"Carl!"
Brandon's expressions turned grim as he called out for the boy who was running towards the edge of the cliff.
The village was way too remote. A cliff was closeby, and a vast ocean ca into view.
Drip.
The rain continued pouring down, drenching his clothes.
Honestly, he didn't expect the boy to run like that.
But it seed like he had those sorts of tendencies. The signs were there, and he noticed it.
Which is why he paid closer attention to Carl, especially when they arrived at his village.
Brandon and Alia imdiately ran towards him. But Brandon gestured his hand for Alia to stop.
Carl.
He was awakening.
Brandon could see it.
Mana seed to coalesce around Carl, and each step he took left wind gusts in his trail.
The patch of grass was pushed back, and wind continued to wrap itself around Carl's legs.
And then, he took it.
The leap of faith.
His hands were stretched wide open as if he was about to hug sothing.
Imdiately…
Tzz—
Brandon blinked forward.
[Aeolus Blessing]
Under the effects of Aeolus Blessing, Brandon flashed downward, walking in the air as if it was solid ground.
"Carl!"
He reached his hand out. Of course, it was stupid to let the boy jump.
But,
It was for the boy's sake.
His call to reality.
And because of that, the boy had finally awakened his mana core.
A wind affinity.
Despite free–falling from a massive height, Brandon was way faster than Carl.
The boy's eyes were closed, unconscious. But despite that, there was a smile on his face as if he had finally found salvation.
And so, Brandon abruptly caught him, clutching him in his arms.
His life was already tragic.
But it shouldn't be the end.
No one deserved to die.
For what he thought was the end of his journey, was actually the start.
Even when life hadn't been so kind to them, the sun would soon shine on them.
***
"Hua!"
Carl was jolted awake, imdiately lifting his body up.
Looking up, the stars hung in the sky and the moonlight casted its luminous glow on him.
And as he gazed around, there, he could see Brandon sitting on a log, looking at the stars with Alia seated by his side.
"You alright now?"
Brandon turned his head back slightly and his voice reached Carl's ears.
Hearing his voice, Carl glanced down and checked his body.
"I'm… alive…?"
"You are."
Brandon stood up and Alia looked back slightly, seated on the log.
"Care to explain why you pulled that stunt?"
"Ah."
Carl couldn't find any way to articulate his words. His mouth hung open and closed repeatedly.
"I'm sorry."
And that was all he could say.
"Do you really want to end your life that badly?"
"...."
Brandon's tone was stale. It felt like he was reprimanding him, but the way he spoke as if he was trying to console him had left Carl speechless.
Carl lowered his head and Brandon crouched down.
"Look at ."
Brandon lifted Carl's chin.
But still, Carl averted his gaze to the side.
"Do you really think that's what Emi wanted for you?"
"...."
"I know you've lost a lot, and I've sympathized with you. But what you did…"
"What do you know?!"
Carl scread and it was then when he t Brandon's gaze.
"Unlike , you're strong. You have a happy and loving family. A mother, a father, a sister. But …"
His voice cracked.
"...I have nothing left."
He gritted his teeth.
"You're alive."
"And what the hell is the point of being alive?!"
Carl stood up and lashed his arms around.
"A second chance."
"...."
"After everything that's happened to you, you're still alive."
"...."
Carl lowered his gaze, and Brandon continued, standing up.
"The world doesn't want you dead. No one wants you dead. Not , not Alia, not the village head, not even Emi."
"...."
Then, he raised his head and t Brandon's gaze. Scanning, his expressions were serious, and his tone was serious.
Not a hint of pity.
It was a full on unadulterated tone.
As if he was speaking right through his soul.
Why?
Unlike him, Brandon's life was amazing.
So why does it feel like he's speaking from experience?
As if he had lost sothing as well.
"There was a ti when I was lost too. I lost my life, my identity, my… moth—"
And he stopped there, biting his tongue.
What was he about to say?
Mother?
Didn't he have a mother?
But seeing Brandon's expressions right now.
Carl could tell.
There was a tinge of sorrow in the face Brandon was making.
He was genuinely speaking from the heart.
Brandon shook his head.
"But I've accepted reality and moved on. I know it'll take a long ti for you. But…"
If earlier, Carl was only taking the words in and out the other ear, now he was listening attentively.
"You've survived the calamity. You've survived when the world turned its back against you. You're still fighting until the end. That's why you're here now."
"...."
"You should take pride in that…. Don't end your life so aninglessly."
"Then.,. What should I do?"
He was truly lost. But Brandon's words had definitely touched his soul.
There was more aning to life.
His past.
His experiences.
His sorrow.
His suffering.
It wasn't the end.
No, this was only the beginning. He was only 14 years–old. Barely, half the lifespan of a normal human.
"Lift your hand up."
"...?"
Carl tilted his head.
But he did just as Brandon instructed and raised his palms.
Alia hopped down the log and walked towards them.
"...!"
She grabbed his hand and Carl's palms started emitting a bright glow.
"...?"
The hell was going on—
It was then.
"....!"
Woosh—!
A gust of wind escaped his palms and Alia's hair fluttered in the air.
"Huh?"
"It's your power."
"What do you—"
"I only guided the flow of mana into your palms. The wind was your doing. Congratulations, Carl! You're a wind mage."
She flashed him a warm smile and Brandon chuckled from the side.
"A wind… mage?"
The thought was quite absurd. But after staying with both Brandon and Alia for almost two months, he knew they were genuine people.
There was no need for them to lie.
So…
"I hope to see you in the academy, Cadet."
Alia stomped her foot on the ground and gave a salute.
"Ah."
It was then when he realized.
His eyes widened.
Alia…
Alia Con…
Alia Constantine.
The woman he had been on a journey with was Alia Constantine, a prominent military personnel in the human domain.
What in the world.
Carl and Alia sat on the log, while Brandon laid casually on the patch of grass.
The group gazed up, looking at the stars. The sky was clear as if it had never rained earlier.
All of a sudden, Brandon pointed his index finger up. Magic power coalesced on his fingertips and emitted a bright glow.
A small ember sparked, and shortly after….
Vooosh—!
A bright blue fla escaped his finger tip, heading up towards the sky.
Boom—!
Carl's eyes lit up as he looked at the flas, rippling and exploding in the air. He had never seen such a beautiful scene before.
Truly, there was so much more to experience in life.
And thanks to the people who opened his eyes, he started looking forward to it.
His past was still there, and still gripped his heart imnsely.
But for the sake of the people he lost, he had to carry on.
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