Chapter 81 - 80: Isn't It A Beautiful Sight?

"Hey young man, will u please carry me to a place? and please call all the kids with us," said Grandma Julia.

It was a rare thing that Grandma Julia asked something specific, so I followed what she said without much question. 

I woke up everyone else and took them with us.

I carried Grandma Julia on my back. Standing on the door,

Aetna asked, "Where do you want to go, Grandma?"

"Just come with me, I want to show you young ones something." 

"Okay, just guide me to the place that you want to show us, I will carry you there," I said.

She placed her hand over my head, patting my head she spoke up, "What a kind young man!!" 

"Okay, Grey!! I will carry Grandma!! I want head pats too." said Rudi as he stretched both of his hands. 

"Come here, I will give you a head pat too," said Grandma Julia as she patted his head.

She is awfully kind today. Does she recognize us now? but she hasn't called us by our name, so I am not sure. 

There was one more reason I agreed to take her to the place she wanted to show us. She didn't seem to remember most of her memories, so taking her to this place might help her remember things.

We started walking through the city, as grandma Julia guided us.

It was still really early in the morning, the sun was not out yet. In this lonely street that was devoid of people, we walked all alone.

Grandma Julia would guide us to take left or right, following her guide we walked through the streets. 

Eventually, we reached the adventure guild, which was still lit. The adventuring guild is open throughout the day and night, so it wasn't a rare sight to see. 

Walking through the empty street, my nose was feasted with the smell of freshly baked bread. I noticed the smell was coming from the bakery that was the only shop open at this time. 

It makes sense since there is a high demand for freshly baked goods early in the morning. 

Since we were hungry, we stopped at the bakery and had something to eat. After being done eating, we continued walking to the destination.

After walking for a while, we reached the exit of the city. Grandma told us to take a path straight into the forest, exiting the city.

Walking into the forest for a minute, she told us to stop. 

"It should be here." 

"What are you searching for Grandma?" asked Rai.

"There was a massive tree around here, I am looking for it."

"Is it that one?" asked Rai, pointing towards a tree, that was actually massive. 

"Yes!! that one." 

What stood in front of us was a massive tree, unlike any other neighboring tree. It had a red-brown thick trunk.

But the tree itself was not important. The important thing was the presence of two tombstones under the massive tree.

"Yes!, this is the place," said Grandma Julia pointing towards the two gravestones.

Confused, Aetna asked, "These are?"

"These are graves of my son and my husband," answered Grandma Julia. 

So she remembers her husband and son. That's a good sign, she might start remembering things.

After a second, she continued "They both were adventurers, they both died doing what they loved. they both died as an adventurer."

"Oh..." said Rudi.

"Doing what you love is important. But a person should always remember that there are loved ones who are waiting for them."

"What were they like?" I asked. 

"What were they---- It was a long time ago, but I still remember it as clear as day. They both were just idiots who happen to be stronger than normal humans. they thought they were given strength to protect others and that's what they did after joining the adventure guild."

After a little pause, she continued,

"Following his dad's footsteps, even my son joined the adventure guild. They did protect various people over the years, they were even getting locally popular as heroes. But one day it happened, they both died protecting a village.

People who are born with power think they are born to protect or rule over everyone else. but none of that matters, you can live in this world however you want. "

I opened my mouth, "So you hate heroes and rulers?" 

"I don't think I hate rulers, but I do hate heroes. Heroes are the existence who think that they can save everyone, they live for others, they live to save and protect others. Everything they are built upon is just for other people's sake. 

A person isn't responsible for another person, they can choose whatever path they want. They can choose to fight for themselves, they are not responsible to fight for others. 

The moment you chose to walk on the path of being a hero, you will just end up walking the path of inevitable self-destruction."

The next moment, she placed her hand over my head as she spoke up,

"Grey..."

Did she call me by name?

"You---you remember me?" I asked, shocked.

"Of course I do, I remember you all. You are all my kids, you all are kids of Grandma Julia!" 

She continued, "Rai be a good girl okay? you tend to pretend that you are strong, but you are just human as others. It's okay to rely on people and you have five people you can rely on. If anything happens in the future, be sure to rely on them."

Shifting her attention toward Rudi, "Rudi, looking up to someone is okay, but always remember to be yourself!! I know you are a good and pure kid, I hope you stay the same forever. "

Looking at Ulrich, "Ulrich, you love cooking right? keep doing what you love. You are quiet but yet passionate, but don't let negative thoughts take over you. Just keep cooking, do the thing you love!."

"Aetna, you love Grey, don't you? You know, you think that you are the only one that relies on him, But that's not true. If you look closely, you will see that he also relies on you. You both share a bond that goes beyond.

I have rarely seen Grey smile for real, most of the time it was you who was the reason that he had smiled for real. Never leave him alone okay? and also you are your own person, so don't think about things too much."

She looked at Annie as she said, "Annie, you are the smallest of them all. You have lived your life thinking that you are a burden, but now you can live as a light that will shine for all of them. You are still a kid, so leave all the burden on adults, okay? you can just keep being kid okay?" 

Why she is speaking like this? 

I opened my mouth saying, "Why are you speaking like this Grandma, you still have---"

Before I could complete my sentence she opened her mouth, "Grey--"

There was warmth in the way she called me.

"You are strong, okay? stronger than anyone else, but that doesn't make you responsible for protecting others. You can live your life however you want. You don't have to be the responsible one. 

I hope that one day you can start smiling, laughing, crying for real. Even though how much you try to put on fake laugh and smile, you can't hide your pain from this Grandma."

"Huh?"

"You have been through a lot, don't you? You have tried your best for others, you kept working hard for others. But it's fine, you don't have to work for others, you don't have to hide your pain. "

After a little pause, she asked me, "Will you place me down under the tree?" 

as she wanted, I placed her down under the tree.

"After the death of my kid and my husband, I have been leading a very lonely life. I am glad that I got to meet you kids. You kid took care of this old woman and I was really really happy. I was happy with you kids."

"Why are you speaking like ----" asked Ulrich, he wore a pained expression. 

"Don't worry kid, this old woman is fine. I am just a little tired. I will be lying down here, I want to sleep for a while. Grey, can you lend me your lap."

Placing her head on my lap, she lied down. 

She turned to face east, 

The sun had started blooming on the horizon, the first rays of the sun stretched through the sky causing the golden color to spread throughout. It was a beautiful sunrise.

"A beautiful sight, isn't it? I have truly led a beautiful life." 

"It is indeed beaut--" 

I looked at Grandma Julia who was still looking at the sunrise, but she wasn't breathing anymore. 

She was gone.....

"Grandma ?" called out Rai.

I looked at them as I shook my head. They understood what I meant. They all wore really pained expressions.

I wonder what kind of expression do I have on my face right now? why am I still not able to cry?

{Author: Next chapter will last chapter of volume three, Grey will leave Goldberg city after that.}