Arsh sat in silence at the campfire with the adventurers, thinking through his life and the decisions he had to make to get to where he was.
Even after spending a year in the real world, he knew nothing about it. How did the world work? What was considered normal in it and what wasn't? He still had no idea about any of it.
It was all still a mystery to him.
He had made a few connections with other humans in the meantime. Like the person who sells clothes to him in the town or the guy at the bar of the guild from where Arsh used to refill his rations.
Some irreplaceable ones too. Like the handsome blacksmith and his family. And the most important of them all, his mentor Alan.
He was not alone anymore in the world. There was someone who cared for him. Someone who will be sad if he died.
'....But'
Arsh would have been content with his life present in front of him. If it wasn't for the fact, what kind of circumstances bring him here?
….Samantha had always told him to live his life to the fullest. Leaving all the concerns and hate behind him.
But how could he?
The person he loved the most was chopped down into tiny pieces. The first and only friend of his was nowhere to be found. Whether he was dead or alive Arsh had no way to confirm it.
How could he forgive them for destroying everything he ever loved?
He wasn't powerful. Not at all. He had seen what the church's fiends were capable of firsthand.
A force of nature destroying everything in their way, without even trying to. Seeing how effortlessly they massacred his whole village.
Comparing the church's slave to himself felt like a joke. Leaving the gods completely out of the conversation.
He had no magic of his own. He wasn't the best swordsman nor was he the smartest on the planet. The only thing going for him was his bug-like tenacity to live through every trial of life.
…It wasn't enough. Not in any shape or form. He was not even near Alan in terms of anything.
He needed more power, much more power. If he even wanted to have a chance against those church slaves in future fights, much less real gods.
"....."
Incidentally, he had a very bad idea as to how to achieve such a ridiculous power.
He wasn't sure how effective it was or what was its true nature or whether it would work in the first place. But….It was the only visible way forward.
The voice looming inside of him. The true call of the void. Arsh needed its power….
He hazily remembered the surge of power and essence he felt when he let the voice take control of him. While in return it broke down his body severely…. But, It was a price Arsh was willing to pay.
Killing them was the one and only goal of his life. The very reason for his existence. Even if it means snuffing his life out completely.
…He just needed to talk with the voice again. To ask it to help him out, in exchange for anything it desires.
But, It was all for later. For now finding his village and adding the last tombstone to his past was his priority. He needed to do that at last, to move forward with full resolve.
…. Burying the past completely.
The group was silent, looking at Arsh's thoughtful expression. They didn't interrupt him for some moments looking at how grim his expressions were, until Adam suddenly stood up, chiming in a loud voice.
"Don't make that grim expression, all on your own. We are here for you. We want to help you, kid. Don't treat us like strangers now, we already have been in plenty of life-and-death situations together."
"I obviously don't know what you are feeling….going through all that. So I can't console you for it. Instead I--. We will help you through all of it… to reach the village and everything. You are the reason we are alive right now, Arsh. We are not going to betray you ever. Your secret is safe with us"
Startled by the sudden declaration, Arsh looked at him wide-eyed. His eyes followed other adventures one by one, gouging out their reactions.
While Amanda and Leo looked determined, nodding along with Adam. Joey and Ethan's eyes were surprisingly wary. Giving away their clear contradiction on the topic at hand.
Arsh again looked at Adam. It was clear as the day, Adam was just spouting everything without the adventurers' consent.
Smiling a little, Arsh replied in a firm tone.
"If I remember correctly. We just met a week ago at most. You are still kind of STRANGER to me."
Arsh gave him a curt reply, making his mouth shut involuntarily. Arsh looked at Adam shrinking in the back, his expression clearly sulking.
Arsh stood up from his seat, placing a hand over Adam's shoulder. Arsh looked at him with a genuine smile, before patting his shoulder with some force.
"...Still! Thank you, Adam...."
Arsh looked at all of them with a sincere expression.
"I don't want to reel you all into my problems. After returning back to town, we are going to part ways with each other."
Arsh again turned to Adam with a smirk.
"I trust you with my secret, Adam. However big-mouthed you are…"
This got a laugh out of the whole group. As they looked at the giant Griffin landing in front of them, flapping its giant wings. Not as big as Miss Gelina, but still big indeed.
Elsa jumped down from the top of Nidia, both giggling happily for some reason.
'...She found a friend.'
Arsh quirked up a brow, looking at Nidia reverting to her cat form. As he walked towards her.
"Nidia! Don't hurt any of them. I'll be back."
Arsh patted Nidia's head slightly, who in return just scowled at him hatefully. He moved away from the group leaving them alone, to the direction where Alan was with Gelina.
Arsh noticed Alan and Ms. Gelina sitting together near the river, chatting about something in muffled voices.
Without disturbing them, Arsh closed the distance between them. Trying to hear what they were talking about without them noticing.
"...Alan? Right. You are very close to achieving IIIrd phase. I can sense your soul tomb on the verge of rejuvenating. You just need one or two insights at most."
Alan's eyes flashed with excitement, as he stood up in front of Ms. Gelina. Like an excited toddler, he let out a barrage of questions at her.
"What? How? I have been stuck in the same place for the last 6 months. I never found any change, however much I practiced. And how are you so sure about it?"
Gelina looked at him with her cat eyes, before replying curtly.
"I can help you with that if you want. But in exchange, I also need your help in achieving my next phase. I am also close to a breakthrough. Probably even more than you"
Ms. Gelina replied evenly, without any pause or hesitation.
Alan clenched his fists, looking at the tree Arsh was hiding. His eyes bulged.
"You can come out now, kid."
Arsh jumped down the tree, knowing it was futile to pretend he wasn't there. There was no way for him to hide his presence from a veteran assassin, but still trying didn't hurt anyone.
Miss Gelina looked at him evenly. Not a bit of surprise in either her expression or body.
" I take you up on that offer. Thank you for your help, Grandma"
Alan sheepishly looked at Gelina. Giving her an obvious provocation.
Caught off guard, Miss Gelina blinked a few times, taking a few seconds to process the sentence. As her unhinged expression suddenly changed drastically.
".....Oh ho ho…The kid was not lying when he told me about you. You are indeed a very rude human. For your information, fiend. I am barely 30 years old"
Ms. Gelina replied in a dark voice, a wave of bloodlust oozing from her cat-like body. As she prodded in front of Alan.
But, Alan didn't back away. Instead, he replied with an amused expression.
"Hmm, then Aunty?"
Ms. Gelina snapped, reverting to her Griffin form, and said in a voice full of contempt and bloodlust.
"Rude human. Our human form is considered the most beautiful in the whole cosmos. Just wait till I achieve the IVth phase"
Alan waved his head, shrugging his shoulders.
" Yeah…Yeah.."
Arsh looked at them bickering with confusion and sighed to himself.
'...I thought this guy was much more antisocial'
Arsh listened to their banter for a few more minutes, before jumping into the middle of the conversation.
"What is this phase thing you guys were talking about before?"
They suddenly went silent together, turning to Arsh. A frown of disappointment etched on both of their faces, as they replied in unison.
""Seriously?""
'Great! Now there are two of them.'