The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the newly rebuilt city. The air carried the scent of freshly turned soil and the distant crackle of torches as people bustled about, reinforcing their defenses and mending what had been broken. It was a place of renewal, a fragile hope clinging to the remnants of past devastation.
Ryuta stood at the heart of it all, his gaze sweeping across the faces of those he had fought alongside. Friends, allies, and the new members who had only recently joined their cause—each of them carried their own scars, both seen and unseen. He had spent the last few days recovering, strengthening bonds, and ensuring that his absence wouldn't leave them vulnerable. Now, the time had come for him to depart.
Alexia crossed her arms, her sharp eyes filled with concern. "You're really going alone? After everything we've just been through?"
"I won't be gone long," Ryuta reassured, adjusting the strap of his pack. "There's something I need to do—something I need to understand."
Roy let out a low whistle, leaning against the half-built stone wall. "We should be coming with you. You know that, right?"
"I know," Ryuta admitted, offering a small smile. "But this journey is mine alone."
Merlin, always the quiet observer, finally spoke. "Wherever you're going, be careful. There's still too much we don't know about the dangers ahead."
Ryuta nodded. "I will."
Zhen stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Ryuta's shoulder. "Come back in one piece."
"I plan to."
The new recruits stood a little further back, uncertain but respectful. Parker, the most outspoken of them, finally gathered the courage to speak. "We'll hold things down here. But if you need backup—"
"I know where to find you," Ryuta finished for him. He turned to face them all, taking in their determined expressions. This wasn't just a farewell; it was a promise. No matter what lay ahead, he would return.
With one last glance at his companions, Ryuta turned and walked away from the city, his path leading him into the unknown. The journey had begun.
As he passed through the marketplace, voices rose in cheerful chatter. Merchants called out to customers, children weaved between stalls, and the scent of warm bread and roasted meat filled the air. Ryuta hadn't realized how much had changed in such a short time. The people were rebuilding—no, they were thriving.
A voice called out to him.
"Ryuta!"
He turned to see an older man, a blacksmith with soot-streaked arms, waving at him from his shop. "You leaving already?"
Ryuta nodded. "Just for a while."
The blacksmith crossed his arms, shaking his head. "You're a damn hero, you know that? What you did—taking down that monster—saved us all."
Others nearby overheard and joined in. A baker smiled warmly, handing him a small loaf of bread. "For the road," she said. "You deserve it."
A child tugged at his sleeve. "Are you coming back?"
Ryuta hesitated for a moment before crouching down to meet the child's gaze. "Of course," he said, ruffling their hair. "I just need to find something first."
More people stopped to thank him, offering small gifts, words of gratitude, and admiration. He wasn't used to this—not anymore. Once, he might have basked in the praise, but now it only reminded him of the weight he carried. These people were free because he had fought, but at what cost?
He forced a smile, accepting their kindness, but deep inside, a gnawing uncertainty remained.
As the last of the crowd dispersed, Ryuta finally stepped beyond the city's gates. The moment he crossed the threshold, the warmth of the town faded, replaced by the quiet stillness of the open road. The world stretched before him, vast and unpredictable.
And as he walked, feeling the weight of unseen eyes on his back.
He adjusted the straps of his worn-out pack, feeling the weight of supplies he had hastily gathered. Food, water, and a few essential tools—just enough for a short journey. He wasn't leaving forever. He just needed time. Time to think. Time to breathe. Time to understand what was happening to him.
The last battle had changed something within him. Dying and returning had stripped away a part of his humanity, and in its place was something unfamiliar, something foreign that stirred deep in his soul. He couldn't ignore it any longer. He had to find answers, and the only way to do that was to move forward.
The road ahead stretched into the unknown. It was a lonely path, but Ryuta had walked alone before. This time, however, an unsettling feeling trailed behind him, like unseen eyes watching his every step.
He pressed forward, his boots crunching against the dirt road as the city disappeared behind him. The world beyond was eerily quiet, the trees swaying slightly in the wind, their whispers filling the void left by his silence. There was something strange about this place, something unnatural. He could feel it in his bones, in the very air he breathed.
Ryuta didn't know what he was searching for yet. Perhaps a clue, a sign, anything that could guide him. But deep down, he already knew—this journey would lead him to something he might not be ready to face. And as he walked deeper into the unknown, a single thought lingered in his mind.
He wasn't alone on this road.
---
He turned his head slightly, scanning the trees. Nothing. No movement. No sound beyond the natural sway of branches. Still, the sensation crept down his spine, like a whisper just out of reach.
His grip tightened on the strap of his pack. He knew better than to ignore his instincts.
Despite that unease, the journey wasn't without its moments of normalcy. Along the way, he passed small villages where life carried on as if the world had never been touched by war. Farmers tended to their fields, children played in the dirt roads, and merchants traveled with their carts, exchanging stories with weary travelers.
At one village, an elderly woman waved him down, her eyes lighting up with recognition.
"You're the young man from the city, aren't you? The one who defeated the magician?"
Ryuta hesitated but nodded. "I was part of that fight, yeah."
She smiled warmly. "Then you must be tired. Come, rest for a while."
He wasn't sure if he had time for that, but he accepted. She led him to a small wooden table outside her home, pouring him a cup of warm tea. The scent of herbs filled his senses, soothing in a way he didn't expect.
"Where are you headed, child?" she asked, watching him with knowing eyes.
He stared at the steam rising from his cup. "I… don't know exactly. I just need answers."
She nodded, as if she understood more than she let on. "Then trust your feet. The road has a way of leading lost souls to where they need to be."
He finished his tea and thanked her, leaving behind the village as the sun dipped lower in the sky.
As he continued walking, the feeling of being followed returned, stronger than before. But this time, it wasn't just a feeling.
The shadows in the trees moved.
Someone—or something—was there.
And they were waiting for him to notice.