Departure

Arakh's eyes fluttered a bit before slowly opening. His vision slowly regained its sharpness and noticed the unfamiliar roof. He sat up and leaned by the wall. His head was down and his hair fell, covering his face.

What am I going to do now, I'm utterly... alone.

"Big bro?"

Arakh looked over and saw Malfoy peeking by the door. "Yo."

"Wait, I'll get Mama," said Malfoy.

Arakh smiled wryly as he watched the little kid leave. I see, that's where I am.

Before long he heard rushed footsteps and his name being called. Arakh glanced over and saw Lia approaching with a sigh of relief. She sat by the bed, "How are you feeling?"

"I..."

Lia covered her mouth, "My god! I'm so sorry."

"I-It's okay," said Arakh, his eyes unmistakeably filled with grief. His fingers clutched to the blanket. 

"Y-You know what, I-I will leave you alone for a while."

"No, it's alright, big sister," said Arakh as he hugged his knees, his arms crossed on top of it and his chin laid on it. 

Lia gazed with sympathy as she looked at Arakh barely having the energy to even smile.  I should cheer him up, but how?

"You know, Arakh, ten years have passed, but you are still as handsome as you were. I'm so envious that you get to remain youthful while everyone is getting creases here and there," said Lia.

"Is that so," Arakh remained, barely putting an effort into answering her.

Crap! That didn't work? He used to be blushing to see me! Sigh! I guess getting older is the factor.

"Big sis, what do you do when you're alone?" asked Arakh.

"Huh? Reading books, doing house chores, I guess," Lia answered.

"I have no one, for the first time in my life, I felt so... lonely," said Arakh.

"Oh Arakh," Lia rustled his hair. "You are not alone, Arakh. One day, you too will start your own family."

"But who would want a guy like me? I'm practically homeless," said Arakh.

"There will be a girl out there," Lia grabbed his shoulders. "You just have to prove yourself, and be yourself, the right one will come."

"Only one girl?" Arakh asked.

". . . . . . ." As seconds went by, Lia closed her eyes. Her brows twitched in sync with her lips, and her grip strength increased tenfold. Her aura seeped out like a death god ready to rip his soul out.

"B-Big sis?" Arakh called out.

Lia's aura gradually went out as she breathed it out through her nose. She opened her eyes once more, looking at Arakh. Then again, he is as lonely as he could get right now.

"There must be something that you want to chase, a dream," said Lia.

"The person that I want to show off to, is dead," said Arakh, pinning down the atmosphere once more.

Lia shook her head, "She must be watching you from above, and you know well how sad she would be seeing you like this while she is too vulnerable to do anything."

Arakh stayed silent, "Do you think it's worth it to chase my dream now?"

"It is," a familiar hoarse voice entered the room.

"Village head?" Lia mentioned. The village head entered, his weathered face marked by years of wisdom and toil, his crooked lips forming a rare smile.

"Pardon the intrusion, your husband and little Malfoy let me in," said the village head.

"Oh, I don't mind," Lia began to stand up from her seat, but the village head waved his hand in refusal.

"Boy, do you remember Reikh and Hayam?" the village head looked at Arakh.

"Of course!" Arakh nodded.

"Well, don't you wonder what happened to them?" asked the village head, though this time there was an assurance of smile from his dry crooked lips.

Arakh's eyes widened as the village head began narrating:

"Reikh, the fire boy, last time I've heard he is an Expert Resonator rank, his growth is exponential, and high praises for his merit, Elabra had become prime witness to his heroic rise. His current whereabouts, are unknown, but he might join some prominent fire resonator guild."

Arakh's lips parted as the echoes of his memories resurged.

I want to be, Master Resonator.

"Hayam was as well a resonator in his own class. Hmm, if I recall correctly, he is also an Expert Resonator, but he went on his separate ways the moment the two of them got out of Kairan Village, Hayam is not in Elabra, instead, his merits were witnessed in Noen. I forgot if he joined the military or the guilds."

Arakh's head had already left his arms. His neck stiffened and his eyes opened wide.

Those two, they actually do it, they actually go and do it!

Arakh was filled with brimming pride. His lips quivered as he heard the village head's stories as if a new breath of life was cradling him. He took off the blanket and stood up, his fingers buried in his hands, "I really can't show them this version of me, can't I?"

"No, you can't," Lia shook her head with a smile.

"Then you must go to Elabra, and continue your resonance training there," said the village head. "Enroll at the Elabra Academy, don't worry about tuition, our kingdom is not messing around with their funding for this type of stuff."

"You mean education?" Arakh asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"No, military," the village head sighed. "I've prepared the horse and you will depart this afternoon."

"W-Wait that soon?" Lia gasped.

"The sooner the better, the more you linger here, the memories will kill you slowly," said the village head. "And you agree with me on this, right, Arakh boy?"

