"In the end, nothing's changed. The goal still remains the same, only a little clearer for me now."I gently whispered these thoughts into the atmosphere, a soft wistful smile gracing my lips.
The day's outing had provided me a deeper insight toward my individuality than two lives combined. I had always limited my prospects, even after transmigrating into a different world. I bothered not to pay focus on the world outside me, which blurred the line between what i accepted, and what i truly wanted.
Mr. Ridge's involvement had provided me a different perspective I had never once bothered to look from.
My gaze lingered against the heap of dirth protruding smoothly out of the ground before me. A lump formed down my throat, the area around my heart constricted a little. Then I spoke softly, my voice into the wind with melancholy.
"I wonder what you held dear... but now you'll never get to see it again."
The small grave belonged to the little girl from the altar. At the time when Cliff brought me back to the surface, the corpse of the little girl was also recovered. And since I was the last person to have witnessed her last moments, the others let me be the one to chose her resting place.
It goes without saying I gave her the most beautiful view the village had to offer, at my favorite spot against the small hill next to the big tree and scenery of the golden sea of undulating wheat.
This was the first time I had come to visit since that day. I never had the heart or courage to.
And as i stood there, I realized with a sad little smile.
The same way one held people dear to them, was the same way others held one dear as well.
Then I whispered.
"And those who valued you couldn't protect you."
'I couldn't protect you either.'
I didn't want that.
I didn't want to not be able to not protect and preserve my loved ones and valued,, especially now that it's all no longer blurry. Now that it's clear to me. That feeling and possessiveness is only multiplied.
Feeling my emotions beginning to weigh down on me, I took in a deep breath of fresh air, steeling my resolve once more as I clenched tightly my fist.
'In the end nothing has changed.' the goal still remained the same, only more purposeful now.
I shifted my gaze forward, pass the grave, passed the plain of wheat, and further passed even the horizon. I pierced as far as the sky in the distance could spread, my will slowly set ablaze.
Then I withdrew my vision, my 'gaze' back on the village. At the same time, I had a feeling I would truly come to love and treasure the place, and for the first time in two lives and worlds, i felt my meager life gain purpose. Something much more than the 'matrix'.
This time around, I was going to break it and explore the many vast possibilities I was bestowed with.
'It is clear. Get stronger, protect, and live out my life the way 'I' want.'
I walked up to the grave with gentle and light steps and lowered myself to place the small bouquet of white chrysanthemum I gathered before the visit.
Then like a new resolution, I uttered internally.
'Watch me.'
The earlier weight in my chest was replaced by a cold, strong and firm will as I slowly began to make my peace. Crouched over the grave, I lingered silently for a few short seconds.
"You good, Reo?"
I straightened my back and stood upright. Shifting slightly on my feet I turned around to face the small group that waited behind me.
At Don's words I silently nodded, my gaze then shifting among the faces of the kids, ultimately falling on the only adult furthest at the back.
Mr. Ridge met my eyes with the greys of his silently, those surfaces seemed to be peering deeper than what the eyes could see.
Then at the same moment, I recalled the time the stoic old man said something to me yesterday.
'... Discerning a persons nature and potential at a single glance...' I suppressed a small wry smile.
'That's a terrifying talent, old man.' I couldn't help but feel I had been seen through the very first moment Mr. Ridge laid his eyes on me. And all of today's events were set up in line with what he had discerned from me.
Put simply, I felt scammed.
'But... it's not that bad a feeling in this case.' Thinking that, I flashed a small smile and arrived before the man and nodded silently. My thoughts and feelings conveyed between the exchange of gazes for the next few short seconds.
Mr. Ridge displayed a smile.
.
.
.
.
.
Weeks passed and the seasons went by just as quickly. My fifth year in this world slowly rounding up to six. Within that time I had already began and progressed in my training with both Mr. Ridge and Cliff. The essence of swordsmanship slowly unraveled in understanding as my basics and core in the art strongly strengthened within the remainder of the year.
I went from relentless body building exercises, to relentless display of basic sword swings, to beginner stances and footwork. With each passing day I could feel every fiber of my being slowly getting stronger.
But I didn't let myself be deluded. I understood I was still very far from being 'strong'. I could still barely land a single hit in a spar neither against Cliff or Mr. Ridge even without handicaps placed upon handicaps.
I had to accept, those two were simply monsters in their own right. Cliff was particularly excited when he judged I was finally good enough to begin actual spars against him.
But of course one year wasn't enough to suddenly reach competency in swordsmanship. I was only recently getting used to swinging a wooden sword after all.
The same could be said for Don and the others. Leon, Don, Kyle and I would spend most of the entire day, and time, with Mr. Ridge. And other times when Leon's dad would be held back or busy with work, we'd turn to Cliff. To me it was no different.
My routine was simple, steadfast, and disciplined. My mornings started out early with practice swings and light spars with Cliff. The rest of the morning yo until mid-noon were filled with home school, tutored by Layla in person. This 'officially' started only some months in after I turned five, and since my days began to be packed entirely with sword practice, Layla began to get a little cranky from been unable to spentime with me, and thus officially began tge home schooling which comprises, partly, of unpeerless doting.
But Layla still never failed to do her part.
All in all, the months that went by were simple, quiet and fruitful. My friends and I slowly got stronger and the dream of protecting what we cared about didn't seem so far. I also began to open up to the prospect provided to me by reincarnating, and slowly I began to grow a warmth for the village and it's people.
'But it's not enough.'
But I still felt it wasn't good enough.
I gripped the wooden sword tightly in my trembling hand, my head bent forward as countless beads of sweat rolled off my face to the ground. I felt my heart beating widely in my chest, my breath deep and haggard from the over extertion I had recently put my body through.
The burning sensation of my limbs and muscles were something I was slowly becoming used to during the past seasons. My eyes tingled and burned.
I stood still with the evening sun setting vibrantly over the horizon. The sensation of howling wind against my face and hair brought along an inevitable realization dawning on me as I looked down aty clenched fist.
"Magic..."
****
Heyy, guys, Author here!
Not much to say actually, but thank all of you who have come with me this far and on Reo's journey. This is merely still the prologue, and the last couple chapters were spent to uncover the many blanks in Reo's nature. But we'll finally get back on track! Reo has decided to get stronger...and even use magic.
Off paper, this was where the first half of Volume one was supposed to end, but I've decided against unnecessarily breaking it down. The second half of Volume one will begin on the following chapter.
ANNOUNCEMENT: CHARACTER IMAGES ARE OFFICIALLY OUT, FEEL FREE TO CHECK THEM OUT AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT, your ever-grateful author.