up my equipment. It was then that I heard her voice coming from outside the abandoned church.
"Kael!!"
Looking back I found Lady Hestia dashing towards me and preparing to jump at me.
My expression changed, dropping my equipment on the ground, I began to prepare for her impact in haste.
"Wait! Wait, Lady Hestia, we will fall if you jump at me," I said loudly. My voice filled with panic. But she doesn't listen and jumps toward me.
Thud.
Smoke filled our surroundings.
I lie on the ground. She was on my top.
"My Kael!" she said while rubbing my cheeks with hers.
Rubbing my pained head I scold her.
"Lady Hestia! That was dangerous. What if you injure yourself? "
"It's fine, Kael won't let me get injured. Besides, I'm super strong. Even if this planet is destroyed I will be perfectly fine."
Setting up on my waist. She replied to my scolding with cheerfulness while raising her arms and showing her non-existent biceps.
Her face filled with a smile that brightened the world, her eyes curved into a half-moon.
Looking at her adorable and cute expression. I started to chuckle slowly at first, and she also started laughing.
Her silhouette blurs as my eyes begin to fill with tears.
I felt so happy as if the void inside me started to fill yet I cried, cried for the first time in my life.
Even in my lowest point in life, I never cried. Always telling myself. A man feels no pain and moves on.
But this time, I can't hold back my tears.
Lady Hestia, who was laughing alongside me, started to panic.
"Kael! What happened that you are crying? " she asked
"Nothing, nothing at all. Im. I'm just so happy. Thank you. Thank you for taking me in." I replied.
She hugs my head on her chest patting my head:
"Pain, pain, go away. Now you don't have to cry "
Looking at her, I once again started to laugh.
I'm really lucky. I found my home.
We started to head back.
Lady Hestia is holding my right arm.
"Today I have made dinner" I said.
"Kael! You should relax when you return from the dungeon," Lady Hestia replied.
"It's okay, just think of this as my thank you for taking care of me" I replied. My face softened. My voice filled with gratitude.
"How many times do I have to tell you, you don't have to thank me, aren't we family?" Lady Hestia asked with blame. Her brow frowned.
"We are, okay, I won't thank you again, just this one time let me have my way," I replied.
She looked at me first, then. She sighed. Her face held resignation and doting.
———
[Third-person pov]
Late at night.
Kael was sleeping on the sofa wrapped in a blanket.
His brow frowned, his forehead filled with cold sweat.
(In Kael's dream)
"Why… fighting, why… are… standing?" a voice asked a girl who refused to collapse on the ground.
Her body was filled with wounds, blood hiding her face as moonlight shone on her.
"Remember… covenant… Verdan. hero of light."
Suddenly sky split open. A black behemoth resembling a dragon blocks out the sun. Gazing below, his eyes were cold.
Opening his jaws, his mouth filled with spears resembling teeth.
There was no roar—only the heavy, rhythmic thrum of fire churning in its chest.
Several small silhouettes stood amidst the jagged ruins of a city filled with black flames and smoke.
their silhouettes small against the encroaching shadow. With a violent heave, the beast exhaled a clinging torrent of violet-black flame.
heat warps the air around them, turning their screams into silent ripples of distortion.
The world dissolved into choking ash and the scent of ozone.
Take care, my child
———
[KAEL'S POV]
Ha. ha. ha
With a gasp that tore my throat, I helurched upright in the freezing dark.
My skin is still prickling with the phantom sting of the furnace.
It was that dream again
———
Somewhere in the lower world.
In a primitive forest.
Moonlight shines on the lake as an unknown goddess stands gazing at her stars.
"Has someone finally born who can fulfil the ancient covenant? (...) Verdan."
She said softly. Then turned around.
"Prepare for departure, we are heading back to ORARIO "