A few minutes later, Kai and Dan waited outside the house for Ervin and Uncle Tommy to return. Initially, Kai believed they were outside, engaged in some serious discussion, but when Dan came there, there was no one. That's why Dan even entered the house; he assumed Ervin and everyone would be inside the house, obviously. If he did know what was happening inside, he might not have entered the house.
After a brief wait, Tommy and Ervin emerge from a corner of the road. Ervin effortlessly carries a backpack larger than himself, prompting Kai to consider lending a hand. As they approach, Ervin waves in greeting.
"I should help with his bag," Kai contemplates.
As they draw near, it's Tommy who initiates the conversation, playfully teasing Kai from the point where they paused.
"What's my daughter's suitor doing out here?"
"Are they really in a relationship?" Dan thought out loud. However, the outcome was far different than he expected. All three of them stared at him with varied expressions – Ervin laughing uncontrollably, Kai with a shocked look, and Tommy appearing visibly angered.
Perplexed, Dan exclaimed, "What did I do?"
The others exchanged glances and burst into laughter.
Tommy walked forward, patting Dan on the back, saying, "You poor boy!" Continuing on, he headed towards his house. Just as he was about to enter, he stopped, raised his hands in the air, and waved.
"Look after yourselves, kids. It's a dangerous place outside," he warned before disappearing into his house.
The trio remained in their spots.
"Well, it looks like we should start our journey," Ervin suggested.
That's when Kai's thoughts turned to Lilly. Until just last night, he had been in a state of oblivion. Clarity started to set in only after meeting Ervin. Yes, he was sad, profoundly so, losing his reason for living. It was expected for a pure-hearted kid.
When he lost his father, he believed his dad had gone somewhere to accomplish something and would return. Slowly, he adapted to the situation. However, this time was different. Just one night ago, a portion of the village disappeared, and many people, including his mother, perished. The last time he saw Lilly was when his mother's body was taken away to the village's sacred ground.
She is someone kai care for, so he asked to them
"Wait, what about Lilly?" Kai asked, a sense of urgency in his voice.
"What about her?" Dan responded, seeming somewhat reluctant.
"I need to meet her before we leave. I have so many questions," Kai explained, a mix of concern and curiosity on his face.
"I don't think you can," Dan said with a somber tone.
"Why not?" Kai pressed.
"She's not here anymore," Dan revealed, the weight of the news settling in.
Kai and Ervin, both caught off guard, exclaimed simultaneously, "What!?"
"What do you mean by 'what'? I get what's going on with Kai, but I thought you knew, Ervin. Didn't your father say anything?" Dan questioned.
Ervin, looking perplexed, admitted, "I didn't give much importance to Lilly, so I didn't ask. My father didn't mention anything."
"Make sense," Dan acknowledged, though concern lingered in the air.
"Anyway, the elders in the village had a meeting with her last night, or she held a meeting with the elders—interpret it as you like. At the end of the day, she said something like 'she achieved more than what she came for, it's time for me to leave, farewell.'"
Ervin and kai was processing the information. Kai's face showed a mix of concern and complexity, while Ervin was lost in thought. Suddenly, a realization struck Ervin, and he asked, "Hey Dan, let me ask you something."
"Yes, what is it?" Dan responded.
"How do you know all this?" Ervin inquired.
"Because I was there."
"What? But why?" Ervin asked, his confusion evident.
"Who do you think going to guide you to the accademy!?"
As Kai sorted through his thoughts, he asked,
"Are you going to guide us through? I thought Ervin was gonna do that."
No one could blame Kai for thinking that way.
"Actually, I'm gonna guide only halfway. We're not going straight to the academy after all," Dan explained.
In the end, Kai was both curious and confused. He asked,
"Wait, wait, wait. So where are we going? It seems like I'm the only one who knows nothing about these details."
In response, Ervin scratched the back of his head and smiled awkwardly.
Growing more frustrated due to staying in the mist for unknown reasons, Kai wanted to ask but trusted Ervin's decisions. Instead, he simply said, "Come on, guys."
Ervin smiled and replied, "Let's start moving. I'll update you about this on the way."
Dan, having chatted enough for the day and being a lazy kid who loves lounging, remained quiet. The trio, considering they might not return for years, decided to take a final stroll through the shattered village, absorbing the remnants and bidding their poignant goodbyes. With everyone onboard with the idea, they started their journey.
The once thriving village lay in ruins, scarred by the merciless dance of flames. Charred remnants of homes stood as haunting reminders of lives once lived, their skeletal frames reaching for a sky tinted with echoes of destruction. Ashen remnants of daily life painted a somber landscape, and the air held the scent of melancholy, mingling with the lingering whispers of a community forever altered by the unforgiving grasp of fire.
The trio of kids trod cautiously through the aftermath of the fire ravaged village. Physically, they navigated through the debris, carefully stepping over remnants of what used to be lively streets. Mentally, their expressions mirrored the devastation around them, grappling with the stark reality of a once vibrant community reduced to ashes. The weight of the scene pressed on their shoulders especially for kai
their eyes reflected a mix of sadness and disbelief, absorbing the harsh reality of a community now reduced to ruins. The air hung heavy with a solemn silence, punctuated only by the occasional creaking of damaged structures and the crunch of debris beneath their feet. Each step was a poignant reminder of the irreversible change the fire had brought, etching memories that would linger in their minds long after they departed.