Chapter 47: Wyvern Quest

"It's been nearly three weeks since I settled back in Archhill. The farmers were just as welcoming to me. As an adventurer, I find myself taking on more quests than most in the guildhall. Thus I managed to reach level 5, the fifth-highest rank for an adventurer in a short time. Though my reputation was well noticed throughout the town and the southern province, I try not to involve with anyone. I don't want to be burdened nor be a burden to others,"

He woke up with the sun shining on his face through the crack in the window beside him. Jushiro sat up to grab his journal and quill. He tries to recount every time he dreamed of the mysterious forest that would sometimes appear in his dreams. Carefully detailing every small aspect he could remember, his obsession to understand the place he finds himself in became the driving focus on his mind.

"An endless view of snow and ice trees, snow everywhere, and the massive sphere covered in chains. Along with the voice, I always hear. Without access to the archives in the capital, I have only theories and speculations,"

Suddenly he heard a knock on the door. The old farmer, Bryant, slightly opened the door, saying, "good morning,"

"Good morning, sir," Jushiro tiredly said.

"Sivf has breakfast prepared in the dining room. Come eat before you leave,"

"I'll be right there," Jushiro responded.

He closed his journal and left the room. Smelling the cooked meal Bryant's wife prepared in the dining room, Jushiro took his seat at the opposite end of the table. There was an atmosphere of a cold distance between the farmers and Jushiro. The two people knew Jushiro changed considerably but not in the way they hoped. Bryant nearly started to question his decision to let Jushiro stay. Every time he tried asking Jushiro about his journeys, Jushiro would either dodge his question or tell him, "You don't need to know, sir,"

The wife tried to thank Jushiro for the deer he caught for them. Jushiro's reply was only a nod. Bryant stood up in annoyance to clothe his coat.

"I'll be heading into town to pick up supplies. Will you be heading out on another quest, Jushiro?"

"Yes, The guild gave me a request from a village to the north. Wyvern slaying, so I'll be leaving soon," Jushiro said.

"Well then... I suggest you get going, boy," Bryant said.

"Yes, sir,"

Jushiro grabbed his weapons and equipment for the trip. The farmer remarked he still has the scarf Lana gave him. Outside, Jushiro and the farmer departed from the house without saying a word. The farmer's wife watched from the window as the two left in the opposite directions. Inside the house, she collected her thoughts in concern.

"It's been weeks since he returned, and we were delighted he chose to stay with us again. But I now realize the man we knew from before was all but gone. I'd hoped the trappings of the past would reopen his heart, but I failed to comprehend the severity of Jushiro's change,"

A single tear started to roll down her face. She looked at the sketched portrait Jushiro made for them before he left Archhill for the first time. "Be safe, Jushiro," The wife uttered in concern, staring at the drawing.

On the road, Jushiro ventured, carrying the packed rations Sivf gave to him. Looking down, he could see shadows of people behind him. He turned to see Josarth's party approaching him.

"Shiro! Hey, Shiro, what are you doing taking on the quest by yourself? Didn't you hear the guild's advice to use a party for this one?" Josarth asked.

"I didn't see the need to," Jushiro said.

"I know you're experienced and trained. But this is something you can't do alone. This quest is a wyvern extermination quest. We're talking wyverns of all things, so like it or not, I'm coming to help as well as to keep an eye on you, mister. You might as well accept it,"

Jushiro sighed, "Do as you wish, don't get in my way,"

Isamu voiced his annoyance to Jushiro, calling him an ungrateful teammate. Jushiro immediately shot back at him, "We are not teammates, Mr. Isamu. I'm not a member of your party. I only agreed to temporary cooperation with your party leader,"

Josarth tried breaking up the fight and admonished Isamu to keep to himself. Isamu reluctantly backed off without apologizing to Jushiro.

The group pressed on until they've decided to camp at some ruins near the forest's edge. Josarth had a fire started while Fia and Ora prepared dinner. Jushiro chose to patrol the perimeter while Isamu pitched the tents. Overlooking the ruins on top of an old tower, Jushiro remained on guard, watching over the camp. Isamu approached him from behind, but Jushiro knew it was him.

"What is it, Mr. Isamu?" Jushiro asked.

He was surprised that Jushiro could tell it was him, "How did you know it was me? I dare ask,"

"It's hard for me to explain. Let's say it's one of many natural talents of mine,"

Isamu was unconvinced when he approached Jushiro. Now that he was close enough, he closed his eyes, sensing something abnormal within Jushiro. He opened his eyes with shock, "You... You're a mage!?"

