Kind-Hearted

We returned to the palace looking worse for wear. None of us spoke a word about the results of the fight, and Arja immediately returned to his quarters afterwards. Even Hava, who had been nagging before, stopped and disappeared elsewhere, leaving me in my own room with this gaping void that I didn’t know how to feel.

The next day, no one responded. Or rather, I wasn’t quite sure where they were in the first place (I did sneak out of the palace through the windows, after all), so I didn’t move about for too much. And the guards standing outside didn’t help — if anything, they were blocking me from going to places more than actually protecting me from danger.

At least food was still present, as well as their only source of water being those mangosteens. Three times a day sharp, almost like clockwork. But I couldn’t work up an appetite.

Not after what had happened.

I still vividly remembered it. The pain from his iron staff. But more importantly, the feeling of powerlessness that came rushing to me once my transformation became undone.

“I’m not… aren’t I?”

Was it too far gone for me? Did I get addicted to power without myself knowing it? I couldn’t answer.

Maybe it was the case. Maybe I was just missing my powers. But maybe…

“Hey. Thinking about something?”

A voice called out to me from outside. Turning back, I could see a familiar muscular figure leaning on the doorframe.

“Hava?” I raised my voice in surprise. “Why are you here?”

“What? Can’t I check on you or something?”

“No, that’s the point. Why are you here? I thought you didn’t like me?”

“I don’t hate you either,” the man shrugged.

“The real reason please.”

“... Arja is busy working, so I volunteered,” with a sigh, Hava admitted.

“Figured it was something like that.”

“Oh come on,” Hava clicked his tongue in annoyance. “Surely I’m not that hostile towards you.”

“You weren’t,” I answered. “It’s just easier for me to think that people are. Call it an occupational disease.”

After all, if you were trusting of anyone while working as a detective, you’d be a walking minefield for disasters to strike.

“You… weren’t liked much when you were young, huh?”

“What makes you think that?”

“I mean… just listen to what you’re saying.”

The man’s eyes showed visible concern towards me, as if I had suffered from a miserable childhood. I couldn’t answer him, of course. Not because my childhood was all sunshine and rainbow, but certainly not because I was trying to make myself look tough or anything.

I just didn’t remember, that was all. But, objectively speaking, you could say that I had it rougher than others. After all, both my parents died, and my sister had to play the role of my mother and father both.

Both of you were good children.

My mouth lightly curled into a smile. To think that I’d remember the Chief’s words now of all time.

“What’s wrong?” asked Hava. He must have seen my face.

“Nah, it’s nothing. Just reminiscing for a bit.”

“I see… Well, in any case, let’s go.” The man made an odd gesture outside.

“Go? Where? And I thought I wasn’t to leave this building?”

“It’s an exception. Just go along.”

“Well… alright.”

We headed outside in a separate carriage, filled with the same gaudy royal decor that I had seen the first time around — a bright red veil draped over, with a pair of camels whose golden fur showed a great deal of care between them as mounts for nobles. The carriage galloped through the road with ease, as if nothing was ever destroyed in the last two fights that this nation had gotten to experience. Or perhaps, it was all my delusional thinking, and the ride was only smooth because of the quality of our vehicle.

Peeking over the veil, I could see that it was unfortunately the case. The rocks that made the main roads were in tatters, crumbling away at the slightest touch. I didn’t even know where they had gotten the new rocks from, but wherever it was, they were having a tough time dealing with it — boulders were stacked to the sideways, with shirtless workers slowly but surely chipping away at each chunk, sweat glistening on their tanned bodies.

And yet, there were no signs of complaints or struggles.

“Hey, look, it’s the royal carriage,” I could hear some murmurs amidst the crowd.

“Is the Prince inside?”

“Maybe it’s him.”

Everyone was the same: surprised, but overall positive, a hint of elation mixed within their voices.

The carriage, however, continued forth on the broken road. We traveled for another while, taking occasional rests on the way — you’d think I’d be sick of mangosteens by now, but it was the only water we had.

