A young man with dark black hair and green eyes sat at the entrance of a small cave in the forest, staring into the darkness of the moonless night. The loud sound of heavy rain made the night unsettling for Harry, as he had no idea what dangers might be lurking outside in the cold. Harry closed his eyes, trying to listen for any sounds beyond the cave, but the rain made it almost impossible.

Cough... cough. A sound came from the depth of the cave. Harry turned to look inside, but it was too dark to pinpoint exactly where it came from.

"Take this," said Harry calmly as he took off his leather jacket and threw it into the darkness.

A small hand reached out from the shadows and grabbed the jacket before it touched the ground.

"Is this...?" said a small, weak, and shy voice.

"Take it. I'm used to this environment, so I won't get sick," Harry said as he closed his eyes again, trying to differentiate between the sounds outside.

"Thank you," said the small boy, Arthur, as he quietly put on the jacket.

Harry smiled slightly, a hint of sarcasm in his expression, as he recalled meeting the boy's father when Arthur was just a child. It had been on a cold, rainy day like this one. Back then, Harry had walked the streets without an umbrella or shelter, enduring everything with determination, knowing that he would die of starvation if he didn't find food soon.

Suddenly, while searching one of the streets, he saw a boy in tattered clothes looking up at a residential building. Harry followed the boy's gaze and saw a small girl holding a piece of burnt bread at the window. She threw the bread down, but unfortunately, the boy couldn't catch it, and he slipped as the ground was slick from the rain. The silver moonlight reflected in Harry's green eyes, and his heart started racing. The desperate will to survive drove his frail, thin body to run and seize this chance to grab the bread before the boy stood up. But the boy grabbed Harry's leg before he could reach the bread, leading to a pitiful scuffle that resembled sewer rats fighting over... well, a piece of burnt bread.

The boy won and stopped when he saw Harry had ceased resisting. Harry cried from the pain and hunger that burned inside him like fire. He had given up, wishing only for everything to end quickly.

The boy looked at Harry, then at the bread, hesitation clear in his eyes. He tore the bread in half and approached where Harry lay.

"Take it," the boy said, extending his hand with half of the bread. It was the most he could do, knowing that Harry was on the brink of death. He only hoped not to witness someone dying and felt he couldn't bear being responsible for such a thing.

Harry turned, unable to believe what he saw, and snatched the bread from the boy's hand, devouring it. Harry felt sleepy after eating and drifted off to sleep—or perhaps fell into a coma. Despite his fear of possibly dying in his sleep, he thought it might be for the best.

...

Early the next morning, Harry woke up, hunger attacking him once more. He knew he still had more time in this world and was thankful for it. Despite everything that had happened, he was grateful! He was alive and didn't feel even a shred of resentment. Instead, he smiled as he looked up at the sky. Harry was an orphan who fought every day to live another day, so he appreciated every moment of his life, pain and all. The hope that carried him through the suffering made him love life. People often complained about many things happening to them, foolish enough to think the world owed them something. But Harry was not that type of person. Losing everything and having to fight for the simplest things in life made him this way. Did complaining help at all? Of course not, especially when he had no one to complain to. People often avoided children like him, assuming they carried diseases. From the beginning, he had only two choices: fight or die. No one wanted to die, so he really only had one option.

Harry stood up to start searching for food again. There was no time to rest; he had to make the most of every second, as wasting a chance could mean losing another day to live just because of laziness.

"Hello," said a voice. Harry turned to see the source—a boy with brown hair and black eyes wearing ragged clothes. Even though he hadn't seen him clearly in the darkness the night before, Harry knew it was the boy who had given him the bread. Harry immediately frowned, the first thought in his mind being that the boy wanted something in return for giving him the bread.

"What do you want?" Harry said with some irritation.

The boy didn't seem affected by Harry's tone and said, "I'm Carter Lowin. What's your name? Can we be friends?" Carter extended his hand with a kind smile on his face.

Harry was stunned by the boy's question and froze.

"Hahahaha!"

Before Harry could respond, a loud laugh interrupted. He turned to see a heavyset man laughing crudely without any concern for appearances.

The man had witnessed everything that happened between Harry and Carter from the hotel window the previous night. When he stepped out of the hotel that morning, he overheard their conversation. For some reason, he had no empathy for them. It was as if he'd seen one of the most comedic scenes of his life.

"Ha... haha... Sewer rats forming alliances. You're really funny, kid. Is this your backup plan if he rejects your request? Hahaha!" said the man mockingly, unable to contain his laughter.

