I take my time strolling in this village after regained my composure. The once clear sky begins to darken, casting a subtle shade over everything. Elven guards, their presence undeniable, patrol the surroundings with bows slung across their backs and rapiers hanging by their sides. Their watchful eyes ensure that the Loggers or any other hostile creatures remain at bay, far from infiltrating the village's sanctuary.

I find my way to the northeastern corner of the village, drawn to the riverbank. Here, I sit down, my expression clouded with thoughts that weigh heavy on my mind. Before me stretches a serene river, its surface reflecting the world around it like a shimmering mirror. On the opposite bank, tall trees stand like silent guardians, and to my left, a quaint wooden bridge adds to the picturesque scenery.

I set my sword aside, allowing it to rest, and then stretch my arms out, reclining comfortably on the ground. With a gentle gaze, I lift my eyes toward the heavens. The evening sky, painted in various shades of red, casts a tranquil ambiance over the land. Yet, beneath its beauty, it holds a hint of melancholy, a reflection of my inner turmoil.

The pain I've endured inside me still lingers, a wound that refuses to heal completely. In my left hand, I hold a crystal, a precious artifact dropped by someone dear to me. My mind churns with questions that have no easy answers.

Why didn't Amy killed me when she had the chance? Instead, she chose to protect me once more, leaving me baffled by her actions.

What makes Alpha to such relentless in his quest to kill her?

And perhaps the most perplexing of all, how did Amy manage to get alive... Or as it seems?

These mysteries weigh on me, as I contemplate them by the tranquil river, seeking answers in the crimson hues of the evening sky.

Alpha and Josh spoke of the creatures responsible for turning the fallen into those dreaded ghouls, a grim revelation that haunts my thoughts. It appears that these sinister beings played a role in the transformation of corpses, although their motive remains shrouded in mystery.

The question that lingers most prominently is: Why Ezlea? Why did these malevolent forces target our village in particular? It's a riddle I yearn to unravel.

As I dwell upon these enigmas, my mind becomes an ever-swelling sea of questions, each one threatening to consume me.

"Hey."

I wished I could turn back time and rescue Amy. She occupies my mind constantly, her absence like an ache that refuses to fade.

"Rai."

With a sigh, I close my eyes, the weight of everything pressing upon me. My heart aches with the longing to put an end to the darkness that surrounds us.

Alpha and Josh have played their part in shaping me into the person I am today. But at times, a yearning stirs within me, a yearning for a simpler life, for peaceful days in the heart of the village.

"Seriously, Rai. How long will you ignore me?" The voice insists, pulling me from my reverie.

!!!

I pivot around, my gaze landing upon Josh, who stands there with a quizzical expression. He raises a hand to his face in exasperation, clearly irritated by my unintentional neglect.

"Oh, it's you, Josh," I acknowledge, finally acknowledging his presence.

"Tsk," he clicks his tongue, his frustration evident. "I can't believe you're lost in your thoughts again like that. How do you feel?"

I keep my silence, my eyes fixed on the tranquil river, its waters flowing steadily.

Josh's frustration mounts, and irritation etches across his face as my attention drifts away once more, "Listen, if you keep going like this..."

...

His voice grows more intense, and he practically pleads, "Seriously, Rai! When will you grow up if you continue like this!?"

But as he continues to speak, his words become a distant murmur, fading into the background. My mind drifts away, and all I can see is a vivid image of Amy, her pale figure from that fateful final encounter etched in my memory.

"Just forget about your dead, otherworldly demon girlfriend already! Are you some kind of necrophiliac?" Josh's harsh words break through my reverie, stinging like a sharp arrow.

!!!

My eyes snap open, and my body twitches in response to Josh's hurtful words. "What... did you just say?" I manage to utter with a mix of shock and anger.

Josh smirks, his demeanor unapologetic. "Finally I got your attention. Do I need to repeat myself?"

The room falls silent, tension crackling in the air as I glare at him sharply. "Try it... if you dare."

"Dead girlfriend," he mocks, pushing the boundaries further.

A surge of anger courses through my veins, an uncontrollable fire that forces me to slowly rise to my feet. In my left hand, I grip the crystal tightly, my knuckles white from the intensity of my emotions.

"Dead demon girlfriend."

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I grip the crystal tightly in my left fist.

...

"Take it back..." I seethe, my voice low and threatening.

"Dead Amy-" Josh begins to taunt again.

"I SAID, TAKE IT BACK!!!" I roar, unable to contain my rage any longer.

Without hesitation, I charge toward Josh, my fist delivering a powerful punch fueled by my fury to his face. He stumbles backward, spitting to the side and rubbing his cheek. Quickly regaining his footing, he readies his own fist for a fight.

"Now I have your attention. It's time to knock some sense into you!" Josh declares with a grin and his fighting stance.

...

Josh steps forward, his anger fueling his actions, and he throws a punch at my face. I make a deliberate choice not to dodge or block his attack; instead, I take the punch head-on, accepting the pain that surges through me.

