CHAPTER 8 Part 2: Strongest Mage

I opened my eyes, the dream I had still fresh from my memories. I saw a wooden ceiling, Yuna and I are still inside the Inn Luke rented for the three of us. I sat up, thinking about the vision I had.

[do I trust the white misty man, just like the black shadow? He was sincere, I can feel that but what do I do about Yuna and Luke? I still need Luke to accompany me to LouwenDale for I don’t know the way… and Yuna needs Luke too. I don’t want them to die… I’ll get stronger… and protect everyone.]

“How can I simply move on from what happened? How can I simply forget?” I said, tears running down my cheeks as I wept in silence.

I was remembering the events that transpired from the moment I arrived in this world. The peaceful village where I grew up was now in ashes, our home, our neighbors, the people I knew for a short time, all of that, now gone. The sceneries, the flowers, the trees, the market, the garden, all gone in just a blink of an eye. 

All I can blame for my father’s death is myself. Each passing day thinking to myself, what if I did not come along that day to help Griffin when we fought those Lygnicans, my father would still be alive and would be able to defend the village with Luke against demons or he could’ve escaped with us. 

Before I knew it, I was bawling my eyes out, everything I was feeling came rushing out, like a dam unable to hold the pressure of the current of rushing water. I wept in silence in the small room we occupy, careful not to let my weakness show.

After a while, I only felt the coldness of the night however, a sudden warmth slowly enveloped me. Arms so slender wrapped around me, giving me reassurance and strength, all my anxiety vanished, all the weight that I was carrying as heavy as a bus dwindled as she leaned her delicate head on my back. My heavy heart slowly felt lighter as I remove her hands wrapped around my body, faced her, wrapped my arms around her, and cried on her. 

Yuna noticed my trembling body and hugged me tightly and caressed my disheveled hair, her way of telling me that ‘everything will be okay, but for now, cry your heart out.’

“I will take you in my arms as often as you need and for as long as you need. I will always be here for you.”

***

The sun rose as Luke came back with food and brand-new equipment. Both Yuna and I were already done crying so no awkward moment rose when he came from the wooden door.

“Who wants food~”

I knew I had red swollen eyes as I had cried almost the whole night but Luke didn’t mind and I uttered some words as I slowly get off the bed.

“Me…”

Yuna also approaches Luke to eat some food.

Luke gently put his hand over both our heads.

“I’ll protect you two no matter what. However, I don’t know where we should be going, I thought of going to Neon Village because it is far from Gadvell however, it’s only been weeks and we’re almost out of supplies, you guys think going to LouwenDale first would be a good idea? Here’s the map we’re right here, Neon Village is here far west of Gadvell and LouwenDale is right here in the middle of the continent.” Luke told both of us about our situation and asked for advice.

“Umm… I think heading to LouwenDale would be good, Dad told me before we got separated to go to LouwenDale and look for someone named Tiffany Fareas, I think she would be helpful to us… I think.”

“Ow! so Tiffany is in LouwenDale… I haven’t heard that name since my adventuring days, she’s actually your dad’s stepsister, the strongest mage I’ve ever seen, she saved me so many times that I’ve lost count, she would definitely be helpful. It’s settled we’re going to LouwenDale, we’re heading off tomorrow morning, for now, let me have my rest.”

“kay~”

“Tiffany Fareas… I still remember the little game Tiffany, Griffin, and I played during the first days of our little 3-man group before Griffin and I met Ophelia, that beast never showed mercy” Luke chuckled and continued his story lying on the bed, Yuna and I listening as we ate.

“We kept scores proving to one another who’s the strongest of the group and she steamrolled ahead of us… 45-6-6-1… that was the score when Ophelia joined. Up until Ashadow disbanded, we still counted each other’s ‘trophy’ but I lost count after she killed her 2000th monster… or was it a demon? While the rest of us only had a 3-digit kill count… Ophelia’s 996 kills, being the highest score only behind Tiff’s. Even with Aegir’s sacrifice, saving us from when we were ambushed by the demons, he still fell short on Tiff’s achievements. 

“Me as the Leader of Ashadow, Griffin as my right-hand man, and Aegir our Ancient Keeper, together we were the Vanguards of Ashadow, the ones responsible for protecting everyone. Tiffany our Grand Sorcerer together with Ophelia the heart of Ashadow, was the Nukers of Ashadow, responsible for clearing out large groups of monsters. Hayden our backline’s last resort for defense, looking out for Tiff and Ophelia and lastly Olivia our flanker and assassin, were the Shadows of Ashadow… what? Griffin named their roles not me~” I looked at Luke with a disapproving face as I wrongfully judge the man who I taught named their positions wittily, interrupting his story.

The three of us laughed aloud that morning.