A few days had passed since Kain and his church were driven out of the village. During that time, Elenwyr took it upon himself to teach me more about this world, much like Silverain used to do. The lessons were enlightening yet incredibly confusing, weaving together threads of knowledge that felt both familiar and foreign.

Word of my involvement in the conflict spread quickly, and I found myself dubbed the village hero. I was uncomfortable with the title, but it brought hope and happiness to the villagers. For that reason alone, I chose to remain silent, saying nothing to undermine their faith in me.

Now, I sat in a shroud of darkness, enveloped in a sense of nothingness. I could see nothing, feel nothing, hear nothing. Yet, despite this void, I felt no worries. I was as calm as an undisturbed lake that had lain in slumber for centuries—tranquil and relaxed.

Suddenly, a shout pierced the silence. "Hey, Lena! Grab me another cup!" came the bellow of a brutish man.

Instinctively, my head jerked to the left, and a heavy thud echoed in my ears, followed by a series of wooden clatters vibrating against the ground next to my feet.

My eyes flew open, revealing a visible crack in the wall where something had struck. Below me, an empty mug rolled gently in a circle, spilling the last remnants of ale.

I tilted my head upward to find a tavern brimming with drunken patrons, all frozen in place, their eyes wide as they stared at me. How had I managed to overlook this? The last I remembered, there had only been five people in here; now, it seemed like there were fifty.

Lena stood in front of a table, balancing a tray laden with mugs. One of the patrons leaned over, his left palm outstretched toward me, as if I were the cause of all this chaos. I realized that was likely the source of the mug that had come flying my way.

"Erm... S-sorry, kid," the man gulped nervously. "It kinda... slipped outta my hand somehow."

"It's fine," I said. "Just be mindful of your surroundings. Even if it was an accident, that mug left a dent in the wall. Had that struck anyone else... You get the idea."

"Y-yeah... Sorry."

Lena rested the tray of mugs on the table.

"Jenua... Didn't I tell you to pipe down?!" she shouted as she landed a slap at the top of the man's head.

"Ow! W-what the fu—"

Lena pulled him back down by the collar of his shirt, before he could finish.

"The hell am I gonna do if you injure someone?! I don't make enough to pay for a doctor, let alone to deal with your blatant stupidity! Now, listen here. Either you behave yourself, or I'm gonna put everyone's drinks on your tab!"

The tavern lit up with cheers and applause. It seemed like the only one who wasn't filled with jubilation was Jenua himself, as he sat back down with a visible look of shame.

"Pick up your goddam drinks," Lena muttered.

"Cheers to Lena!" someone shouted.

"Cheers!" everyone else chimed in.

"Hmph... Whatever," Lena grumbled, but her frown seemed pleased, in a way.

These past few days, I've occupied my time was Elenwyr's training and Blanc's wellbeing, so I haven't had the chance to see Lena and Lenny for a while. It's a relief to see that they're doing better than ever.

Lena took the tray back to the bar counter, where Heath was wiping some mugs with a rag. Her arms reached to the ceiling for a stretch, and then she came over and sat down next to me with an exaggerated sigh.

"Bunch of freaks, they are," she groaned. "And here I was thinking it was gonna be a nice, relaxing day now that the church is gone. How did it completely slip my mind that these ruffians would come flocking here to celebrate?"

"It's not so bad," I smiled. "I think it's rather nice that these people are able to smile and laugh freely for once."

"Eh... Tch. Can't you agree with me for once? I hate that you're so nice when you have no reason to be."

"Nice? Me?"

"Well, yeah! You fought off those church bastards when they were beating Blanc. I heard you even cut off one of their legs! And then...! Using just your sword, you cut down the flame magic they used to strike at you. That's so freaking cool."

"I don't think I did that much."

"You sure as hell did, kid," someone said.

We both turned our heads to see Heath approaching us from the bar.

"Ah! Mister Heath!" Lena exclaimed. "I-I'm not slacking or anything. I was just—"

Heath let out a wholehearted laugh that interrupted her. "Relax, Lena. I just wanted an opportunity to thank our hero."

"...Hero?" I sighed.

"That's right. As a mere traveler, you could've overlooked our situation and been on your way. Instead, you stayed and fought for us. Unlike us, you risked your life fighting for what you believed was right. Most importantly... You saved Blanc when none of us were brave enough to do it. So, thank you. Truly."

I feel something... weird. I know he means well with these compliments, but for some reason, my mind is rejecting it as if it was something I didn't want to hear.

"Hey, Little Blanc!" a man called out with a broad grin. "Grab me another drink, will ya?"

"Right away!" came her cheerful reply.

I turned my gaze toward the sound of her voice, and my heart lifted at the sight of Blanc rushing through the bustling tavern. She balanced a tray of empty mugs with both arms, her face illuminated by a bright smile.

Gone were the tattered rags she once wore; instead, she was dressed in a simple yet charming dress that fell gracefully to her knees. The pastel-green fabric was adorned with outlines of blue, purple, and red, creating a whimsical pattern. The sleeves were long, nearly swallowing her hands, which peeked out from the creases like delicate flowers emerging from their buds.

It looked as though she had washed her hair too, for it now shone like the brightest of moons, its white brilliance contrasting with her renewed complexion. Most importantly, she wore an expression of pure joy—a sight that warmed my heart.

Maybe the World Expedition is no longer an option. With Kain and his church gone, Blanc could finally embrace the carefree life of a child here, unburdened by fear. She might become a powerful Wayfarer someday, but I realized that choice should belong to her alone.

I stood up, a deep breath filling my lungs as I absorbed the scene before me.

"Where are you off to this time?" Lena asked.

"I'm not sure," I replied. "Wherever the wind takes me, I suppose. Heath, Lena. Thank you for your hospitality up until now. I'll never forget it."

"Eh? Why are you saying it like you aren't coming back?"

We locked eyes, and in that moment, her smile faded away. "Noir? You're not actually leaving, are you?"

I paused for a moment, reflecting on how, despite my brief time here, I had grown attached to this place and its people. Blanc, Lina, Lenny, and even Heath—they are all good people just trying to get by. With the church now gone, they could return to their former lives, enjoying the peace and revelry of the night.

Watching them now, filled with a joy that hadn’t been there before, brought me happiness and relief. Yet, beneath that warmth lingered a guilt that reminded me: my place isn't among them.

This village was my first stop, coincidentally under siege by a group known as the Aetolian Thralls. It made me wonder—how many others are suffering under their influence?

I can't turn a blind eye to them. My path lies with the Path of Tenebris. To whatever end awaits, that is my goal... but that end is not here.

"Leaving was always a part of the plan," I finally replied. "It just happened a lot later than I had anticipated. I only stayed for as long as I did because I wanted to help Blanc. Now that she's able to smile like that, I think my job here is done."

"But... What about Blanc?" Lina asked. "You're the reason why she's able to smile like that, after all. You're not even gonna say goodbye to her?"

I looked at Blanc again. Although Lena refuses to give them credit, the men are smiling at her and treating her as if she were one of their own. I've never seen her so full of joy, and I want her to stay like that.

"To say goodbye..." I muttered. "Emotions are difficult. When you smile, you're happy. When you cry, you're sad. However, there are also underlying feelings that I can't quite explain—a foreboding sense of longing amidst the unknown. For some reason, I think saying goodbye... might hurt a bit too much."

With that, I left the tavern.