"There is a place I must return to, at any given cost."
Arsh's voice was heavy, ringing inside the somber cave. But despite his demeanor, Arsh was hopeful. Hope, that even if the whole world went against him. There will always be at least one person who he can trust with all of his heart.
"Where? My first guess will be your home village."
And as he already anticipated, Alan got it right on the first try. Arsh needed both Alan and the adventurer to find and reach the secluded village.
He had researched his way in the town. Going all out on his quest for information. Gathering every input, however minute it was, available about the secluded village.
The forsaken ones were in the equation too. Who were they? What was their purpose? Why were they banished from the mainland?
There was a single thing, that stood in common in every gossip he heard. And to confirm it even further. Arsh had already seen the proof of the statement with his own eyes, back when he was in the secluded village.
"Forest of silence. I have to return there for one last time. Before, leaving for any other continent"
Arsh announced, turning his face to Alan's side.
The forest of silence. A place surrounded by thousands of terrible stories and myths. Most of them centered around an analogous set of people.
Humans who had lost faith in their gods.
The exiled, criminals, and atheists were the ones who populated the cursed village. Located in the heart of the forest.
A place surrounded by fog from every direction, including the sky. A place where monsters resembling calamities resided. A place, which has no place for any human.
….The place where the Dour ruler of the continent resided. A being, not so surprisingly, always shrouded in all kinds of mystery. A Godly presence, holding more power than any being in the cosmos.
"...Why, though?"
Alan asked in reply, his voice unnaturally forceful. Even he was feeling the impact of the conversation they were having.
As the basic human tendency suggested, Alan asked him for an explanation. As to why he was inclined to take such a risk?
"...I want to make a grave for them… for my mother and the villagers who died in the battle…. I also wanted to look for someone….if they are alive, that is"
A grave. The place where corpses are buried. As withering as it sounds. It was a never-ending proof, to always be remembered by other humans.
A last memorial for the people who existed in this world before. So…
"So, they won't ever be forgotten…. At least not in the way the damned gods wanted them to be…I'll make sure of that"
Scars never heal. They wither away with the passage of time. But, Arsh didn't want his scars to fade.
He wanted to embrace the scars, desired them to be the constant reminder of the duty that he failed.
Ironically, there were no scars left on his body. Instead, it was engraved on his very soul and heart. The everlasting feeling of pain he felt every time, remembering the lifeless body of his kind and sweet mother.
Alan slowly put his hands on Arsh's shoulder, adding in a low, peaceful voice. His voice was soothing and reassuring.
"Don't worry about it, kid."
"I have already promised you my support in your journey to hell. Like you also had promised me to help in mine."
Alan looked at the orange horizon, where the sun had already set. Hiding in the curtain of ever extending forest. He suddenly gripped Arsh's shoulder hard, again grumbling in an irritated voice.
"Right now, you are the only person who means anything to me. I won't let you ever be alone. Even if you ask me to, kid."
".... So, just stop moping. I already have said plenty of stupid things"
Arsh looked up at the twinkling sky. Looking at the receding orange lights. Letting millions of stars fill up the night sky.
Arsh felt a lump in his throat hearing Alan,'s comment. He wanted to thank Alan. For everything he had done for him. For always being there for him.
But, the words weren't ready to leave his mouth. Arsh was busy trying his hardest to stop his tears from flowing out. Feeling overwhelmed by the weight of the sudden emotions welling inside of him.
'....Tears will make it rather….awkward'
They sit silently at the entrance of the beautiful cave. Staring into the millions of stars, twinkling in the beautiful night sky.
Sitting in silence for a few minutes, a feeling of awkwardness looming in the surroundings. And It continued for a few more minutes.
Getting more and more suffocating with every passing second. To this point, Arsh has to change the whole point altogether.
"How did you follow me here? I didn't leave any traces of my presence?"
Arsh was genuinely curious about it. He was aware of his terrible yet gracious luck. But, it still didn't feel possible for Alan to magically appear in the middle of the crisis, like an angel to save the day.
"Well…. I was waiting for you to return at lunchtime after you have sulked enough. …I became worried after you didn't return."
"I retraced your magic essence. following the shadow attribute you mostly use…. And the monsters…...for the most parts of my journey, I used stealth. So, the monsters weren't a problem for me"
Listening to Alan's explanation. Arsh was again reminded of the difference in ability, between the both of them.
If the adventurers weren't present at the site of horrors with him. Arsh would have died a long time ago fighting. Even though the adventurer didn't stand out much alone. A band of them fighting together truly was a force to be reckoned with.
'.....If we just forget the fact. They caused everything in the first place'
But, what captivated Arsh the most wasn't the story. Instead, it was a specific skill.
"....My essence? Can you trace me with it anywhere in the world?"
Essence. The key to using magic. And the basic building block of the human body. An innate ability, like stamina. Which can renew itself automatically.
Alan proceeded to give him a strange look, followed by his usual jeering expression. He looked delighted somehow.
"...Even by your standards. It was too dumb of a question. But, As your wonderful teacher, I won't insult you for asking such a fucking stupid question"
"As I have already told you at least a million times before in our training. Magic can only be used by imitating natural elements, to their nature of use. That is the true essence of magic."
"Magic is a natural phenomenon, binding everything in this world. It maintains order in this world. By regulating itself accordingly. Everything is interconnected to magic in one way or another. Even the very nature of things. So, we can just imitate what we learn from its true source."
Arsh already had heard him rant about the same topic, at least a hundred times before. He was already aware of what he was talking about. But the problem was something else…
'....How does that answer my question? You Fucker'
But, from his response, It was pretty much clear. There were still limitations to magic. He couldn't track him anywhere in the world, even if he wanted.
Magic wasn't an all-powerful tool for humans to use carelessly. No human could become a deity after learning how to use magic. Because…
An imitation can never challenge the real product. And that was one of the laws present in nature, governing the world. Keeping it from falling completely apart.
But….What if? What if a human-altered the laws? Can he then control magic to its highest extent? A power that can only be summarized as the greatest.
Arsh was thinking of many wild possibilities relating to magic. But, most of his theories didn't make sense. He continued diving into his thoughts until eventually reaching a genuine question.
"....What about the people with no affinity?"
Alan quirked up a brow, before letting out a heavy breath. Arsh can already feel it on his skin, it was going to be a long explanation.
"No such person exists. A human without an attribute is the same as a human without a heart…"
"Well, there have been several cases of people who never found out their attributes, for the rest of their life. We call them nomads"
"Element-less magic is also impossible. That's why identifying your attribute is the most important thing for a mage, before learning and perfecting it."
".... Leaving your case aside, kid. Every human has some kind of attribute attached to them. They can be difficult to identify even by someone of my caliber, but they still exist nonetheless."
Alan palpably explained everything by taking gaps in the middle. Letting his words sink into Arsh's head. It was essential for every human to know the world they live in, especially for an outcast like Arsh.
"HEEEYYY!!…. ARSH. Come! Take a look at this quickly!"
Leo suddenly started shouting in a sharp voice. Which in turn reflected throughout the whole cave, creating a venerable echo. Alan stood up from his place, dusting his clothes on the spot.
"Let's go"
Alan sighed again, moving inside the cave. He most likely wasn't too happy with the sudden summon.
Arsh also stood up, looking at Alan for some moments. Before, smiling at the starry night sky again. He dusted his clothes, following Alan inside the cave.