Amidst his chaotic thoughts, Aiden reached the edge of the village. The small wooden house belonging to him and Alfia was in sight.
However, his footsteps came to an abrupt halt, and his body tensed instantly.
At the door of his home stood a figure that shouldn't have been there.
It was a young man with sharp, short black hair and a conspicuous streak of white hanging over his forehead.
His appearance was handsome to the point of being illusory; his features seemed carved by the greatest sculptor, without a single flaw.
He wore a well-tailored black trench coat and stood tall, quietly positioned there as if he were the center of the world.
Not a mortal, but a god.
Aiden's heart sank.
Although gods in the lower world sealed their divine power and lived as mortals, their innate divinity—that presence which transcended all things—could not be completely hidden.
It was not the oppression of power, but a difference in the level of life. A mortal could distinguish it clearly with just one glance.
An ominous premonition seized his heart.
He saw Zald standing to the side as well. The uncle wasn't wearing his usual casual clothes but had donned a set of heavy black armor. The greatsword he usually polished was now heavy upon his back.
The door of the wooden house opened, and Alfia walked out.
She wore that familiar black gothic dress, her expression as emotionless and cold as ever.
The three stood together, forming a tableau of imminent departure.
"Leaving, Alfia?"
Aiden walked over. His voice was light, yet unusually clear.
He didn't ask "Where are you going?" or "Why?" He simply stated the fact he had already seen.
Hearing his voice, the black-haired god—Erebus—turned his head.
His gaze lingered on Aiden for a moment, carrying a hint of scrutiny. Then he glanced at the expressionless Alfia, the corners of his mouth curving into an interested smile. "Oh? Is this the child you mentioned? Interesting indeed. His talent is quite astonishing. What a pity."
A trace of regret flashed in Erebus's eyes.
As a god, he could see things mortals couldn't.
This boy possessed a maturity far beyond his age, a keen insight like a hunting leopard, and even rarer, the tenacity and mental fortitude to survive eight years under "Silence" safe and sound.
This child was born to live in the blood and fire of the Dungeon, not this remote village.
It was just a pity they had no time.
No time to investigate the secret of why he couldn't accept Falna, and no energy to plan his future.
They had a more important, and darker, mission to complete.
"Leave this place. Go live in a big city."
Alfia finally spoke. She didn't look at Aiden but took out a heavy cloth bag and tossed it over casually. "This place doesn't suit you."
Her voice was as pleasant as always, and just as cold.
Aiden caught the bag subconsciously. It was extremely heavy, and the collision inside made a crisp metallic sound. It was Valis, and absolutely a large amount.
He gripped the bag tightly, standing silently in place without saying a word.
"Let's go."
Alfia dropped these words and didn't look at him again. She turned and walked towards the outside of the village.
Her back was resolute, without a shred of lingering attachment.
"Live well, kid."
Zald stepped forward. His giant palm, covered in calluses, patted Aiden's shoulder with a gentleness that didn't match his rugged appearance.
Then, he too turned and followed Alfia's steps.
Erebus was the last.
He walked up to Aiden and leaned down, those deep eyes seeming to peer through the human heart.
He smiled and said, "Little one, if you're unwilling, then strive with all your might to become an adventurer."
With that, he turned and left, his black trench coat lifting in a dashing arc in the wind.
The three figures walked further and further away, about to disappear at the end of the road.
Aiden remained silent, like a stone statue.
But just as they were about to completely leave his line of sight...
"Alfia!"
He used all his strength to shout that name.
The slender figure walking at the very front stopped.
She didn't turn back, just stood quietly, as if waiting for him to continue.
Aiden looked at her back, the sorrow and confusion on his face swept clean away.
He grinned, revealing a brilliant smile.
"See you tomorrow!"
He shouted loudly.
Alfia's figure stiffened imperceptibly, but she ultimately didn't look back, nor did she answer.
After a moment's pause, she stepped forward again, disappearing over the horizon with the other two.
Far from the village, stepping onto the desolate ancient road of the North, the silent journey seemed somewhat oppressive.
Carrying his greatsword, Zald looked back at the village, whose outline was no longer visible. He suddenly chuckled, breaking the silence. "By the way, Alfia, wasn't that kid shouting every day before that when he grew up, he'd marry you? Won't you consider it? I'm enough to go alone."
As soon as the words fell, a chill capable of freezing the soul descended abruptly.
Erebus shivered and subconsciously moved two steps to the side, getting away from the source of that chill.
Alfia slowly opened her eyes, which had been tightly closed.
The left eye was a deep gray, the right a translucent green.
A pair of heterochromatic eyes now stared at Zald without emotion as she said faintly:
"If you want to experience death prematurely, I can fulfill your wish."
"No, no, no, I was just joking! To liven up the atmosphere!"
Zald immediately raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, laughing dryly.
"Besides, I quite admire that kid. Just based on the fact that he dared to say those words to your face and is still jumping around alive today, I know he's a man with guts."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, the astonishment on Erebus's face was instantly replaced by thick gossip.
"Someone dared to confess to 'Silence'? And lived to tell the tale? That's truly a miracle. Quick, tell me, what happened?"
"Noisy."
Alfia's two cold and impatient words instantly cut off their conversation.
Zald and Erebus immediately shut their mouths.
They both knew that if they continued, this woman would truly get angry.
And the consequences of an enraged "Silence" were more terrifying than facing a dragon directly.
The atmosphere returned to dead silence. Only the sound of their footsteps and the ceaseless cold wind of the North echoed across the empty wilderness.