Chapter 22: Return to the Village

The old man and the young man descended the mountains under the pale moonlight, moving as quickly as their strength allowed. Although the relief of their newfound freedom was present, the young man still glanced back from time to time, as if he feared that the horrors of the fortress might yet reach them. But the old man, with firm steps and resolute gaze, kept his focus ahead, guiding them along the safest path back to the village.

The journey was silent, marked only by the sound of their footsteps and the wind that cut through the sparse trees around them. The young man, still stunned by recent events, finally broke the silence with a hesitant voice.

"Why did you do this? You do not know me, nor do you owe me anything," he said, looking at the old man with a mixture of curiosity and gratitude.

The old man looked at the young man and smiled slightly, but there was a weight in his eyes that betrayed the simplicity of his answer. "Because everyone deserves a chance to go home. And because your mother asked. That's enough for me."

The young man nodded, speechless. The answer was simple, but it held a depth that he was still trying to understand. As they continued, the path began to become more familiar, and the young man realized that they were close to the village.

When they finally reached the village, the sky was already beginning to lighten with the sunrise. The first lights in the houses came on, and the sounds of a new day began to emerge. The old man led the young man to the small house where the mother was waiting, her silhouette visible in the doorway.

The woman ran to hug her son as soon as she saw him, tears of relief streaming down her face. "I thought I would never see you again," she said, her voice breaking.

The young man hugged his mother tightly, as if he never wanted to let her go. The old man, on the sidelines of the scene, watched in silence, satisfied to see that the promise he had made had been fulfilled.

When the woman finally turned to the old man, her eyes were filled with gratitude. "I have no words to thank you for what you did," she said, still holding her son's hand. The old man simply nodded, his eyes tired but serene. "You've already thanked me. Now, you two need to rest. Enjoy your time together." Without waiting for any more thanks or words, the old man nodded goodbye and began walking towards the exit of the village. He knew he could not stay, for his path still called to him, leading him to the next destination, to the next challenge. As the sun rose fully, casting a golden light over the village, the old man disappeared down the path that had brought him here, alone once more, but at peace with what he was leaving behind. He knew the world was vast and full of pains to be healed, and his journey was far from over.