The moment Iohanne spoke the words ‘find your destiny’, Owen was already convinced to find it. But as he was about to move another voice appeared inside his head.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you. Now that we have already filled this world with Essence, the beasts will evolve into strongest beasts. As they say survival of the fittest. If you manage to find any beasts, I would suggest running.”
Owen nodded in thanks. He didn’t know how to speak with his mind so he didn’t attempt to. This simple act might look rude to others, but in fact he was wholeheartedly thanking her. After a slight bow he walked home. Each step was perfectly a meter apart. As soon as his foot was flat on the ground the next with follow after. It sounds easy, but every movement was fluid, but from another’s view it was simple walking. How difficult could it be? No one other than Owen would be able to tell.
He walked through the streets of the small village, as he arrived a few children ran over to him.
“Owen! Owen! Come play with us!”
A cute little girl with her hair dangling on his shoulders called out. Owen looked towards the direction of the group of children. He naturally knew the children gathered. After all he was one who played with them after finishing his duties with the temple. If he wasn’t training, practicing medicine or watering the flowers he was playing with the children. He was good hearted like that, and because as a child he never knew what it was like to have parents. He never felt the need to stay home for periods of time. He was abandoned as a child but that didn’t mean he was sad.
Owen simply enjoyed the company of these children. Often they would tease him for being so serious, or drag him along to the river to play. Even though he tried his best to be meticulous at everything, when it came to the children he could only yield. There was some unknown power that made children able to convince him to do whatever they wanted. However today was different, and listening to the girl’s question he could only shake his head.
“I’m sorry little Seloua. I have to go for a little bit, but next time alright?”
Surprised the kids couldn’t help but feel something was off about today’s Owen and they looked sadly at him and mumbled.
“Why though?”
A boy called out to him.
“You will understand shortly. I’m truly sorry.”
Because Owen didn’t know how to properly say no to others, when he declined them it was a bit awkward. They were also children so being declined they couldn’t help but feel unhappy. The children even thought that they did something wrong, because until now Owen was always the one to play them without question. The tears on Seloua didn’t stop as she felt she was the one in th wrong the most. She was considered the leader of the children and she was always the first to call out to Owen.
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However Owen had already walked off and had no idea that they children were feeling guilty. If he had he would have been able to console them. Unfortunately life was such a place, misunderstandings happened all the time. Finally after walking down a few more streets her arrived to his small little shack of a home.
It was made poorly but Owen was never bothered by the looks of a house. The inside had soft material and it smelled nice. That was enough to allow him to live happily. As long as the rain didn’t drip through he was content. Owen quickly gathered a leather bag with thick mantle to shelter him from the rain and sleep with. He grabbed a short sword no longer than his forearm. It wasn’t beautiful and had signs of rust on it, but every time he softly touched the blade he was able to feel attachment to it. This was his only reasoning for keeping it. Although money existed in the town, mainly trade was done through forms of work or bartering. And because Owen did a splendid job of taking care of plants people would trade his services for other items.
He had long ago received this blade. Ever since he gained it, he used it for practice every night. Allowed the light of the moon to be absorbed in the blade every night showing his perfect form of practice. He was never the strongest swordsman but if one was to evaluate him on the precision of his form it would be perfect thousands of times over. Owen didn’t care for material objects and if one had to say he cared about anything in particular it would be flowers. Weirdly enough he was a guy, but because he was blind, he was only able to truly find a love in flowers. They carried a unique scent, a scent that would wake him up no matter how tired he was. Their petals were always different so no matter how many new flowers Owen found they would always be different. Not to mention watching something grow because of one’s own effort gave him pride. He was truly happy to know that the flowers he planted grew into such wonderful forms of life.
Although he didn’t have much to gather, he decided to clean up. His house wasn’t dirty and only comprised of a single room with a small table in the corner for dining. But each and every individual dust particle needed to be removed before he left. Even though just moments after he left it would be considered ‘dirty’ by him again. Finally finished cleaning he left.
‘It’s time.’
He thought to himself as he looked in the direction of the exit of the village. He could smell the difference of the village and the forest. He then took his last step in the village and his first step into the wilderness where he would change his life forever.