Exhaustion

After ordering desserts—cakes, puddings, and sweet pastries—the kids were all laughing and smiling, their bellies full and their spirits high. Ethan leaned back in his chair, watching them enjoy the final part of their meal, and couldn't help but feel a warmth spreading through him. It had been a great day, even if paying for all that food had left a dent in his pockets. He'd been creating silver coins slowly, but the cost of feeding six kids (and himself) added up fast.

After paying and thanking the restaurant staff, they all walked out into the cool streets of Greystone, the children still buzzing from the feast. But as they headed back toward the inn, something became clear—the kids didn't want to go back.

Their faces, once full of joy, began to falter as they neared the inn. The youngest girl, the one who had tricked Ethan earlier, tugged on his sleeve, her eyes full of sadness.

"Do we really have to go back?" she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. The others looked at Ethan too, their expressions mirroring the same feeling. They didn't want to go back to her—the cruel guardian who treated them like little more than servants.

Ethan's heart sank. He felt the weight of their situation more deeply now. He had given them a break from their hard lives for just a little while, but that woman still controlled them. He wished he could do more—sweep them away, find them a better place to live, maybe even adopt them himself. But he was no parent. He was still figuring out who he was in this world, mentally still a teenager even if his body looked older.

He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers as he thought. He could feel the responsibility pulling at him, but he knew he wasn't ready for something as big as taking care of all these kids. He sighed, feeling guilty.

"I'm sorry," he said softly, looking at each of them in turn. "I really wish I could help more, but… I'm just not in a position to take you all away from that place right now."

The kids looked disappointed, but they seemed to understand. They shuffled their feet, not saying much. Ethan's heart ached for them, but he couldn't let the day end on a low note.

"But!" Ethan said, perking up as an idea struck him. "We've still got some time before you need to go back. Why don't we do something fun? One more thing before the day's over!"

The kids looked up at him, hope flickering back into their eyes. "What do you have in mind?" Jak asked, his voice eager.

Ethan thought for a moment. They couldn't stray too far from the inn, but there were plenty of things in Greystone that could entertain a group of kids. Maybe they could find a park, or even just take a walk by the market to see some street performers. Something simple, but fun.

He smiled, his energy renewed. "I'm sure we can find something. Come on, let's make the most of the day!"

The kids cheered, their spirits lifting once more, and together, they set off down the street, looking for one last adventure before heading back to the inn.

Ethan, seeing the kids' excitement, led them toward the market. The streets of Greystone were busy with merchants selling all kinds of goods—handcrafted trinkets, brightly colored scarves, small toys, and more. The lively hum of people haggling and laughing filled the air, making the atmosphere feel vibrant and warm.

As they walked through the market, Ethan smiled at the thought of buying little gifts for each of the children, something to remind them of this day. He didn't have much left in his pouch, but it was worth it to see their smiles. As they passed a stall selling small wooden toys and figurines, Ethan stopped.

"Alright," he said, grinning at the group. "Pick something out. Just one small thing for each of you."

The kids' eyes lit up, and they rushed to the stall, eagerly inspecting the various items. One by one, they picked something out—a small wooden bird for the youngest girl, a carved soldier for Jak, a bracelet made of colorful beads for one of the other girls. Ethan watched them closely, enjoying the happiness radiating from each of them as they held their new treasures.

Ethan paid the merchant with a few carefully crafted silver coins, and the group moved on, their spirits lifted by the little gifts. They walked through the rest of the market, laughing and talking, before eventually making their way to a park on the edge of the district.

The park was a simple one—wide open space with a few large trees, patches of green grass, and a small pond in the middle. It wasn't extravagant, but it was peaceful, a perfect place to end the day.

The children immediately ran off, their laughter filling the air as they chased each other, playing games and showing off their gifts. Ethan found a spot near one of the trees, leaning back against the bark as he watched them. Greg, ever vigilant, stood beside him, the children occasionally running up to the golem to show him what they had picked out.

Ethan chuckled softly, feeling a deep sense of contentment. For a moment, he forgot about the challenges of his life in this world—the fight to reclaim his powers, the strange circumstances of his existence. Here, in the park, with the kids running around and the sun beginning to dip in the sky, he felt at peace.

As he watched the youngest girl sitting by the pond, carefully holding her wooden bird, Ethan's heart softened even more. Small moments like this mattered. Even if he couldn't take them away from their harsh reality forever, he had given them this one day of happiness. That meant something.

The day wore on, and as the sun began to set, the time came to take the children back. Ethan stood up, stretching, and called them over.

"Alright," he said with a smile. "Time to head back."

They groaned in unison, clearly not wanting the day to end, but they obeyed, gathering around Ethan and Greg. With the park behind them and their gifts in hand, they started the walk back to the inn. Though the kids knew they'd have to return to the guardian, they were all smiling, holding onto the joy of the day they'd just shared.

As they neared the inn, Ethan looked at them one last time, his heart both heavy and light. "You guys take care," he said softly, "and remember—you always deserve better."

