In a rundown neighborhood of Laurentiis, the capital of Terranova, the strongest and best country in the world—or at least that's what they claimed—a scrawny boy was running with an ice cream in his hand. His clothes were as tattered and worn-out as his frail body. The boy had chestnut hair and eyes tinged with blue. The scorching sun showed no mercy, bearing down on him as he clutched the ice cream close to prevent it from melting.
As the boy ran past an old woman sitting by the roadside, she called out, "Benedict, where are you rushing off to?" The boy turned his head slightly, panting, and replied, "Sorry, I have something really important to do."
After ten minutes of running, Benedict approached a house. The sound of an old man's cough echoed from behind the door. Hearing the cough brought a smile to Benedict's face. "I'm not late," he thought to himself.
Benedict opened the door and entered the house. A frail old man was lying on a mattress. "Still here, Grandpa?" Benedict asked.
"Did… you think… I'd... die… that easily?" the old man replied, struggling to suppress his cough.
Benedict smiled, catching his breath, and said, "It better be that way because I bought your favorite ice cream. The one we used to eat together when we were in the city, with Dad and Mom."
This was the only memory Benedict had from the time he lived in the city, apart from the memory of his parents' murder.
The old man stared at the cracked ceiling, lost in his memories. Meanwhile, Benedict opened the ice cream, detached the plastic spoon attached to the lid, and scooped out some ice cream, offering it to the old man. This ice cream was expensive for them. It cost as much as three days' worth of their food, which was just plain bread. The old man didn't know where Benedict got the money for the ice cream, but he didn't mention it because he didn't want to reject his grandson's gift.
"Eat it before it melts," Benedict said. The old man opened his mouth and took a spoonful. Noticing Benedict's disheveled and sad face, the old man said, "It's... already… melted."
Benedict clenched his fists as he glared at his grandfather. "If you don't want it, I'll eat it all myself."
"Sorry… just kidding. I just… don't want to… see my grandson's… sad face… in my… last moments," the old man said, pausing frequently to catch his breath.
"Now… that you've… bought me… ice cream… I should… give you… a gift… too," he continued.
"Oh, finally, it's time for the sweet inheritance. What could it be? A treasure map or a rare artifact from a maze? Or maybe a family heirloom?" Benedict thought with a grinning face.
The old man pulled a piece of paper from under the mattress and handed it to Benedict. Benedict snatched the paper from the old man. "So, it must be a treasure map!" Benedict's heart raced with anticipation as he began to read the paper. His mouth dropped open in astonishment, and he felt dizzy. At the top of the paper, it read: Eviction Notice.
"I couldn't… pay off… my debt; you… need to… vacate the house… by the end… of the week. Heh...heh," the old man said with a smile.
"Heh...heh? Do you want me to deal with you before your illness does?" Benedict said angrily, holding a pillow towards the old man.
"Wait… wait! That's… not your… gift!" the old man said, frightened. "From next… week, you'll… live with… an old friend… of mine. He's… a bit odd… but I think… you'll get along. His… financial situation… is better… than ours, so… at least… you won't… have any… food issues… anymore. His address… is under… my pillow," the old man explained, his voice weak and halting.
"I have to live with someone else? You know what I'm planning to do. Don't you think it might cause trouble for him too?" Benedict asked, surprised.
"Don't… worry. I've… already… told him… everything. He can… take care… of himself. He's… decided to… help you… get into… Wonderworld Academy. It… was tough… convincing him," the old man said, looking proud of himself despite his frailty.
"Someone who can help me? He must be amazing!" Benedict thought to himself.
"He… certainly is. You'll… see for… yourself," the old man replied.
"I couldn't protect my daughter and her husband. Even now, I haven't been able to protect my grandson. This was the only thing I could do for my daughter's memory. My only wish now is for Benedict to have a good life ahead of him," the old man thought to himself.
Suddenly, the old man began coughing violently. "Are you okay, Grandpa?" Benedict asked, distressed.
"My time… is almost… up, Benedict. Listen... I… still remember… when you… used to… fall asleep… in my arms. I know… it's too… late to… change your… mind now. What I… want to… say is, if… one day… you decide… to change… your path… and live… a normal life… don't feel… guilty. Don't… let the past… chain you… down," the old man said, using all his remaining strength.
"I promise I'll take back what was rightfully ours—yours, Dad's, Mom's, and mine," Benedict said, with a pained expression crossing his face. After a brief pause, he added, "And if I ever decide to change my path, I promise I'll do what you told me."
"I… still remember… the day… you were born. It… was the… best day… of my life. The child… of my… dear daughter… was born. Benedict… I love you… And forgive… me," the old man said as his eyes slowly closed, forever.
"I love you too, Grandpa," Benedict whispered. Hearing his words, the old man took his last breath, smiling peacefully.
After looking at the old man's face, tears slowly streamed down Benedict's cheeks. Benedict scooped a spoonful of ice cream and put it in his mouth and said, "It's completely melted."