Chapter 10: Turning The Page

The afternoon sun cast a warm, golden glow over the hills as the sound of wooden wheels echoed in the air. Caelan leaned back in the carriage, loosely holding the reins as the horse trotted steadily along the bumpy and dusty road leading to Mitra Village.

The simple yet sturdy carriage was almost empty now—just a few empty crates and a small pouch of coins safely tucked into Caelan's belt. He had spent the night in Havern Village after coming all the way from Sanderson City, where he traded the rabbits and deer he’d hunted for money. This was his third and final trip selling game, as he had saved enough for his departure from Mitra Village.

As he passed through the familiar woods near the edge of the village, he soon caught sight of the quiet and peaceful Mitra Village.

"We’re almost there," he softly said to the horse, giving the reins a gentle shake.

He headed straight to the village chief’s house to return the borrowed carriage and horse. While tying the horse to the post beside the house, he suddenly heard a door open from a nearby home. When he turned, he saw Celia.

"Good afternoon, Caelan," she greeted him with a smile.

"Good afternoon, Celia," Caelan replied.

“I still have some lunch left. Why don’t you eat here instead of cooking when you get home?” she offered.

“Thank you,” he said gratefully.

He entered her house and saw her two children playing. As usual, the moment they saw him, they stopped playing and ran toward him.

“Caelan! Caelan! Let’s play!” they said excitedly.

“Don’t bother your brother Caelan. He’s tired from his long journey and hasn’t eaten lunch yet,” Celia gently scolded them.

"Caelan, come to the table so you can eat," said Celia. I sat down on the wooden chair as Celia placed a stew served in a wooden bowl, accompanied by a wooden spoon. The thick, white broth contained chunks of vegetables like carrots and potatoes, cut into large, uneven cubes. Garnished with small green herbs, the stew looked warm and inviting.

As I took my first spoonful, the rich and creamy broth warmed my mouth. The flavor was a perfect balance of savory and earthy, with a hint of sweetness from the carrots. The potatoes were tender, almost melting on my tongue, while the herbs added a refreshing, subtle bitterness that tied the dish together. It was simple yet hearty—a meal that spoke of home and comfort, filling me with a sense of peace after a long journey.

When I finished eating, I leaned back with a satisfied sigh. "Thank you, Celia. That was delicious," I said, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

Celia smiled as she took the bowl and spoon. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. Wait here a moment," she said, disappearing into another room.

When she returned, she was holding a neatly folded dark hooded cloak. She smoothed it with her hands, as if making sure it looked perfect, before stepping closer.

"Oren and Father mentioned your upcoming departure, so here—I made this for you. I know you'll find it useful," she said, handing me the dark hooded cloak.

I took the cloak and ran my hand over its smooth fabric. "Celia, thank you so much. You and your family are among the few who have shown me kindness," I said, deeply moved by her gesture.

"It's just a small gift. You've done so much for the village, so this is my way of helping you on your journey," she replied.

I folded the cloak carefully and held it close. "Thank you, Celia. This means a lot to me," I said, meeting her kind eyes.

"Take care, Caelan," she said, her voice tinged with worry.

"Yes, thank you again for all your help," I replied, bowing before stepping outside. The warm summer breeze carried the scent of the fields as I made my way back home, the cloak resting in my arms.

The next day, I decided to join the village hunters again. When I arrived at the meeting spot, the sun had just begun to rise, bathing the village in a soft, golden light as I tightened the laces of my boots. Ron and Vlad were already there, quietly inspecting their weapons with the steady hands of experienced hunters. Around them, a few others were busy packing their gear, preparing for the hunt.

"Caelan!" Ron's voice boomed across the clearing, breaking the calm morning air. "Well, look who decided to show up. Thought you'd forgotten how to hunt!"

I grinned as I picked up my hunting spear and strode toward the group. "I’d never forget. Just had a lot on my plate lately."

"Good to have you back," Ron replied, his tone warm despite his teasing.

The forest welcomed us with its usual chorus—birds calling, leaves rustling softly as the wind moved through the trees. The ground crunched underfoot as we ventured deeper, the cool morning air growing thick with the earthy scent of moss and soil.

For a while, none of us spoke. It was the quiet of familiarity—each hunter focused, eyes scanning the ground for tracks, ears attuned to the forest's subtle sounds. Before long, we found fresh deer tracks, and the group wordlessly sprang into action. Each movement was deliberate and precise, a well-practiced dance we’d all performed before.