In response, I act swiftly, seizing Josh's fist from the side and countering with a forceful strike to his face. My voice is a low mutter as I repeat, "Take your words back, take them back... take them back!!"

"Tch, you persistent bastard..." Josh grumbles, his frustration evident.

Our fists clash in a flurry of blows, each exchange driven by our pent-up emotions. However, Josh manages to parry my final punch skillfully.

In a swift maneuver, he grabs my hair, using it as leverage to maneuver behind me, seizing the upper hand in our impromptu brawl.

"You know what?" Josh hisses through gritted teeth, his frustration spilling over. "Alpha and I were excited when you survived and joined us. But it seems your heart is elsewhere!"

I growl, my determination to break free from his grip intensifying. However, Josh remains resolute, pulling harder and shouting right into my ear, his words like a dagger to my heart.

"Just face it already! Your girlfriend is DEAD, TWICE!! Can't you see you're just whining like a spoiled brat who's lost his favorite toy!?"

"SHUT UP!!!" I roar, my patience wearing thin.

With a surge of energy, I release my left hand from his grip, attempting to grab Josh's hand and pull him towards me. In quick succession, I deliver another powerful blow with my right hand, followed by a well-aimed kick at his feet. Josh groans in pain, his resistance faltering as he falls to his knees.

!!!

As a result of my last action, the crystal slips from my left hand, plunging into the river's serene waters. "No..." I utter in desperation, my heart sinking as I watch it bounce and drift away.

"Tsk... What a nuisance..." Josh mutters, clearly unimpressed by the situation. Without hesitation, he swiftly jumps into the river, his form disappearing beneath the surface.

"JOSHUA!!!" I cry out, my voice filled with concern. I rush towards the river's edge, extending my hand toward him as he emerges, clutching the precious crystal.

"Grab my hand!!" I implore, reaching out to help him out of the water. Josh swims towards me, and I do my best to pull his heavy body to safety, both of us gasping for air as we make it to the shore.

Once we catch our breath, Josh can't help but voice his frustration while shaking his head. "Are you so reckless that you'd throw this away!?"

Stunned and shaken, I stand there, realizing how close I came to losing the precious crystal. My own impulsive actions nearly cost me dearly, and a twinge of regret gnaws at my heart. I can't help but blame Josh for pushing me to let go of my left fist without thinking.

"Give it back..." I demand, my voice tinged with frustration and urgency.

But Josh remains stubborn, refusing to yield. "No, not until you answer my question!"

"I SAID, GIVE IT BACK!!!" I shout, my patience worn thin.

"OH, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!" Josh exclaims, clearly exasperated.

In a final attempt, I reach for the crystal in his right hand, trying to retrieve it. However, he raises it out of my reach, keeping it just beyond my grasp. Then, with swift and brutal efficiency, he delivers a punishing kick to my stomach.

I scream in agony, collapsing to my knees and clutching my abdomen with both hands, the pain radiating through my body.

"Tell me her dying message. Then I'll give it back to you!" Josh demands without moving an inch. He seems to know and understand that the dying message means something to me.

Tears well up in my eyes as I struggle to rise, the pain from his kick still coursing through my body.

"TELL ME, YOU SPOILED BRAT!!!"

Gradually, my senses return after his outburst. I grit my teeth, anger and realization surging within me. I close my eyes tightly, and with my mouth wide open, I finally let out her words, words that have haunted me for so long. "SHE TOLD ME TO LIVE MY LIFE, GOD DAMMIT!! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW!?"

"There! Now you've finally said it!!" Josh exclaims, his tone tinged with relief.

A surge of understanding rushes through me as well. Those words, the legacy of Amy's sacrifice, echo in my mind. "Someday, you’ll find somebody that’s better than me…" They were her last words, spoken as she gave her life to protect mine.

As I reflect on those words, a profound realization washes over me. Can I truly honor her memory by clinging to the past, by dwelling on that fateful event, and by failing to move forward in life, as if living solely for her expectations?

A bittersweet smile forms on my face as I contemplate this. I'm certain that if Amy were still alive, she would laugh at me, gently urging me to embrace life and seek happiness.

"You can't change the past. What's done is done," he says, his voice carrying the weight of experience. He spits the remain blood resides in his mouth to the side, then fixes his gaze on me while giving me a light punch, using his hand, with the purple-black crystal in it as he hands it back to me. "She told you to live, right? So do it! Live to the fullest and never look back from now on!"

He takes a few steps away, his words sinking in. "Josh..." I murmur, my gratitude evident as I rub my cheek where he had struck me while accepting the crystal. "I... Thank you."

“I’m heading back. Dinner will be ready whenever you’re back into my home.” He announces his departure with a casual wave of his right hand, not turning back as he walks away.

With the crystal in hand and Josh's words echoing in my mind, I take a deep breath, I think I may starting to move forward and honor Amy's memory by living life to its fullest.

#

End of Chapter 22