How to Cross the Desert (5)
"How about sitting next to me for a moment?"
He tapped the seat beside him and spoke.
A gentle invitation extended.
The girl hesitated for a moment, then awkwardly moved her steps.
She approached and crouched down timidly.
"······."
Regia said nothing.
She just remained silent.
Her usually transparent green eyes were now clouded with an unmistakable sadness.
Perhaps she was in pain.
I quietly closed my mouth.
It was to avoid disturbing her contemplation.
She seemed to have been troubled by various thoughts all day, and I hoped she could find some peace, even if only for a moment.
I waited silently.
Whooosh—
A gentle breeze blew.
As I brushed aside my disheveled bangs, the vast night sky of the desert came into view.
Countless fragments of stars sparkled in the pitch-black darkness.
"······."
I looked up at the scene that seemed like it could pour down at any moment.
An automatic sense of beauty arose.
The brilliance of the stars is such that even adults, tainted black, cannot help but be amazed.
I must have felt the same way.
While I was continuing my contemplation,
"Young Master."
Suddenly, a voice called out.
The girl with pink hair was looking at the ground as she called me.
She seemed withdrawn.
Her lips mumbled as if hesitating.
Her shoulders trembled faintly.
After several moments of hesitation, Regia finally muttered softly.
"······I'm sorry."
A sudden apology.
I gently asked the girl,
"What are you sorry for?"
"Well, it's just... I feel like I'm such a useless person."
"Useless?"
"I always hide behind you, trembling and unable to do anything."
"It seems that has been bothering you."
Regia nodded.
Her wavering pupils were filled with nothing but self-reproach.
"I know I'm a mess."
"Miss Regia..."
"I was chosen by a summon that everyone would envy. But when it comes to crucial moments, I can't control my abilities."
"······."
"I become powerless at decisive moments."
It was the same during the last midterm exam.
If she had been able to control her abilities perfectly, she could have easily overwhelmed the battles with such a monster.
But the frightened girl ultimately failed to awaken.
As a result, she was driven to the brink of death.
Not only herself but also her teammates almost got killed.
"I feel like I'm ruining everything."
Was it the accumulated anguish overflowing?
Though her voice sounded calm, there were traces of deep pain beneath it.
"I'm scared every time. I feel like something irreversible will happen someday..."
Tears welled up in Regia's eyes.
She wasn't like this from the beginning.
Originally, she was a lively and brave child, but she was broken by the ugliness of adults she experienced in her childhood.
The girl grew up under abuse.
'She learned sorrow too early.'
Her mother constantly hurled verbal and physical abuse at her.
Her father never existed in the first place.
She was the epitome of misfortune.
The girl had to grow up losing her original light.
After her mother died in an accident,
She started traveling with the thought of living properly, but it was already too late by then.
Regia was no longer a child.
The innocent look was gone, leaving only a shabby coward.
As a result, the girl ended up being an outcast.
'It must have left a big scar.'
That was why her abilities were unstable.
Because the wounds from those days still remained, her focus kept faltering.
She hadn't overcome it yet.
"I want to do better... but it's not going well as I wish."
The protagonist suffering from hidden pain.
Maybe I...
"Miss Regia."
That's why I might feel particularly affectionate towards you.
Because your story closely resembled mine from my past life.
Seeing you with similar wounds makes me want to take care of you.
A kind of kinship.
"Excessive self-reproach isn't good."
At the same time, it was admiration.
I couldn't overcome my wounds, but you were destined to triumph magnificently.
You were nothing short of hope for me.
"You are doing your best."
"But..."
"Miss Regia, you may call yourself a coward, but I think differently."
"What...?"
Regia had never run away, not even once.
Even though her abilities were uncontrollable and her mind went blank with fear, the girl took steps forward.
"You did the same in front of the laboratory monster. Even though you could have escaped alone, you chose to stay by the Lady's side."
"······."
"I know how much courage you muster each time."
Before I knew it, the protagonist's gaze was on me.
I smiled softly.
"I believe without a doubt."
A flower that will surely bloom one day.
"You will definitely do well.”
The time has not yet come.
I held the girl's hand tightly.
I gently covered her cold, chilled hand.
"Everything will be alright."
"······."
Regia remained silent for a moment.
She seemed lost in thought, unsure of how to respond.
Soon, the girl's lips moved slightly.
"······You always say such kind things, young master."
"That's because Miss Regia is someone who deserves it."
"This is the first time in my life... hearing such words from someone."
"There will be many more times in the future."
The protagonist is always loved by many.
Friends, comrades, mentors... I knew she would blossom beautifully as she formed various bonds.
I whispered softly.
"Of course, until then, I'll stay by your side."
So you won't be lonely.
Even if just for a moment, I wanted to stay with you.
"When you're scared, hold my hand. No matter what happens, I won't let go of Miss Regia."
I squeezed her hand firmly.
Warmth flowed between us.
Regia wiped away the tears that had gathered at the corners of her eyes and nodded awkwardly.
Her cheeks were already flushed red.
"······Thank you."
"Hehe, don't mention it."
The air was filled with a fresh warmth.
Thus, under the star-filled night sky, we made a promise.
Remembering the warmth that touched our fingertips.
***
Meanwhile.
No one noticed, but a small spark ignited within the girl's heart.
