"Where am I?" Kaz unhurriedly asked while he sat up.
"You're in the New Kingdom," the Grand Knight answered with wisdom in his voice.
"New Kingdom? Wait, who are you? Where's Lev?"
After taking in on his surroundings, he quickly scanned the place in search of his friend.
The Grand Knight pulled a chair near him and sat down. His azure colored eyes looked at Kaz's and calmly answered him, "I'm Grand Knight Lance. You were discovered in a nearby forest wrapped in this root-like cocoon," he glanced on where Kaz was sitting and shifted his gaze back at Kaz, "and there was no sign of this 'Lev' that you're talking about."
Kaz looked down and saw the cocoon that the old man was talking about. He held his temple and tried to recall the last thing he remembered, running away from the forest with Lev and Glib, then his surroundings became diagonal before everything went black.
The memories of his childhood were still with him, he clearly remembered everything, from the day where his parents abandoned him on the orphanage to the day where they were searching for this 'seed'.
Did I die? I must have... Kaz presumed. The fact that he died meant that Lev also died, but when the thought of them dying hit him, he felt his heart twisting and tears started to drip down from his eyes. He could not stop the tears from flowing out his eyes like how a waterfall keep falling.
"I'm sorry, Lev. I'm really, really sorry." Kaz lamented while wiping the tears using his hands.
Lance comforted him with silence. From Kaz's reaction and the feelings that his mind portrayed, he interpreted that the boy lost someone close to him.
This 'Lev' died? Actually, he also died, therefore, they both died... Lance was reading Kaz's mind like a book.
Time flew and Kaz cried himself to sleep. Lance carried the boy to a room and placed him down on a soft bed.
"How sad for a boy to see the cruelty of life at an early age," Lance sighed and left the room.
.....
Lev never felt more alive than ever before. He kept running back and forth, collecting herbs, crystals, and firewood. The reason why Ezio tasked him to make a bag was so that he could collect materials from the forest and store it in his bag until it was completely filled, then he would run back to the cave, through the cliff.
He never felt more alive to the point where he felt dying, dying from all the running. Ezio also let the Jäger accompany him, not to protect him, but to chase him so that Lev would be running with his full speed all the time.
THIS WAS NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING! Lev inwardly complained while he was running for his dear life. The Jäger kept chasing him, with the intent of eating him.
By the end of the day, Lev was exhausted from his task. He never liked running, he didn't know why, but he just did.
"Your next task will be outrunning the Jäger for two months while collecting materials," Ezio nonchalantly said. "While running, avoid monsters at all cost, or it will be the end for you."
Lev was lying in the ground while panting, "But how can I outrun this giant wolf and at the same time collect herbs and avoid monsters?"
"By not venturing too deep in the Forest," Ezio seriously answered. "By no means are you ready to face a monster nor learn the signs of danger in the environment until you complete this task."
"Am I going to face a monster after I complete this task?" Lev sat down and looked at Ezio with expectation.
"No, you will only learn the sign of which monster is nearby in the area."
Even though it was only learning the signs in his surroundings, Lev was excited because every task that Ezio gave him, he felt nearer and nearer on learning how to fight. He also noticed that the tasks Ezio gave him were not useless, he was intentionally giving him tasks that aimed to train different areas of muscles in his body.
The next task that Ezio gave him was for his lower extremities and his stamina, Lev knew this because he wasn't dumb. He was only slow on noticing it.
After eating, he went straight to sleep and used his precious time to let his muscles rebuild.
.....
Kaz woke up with the sunlight striking on his face. His puffy eyes were the testimony that he cried. It was still painful for him, but no more tears came out of his eyes, just pain on the chest.
The beautiful room that was filled with pieces of furniture, cabinets, and shelves made him felt that he was back home on Honey and Paul's loving arms.
It only worsened the pain in his chest, so he decided to exit the room to reduce his suffering.
"Good morning," Lance, who was wearing a shirt and a tunic, greeted him.
On the table, fruits and vegetables were exhibited. They looked tempting but Kaz's appetite was not to be found.
Kaz greeted him back by slightly nodding and he went towards the table to sit.
"What's your name, kid?" Lance sliced the fruits and stretched his arm, offering the fruit over to Kaz.
"Kaz." He was blankly staring on the table and ignored Lance's offer.
Lance sighed as he pulled back his arm. He wanted to help Kaz but he couldn't help a person who isn't asking for help.
"Back when I was young, I joined the Defenders of Fate. I was careless and free, attacking the monsters head-on without thinking about the safety of my comrades. One time, we faced a powerful monster. Without strategizing with my team, I foolishly went straight to attack it.
"The monster was an unknown being and I was so excited to slay it and earn it as a trophy, but that monster was so powerful that with just one swing of its arm, I knew that it would kill me."
"What happened next?" Kaz was captivated by the story.
Lance chuckled and continued, "One of my team took the blow for me. I was devastated. I blamed myself for his death, leading me to quit on being a Knight.
"Years passed and I couldn't get over with it. They said that time heals all wound, but not this one. My wound was etched into my soul. And one day, I met a man, his words made me realize that I need to let go of the pain and regret. He said, 'You can't look back— you just have to put the past behind you, and find something better in the future.'"
Kaz felt goosebumps all over his body. Those simple words indeed made him realize something. He could not bring back his friend, but what he can do is continue to live for his sake.
"Thank you, Grand Knight Lance," Kaz thanked him sincerely.
"Just call me Sir Lance," Lance smiled, revealing deep wrinkles on his face.