Blaze returned to the inn to rest. Even though the journey back was long and exhausting, Blaze finally arrived at his room, looking downcast and in a bad mood.
"I'm back," Blaze said as he entered the inn, his face filled with gloom.
"Yo, you're back, Blaze," greeted Zai, the innkeeper.
"Why do you look different today, Blaze?" Zai asked with a playful tone, leaning casually.
"I'm fine," Blaze replied with a tired voice.
"Oh... okay," Zai responded, watching Blaze enter his room without further inquiry.
On his way to his room, Blaze bumped into Gorgon Pvesoveus, who greeted him with a teasing remark intended to make Blaze angry.
"Yo, Blaze, long time no see. Have you become stronger or just a loser?" Gorgon Pvesoveus joked.
"I... I'm just a loser who couldn't save my own adventurer group," Blaze replied in a lifeless tone, entering his room and slamming the door shut.
Gorgon Pvesoveus was taken aback. The usually cheerful Blaze, who would brighten the mood, was now unrecognizable. He had become someone completely different, without any energy.
Worried, Gorgon Pvesoveus decided to knock on Blaze's door to ask if everything was okay.
"Blaze! Are you alright?!" Gorgon Pvesoveus called, knocking on the door.
Blaze responded from inside the room.
"Go away! Leave me alone! Go to your own room and laze around like you always do!" Blaze shouted, his voice a little louder.
"Fine, if you're really okay! I don't care anyway!" Gorgon Pvesoveus shouted back as he entered his own room, slamming his door.
The next day arrived, and Blaze went out of the inn, heading to the market for a walk to clear his mind after yesterday's events.
Suddenly, Blaze noticed an old man carrying a heavy bag, and no one around seemed willing to help him.
Feeling sympathetic, Blaze decided to offer his help.
"Grandpa," Blaze called to the old man.
"Yes, what is it, young man?" the old man asked.
"Would you like me to help you with that?" Blaze asked, offering his assistance.
"Would you mind?" the old man asked again.
"Not at all, Grandpa," Blaze replied.
Blaze lifted the old man's heavy bag.
"Are you sure you don't mind carrying my bag, young man?" the old man asked once more.
"It's fine, Grandpa. By the way, where are you heading?" Blaze asked.
"I'm going home. I was out trading, but now I'm on my way back," the old man replied with a smile.
"Where do you live, Grandpa?" Blaze asked.
"My house is about a hundred kilometers from here," the old man said with a smile.
Blaze was surprised by the old man's statement. Given his old age, Blaze couldn't imagine how he could still walk such a long distance and trade so far from home.
"Really? A hundred kilometers? Are you sure you're strong enough to carry all this, especially walking on foot?" Blaze asked.
"Oh, I'm used to it," the old man said.
Blaze was amazed that the old man, despite his age, could still walk so far and engage in trading.
"At the intersection ahead, we'll turn left," the old man said.
"But... that's through a forest," Blaze pointed out.
"Yes, my house is beyond the forest," the old man explained.
They continued walking, unaware that they were now at the foot of a massive, dormant mountain.
"Grandpa, are we far from your house?" Blaze asked.
"Not far. We just need to climb this mountain, and then we'll reach my wooden house," the old man said.
Blaze followed the old man up the mountain.
"By the way, what's the name of this mountain?" Blaze asked, starting a conversation.
"Oh, this is Mount Altissimum. Would you like to hear a legend about this mountain?" the old man asked.
"Sure, Grandpa," Blaze replied.
"Long ago, there was the first God who created everything in the universe, from the stars to the planets and the sun. The first God also created other gods and goddesses, each with their own roles. One day, the Earth Goddess had a beautiful daughter who was kidnapped by a god from the realm of death. Upon learning of the abduction, the Earth Goddess appealed to the first God, asking him to call the God of Death and demand that he return her daughter.
The first God agreed, summoning the God of Death, who confessed to the kidnapping. The Earth Goddess was furious and wanted to attack him, but the first God calmed her down. The God of Death explained that he had taken the daughter because he loved her. This infuriated the Earth Goddess, but the first God proposed a compromise: the daughter could marry the God of Death and live six months of the year with him, and the other six months with her mother. The Earth Goddess agreed to this arrangement, though reluctantly.
The Earth Goddess, dissatisfied with this decision, threw a mountain in anger. That's the mountain we're standing on now," the old man finished his tale.
"So this mountain was created because the Earth Goddess was angry?" Blaze asked.
"Yes," the old man confirmed.
After some time, they arrived at the old man's house.
"Well, here we are. Sorry if my house isn't much," the old man said.
"It's fine, Grandpa. Where should I put this?" Blaze asked, pointing to the bag.
"Just leave it by the door. Thank you, young man," the old man said with a smile.
"Then I'll be going. Goodbye, Grandpa," Blaze said.
"Wait, young man! Take this," the old man said, handing Blaze a scroll.
"What is this, Grandpa?" Blaze asked.
"It's a map. It's the only thing I can give you as thanks. Please take it," the old man said.
"Is it really okay, Grandpa? Well, I'll accept it. Thank you," Blaze replied.
"You're welcome," the old man said.
Blaze then returned to the inn, entered his room, and placed the map from the old man on a table. He then went to bed and fell asleep.