Broken friendship

"It was clear that I was against his proposal. The idea of being the center of attention disturbed me, not just as a matter of preference, but for everything it could cause: ... Death!

It's a well-known story across the realms of Aspell. When a small group of dwarf scientists discovered the existence of that incredible ore used to create Message Parchment and started researching it, they faced numerous assassination attempts, whether from bitter elves or others jealous of the glory they would achieve.

This world is dangerous because of us. We are all guided by our selfish desires, and no matter how much we pretend otherwise, the truth remains immutable. Unfortunately, I am no exception to this rule. That is probably why I acted as I did.

As soon as I finished my last year of studies, I decided to abandon everything. At least, that’s what I made Elias believe.

We had once again arranged to meet in the guild building, and that’s where I broke the news to him.

- Listen, Elias. I can't continue with our research anymore.

- Are you kidding me? He retorted, his expression shifting slowly from confusion to anger.

- No, I’m serious. Your... ambitions, they are far too dangerous. For you, me, and everyone who knows us.

- So what? A man without ambitions is only good for being a subordinate. Is that what you want? Where’s the fire of your youth gone?

- I'm 26 years old, remember? And I’ve seen enough as an adventurer to know how precious life is. We can't risk it needlessly for mere... ambitions.

- You're just a coward, Owen. He replied, his face now full of anger.

- Please, just tell me you'll abandon this idea of expanding your influence. It’s not worth it.

- Don't tell me how to live my life, you little shit. Yours isn't even worth it.

- What did you say? I asked, my face now also filled with anger.

- You heard me, you worthless piece of sh...

He had not yet finished his sentence when he was already receiving my fist in the face.

"Ahahah, you hit me, when you can't even land two proper punches?" he said, laughing while wiping the blood from his mouth.

He then began to beat me up. He wasn't using his magic, he probably would have killed me if he did anyway. Nevertheless, each of his punches was filled with an enormous amount of mana. I wasn't strong enough to fight him, so I just took the beating until the guild receptionist and two other adventurers came to separate us, while the others cheered.

"Tss... Let me go," Elias said brusquely, pushing away the man holding him back.

I watched him storm off, then he turned back to me, fists clenched, and said:

"I never want to see you again."

I could only stand there, immobile. Just yesterday, he was my best friend, and today he declared he never wanted to see me again.

I left the town of Santa-Rosa the next day.

...

My life took a different turn after that. I met Jenn, my wife, a few years later and we had Asha. After some more time, under Jenn's pleas, I returned to Santa Rosa, my hometown. Asha was 5 years old at that time.

Despite my investigations, I never found out what happened to Elias. So, we continued to live our lives quietly. Until the tragedy... the day he killed my wife...

END OF OWEN'S POV...

...

‘Well then...’

Besides expressing his astonishment, Atlas didn't know what to say. For once, he preferred to stay silent, waiting for someone else to break the ice.

"..."

Alpheus didn’t dare say a word either. He was awestruck.

- No need to look so grim, youngsters. All that is in the past now, I don't think about it anymore.

- I am sincerely sorry, Owen. That you had to go through that. Alpheus said in a respectful and gentle tone.

- Thank you! But I also bear some responsibility for all of this. I realize now that I thought only of myself from the start. That’s what caused these events; I consider myself as guilty as he is.

- No! Don’t ever say such nonsense again. Atlas replied, arms crossed, with an expression of fury.

Alpheus glanced slightly surprised at his companion's words.

- It is true that you made your mistakes, and perhaps it shouldn't have ended that way. But what I am convinced of is that if he murdered your wife because of his resentments towards you, then he cannot be forgiven.

It felt like the anger Atlas felt was emanating from his aura, making the room increasingly tense.

Alpheus, meanwhile, continued to observe the situation, not letting his feelings, which were no different from Atlas's, show.

- Hmmm... Before too much time passes. Do you have any idea where Asha might be, Owen? Atlas asked, now calmer.

- I'm not really sure, but try checking the woods east of town. She loved going there when she was a child. Maybe she has forgotten those moments, but in any case, that's the first place I would look for her.

- Okay, I’ll go check.

Atlas then left to check on Asha, whose condition, to begin with, was not very good.

