Chapter 189 - Day DXXII, Part II

I went with Ki'rai all the way to the bottom, and killed the boss, then send my shadows to collect the crystals, as I sat down on the ground to eat something. She stood beside me, quietly observing as I was rummaging through my backpack with one hand, and keeping up the light with another one.

I observed her in the corner of my eye. As soon as the dried fruits appeared in my hand, she moved slightly but still remained silent.

- Want some? - I asked stretching my arm with a handful of sweets towards her.

- Yes - she said and grabbed them immediately.

She was like a kid that really wanted sweets, but the manners taught by her parents weren't allowing her to express the desires of her heart. Or stomach, in this case.

- You really like them, don't you?

- Yes.

- Tell me Ki'rai, your masters want a strong ally to go against The Great One, yes?

- Yes, but you have to prove yourself first.

- From what I understand you are not one of them, but you were created by them, so what is your goal in all of this? I mean... From what I understand this is a very dangerous game, you could die if he spots you, just like your masters, yes?

- My goal?

- Yes. What do you want?

- I want more - and she extended her hands, still in goblin form.

I couldn't hold my smile.

- I, sadly, don't have any more of those dried fruits, but I'll bring you some next time, ok?

She seemed to get a little bit sad, but her expression overall was hard to read. The behavior on the other hand wasn't.

- Ok.

- So, back to my question. What do you want to achieve? What do you want to gain in this conflict? You surely want something since you are risking so much, don't you?

- I was created to do this. That's my purpose.

- But... Do you want it?

She froze for a moment. Her face twitched few times.

- I was created to do this - she repeated. - I need to go now.

And she turned.

- Wait! Wait... Don't go yet. If I'm supposed to get stronger, we cant keep hunting here. I need a better place. I need to go to the canyon.

- Then let's go there - she said, and just walked away.

- Wait! Where do we meet tomorrow?

- By the entrance to the cave - she said and vanished in the darkness.

I sighed, and finally ate my food, then I also started walking outside. Collecting the shadows on my way with their backpack filled with crystals. I went straight to the city and gave the full score to Hatta.

He was in the tent, helping Marcella.

- You are a life savior, Peter.

- But we still need more - said Amit, entering the makeshift hospital.

Nobuo grunted in his bed, and slowly opened his eyes.

- Hello Peter-san - he said.

He looked terrible, with bruises all over his face. The broken lip was swollen, and half-covered by a big black scab.

- Good that you woke up. With tose crystals - Hatta pointed at backpacks laying on the cobblestone - We have enough to bring you back.

- I will definitely pay those back - he grunted, trying to smile a little.

- Take your time. The city needs more crystals than I do, so focus on that when you are healthy. Besides I can gather my own.

He nodded slowly. Then they focused on trying to bring him to the device. I watched as the crystals were sold, and my friend finally got back to his former self. A proud samurai, a true warrior with an unbreakable spirit. It brought me so much happiness, that I found tears coming to my eyes.

We were slowly getting back from the ground. I was sure that we will be standing tall in no time, again in control. I was also sure, that I won't ever again let a similar situation happen.

- Hatta... I think it's time that we head outside. I'll go to the canyon tomorrow, to get more crystals, and keep my eye on orcs.

- That's not... - he started.

I was not gonna let him finish.

- I already made the decision. We need crystals more than ever. We need to get back on our feet, and we need our eyes out there. I'm the perfect person to do it.

- If we send you there, you are gonna do something stupid, like going after the boss - Amit pointed out.

- I'm not stupid.

- Oh, sometimes I do wonder about that.

- Stop Amit. We can stop him anyway. Just promise me, that you won't go after the boss, ok?

I nodded. It was a lie. I was gonna go after the boss, just not yet. Not when I wasn't strong enough, but the very moment I would be, I knew that I'm gonna go and kill that monster at least a hundred times. I will cut him to pieces, and break his bones.

It was pointless since he was just a doll. It was stupid, and yet I was still gonna do it, and enjoy every moment of it.

- Show me the jar Hatta. The jar with the ashes.

This time he nodded, and then took me to his office. There, on a shelf specially prepared for it, was standing a big brown clay jar. It was very simple, without any decoration.

I stood there for a moment, trying to talk with Nadia, but I couldn't. I was unable to form the words, and then tears just poured down from my eyes. I don't know for how long I stood there, crying, but It had to be a pretty long time. At some point Hatta had to leave, as I came back to my senses he was already gone.

I found few carts, my own among them, and filled two with food and other necessary supplies, like torches and spare weapons. I made sure to take plenty of dried fruits. In the process, I grabbed the attention of many newcomers. They were curious about what I was doing, but nobody approached me in the end.

I Pathed all of them in front of Wuxia headquarters, just to make sure nobody is going to steal anything from them, then I finally went to sleep, back in my room.

Day came to an end with 5 096 140 points remaining on my account, and three class points.