Jushiro turned his head in surprise at Isamu's conclusion. Knowing he can't hide it, he looked Isamu in the eye to beseech him.

"Don't tell anyone about this, Isamu. I don't know how or why I have magic within me. Please, no one needs to know,"

Seeing and hearing the level of seriousness from Jushiro's words, Isamu promised to tell nobody.

"I give you my word. I won't reveal your secret. However, I can't guarantee that others, including Josarth, won't discover your hidden power. You can't fool him long,"

Understanding what Isamu meant, Jushiro took his words to heart, feeling worrisome should word of his hidden potential reach unwanted ears. Jushiro thanked Isamu for respecting his wishes.

"I may not like nor agree with you, Jushiro, But I understand and respect you. I hope one day you'll be more reliant on us and others,"

Without anything else to say, Isamu left Jushiro to ponder his words in deep consideration. Jushiro left the tower when Josarth called out to him. He approached the camp the see Josarth handing out bowls of stew to everyone.

"Perfect timing, Shiro. Here come and eat with us," Josarth said while handing a bowl to Jushiro.

Jushiro sat down next to Ora and Isamu. He lifts the front plate of his helmet to eat the stew he holds. As he proceeded to eat, it annoyed Ora and Fia, who wanted to see him without his helmet. Jushiro noticed the two staring at him with annoyance and asked, "What is it?"

The two girls said nothing and continued eating their dinner. It left Jushiro perplexed for a bit until he chose to brush it off as nothing. After dinner, Jushiro volunteered to take the first watch. Josarth asked if he's okay with it, admonishing Jushiro he'll have a hard time in the cold.

"Cold doesn't bother me, Josarth," Jushiro responded.

Taking Jushiro's word, he and the rest head inside to rest. Fia noticed and told Jushiro to take care of the scarf he has around his neck. Jushiro nodded in response but wasn't reassuring to Fia. He failed to comprehend the meaning behind her words. However, Fia chose not to say anything to him and instead followed Ora into one of the tents.

Jushiro sat outside looking up as snowflakes started to fall on the camp. Soon the area was blanketed again from the heavy snowfall. He took off his gloves to feel the snowflakes land on his bare hand, noticing that they're not melting into liquid. This discovery intrigued him to the point he placed his hand in the snow on the ground. He felt nothing, and the snow showed no sign of melting from any warmth.

"It was like my body temperature changed or disappeared. I feel no cold or warmth. And now that the snow I touch, it doesn't melt into water drops when it made contact with my bare hands. But when I hold the snow over the fire in my hand, it does melt. Is my power the reason why? I find myself accepting the fact I've been changing mentally and physically,"

At sunrise, the group woke up to the sight of snow covering nearly everything. Josarth told everyone to pack up and prepare to head out. While that happened, Josarth separated from the others to leak. He found a big snow pile where he chose to undo his trousers and urinate on the snow pile. As he finished, the snow pile moved, and a man covered in snow angrily grabbed Josarth by the collar of his robes.

"What's the big idea, urinating on me all of a sudden, Josarth!" The man demanded.

"Wait... Jushiro!?" Josarth replied in surprise.

He confirmed himself to be Jushiro, covered in snow and urine.

"Shiro, what are you doing covered in snow?" Josarth asked.

Jushiro heatedly told Josarth not the dodge the question he asked first. A scared Josarth apologized for it, vowing not to do it again. With all the commotion, the rest of the group approached out of curiosity.

Isamu asked what was wrong. Both Jushiro and Josarth looked at each other in discomfort. They chose to brush off the question, stating it was nothing worth concern. Josarth then spoke up to address the team, "We're moving out now. It's just one hour from here to the village. Let's go,"

Jushiro watched as everyone followed Josarth's command in self-reflection. Looking at them now, Jushiro felt he was seeing his friends and comrades from the capital. Flashbacks then came pouring into Jushiro's mind, feeling overwhelmingly distressed for a moment. He took a deep breath and tried to shove these thoughts away, but it was too painful to bear.

"And just like that, I couldn't help nor stop my past projecting itself into my thoughts. It's so unbearable I want to forget, but deep down, I know I shouldn't. Because I know my time there wasn't all sorrow and distress,"

Almost an hour passed, and the group could see the village in view. However, as they drew near, it was clear that all is not well there. Smoke with debris and damaged houses to see, the group hastened to be greeted by an ugly and heartwrenching sight.