episode_0058

“Why don’t you sit here for a moment?” He said, patting the seat next to him. The invitation extended softly. The girl seemed to hesitate for a moment, then took awkward steps. She approached and timidly squatted down beside him. “……” Regia didn’t say anything. She just remained silent. An unconcealable sadness rippled across her usually transparent green eyes. Perhaps she was in pain. I quietly closed my mouth. It was so as not to disturb her thoughts. She had seemed troubled by various thoughts all day, and I hoped she could find a moment of peace. I waited patiently.

*Whoosh—* A gentle breeze blew. As I brushed back my messy bangs, the vast night sky of the desert suddenly caught my eye. Countless fragments of stars twinkled in the pitch black. “……” I looked up at a scene that seemed as if it would pour down at any moment. The thought of “beautiful” naturally arose. Indeed, the grandeur of brilliant stars is enough to make even adults, stained black, admire them. I seemed to be no different. As I continued to gaze.

“Young Master.” Suddenly, a voice was heard. The pink-haired girl was calling to him, her gaze fixed on the ground. She looked timid. Her lips stammered as if hesitating. Her shoulders trembled faintly. After pausing several times, Regia finally mumbled quietly. “……I’m sorry.”

A sudden apology. I gently asked the girl. “What are you sorry for?” “It’s, it’s just… I feel like I’m so useless.” “Useless, you say?” “Because every time, I just hid behind Young Master’s back, unable to do anything, just trembling.” “So that’s what’s been bothering you.” Regia nodded. Her trembling pupils were filled only with self-reproach.

“I know I’m a mess.” “Regia-yang…” “I was chosen by a summoned beast everyone envies. But, in the moments I actually need it, I can’t control my abilities.” “……” “Every critical moment, I become powerless.” It was the same during the last midterm exam. If she had been able to perfectly control her abilities, she would have easily overwhelmed a monster like that. But the timid girl ultimately failed to awaken. As a result, she was pushed to the brink of death. Not only herself, but even her group members who were with her almost got killed.

“I feel like I’m ruining everything.” Perhaps the pain she had accumulated was overflowing. It was a dull, ringing voice, but beyond it, traces of deep anguish remained. “Every time that happens, I’m scared. I—I feel like something truly irreversible will happen someday…” Regia’s eyes welled up with tears. She hadn’t been like this from the beginning. Originally, she was an active and brave child, but she was broken by the ugliness of adults she experienced in her childhood. The girl grew up being abused. ‘She learned sadness from an early age.’ A mother who inflicted verbal abuse and violence daily. A father who never existed from the start. She was truly a paradigm of misfortune. The girl had to grow up having lost her original light. After her mother died in an accident. She started a journey with the thought of living properly, but by then it was already too late. Regia was no longer a young child. Her innocent appearance had vanished, and only a shabby coward remained. As a result, the girl became a loner.

‘It must have left a big scar.’ That was also why her abilities wavered. Because the wounds from that time still remained, her concentration kept faltering and going astray. She hadn’t overcome it yet. “I want to do better… but, but it doesn’t work out as I wish.” The protagonist secretly suffering from pain. Perhaps I… “Regia-yang.” That’s why I might feel particularly fond of you. Because your story was exactly like that of my past life. Seeing you, who suffers from similar wounds, makes me want to take care of you for no reason. A kind of kinship.

“Excessive self-blame is not good.” At the same time, it was also admiration. Because while I ultimately couldn’t overcome my wounds, you were destined to overcome yours wonderfully. You were nothing less than hope to me. “You’re doing your best, aren’t you?” “B-but.” “Regia-yang described herself as a coward, but I think differently.” “Huh…?” Regia had never once run away until now. Even if her abilities weren’t controlled and her mind went blank from fear, the girl still took a step forward. “It was the same when faced with the monster in the lab. Even though you could have escaped alone, Regia-yang chose to stay by the Princess’s side.” “……” “I know how much courage you gather every time.” By now, the protagonist’s gaze was fixed on me. I smiled gently.

“I have no doubt.” A flower that will surely bloom someday. “You will definitely do well. Because Regia-yang will become a star more radiant than anyone else.” It’s just that the time hasn’t come yet. I firmly held the girl’s hand. Gently covering her cold hand. “Everything will be alright.” “……” Regia was silent for a moment. She was staring blankly, as if she didn’t know how to react. Soon, the girl’s lips parted. “……Young Master always says such nice things.” “Because Regia-yang is a person who is fully qualified.” “This, this is the first time in my life… I’ve heard such words from someone.” “Many more will come in the future.” The protagonist always receives love from many people. Friends, colleagues, teachers… she would forge various bonds and bloom beautifully, I knew. I whispered vaguely. “Of course, until then, I’ll protect you.” So you won’t be lonely. I wanted to stay with you, even for a moment. “If you’re scared, take my hand. I won’t let go of Regia-yang, no matter what happens.” I tightened my grip on her hand. Warmth passing between us. Regia wiped away the tears that had gathered in her eyes, then awkwardly nodded. Her cheeks were already flushed. “……Thank you.” “Haha, it’s nothing.” The air filled with a fresh, youthful warmth. And so, we exchanged a promise under the starlit night sky. Remembering the warmth of each other’s touch.

