Chapter 24 — Prayers and Gratitude

Yasu quickly gathers his essential supplies, efficiently storing them within a shoulder bag. He selects a reasonable amount of gold and some fresh produce fruits from the garden, ensuring he has enough for his future needs.
With each item carefully packed away, he adjusts the bag's strap onto his shoulder.
Yasu stepped into the familiar surroundings of his parents' room. His eyes fixated on the drawer, a place of memories.
Reaching out, he gently pulls open the drawer, its contents familiar even in their absence. His hand dips inside, his fingers searching for a specific item. As he retrieves the object, it glints in the dim light, the metal badge decorated with a symbol of his parents' past.
"Their adventure rank badge," he murmurs, his voice tinged with a mix of pride and bittersweetness.
With deliberate care, he tucks the badge into his bag beside the gold coins and supplies. It sits there like a promise, not just of adventure ahead but of purpose fulfilled through him now instead.
Yasu's gaze drifts to the closet, his eyes falling upon a familiar sight—his mother's white silk robe, hanging elegantly amidst the shadows.
He cautiously moves closer, his fingers grazing the delicate fabric, the memory of a time when he secretly donned the robe flooding his mind. Recalling that childish moment, a faint smile tugs at the corners of his mouth.
Yasu exhales deeply, then slowly slips the robe over his shoulders. The silk glides effortlessly against his skin, settling comfortably around him.
He adjusts the sleeves with a slight tug, gazing down at himself in quiet surprise. "It still fits," he murmurs—almost like an affirmation that some things endure beyond time and loss.
The robe carries her scent faintly nostalgia wraps around him tighter than fabric ever could. For a moment, standing there feels less like goodbye... and more like carrying her presence forward with him into whatever comes next.
With heartfelt gratitude, Yasu knelt before his parents' grave, his head bowed in reverence. A quiet prayer escaped his lips, the words a whispered ode to their memory.
"Thank you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "For taking care of me, for being the best parents anyone could ask for."
His hand brushed the cool surface of their grave, as if to reach across the divide. "For teaching me, guiding me, and giving me strength. I promise to honor your memory in everything I do."
Standing up, Yasu gazes down at the grave, his expression determined yet tinged with bittersweet emotions. He takes a moment to gather his thoughts and strength.
"Father, Mother," he begins, his voice steady, "I'm about to embark on a journey beyond the wall. I know you're watching over me, and I feel your presence in every step I take."
He pauses, the weight of the journey ahead momentarily heavy upon his shoulders. "Please... watch over me, guide me, and keep me safe."
Yasu carefully places two crimson red spider lilies—flowers symbolizing the afterlife in his culture upon their graves. The petals glow like embers under the fading sunlight, a silent offering to those who once held him close.
Next, he lays his father’s sword beside him with deliberate reverence—the blade that had protected both family and home now resting where its owner belongs. His mother’s spellbook finds its place atop her grave, its pages weathered but still holding secrets of magic she had mastered so beautifully.
Kneeling one last time before them both as dusk paints long shadows across their resting place.
"I carry your legacy forward," Yasu whispers into open air between prayers spoken aloud for loved ones watching unseen from beyond mortal sightlines... until only wind remains to carry those words away on evening breeze currents straight up through tree branches.