Arakh had his lips parted. The head's words prickled his heart with truth. The more he stayed here, the more spiraling down his life would be. His grandmother won't take it, his only two friends would ridicule him. 

And, I can't believe I say this, but Darath Anubis would rise from the dead and kill me himself if I didn't fully master that book!

Arakh nodded before stepping forward, "Alright, let me partways properly with my grandma first,", his arm lengthened forward and showed an open palm, "Lend me money, I want to buy flowers."

Lia blushed and chuckled, she couldn't believe his audacity. "I can give you instead."

"No need," the village head said, "just say my name and tell the flower shop to put it in my tab."

"Alright old man," said Arakh resting his hand on the old man's shoulder. "One thing though."

"What is it?"

"What's your name?"

". . . . . ." black lines covered Lisa and the village head, but the silence was loud in the room.

"It's Gir, Arakh," said Lia sighing.

"Alright, old man Gir!" said Arakh showing a thumbs up before leaving the house, in a hurry. He quickly spotted the flower shop. He went inside and talked to the store clerk. "I want a bouquet of flowers, the biggest there is."

"Alright! He or she must be someone special!" said the female store clerk. 

"She is," Arakh nodded with his eyes hinting at sadness and yearning. "Oh and also, put it in the old man's tab, old man Gir."

"Alright! And here is your bouquet! Make sure to hold it with two hands!" the store clerk said.

The flower shop door opened and the first thing out was the flowers, then the one carrying it, Arakh. He made a run for it and a couple of flowers fell, leaving a trace to follow him. He entered the cemetery and paused in front of his grandmother's gravestone. 

"Grandma," he knelt and placed the giant bouquet on the grave. "I don't know if you love flowers or not, but this is the biggest thing I could get with the village head's money."

He stood up and left. The flowers fluttered with a strong breeze of the wind as if answering, as if, bidding at the boy goodbye.

Arakh paused midway returning. He turned around and after a slight contemplation, put his boot in a more familiar direction. He soon saw his old rundown house. He paused in front of the door, and the first sound welcoming him home was the creak of the hinges. 

He stepped inside and saw nothing but spider webs adorned the corners of the walls. The table was as empty as he could remember, or at least, it wasn't dusty then. He ascended the stairs and entered his room.

He looked at his wardrobe, and there was no clothing, he noticed that his stuff had gone missing as well. He sighed and sat on the dusty bed. He closed his eyes, reminiscing what he was about to leave behind. He clapped his hands and opened his eyes. He stood up and walked away with determination. As his boots kicked up dust, the burden he carried for so long slowly peeled off of his shoulders. Now, he was his own responsibility.

---

The sun was at its zenith, casting golden rays over the village. The familiar scent of earth and hay filled the air, mingling with the faint hum of chatter among the villagers who had gathered to send Arakh off. His modest caravan was ready, a sturdy horse tied to it, its reins held by a traveling merchant who had agreed to accompany him partway to Elabra.

Arakh stood before Lia, the village head, and Malfoy, his heart heavy with gratitude yet lightened by the prospect of the road ahead.

"Big sis, thank you for everything." His voice was soft but earnest.

Lia's eyes glistened, but she held her composure. "Take care of yourself, Arakh. And don't you dare skip meals just because you're busy being heroic."

He chuckled faintly. "I won't. And you… thank you for giving me a place to rest when I had nowhere else to go."

Lia's lip quivered, but she nodded, ruffling his hair. "You'll always have a home here. Remember that."

Arakh then turned to Malfoy, crouching slightly to meet the little boy's gaze. "Stay out of trouble, alright, squirt?"

Malfoy pouted, his small fists clenched. "I'm not a squirt!" But as Arakh laughed, Malfoy's facade cracked, and he hugged him tightly. "You'll come back, right?"

Arakh's smile softened. "One day, when I've made something of myself."

Finally, he faced the village head. The old man's stoic demeanor softened just a fraction. "Thank you for believing in me, old man Gir."

The village head smirked. "You're a stubborn brat, but you've got potential. Don't waste it."

Arakh bowed deeply. "I won't."

The villagers clapped and cheered as Arakh climbed onto the caravan. The horse neighed, eager to start the journey. With one last glance at the people who had given him a second chance, Arakh raised his hand in farewell.

"Take care, Arakh!" Lia called out, her voice carried by the warm afternoon breeze.

As the caravan began to move, Lia watched him go, her heart both proud and heavy. The dust kicked up by the wheels, blending with the sunlight, seemed to blur his figure as it slowly disappeared down the road.

Then she blinked, as if a thought had just struck her. "Wait… I forgot to tell him about Lorelai!"

The village head let out a dry chuckle, his arms crossed over his chest. "No need. After all, she's one of the most famous instructors at Elabra Academy. He'll meet her soon enough."

Lia sighed, a smile creeping onto her face despite herself.