Chapter 119
The morning sun bathed the vast grasslands of Stonehaven in warm golden light.
A gentle breeze rolled through the endless sea of green.
Wildflowers swayed peacefully.
Beside the field...
A wide river flowed quietly, its clear water reflecting the blue sky above.
There were no villages nearby.
No roads.
Only open land stretching toward the horizon.
John stood alone.
His hood had been lowered.
He silently gazed across the field.
...
Without warning—
The world around him blurred.
The empty grassland vanished.
Instead...
A small wooden house stood beside the river.
The river itself was much wider than it was now.
Fruit trees surrounded the home.
Children laughed.
A little boy with black hair ran barefoot through the grass.
John.
He couldn't have been older than seven.
A woman's gentle laughter echoed nearby.
Someone called his name.
"...John."
The vision trembled.
Like ripples spreading across water...
Everything faded away.
The house disappeared.
The laughter vanished.
Only the empty field remained.
...
John slowly closed his eyes.
Then lay down upon the soft grass.
The clouds drifted lazily overhead.
The sound of the river filled the silence.
For the first time in a long while...
He allowed himself to simply listen.
---
Not far away...
Several children played beside the river.
They skipped stones across the water.
Laughed.
Raced one another along the shore.
One little boy wandered farther than the others.
He crouched near a patch of bushes.
"...What's that?"
Leaves rustled.
Something small darted forward.
A Frost-Fanged Weasel.
Its white fur blended perfectly with the grass.
The tiny beast hissed before leaping toward the child.
The boy froze.
Before he could scream—
A shadow appeared.
John.
His hand caught the creature in midair.
The beast struggled.
John calmly flicked two fingers against its forehead.
"...Go."
The little creature tumbled harmlessly into the bushes before disappearing.
The boy stared with wide eyes.
Moments later—
A woman came running.
"There you are!"
She immediately embraced the child.
"I told you not to wander!"
Only then did she notice John.
"...Thank you."
"If you hadn't been here..."
John simply nodded.
"...Be more careful."
The mother thanked him once more before leading her son away.
Soon...
Silence returned.
---
Several hours passed.
John had fallen asleep beneath the warm sunlight.
"...Mister?"
No response.
"...Mister?"
John slowly opened one eye.
The same little boy stood above him.
His face was filled with curiosity.
"...Who are you?"
John sat up.
"...Just a traveler."
"...That's boring."
John blinked.
"...Is it?"
The boy nodded seriously.
"Travelers usually have names."
After a long pause...
"...John."
The boy smiled.
"I'm Owen."
Silence.
"...You don't talk much."
"...No."
"...Why?"
"...I don't need many words."
The boy tilted his head.
"...That's strange."
John almost smiled.
Almost.
---
The child looked around.
"...Why are you here?"
John's gaze drifted toward the river.
"...I used to know this place."
The boy frowned.
"I've never seen you."
"...It has been a long time."
The boy pointed toward the fertile fields stretching into the distance.
"My father says this is the best farmland in the world."
John quietly nodded.
"...He's right."
"Do you know why?"
The boy eagerly shook his head.
John looked across the endless green plains.
"...Long ago..."
"...This land was the birthplace of the Goddess of Earth."
"The earth still remembers her."
"That is why crops grow so easily here."
"The rivers never truly die."
"And life continues to flourish."
The boy stared.
"...Really?"
John nodded.
The child scratched his head.
"...I've never heard that before."
"Most people haven't."
"They only remember the kingdom."
"...Not what came before it."
The boy looked toward the fields again.
"...That's amazing."
After another moment...
His mother called from the distance.
"Owen!"
"I'm coming!"
He waved enthusiastically.
"...Bye, Mister John!"
John gave a small nod.
"...Take care."
The boy ran home.
---
Silence returned.
John remained seated beside the river.
His eyes lingered on the flowing water.
"...The birthplace..."
He whispered the words almost unconsciously.
Memories surfaced once again.
The wooden house.
His mother.
His father.
Warm laughter.
Then...
The memories continued.
---
Golden sunlight warmed the small wooden house.
A gentle breeze danced through the fruit trees.
Laughter echoed across the yard.
A little boy ran as fast as his tiny legs could carry him.
"...John!"
The woman chased after him with a helpless smile.
Long green hair swayed behind her.
Her calm emerald eyes sparkled with warmth.
She finally caught him.
"...Got you."
"...No fair!"
Little John pouted.
"You cheated."
She laughed softly.
"...Mothers don't cheat."
"They always win."
She gently brushed the dirt from his son's cheeks.
Her touch was warm.
So warm...
Footsteps approached.
A man carrying several freshly caught fish over his shoulder returned from the river.
He smiled the moment he saw them.
"...Looks like our little troublemaker got caught again."
"...Father!"
Little John immediately ran toward him.
The man effortlessly lifted him onto his shoulders.
Laughter filled the yard once more.
They had little.
A small house.
Simple clothes.
Just enough food for another day.
Yet...
They smiled.
Together.
...
The memory shifted.
The laughter became distant.
The sky darkened.
Ash began drifting through the air.
The peaceful home disappeared.
Smoke.
Fire.
Screams.
Everything happened at once.
John saw himself—
A frightened child.
Being dragged toward the rushing river.
His mother crawled desperately across the ground.