We stopped at a suspiciously shallow cliff. Unlike others I’d seen in my life (mostly through images and videos, naturally), it went on for seemingly forever, while only about two people’s worth of height at best, and that was being generous.

Almost as if it was a dried-out river rather than a natural cliff. But that wasn’t the most curious thing.

There was an altar — or rather, a makeshift one at least, with it being just a regular wooden table draped by a bright red and gold cloth. On the table lay a few plates of fruits, from mangoes (I assumed) to mangosteens, bananas (or at least a similar-in-look crescent fruit), and another that I had no idea what it was, but it had a golden flesh and a wonderful signature smell that I could even sense it from here.

In the center of it all was a giant censer with two dragon-shaped handles to the sides, its green hue was a complete contrast to the bright-colored surroundings. To procure copper at this level of detail was a feat surely equal to a master artisan. There were already five burning sticks of incense planted when we arrived, perhaps a prepreparation of some kind — though for what exactly, I couldn’t know.

The carriage finally stopped.

“Stay here,” Hava turned to me.

“Huh? You brought me all the way here just to tell me to stay?”

“Yeah, you don’t have to do anything,” the man nodded. “Just watch us.”

As he stepped down from the carriage, however, the man turned up his voice:

“Attention all! The Great Serpent has graced us with His presence today for our rain ritual!”

Immediately, the crowd gathered around erupted. From murmurs to shouts of joy, laughter, even cries and screams, it was an odd mix of various emotions. But one thing for sure — I could tell that everyone was genuinely happy.

“Great Serpent! Please bless our land once more!”

“Your grace will surely bring prosperity!”

“Please! Give us another rain! We’ve prepared all of our offerings!”

“Now, now,” Hava continued, raising his arms out against the sea of people as soon as there was a sign of spilling into the vicinity of the carriage. “The Great Serpent has just returned from his valiant battle against the scoundrels from Drizzle. And so, this ritual will be devoted to Him, for Him to get back his strength and guide us to a new era!”

“Great Serpent! All hail the Great Serpent!” The crowd cheered once more.

“Hail! Hail the Great Serpent!”

Along with the constant cheer, the ritual continued as planned. A masked person — presumably a priest of some sort — led a dance at the center stage. It was complex; too complex, in fact, that I had no clue about the intricate moves they were making. But I could tell that the people were having fun.

And perhaps, that was all that mattered.

As he returned to the carriage, it was the same thing that Hava asked me. “Well, what do you think?”

“I don’t get it,” I shook my head. “It’s fun, I guess, but why am I here?”

“See those faces?” He gestured. “They’re happy. Genuinely happy. Because of you.”

“Because of me? Even if I haven’t done anything?”

“Even if you haven’t done anything.”

“Even if I lost that fight?”

“Of course. For the people, your mere presence is their light… Just like Arja predicted.”

At this point, however, Hava seemed to be stuttering, scratching his nose occasionally as he struggled to make out his remaining words.

“... Well? Isn’t there supposed to be a conclusion to all of this?” In the end, I had to be the one to ask.

“W-Well, what I mean is… don’t feel too bad about yourself, kid. I mean, like, sure you lost, but…”

“Wait.”

It finally hit me.

“You’ve been trying to… cheer me up? That’s it?”

“L-Look, it was Arja’s idea, alright? I was only the messenger since he’s stuck with other work!”

“Pfff…” I couldn’t help but snort.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“You’re a nice guy, Hava.”

Every word of mine was the truth. Not just him, but everyone else here. I could see how much they cared. Even for a stranger like me, they welcomed me with open arms. Sure, I was supposed to be their savior, but they didn’t even care if I failed my task.

Perhaps, it was like he said. Just my presence was enough to light up my day.

Perhaps, they were just unconditionally good. The people around me. Hava. Arja.

And because of that…

“Thank you, Hava. I mean it.”

I found it so hard to form a smile.