There was a lot of silence when they went back on the road. Ronin used his whip to put out the fire, but even then, it was too late to save any lives there.
They went about without a map, merely asking for directions from the locals. Welkins speak the same language as Sephyrine with a different accent and just slight differences.
Because despite being separated by the sea, the two kingdoms shared history. Welkins had a lot of people migrate to Sephyrine and so it's obvious that its culture affected it somewhat.
People wore similar clothes, but as mentioned, have a more uptight demeanor.
Yet some were at least happy to give them help, especially the Commoners and people in the middle ground.
Cermin doesn't focus on all this, while Ronin seemed to do so almost obsessively.
Focusing on gaining facts and information to the locals, while barely interacting with his 'friend'.
This made Cermin feel unsettled. He felt that it must have something to do with the death of the Daemon pretending to be Zeriav.
When Cermin asked him that day why he was crying, Ronin merely looked surprised.
"Oh." He said blankly, and wiped his eyes. Then, he just started walking with a hollow expression.
After that, he had been even more distant.
"Ronin." Cermin would often call out, but not push any farther than that because he was also feeling guilty.
He had really killed the Daemon this time. But he killed Zeriav, and fooled them for many days. He was suddenly so angry and couldn't bear the thought that his friend died....
And he wasn't even aware of it. He failed to save him.
He was now responsible for three deaths, so directly, some indirectly.
Eventually, they reached the foot of Mount Vrochi. It was said that the Cave of Solitude was at the foot of the mountain meant to be where several hundreds of Demetri's temples were.
But the reason why it was called the Cave of Solitude was because it was not a temple, despite being large enough as one.
No one would visit there, and the locals would often recommend just leaving it alone.
When asked why, no one could really respond besides it giving them a terrible feeling. It had become part of the local superstition to just pass by the cave and greet it.
Younger generations, especially children, believed there was a ghost or monster there. Older ones believed it was a portal and a ditch to the Abyssal Realm.
"You should stay close behind me, Ronin." Cermin said, as he lighted their path with his sword.
Ronin did not stay behind him and instead used his whip with the runes of Aurion written on it, then hit the cave walls with it.
This made the whip glow, and he used it as his own light source, trudging past Cermin.
"Ronin!" Cermin yelled, but not too loud in the fear of awakening whatever was in this cave.
Ronin did not listen, and kept going with a stride. He then heard a voice in his head:
[You're being rather illogical, don't you think?]
"I don't know what you're talking about." Ronin replied to Kai.
[Well, Zeuxis just risked his life so you won't appear bad in Cermin's eyes. Yet you not only cried for a Daemon, you are also acting strange because of that death. Isn't that irrational?]
"Don't lecture me. In fact, don't talk to me unless you will be giving me my notifications."
Kai sighed. [I'm not lecturing you or trying to annoy you. Well, maybe a little, it's fun to see you lose your cool sometimes. But.....]
[I'm just trying to point out that you're not as 'logical' or 'pragmatic' as you think. You get swayed by emotions too, and I think that's actually ok. You're being true to yourself for once.]
Ronin stopped walking, and turned back.
He then went to force a fake smile at Cermin.
"Your Highness, the road looks fine ahead. There are no threats. Do you want to go and see?"
Kai would have frowned had it been in its physical form. [What are you planning now—]
Cermin rushed over. "Finally...… Ronin, why are you mad at me? What did I do wrong?"
Ronin continued to act. "You did nothing wrong, Your Highness. I was just out of it for a while because I was feeling unwell, possibly the Lord of Darkness taking over me."
[That's not true at all. What kind of excuse is that, not taking responsibility for your own emotions?]
Ronin ignored this, and kept making up lies about his behavior. "The Lord of Darkness must be disappointed for losing his kin, that's why tears suddenly fell in my eyes."
"Oh, really? I see…." Cermin said, but still had an odd feeling in his stomach.
But he'd rather believe that Ronin was better now, so he just patted his shoulder. "I'm glad you're finally able to snap out of it. I was really worried."
Ronin gently pushed the hand away, and turned around. "Let's just keep going."
They walked and walked for what felt like forever. But there was nothing in the cave but darkness and darkness.
It stretches for what seems like forever. The silence was deafening, like they had been engulfed in the mouth of a creature and could never see the sun again.
"There's nothing….. Wait, I think I see something sparkling over there." Cermin said, and went to investigate.
There was a small brooke inside the cave, the water probably coming from pathways under the dirt. They went to look at it for a while, and Cermin saw....
Himself as Min Cheng.
"Huh…. That's strange….."
Ronin frowned. "What's strange?"
He went to take a look...
And he saw what Ou looked like. It was clearer in the water.
He has dark skin, round and large eyes, fuller lips than Min Cheng, and a tall nose. His hair was also black and straight, and there was a pair of glasses perched on his nose.
He looked like his age at the moment, possibly in college. Min Cheng also looked at the same age range.
Ronin turned to see what Min Cheng looked like, but he could not. In his eyes, it was still Cermin reflected on the water.
So he took the risk and asked. "Can you see me looking different in this water?"
For some reason, he felt anxious letting Cermin know what he looked like back when he was still a human.
Cermin turned, and shook his head. "Can you see mine?"
Ronin shook his head too. "We can only see our own reflection as something else."
"What does yours look like?" Cermin asked. "Because mine looks like…. er... much much different."
"It's almost the same." Ronin replied. "Yet very different at the same time."
That was a confusing answer, and Cermin really wished he could see what Ronin was seeing.
But they were not the only ones seeing a different reflection in the water.
[No…. I can't be...]
Ronin frowned, and asked in his head. 'You see your past self too?'
[Yes. But..... All this time I was.... No, that's not possible.]
'You were what?'
But Kai would not answer.
Instead, it got lost inside its head, and eventually...…
He was back. The little boy that the system always dreams about.
The boy does not really identify as a boy, but that was what he was told that he was, so he just rolled with it. He felt like nothing at all, or that he could be whatever and still be fine with it.
He was carefree, and did not really think much about the world. Which was reasonable as he was young, only 8 years old.
He would soon be in puberty and once he got older, would go to high school, then college, have a job, get married, build a family blah blah blah.....
The older people around him tell him that all the time, and he hated it so much.
He doesn't want to live that kind of life. All he wanted….
Was to enjoy leisurely walks after school, passing by the old train station and then to his normal house with his normal family.
Yes, he had no ambitions. Perhaps to live as freely as he want, but even then, he was just fine with being fine.
He liked candy a lot, and many people hand him candy all the time. Like an old lady selling snacks, or an uncle who's friends with his parents….
Or a pretty lady that he had never seen before.
He stopped by the tracks as the girl, who must be somewhere between 18-20, gave him a warm smile and offered him some candy. She was eating some herself, popping the gum in her mouth.
"What a cute little boy you are. Here, you can have this. I bought too many." She told him.
The boy saw that it was his favorite chocolate candy bar, and took it. "Thank you, jiejie."
Jiejie was Big Sister in Chinese, and just like gege, it doesn't have to be blood-related.
She smiled and went on her way. Since then, they pass by each other a lot.
She must be studying at that fancy college on the next street. Whenever their paths crossed, she would always give him candy.
She was nice.
Until one day, the candy she gave him made him feel sick, and lose consciousness.
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