Chapter 191: His long journey [4]

"Carl!"

Brandon's expressions turned grim as he called out for the boy who was running towards the edge of the cliff.

The village was way too remote. A cliff was closeby, and a vast ocean came into view.

Drip.

The rain continued pouring down, drenching his clothes.

Honestly, he didn't expect the boy to run like that.

But it seemed like he had those sorts of tendencies. The signs were there, and he noticed it.

Which is why he paid closer attention to Carl, especially when they arrived at his village.

Brandon and Amelia immediately ran towards him. But Brandon gestured his hand for Amelia to stop.

Carl.

He was awakening.

Brandon could see it.

Mana seemed to coalesce around Carl, and each step he took left wind gusts in his trail.

The patch of grass was pushed back, and wind continued to wrap itself around Carl's legs.

And then, he took it.

The leap of faith.

His hands were stretched wide open as if he was about to hug something.

Immediately...

Tzz—

Brandon blinked forward.

[Aeolus Blessing]

Under the effects of Aeolus Blessing, Brandon flashed downward, walking in the air as if it was solid ground.

"Carl!"

He reached his hand out. Of course, it was stupid to let the boy jump.

But,

It was for the boy's sake.

His call to reality.

And because of that, the boy had finally awakened his mana core.

A wind affinity.

Despite free–falling from a massive height, Brandon was way faster than Carl.

The boy's eyes were closed, unconscious. But despite that, there was a smile on his face as if he had finally found salvation.

And so, Brandon abruptly caught him, clutching him in his arms.

His life was already tragic.

But it shouldn't be the end.

No one deserved to die.

For what he thought was the end of his journey, was actually the start.

Even when life hadn't been so kind to them, the sun would soon shine on them.

***

"Hua!"

Carl was jolted awake, immediately lifting his body up.

Looking up, the stars hung in the sky and the moonlight casted its luminous glow on him.

And as he gazed around, there, he could see Brandon sitting on a log, looking at the stars with Amelia seated by his side.

"You alright now?"

Brandon turned his head back slightly and his voice reached Carl's ears.

Hearing his voice, Carl glanced down and checked his body.

"I'm... alive...?"

"You are."

Brandon stood up and Amelia looked back slightly, seated on the log.

"Care to explain why you pulled that stunt?"

"Ah."

Carl couldn't find any way to articulate his words. His mouth hung open and closed repeatedly.

He was truly lost. But Brandon's words had definitely touched his soul.

There was more meaning to life.

His past.

His experiences.

His sorrow.

His suffering.

It wasn't the end.

No, this was only the beginning. He was only 14 years–old. Barely, half the lifespan of a normal human.

"Lift your hand up."

"...?"

Carl tilted his head.

But he did just as Brandon instructed and raised his palms.

Amelia hopped down the log and walked towards them.

"...!"

She grabbed his hand and Carl's palms started emitting a bright glow.

"...?"

The hell was going on—

It was then.

"....!"

Woosh—!

A gust of wind escaped his palms and Amelia's hair fluttered in the air.

"Huh?"

"It's your power."

"What do you—"

"I only guided the flow of mana into your palms. The wind was your doing. Congratulations, Carl! You're a wind mage."

She flashed him a warm smile and Brandon chuckled from the side.

"A wind... mage?"

The thought was quite absurd. But after staying with both Brandon and Amelia for almost two months, he knew they were genuine people.

There was no need for them to lie.

So...

"I hope to see you in the academy, Cadet."

Amelia stomped her foot on the ground and gave a salute.

"Ah."

It was then when he realized.

His eyes widened.

Amelia...

Amelia Con...

Amelia Constantine.

The woman he had been on a journey with was Amelia Constantine, a prominent military personnel in the human domain.

What in the world.

Carl and Amelia sat on the log, while Brandon laid casually on the patch of grass.

The group gazed up, looking at the stars. The sky was clear as if it had never rained earlier.

All of a sudden, Brandon pointed his index finger up. Magic power coalesced on his fingertips and emitted a bright glow.

A small ember sparked, and shortly after....

Vooosh—!

A bright blue flame escaped his finger tip, heading up towards the sky.

Boom—!

Carl's eyes lit up as he looked at the flames, rippling and exploding in the air. He had never seen such a beautiful scene before.

Truly, there was so much more to experience in life.

And thanks to the people who opened his eyes, he started looking forward to it.

His past was still there, and still gripped his heart immensely.

But for the sake of the people he lost, he had to carry on.