The one I am now

When I opened my eyes, I was at the same location, the emotions were so big that I forgot about my armor and sword. The good thing is that I was in the middle of nowhere and it didn’t seem hostile at all. I threw myself at the grass and looked at the bright sky and smiled.

“I’m back”

I stand up from the grass and look at the horizon smiling, I follow the same path as before, if I was not wrong, I was in the same location.

“I believe this was the same path I took…”

The time went on as the sun was setting down, my mouth was getting dry but I was not tired at all, that’s when I heard a carriage getting close, I extended my hand.

“OI! DO YOU HAVE ANY WATER TO SHARE?!”

The carriage stopped and I couldn’t believe who was the one getting down, the car.

“MR ROX?!”

“Ryuzaki?”

“Mr. Rox!”

I went ahead and hugged the old man as he smiled and laughed.

“Wow, not even my grandchildren are so happy to see me around, how are you doing, young man?... well, Sir I should say”

“Haha, fantastic”

“Get on”

I get on the carriage of Mr. Rox and drink water.

“How nostalgic, it seems I’m repeating the same things”

“Where have you been, Ryuzaki?”

“I went to visit my parents at my hometown”

“Oh, you really went, and who was it?”

“You were right, Mr. Rox… my family does miss me, I got it all wrong…”

“See? This old man’s mouth doesn’t tell lies… except to some customers but you know how is it”

“I know, I know… everything good for you, Mr. Rox?”

“Yeah, business as usual, you got lucky I went from this road this time, nobody passes around that area that much”

“I am really lucky, that’s true”

“Seems you grow a lot, what are you doing now?”

“I became a knight; you haven’t visited the guild? I made a new party”

“Really? Time hasn’t been something I have lately but to make your own party, you must been working hard”

“Yeah, me and all my party members, Elizabeth, Alexander and Beatrice, they are all loyal friends, Alexander is a brawler, Elizabeth a spear woman and Beatrice our mage”

“And you?”

“I’m a swordsman”

“Where’s your equipment?”

“Oh that… I forgot about them”

Mr. Rox laughed out loud and looked at me.

“How do you forget your own equipment”

“I did forget my money too”

“How did you make it this far I think, you really are a thought case, Ryuzaki”

“You couldn’t tell any better, but I have some money saved in the guild”

“You have at least a plan B then”

As we were chatting around, the night came to the land and we made it to the town in no time, the sun was already set when we entered

“Can you wait for me a little bit, Mr. Rox? I’m going to grab my money and we can go have dinner”

“Aren’t your friends waiting?”

“I believe they are still in the way; I didn’t mention them when or how I was going to get back”

“Alright, I’ll see you at the inn then”

I nodded and went to the guild to grab money. A little bag filled with coins was given to me but they looked at me in a weird way, probably because of the outfit I had. I asked for a cape just to hide my clothes and they gave a white one.

When I went to the inn, Mr. Rox was already eating and they just brought a plate for me and a big cup of beer.

“Sorry for the wait”

“Eat, Ryuzaki, this is amazing, they have a special of meat, one of the guild teams hunt down a giant wild boar and the meat is exquisite”

I took a bite of the food and it was true, the meat was juicy and the way they prepared made it soft, the meat could melt once you took a bite, and with the company of beer was a treat like none other.

The ambience was fun, it seems that for hunting the beast they were having a party, I could hear the musicians singing and playing their instruments as everyone had a big smile.

I really belong in here

It was what I thought, with a way to come back and coming in here was the best. It hurts to be separated from my family but I have a new one in here too, one that I need to protect instead of being protected.

When we finished our meals the old man and I went upstairs but I wasn’t planning on staying on.

“Mr. Rox, here”

I took some coins and made Mr. Rox take the money.

“Ryuzaki… this…”

“Take it, you help me when I first got in here and even help me now, is the least I can do”

“But five gold coins…”

“You hide one gold coin in my bag when I thought they were all bronze and silver”

Mr. Rox laughed and he hit my back.

“Thank you… it means a lot, I wasn’t expecting to have this money back, I really gave it to you just to help you out”

“Good actions are meant to have a reward, or something like that”

I smiled and Mr. Rox nodded.

“You are not staying?”

“No, I have some stuff to do, oh…”

I took a paper out of my cape and gave it to Mr. Rox.

“A spell of communication, who knows if making this way I would find a trustworthy merchant around, I may even make you collect something for me”

“Business are different that our friendship, don’t expect me to give any discount”

“I’m not”

I extended my hand and Mr. Rox shook it, I left the inn and outside the inn was Akari.

“Hey”

“Seems that you went back”

“That’s right”

“Didn’t think you would abandon everything to go back to our boring world”

“I did not abandon everything; you can go and comeback”

“Seems too good to be true… but seeing you here with those clothes prove it, so, where is it?”

“You have your map?”

Akari nodded and we sat down outside the inn, I pointed out the safer way to get to the location and how much time it would require to get there.

“A whole month… you took longer than that”

“We had fun going around”

“It has been almost a year since you got here, right?”

“Yeah…”

“How was it?”

“What?”

“Going back”

“It will hit you, you probably should appear in the main city, actually…”

I took my wallet out and gave Akari some money.

“Did you really forget everything you brought and not this?”

“Yeah…”

Akari chuckled and got up.

“Might as well get some rest now, thank you, Hikari, I’ll never forget this”

“Akari… was there any reason why you wanted me to search for this obelisk?”

“I believe I already told you my intentions, if you think I had a secret meaning behind or that I’m so kind of person that will make realize that something is important, I’m afraid I am not what you are looking at, if you made a change or you realize something is was just for you”

“Me?”

“Your own hard work, you see, I know I am scummy, but you are different, you are hardworking, you work your ass out to be an adventurer and I saw a chance that I couldn’t refuse, in part you are kind of stupid too”

“Uh…”

“That’s what you wanted to hear? We may not see again, Hikari, take care, and don’t let another fool take advantage of you”

Akari went inside the inn and I stayed outside, I chuckled and stood up and started to walk around, I saw the stars shining bright in the sky as I extended my hand in the air.

“We really don’t know what the future is, Liz…”

I went ahead and walked around the commercial district. While I didn’t want to stay in the inn I still needed a place to be, and I knew exactly the place where to go.

It’s been a while since I visited them, not like we couldn’t visit them since they are close to the area, but right now I need a place to sleep, the inn has places still but… I’m making excuses to be honest, I just want to see them”

Walking the amount, I did was something that before would make my legs like spaghetti, but now it was all the opposite, I noted my change just now, and I felt a lot more confident thanks to my travels. I stood in front of a door that still had some lights on and I knocked at the door.

“Mr. Norwin! Can you let me stay the night?”

I heard how someone came running, and I smiled.