Warmth Through Shadows

Birdsong drifted across the blue sky. Celis, awake and ready for the new day, made her way to Minato's door to wake him for school.

"Good morning, Master Minato. I hope you"

The door swung open. Minato stood there, already dressed and ready. Celis froze, startled and confused. She reached out to him.

He flinched and stepped away.

"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't know you were hurt."

Minato stared at her, breaking into a cold sweat. She saw the look in his eyes the dark circles forming beneath them, the quiet panic written across his face. She tried again to reach out and calm him. This time he batted her hand away.

"Celis, I please don't touch someone like me."

He turned and left for school. Celis stood helpless in the doorway, filled with worry she couldn't name.

On the main school grounds, Minato walked slowly through the crowd of students making their way in. His head was down, his hands clenched. He lifted his head to look at the people around him and immediately his vision clouded. Hands. The hands of the dead. They wrapped around him, slow and deliberate. He stopped moving and looked at the floor as whispers filled his ears.

Murderer. You killed us.

Minato, look at me.

Face me, killer.

He saw hands reaching up from below his mother's rotting flesh holding his face with a smile that twisted into a frown.

You're not my son. You cold-hearted killer.

He couldn't bear it anymore. He screamed.

Every student in the vicinity froze.Teachers appeared immediately, dispersing the crowd. Minato collapsed to the ground.

Rowan pushed her way through to the center and saw Professor Eirene carrying Minato in her arms. She ran after her.

"Professor Eirene! Professor, what happened to him? Is he okay?"

"Make your way to class, Rowan. Tell the others I'll be late, but don't worry he'll be fine. I'll inform you all about his condition when I get there."

Eirene left for the infirmary. Rowan reluctantly returned to class, where her classmates swarmed her with questions. She shook her head, unable to give them any answers.

The first class period passed. The room remained quiet, helpless, and confused. Then Eirene entered. They all turned to her, waiting.

She walked to the front of the room and took a deep breath.

"As you all know, there was a commotion this morning. Yes, it was Minato, and he was rushed to receive medical aid. I'll be honest: his physical state is perfectly fine. He showed signs of exhaustion and sleep deprivation, but nothing that warrants major concern. The main issue, however, is psychological. He's experiencing severe psychological distress. Currently we have him monitored, but whatever is disturbing him not only kept him up all night but has followed him into today. His body couldn't take it anymore, so it forced itself into shutdown that's why he blacked out." She paused. "Please, when he wakes up, do not crowd him or barrage him with questions. Allow him to recover. That's all I ask."

The class agreed and settled. Eirene prepared to begin the lesson.

Rowan and Tristan could only sit restlessly, wondering if they were the cause.

Lunch arrived. Rowan and Tristan rushed to the infirmary. As they reached the door, they heard voices inside. Mariah was already there.

She noticed them outside and waved them in.

"Sorry for worrying everyone like that this morning," Minato said quietly.

"What on earth are you apologizing for?" Mariah scolded him gently. "Minato, please understand you didn't do anything wrong."

Tristan stepped forward. "Be honest with me. Are you okay right now?"

Minato laughed it off and looked at Tristan and froze. Behind Tristan, he saw the visage of the man he had killed. The laugh stopped. Fear gripped him. He clutched his chest and began hyperventilating.

"Minato Minato, calm down. It's just us here. Breathe slowly."

They all tried to calm him. Eventually his breathing stabilized. He looked down, defeated and lost.

"I'm sorry. I'm not sure what's going on with me."

The door opened. Eirene stepped in.

"Severe psychological trauma."

She looked around and saw all of them gathered at his bedside. "I'm glad you're all here. If we want to get to the bottom of this, I need you to tell me what happened out there."

Tristan spoke up and recounted the story of everything that had happened over the last few days. Eirene listened intently. The girls stayed by Minato's side in case of another shock reaction. When Tristan finished, Eirene thought for a moment, then walked over to Minato and reached out to touch him.

He flinched and pulled his hand away.

"I think I understand now." She turned to the others. "I appreciate you wanting to help, but I fear we may not be able to resolve this."

"What?" Mariah's voice rose. "Professor, explain.There has to be a way for us to help him."

Eirene shook her head. "Listen, all three of you. Understand this: plain and simple, Minato has blood on his hands."

The air turned cold. Minato gripped his chest tightly but tried his hardest to stay calm. The others noticed the reaction and understood.

"It's because"

"It's because he killed someone. To save me."

Tristan's head dropped. Guilt flooded through him. Minato saw it and reached out.

"No Tristan, it's not"

He flinched before he could touch him.