By midmorning, we had already bagged more than we’d expected. The group decided to rest beneath the wide shade of an old oak, its branches stretching out like protective arms.

Ron plopped down beside me, his bow resting across his knees. After a beat of silence, he glanced my way. "So, Caelan. You’ve been disappearing from the village a lot lately. What’s going on? Where do you keep running off to?"

I leaned back against the tree trunk, stretching my legs out. "I’ve been traveling to Sanderson Capital. Selling deer, rabbits—whatever I can catch. I need the money for my trip to Liras City."

Ron’s brow furrowed as he turned to face me fully. "Liras City? Don’t tell me you’re actually planning to become an adventurer."

"I am," I said simply, my tone firm. "There’s nothing else waiting for me there. I need to find a way to survive."

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Ron’s expression darkened, his voice dropping low. "You don’t know what you’re saying, Caelan. Being an adventurer isn’t what you think it is. How many from this village have tried it and never come back? Don’t let yourself become another name we mourn."

"I’ve thought this through," I said, meeting his gaze. "I’ll be careful. I’ll only take low-ranking missions—ones I know I can handle."

Ron shook his head, frustration flickering in his eyes. "Low-ranking missions won’t get you anywhere. You’ll barely scrape by, and your rank will never climb. You’ll get stuck living from one dangerous task to the next."

"That doesn’t matter to me." My voice was quieter this time, but no less resolute. "I’m not doing this to become some high-ranking adventurer or to earn a fortune. I have my reasons, and they’re enough."

Ron stared at me for a moment, his jaw tight, as though he wanted to argue more but couldn’t find the words. Vlad, who had been listening silently, finally spoke up.

"Ron, let it go. Caelan’s made his decision."

Ron’s shoulders slumped as he looked away, his frustration giving way to something softer—concern, maybe even sadness.

"Just… be careful, Caelan," he muttered after a pause, his voice carrying the weight of unspoken worries.

"I will," I said, trying to offer a small, reassuring smile.

That evening, as I prepared dinner, a soft knock echoed from the door. When I opened it, I was surprised to see Anna standing there. Before I could even say a word, she spoke up.

“Caelan… is it true? Are you really leaving Mitra Village?” Her voice was soft but heavy with sadness.

“Yes, Anna,” I replied gently. “Ron must have told you. I’ll be leaving in two days.”

She looked straight into my eyes, a hint of desperation in her gaze. “But… you’ll come back, right? You’ll visit us?”

I opened my mouth to reassure her, but no words came. I couldn’t lie to her, not about something like this. “I… I don’t know, Anna. I wish I could promise that, but I can’t,” I said quietly.

Her shoulders sank as she bowed her head. “I see,” she whispered. Her voice trembled. “I… I’m sorry for disturbing you.”

She turned away quickly, not looking back, but I still caught the glint of tears on her cheeks. I was too stunned to move, watching her silhouette fade into the darkness.

The cold evening wind brought me back to my thoughts as I closed the door. I sat at the table, staring at the food, Anna's tears still haunting me.

After a moment, I took a deep breath and picked up the spoon. The soup had become cold, but I forced myself to eat, each bite slowly giving me strength. When I finished, I set the spoon down and cleared the table.

Then, another knock broke the silence. I jumped up, hoping it was Anna. Without thinking, I rushed to open the door.

“Anna! I’m glad you—” I stopped mid-sentence. It wasn’t Anna. It was Vlad, grinning at me.

“Wow, Caelan,” Vlad said, raising an eyebrow as he stepped inside. “I get it—having a pretty girl drop by is exciting. But do you have to look disappointed to see me?”

“It’s not like that,” I shot back, flustered. “I was just worried. Things didn’t end well when I talked to Anna earlier.”

Vlad chuckled, shaking his head. “Sure, sure. Whatever you say.”

“Just come in,” I muttered, stepping aside.

It was easy for me to invite Vlad in—unlike with Anna. Letting a young woman into a bachelor’s house, just the two of us, wouldn’t look right. Vlad stepped inside and sat by the table, quietly watching me as I sat across from him. For a moment, he said nothing, his expression suddenly turning serious. Then, he reached for something wrapped up beside him.

“Here,” Vlad said, his voice quieter than usual as he placed the bundle on the table and pushed it toward me.

“What’s this?” I asked, hesitating as I began to unwrap it.

“A sword,” Vlad replied. “This sword was given to me by my brother because he knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps and become an adventurer.”