The morning before, when the man had arrived at the inn, Carter somehow learned that the man worked for an explorer's guild and asked him for a job. The man laughed at him and rejected the request, but Carter didn't give up and waited in front of the hotel.

"Is there a problem with that, Mr. Lowin? You could even hire both of us. All we'd need is something to eat, and we won't complain." Carter lowered the hand that had been hanging in the air with embarrassment as Harry didn't shake it and spoke with a serious voice and a determined look at Mr. Lowin.

"Oh... maybe I can consider that. Take these two herbs. I found them on my last journey; eat them, and I'll hire you." Mr. Lowin stopped laughing and pulled out two herbs: one was sharp, white, and had black patterns like a spider web with some insects on it, appearing rotten; the other was greenish-yellow and dry, looking like an ordinary herb but with a strange, almost moving glow.

Carter looked at the herbs, and his face darkened. He didn't want to be this man's test subject.

"Make your decision quickly. Didn't you say you'd do anything if I gave you food? Look, I'm giving you free food. Don't worry; it's not poisonous—I made sure of that," Mr. Lowin said with a light laugh and a broad smile on his face.

Carter clenched his fist, approached Mr. Lowin, took the white herb, and swallowed it.

"What about you? I think you're interested as well. I work for the Explorer's Guild and can arrange a spot for you," Mr. Lowin said to Harry.

Harry hesitated for a moment before deciding to take the risk and eat the herb.

Nothing happened to either of them after they consumed the herbs, and Mr. Lowin kept his word. Perhaps he was only joking with them. They ended up working for the Explorer's Guild, and their bond grew stronger until they were like brothers. Three years later, Harry noticed that he suddenly started running faster, and this ability kept increasing until his speed became superhuman. People around him started noticing, and the guild showed more interest in him. Maybe it was because of the herb or something he encountered during one of their dangerous expeditions?!

A young boy, around fifteen, with brown hair and black eyes—this was Carter.

Knock, knock.

"Come in."

Carter opened the door and saw Mr. Lowin, who had helped him and Harry years ago, sitting behind the desk. He also saw Harry sitting in a chair in front of the desk. Harry had grown older too, but his appearance hadn't changed much, except for his now longer hair.

"Sit down," Mr. Lowin said.

Carter sat in the chair next to Harry.

"This is the notice of your dismissal and contract termination with the guild. Starting today, you are no longer employed here..."

"What?!" Carter interrupted, shouting in surprise.

"Damn it, let me finish my sentence or I'll get a headache. You're so annoying," Mr. Lowin said, putting his hands over his ears in anticipation of Carter shouting again.

"We'll provide you with financial compensation for the remaining years of your contract."

Carter's eyes widened in shock. Was this even real? It felt like they were giving him money without having to work. Were they stupid? The job was dangerous and not many people wanted it. Why would they do something like this, firing workers and even giving them compensation? It wasn't mentioned in the contract.

Carter looked at Harry, who was sitting next to him. It seemed Harry understood something and said, "Is he getting fired too, like me?"

"Of course not. Harry is very important to the guild. Do you think he's like you? He made a deal to extend his contract in exchange for your dismissal," Mr. Lowin said with a hint of mockery and disdain.

"Do you think I'll accept that? Don't you know me by now after all these years?" Carter said, looking at Harry sharply.

"I've known what kind of person you are since the day we met," Harry said with a smile.

"I have an unnatural speed that allows me to avoid unexpected situations easily, unlike you. The deal is done, and nothing can change it now. Do you think they would give me up for you? You can choose not to take the money, but what's the point? I understand you, but do you understand me?" Harry shook his head, stood up, and looked Carter in the eyes.

"You're the only person I can consider family. Do you know how I'd feel if you died? I wouldn't have anywhere to return to after my contract ends. Go, live your life, get married, and start a family. When I'm done with this, I'll have a place to come back to."

...

Years later, Harry's contract finally ended. The first thing he did was visit Carter. Carter now had a home and a family. Their reunion was filled with emotion and warmth. Although they had been in touch and Carter had visited Harry often, this was the first time Harry came to his home.

A few days after Harry's visit, something terrifying happened. Carter was helping his wife, Elizabeth, fill water from the well, while Harry and Carter's son, Arthur, were talking under the tree in front of the house.

Rustle... rustle.