Eirene placed a hand on Tristan's head. "Guilt is natural, but it won't do you or anyone here any good. What's done is done. Use this and focus on getting stronger. Don't wallow in regret." She gestured toward the door. "Now then, let's give him some space. You three back to class."

Minato's friends eventually left. Just before Eirene stepped out, she delivered one final message.

"I've been told Lady Evergreen is in the capital. Take some time off and go meet her. In times like these, someone like her would help the most."

"Thank you."

Eirene smiled and waved. "Just be sure to get back to my class soon, kiddo."

After calming himself, Minato left the school grounds to search for Lady Evergreen. Before he could even begin, an arm wrapped over his shoulder.

"You kept me waiting far too long."

He tried to pull away so she wouldn't touch him, but she held him tightly.

"Please don't touch me. You shouldn't touch someone like me."

"What sort of mother can't touch her son?"

She looked him in the eye. He couldn't meet her gaze.

"Minato, look at me."

"I can't."

"Why not? You saying I'm not pretty? Got an issue with my face? Huh?"

Her teasing continued. Minato gave in.

"Fine! There you happy? I'm looking."

He looked at her straight in the eyes. He saw her warm smile, and almost like magic, the stress washed away from his body. Tears filled his eyes.

"What's happening to me? Why am I, it won't stop. Why won't it stop?"

Try as he might, he couldn't stop crying. Lady Evergreen hugged him tightly.

"It's all right now, Minato. You've done well, my son."

They stayed like that for a while. He let out the tears he had buried deep within. Afterward, they sat together in the town center in front of a fountain.

"I heard from Celis what happened. She sent a letter last night, so I made my way here to check on you. Then your teacher told me about your condition, so I said I'd wait until you were ready." She paused. "Minato, I want to hear it from you."

"I killed someone. He was going to kill one of my friends. At first, when I went to save them, I figured if I knocked them out they'd give in, you know? But that man got back up and immediately threatened to kill my friend. He even told me that my friend's death would be on my hands because I failed to kill him when I had the chance. So in that split second, before he could do anything I killed him."

"There's only one weapon I know you can make that can kill someone in a split second."

Minato formed a small gun in his hand. The sight of it nearly made him vomit, but Camillia held his other hand.

"This is a gun. Where I come from, it was a common weapon. It came in different versions, but they all had almost the same outcome when it came down to it: death. It's the same weapon that killed my parents."

Tears filled his eyes. He nearly fell into panic again, but Camillia knelt and held him firmly.

"From what I understand, this weapon is commonly used by all sorts of people, right? If bad people use it, it's safe to assume good people use it too, correct?"

"Law enforcement uses it to protect the public, yeah. But I took someone's life. He could've changed his ways. What if he had a family and I took him away from them?"

"And what should you have done? Are you hearing yourself right now? You're trying to demonize yourself while seeing this man who nearly killed your friend in an almost positive light. Recall all the things his group did. All the things they planned to do. Minato, you could have lost your friend forever. I won't sit here and lecture you about morals or ethics. I myself have taken lives, I'm no better than you. But unlike me, you saved people's lives. You protected them. You put your life on the line for them. You should be proud of what you did. You killed someone, and that is without a doubt an unfortunate thing. But you also saved four people who otherwise could've been killed, if not worse. So get up and stop this. You're a hero, Minato. I have no doubt your parents would be proud of you for saving people just as I am now."

"They would be proud of me?"

His voice filled with hesitation. He looked up slowly and recalled everything that had happened that night. Suddenly he saw his parents' faces smiling warmly at him, wiping away the shadows that had been haunting him. He let out a warm laugh and hugged her.

"Thank you, Mother."

She hugged him back softly. "You're welcome. And I'm proud of you, Minato."

With his worries put to rest, the two enjoyed the rest of their time together. He told her about what happened afterward and what he did at the guild.

"Wait, listen kiddo. Are you one hundred percent not lying? You did all that to the adventurers?"

"Yeah. Why? Is that bad?"

"First of all, Minato where you came from, I can only assume it's not normal to go out into the wilds hunting as a kid, correct?"

"Of course not. The parents and other adults would never allow it. The idea of hunting in general isn't really a thing at all."

"Just where in the world do you come from?"

Minato let out an awkward laugh.

"Well, wherever you came from aside, I do understand now why you were mad at them. But Minato, you need to understand that sort of mentality only works there. Here, unfortunately, it's completely normal. Yes, it can be dangerous, but we all know that. When you apply to be an adventurer, you're told the dangers, and it is your responsibility to keep yourself safe within the confines of the quest you undertake. In case of emergencies, yes, the guild will dispatch personnel, but even then it's written that we must bear the responsibility for our own lives out there. For you to go at them like that"

Minato's face filled with shock as he realized his mistake.

