"Well, this looks somewhat promising."
I said looking over the debris of what used to be the lady and her sick child's house.
"No dead body under all this rubbles, that's a good sign. They probably had moved out not too long after I left months ago."
And with no maintenance done the old plank house had collapsed on itself.
"Pity"
Standing up from inspecting the aftermath, I turn around.
I guess I don't need to meet them afterall, I had to figure stuff myself.
Recalling all the moments I had regarding this situation, aligning it with the hard truth I kept myself from. I can come up with a simple conclusion.
"So, Mori likes to do different things when it comes to memorable moments of his old past."
The strong feeling of mortified, had left me quite speechless.
'Great, just great... Adding to my already suffering existence'
I don't know if I should be ashamed or laugh or be sad at myself. It's wrong, clearly wrong. No wonder it got me thinking for a long while, seeing me not being the usual me gives me a backslash I never thought possible.
'But at least now I know'
Still pondering on the spot, the sound of the carriage grew stronger to my position. The rattling sound soon came to a stop, just beside me.
A familiar voice came to greet.
"We meet again boy"
Of course it would be the old man,Duke. Who else would greet me so casually.
"Yes, Duke. We meet again"
"What have you been up to? Done sorting yourself yet?"
He said, as his eyes linger a bit to the destroyed resident behind me.
"No, I'm still far from done. But I already finished here and I'll leave the city shortly."
"Leaving so soon ay? How about a ride, like the old time. What do you said young master- I- I mean young self-starter"
I had quite the disbelief look at Duke tease.
"I do need to go somewhere else, the next city if you may. Also, I had another stop along the way"
There is a delighted smile on his face.
"All said and done. Hop in, I will take you where you need to be."
Entering from the back of the carriage, the place is a bit cramped.
"I have to apologise thought, unfortunately today restock session left me with no space for passenger but I'm sure there is room for one"
I wanted to say something but ended up just accepting the situation as I forced myself into the carriage.
Amidst the cramping space and the bumpy road.
I had a casual talk with Duke, mostly catching up on his part and hearing him blabbering about his adventure all these years.
Speaking of which, I had never been the kind of person to share my past nor does it really any good to speak of my present at the moment.
'Well, my past doesn't really need an introduction to him. Duke already knew me since I was way younger, back on Boreas Kingdom'
That reminds me, looking back at it... my life here as a whole had not been the most exciting story up until I encountered Miss Arlen.
Before I could think about it any deeper, Duke voice pulled me back to reality.
"Where are we stopping? You said we had to stop somewhere before we head to the next city, correct?"
It is a bit hard to speak with a little to no space behind here.
"Have you heard the news about the complete destruction of a village in this Kingdom a couple of months ago, where all residents were reported missing?"
"Of course I had heard of it. Nothing escapes Duke ears afterall. Is it where we are heading?"
"Yes, I want to take a quick detour there"
I can tell his expression changes a bit, but he never questions my intention.
Not now and not in the past, old man Duke had always been that way. He never would question further about you unless you want to tell him yourself.
It is a good mindset, especially for a business person like himself. But of course it didn't take him long to return to his blabbering.
A day passes.
We arrived at the village.
As I try to get off the carriage, I struggle a bit trying to pull myself through and accidentally push out one of Duke's expensive looking vase.
'Oh, that going to be expensive'
"Sorry, Duke. I'll pay you back for that one. Just wait here, it wouldn't take me long".
Duke tapped on his stomach with a smile and I continued walking.
'Doesn't look that much different from the last time I was here. I really did a great job at erasing what was left that day'
The village stay in ruins, yet I can clearly picture how it all went.
The day I give a resounding speech to gain the villagers' trust, followed by the first night I spend in that cabin over there.
Well, the first conversation with the curse kid is still as awkward as I can remember.
Then, spending a couple of days basically being handed the evidence for the upcoming trial I had fake and training the kid on how to use his curse.
Later, setting up a little something here and there for plan B just in case things take a wrong turn.
And now we arrive at the main show.
I was standing right in front of where I stood that day.
Everything was in chaos, until the dark mist swelled up and consumed the entire place.
Originally in plan B, it was supposed to be me who did things but I ended up training the kid because I wanted him to be strong, not physically but mentally.
Mortem Curse, the curse the kid is carrying cannot be wielded by a weakened heart. Without proper control it will only leave the person bleeding.
In a way you can say my empathy really took a whole of me at the time.
Leaving the ruin scene behind, I went to the spot where we parted.
I really want the kid to be strong. To understand what kind of weight he be holding with the curse he was born with, but then a moment of silence reminds me. The kid doesn't actually need to be strong.
He doesn't have to suffer, but I can.
That is why the kid walks away free from the curse, from the burden, from the consequences.
A small swell of darkness lit on the tip of my index finger.
I inspect it carefully before closing my fist.
But I myself suffer greatly from my own actions, and that will stay true to Mori.
Leaving everything behind I return to Duke who is waiting for me.
"I'm done here. Lets get going"
I hurriedly tried to push myself into the cramped carriage, returning to my previous seat.
Well, I can tell Duke is sensing something wrong from me because he is trying to start a conversation.
But I ensure him.
"I know what I'm doing"
And he attitude changed, being his playful self again. Until we arrive to the next city about 4 days later.
"We arrive boy, to your next destination"
I drop down from the carriage. Stretching my whole body in the process.
'Staying on one position really do take toll on the body sometimes'
Taking in the fresh air, I pulled out my pouch taking what left of the money I got and handed it to Duke.
"That should be more than enough for the travel expenses and the broken vase. You can keep the rest... I don't really need them. In a way you can say it as a parting gift, it's been a long time since we saw each other. Thanks for this liquor, I'll be on my way now"
Duke returned the word with a soft smile.
"It been a great time, boy. Spending the last couple of days together, it's been ages since I have fun talking to someone that is not myself. Whatever it is, I hope you'll find whatever you are looking for. A young self-starter such as yourself has a lot of adventure to go through. Goodbye and if time permits it, we might cross paths again."
And with those last words, off he went to the distance.
'Why do I feel this isn't going to be the last time we see each other. Oh, well whatever. I am here for a reason'.