Living.

Waking to the cry of the cicadas, Lena prepares to start moving. Beneath the light of the rising sun and the tune of the morning birds, Lena moves swiftly around the makeshift camp. She begins by putting away the sheets she had used to cover herself and fold into a pillow, then moves to the now-dead campfire. Collecting the iron cauldron, she kicks what dirt she can over the crumbled charcoal. 

Standing, she stretches her arms upwards and then claps her hands in a quick attempt to cleanse them. Looking at the luggage, she would believe she was done for the morning. With a side glance, she studies the sleeping man. Resting beneath the shade of a thousand leaves, he snores not a care in the world.

Next to him was Lena's final morning act, a bloodied cloth. Picking it up, she moves towards the sound of running water. Needed items in hand, she swiftly washed what she could off the now clean white garb she had learned to call a "Lab Coat."

Moving back, the cold breeze of the morning twirled her long, neglected hair. She hugged the Lab Coat closely to her chest, it was the only piece of clothes she got to or even needed to wash. The man would take care of anything else quickly using mana or be rid of it as it would be too long gone.

Pushing away the last wall of shrubbery, the used-to-be camp spot comes into sight, the man standing in its midst. He gave her no more of a reaction than needed, simply a glance and a meaningless nod.

She approaches him, stretching an arm with the garb at its end. He accepts it without much acknowledgment, and turns around, moving immediately. Lena awkwardly spun around, rushing for the luggage she had packed, and spun back following The man.

This was how mundane her life was. How gray her morning is. How bland her senses were. How repetitious her routine was. How monotonous her habits were.

This, was her morning.

Years had passed since her departure, life moved, and it proved... white. The first day was different, and the rest were the same. From one place to another, they would camp out every day, they would make a living off of the man's hunt, and they would eat whatever lasted the longest on travel.

The man, Octan as she had learnt to call him, was a force. A man who was simply unstoppable. Not once had she seen him neither struggle nor worry. His person showcased nothing but emptiness, he spent his time wandering. No meaning behind his actions, he simply lived.

And Lena followed. Not long after joining him, she had started being of use to the man. Whether it be carrying luggage, cooking meals, or even looting the corpses he would leave behind, she had turned his gray life grayer.

Octan was a silent person, to Lena at the very least. He would barely ever speak to her, rarely ever give her directions or tasks. Unless it benefitted him in some manner, he would never talk to her, but that hadn't bothered her; as long as she could keep on following him, that was all she needed.

3 years after Lena's departure.

Entering a town, Octan called for their usual 'meeting.'

"So," Octan said. "We need to stock up on food, repellent, and... yeah I think that's it."

Lena nodded.

"Here," Octan handed Lena the coin pouch. "Go get what we need, I will take care of the remains."

Lena crouched, putting down the comically large bag on her back. Then, skillfully untying the ropes that needed to be undone, she took the large wrapped cloth that hung to the luggage's side, within it the remains of Octan's last hunt. Handing it over, Lena turned and disappeared into the market. 

Octan watched as the 12-year-old girl disappeared, the bag on her back, and her long 
mane-hair peaking from under it. Losing sight of her among the crowds, he turns and moves to his own objective in town.

"It should be this way..." Octan moved towards the local adventurer's guild. Remains in hand, he would be able to sell the mana cores and hides he had collected for quite a hefty price. Even with the discounted price he would be forced to sell at as not being an adventurer himself, it would be enough for the coming weeks.

Reaching the uniquely architectured building, he steps in heading straight for the counter. Ignoring the hustle and bustle of the adventurers all around, all garbed in their own story, all laughing and speaking a tale they had deemed worth their lives and more, he allows it nothing more than whitespace to his ear.

Maneuvring through joyous and drunk adventurers, he reaches the counter, a cheerful reception given to him by the young-looking woman.

"Greeting adventurer!" The woman perks up, "How I may be of service today?"

"This," Octan said, placing the folded cloth over the counter. "If you could please move fast, I would appreciate it."

"Uhmm... Sir," The receptionist spoke, attempting to stop Octan's retreat. "Could you please show me your adventurer carving?"

"Don't have one," Octan said, continuing his retreat. "A traveler, that's all."

"Well I can't help you sir," The woman said, forcing Octan back. "The public hunting right has been abolished. Unless you are an adventurer, we won't be able to accept your loot. Of course, you can become one in but mere moments, sir!" 

The woman smiled, sliding a contract over the counter.

"Well then," Octan frowned. "I will be taking that to the black market." 

"I would not recommend that, sir." The woman smiled, "I'm sure you understand the implications behind such actions."

Octan turned, faced by all the adventurers within the guild. The white noise that had filled the air disappeared, and silence raided the air.

Using a loot market other than that of the adventurer guild would render you an enemy of every adventurer out there... Octan recalled sighing.

He studied the crowd. Eyeing every adventurer, from the swordsman to the witch. His left hand is occupied by the folded remains, and he takes hold of his sword with his right. The silence thickens, the air grows cold, and Octan prepares in silence.

Finally, he comes to a decision.

"You can just have it," Octan said, throwing his livelihood to the ground. "I'm leaving."

"Thank you for your understanding, sir," The woman says as if mockingly to the disappearing man.

