When I went back to my inn, I saw Commander Vale's eyes glaring at me from the waiting area of the inn. I became tense and bowed my head.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4TzlCB5S1
"I just ate outside, Commander..."
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFEgyFo3ZU
Commander Vale sighed. "Have I not told you to not go outside for a week and rest? Have you ever listened, child?"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPq2Ttg9Mes
I closed my eyes. "I apologized, Commander..."
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JQpzjluEV
He sighed. "Tss. Nevermind. This is the food that I bought you. The knights went here at noon and they said you're all asleep at your room so the medicine's held by the Madam."
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tjGOelq7Z
"I escaped from Madam Pearl a while ago so..."
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxB4fodEUvN
"Really?..."
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7vvyhsoSw
"I---I didn't mean to not go outside without her knowing, it's just that she's asking about the hero because I was there yesterday."
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9npDQMXfz
Commander Vale knows how much Madam Pearl is obnoxious about asking things she's interested about, so he can't blame me for acting this way. Maybe she act that way in him when he arrived a while ago too.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBZT69peme
He sighed. "Right. You need to rest more, so sleep again. Tomorrow, ask the medicine on the Madam, just eat the food when you wake up. Don't worry, it won't be rancid then."
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtKjHj6qwL
"About the medicine, Uhh," I scratched my face using my pointing finger, I hesitated to tell him what happened a while ago or not.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLz5xlPwsJ
"What about the medicine???"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMi5NZIvBl4
"N-Nothing. Just don't bring medicine anymore, Commander. I'll be fine. Just a week of rest and I'm coming back to the headquarters."
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUZ2UfcmSH
He didn't asked any further. "Alright."
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbWXYf37Mb
"B-By the way, Commander...Uhh, what day is the hero's departure?"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhtXWo1K1x
"After the festival, child, why?"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyrns5Gcmz
I shook my head. "I'm just asking,"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPcsKfcPLb
He snorted and stand up before tapping his palm on top of my head. "Sleep. If you're okay the day after tomorrow, I'll bring you to him. He said he wanted to see you."
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3DqdyJk7Q
My eyes widened in surprise.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2RHAlxLhG
"He wanted to thank you, and he asked me where you are. But I only said you're resting."
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3en9rsc6z
"W-Well...alright. Goodnight, Commander Vale."
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6oU6SFHhJ
I bowed my head and waved my hands. As I went back to my room holding the food Commander Vale brought for me, I took the potion the hero gave and place in on my table. I stared at it for a couple of minutes before opening it and placing a drop of it in my tongue. It made me cough because of its bitterness.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehCDKKTuqn
When I remove the bandages on my hand, only a scar has left to be seen. I was amazed and perplexed in an instant.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEkVNeA7HC
Now...how do I tell Commander Vale about this? I don't know what would be his reaction.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXZXx3At2L
I jumped off to my bed and started to bury my face on the pillow, empty yet sleepy.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD7uxABMoS
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2qEiQAOFM
----
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nHONe9jaW
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfR9sTthaea
I walked with my bandaged hand place in my back while strolling around the plaza the next night. The crowds were bustling, some were running for the show that's occuring beside the jewelry shop. There's a singer holding his guitar while singing a familiar song I instantly recognize that Commander Vale used to sang in the kitchen of his house when I was a kid watching him help his maids to cook something for me.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMOxi4XFH1
Child, o child,
Don't ever be so wild
When you grow up
I'll watch you overcome
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTrIcAzsNd
You'll see me get old
And in your journey
I'd watch you unfold
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswIc0grc9C
Child, o child,
Rest on my arms
I'd make you forget all the harms
I'd be there, I'd be here
For you, I'd be everywhere to clap my hands
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyZeDGZnMD
Child, o child,
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbPYkHW3dW
Even as the years goes by, it makes me so feel comforted. The singer was sitting on a wooden chair, holding his guitar, strumming and smiling while singing the song like we'd never existed around him. I guess his aged were approaching 30, he looks very adult but also very young.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUGcXiv2PS
When I looked at the audiences, I saw them holding their child with teary eyes. Some were holding hands, other children came to hug their parents beside them. As I sight closes to my right side, isaw the face of a black-cloaked man stuck-staring with glittering eyes at the singer.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgx5cUt7Ys5
My heart almost skipped a beat when I realized it's the hero.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRn7tH2V7wO
Now, why is he wearing a cloak? And was he mesmerized as he heard the song?
