Chapter 22 - A Single Step

Snapping back to my body, I return to find myself collapsed, unmoved from where I cast that spell.

Raising my head and looking around, it seems that at most an hour has passed. Some of the fires are still burning, and whilst the thin layer of snow has been melted, the sculptures are still in immaculate condition.

Using the staff to support me, I slowly make myself stand up.

Damn, talking with that obsidian bastard really takes it outta me. It feels as if I've just run a marathon backward.

At least I have a direction now. A goal. I can head north and find the cities capital. By that time, depending on how long it takes, I'll be able to get stronger.

Strong enough to protect everyone I care about. Strong enough to stop letting people I'm trying to help die.

Strong enough to protect my family.

Suddenly, my reverie is broken, as I scramble towards the house.

My family. Surge.

Unfortunately, my body is not stable enough to keep up with my desires. Instead of running towards the house as I want to, I'm forced to slowly hobble towards the front yard.

After slowly moving my heavy body to the house, I open the door only to hear a scream from the direction of the kitchen.

"Don't come any closer!" Surge yells, pointing at the door with a wand I've never seen her use.

"Calm down Surge, it's me," I say in a tired tone. I really have to find out how to stop being so weak after conversations with Ego. I mean, he's basically my benefactor at this point, so I shouldn't be useless after meeting with him.

"Shut up! Say something only Antonio would understand!" She yells. Of course, she wouldn't believe it was me. She's still a child, barely ten years old. Besides, who would believe that a child could simply walk out of a battlefield where everyone else died.

"My last name is Icefield, based on the field of ice I was found in when I was three. I got this earring from you, this bracelet from mom, and this headband from father." I say, looking towards Surge with an extremely worn expression. That seemed to be enough to convince her, as she drops the wand and runs towards me, only before stopping around one foot away from me.

"How?" It's a simple question, and after she glances outside, she asks once again. "How?"

I... can't think of a lie. Realistically, if we're going to be traveling for months, my magical talent is bound to be exposed.

Better to rip off that bandaid now instead of hiding it.

"I, uh, I don't really know. Something just came over me and forced me to run and grab Uncle Blaze's staff. Then, I felt a ton of mana leave my body. When I opened my eyes, the monsters were all frozen, but so was everyone else." I say, genuinely regretful that the rest of the village got caught up in my spell. I mean, nothing wrong with trying to score some sympathy with a half-truth, right?

Yet, before my tears were able to fall, I was... brought into a hug.

"It's okay. There's no need to cry." Surge says, bringing me into a deeper hug with a shaky voice. No matter what, she's still trying to be a strong older sister.

"Thanks, Surge," I say, returning the hug.

After a short hug, I step back from Surge.

"We can't stay here. We need to head north." I say as Surge looks at me startled.

"North? I know we can't stay here, but why would we head north? The closest town from here is two weeks South of our village by foot. I don't even know if there is a town that's north from here." Surge said, her voice still unsteady.

Slowly walking myself towards the couch within our somehow intact house, I sit down before answering.

"North of here isn't much for quite a while. It's a few months of travel, but that should spit us out right at the capital city. It's a huge magic city, and we should be able to get some help or at least make some money there." I say as Surges face changes from one of confusion to one of shock.

"The capital city? They don't speak the same language we do, and aside from that, how do you know that?" She asks, coming over and sitting next to me on the couch.

"Well, I've always been interested in books and learning stuff. When I was studying magic with Uncle I would also study geography, math, and stuff like that. I always thought it would come in handy." I say, replying once again with a half-truth. I can't come out and say a god told me in a vision.

"Even so, wouldn't it be better to head to Bismark and stock up on supplies, or just head to Bismark in search of help instead of the capital? The people of Bismark should have plenty of people who know our language." Surge says in a more confident tone as she continues. It seems she may have already made up her mind.

"If that's what you truly believe, then you're free to head to Bismark. I'll still be heading towards the capital city." Come one now, I'm not gonna lose a negotiation to a ten-year-old. I don't care if it takes all day, it's better to head to the capital.

"What?! Are you crazy? There's no way I'd let you do that alone! If something were to happen to you, I couldn't forgive myself. Let alone what father or mother would say." Surge says, only then realizing exactly what she just said. Marble and Gust are gone, it's just us now. Still, it's refreshing to have a sibling that cares this much. My old brother would probably encourage me to go alone and get myself killed, whilst I never really interacted with the first siblings I had in this world.

"Then you have no choice but to come with me," I say, putting on a small smile.

"You're stubborn." Surge says in a slight pout.

"I learn from the best. Also, I think I really need to sleep. Whatever spell the staff cast for me, I feel super drained."

Nodding her head, Surge helps me to my room and I quickly pass out.

Tomorrow, we plan on getting whatever supplies we can from the house and village, then begin our journey towards the capital.

Although Surge is putting on a brave face, I can't help but know she's hurt. I'm blessed to have a caring older sister, but I have to remember. She isn't like me. She's actually a genuine ten-year-old child.

I don't know how Tiamat's develop mentally compared to humans, but I can't make any hasty assumptions.

Hopefully, she can hold on and start to get better during the journey, otherwise, I don't really know what to do.

No matter what, tomorrow we take the first step towards our new lives. And every good story of new beginnings starts with a journey, right?