Tears streamed down her face.
"...Please..."
"...He can't swim..."
The soldier's hand tightened.
Then—
He threw him.
---
Splash—
Cold darkness swallowed everything.
The current pulled him deeper.
His small hands reached upward.
The light faded.
His body slowly sank beneath the river.
Everything became silent.
...
Then—
A voice.
His mother's voice.
Soft.
Broken.
Filled with endless sorrow.
> "...I wish..."
"...to preserve my son's soul..."
"...I want him..."
"...to live..."
Darkness answered.
A single drop of water appeared.
Floating within endless blackness.
Inside the crystal-clear droplet...
A tiny white soul.
Sleeping peacefully.
The river embraced it.
Protected it.
Time passed.
The droplet slowly opened.
The white soul drifted downward.
...
A baby's cry echoed.
Another child was born.
Black hair.
Dark eyes.
The same face.
The same soul.
John watched silently.
Then...
His own voice echoed.
"...They killed me again."
The peaceful scene shattered.
Flames roared toward the sky.
People screamed.
A young boy—
The same boy.
The same face.
Bound within burning fire.
His cries disappeared beneath the crackling flames.
The world turned crimson once more.
Silence followed.
Then—
His mother's voice echoed again.
More distant.
More desperate.
Yet filled with unwavering resolve.
> "...No matter what..."
> "...I won't let you disappear again..."
Another droplet of water appeared.
The white soul rested inside once more.
This time—
The droplet descended into the river itself.
Far beneath its endless depths.
Ancient chains of emerald light wrapped around it.
The soul remained asleep.
Sealed.
Waiting.
...
Time flowed.
Years became centuries.
Centuries became a thousand years.
The river remained.
Waiting.
Until one day—
Ancient runes illuminated the water.
A lone figure stood before the sealed soul.
Lord Tomasi.
His hands formed an ancient seal.
Light erupted beneath the river.
The emerald chains shattered one after another.
The droplet cracked.
The white soul awakened.
John slowly opened his eyes.
He found himself standing before Lord Tomasi.
For a long moment...
Neither of them spoke.
Tomasi looked at him quietly.
Then lowered his head.
"...Here you are."
His voice echoed through the endless darkness.
"...The Son of the Goddess of Earth."
John's expression remained blank.
"...My..."
His voice was barely audible.
"...Mother...?"
Lord Tomasi slowly stepped forward.
The ancient runes beneath his feet glowed faintly.
He raised one hand toward John.
Not as a command.
As an invitation.
"...Do you wish to see her again?"
John's eyes widened ever so slightly.
Tomasi's gaze never wavered.
"...The Goddess of Earth still waits."
"...Alongside the other Guardian Gods."
"...They have slept for a thousand years."
He extended his hand a little farther.
"...Come with me."
"...Help me awaken the Guardian Gods."
"...Save them."
A long silence followed.
John looked at the outstretched hand.
Then...
His mother's gentle smile flashed across his mind.
Her warm voice.
Her touch.
"...Mother..."
The single word escaped his lips.
Lord Tomasi waited patiently.
Without another word.
The memory dissolved.
The endless darkness shattered like glass.
John slowly opened his eyes.
The gentle sound of the river greeted him once more.
The warm afternoon breeze brushed across his face.
For a long moment...
He remained silent.
His breathing was calm.
His expression unreadable.
Slowly—
He rose to his feet.
Without a word, he walked toward the riverbank.
The clear water reflected the endless blue sky.
John knelt.
Scooping a handful of cold water into his palms.
He washed his face.
Droplets fell back into the river.
Ripples quietly spread across the surface.
...
Then—
John spoke.
Without turning around.
"...Come out."
Silence.
Only the wind answered.
"...You've been watching long enough."
Several moments passed.
Leaves rustled behind him.
A young woman slowly stepped out from behind a cluster of trees.
Long pink hair swayed gently in the breeze.
Dark eyes quietly met John's back.
She wore a black cloak stained from days of travel.
For a moment...
Neither of them spoke.
John slowly stood.
"...Why are you here?"
The young woman lowered her gaze.
"...I left Lord Tomasi."
John's expression did not change.
"...Why?"
She looked at him.
"...Because..."
"...I wanted to stay beside you."
Silence.
John turned away.
"...Go back."
Her eyes trembled slightly.
"...John..."
"...Go back."
His voice remained calm.
Cold.
Without hesitation.
"...There is no place for you here."
The young woman clenched her fists.
"...Everyone has been looking for you."
"...Lord Tomasi never stopped."
"...The Guardian Gods are still waiting."
"...You know that."
John remained silent.
The river continued flowing beside them.
"...If the four destined souls awaken the God of Justice..."
"...The other Guardian Gods will suffer."
"...Everyone connected to them will suffer as well."
"...Including you."
Still...
John said nothing.
The silence stretched between them.
Painfully.
Finally—
Frustration flashed across the young woman's face.
"...Why?"
"...Why did you leave after everything we sacrificed?"
"...After everything we did together..."
She took another step forward.
"...Answer me."
John slowly closed his eyes.
"...No."
Her breathing grew heavier.
Then—
Almost as if she feared the answer...
She whispered,
"...Have you..."
"...truly fallen for the Princess of Lumivale?"
John's eyes opened.
...CHAPTER 119ENDS...