Chapter 24: Turning Point

The events of that night still lingers in my head. No matter how many times I’ve convinced myself it’s nothing but an unpleasant dream, the harshness of the truth keeps on whipping me hard. Celes is gone. Cliona is gone. Sylphie is gone. All three of them disappeared that night. And even after three weeks, they showed no signs of returning.

I left Berkut without even saying goodbye to the Ramburg triplets, to their old man, or even to Wein. I returned here in Bilfort, back in my Master’s forge, achieving nothing. I wasn’t able to acquire a single spirit for my blacksmith training, I abandoned my due rewards, I let the culprits of a serial murder case go, and I lost the most important person in my life. What did I even went there for?

Nothing.

And here I am, after waking up from such a menacing nightmare, is back to the room where it all started. All this time, I only now realize how big this room is. The room that Celes decorated with her intriguing displays. The room that smells like Celes. The room that we shared.

I drag myself out of the bed and step out of that suffocating room. Reaching a hand to massage my nape, I yawn and enter the bathroom. I look at myself in the mirror. Dark bags under my eyes, a raw and brutish look, rumpled hair—I look like I came out of some hell hole.

Whatever. I grab a towel resting in the basin of water and wash my face with it. I shake my head and press the towel on my face. There, that ought to do it.

“Idiot, give that to me, I’ll rub your back for you,” a tender yet mocking voice says on my right.

I got excited right away. I know this voice.

“Thanks, Celes,” I smile and reach the towel to her.

But nobody grab it from my outstretched hand. I cock my head to that side and smile wryly. Moments later, Celes’s smiling figure slowly disappear. I grit my teeth and prevent the floodgates from flowing. I know dammit. I know it’s impossible for her to be there. It was just my head playing tricks on me. Nothing but a convenient escape created by my longing. But I still close my eyes, relishing that image of her in my head.

I trudge back to my room and grab my hammer. As I hold it closer, I feel like it responded to my sorrow somehow. I chuckle, mocking myself for thinking of such a ridiculous idea, and head downstairs to meet my Master. I find him in the dining room, topless—showing off his bronze skin—and casually chatting with this bombshell lady I seem to have forgotten the name.

“Hey, Reimuz, feeling any better?” he asks, arms crossed.

“Doing great Master,” I wear a fake smile and scratch my head. “Much better than usual actually.”

With my so in need of comfort face, this answer is bullshit, but my troubles are my own, and work is work. I join them for breakfast, quickly finishing my plate of fried eggs that did not taste anything. I’m glad he didn’t mention a word about Celes, but it also made me feel a little lonely.

“You can skip training today,” the old man says before returning inside the smithy.

Oh, that’s right. I have some mermaids to investigate. I nod to his back, and suddenly, I find myself strolling around town, glancing at every other girl that I pass by, hoping it’ll be Celes. I really miss her after all. As I somber through the streets, I reluctantly think about the time we’ve spent together. When I’m with her, any place would always look different. Everything is so vibrant and interesting, but now it feels empty.

I’m already out of energy even though I haven’t walk very far. As I seek a place to rest, my walking eventually lead me to the circular fountain. I occupy one of the wooden benches surrounding it and stretch my arms wide. Glancing skyward, I stare into the deep blue sky, counting the clouds as they go.

“You’re an idiot.”

I am, Celes. I am. I bite on my lip, resisting the urge to look at my side.

“A man shouldn’t be asking about a girl’s belongings, don’t you think?”

I won’t, Celes. I won’t. Please, someone tell me how to stop this longing in my heart. Everytime I think of her, something inside my chest stirs. Like I couldn’t do anything to make her stay. For the sake of relieving this guilt in my heart, I sacrifice our relationship. Dammit.

Time drifts just like that, and night came too quickly. I decide to go home, ending the day with a dinner with the old man. As usual, he didn’t mention a word about Celes.

Days past and I’m still trap in this vicious cycle. I feel like if I continue on like this, everything I did beforehand will be for nothing, but my body refuses to move. I have casual conversations with the old man, but nothing in regards to Celes. Why? Makes me wonder if he knows that I’m wasting my life these past few days. Or was it weeks? I don’t know. I stop counting a long time ago.

Again, I’m out in the streets, wandering aimlessly and doing nothing.

“Reimuz!”

Someone calls out to me. Someone familiar. But I didn’t turn to return her greeting. Instead I persist on my walking and ignore that person. The same person persistently follow me as I walk.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you? You suddenly disappeared…”

I continue to ignore her attempts and trudge on silently, my hands in my pocket. After a while, the annoying person finally stops following me. I shoot a quick glance over my shoulder to see who it is. None—the person is already gone. That’s good, is what I thought to myself. I wouldn’t want to involve myself with anybody right now. The dark sky envelops the city once again, so I turn my heel back to the place I call home in this world.

“How your investigation lately?” the old man asks.

