The only beings in our surroundings were low-level monsters and Vivi. The succubus was nowhere to be found. At least that was the conclusion I came to after pushing my senses to their limits for the past 4 hours.
I do think that 4 hours was enough time to at least rally up adventurers against us if she had them lined up beforehand. But to sneak that many adventurers past my senses, would be an inhumane task to do.
I would not let anything else go awry, I didn't want any other moving pieces, since today we would cover the last stretch of the journey. Anino, was all healed up too and had climbed down my back.
I wasn't naive enough to just take the peace for granted like I did yesterday. It was now my duty to put everything I had in order to make sure no one chased us back to my town.
As we walked on the path, I started to recognise the little rolling hills from when I first left the town. From the times that I looked down on the plains while tilling on the mountains. Everything felt familiar.
I was so close to my town that I could almost smell it. The smell of the bread renowned throughout the neighbouring land. The scent of lamb, the scent of the moist spring air. It was all somehow sweet.
Not as happening as my first stroll through Rottheim... But, yeah. This was what I was comfortable with.
Catching a whiff of their scent from this far away might have been because of my heightened senses.
Only an hour or so before this nightmare ended. Only an hour before I can rest for good.
'I'll take a month off from doing any work. And then start again with the next season. I doubt sis worked the fields for 2 whole weeks.'
The road started to change colours and the soil beneath my feet got softer. In the far corner of my eye, I could see the low stone walls guarding my town. My shoulders dropped and my eyebrows lost their tension.
I wasn't in a foreign land anymore. I didn't need to be on guard anymore.
And just like that, in just a tiny small gesture, this whole nightmare came to its conclusion.
I was home.
The travellers around us started to increase as we mixed into the flow heading towards the town. I should have been concerned about revealing my identity. Even in this crowd, there were a few men I knew.
But as a sure disguise, I had put a torn piece of cloth on my face. Between that and my changed appearance from before the transformation, I was sure no one would recognise me.
"Is that your town?" Vivi could see as far as I was able to and became aware of our arrival just as quickly as I.
"Yeah."
"We're already here, huh. Well, I'll go and take a round around the area just to make sure that succubus can't see us. I doubt they would blindly attack with these many people around you."
"Yeah." I couldn't think of any other response.
It was hard to think of anything when my mind was preoccupied with what I would do from this point on. The journey had already come to end. That mess was over. I started pondering about the future.
'Do I tell Mom about what Luno did to me? Do I tell her about how I'm wanted? Or about how I got my powers, or how I got dumped to death.
No.'
That could all be kept to me. The more they knew the more susceptible they were to danger. I didn't want to trouble them.
Just resting with them and having them look after me for a month was enough. As much as I hated to admit it my psyche's health was down in the dumps. I often ask myself why I'm even going through all of this pain, and wonder how much easier it would be if I just gave up. What was the point of living anyways?
I suppressed all of my memories from that incident too. I keep on forcing myself to forget everything and push forward. But there's only so far that could take me.
I didn't understand anymore, but at least I knew that I was broken at this point. But all wounds heal.
After I do eventually bounce back and get my head together, I'll go back to farming. And spend the rest of my life in peace. Maybe help some kids out or learn how to cook for the eaterie. It would be awkward trying to explain my love life to Mom. But I can't do it anymore. There's no way I can trust anyone anymore. Another heartbreak would permanently ruin me. Even if I don't think that it was a sham, I'm sure that I'm way too scared to let anyone else close to me ever again.
I'll just do everything in my power to ease my family's burdens.
My sister was of marriageable age as well, and even mom was ageing despite her appearances. Naturally, the responsibility for the eaterie would land on me. I wanted to be prepared for that. I could at least be the best son they could ask for. That was the only goal I could think of.
By the time I came back to the present, Vivi was long gone. Due South.
"Master Elyan… You're going too quickly." I turned around to see Anino way behind me.
"Oh." I stopped to wait for her. As soon as she caught up, we started to walk towards the town. Our speeds had definitely increased with me subconsciously picking up the pace. Within half an hour we were standing in front of the main gate.
'LUFTOMM' Was written atop a banner.
"What's your purpose for the visit?" A dainty old man asked. He had been working on the gate from as far back as I could remember. And within those years we had met multiple times. I used to deliver our food to him from time to time. He had seen me plenty, yet he couldn't recognise me.
I only took that as a success for the disguise.
As I was about to explain-
"Have you seen Elyan Reiss?" All of a sudden my ears pricked up. The sound wasn't from the crowd. Somewhere further away. Inside the town. My senses were still at their maximum. My house? Well, the location was eerily close. No way. They couldn't be here already, right? Luoris? Nah, they didn't even know that I was called Elyan.
Nonetheless, I had a bad feeling about this. I felt a cold sweat drip down my back.
"Anino." I tapped her shoulder. "I'll be going ahead just ask around for Reiss' eaterie."
"Hnn? Did something happen?"
"I- I think." I gestured that I was going. "Oi, old man. I'm here to visit my cousin."
"Alright. But if you're staying for a long time do regi-"
"Yeah, I will." After confirming, I took off in the eaterie's direction.
"Of course, we haven't heard from him!" I could hear Mom's voice.
"I see. Are you sure about that?" I heard the sound of a blade.
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK
I dug my foot into the ground so hard that the tiles cracked under it. In one step I covered multiple lanes of distance. I turned right and then left and right again. Everyone's shadow rushed past me. I sped through the town. My eyes frantically ran around trying to find anyone suspicious. My ears were trying to focus on their conversation.
I was already only one turn away. Grabbing a pole I stopped my momentum but the pole came off in the process. I swung my body around and went into an alley and stopped right at the back gate.
"El has been dead for weeks now." The next sound I heard was my Sister's voice.