Chapter 16: A Wider World
Sometimes... the most peaceful battlefield... is the most bustling marketplace...
The most beautiful symphony... is the laughter of comrades...
And the greatest victory... is getting to be just an ordinary child for one more day.
— From "The Diary of a Veteran Soldier"
(Age: 8-9 years old)
After the events of that "mortal shadow" day... Vulcan and Kaen gave a strict order... "Rest."
"Your talent is too dangerous to be rushed," Vulcan told my parents and me the next day. "The protective ward... put it on hold for now... The most important thing right now is for you to learn your own 'limits'."
"His body has a reaction against external energies... it's like that time he couldn't take the mana from the potion... His recovery must come only from within, which takes time," Vulcan added.
And so... my life returned to simplicity once more... but it wasn't the same... It did not return to solitude.
Lunaria and I spent most of our time "living life" the way eight-year-olds should. My parents fully supported this. They wanted us to experience a world beyond piles of books and the training grounds.
One morning... after breakfast, my mother... Elena... turned to Lunaria and me with a smile that held a hidden meaning.
"Alright... let's go to the morning market today," she said. "Your father told me that the 'Estrada family' who just moved to the edge of our village is opening their bakery for the first time today... We should go and 'get acquainted' as good neighbors."
The words "get acquainted" were specially emphasized... Lunaria and I exchanged a look of immediate understanding.
The Estrada family... in other words, the two Shadow Guards in disguise...
This was our first public encounter... the official start of our "double life."
Their bakery was filled with a fragrant aroma. "Mrs. Elara" (the female guard) greeted us with a natural smile, while "Mr. Ronan" (the male guard) was arranging bread behind the counter.
"Oh, Mrs. Elena! Good morning," she greeted like a familiar neighbor. "Out for a stroll in the market? The weather is lovely today, isn't it?"
"Yes... I thought I'd take the children for a walk," Mother replied smoothly. "And I wanted to support the new shop, of course... I could smell the wonderful aroma all the way from my house."
Their conversation seemed superficial and perfectly normal... but I could sense the "information" being passed through their gazes and subtle movements... it was the communication of those who live in the shadows.
"Here's the new batch of honey bread," Mrs. Elara said as she wrapped a loaf for Mother. "...And these two pieces... are a gift for the children. Consider it a 'greeting' from us."
She handed two warm buns to Lunaria and me, giving a slight, unnoticeable wink.
As we were leaving the market... a boisterous noise came from the town's central square.
A group of children about my age were gathered together... Some were kicking a leather ball, some were playing tag, and others were climbing the stone statue in the center of the square.
"Go play with them," Mother said softly.
I was about to shake my head... but Lunaria walked straight towards the group of children.
"Hey... what are you all doing?" she asked, her voice even but filled with curiosity.
"Playing 'Capture the Flag'! Want to play?" the leader of the group turned to ask.
Lunaria nodded... before turning to pull on my sleeve.
"Faelix... come play with us."
I was dragged into the group, bewildered... and that was the first time I got to know the "other children" in this town.
There was "Leo," the boisterous leader, son of the blacksmith; "Maya," the talkative girl with pigtails in a long-sleeved dress, daughter of the general store owner; and many others.
I remained quiet and couldn't quite keep up with the games... but I wasn't left behind... because Lunaria was always there to pull me into the activities.
And then... one afternoon... as we were resting after running around...
Music began to play...
It came from the "town orchestra," rehearsing at the town hall.
The firm beat of the drums... the powerful sound of the trumpets... the soaring melody of the flute...
They harmonized into a tune that awakened something within me...
[...You have heard the 'Harmony of the Orchestra'...]
[...Memories from the original soul have been stimulated...]
[...The feeling of 'Passion' has formed...]
[...MP restored by 15 points!]
I stood still... listening to the music, lost in the moment...
The image of the "marching band" from my past life... the feeling of being part of a grand symphony... the truest happiness I had ever known... it all came rushing back with clarity.
Lunaria noticed the look in my eyes.
"You like it?"
I nodded slowly... without taking my eyes off the orchestra.
"...It's... creating something beautiful... through 'oneness'."
"If you like it... why don't you try playing with them?"
Her words made me freeze...
Could I... really do that?
To go back to the thing I once loved most... and had also abandoned...
It was terrifying... but at the same time... my heart was pounding like never before.
The spark... that I thought had long since died out...
It seemed... it was still there... waiting for the day to be rekindled.