The kids nodded, their faces glowing with gratitude. And with that, they headed inside, leaving Ethan standing outside with Greg at his side.

---

As soon as the kids disappeared back into the inn, Ethan's facade crumbled. The exhaustion he had been holding back all day hit him like a ton of bricks. Creating coins constantly, making sure the kids were happy, and managing the whole situation had taken everything out of him. His body felt heavy, and his mana reserves were dangerously low.

"I feel like death," he muttered under his breath, leaning heavily on Greg. As he slumped against the golem, he slid down slightly before Greg instinctively reached out, catching him and holding him upright.

"Greg, help me walk," Ethan mumbled, barely able to keep his eyes open. His limbs felt like lead, and each step felt like an impossible task.

Greg's stone arm gently supported him, guiding him as they moved down the street. Ethan practically dragged his feet, every part of him screaming for rest.

"We gotta find another inn," Ethan muttered, looking around but too tired to focus on anything. The thought of returning to the inn they had just left, with that horrid woman, made him groan inwardly. He needed a new place to crash for the night—a place where he wouldn't have to deal with overcharging guardians or rude stares.

Greg, ever dependable, stayed by his side, supporting most of Ethan's weight as they wandered through the streets of Greystone. The evening air was cool, but it did little to revive Ethan's energy. All he wanted now was to collapse in a bed and sleep off the day's exhaustion.

"Just… a little further," Ethan muttered, more to himself than to Greg. "We'll find something…"

They walked in silence, with Greg guiding him like a silent sentinel, until finally, Ethan spotted a smaller inn tucked into the corner of a quieter street. It wasn't fancy, but it looked clean and welcoming, with a sign swinging gently in the breeze.

"That'll do," Ethan whispered, barely able to keep his eyes open as they stumbled toward the entrance.

Greg helped him inside, and Ethan, too tired to haggle or negotiate, slapped down some silver coins on the counter. The innkeeper, a kind-looking older woman, didn't ask any questions, simply handed him a key with a smile and pointed him toward a room.

With Greg's help, Ethan made his way upstairs, finally reaching the room. He barely registered anything about it—the soft bed was all that mattered. With one last push, he collapsed onto the bed, his body sinking into the mattress.

"Greg… you're the best…" Ethan mumbled into the pillow, his exhaustion pulling him quickly toward sleep. "Remind me… never to create so many coins again…"

With that, he drifted off, completely spent, leaving Greg standing as a silent guardian by the door.

That night, Ethan slipped into a deep, heavy sleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow. The exhaustion of the day pulled him down into the darkness, but soon, that darkness began to shift. Images formed in his mind—familiar images—ones he hadn't seen in a long time.

He was back on Earth.

The streets of his old neighborhood stretched out before him. The familiar sound of cars, people talking, and the distant hum of the city filled the air. The warm sunlight bathed everything in a golden glow. Ethan blinked, looking down at himself. He wasn't in his new body, the one crafted with mana. He was himself, as he had been before—the boy who walked to school every day, the boy who once dreamed of fantasy worlds and adventures.

He walked slowly, the feeling surreal but oddly comforting. His old school appeared in the distance, and he could hear voices—familiar voices. His heart skipped a beat. Was that... Sarah?

Ethan rounded the corner and saw her standing there, leaning against a tree near the school gates, just like old times. She looked the same, but her expression was one of sadness. She wasn't the vibrant, smiling Sarah he remembered. She was staring at the ground, her arms crossed, lost in thought.

Ethan felt a pull in his chest. "Sarah?" he called out, but his voice was strange, echoing as though it didn't belong in this place.

She looked up, her eyes wide, and for a moment, they locked eyes. Ethan froze. There was something different about this moment—it didn't feel like a dream. It felt real, like somehow, somewhere, this was actually happening.

"Ethan?" she said softly, her voice trembling. "How... how are you here?"

Ethan didn't know how to respond. He walked toward her, but as he did, the world around him seemed to flicker, like static on a broken TV screen. His steps faltered. He tried to reach her, but the ground shifted beneath him, and he found himself floating—the dream world slipping away.

"Sarah! Wait!" Ethan shouted, but his voice sounded distant, as if he were shouting from miles away. She reached out for him, her face filled with confusion and sadness, but then everything went black again.

Ethan's mind spun, trying to grasp what had just happened. It didn't feel like a normal dream. There was something more, something deeper about the connection. Was it really her? Was she still back on Earth, grieving, wondering about what had happened to him?

As the dream slipped away, Ethan's thoughts were heavy with questions. He woke up slowly, the light of dawn creeping through the curtains of the inn. His body still ached from exhaustion, but his mind was filled with the lingering image of Sarah, her eyes searching for answers, just like his.

It wasn't just a dream. It couldn't have been. Something was trying to tell him something, but what?

Sitting up in bed, Ethan took a deep breath, rubbing his eyes. "What... was that?" he muttered to himself, glancing over at Greg, who stood silently by the door as always.

Whatever it was, he knew that his connection to Earth wasn't gone. Not completely. And that thought weighed on him as he prepared for the day ahead.