It’s almost been a month since Lantern disappeared.

As a vessel, I don’t have much authority but with my Strongtower lineage, I’ve been given some leeway.

Me, Vinyl and Ember posted missing posters of Lan everywhere, I also let the vessels I know about the situation, thankfully, they said they’d give me a heads up when there’d be news.

When I went on a rampage inside purgatory as soon as I knew Lan disappeared, I raised a rank.

Currently, I’m a silver rank vessel but I’ve never cared about that.

What I-, who I cared about was Lan…

He was a childhood friend that never discriminated against my upbringing.

When we were younger-

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.

.

“Ruuuun! Watch your footing Macy!” [Tyke]

“Ha Ha! Someone as slow as Fabian won’t be able to touch us!” [Macy]

“Fabian may be ‘it’ but don’t tease her too much Macy…” [Tyke]

“Sorry Tyke, get caught then!” [Macy]

“Yoooo, we’re going ahead!” [Dom]

“Dom! Rod! Don’t get cocky!” [Macy]

“What do you mean cocky? Can’t you see that Elena is already way ahead of us?!” [Rod]

“Slow… down… guys…” [Fabian]

I used to play with the noble and highblood kids every once in a while and I was always better in every aspect, I was always so proud of myself back then

“Ha~ you’re all a hundred years too early if you want to catch me!” [Ellie]

I was way ahead.

I had already lost sight of my playmates.

When I noticed that, I stopped, looked around then realized that I was lost.

It was a place without buildings, full of nature…

I was exploring the area out of curiosity then I spotted him-

“Hmm?” [Lan]

“A kid?” [Ellie]

“Aren’t you a kid yourself?” [Lan]

“W-w-why you…” [Ellie]

This is the first exchange me and Lan had…

“A-anyway! What are you doing here? I didn’t know there were people this deep in the forest” [Ellie]

“Hmmm… now you do” [Lan]

“Why you….” [Ellie]

I didn’t know his name yet but he irritated me-

“Anyway, what are you doing? You’re full of dirt…” [Ellie]

“Of course I’m dirty, I’m working after all” [Lan]

“Working? Aren’t adults the ones who work?” [Ellie]

“I don’t know about that but I want to help out my family as much as I can” [Lan]

“…” [Ellie]

“Well, I said working but in reality I’m gardening, look” [Lan]

“Huh? Look at wha-“ [Ellie]

He showed me a separate division of plants that I thought were weeds and wild plants but to my amazement, they were his plants.

Vegetables and fruits of different shapes and sizes.

The idea of gardening never bought me any interest but this scene amazed me.

Someone about the same age as me, created this…

“Pretty neat, right? I grew them all myself” [Lan]

“W-wha?! I-i-it’s not l-like it’s amazing or a-anything” [Ellie]

“Hahaha really? Well, it doesn’t matter” [Lan]

“Doesn’t matter? What doesn’t?” [Ellie]

“The results of course!” [Lan]

“Eh?! But why?! Aren’t results... hmmm… like medals! Yeah medals!” [Ellie]

“Hmm? I don’t know anything about medals but what happens when you get them?” [Lan]

I puffed my chest out like an idiot then with full confidence-

“Kukuku it’s displayed where everyone can see them of course!” [Ellie]

“Heh~ then?” [Lan]

“Then what…?” [Ellie]

“It gets displayed, then what?” [Lan]

“Hmmmm” [Ellie]

At this moment was the first time that I racked my brain the most my whole life, up to that point.

“So medals don’t have a purpose huh” [Lan]

“Geuk…” [Ellie]

I was embarrassed… but I chose to be stubborn.

All my life, all I did was follow the system to create results.

I’d study then get perfect scores, I’d practice then do it perfectly, I’d do something up to a certain point but when I’d get the results I wanted I’d sto-

“But like I said, the results don’t matter, lost princess!” [Lan]

“P-princess! Yes, I allow you to call me that!” [Ellie]

“…What matters is the process!” [Lan]

“Eh?” [Ellie]

“If you only search for results, when you get nothing then you’ll turn your back on it but if you do things you genuinely want to, you can stumble and fall but in the end you’ll be happy!” [Lan]

BADUMP

Eh?

What is this?

…

“Hey…” [Ellie]

“Yes, lost princess?” [Lan]

“Ellie…” [Ellie]

“Hmm? What was that?” [Lan]

“My name’s Elena but I’ll give you a special permission to call me Ellie! It’s a special permission, got it!? ” [Ellie]

“O-oh! Okay, got it… Ellie, nice to meet you… I’m Lantern but you can call me Lan!” [Lan]

“Lan…” [Ellie]

“Yes?” [Lan]

“Can I borrow a hand trowel?” [Ellie]

When I asked this, Lan had a shocked look on his face as he turned his head to look at me then, I saw the brightest smile I had ever saw-

“Here!” [Lan]

That was the start of our beautiful roman- friendship!

Lan wore worn out clothes and I was wearing a dress but he didn’t hesitate to give me the hand trowel and that was our first interaction…

After that, I’d always go to Lan’s place to help with his garden.

All my life up to that point, I had only cared about competition but…

Lan changed me.

Lan…

We’re all waiting, please come home.