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOVPzWy6pb
I quickly shift my way to go beside him and tapped his back. When he slightly turned his head, his eyes soften.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPAz4gf6sB
"Good evening, Sir! Why are you wearing a cloak this time?"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhrZOAF7Uu
"H-Hi,"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaiGnZOpue
Both of my eyebrows raised as he greeted me with surprised.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dLIn3VSr2
He looked back and listen to the singer as it continued. I can't help but smile. I guess he liked that song.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kLldSP3e0
As it come to an end, we clapped our hands holding a wonderful feelings kept inside our hearts. The crowds parted with each other, but the hero never even flinched and move.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1xdbWIPvM
"Sir?"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSi0F3bT6hy
I lifted my head, and he was staring at the ground like he had been lost but at the same time, mesmerized and baffled.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIOwS5X3wv
"Sir?"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpMrpZGyof
"Huh?" This time, he responded and look at me.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQHcK5Nh8z
"Is it your first time hearing that song?" I smiled.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAjrXlNINl
It seemed that he snapped back to reality and breathe.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU01egsLAyS
"N-No...it's just...someone used to sang that song to me. It's been a while since I've heard it again." He put his hands on his face.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvQVJVWDY0
"I see. Ehrmm, then, may I ask why are you wearing a black cloak? You haven't worn it yesterday, I'm sorry for asking," I scratched my face.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopu6TJvb6h
He hold his cloak tightly. "I was introduced to people a while ago and they came running to me to thank me. I might be recognized when I came my way here not wearing one. I want to roam around freely like last night..."
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZvA2FXCEl
Ah, that's why I've heard most of the passerby gossiping about it since the noon. I didn't realize it then.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhZYFCzTmU
"Hmm, is that so?"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7dQ7gMVm2
He nodded. "How is your hand?"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqykeBxQC6
I lift my hand and remove the bandaged. "I actually did not tend to sell it. I sip one time, and only a scar remained!"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFsy70NfqL
His expression grimmed.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2K12JqQ4z
"The potion failed. It wasn't supposed to leave any sight of scar. I'll punish that healing wizard in an instant."
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG0rPaD3Ab
I panicked. "No---it's effective! I-I mean it, Sir!"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYiydBHcKx
He sighed. "You can then removed the bandaged on."
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdA4YYXJjV1
"Could I?"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS02fzIrqdp
He nod again. "I'll send you some ointment to remove the scar."
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kYsjnW8r0
"It's really---It's really fine, you know? Look! The healing wizard was such an expert!"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeuXL794G4
"If he's such an expert, why couldn't he make a potion that doesn't leave a scar?"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAc2jnsdgz
"Well, maybe he's improving it yet?"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf02Vr7KFSg
"No, because he's so incompetent."
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhb5qb7IYx
"…"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7l5XWVh706
"Let me see your hand,"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAypH6xytr
He placed his palm on the back of my hand to stare at it. His fingertip landed on my continent-like scar. He let go of it as he sighed for the second time.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhAXgAbpD3
"Will you tour me around?"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06jwqUukzP
I smiled. "Just as I promised!"
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMP3INEleA
As the cold wind blew off the plaza, the sound of the fireworks matched up the voice of amazement of all of us.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRJ2dewKn0
I smiled at the thought of it's wonderful colors shaping the way like an exploding sun. When I gazed at the hero, I saw how the reflecting colors of the fireworks in his face remarks his beauty.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JlG7hTko7
Truly spectacular.
ns18.219.179.32da2
