The Last Goodbye 2

[Arthur lay on his bed, his pale face bathed in the dim glow of the bedside lamp. His breaths were slow, as if counting down to his departure.]

Leo sat beside him, holding his frail hand, trying to cling to every passing second, as if he could stop time itself.

[Arthur opened his weary eyes and looked at his grandson, a faint smile forming on his lips. Then, in a weak yet warm voice, he whispered:]

"Leo... do you remember that day when you were seven? The day the rain poured heavily, and we were stuck at home without electricity?"

[Leo nodded, trying to hold back his tears, but his voice trembled as he replied:]

"Yes... I remember. We lit candles, and you told me a story about the man who climbed to the moon."

[Arthur chuckled softly, though a light cough interrupted him. He continued in a dreamy tone:]

"Do you remember how afraid you were of the dark? How you clung to my arm and begged me not to leave you? You used to say that monsters would emerge from the shadows."

[He chuckled again before continuing, his face glowing with a nostalgic warmth:]

"But I told you something back then... do you remember?"

[Leo paused for a moment, searching his memory before murmuring:]

"You told me I didn't need to be afraid... because I had light inside me."

[Arthur closed his eyes for a brief moment, as if the memory carried him back to that distant time. Then, opening them again, he whispered:]

"You were always that light, Leo. Even in the darkest days… you were my light."

[At that moment, his chest began to rise and fall slowly, as if the air had grown heavy for him. Yet, his smile never left his lips. His grip on Leo's hand weakened gradually, but his gaze remained steady—filled with an unyielding love.]

"Be strong… as you always have been..."

[Then, in a quiet moment... his hand slipped gently from Leo's grasp. There was no sound, only a deep silence—so heavy, it felt as though time itself had stopped.]

"...Grandpa?"

[No answer.]

"Grandpa!!"

[Leo shook his grandfather's body with a desperate tremor, but the smile remained—calm, serene, as if he had finally drifted into peaceful slumber. Only then did Leo realize... realize that this was the final farewell.]

[A cry shattered the silence, as if breaking the very walls of the room.]

"GRANDPAAAA!!!"

[Tears fell onto his grandfather's cold hand, and he clenched it tightly, as if he could somehow stop him from leaving. His chest trembled, his breaths came in ragged gasps, and a pain deep within him felt like something was being torn apart.]

[He had known this moment would come… but he was never ready for it.]

[In the darkness of the room, broken only by the dim glow of the lamp, Leo knelt beside his grandfather's bed, his body shaking, his tears falling like rain upon the old man's lifeless hand. He screamed, as if his voice alone could bring life back to a heart that had stopped beating.]

"GRANDPAAAA!!!"

[But no answer came. There was only the cruel silence, sinking into his heart like a poisoned dagger.]

[Then, the door burst open, and the three of them appeared amidst the chaos.]

"LEO!!!"

[Evelyn was the first to rush toward him, fear stark in her eyes. But the moment she laid eyes on the grandfather's still body, she froze in place, as if her mind refused to believe what it was seeing.]

"No... no, not him... it can't be!"

[She stumbled forward, dropping to her knees beside Leo, her hands reaching for the old man's body, as if searching for any lingering warmth—any sign that life had not fully left him.]

"Grandpa... my dear Grandpa… don't go… please, don't leave me... I'm your granddaughter too, aren't I? You always said so!"

[Her voice was thick with despair, her eyes drowning in relentless tears. She shook him gently, as if trying to wake him from a short nap. But the kind face did not move, and the peaceful smile did not fade.]

[Rianel, who had stood at the door for a moment, unable to move, swallowed hard. He wasn't his grandfather, he wasn't his family, but he respected him more than anyone else. He had seen in him a noble man—a rarity in this harsh world. Slowly, he stepped forward, his footsteps heavy, as if carrying a mountain on his shoulders, before kneeling beside the bed.]

[He reached out with a trembling hand, taking the old man's hand in his own, gripping it firmly, as if trying to share the warmth of life that had already slipped away.]

"You were a great man… stronger than we ever knew… Even in your departure, you leave behind a void that no one can fill… I wish you had stayed with us a little longer…"

[His words were broken, but he couldn't stop speaking, as if afraid of being left in unbearable silence.]

[As for Lilia, she stood at the door, her body rigid, her eyes wide with horror. She hadn't known the grandfather well—he hadn't played a role in her life. But she saw the pain in Leo's eyes, in Evelyn's collapse, in Rianel's solemn respect. The grief in the room was suffocating, piercing, so much so that she felt it in her chest despite never having experienced such a loss before.]

