Chapter 191 – Wasn’t Alone After all

Ramiel went back to the village. The villagers were shocked at the event but the arch-dragon of the island explained it to them through telepathy. From the possessed Pandora and to Julian’s saving of the day, the arch-dragon who returned after feeling the commotion became the guardian of the island again. So even with that, the whole island is in peace.

Ramiel went to the Inn of the island to take a rest. The whole ritual made him bellow out in pain. He got used to it. But somehow he just wanted to rest. He was tired.

“Welcome...oh, Uncle Grom?”

Odette greeted Ramiel. Usually, Ramiel would only nod his head. Acknowledge Odette’s greeting but this time Ramiel said.

“Hello Odette, do you have any gourds there?”

“Eh?”

“Eh?”

“You can talk?”

Waves of surprises came from the people sitting in the chairs. Ramiel looked at them with his eyes half close, made a sigh and sat on the bar. Odette looked at Ramiel in a weird way first before smiling. Ramiel continued describing to Odette about the gourd he wanted, which Odette finally understood.

“Ah, so you want a gourd to fill some wine. What for? Don’t tell me you are going to drink it, Uncle Grom?”

“No, actually, I am planning to leave the island now.”

‘Eh?”

Odette was shocked. Even Rosetta, who was taking care of the bar glance at Ramiel, she didn’t expect him to say that. After all, Ramiel has been with these girls for the whole of their lives. It could be said that they should refer to him as grandpa but out of respect for protecting them that they call him Uncle.

“Yes, you should have heard how Pandora is asleep now right? With her asleep and the arc-dragon the guardian of the island now, I say that I have no place to stay anymore.”

“Hey now, Uncle Grom, don’t say that.”

Odette protested Ramiel’s word. She looked angry, and her mouth curled into a bit of a frown. Ramiel felt like he said something bad. But instead of retracting what he said. He listened to what Odette wants to say.

“Uncle Grom, you know that throughout the years you have taken care of us. Most of the villagers here know you, and if it wasn’t for you saving us from those bandits back when we were having a trip, then we wouldn’t be able to live. You are family to us, Uncle Grom, so please don’t say that you have no place stay anymore, you are more than welcome here.”

Ramiel’s heart trembled at Odette’s words. He looked at her vacantly, before closing his eyes, trying not to cry and making a weary smile.

“I got, I am sorry.”

“That’s right, so please don’t say such lonely things, Uncle Grom. Or else we are going to be mad.”

“I see it, gee, but still. I would like to wander around. See some things and places, honestly, I don’t have that much time. Pandora told you all right, that sooner or later I will be gone.”

‘That...is there some way to prevent that Uncle Grom?”

“No, it’s fine really. I accepted it. Hence I want to go out before I perish.”

Odette made a sad expression. She was a bit shaken that her uncle was going to die. For years they have been with Ramiel. Protecting them and helping them. They adore him. And despite some things that have happened with Pandora, and her obsession with talking to the one she loved the most. Ramiel too cared for the villagers. So hearing Ramiel’s imminent death made Odette sad.

“I am sorry. Well, too bad that I won’t be able to see you in a wedding dress. I did remember it right? How you want me to attend your wedding.”

“Yeah, Uncle Grom is a mean man.”

“Now, now, stop sulking you are already a fine lady.”

Odette felt down. Yet seeing the usual blank faced Ramiel smile somehow cheered her up. So instead of letting her uncle sees such saddened face. Odette smiled. She wanted to somehow not make this weird uncle of her worry. The two talked, and as they talk, more of the villagers came and joined in. Rosetta for once didn’t sing. She chatted with Ramiel now that he was able to.

Ramiel was surrounded with the people he once saved while being controlled. He didn’t remember much other than their young faces but nonetheless, surrounded by people who treat him like family made Ramiel feel a bit sad. He found a big family, yet he was slowly perishing, his existence that was once forcefully kept alive by curses is now slowly dying.

But instead of being sad about it, Ramiel felt happy. Finally, even though he didn’t notice it first, he has a family. From fine ladies to the ambitious young men of the village, it could be said that he sure was an uncle to many. Although the memories of most of the time are jumbled, Ramiel felt like he was a bit happy, that somehow his existence was noted. So this time Ramiel didn’t despair at all. He smiled, talked, and even comforted the others who were going to miss him. It was funny to Ramiel that some people were actually going to miss him. He plans to go back to Sardis within the next ship tomorrow. So this could their last talk.

Ramiel planned to rest. But instead, he got himself drinking with people who treated him as a family. He should be sad about this, yet somehow this gave him the will to wander back, back to the place where his tale started. So with a few songs, a clank of mugs and at the end crying faces. Ramiel spent the night with people who treated him as a family. And as the night goes deeper and the people he watched grow up leave. Ramiel went back to the shrine located on top of the island, gathering his things for a journey. After that, for the first time for quite many years, Ramiel went to sleep.