We headed toward the carriage one by one, each of us climbing inside in a silence that suited everything we had been through.
When it was my turn, the moment I stepped inside, I was surprised by what I saw.
The white-haired doctor was sitting there, near the window, his gaze calmly fixed outside—as if what had happened just hours ago meant nothing to him.
His expression was still, free of tension or urgency, as though time moved more slowly for him than for everyone else.
I found it a bit strange.
I had thought he had left this place long ago and returned to his normal life, far from all this madness.
His presence here unsettled me more than I expected, but I didn't comment.
The carriage door shut firmly, and with a faint sound, it began to move.
Silence.
A complete, heavy silence, broken only by the sound of the wheels against the road.
No one spoke, as if each of us was lost in our own thoughts—until the employer finally broke the silence, directing his gaze toward the doctor:
"It seems our paths have crossed again."
Then he added in a calm tone tinged with curiosity:
"I didn't know you were this well-known in the field of medicine, Doctor."
The doctor gave a faint smile, barely visible, and said quietly:
"It's simply my job… nothing more. I'm not anything special."
Silence filled the carriage again, though it didn't last long.
The doctor spoke once more, as if sensing the heaviness in the air and wanting to ease it:
"By the way… I haven't introduced myself yet, have I?"
He continued calmly:
"My name is Velor… Velor Virex."
The employer nodded slightly.
"And I'm Andrew… Andrew Kelth."
After that, no one added anything.
I turned back to the window, watching the road stretch ahead, waiting for the moment I would return to the inn—to something resembling rest.
Time passed slowly, without conversation.
Only silence accompanied us until the carriage finally stopped.
I stepped down first, followed by Serion, then Zyros and Visper, then the boss, and finally Doctor Velor.
The doctor walked off without another word, as if he had never been there at all.
At that point, the employer said with a calm smile:
"Well done, all of you. Despite everything you faced… despite the pain, you didn't give up."
Then he added sincerely:
"You gave it your all. I'm proud of you."
A brief silence followed.
I felt something warm in my chest, so I smiled and said:
"It was only our duty, sir."
Everyone nodded in agreement, and the employer said with a smile:
"You may go now. I'll see you tomorrow."
Then he left.
The four of us remained for a moment.
Zyros spoke, trying to hide his obvious excitement:
"I'll head off too. I need to buy something with those seven thousand dollars… it's good to reward yourself from time to time."
He waved with a smile and left.
Sirion then said in his usual calm tone:
"Well, I'll go as well. See you later."
And he departed too.
Silence fell again… though not for long.
Grrr…
I turned toward the source of the sound and found Visper, staring off as if nothing had happened.
I tried to suppress a laugh and said:
"Alright, let's go too. I'm starving… I wonder what Aunt Melissa prepared today."
Visper looked at me suspiciously.
"Did you just laugh at me?"
I replied with feigned calm:
"You're imagining things."
He insisted:
"No, I saw you trying to hold it in! I'm sure of it."
I shrugged.
"It's just your imagination."
After several minutes of walking through the quiet streets, we finally reached the inn.
I knocked on the door.
It opened, and Aunt Melissa appeared with her usual warm smile.
"Welcome back."
…
Visper and I greeted Aunt Melissa at the same time.
She returned the greeting with the familiar warmth that made the place feel cozier than it already was.
Looking at us kindly, she said:
"You must be starving. I made vegetable soup with rice today."
We thanked her almost in unison and headed to the kitchen.
I sat in my usual wooden chair, with Visper sitting across from me, while Aunt Melissa busied herself preparing the food.
She moved with a familiar calmness, as if everything in this place followed a slower rhythm than the outside world.
A delicious aroma spread through the room—carefully cooked vegetables mixed with the warmth of white rice. A simple smell…
but enough to awaken hunger all over again.
And yet, something felt different.
The place was unusually quiet.
No soft laughter, no hurried footsteps, no familiar murmurs in the corner.
I glanced up and said:
"It's quieter than usual… where's Liana?"
Aunt Melissa smiled lightly.
"Oh, she was tired today. She ate early and went to sleep."
I nodded slowly.
"Ah… that explains it."
After a short wait, Aunt Melissa approached, carrying two plates.
She placed a deep bowl of vegetable soup in front of me, light steam rising from it, with carrots, potatoes, and tender vegetables floating on the surface.
Beside it was a plate of soft white rice, each grain intact and still warm.
I began eating.
The soup was gentle on the throat, warm and well-balanced, with no single flavor overpowering the others.
The vegetables tasted natural and honest, as if each spoonful carried comfort rather than just food.
As for the rice, it was simple… but perfect, complementing the soup effortlessly.
With every bite, I felt some of the exhaustion slowly fade away.
When I finished, I lifted my head and said with a sincere smile:
"Thank you, Aunt Melissa."
She smiled back, while Visper was still eating, as if he hadn't had enough—or perhaps didn't want this warmth to end too soon.
I stood quietly and went upstairs to my room.
I opened the door, stepped inside, and closed it behind me.
Without thinking… I threw myself onto the bed.
A heavy weight washed over me—the weight of a long day filled with pain, fear, exhaustion… and victory.
I stared at the ceiling for a moment, then closed my eyes.
It had truly been an exhausting day.
…
After a short moment of stillness, I slowly rose from the bed, as if only my body moved while my mind remained lost in thought.
There was something I hadn't finished.
Something I had ignored for too long… but now it demanded my attention.
I sat quietly on the floor, listening to the faint creak of wood beneath my feet.
Then I leaned down and removed a slightly worn wooden plank, as if it were hiding a secret it didn't want revealed.
As soon as I lifted it, a brown bag appeared beneath it—neither large nor small, but heavy enough to hold an entire story.
I reached out and opened it slowly.
Bundles of cash glinted before my eyes.
Several thousand dollars… a full five thousand.
I stared at it for a few moments without blinking.
Long ago, I had hidden this bag here for safekeeping, away from prying eyes, adding to it whenever I could save something.
This money hadn't come from nothing—but from long days of exhaustion, and heavy nights where I pushed my body beyond its limits.
A faint smile formed on my lips—not quite joy, but something closer to satisfaction.
After everything I had endured… all the pain and exhaustion… this effort had a price, and it had been earned.
I took out the seven thousand dollars from my pocket—the ones I had just received—and added them to the brown bag.
I sealed it tightly and calculated in my head…
Twelve thousand dollars now.
Enough… more than enough for a long journey.
A journey that might lead me far away…
perhaps to a new fate.
I let out a deep sigh.
So…
I think it's time.
Time to resign.
And time to search for my family.
The words echoed within me with a clarity I had never felt before.
This wasn't just a passing thought anymore—it was a decision taking shape.
I returned the bag beneath the plank and secured it carefully, as if I wasn't just hiding money—but a promise I had made to myself.
I went back to bed, rested my head on the pillow, and closed my eyes.
But sleep didn't come.
Instead, thoughts flooded my mind relentlessly.
I'll resign… but not now.
Maybe next week.
By then, I'll gain a new ability.
And who knows what I might face on the journey?
This world shows no mercy to the hesitant, nor does it reward the reckless.
But what if the next ability is weak?
What if it's not enough for what awaits me?
I won't be able to wait another week after that.
Every second that passes could matter.
I've already wasted enough time… and who knows what might happen to my family if I delay any longer?
I clenched the blanket, my heartbeat quickening.
No…
I'll wait just one week.
And when Monday comes…
I'll resign.