***

Meanwhile. Though no one noticed, a small spark was igniting within the girl’s heart. An inner flame hinting at an awakening. *Crackling—!* It was a faint, yet undeniably present light. The girl, who had been trapped within her shell until now, was slowly breaking out of her own world. The shell began to crack subtly. What would happen next? No one could have predicted. “Hehe.” Except for one person.

***

The next day. We continued our trek across the desert as usual. Monster cries echoed everywhere from morning, making the peaceful night before feel like a lie. It was a light monster wave. *Screech!* Scorpions charged aggressively. As the stage progressed, their patterns began to vary. Large numbers would suddenly rush in, or individuals twice the usual size would appear, or vision would be obscured by sandstorms… They were becoming increasingly tricky. “Hmm.” Of course. It wasn’t yet difficult enough to struggle. Regia seemed to be gradually adapting to this field, and the old man’s shooting skills were decent. The synergy between the three of them was also starting to align well.

“Phew.” Immediately after the battle. We were taking a short break to regroup. As I was steadying my ragged breath. The old man subtly approached. “Youngster, are you feeling alright?” “I’m not particularly hurt. How about you, Elder-nim?” “This old man is pretty much the same as ever, wouldn’t you say?” The old man chuckled. His wrinkled hands were maintaining his crossbow. “It’s a body that wouldn’t be strange to die any moment.” “You say such heavy things.” “What can I do, it’s the truth.” “Please be safe until we reach our destination.” “Are you saying you don’t care what happens after that?” “Oh dear… it’s troubling if you twist my words like that.” They exchanged a few lighthearted words. The old man lightly brushed off the dust from the bolt. As they were taking a short break, Regia, who had been lingering nearby, subtly spoke up.

“Elder-nim.” “Hmm?” “Uh, yesterday you said there was someone waiting at the end of the desert.” “Indeed, I did.” “You’re going to meet that person, aren’t you, Elder-nim?” “You could say that.” “Who might that person be? If they’re waiting for you after you cross a desert like this, then it, it must be family, right?” “That’s an interesting question.” His hand stroked his beard. The old man seemed lost in thought for a moment, then opened his mouth in a gentle voice. “There was someone with whom I made a precious promise.” “A precious promise, you say…?” “It’s an old man’s tale, but would you like to hear it? It might be a good distraction during our journey.” We listened quietly to the story.

***

Once upon a time, in a certain village. There lived a boy and a girl. Josh and Rosaline. The two had been close since childhood. Their affection for each other was so profound that no one in the village could be unaware of their relationship. They were always together, wherever they went. Josh was a mischievous boy, while Rosaline was an introverted child. Perhaps it was precisely because of their contrasting personalities. The two had a relationship where they complemented each other’s weaknesses. Rosaline kept Josh from going astray. And Josh was the one who protected Rosaline from being bullied by the village children. Their bond was truly strong.

Despite the children’s complaints, the two always thought only of each other. Sometimes, when they lay under the night sky and watched the stars, they would whisper promises to each other. The relationship between the two seemed as if it would last forever. But it eventually came to an end. It was the year the boy turned fifteen. Josh, along with his entire family, had to move to a distant foreign country. Thus came the day of farewell. The boy and the girl fought. He couldn’t remember what they fought about. A trivial argument escalated, and it ultimately tore them apart in the worst possible way. The farewell happened without a chance for reconciliation. Only with time did Josh regret it. Because 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. Because a war had broken out between the two countries. The boy and the girl could not reunite. Time passed and passed. A staggering fifty years had gone by. The war ended, and the chaos subsided. Only after peaceful daily life returned, the boy embarked on a journey to keep an old promise. The promise to meet again at a predetermined place. The boy traversed the desert. His steps were headed towards the destiny waiting for him.

***

“So… you were saying you were going to meet someone precious.” “That’s right.” The old man, having finished his story, was smiling faintly. His eyes seemed lost in old memories. We were in the midst of crossing a sandy hill. Just as he was about to conclude the rest of the story. “So when I was young… *Cough cough!*” The old man suddenly coughed. For a moment, I thought he had just choked, but I soon realized it was not ordinary. It was a sound laced with pain. Blood was dripping from the hand covering his mouth. “E-Elder-nim…?!” It was blood from coughing. A startled Regia checked his condition. But the old man, as if accustomed to such situations, just shook his head and wiped away the blood. “No need to be surprised. It’s just a chronic illness I’ve had.” “B-but so much blood…” “Heh heh, the young lady worries too much. I’m truly fine, so don’t fret.” He mumbled with wrinkled lips. “Let’s just focus on crossing the desert for now. There’s not much time left, you see.” “……” Regia at that time would not have known. What meaning was hidden within the old man’s ragged breaths.