Chapter 16
Move Forward
Under the shade of a huge tree just outside the village premises, a boy sat solemnly. With his eyes closed, the young boy recalled the crying face of a girl. The girl whom he had made a promise to and yet had failed to fulfill. The loss she had to undergo because of his weakness. Frustrated, he blamed himself and so he refused to be with the others.
‘They are just a computer program yet why does it hurt so much’, for a person who had lost his father, Shiv could very well understand the pain Bella felt. But the reactions these so called programs had been too realistic, realistic to the point that they felt alive to Shiv.
‘This is too realistic. As if they possess genuine feelings and strong human emotions. Could it be that this world is alive?’ Shiv was deep in his thoughts, his eyes still closed.
A day had passed since the chief of the village had sacrificed his life to protect Shiv from the goblin king’s attack. A scene Shiv did not want to remember yet still could not forget even for a second. And so to distract his mind Shiv decided to go through his status bar which he had not checked for a while.
“Open Stats bar”
‘trrrng’
Wind: 1%
Fire: 1%
Water: 1%
Earth: 1%[/td4]
STATS WINDOWCharacter NameShivRaceDraconianLevel60ProfessionGrand CommonerAlignmentOberonTitleDraklake HeroHealth: 700(+550)Mana: 430(+750)Strength: 70(+35)Agility: 77(+35)Stamina: 69(+35)Vitality: 60(+35)Wisdom: 53(+30)Intelligence: 53(+30)Luck: 30Fame: 600Perseverance: 20Magic Resistance
Wind: 1%
Fire: 1%
Water: 1%
Earth: 1%
AffinitySkillsHeavenly 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 5
Earth mastery Beginner Level 5
Wind mastery Beginner Level 6
Fire mastery Beginner Level 4
Fighting Spirit Level 0
Dragon Roar Beginner Level 1
Sword Mastery Beginner Level 4
Dagger Mastery Beginner Level 4
Bow Mastery Beginner Level 3
Identification Beginner Level 2
Presence Detection Beginner Level 3
Blood aura- Beginner Level 1QuirksAcrobatics
‘Even though my stats are off chart of a normal level 60 player, I am still weak’, with such thoughts, Shiv once again closed his eyes trying to figure what to do next once he leaves the village. ‘Maybe I should go to the capital and start doing quests’, while he was busy with such thought about his future, Shiv did not realize the presence of the girl near him
“What are you doing here all alone, Shiv?”
Startled by the sudden voice, Shiv sprang up on his legs in seconds. But the moment his eyes came across the owner of the sudden voice, Shiv froze and his face became too pale.
“Why are you here, Bella?” Shiv asked as he reverted his eyes from the young girl. Guilt struck his already feeble heart.
“Can’t be here?” asked Bella with a forced smile. Every time Shiv saw the girl’s fake smile, his heart crumbled even more.
“Of course, of course. Then I will be going” rising up Shiv began to walk away.
“Why are you running away from me, Shiv?” the unexpected question caused Shiv to freeze once again. His throat dried up and his body felt weak.
“…” there was nothing the boy could say and he flinched.
“Do you plan to leave me here alone?”
“Y…. you are not alone. You have got people here”, he stuttered as he replied in a mild voice.
“Is that so? Is that what you think? Is that why you don’t even show your face to me?”
“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 will be your punishment. Stone for your sins with your life”
“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”
Hearing those words Shiv could not help but gaze deep into the watery eyes of a girl. Though those eyes were shedding tears, Shiv could feel the resolve they carried and so for a second he faltered. The gaze she had on him made it more painful for him but he did not run away, he could not run away and so he spoke.
“I cannot Bella. That is not someone like me should inherit.”
“Are you going to abandon me after making me an orphan?”, the words spoken had no warmth in it. Shiv could not believe that those words came from the mouth of a girl who was kind to everyone, whom he had never seen angry even once
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?’.
As if something had taken away all his guilt and despair, with clear eyes Shiv walked towards the girl. Bella stared at him motionless, her heart too was in turmoil. The loss she had attained was eating away at her, she could not forgive Shiv even though she knew that he was not the one to blame. Yet still anger seeped into her heart whenever she saw the boy, even now she was trembling with anger. She wanted the boy to take responsibility, a selfish wish, she knew.
While she had such thoughts, she did not pay much attention to the boy who was approaching her. But when the boy suddenly took her into his arms, she gasped. When the boy embraced her tight, her body felt hot and her heart felt calm. She could not resist; she did not want to.
“Don’t say such things, Bella. You aren’t alone. I will be with you, forever. I will be your family; I will be your brother. And I will protect you”
And for the first time since her father’s death, a smile broke out on her face. She just wanted to hear those words from someone, to be held tight by someone, to be told she was not alone in this huge world and so she cried silently on her brother’s shoulder. “Promise?”
“Ah! Promise”
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