"We're so sorry..." "You have grown so much... and we've missed it all." "Where have you been this entire time..." It was impossible to differentiate all the different voices that sounded, but it all had the same essence.
Worry, sadness, and happiness—all emotions caused by reuniting with their children.
People from 10 to 23 years old appeared alongside me, all cowering away from the sun they saw for the first time in possibly years.
As their eyes adjusted they took a step back, it was all different from what they had seen.
But as their eyes fell upon the people—they ran forward.
All ran with purpose, some to a group of people, while others to a single person, even those who lost their loved ones ran towards someone.
"Young man, please tell me... what is your name?" The innkeeper walked over to me, with eyes filled to the brim, and showing a smile different from all others.
"My name is Tjer, what is yours, sir?"
"My name is Karl." The man stood right in front of me, towering over me with his entire body.
"Tjer, let me thank you for myself. No—for all of us. You are the one who saved us—you brought us the memories and existence of our children." He lowered his head.
"Please... please tell us what you want—we'll give you anything you need!" I had realized that everybody was looking over at us in silence.
All the adults screamed out in unison, their voices distorted but what they said was clear,
"Yes, Tjer! Tell us... you are our hero!"
I looked down at my unstable legs—unable to look up at the crowd that surrounded me,
"Uhm... I'm not a hero... I just did it because of my sister—she would have been mad otherwise..."
"So please... I don't need anything." I could feel my head heat up with each word I said, I wasn't even sure whether they could hear me or not.
It was all a daze.
I looked up at Mim who still stood a little away from me, and said,
"Can I have some of the sandwich you made..." I looked down again, and muttered
"Sorry... it might be too much..."
Karl's body jerked slightly back,
"Huh? Is that all? You can ask for more... you know?"
"Uhm... I don't need anything—maybe the ten seals that I paid you..."
He was silently looking at me, as if waiting for me to finish.
"Sorry... maybe that's too much..."
"J-just the food... really—that's all we need."
Thunderous laughter followed, it was not just by Karl, who said,
"Haa...You really are still a child, Tjer."
One of the mothers stepped forward,
"At least let us give you new clothes, yours are completely..." She just looked down at my clothes.
"Yes, you can't walk outside like that." Karl added for her.
"But that's not a problem for me, it c—"
"No, no really we won't let you leave like th—"
Splash.
Silence came as the splash of water flew through the air onto my face and clothes.
It was Mim who emptied the entire bottle of water.
Laughter roared through the air,
"She is still mad at you!" Karl howled in my face as they continued laughing at me.
The town is a lot better this way...
"Wait?! What is going on!? A-all the cuts, holes and blood has disappeared?!" Karl said, his mouth hanging wide open—seemingly speaking for the rest as well.
"Honestly, I hoped I had the answer to it as well...." I said, remembering how I got fooled into wearing this.
"Y-You... didn't steal it right??"
"No! Of course not!"
"Not that it would matter to us anyway... you are our hero!" He scratched the back of his head as he laughed it off.
"But are you sure the only thing you need is food and your ten seals?"
"Yes... I'm sorry for asking so much." I lowered my head to him.
"If you'd asked for it, I would have given you the inn itself—" I looked him in the eyes, and he looked into mine.
I smiled with my entire face and asked,
"Are you sure?"
"Yes..." His high held chin fell slightly, before he raised it again, brought his hand to his heart and said,
"Yes, of course! I don't go back on my word." A pained smile, but he wore it proudly.
"Uh... I wouldn't know what to do with it... and I'm getting more than enough already. Thank you."
He started scratching his bald head, and said,
"If that's all the hero wants, then I give up—and I doubt whether I could even change your mind anyway." I could feel my face cringe together hearing him call me that.
"At least tell me what your plans are, so I can offer you a bit of help. Okay?"
"Thank you for your help."
"Let's go back to the inn then—sir hero."
I told them to stop saying it...
'But you like it—don't you? Who knows, maybe being a hero could be meant for you.'
Not you as well...
What did I really feel being called a hero... I lightly held the right side of my chest.
"Mim..." We had started to walk back to the inn.
"Are you still mad at me...?" I said trying to find her closed eyes.
"Hmph." She turned away and crossed her arms.
I looked at her in silence, hanging my head, unable to say anything.
"Snifffff..." The air got pushed out of my chest as she bumped her head into it, wiping her tears and snot on my clothes.
"Stupid brother... you told me you won't leave me alone!"
She looked up, the entire area around her eyes were red—still filled with tears.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't leave them alone... you would have gotten mad at me, right?"
"Yes... BUT you could have taken me with you!"
"No, sorry, but that won't ever happen. I'd rather have you hate me, than bring you into danger."
"B-But... I'll never hate you." She stepped away from me, and crossed her arms looking up into the sky.
"Sigh... I'm really happy to hear that—and the same for me obviously." I could see the innkeeper stop in front of me.
What is wr—huh? We're already at the inn?
As we entered and sat down he asked me,
"So tell me, where are you planning to go?"