Finding Reason

Walking out main entrance to a castle, man walked by countless bodies lying around. Some were of soldiers wearing armor, but most where of countless monsters. Castle was menacing, from its pointy rooftop to metal like walls that made it, colored completely in black it was epitome of home to the ruler of monsters and demon kind. The farther man walked from castle the more bodies he saw laying around, walking with solemn and sad expression he continued to stroll through aftermath of war, trying to spot people he once knew.

When he reached the end of what seemed to be seas of bodies, he looked behind, and with empty eyes looked at all what was in front of him. None were alive, all soldiers died while taking little over half of enemy, while he and his party did the rest, and all except him died. He continued to stare at the scene of red sky, dead silence, and dark almost suffocating air not knowing what to do next, and not having any reason to continue his existence.

“It would be a lot easier, if I was where you are,” with face of person who have given up on everything said man. He continued staring at the scene for one hour when he saw castle crumble and fall on itself, some anger ignited in him for place where his friends laid was disturbed. But it disappeared as quickly as it appeared, and he continued to stare at ground where castle was standing before.

“Rest well, now no one will be able to scavenge that place,” saying that he took out scroll from his pocket and started to infuse mana into it, to disappear in flash.

Appearing in second just as quickly as he disappeared, he looked around to see clear blue sky, green grass, and forest beside him. Sun shines brightly and birds singing as if in ignorance of what was happening at place from where he came from. Looking at this, his face became even hollower as if it was a ceramic mask not moving even a muscle.

“Should, give sword to his son,” said man and started to walk in random direction.

Upon walking for two hours, he hears screams coming from his left.

“Jack, you would run already wouldn’t you,” said man with hollow expression and looked at direction of scream. With momentum he leans his body forward as if falling and pulls out piece of yellow colored paper with symbols on it. With paper starting to shine, only his afterimage is left as he runs towards source of a scream.

P.O.V change

It was a normal day for Gernard, the only herbalist in village. As usual he was going to enter forest and search for medical herbs, taking along his grandson who would help him carry the herbs. His daughter died giving birth to a son and his father was enlisted into army, living poor child without parents. Taking it upon himself he tried to raise his grandson to be a honorable man, and he was happy with how his grandson Trei was so helping well behaved.

What Gernard was not expecting was a grey-bear to be in this part of forest, as long as he remembered there were never dangerous animal in this part of forest for some reasons, so it was regarded as safe.

‘What to do?.....should somehow save Trei!’ though Gernard looking at grey-bear who was easily over two miters of height and was looking at both of them. Trying to not move and make a sound Gernard looked at his grandson, to see he was trying his hardest to not move or run away. When suddenly grey-bear give of a roar that broke Treis’ silence, and a terrified scream escaped Treis’ mouth. Sensing this was the end, Gernard pushed his grandson behind him and yelled for him to run, while he faced grey-bear and looked at the beast that was running at him.

‘So this is the end… I had a pleasant life’ resolved himself Gernard when he felt someone grab him at his leg behind. Startled he looked at his grandson who was holding to him without letting go. With his grandson by him he could not let bear to attack now, in panic he looked at bear that was two miters away from him. When suddenly bear flew to the right at great speed, covering almost ten miters and hitting a tree that was destroyed in process. Now at place where bear was, there stood a man completely in red, with his blank expression and emotionless eyes he looked at Gernard but it felt like he was not focusing at him, but on everything at the same time, looking but yet at the same time not.

Trai looked from behind his grandpa, to see what has happened and saw man covered completely in a blood looking at them. Seeing this Trei now was more scared than with a bear, he hidden himself behind his grandpa trembling and sobbing.

Gernard looked at man in front of him, not knowing if its fortune or misfortune that bestowed upon him. Man was wearing something close to a armor but it was just too open and not enforced with steel giving it something of more armor dress look that armor itself and that there was no weapon on this person seemed to lessen his warrior look. His hair and everything was covered in blood, so it was impossible to not only tell hair color but even skin color. When suddenly man covered in blood turned around to walk away, seeing this Gernard concluded that this man most likely would not do any harm to him and his grandson and said-

“Thank you for saving us,” saying this he bowed his head slightly. Hearing his grandpa words Trei panicky with tears in his eyes moved into view and bowed his head. When man covered in blood turned around Trei quickly hidden himself again behind Gernard, looking at Gernard man asked-

“Where is the nearest big city?”

“That would be two week north,” answered Gernard pointing his finger to north.

“…I see,” said man and started to walk in direction that was pointed.

“Wait!” Gernard yelled to a man that was walking away. Turning around he looked at Gernard.

“The road is long and exhausted, and it seems like you don’t have necessities on you for such a travel, would you like to spend time in our village, you can also buy food and what you need for your travel. That would at least be something as repay for you saving us,” Gernard expressed.

“…I would not mind food,” said man exhaustedly.

“Then, it’s settled, but first we need to do something with all that blood on you, you will frighten all villagers like that,”

“…Is there a river nearby,” asked man.

“Yes, I will show you the way,” said Gernard starting walking towards a small river.

P.O.V change

Following old man and child beside him, he walked towards a river. Upon coming a few miters close to a river old man told child to go and pick some herbs growing by river bay, and be careful to not fall into the river. The river was slow and not with a strong current so bathing in it was easy, taking off his upper layer of clothing, he was wearing a black t-shirt and blue shorts.