Suddenly, a strong wind blew. Carter lifted his head and then turned in the opposite direction, shouting, "Harry!" Carter might not have been special, but he reacted quickly in critical moments. Harry's eyes narrowed when he looked at Carter, and he quickly grabbed Arthur and rushed into the house. He opened one of the rooms and hid with Arthur inside. It all happened in seconds, so Arthur didn't know what was happening, and Harry wasn't sure either. All he saw was something resembling mist and green thorns, very close to Carter and his wife. Harry clenched his fist and waited in silence. Arthur asked what was happening, but Harry remained quiet.

After twenty minutes, Harry's patience ran out, especially as the wind had stopped for a while. He decided to go out and told Arthur to stay in the corner of the room. He opened and closed the door quickly to avoid any harm coming to Arthur. Outside, Harry saw traces that looked like ice but were dark green, similar to grass, and strangely, it was evaporating quickly into the air. Harry looked at where Carter and his wife were and found them in the same position he had left them, but now dark green and lifeless. Carter's hand was on his wife's back, as if trying to push her toward the well.Harry clenched his fist and went to them. He felt a deep sadness when he reached them, as he found them frozen like lifeless statues.

Harry and Arthur left them in that state for a week, holding on to the hope that the ice might melt.

During that week, the green ice did not stop appearing, but Harry noticed that it always came at a specific time – at the beginning of every hour. What frightened Harry was that its appearance duration was increasing every day On the first day, it lasted for ten minutes; on the second day, twelve minutes. Each day, it increased by two minutes every hour before stopping and melting.

The walls of the house began to erode because of the green ice, and the ice on Carter and his wife did not seem to melt. Harry realized that staying here was not a good idea. He wanted to protect his friend's son, and of all people, he knew that mourning the dead was pointless in such a situation. Rational thinking was needed. After arguing with Arthur, they left Carter and his wife in the basement of the house and departed, hoping to find a place untouched by the disaster.

... In the cave

The rain had stopped some time ago. Shhh...

Harry noticed a strange sound, so he closed his eyes and focused carefully. He was able to identify it; someone was running not far from the cave, searching for a place to hide. Harry gripped the dagger in his hand tightly and stood up.

"Don't move from here. You know what to do if I don't return before the wind," Harry said to Arthur before heading out.

Harry's reason for going to the person was to ask where he had come from. They were now at a crossroads between the city of Bon and the city of Eastron, and it seemed that the person came from one of them. Time was crucial now; they couldn't afford to waste even a minute, and if they went to the wrong city, their end could be near.

Harry reached the man and found that he was a middle-aged man. Harry checked the time and realized there were only seven minutes left until the next wave of icy wind. He wanted to guide the man quickly to the cave and ask him questions, but as he approached, the man struck him before he could speak, knocking him to the ground. It was clear that this wasn't an ordinary punch—the man was formidable. Harry got up quickly, but the man didn't give him time to catch his breath and lunged at him. Harry kicked and aimed for the man's head, but the man was ready for it and grabbed Harry's leg until it broke. Harry endured the pain and stabbed the man in the hand with the dagger swiftly. The man released Harry, who fell to the ground.

"Are you sure you want to waste time with me? The wind is coming soon," Harry said, trying to scare the man.

The man didn't wait for Harry to finish speaking and ran off quickly.

Harry, who had been trying to stand for a while, finally leaned on a tree and managed to get up. He knew it was impossible to survive the next wave now; time was up. However, he realized the man was from the city of Bon because he was wearing a Bon mercenary medallion. Harry wanted to tell Arthur. He let go of the tree and raised one hand to the sky, pointing with the other towards the city of Eastron to let Arthur know they needed to go in that direction. Harry felt sadness and weakness; he hadn't been able to save Carter and his wife, and now, he could only act as a signpost for Arthur. A tear rolled down Harry's cheek. He hadn't cried since the day he met Carter, but today had pushed him beyond his limits—he had always loved life.

The icy wind came quickly and froze Harry in that position, with the tear still on his cheek.

After the wind stopped, Arthur rushed out of the cave and searched for Harry. When he saw the frozen statue, he didn't know what to do. A mix of sadness, pain, and gratitude overwhelmed him. He quickly regained his composure and knew Harry wanted him to go in the direction he was pointing. There was no time to waste; he had to leave immediately, or Harry's sacrifice would be in vain. He looked at Harry's statue one last time.

"Thank you," he said with a voice full of gratitude, then started running towards the city of Eastron.