The adventurers open up a path as they eye the man, all keeping the tension despite the man's clear forfeit. Octan walked, ignoring their worthless threats.

As he stepped out of the guild, he sighed. He could think of many ways to still make a living, whether it be noticeboard public tasks or actually working around the black market. 

Meh, that would be tomorrow's problem, Octan thought, moving out of town to continue his aimless wandering.

The traveler moved. His motives non-existent, his aims never made, his beliefs never considered, and his goal emptiness.

He found no fulfillment in his life, nor did he wish to. He found no purpose in his existence, and that was his purpose. "As long as I live aimlessly, tomorrow will be peaceful," Octan said, leaving the town down the only other path from where he had come. 

Disappearing towards the setting sun, Octan moves only his sword to his waist. Clothed in simple clothing, and covered by the only memento of his past, Octan moved finding meaning in the meaningless.

Eventually, as always, a pair of footsteps followed him. The child persists behind him. 

Entering another day, the gray cycle repeats itself.

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(Quick side story on what had happened with Lena!)

 Having finished her chores in town, she found herself done quickly, understanding that much time was still available till Octan's done.

So, she wandered around the town's market. Studying it's people, going back and forth between the cobblestone-paved roads. Kids run through the crowds, laughing as they shout nonsensical statements. Housewives strolling, baskets in hand, greeting their fellow townspeople. And men working both the stalls and the houses, whether it be building new houses or maintaining existing ones, not a single spot in the town felt silent.

Eventually, an older-looking woman catches sight of the young girl. Gesturing her over, the elderly woman frowns as Lena approaches.

"Child..." The elderly woman said, patting Lena's head. "Put down your baggage, I want to play  with that lustrous hair of yours." 

Lena's heart tinged, a sense she had never felt before tugging at her strings. Unknowingly why, she follows the gentle woman's order.

The woman smiles, sitting down on a doorstep as she places her walking cane to the side.

"The people who live here are nice, they will give me the moment." She said. "Turn around, little lady, allow me one as well."

Once again, Lena follows the woman's commands.

Facing the crowds, she lowers her gaze, her emotions surging. She could feel her face burn, her heart aflutter, and her fingers tingling.

The woman giggled behind her, her gentle hands caressing Lena's hair. "What beautiful long hair, what a rich volume of brown. And to top it off, what an adorable little lady." The woman smiled, understanding the depth behind the girl's reactions to her meager actions. "Yet, such rough hands, such disturbed cloth, such a shriveled appearance... Poor child." She pitied the girl.

Lena continued to gaze downwards, unable to understand herself. Her face burning, she hid her eyes beneath her long brown bangs.

"Oh, what I would do to look at that face of yours right now," The woman continued, giggling to herself. She found joy in the child's little twitches. She was not used to attention, that much was clear.

Despite the unfamiliar world Lena finds herself in, she accepts it. She doesn't step away, nor does she deny the woman. Because, it felt nice, good even.

"There," The woman said, coming to a stop. "That should do it."

Lena, a bit conflicted about the woman finishing, places a hand over the back of her head. Her hair had grown into a sprout at the top of her head and flowed down to around her waist. A band at the very top collecting and keeping the strands.

The elderly woman chuckles at Lena's cluelessness, "It's a ponytail, little lady. You should care for your hair more, women would kill for such beautiful, rich, chestnut brown hair." The woman's smile broadens.

Lena gazed at the gentlewoman, she wondered. Was she anything like her?

"A silent one to the very end, huh?" The woman said, her smile unwavering. "May you find happiness in your life, child."

Taking hold of the walking cane, she walks away, leaving Lena with a confused heart.

Lena, collecting herself, picks up what she had put down, and walks towards the Towns' only other exit. She would wait there, Octan would appear eventually. As always, she would have to catch him or otherwise, he might just leave without her.

Making way to her waiting spot, unknowing to her, for but a mere moment, Lena grinned.

*******************************************************************************

Afterwards.

Hello, it's me, the author. Or so I would call myself I guess, not like Lena's a mass-published international sensation :/

anyway, I wanted to write an afterwards for once.

First of all, if you had somehow read the previous Lena, then yes, I am the same author. Simply moved it to start completely anew. While there is a webnovel version of Lena, I feel like my writing there was very rushed, terrible, and novice. So I hope to give Lena a better chance here! I really feel like the story is worth it, I completely adore it myself after all.

Another thing I would like to add is that yes I am too the author of The Case Study Of Avery Sky, the similar usernames aren't a coincidence.

Now, that I've clarified that, That's all I believe.

I hope everyone who reads this sticks around to the end, as I wish to finalize Lena in this run. it has plagued my mind for the last 3 to 4 years, and I do not mind giving it another 2.

Please, feel free to comment whatever you please, whether it be negative or positive remarks. I want to know that people are actually reading/caring for The words I'm spewing, even if it's hatred.

Oh! And If you did enjoy it, please like it. I don't care about the system or ranking, I just want to know that people are actually reading and that the views mean something. Thank you all.

Next we will be moving into an arc I believe, spanning two chapters at least, so please look forward to it :D

Feel free to comment whatever you want, as long as it is not a scam.