Echoes on the Path

Bustling lights, busy people even at night. Flute sounds, the sounds of metals being sold by the markets. Even kids are still awake.

"Ah, so this is Starhaven."

He saw a bar where soldiers and mages were drinking.

Upon hearing their laughter, he remembered seeing Eska with her man drinking. He looked away and covered his eyes for a moment.

"Psst," a call from the dark.

Rethrus looked where it came from.

A girl at his age was handing out flyers.

"Do you want to have a good time?" the girl asked, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint.

As he was handling the flyer, she recognized Rethrus.

"AHHHH! are you Rethrus by any chance?"

"Uhm, why?"

As the girl took out a newspaper, Rethrus's face was in front of it.

"The new kid in town," the paper read. "This might be the kid from the prophecy."

One of the interviews they had as Rethrus surprised existence.

"He might be the devil itself," some others said.

Rethrus laughed.

The girl's face flushed with shame.

As Rethrus was going to look at the flyers, the girl suddenly took them back, blushing as if ashamed.

"Eh, why?"

"I'm sorry, Sir, but I cannot give our Hope this kind of flyer because it might have ruined you," her voice trembling.

The girl ran away from him. Rethrus was confused.

He continued walking and smelled some food.

He followed the aroma and found a barbecue stand. "Ohmmm," he said, looking at the food.

"Milo! Dishes! Order, Nick! Faster!" The restaurant's rhythm returned, vivid and immediate. He and Nick, working together.

"I wonder what he's doing now?"

A cold dread tightened his chest as he patted his pockets—nothing. He turned to leave, but the owner's gaze, sharp and knowing, met his.

"Do you wanna eat, boy?" he asked.

"Yes, but I don't have money."

The owner smiled.

"Come here, I don't have customers anyway. You can also help me with dishes."

"Eh?" Rethrus said.

"Sure," he replied.

Ohmmmm, so goooodddddddd," he said.

"Is it?" the owner asked.

"Yes, it is. Hehe, let me join you," the owner said.

Rethrus was shocked at how easy the owner was.

"He might have poisoned me or something. Or maybe he knew who I am, that's why he's like this."

As they were both eating, the owner suddenly opened up.

"You know, I had a son the same age as you," the owner said.

"Oh, by the way, I'm Rob the Lob."

"Rob the Lob?" his eyebrows raised.

"Oh, hahaha, I'm an orphan and I'm good at cooking Lobster too, so people call me Rob the Lob."

"Oh, ahhahaha,My name is Rethrus."

"Oh, you're an orphan too?" Rob asked, his eyes filled with surprise.

"Yes. I'm in training in the academy."

"Eh, you are?"

"Ohm,"

"My son is there," Rob said happily.

"Unfortunately, he doesn't have magic, and I didn't see his name on the list."

"Yet he didn't know me?" Rethrus thought.

"It's against the law to not help even if you didn't pass, he said. "Eh, what's his name?" Rethrus asked.

"Oh, his name is Gab. We actually have many similarities.

"Oh, hahhaa," the two, still eating and doing the dishes.

"I'm sorry, I can't pay you money for now," Rethrus said.

"Nah, it's fine, I enjoyed your company," Rob said. "By the way, if you see him, can you tell him that his father still believes in him that he can be a great soldier too?" Rob asked.

"Sure," Rethrus replied.

"Such a good father. At that moment, he remembered his father. Is he eating well? I wonder how lonely he is right now. We never even had a chance to talk it out. I wish I could at least tell him that I'm fine right here."

He looked at the sky, the endless expanse mirroring the loneliness that pressed down on him. Each star, a distant, unreachable hope. The weight of his responsibilities felt as heavy and infinite as the heavens themselves.

The people started to notice him, their conversations abruptly ceasing. Eyes widened, mouths fell open in silent gasps. A collective intake of breath, a ripple of fear spreading through the crowd like wildfire. Shock and terror warred on their faces, a mixture of disbelief and primal dread.

"So this is the life of a star," he thought.

As he walked home, passing the guards, they bowed at him.

He could sense their fear, but also a sense of reverence. He was no longer just a student. He is a symbol of hope.

He went to his room and tried to sleep again. He couldn't help but smile. It felt good to be admired, to be respected. He was starting to get used to the attention.

But he also felt a pang of sadness. As he remembered Eska's bright smile, his mother's gentle touch, Nick's boisterous laugh, and his father's steady gaze, a wave of grief washed over him. The memories were vivid, almost tangible—the scent of his mother's perfume, the feel of Nick's hand on his shoulder, the warmth of his father's embrace.

"I miss you guys," he whispered, the words catching in his throat.