Chapitre 41: Final stop
"Are you sure this is the right way, Joey?"
Arsh asked, leaning his head against the ax-wielding adventurer.
"You can also use the same spell if you want, right? Why don't you check it for yourself then? But from what I can feel, this seems like the right path."
Joey replied calmly, managing the ground-scanning spell in the meanwhile.
After their eventful night together. The group had decided to take their last tour to the destination.
Arsh's home village to be precise.
The adventurers, surprisingly, were not against the plan of crossing the whole of the forest of silence. Even though it was filled with all kinds of monstrosities who could snuff the life out of them pretty easily.
From what Arsh had deducted from their behavior was. They just wanted to help him out, disregarding the dangers to their life, which he was genuinely grateful for.
Alan, however uncharacteristically it was for him, apologized to the adventurers for his outburst. He didn't tell them the reason, but every person present there was already aware of what kind of hell he had been through.
The disheveled-haired assassin was not innocent. Not by even a long shot. Rather, he was just a person stuck in the merciless world, unwillingly contributing to its neverending cruelty.
Arsh looked around inside the surrounding fog. Almost nothing except for the thick veil of fog was visible in sight. It could be dangerous if he again got seprated from the group.
The only way to stick together and not wander off, was to stick with the group and to keep talking. To keep them updated about their location and path.
So, Alan and Gelina were dedicated to the cause. Which was particularly unpredictable. Both of them were the kind of people who won't talk to anyone without reason. But, looking at them now….
"Ohh~ Alan. You shouldn't steal silent glances at me. You just have to say 'I am sorry Gelina for calling you inappropriate names. Your beauty is out of this world. Please let me have a look at it.' And it will be a done deal. What do you say?"
Alan scowled at her, clearly showcasing that wasn't the case at so many levels. He clicked his tongue loudly, before replying in an irritated tone.
"First and foremost. Stop pestering me already. Second. You should remember, your real form is of a Griffin, however much beautiful you are in human form or whoever said that to you. And third, the most important of them all."
"I don't like you. Like! At all. If I was given the choice. I'll choose Amanda thousands of times over you. "
Alan bickered back in an overly haughty tone. Hearing his last line, Amanda started fidgeting in the middle. Being next to her, Arsh was able to catch sight of the little blush looming on her face.
Arsh sighed, looking at them going at each other's throat again. To be honest, it was only amusing in the start, but with time and time their constant bickering became irritating to the point, he just wanted them to shut up for a minute.
'....They can flip switches too quickly.'
Arsh shook his head, exasperated. There was no sign of the grave expressions remaining, that they wore in the morning.
Before moving out in the morning, they suddenly had come out to Arsh together. To explain what they were talking about before the so-called spar.
They were wary in the beginning and were arguing on the topic, of whether or not to notify him. Finally telling him it was only fair for Arsh to know about it. Even though it could be dangerous for his future aspects.
Apparently, he had a mark somewhere on his body. Not a physical one. It was somehow attached to his presence or more precisely his soul. A kind of mark, signaling he was some kind of cursed human.
According to Alan, the mark also became visible to him after he broke through his third phase. Making it a big nuisance for the future.
If any walking person past 2nd phase could deduce he was abnormal. It was like walking with a board in the open that said 'I am better off dead'.
On asking what the mark actually signifies, Arsh was answered with only silence from both of them. The only little tidbit of information he got from Gelina was… He was abandoned by the world for unknown reasons… And It was resisting his existence completely.
The mark of the unknown was only visible to people above the IInd phase. They were rare to find in humans. But, not to the point they were non-existing.
Luckily no more than 2-3 people in the town were past the 1st phase, much less the 2nd. Making it impossible for them to notice something in him, at least in the town.
The real problem was the people from other continents. According to Alan, it wasn't unusual even for kids barely in their 20s to break away from 2nd phase. Hiding from them was going to be the real problem in the future.
After being hit by a new kind of headache. Arsh again went on a trail of thoughts. Deducing what he should do about it.
But shaking him out of it, Gelina stood in front of him with a grave expression. Saying she somehow owed him an explanation.
Arsh didn't protest, gesturing to her to tell her part of the story.
She then went on to explain to him how she was someone from a different planet altogether. Which has already been kind of destroyed by a spectrum of divinities that can rival even the gods.
Monarchs. Or more specifically the Monarch of desire. Demons by nature with an unusual complexion that hold enormous power. Enough to overturn a whole planet all on his own.
"....."
Hearing Gelina's story to the end. Arsh looked at the morning sun with a conflicted expression.
Now the picture was more wide than Arsh ever hoped it to be. According to Gelina's story, there were at least 10 different planets with dozens of different species living on them.
The elves he had read stories about in childhood, turned out to be true. The people with long ears advanced in magic usage. Those who sacrifice their whole life in serving mother nature.
Or the bloodthirsty demons. The inhumane anomalies of horror stories, which were said to be able to eat even their kind, if the need arises.
Arsh heard about several species from Gelina in fascination. The idea of someone existing outside of the planet was exciting for him. Reminding him of his childhood fantasy. And how his baseless fantasies turned out to be true.
Gods, Monarchs, ten different planets, and at least a dozen of different species. It was a fascinating universe to explore. A vast universe of different specifications.
But….It wasn't meant to be for Arsh.
Arsh very much liked the idea of just aimlessly exploring the universe through different planets or if fate allowed, to search for new ones too. It was a kind of lifestyle he hoped to have…. A dream job.
It was all too far gone for him though. If it wasn't for his past, he may have considered it in the way of his life.
But, for now, he had something much greater to accomplish. Something so insane. That no human, Elves, demon hell even Griffin would never hope to do. Not one of those dozens of different species could ever dream about it.
'... It's not going to be a fun life. Huh?'
Killing every single one of the divinities, who forcefully reigns over the cosmos. Gods or Monarchs, it doesn't matter. At the end of the day, they were all the same. Selfish, self-centered powerful beings. Forcing the whole world to round them.
To put an end to it once and for all.
"...The wall of fog ends here. Where now, Arsh? Do you have any idea?"
Stepping out of the forest of silence, Arsh looked around then turned back to look at Joey. Raising an eyebrow in amusement.
It was the same familiar forest where he had spent most of his life. Even the number of trees in every direction was ingrained into his mind, after all that time.
Arsh didn't say a word to them in reply. He just walked in the forest all alone. Being Hit by wave after wave of nostalgia.
A shaky smile appeared on his face, noticing the same part of the forest where he fought with the snot-nosed kids just a year ago.
He still definitely didn't feel sorry for what he did that one time.
Arsh slowly walked away from the spot. Looking far ahead in front of him. His expression turned grave and unreadable.
It was time to return back to where it all started from the beginning…..But, this time around it was going to be the beginning of the end.
Standing on the boundary of the mysterious village. Arsh hummed somberly to himself. It had been a long time. Eh?
" ….I am home"
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone