Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Chapter 38

The next day, I bade farewell to Noele and her parents. They left for Whiteridge, booking an enchanted carriage to take them there at the break of dawn. They were supposed to arrive there in two days’ time, not a long trip by any means, but I could’ve brought them there at a much faster rate. I did make the offer numerous times... only to be shot down, even as she was about to leave.

“I told you, I’m not letting you give my parents a heart attack.” Noele rolled her eyes. She was adamantly against it in every way. “My Mama and Papa are old. They’re pretty much retired [Farmers] at this point. They won’t be able to handle the trip to Wolfwater if you carry us there.”

“Wolfwater?” I raised a brow. “I was under the impression you were from Whiteridge.”

The blonde girl nodded. “Wolfwater is a small farming town right outside of Whiteridge. It’s technically a part of the city, but it’s its own thing.”

“Oh. Well, that’s fine, I guess. They’ll just escort you as far as Whiteridge, but that’s all.” I rubbed my chin in thought.

“Wait, what’s this about escorting me now?” Noele blinked.

“We are escorting you,” a familiar grumpy voice said.

I stepped to the side, and the Noble Spellsword paused. She stared as three figures emerged from the gates of Northon, leading a pair of horses behind them. Deon the Virtuous Guard, Skye the Silver Shade, and Saros the Gnome Inventor came to a halt next to me and nodded.

The gnome was the one who had spoken. He crossed his arms, eyeing the enchanted carriage. “An express ride— our horses better be able to keep up, we bought them from a Level 33 [Beast Master].”

“What’s going on?” Noele stared at me, flummoxed.

“I hired them to escort you,” I said simply as I faced the blonde girl. “Especially since you were so worried about something bad happening to you or your parents— I decided to give you a little extra security.”The roots of this story extend from novell bìn origin.

The Noble Spellsword’s eyes went round. She stared at Deon who stepped forward, clearing his throat as he faced me.

“While I may not have... carried myself too competently in the Frozar Mountains, I am grateful that you have given me a chance to repay my debt to you, Amelia.” He bowed his head low my way respectfully— a stark contrast to how he had behaved while lost in the labyrinth. “I will ensure your friend and her parents arrive in Whiteridge safely.”

Skye the Silver Shade nodded in agreement. “You saved us. This is the least we can do for you.”

“You paid them to escort me?” Noele asked, wide-eyed.

“They’re doing it for free,” I said with a shrug. “I wanted to pay them, but they refused to accept the payment.”

“They refused the payment,” Saros snorted. “Unlike those two sappy idiots, I ain’t doing this for free.”

I grinned back at him. “You still only charged five gold coins. I’d have thought an A-rank like you would be worth at least twenty. It seems you’re a sappy idiot too.”

He averted his gaze, but didn’t rebuke what I said. Noele just looked at me, still in awe. I turned to her with a smile.

“You’re my student— or whatever,” I said, patting her on the shoulder. “I’m not going to let you die on me.”

“Amelia...” she whispered.

I met her gaze, and my smile slipped for a moment. I scratched the back of my head. “Also, if I’m being honest, I asked Deon, Skye, and Saros to watch over you to ensure you don’t run off to fight the [Hero King].”

But here, I could relax. I could feel the gales beating against my back. My torn cloak whipped behind me, and I took in a deep breath. The frosty air was fresh, cool in my lungs,, with some salt from the brine. The nearby monsters didn’t attack me. The world remained at ease.

I could enjoy myself here in Vacuos.

“But here’s the question— what do I even enjoy doing?” I wondered aloud as I sighed.

I stood here at a mountaintop for a full minute, and the relaxing feeling vanished. It faded away, replaced by a niggling annoyance. I knew what the problem was, even if I didn’t want to acknowledge it. It was the reason why I spent days on end just staring at Windrip’s Adventurer's Guild’s job board, waiting for something new.

I was bored.

I was so incredibly fucking bored.

First of all, it was taking me forever even just to get to Windrip. I knew I could’ve just gotten to the city in a single jump, so I felt like I was just wasting my time by traveling slowly so I could enjoy the view.

Secondly, and worst of all, I had nothing to do. Even if I returned to Windrip, I would still be bored. Sure, I spent some time trying out cooking a month ago, but I got bored of that after a week and a half. I tried to pick up painting, only to be turned down by one of the few [Artists] in Windrip.

I would have thought that being an [Artist] would make them more open minded than not, considering the whole concept of artistic integrity and how it was all a creative endeavor, but apparently he was just an even bigger snob for levels than the layman.

Right now, I felt like I was just drifting around aimlessly, nothing to do but to see what the new day brought about. But the new day typically brought about another bout with boredom. Anything new I tried ended up being abandoned after the first obstacle. Maybe I could’ve revolutionized how food worked in Vacuos if I committed to my food stall.

But it was always just a fleeting interest, soon forgotten and buried behind.

Sighing, I leapt off the mountaintop, soaring across the sky above the clouds. I could almost see the twinkling stars from up here. The speckled scintillating sparks that were dimly visible in the morning. I tried to enjoy this scenic trip, but there was nothing for me to enjoy. And it was because I knew nothing.

Or, rather, I only knew only one thing.

My eyes flickered as I began to descend. I saw a small town in the distance, right at the edge of a valley. A column of smoking ascended from the wooden walls, and I took a deep breath.

All I knew was how to fight. It was what I always returned to. That was all I had spent the last ten years or however-long I was trapped in the Fractured Realm doing. I didn’t want to be a [Hero]. I didn’t want to be a hero.

As much as I tried— as much as I wanted to reintegrate into society and live a peaceful life— I couldn’t. I saw the flash of a blue screen from the corner of my eye. The offer to become a [Hero]. I rejected it again as I changed my course.

Yesterday, I had told Noele that if I saw someone in trouble, I would do something about it. But that was only because I couldn’t help myself but act. Just like right now.

The edge of the town was shrouded in mist. I saw shadows moving within as screams echoed out. Blood stained the earth, and bodies lay scattered across the grass. I descended into the mist, drawing my blade as I mentally apologized to Noele.

The truth is, I am a hero. And I hated every second of being one.

MelasD

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