Chapter 26: Winter Blues 5

Arden rested in the Inn for days. The class was done, his tests were done and aside from the things that the Academy wants. There was nothing to do so he spent time in leisure or helping around the town. It is already the middle of the week. The winter has become harsher than ever.

He was quite bored staying at the Inn. So he went to the place where he wanted to once everything was cleared out. That place is the slums. He planned to visit it to pay respects to the dead but with how it was being demolished. He had no choice but to wait it out. It took only a few weeks until the slums were cleared out. Right now it was an empty lot that a few traces of ruin.

The snow covered the whole slums in white. Ruins from the old shacks were stacked together. Some were burn whole some were left untouched. Along the slums, there are crosses stab on the ground. They were graves meant for the people of the slums that have died. Despite being killed in cold blood. The ‘killers’ made a grave for them in respect to the God of Light.

He stood in the middle of the slums. He made his way into the place where the poor Homunculi got killed by him. Standing, with cloudy eyes, he kneeled on one knee, clasped his hands in a prayer. He looks like he was in a trance as he prays.

I am sorry for not being able to save you, Arden thought to himself. Melina was his first failure and his first kill. It was quite ironic that his first of saving someone ended with him killing the person he intended to save. His heart feels guilt every time he thinks about what he could have done differently.

Snow fell on top his head. The wind brushed his hair making it flutter all over. He could smell the chilly wind. The blistering cold freezes his lips. The winter winds were quite harsh. It permeates his skin almost to the point of penetrating his pores.

A prayer ran down in his head. It was a sweet guilt-ridden prayer. He prayed that her soul will have rest. He meant it so much. He opened his eyes, standing up he looked at the rest of the graves. He then turned to the spot where the instructors died. He made a prayer for them too. He didn’t think badly of them. Mainly they were just there in the bad time. There was no grudge on him.

His eyes turned to the sky. His face made a sad expression. Snow fell on his forehead, then to his brows. Facing forward, the snow on his forehead dropped. There was still snow on his head. He didn’t bother about it as he takes a good look at the graveyard once again.

The slums graveyard made a rather harsh impact on him. A failure is a failure. He will never be able to atone for what he has done here.

Even he could understand that some of the things that happened here were partly because of his fault.

...

The streets of Mesh were covered in knee-deep snow. Most of the people were like bears. They wore thick fur coats that allowed them to resist the cold. Arden walked in the snow. He was sauntering slowly due to the snow like the others near him.

He traveled on until he arrives in an alehouse. Inside the alehouse, there were people biting on round loaves of bread. In the table, there were wooden trays. A waitress wearing a skirt walked with ale and bread in her hand. She walked sultrily while winking at the red-faced adventures.

She noticed Arden. She gestured for him to enter which Arden complied. The alehouse has a fireside that keeps people warm. Most of the spots near the fireplace were taken so he sat near the window. The sultry waitress approached him. Her red lips opened.

“What do you want Ard?”

They call him Ard in this place. He has been here in this city since age ten and naturally, he has come here before. The lady that was rather sultry is named Sazhia. She was a rather flirty woman.

“Just some ale and bread Sazhia.”

“Okay, same as usual.”

He orders the same thing. He was rather frugal and he cooked his own food so there was no need for him to eat much. He has also a great diet. And his well-trained body can consume little but gain a lot of energy. Arden waited for the food to arrive. Two minutes at best the food arrived. Sazhia went and put the tray down. Arden started eating.

“So are you leaving soon?”

Sazhia didn’t leave. Instead, she sat in the chair. Arden stopped himself from biting the bread. He looked up in thought and replied.

“Yeah, at best I will be leaving at springs end.”

“That’s too bad. We won’t have any fool to make use off.”

“Sorry about that.”

“No, no, actually it’s better this way.”

“I guess I won’t be missed.”

“No, no, I actually would miss you.”

“That’s sweet?”

“What’s with that tone?”

She raised her brows.

“Nothing really...can’t believe you’ll say you will Miss me.”

“Am I that harsh to you?”

Arden thought of the days that Sazhia would drive him out of the alehouse for helping out too much. It was a long time ago when Arden helped forcefully in the alehouse. From cooking to serving food without being paid made the owner quite lazy. Due to this Sazhia went to find a way to keep him from working.

“I know you have great intentions when driving out?”

“It was more like I cannot stand the idea of someone working for free. Really, you are going out there to the overworld and you still have that mindset. I worry about your safety.”

She leaned her shoulder on the table while cheeks. She was quite concerned about the fool that is Arden.

‘I will be fine. And even if I die just pray for me.”

“Now, don’t say that.”

Sazhia poised herself up. She heard a customer asking for more food. She then turned to Arden.

“I got to work.”

“Sure.”

She left the table to serve the customer. Arden was left alone at the table eating bread and drinking ale. He spent some time in the place until the snow was getting lesser. Only until the snow stopped that he pushed himself up away from the table, paid for his food, and left the alehouse.

...

He ambled along the streets of Mesh once again. The snow is still knee-deep. The light above was getting lesser. It took time for him to reach the Inn. Arden went past the back door. His footwear scraped the floor making noise. He saw the Cher duo bringing a box of ale to the bar. He approached them asking if they need help only for them to refuse. Dejected, Arden left to his room where he sat staring in the window outside.

His eyes reflected the snowflakes falling. His hands were on his cheeks as he makes a rather nonchalant-blank expression as he stares. He got bored staring at the window he laid on his bed. Squirming like a worm, he closes his eyes in wonder to the next few days.

Soon he will leave this Inn and City. Inside the city, he had a good life from what he expected. He had a family that loved him. But even so, he felt like there was something missing. Until he leaves this safe space his principles will not be achieved.

It may be borrowed and inherited but he will make use of it. For without it, he will feel empty. That is why a few days from now he will able to act upon his ideals. He looked into his palm where his magic crest is. He then muttered something. It was just a simple mutter and nothing important.

The silence was making him unable to sleep; excitement came upon him as if he was eager to be free from the city.

Arden could hear the noise of the wind outside.

It was the only thing that made him feel awake on this cold evening. The room of his was dark. His eyes were like the lighting of the room. Bottomless hollowed pit it is.

The dulled Arden could only stare at the ceiling.

He is like this all the time.

When he is not doing anything he becomes rather listless.

No purpose.

No enjoyment.

No fun.

Like a hand puppet, he was rather halted.

He doesn’t find anything great. He can only stare at the ceiling hoping to fall asleep, it was the only thing he could when not doing anything. Wait, and wait until his eyes felt heavy and his consciousness goes away.

An empty person, Arden is.

Without any purpose, he can only act like this.

That is why the coming days will fuel this puppet-like Arden.