***

It didn't take long for him to reach the forest.

"I hope she's there. ...That is, if she's still alive," he thought as he got closer and closer.

Everything was calm around him and in the area of the forest when he was about fifty meters from its entrance. Calm, until a huge noise echoed from deep within the forest, followed by a cloud of dust rising to match the sound.

"What’s going on? I suddenly feel a strong emanation of mana from where that noise came from."

Once again, the same noise resounded in the forest. And it wasn't the last; every fifteen seconds or so, it happened again.

To reassure himself as quickly as possible, Atlas tried to get there as fast as his physical abilities allowed, which was very fast.

Although he somewhat expected it, he was still surprised by what he saw upon arrival. Asha was standing, pulling her bowstring with all her might, charging an arrow with mana. But the most astonishing thing to Atlas was probably the fact that within a 30-meter radius around Asha, the forest vegetation had almost disappeared, leaving only dust.

In the middle of this field of deforested trees and dust, Asha remained particularly focused, with a strong frustration clearly visible on her face. Under the effect of her mana charging the arrow, the air around her was agitated, forcefully blowing away the fallen leaves on the ground.

When Asha released the arrow, aiming at yet another tree with incredible precision, Atlas instantly recognized part of the noise he had been hearing.

It was the sound of the arrow cutting through the air to hit its target, even breaking the sound barrier.

The second sound, barely perceived by Atlas, was that of the arrow piercing the tree so quickly that it left only a small notch on its trunk. That’s what Atlas thought until he saw the tree split in two. Not just the tree, but all those following it for 50 meters.

- Who would have thought!? Atlas exclaimed, clapping for Asha. "You didn't seem this powerful when you tried to kill me."

- I can try again, now that we're not in town. She replied, stepping toward him.

- Wow! You're tempting me there, and I have a weakness for that kind of temptation.

- You're creepy. Asha said, grimacing.

- You're not the first to tell me that.

Asha started to smile slightly at the atmosphere that had now settled.

- Was this a way to vent or just training?

- I wasn't in the mood, so I came here to calm down a bit.

- I see.

- ...

- ...

- Thank you very much! Asha said suddenly as they began to walk together out of the forest.

- Hmm?

- For what you did. I can't guess what's going on in your head for helping me so much, but whatever it is, I sincerely thank you.

- Don’t worry about what’s in my head. Just consider me a curious, powerful traveler trying to live life to the fullest.

- A traveler, curious, powerful, and above all, trying to live life to the fullest. I like that.

- Finaly, your personality fits your face perfectly. Atlas said, smiling slightly in a charming manner.

- What do you mean?

- It's not important, don't worry.

- What! Of course it is...

They continued like this until they arrived at a river where they stopped to hydrate.

- Can I ask you a question, Asha?

- What is it?

- I don't want to be intrusive, but why did you choose to work for a man like Elias?

- ... I had no choice.

- ...

- When my mother died, my father became completely different. After a year of mourning, he completely immersed himself in his studies. From what I know, he spent ten years working all over the kingdom of Eryas before marrying my mother at 36. Even after that, we lived a nomadic life. That's probably why my mother begged him to stop and live a stable life here in Santa-Rosa.

- And he agreed.

- Yes! And everything fell apart after that. For reasons I don't know, my mother was assassinated by a stranger who then disappeared.

"With my father appearing to have lost his mind and my mother deceased, I was no better than an orphan. I had to take care of myself. Find work, and also take care of my father as best as I could.

But what employer would hire an 8-year-old girl who didn't even look her age because her skin clung to her bones from hunger?

I was kicked out wherever I went. Only Elias considered my case. In addition to teaching me almost everything, he paid me a good salary that allowed me to meet my needs and bring food and water to my father every night."

'Damn! He planned it well. Better than I would have imagined. In the end, Elias's only mistake was including Alpheus and me in the equation,' Atlas thought after hearing Asha's answer.

'I don't know why the old man didn't tell her, but she has the right to know. And who better than a scoundrel like me to break the news."

- Asha!

- Yes, Atlas?

- There's something I need to tell you.

- ... I'm listening.

- Your mother... she was killed by Elias."

****

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