I paused, looking at him in surprise.

“My brother… he was an adventurer. You’ve probably heard what happened to him,” he continued, his gaze fixed on the sword as I fully unwrapped it. The blade was simple yet sturdy, its faint shine visible even in the dim light of the room. “He dreamed of building a good life for our family. I wanted to follow him—become an adventurer too. But after he died… I couldn’t do it. I decided to stay here in the village.”

His words weighed heavily in the air. I ran my hand along the hilt of the sword, feeling its importance. “Vlad… are you sure you want to give this to me?”

“Yes,” he answered firmly, his eyes meeting mine. “Don’t worry. That’s not the only thing he left me. Remember that dagger I always bring when we hunt? That came from him too. So don’t hesitate to accept this. Besides, as an adventurer, your life depends on your weapon. This sword isn’t meant for a hunter like me—it’s meant for an adventurer like you. You’re leaving to become an adventurer, so this sword is rightfully yours, Caelan.”

I couldn’t speak right away, the weight of the gift settling over me. “Thank you, Vlad,” I finally said in a low voice. “I’ll take care of it. I promise.”

Vlad smiled faintly and leaned back in his chair. “Good. It suits you. Just… don’t get yourself killed out there, okay? I don’t want to regret giving it to you.”

I let out a small laugh, though there was an edge of emotion to it. “I’ll do my best to stay alive.”

When Vlad stood to leave, he paused by the door and turned to look at me. “You’re leaving in two days, right? I’ll come with you to the port in Sanderson. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

I smiled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

When the door closed behind him, I sat alone for a while, staring at the sword resting on the table. I ran my fingers over the hilt once more, knowing this sword wasn’t just a weapon. It was a memory and a gift from a good friend.

The day before I was set to leave, word spread quickly through Mitra Village. By midday, it seemed like everyone knew. My small, quiet house, which had always been a place of solitude, was now full of visitors. They came to say goodbye, offer well wishes, and give me small gifts—tokens of their kindness. Some stayed longer than others, speaking quietly, as if they didn't want to leave.

That evening, when the house was quiet again, I sat down to pack. As I opened my bag, I noticed a familiar item—my academy uniform. It was still clean, though worn, a reminder of the life I left behind. My shoes and backpack were also there. I opened the backpack and found my notebook, wallet, and cellphone—now useless because the battery had died.

I opened the wallet and felt a pang in my chest. It was full of cash and Premium credit card And high -limit card reminders of my old life, of who I was before all of this. I held them for a moment, feeling the weight of my past, then carefully put them back in the bag. Everything was ready for tomorrow, but I felt a heaviness in my heart.

The next morning came early. I woke up with the first light of dawn, dressed, and packed the last of my things. I took a final look at the small house that had been my home for so long. Every creak of the floor and the soft breeze through the walls felt like memories. Just as I was about to leave, I heard a knock on the door.

I opened it to find Vlad waiting for me. His usual smile was there, but it was softer today.

“Good morning, Caelan,” he said. “Looks like you’re all set. I half thought you might change your mind.”

I gave a small smile. “I’ve made up my mind, Vlad. I’m ready.”

“Well then, let’s go,” he said with a nod.

The walk to the carriage was quiet. But when we turned the corner, I was surprised to see almost the whole village gathered to see me off. Village Chief Oren, Celia and her husband Lyro, and even my fellow hunters were there, their usual confidence now mixed with sadness. I could see it in their eyes—words weren’t needed.

I looked around for Anna, but she wasn’t there. Just as I was about to give up, Ron stepped forward. His face was serious, but he held out a blue scarf.

“Anna wanted you to have this,” Ron said. “Even though it’s not your fault, I’m still a little angry at you for making my sister cry.” He took a breath. “Take care of yourself, Caelan. Wherever you go.”

I took the scarf, feeling its softness in my hands. “Thank you, Ron. And tell Anna I’ll take good care of it.”

Ron nodded and stepped back. I turned to the others and, taking a deep breath, said, “Thank you all. For everything.” I bowed low. “I’ll never forget you or this place.”

Then, I climbed into the front seat of the carriage beside Vlad. The crowd stayed silent, watching as we began to leave. The sound of the horse’s hooves on the dirt road was the only noise.

I didn’t look back immediately. Instead, I held the scarf tightly, feeling it as a reminder of the bonds I’d formed here. As Mitra Village slowly faded from view, I allowed myself to glance back one last time at the place that had become my second home.

And with that, my journey began.