[She stepped forward slowly, then lowered herself beside Leo, who was still weeping bitterly, his head resting against his grandfather's chest. Gently, she placed a hand on his shoulder. She didn't know what to say, didn't know how to ease his pain, but she stayed. Because leaving was not an option.]

[Leo finally lifted his head, his tears still flowing. He looked at all their faces as if searching for an explanation, a meaning behind what had happened. But there was no meaning in death.]

"It wasn't supposed to happen… He promised me… He promised he would stay with me..."

He looked at his grandfather's face once more before screaming again, a cry that filled the room with sorrow and despair.

"GRANDPA!!! Please, don't leave me alone!!"

But the only response was silence, the sound of unstoppable tears, as if the entire world was mourning with Leo that night.

It wasn't just loss—it was the moment my entire world shattered. I was there, kneeling beside my grandfather's body, holding his cold hand, unable to grasp what had happened. It didn't feel like he had died. It felt like a part of me had died with him. In that moment, I felt completely alone in this cruel world.

He was the last one I had left… The last person I could return to when I lost my way, the last person whose smile reassured me that I hadn't lost everything yet. But now he was gone. He left me to face this emptiness alone.

I don't know how the hours passed. My mind was clouded, trapped in old memories, haunted by voices from the past that no longer had a place in reality.

I remembered losing my parents in a mysterious accident I never truly understood. I was too young at the time. No one ever told me the full truth. I just woke up one morning to find my house filled with people whispering in hushed voices, their eyes filled with pity. They told me my parents were gone… that I had to be strong.

But how could a child be strong when his entire world collapsed?

Then, years later, my grandmother fell ill. I was still too young to understand why she grew weaker day by day, why she could no longer take care of me like before. And then one night, I woke up to the sound of my grandfather crying.

It wasn't just any cry—it was the sound of a man who had lost his soul.

That night, I knew I had lost my grandmother too.

But even then, my grandfather remained. He was the only pillar I had left. He was the one who taught me how to be strong, how to face the world, how to smile even when I felt like I couldn't.

And now…

Now, he was gone too.

What a cruel fate… It seems I'm nothing but a walking curse. Everyone who comes near me ends up in a grave. Maybe I should warn Rianel now—tell him to stay away before he ends up on the list too.

Or maybe… I was just a tragedy to my family. Something that should have been erased long ago, but they were kind enough to put up with me until fate took them away, one by one.

Well, at least there's no one left for me to lose anymore. The curse is over, isn't it?

[The rain was pouring heavily, as if it was crying with me. I sat there, in front of my grandfather's grave, while everyone around me tried to console me.]

Evelyn stood nearby, her eyes red from crying. She was trying to be strong, but she failed. She couldn't hold back her tears any longer, so she leaned toward me and hugged me.

"I know words won't change anything… but you're not alone, Leo. You're not alone."

I didn't say anything. There was nothing to say.

Rianel stood silently, his eyes fixed on the grave before glancing at me.

"He was a great man… You know? He wasn't my grandfather, but I respected him more than anyone else."

Then, in a low voice, as if speaking directly to the old man himself, he said:

"Thank you… for being there for Leo. For all of us."

Lilia remained quiet. She didn't know my grandfather like we did, but she could feel the pain surrounding us. She didn't need words. It was enough that she stayed there, in the rain, with me.

[Then I heard footsteps approaching. I looked up slightly and saw Walter and his wife, Marian—my grandfather's neighbors, who had always been by his side.]

Walter, the old man my grandfather used to spend his mornings with, talking about everything and nothing, stood before me calmly. His eyes carried a mix of sadness and respect. He spoke in a hoarse voice:

"He was a great man, Leo. I lost a dear friend today… and I know you lost much more. But remember, we are here."

Marian, who had always seen my grandfather as a brother, lifted her hand and gently patted my arm. She was crying silently, but she managed to speak in a choked voice:

"He always talked about you. He was prouder of you than you could ever imagine. Never forget that."

[Then another voice reached my ears. I turned to see Jonathan and Aline approaching. I hadn't expected them to come, but somehow, their presence meant a lot.]

Jonathan stood in silence for a moment before placing a hand on my shoulder. He never knew how to express emotions well, but he looked at me and said in a calm voice:

"I didn't know your grandfather well, but I saw how much he meant to you. He was proud of you, Leo… And I'm sure he still is."