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“Are you noble from one of the kingdoms?” asked old man.

“…no, why you though that,” with monotone voice he answered.

“Well, what you are wearing is something that some of heroes wore and it became popular in kingdoms, but it’s expensive so only nobles can afford it, that is how I remember from last time I was there selling herbs.”

“…heroes, huh..” with painful expression sighed man. Seeing this old man didn’t ask anymore, washing himself of blood was harder than he originally thought. Blood on him have already dried up and it was pain to remove it, after completely washing himself of blood he turned around to face old man.

With shocked expression old man looked at him, slightly trembling.

“You are..” old man looked at person in front of him. Looking at the blond hair, reddish-blue eyes, pale face of person, who is clearly tired beyond reason, tall posture and face of person in his early twenties if not earlier.

“Great Eliot of Nuel !” shockingly old man fallen on his knees and looked with tearful eyes at man in front of him.

“…there is no need,” said Eliot seeing old man bowing his head to a ground.

“No! It’s not just that, ten year ago, when I was with caravan for my herb trading. We were attacked by group of monsters and you with Great Jack of Rishsmani saved us all. I was unable to thank you on that day and that was my biggest worry for all those years, if not for you my grandson would now be alone. So thank you,” said old man looking up to Eliot.

‘I see you are working overtime,’ though Eliot as he looked at his hand and wanted to brake it.

“Meal would be enough of thanks,” said Eliot.

“I will do best I can!” answered old man lowering his head.

“Was it so easily to recognize me?”

“..yes,” answered old man.

“I see,” Eliot looked at his reflection on the river, and started to infuse mana into the ring on his left hand pinkie finger.

‘If I remember correctly, he used it to transform into woman, and throw Jack out of pace,’ Eliot remembered fight that they fought not so long ago.

As he infused mana into the ring immediately his nose shape slight changed, following that shape of his face also started to change, little modification were done everywhere and now he was looking like completely different person but yet reminiscent of his past self with hair, height and major parts of his appearance still the same.

“Would you recognize me now?” asked Eliot.

“…n-no,” with an astonishment answered old man and came to his senses.

“But why are you here?” asked old man.

“Do you want to know?” answered Eliot and looked at old man. They looked at each other with silence when old man said-

“No, I feel like it’s something I should not know,”

“…I see,” said Eliot. With that silence again consumed area, only river was heard with little kid in distance humming a song.

After kid came back with bucket full of plants, he nervously looked at Eliot and hidden behind old man.

“Your, name?” asked Eliot.

“Oh! Sorry, should have introduced myself long ago, my name is Gernard, here is my grandson Trei,” said Gernard showing his grandson in front of him. Nervously bowing his head Trei said-

“H-hello!”

“Hello,” answered Eliot. Silence again consumed everything, for few moments Trei nervously shifted in spot not knowing what to say next until he asked-

“W-what is y-your name?”

“You see I don’t remember who I am, I don’t know where I am or what I’m doing here,” answered Eliot looking at Gernard, in return Gernard give a nod.

“Seems like he is lost, we should help him right?” Gernard asked his grandson.

“Yes!” with smile said Trei, which made Gernard proudly smile.

“What would you like us to call you?” asked Gernard.

“You can come up with a name,”

“h-mmmm….” thought old man, thinking of great name befitting person in front of him.

“How about Bersy?” Trai said quietly seeing his grandpa thinking for so long.

“No,” said Eliot. To which Gernard started to laugh.

“How about Youri?” asked Gernard.

“That is fine,” answered man.

“What to do with those clothes?” old man asked.

“There is no saving them, live them be,” answered Youri and put his hand in every pocket, infusing mana to a ring, he stored everything in his pockets into the ring, when he was done they started to walk in direction of village.

After fifteen minutes of walk, they arrived at front gate of village. Village was by a river and was stationed on green grass field, there were a good number of houses, people farming and kids playing. Entrance to a village was guarded by one person, he was wearing slightly broken armor and sword by his side, his mustache made him look about forty years of age.

Seeing someone coming closer, gate keeper took out sword and pointed it at Youri.

“Who is that Gernard!?” with loud voice asked gate keeper.

“Put that away before you hurt yourself, Kark,” answered Gernard.

“I’m doing my work!” proudly said man with a sword.

“I wish to know what your wife will tell, for your rudeness,”

“GUg!, that is cheap why do you bring her up, alright go inside,… at least let me do my job..” mumbled gate keeper. Walking past wooden gates Gernard turns to Youri and tells-

“Don’t take them seriously, there is no bad people in this village, this village is far from other cities and villages so we rarely get visitors,”

Youri followed Gernard and his grandson, walking through village a lot of people interestingly looked at him, and asked Gernard who he was, to which Gernard said he will tell later, and assured Youri that he will keep secret of his true identity. Walking close to a house at outskirt of village Gernard said-

“This is my house, you can stay here as much as you want,”

After saying that they entered house, smell of herbs was present everywhere but it was not so unpleasant, house had four rooms, two bedrooms one kitchen and room for working on herbs. After quickly making dinner Gernard presented it on table and all food was mostly devoured by Youri, after that Youri said he wanted to rest so he was given one of the bedrooms to reside in. Upon falling on the bad he immediately fallen asleep.