“Doing great,” I say, lying with a straight face. I pull a chair in front of the old man and join him for supper.

The old man simply replies, “I see,” and smiles at me. I should be happy that everything is alright, but why does my chest throbs in pain so much? Nonetheless I still force a smile in return while I tightly clench one of my fist behind my back. Seeing the old man relieved makes me feel pathetic. I just casually wear a smile on my face to deceive him.

“That’s enough, Reimuz,” despite his blistering tone, I feel a wave of tenderness.

“What… What do you mean?” I ask, my voice trailing in the air.

Silence descends on us two and the air stills with emotions I can’t name. Suddenly the old man shatters that heavy atmosphere with a single sigh.

“I do feel sad that you lied to me but, I know the one hurting the most is you. Though no matter what happened, you should accept the fact that Celes is already gone!” He angrily grabs my collar and I still can’t say anything in return. “You should learn how to stand up for yourself!! If you want something, seize it with your own two hands!”

The old man, after all this time, knew about everything. Instead of deciding things for me, he wanted to give me freedom with my decision. He simply observed how I will continue to move forward with my life. But I failed him. I even have the nerve to tell lies.

“You’re my apprentice… I’m here to guide you… That’s all.” He releases my collar and walk upstairs.

After his manly speech, I just couldn’t sit around any longer. I grab a sword and head to our backyard immediately.

“HAAAAA!!!” I shout my lungs as I swing the steel sword, over and over again. I did not stop, even though both of my arms are throbbing in pain. My muscles and wrist are hurting all over, and yet… I feel so satisfied.

So what if I’m one fucked up son of a bitch? On this night, under the blue moon, I promise to myself: That I will go and meet Celes once more even if it kills me.

I return to the house after swinging the sword as much as I can. My body is drenched in sweat and my muscles are swelling. Even though I just did something so stupid, I feel glad. Both my mind and my heart feels so refreshed. The moment I enter the living room, the old man is already waiting for me.

With a stern smile, he crosses his arms.

“So, what do you plan to do now?”

“I… I want to see her again… But with the way as I am right now, I feel like I cannot reach that goal. Therefore, I’d like to grow stronger,” howling my newfound feelings, I bow my knees and prostrate myself. “Please, guide me on how to fix her sword one more time!”

“Good! Very good! Rise up early tomorrow and we’ll resume training once more.”

“Yes!”

The old man prepares a bowl of hot soup to me before going back to bed again. I do not know why, but this soup tastes so good. Probably the best soup I’ve ever had in my entire life. Once I’m done eating, I clean my mess and go upstairs to retire.

Most of Celes’s belongings can be found all over the room. Most importantly, her big bag lying right beside the bed. I open it, not because I was hoping if she left her panties, but because I’m curious to see what’s inside. Surprisingly enough, her bag only contains a few accessories and a small bottle of perfume. Oh yeah, I forgot her clothes are stashed inside those drawers. Still, this perfume is probably the one she uses all the time after her bath. My lingering feelings aside, I take the bottle with me as a goodluck charm.

Yes, I might just be a pebble now, but even a person as insignificant as myself can still be recognize. I’ll develop my skills, forge new things, and become a real blacksmith!

Wait for me, Celes! I’ll fix your sword and meet you once again, whether you’re in agreement or not.

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Blasting through the gigantic gates forged from the finest of steel, a young man with the appearance of a swordsman emerged from the rubble. His clothes and robes are tattered, yet his face shows an overwhelming amount of dignity. With golden hair and blue eyes, his facial features were the reminiscent of a handsome noble.

Once a kid who enjoyed a leisurely upbringing, but was quickly discarded after seeing that he had no worth. He was regarded worse than a rock because he could not use magic in this magic driven world.

And now, he had returned to his birthplace with a single goal in mind.

In order to reclaim his title as a prince, he waltzed directly into the royal palace all by himself. Guards and knights were flying in all directions while trying to stop the young man, but no one was able to impede his advance that lead him toward the audience chamber.

There was no fluke to his overwhelming strength. Overcoming twelve years of harsh training with his foster father and conquering the demon continent in three short years, he became invincible.

The ultimate hard-worker—one who had built all of his strength from scratch.

“My name is — — and I request an audience with His Majesty!”

Although, unknown to the young man, his father, who was once the King, had long passed away.

Swept by an invisible tide that carried everything else, all of the central continent will soon realize the meaning of the words: Dragon Killer. And in the midst of this one gigantic turbulence is a young man who came from a different world.

Well, this concludes the first volume ^_^

I know there’s quite a few questions left unexplained, but that’s how I see life you know. Sometimes, it just won't go the way we imagined it to be, no matter how many times we planned it to be perfect. And this fiction is just starting. More mysteries to unravel, more adventures to partake, etc etc. Join our MC as he get entangled in a massive turbulence, with him as the center! In the midst of Chaos, will he be able to fulfill his original goal, or will he once again, get sidetrack? Read on and find out xD!