CHAPTER 64: FAREWELL

***

"This is where we part then, village boy."

"I suppose so."

"..."

"..."

"Don’t have any parting words you might want to convey to us? "

"... Don’t slack off in your sword training?"

"... Oh, just you see how I beat you next time we meet."

The two little kids exchanged their last pleasantries as they disembarked from the boat and stood at the dirt road trail leading towards the destination of the noble girl.

Noctis’ village was a little towards the west, after crossing another minor river, towards the rural, more secluded parts of the country.

Seeing as the two were just staring at each other with no intention of making a move, Regina decided to end things herself, although it pained her heart to do it.

"Until fate brings us together again, if we are so lucky, it’ll be farewell from us. It has been a pleasure, young man."

She put her hands on her heart as she bowed towards Noctis curtly with a pleasant smile on her face.

Noctis acknowledged her with his own bow and looked towards the little girl.

"Had you been one of those prim and pretty, yet insincere, nobles, I should merely have said, ’Until we meet again’—though the prospect would have been most unwelcome—at one of those countless balls and tedious soirées.

But I do wish to see you again, and as you have no intention of attending such wretched gatherings, I find myself at a loss as to how I ought to bid you so long.

"Say, won’t you come with us to our city? It’s merely three days travel from here. It won’t take long."

Cora said while looking quite conflicted, even with herself as she said this.

A smile crept on Noctis’ face without him intending to as he said,

"Don’t make things difficult for me now your highness. I have things I ought to do myself."

It was the answer she had expected, it wasn’t the first time she had asked this afterall, but it still stung a little at her young heart.

She couldn’t help but pout and avert her eyes. She wasn’t used to farewells and, as she realised, wasn’t very fond of them either.

"In the immediate future, uncertain. After some time, though, perhaps I might. That is, if you’d be willing to host me."

Cora immediately looked back at him as she heard that, only to see the amused and giddy expression on his face.

"You lie?"

"But of course not. You don’t expect me to hole up in this place, do you? And after all, this city of yours isn’t too far off."

Cora did not react much and only nodded silently, controlling her expression to let him get the feeling of victory but happiness building in her heart.

"Very well, very well then. As such, I’ll show just how I’ve developed when we meet again. Don’t stand me up, village boy."

"I’ll see about that. So long then."

Noctis barely nodded towards the little bit noble girl, a stark contrast to the mature but not exactly noble woman, as he turned around to leave.

"Wait,"

He heard, turning only his head towards the girl with a questioning brow propping his forehead.

A bubble blue, rectangular crest medallion with an emblem and other embellishments designed on it.

She skipped the distance between them and handed it to him without adding anything else.

Noctis took it but still looked at her for an explanation.

"Just take it. And keep it on yourself when you do visit."

After adding, she also turned around and started moving along the dirt trail without turning back again.

Regina followed after her with a last nod towards Noctis.

After inspecting the medallion with his qi perception, he tossed it into his storage brooch, and he also started walking.

***

After another couple days and half of walking, Noctis reached the vicinity of the village.

He would’ve made it earlier, but he had gotten lost after moving a little and had the critter do some commouisance again before he could get back on track.

Not being able to rest in the way because of the little presence of deep forest also made it a bit difficult as the days without proper rest stretched longer and longer.

If he had any sort of camping equipment with him, it wouldn’t have been so troublesome, but alas, it was unlikely to find it even in cities, much less here.

Resting along the other villages was also out of the question, as the region itself was too sparsely populated to find even small settlements, which were few and far between, much less major villages.

Along with the freezing trees and occasional snowing, the place looked quite decrepit.

Or perhaps that wasn’t the right word, considering he himself rather preferred deep woods to big cities. Barren was more apt.

Like it had been left isolated by man and nature together.

Anyhow, he had made it.

There were some minor problems along the way.

Like haggling and begging with the ferryman for a short ride to cross the small river in exchange for some other chore, for he was still as dirt poor as he had been when he entered the enchanted forest.

And rationing like crazy, he had little food he had managed to find along the barren lands in the middle of winter; it was a blessing he was an awakened, or he might have never reached his destination with his poor foresight.

He swore to never make a long journey in winter without ample preparation beforehand.

He had finally made it.

Just a minor problem.

He had to go through the village before making his way to his home; that is, if he did not want to make another half-day’s journey going through the deep forest, something he wasn’t very keen on because of the recent events too.

"Whatever. It was a long time ago; it should be fine."

Noctis said to himself as he put the hood of his cloak on his head and entered.

***

The frost clung to the air, dropping the temperature further below as the sun started heading towards the horizon, shying away slowly as a crimson hue started marking the veil of sky.

Some middle-aged and old men of the tiny village gathered around, sniggled in their thick shawls and blankets as one of them started preparing to light a fire.

The village was, and had been, dead silent for months now, with only these men gathering some days to converse to add some variety to their monotonous days.

They talked little, however, mostly about the upcoming festivals and great events in the nearby cities that they might be able to enjoy after the winter receded.

Most men had already left for these cities. Not for pleasure but out of desperation as the food supplies ran shallow among them.

Whenever the talk started heading towards that way, the men quickly changed the topic, hoping for a little bit, just for that moment, to forget about their empty stomachs and decaying families.

The winter fell harder this time, they felt. Some thought it was just their lack of food that made it feel as such, but most thought it a sign; of what exactly varied from person to person.

Nonetheless, the villagers held onto some hope from the coming spring.

Rains had stopped, floods had at least stopped rising, and talks of aid from the county were being passed among the folks.

It might just change their fortunes if they managed to get one good harvest with some aid this season.

While the men spent their time with their respective hopeful thoughts among the cackling of the fire, a strange sound attracted everyone’s attention in a split second.

They looked towards the direction of the sound of soft footsteps on the ground, expecting some villager at first but seeing a cloaked figure making his way from the entrance.

They looked among themselves in confusion.

"A visitor?"

"At this time of the year and at this hour...? Impossible."

"Lost?"

"Maybe one of them decided to head back from the city."

"Unlikely."

As the men conversed softly, the figure came closer and closer.

While they were covered in thick blankets even as they sat beside the side, the visitor merely had a dark cloak on as he walked friskily amid the frost.

Even as he came closer, it proved hard to discern their identity.

It was too short and too thin for a supposed adventurer daring his way through the harsh winters of the southern wastelands.

It didn’t resemble any of their own to them, either by the posture or manner, or as he ignored them while making his way to the far back of the village.

"Are you looking for directions, my lord?"

One of the men closer to the road, while the visitor was moving past them, asked aloud, making his identity of some value by the attire and his general instinct.

The visitor stopped briefly, looked deep into the eyes of the man that had spoken, and said,

"I’m good. No thanks."

A melodic and soft sound. Quite young too. It was hard to discern whether it was a boy or a girl.

But such a young voice further surprised the men.

As the visitor had started moving again, the gathered men heard an incredibly soft sound from the man that had just spoken.

Ghost.

The man had a horrified expression on his face.