proofread by Daylius
Chapter 18
Rebuilding the village
‘Hah! I could not bring back her dad’. Shiv was lying down under the shade of a huge tree just outside the village premises. He did not want to be with them, it reminded him of his failure and a crying Bella.
‘They are just a computer program yet why is it that it hurts so much’ for a person who had lost his father, Shiv could very well understand the pain Bella felt. ‘This is too realistic. Do they have emotions as well?’ Shiv was deep in his thoughts, his eyes closed.
A day had passed since the chief of the village had sacrificed his life to protect Shiv. A scene Shiv did not want to remember. To distract his mind Shiv opened his stats bar.
“Open Stats bar”
‘trrrng’
[td4]Magic Resistance
STATS WINDOWCharacter NameShivAlignmentOberonRace: Draman(demi human)[/tds]Level65ProfessionGrand CommonerTitleNoneFame100Health: 1760Mana: 1500Strength: 90+5Agility:93+5Stamina: 80+5Vitality: 83+5Wisdom: 70+5Intelligence: 76+5Luck: 10+5Perseverance: 19+5Offence:86Defense: 0
Wind: 1%
Fire: 1%
Water: 1%
Earth: 1%
AffinityWind: 1%
Fire: 1%
Water: 1%
Earth: 1%SkillsDragon's Roar- Beginner Level 1
Heavenly Element Sword Technique- Beginner Level 3
Heavenly Element Form 1 Kaze- Beginner Level 5
Heavenly Element Form 2 Hono- Beginner Level 5
Magic mastery- Beginner Level 3
Water mastery- Beginner Level 4
Earth mastery- Beginner Level 4
Wind mastery- Beginner Level 4
Fire mastery- Beginner Level 4
Identification- Beginner Level 1
Presence detection- Beginner Level 2
Blood aura- Beginner Level 1QuirksAcrobatics
“So every point I assign to vitality increases my HP by 20, similarly mana increases by 20 for every point of wisdom. Even though my stats are off chart for a normal lvl 65 player, I am still weak. Sigh” Shiv once again closed his eyes trying to figure what to do next once he leaves the village. He was considering going to the capital of Bredon Kingdom.
“What are you thinking lying down alone?”
Shiv was startled to the sudden voice. He got up and looked at the one who had just talked to him. His face became to pale when he saw that it was Bella who had spoken.
“Why are you here Bella?” Shiv asked without making eye contact with the young girls. Guilt struck his heart, he was unable to look at the girl who he had failed.
“I can’t come here?” asked Bella, still grief stricken.
“Of course you can. You can sit here. Then I will be going” rising up Shiv began to walk away.
“Why are you running away from me Shiv?”
“…” there was nothing the boy could say, he flinched.
“Do you plan to leave me here alone?”
“You are not alone. You have got people here”
“Is that so? Is that why you have been avoiding me? Do you feel responsible for my father’s death?”
“I am sorry. I am sorry” was all he managed to come up with. His guilty heart could not endure the pain.
“If you are sorry then take responsibility. Look after the village of my father. Look after us. That is your punishment”
“Eh?” Shiv turned back and looked at the girl for the first time after the incident.
“Become the new chief of the village Shiv. Inherit my father’s will”
“I cannot Bella. That is not someone like me should inherit. It is yours”
“Mine? You want a fragile girl like me to run a village? Are you going to abandon me after making me an orphan?”
The word orphan struck his heart like a dagger. His body trembled. It was then Shiv recalled the late chief’s final wish ‘Hey boy. Take care of my daughter for me will you?’. Shiv walked forward, closing in on a crying Bella. His eyes no longer had guilt or dismay. There was no longer fear or doubt, the boy had found his path to retribution. The girl looked into the boy’s golden brown eyes and smiled weakly. To her surprise she was hugged. His right hand on her head patting it gently.
“You are not an orphan, you have me Bella. I will be your family, I will be your brother. And I will protect you and the village you hold dear”
The girl smiled once again, her heart now had a ray of hope, a touch of love. She cried silently on her brother’s shoulder. “I understand brother.”
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