'Tjer, I've found a way to stop your curse.'
My silent ride got interrupted,
'...how strong do you think I would be without essence?'
'I get it... you are still doubting it.'
'I was just wondering...'
'Tjer, you know it best, you are stronger than most your age, and even adults can't match you—even without essence.'
'But Arih... both of us were unable to use essence... and he just played around with me. I didn't even survive by something under my control—it was you, and my healing that saved me in the fight.' I held the reins steady as I just sighed, staring into the next light.
'Arih is an exception, he surely had far more training than you ever did. But even then, you're still improving day by day—in both physical prowess and your swordsmanship.'
'And I doubt that such people would go to these tournaments—it wouldn't even surprise me if you're the only one with a proper technique.'
My muscles pulled together as a smile shone on my face,
'Let's do it.'
'We can't do it yet, right?'
'Indeed, the connection is still too weak.'
'Connection between my body and essence?'
'And yourself.'
'Hmph... I won't even be able to improve that connection anyway...'
'Your hard work has not been for nothing.'
'And I am sure that there'll be a way for you to get your essence back.'
'I hope so...'
I scratched the back of my head, with an uncomfortable realization dawning upon me,
'I've not asked you this yet, but what should I call you?'
He was silent for a while after I asked him.
'...Why do you ask out of nowhere?'
'...I don't know... maybe because it's getting awkward not calling you by anything.'
'Mhm? I don't think so, but if you want to, you can just call me T.'
'T? Why T?'
'It's the first letter of your name, but when I find out my real name you can just call me that.'
'T... it's a fitting name for you!'
'Why is it fitting for me?'
'Because you're part of me...'
'But don't worry—we will find out what your name is, and I will be the first to call you by it.'
'And I was wondering... what is going to happen to you after I lose my essence...?'
'Why do you wonder? You want me gone?'
'No, no... you can be quite useful—sometimes.'
'Hahahaha, even though I can't give you any privacy?'
'You've done enough by stopping your interruptions in both my conversations and thoughts.'
'Yes, of course... I don't want you to start ignoring me.'
'Of course I wouldn't, who would I talk with otherwise.'
'So what is going to happen to you?'
'Uhm... nothing. You'll still be able to talk to me.'
'Wait—nothing?'
'Yes, nothing. After all, your essence won't disappear, it will just flow somewhere else from the source.'
'But I'm part of your essence source—and not the core—that won't disappear, only upon death.'
'I'm happy to hear that you won't leave...'
'So the source is where essence comes from...'
'If the curse is finally gone, maybe I can find some books on what is happening. So let's do everything we can to reach our goals. Right, T?'
'Of course, Tjer. I'll always help you.'
'Thank you, and I'll do the same of course.'
'Thank you—what you're doing is already more than enough for me...'
We were finally passing through the first town in the new country—one similar to Lusd, but with a broader road, and streetlights illuminating from the roadside.
Is this because more people pass?
I had already encountered more people after passing the border—more than the entire trip to it.
My lips curved up, my eyes wide,
How much have I already seen of it? I had the feeling that what I had seen was nothing compared to what waited for us.
While we continued on the road, it was getting colder and colder, with the dark sky that showed the crescent moon surrounded by stars.
But even then, this cold and darkness did not compare to that of Kage—this seemed like a blessing.
As I stared up at the sky covered in the light blue specks,
What will this world be like... I hope you'll be proved wrong... mother.
Can you still hear me... or are you gone? I hope that wherever you are, will be a place where your reality is the undeniable truth...
"Brother are you alright?" I could feel Mim's cold breath passing by my face, as she cast a look of worry—still wearing tired eyes.
"Huh? What's wrong?" I distanced myself slightly from her.
"You are crying..."
I brought my hand to my face, and felt a tear roll down my finger,
"I wonder why...?" I said as I looked up at the starry sky.
I could see the face of my own mother, but I knew that the one in Lusd wasn't mine.
Mim, who had lifted her head off my shoulder continued to talk, until she pointed her finger ahead of us, screaming her throat dry,
"Brother, look—the walls!"
"Oh—it really is! These are so much smaller than the ones before!" I turned back to her, with both of us making eye contact.
"Would this be a smaller city then?" I held my chin between my fingers.
Unlike the frontier, I couldn't see the corners of the city wall.
"I don't know, I really want to see! And let's go eat something here!" She held my arm, lips pursed.
"I hope there are places open this late at night, but we still have the meals Karl gave us—he gave us too much actually..." I shifted my eyes away from her, before she could make me spend more of our precious money.
She dropped her hands next to her, and looked at the growing city wall,
"He was really nice, wasn't he...?"
"Hahaha, yes—he really was." I smiled after seeing hers.
"Because of him, we didn't have to get hungry, at all!" She had turned back to me, showing her teeth's entire upper row.
"Yes, he gave us too much—even the money..." I rattled the coins around my waist, making them jingle.
"Let's go back to Lusd when we're done, okay?"
"Yes, I hope so as well. But we still have a lot to do before we can go back..." I shifted my eyes down at the horse's feet.
"I'll follow you with whatever you want to do." She made me lift my head back up hearing that.
But I couldn't meet her eyes,
"I would love it if you were to stay with me..." Even when I said it, I knew that this was my own wish—it was selfish.
"But that's what I said!"
I snickered softly, and said,
"Yes, you did—I forgot..."
"You're really stupid sometimes!" She wore a wide grin, that reached her earlobes.
"Stupid!? Just wait until I have a pillow in my hands." I said, tapping her on her head.
"I w-was just joking!" She waved her hands around.
"No you clearly weren't." I said in a serious tone, holding my lips back from moving.
"L-look we are at the gate already... doesn't time go by fast..."
As I looked in front of me, I realized that the guards were right next to us,
"Good evening guards."