"Well, it looks like you've realized it."

"Oh no. Oh no, oh no. They must hate me. I'd hate me. What should I do?"

"You apologize wholeheartedly. No use worrying over it. Whether they accept it or not is on them, but you have to apologize."

Minato's expression became solemn as he worried over his mistake at the guild and to Mariah's brother, no less.

"Yeah. You're right. I owe them an apology for my behavior, as well as proper thanks for even mobilizing to help. Thanks a lot for today, Mom. I really mean it."

"Guess our little mother-son outing has come to a close. We might not be able to see each other until winter break but something tells me you'll be busy then too."

They both stood and prepared to return.

"Winter break… time will tell. Of course, if I'm needed, it'd be a shame to miss out on it."

"Whatever you do, don't forget you can rely on me."

"Of course. I appreciate that."

She looked at him with a solemn expression, her worries laid bare. "By the way, Minato are you having fun at school?"

Minato responded with a warm smile that shone like the afternoon sun. "I'm having the time of my life here. I can't thank you enough for bringing me."

She smiled softly. They went their separate ways.

Minato returned to the academy and bowed profusely to the teachers and his classmates. He also explained that he'd like to go to the guild over the weekend with the others. They agreed.

The day arrived. The four of them stood before the entrance to the adventurer's guild.

"Right then. We ready?"

Minato looked at them. They all nodded.

"Nice. Now Tristan, you go first."

Tristan looked at him, confused. "What? Me? Why me?"

"Yeah, Minato you go instead."

"But I already said he should go first"

Rowan quietly moved behind Minato as he bickered with Mariah and Tristan. Suddenly she gave him a light shove. He stumbled forward, catching himself and looked up to see he'd crossed the threshold into the guild building.

All eyes turned to him.

"Oh um, haha. Hello there. It's nice to, um, see you all."

The air was awkward. The others entered after him. Then a voice called out.

"It's you kids! I was wondering when you'd come back."

Lillith walked over to them with a warm smile, her body wrapped in bandages. Tristan was the first to greet her.

"Miss Lillith, how are your injuries? Are you doing okay?"

"Oh, Tristan, my valiant knight. Don't worry, kiddo I'm much better now. I just finished a checkup with the guild. I'm heading home."

"Will you return to adventuring, Miss Lillith?"

"Oh, Rowan. I'm not sure at the moment, but don't worry so much, okay? My life isn't in danger, so you can rest easy for now. I'll be sure to let you kids know when I've decided. See you later, dearies."

Lillith waved goodbye and left. Whispers echoed through the guild. Minato became self-conscious as people talked about him. Then Mariah's brother appeared.

Minato took a deep breath and walked over to him.

"Ah, Mariah and her friends. Welcome back. I hope you're all doing well now. What brings you here to"

Minato bowed his head low before him.

"I'm sorry, Guild Master. For my words. For my actions. For my behavior that night. I was too naive of the current world. I let my own worldview dictate my actions. I was rude to you and every adventurer there."

He turned around and bowed his head to the rest of the guild.

"I'm sorry to all of you as well. I threw out words and accusations out of pure emotion. I cannot ask for forgiveness enough."

Tristan and the others followed suit, apologizing alongside him. Alistair tapped Minato's shoulder. Minato slowly raised his head and was greeted by the warm smiles of the adventurers present. They walked up to him and patted him hard on the back.

"Not bad, kid. Never met a noble who'd bow his head to one of our kind."

"It's all water under the bridge, don't worry your little head about it."

"You should join us. You held your own against a bunch of rogues. You've got the makings of a prime adventurer. What do you say?"

Minato, embarrassed and at a loss for words, was suddenly interrupted by an adventurer rushing in.

"We've got a bunch of rogue monsters at the town gate!"

Someone cursed. "Some damn nobles can't do anything right when it comes to hunting."

Alistair rallied the current adventurers. "Everyone, prepare to head out. How many monsters? Give a rough estimate."

"Two cockatrices and about two packs of kobolds."

Another adventurer rushed in. "We need fighters now! The cockatrices are"

Someone zoomed past him, cutting him off.

"What the hell was that?"

Everyone exited the guild hall to see the state of the town outside. Alistair looked up and saw Minato in the air, wings spread wide. A gunshot echoed.

A cockatrice fell.

Shock and amazement spread through the crowd. In an instant, a cockatrice had been put down and the person standing over its corpse was a boy with jet-black wings.