An inner flame hinting at awakening.
Crackle-!
It was a faint but undeniable light.
The girl, who had been trapped inside her shell until now, was slowly breaking free into her own world.
The shell began to crack ever so slightly.
What would happen next?
No one could predict.
"Hoho."
Except for one person.
***
The next day.
We walked through the desert as usual.
The peaceful night before felt like a lie, as the morning was filled with the cries of monsters.
A light monster wave approached.
Screech-!
Scorpions charged aggressively.
As the level increased, their patterns became more varied.
Large numbers swarmed at once, some twice the size of normal ones appeared, and sandstorms obscured our vision...
They were becoming increasingly troublesome.
"Hmm."
Of course.
That didn't mean we were struggling yet.
Regia seemed to be adapting to this field, and the old man's shooting skills were decent.
The three of us were starting to work well together.
"Whew."
Right after the battle ended.
We took a moment to regroup.
As we caught our breath, the old man approached quietly.
"Young man, are you alright?"
"I have no injuries. How about you, sir?"
"This old body is the same as always."
The old man chuckled.
His wrinkled hands were adjusting his crossbow.
"It's a body that wouldn't be surprising if it died soon."
"That's quite a heavy statement."
"What can I do? It's the truth."
"I hope you'll stay safe until we reach our destination."
"Are you saying it doesn't matter what happens after that?"
"Oh dear... it's troubling if you twist my words like that."
We exchanged a few meaningless words.
The old man lightly brushed off the dirt on his bolts.
As we took a short break, Regia, who had been hovering nearby, spoke up.
"Sir."
"Hmm?"
"Y-you mentioned yesterday that someone is waiting at the end of the desert."
"Indeed, I did."
"Are you going to meet that person?"
"You could say that."
"Who might they be? If they're crossing this desert alone, they must be family, right?"
"That's an interesting question."
The old man stroked his beard.
After a moment of contemplation, he spoke in a gentle voice.
"There was someone with whom I shared a precious promise."
"A precious promise...?"
"It's an old man's story, but would you like to hear it? It might be a good way to pass the time as we walk."
We listened quietly.
***
Once upon a time, in a certain village.
There lived a boy and a girl.
Josh and Rosalyn.
The two had been close since childhood.
Their bond was so special that everyone in the village knew about them.
They were always together wherever they went.
<"Rosalyn! Let's go play outside!">
<"No... let's read a book together in the room this time. Please, Josh.">
Josh was mischievous, while Rosalyn was introverted.
Perhaps it was because of their opposite personalities.
They complemented each other's weaknesses.
Rosalyn kept Josh from going astray.
Josh protected Rosalyn from being bullied by other children.
They were truly inseparable.
<"Josh and Rosalyn always play only with each other!">
<"Why don't you two just get married!">
<They're so boring. Just let them live together forever···!>
Despite the protests of the other children, the two always only had eyes for each other.
Sometimes, when lying under the night sky and gazing at the stars, they would whisper promises to each other.
<What if we end up parting ways... What will we do then?>
<Are you silly? We just won't separate!>
<But there's always a 'what if.'>
<Is that so? Then let's decide on a place to meet again, just in case!>
<Where will we meet?>
Their relationship seemed like it would last forever.
However, even that eventually came to an end.
It was the year the boy turned fifteen.
Josh and his entire family were moving to a distant foreign country.
And so, the day of their farewell arrived.
<Go away and never come back...!>
<I'm sick of you too! I never want to see you again!>
The boy and the girl fought.
They couldn't remember what they fought about.
A trivial argument had escalated, ultimately tearing them apart in the worst way possible.
Without a chance to reconcile, they parted ways.
Only later did Josh regret it.
He had left behind the person he cherished most in the world.
He tried to write a letter belatedly, but soon even that became impossible.
<It's war!>
War had broken out between the two countries.
The boy and the girl never reunited.
Time passed and kept passing.
Fifty years went by.
The war ended, and the chaos subsided.
Only after peace returned did the boy set out on a journey to fulfill an old promise.
The promise to meet again at a predetermined place.
<I’m coming to see you, Rosalyn.>
The boy crossed the desert.
His steps were directed towards the one who might still be waiting for him.
***
"So... you said you were going to meet someone precious to you."
"That's right."
The old man, having finished his story, smiled gently.
His eyes seemed lost in old memories.
We were crossing a sand dune.
Just as he was about to conclude the rest of his story,
"And so, when I was young... cough, cough!"
The old man suddenly started coughing.
At first, I thought it was just a minor choke, but soon realized it was something more serious.
The sound carried a hint of pain.
Blood dripped from the hand covering his mouth.
"Elder...?!"
It was hemoptysis.
Regia, startled, checked his condition.
But the old man, as if accustomed to such situations, merely shook his head and wiped away the blood.
"Don't be alarmed. It's just an old illness I've been suffering from."
"But you're coughing up so much blood..."
"Heh, young lady, you worry too much. I'm really fine, so don't mind me."
His wrinkled lips murmured.
"Let's focus on crossing the desert. We don't have much time left."
"..."
At that moment, Regia didn't understand.
The hidden meaning behind the old man's labored breaths.
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Damn. if he does it, they fall inlove. But if I do It, I get landed in jail for harrassment.. W Rizz tho
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