Aline, on the other hand, didn't try to say anything at first. Her eyes were filled with sorrow as she looked at me. Then, in a broken voice, she whispered:

"I know these moments are unbearable… but you're strong, Leo. And you're not alone."

Then, without waiting for a response, she pulled me into a brief hug.

[I remained sitting by the grave, even after everyone else had started to leave. I couldn't just walk away. Not this easily.]

"Is life just a series of losses?"

I whispered the words, staring at my grandfather's name carved into the cold stone.

"Why do we feel happiness, if everything ends in sorrow? Why do we love, if love is doomed to break? Why do we dream, if dreams eventually fade?"

I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the rain wash over me completely.

"But despite everything… despite feeling like I've lost everything… I can't deny that I was lucky to be your grandson, Grandpa."

My lips trembled as I took a deep breath, trying to calm the pain consuming me from the inside.

"Thank you… for everything. For every moment, for every word, for every laugh. Thank you for being here, for being my family."

Then, with a voice barely audible through my tears, I whispered one last time:

"Goodbye, Grandpa…"

[And I stayed there, under the rain, alone… yet filled with all the memories you left behind for me.]

-------

After Five Years…

The office was dimly lit, except for the glow of the screen reflecting on my face. I leaned back slightly in my swivel chair, letting out a tired sigh.

"Five years… Five whole years since that day."

I glanced at the scattered papers on my desk, at the financial reports confirming that "Goja Cola" and "Goja Kid" still dominated the market without competition. I didn't even need to check the numbers—everything around me was proof enough. The revenue had surpassed all expectations, and I had received an enormous sum from the massive contract signed with global corporations.

"And it's all thanks to Evelyn."

A small smile formed on my lips as I thought about that girl who, just a few years ago, had been nothing more than a mischievous child. But now… now she was something else entirely.

Evelyn was no longer just an ordinary girl. She had become a world-famous singer, breaking records with every new song she released. She had won a Grammy Award for Best Album of the Year, as well as an MTV Video Music Award for Best Music Video. Her name had become a household name across the globe.

It was astonishing how she had achieved all this in just a few short years. But I knew her secret. It wasn't just her beautiful voice or natural talent—she possessed unique magical abilities that set her apart from everyone else.

Her magical abilities had evolved at an alarming rate. She could now wield sonic magic like no one before her, influencing the emotions of her audience, raising their excitement, calming them down, and even making them experience magical visions while listening to her songs. Some had begun to suspect that there was something supernatural behind her music, but no one had any proof.

I smirked.

"But if Evelyn's story was fascinating, what happened with Rianel was downright shocking."

My eyes fell on an old newspaper I had kept as a memento. Its bold headline read:

"New S-Rank Hunter Emerges, Shaking the World of Hunters!"

Rianel's name echoed in my mind, pulling me back into the past.

Years ago, he was just an ordinary person, uninterested in the world of hunters or the idea of risking his life. Nothing about him suggested he possessed any special power, and no one expected him to be different from the rest. But one day, whether out of curiosity or a challenge, he decided to take a mana assessment test.

That was when the unexpected happened.

"His magical energy was enormous… almost like the sacred energy of the ancient holy knights."

Rianel possessed holy mana—a rare power that had not been seen in decades. Normally, this kind of energy was exclusive to chosen knights or legendary priests, yet he was neither. And still, his power surpassed them all.

But the real question was: why was holy mana so rare?

The answer was both simple and terrifying—most dungeons, the dark places where monsters are born, are completely tainted with dark energy.

Creatures like Liches, immortal beings wielding unholy powers, were capable of corrupting souls, spreading terror, and turning humans into mindless puppets. Their dark energy rendered most hunters powerless, as ordinary mana was ineffective against them.

But holy mana… was the key.

It was light amidst the darkness, the only weapon capable of purifying evil, breaking curses, and annihilating cursed beings forever. That was why the emergence of someone like Rianel wasn't just rare—it was a necessity for the hunter world.

When he faced his first battle as a hunter, he was sent alongside a team of seasoned warriors to fight a Royal Orc, a highly intelligent, monstrous A-Rank creature known for its overwhelming strength. Everyone assumed it was just a test for him and that he would need their help to take it down.

But they were wrong.

Rianel alone—without any assistance—tore the Royal Orc apart in mere minutes.

His movements were precise, his strikes infused with a sacred glow, and everyone who witnessed the battle felt fear before admiration. There was no room for doubt anymore—Rianel wasn't just another hunter.

He was a monster among monsters.