His calm voice couldn't conceal the depth of emotion underlying his words. The painful reality of his father's departure hit him like a cold draft in the dead of winter, leaving an unwelcome chill.
The pain and hardships he had to face in the city ultimately drove him away from the crowded city streets and into the heart of nature. Erik found the strength to face his demons here, where the trees stood tall and unyielding against the harsh winter, and the snow fell unabated.
"I grew up in the city, surrounded by skyscrapers and bustling streets. That was my world, everything I knew." He stopped, his eyes reflecting the stark contrast between the dark trees and the white snow.
"But amid all that commotion, I felt...misplaced, like a seed trying to grow in concrete." I guess my background made me feel out of place in that setting. I thought that after my awakening, things would have gone better, yet, despite my awakening, problems did not leave me alone."
"Even amidst the comforts of city life, I felt an insatiable desire for something different," he continued, gazing at his fellow travelers, their faces attentive and their breath fogging in the frosty air. "I wanted to discover the world beyond the city limits. I wanted to get out of there and start a new life somewhere else. I wanted to find a place to call home, one where I was not discriminated against, bullied, or taken advantage of."
Erik went on, his words carving a space for truth among the crystalline serenity of the snow.
"There's another reason I left the city," he admitted, looking out at the horizon where the bright sunlight met the ice-blue sky.
"It has almost been three years since my father left." The fours' expressions darkened suddenly.
The fours' expression suddenly turned grimmer. This kid didn't have a simple life. Yet it wasn't that bad considering what they endured in these past months, with the fear of starving always present, and now the situation only got worse due to the Frantian soldiers' activities.
Yet they understood that feeling out of place must not have been pleasant. Clearly, they weren't aware of the daily beatings Erik had taken since he joined high school. The snowy sunlight was reflected in their eyes as they observed the young man with a sad look.
He that and paused for a moment, the silence stretching between them like the endless expanse of white snow ahead, with a sweeping gesture towards their surroundings—the snow-dusted trees, the soft blanket of snow underfoot, the chill wind whispering through the branches.
His gaze was drawn to the pristine snow beneath his feet as he chose his following words. The snow crunched softly beneath his boots, starkly contrasting the vital message he was about to deliver.
"However, last year, I stopped receiving money from him," he admitted in hushed tones. The words hung heavy in the air, their meaning receding into the silence. "I then learned that he...he died on a mission."
That was Becker obviously lying said to him at the party at Amber's mansion. Of course, his father came back and gave him the biological supercomputer. However, he disappeared after that.
The revelation hung in the icy air, a painful truth among the snow and ice. Erik's companions now knew about his father's death, which he had faced alone. In the brilliant winter light, the weight of the news seemed to cast long shadows.
His breath fogged ahead, swirling into the cold air before dissipating. Each puff was a stark reminder of his isolation and the family he once had but had to abandon.
"With my then-shitty power, I tried to find a way to survive by working on a farm. However, some events caused me to lose even that, and as a result, I decided to leave the city," he said, mixing lies and truths.
He slowly raised his gaze to meet his companions, revealing the raw vulnerability in his eyes. The winter light reflected off the snow and illuminated his face, emphasizing his anguish. Yet, in his eyes, there was more than just grief; an unwavering resolve forged in the face of loss and adversity.
"Despite what others have said about the forest, this place has served as a refuge and a teacher for me. I've learned to adapt, survive, and find strength within myself. I've discovered the soothing effects of the whispering wind."
As they continued their journey, their footprints left a snow trail in their wake. The snow felt softer under their feet, and the path seemed clearer.
The chill of winter was softened by the warmth of their growing bond, fostered by shared stories and a common goal.
Navigating the winter wonderland was nothing like the fairy tales in books and films. The landscape, while beautiful in its icy splendor, presented the group with several challenges. The cold seeped into their boots, numbing their toes with each step.
The fresh snow slowed their progress significantly, turning what should have been a steady stride into a slow trudge. The freezing temperatures sapped their energy and slowed their movements, magnifying every effort.
Furthermore, the picturesque and never-ending snowfall hampered their visibility and reduced their field of vision.
This increased the possibility of being ambushed by unseen creatures lurking around. The snow also muffled sounds, making it even more challenging to detect any impending danger.
The harsh winter had stripped the barren trees of their leafy cover, providing little to no protection from the elements or predators. Because of the openness of the snowy landscape, they were vulnerable to attacks from above, particularly from flying Thaids.
The natural defenses were ineffective, forcing them to remain constantly aware of their surroundings, particularly of the sky.
Then there were the less obvious but no less dangerous hazards. Under the snow, treacherous patches of ice threatened to trip them, as well as sudden dips in the terrain and hidden roots or rocks that could twist an ankle.
Finally, the harsh winter conditions severely restricted their access to food and clean water. Edible plants lay dormant beneath the snow, and hunting became much more difficult in the snow-covered landscape. Meanwhile, once-freely flowing streams and rivers had frozen solid, making obtaining drinking water difficult.
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