Chapter 11: Departed.
The time slowly passed; it was already two in the morning. Both Isolde and Athena were sound asleep, but Ethan? He couldn’t get himself to fall asleep even if he tried dearly.
He kept changing positions in the bed, sometimes clutching the bed sheet, burying his face in the pillow, or trying to shout with his mouth stuffed with the pillow cover.
But then an idea clicked in his mind, easing his struggle slightly. ’Wait... I’m getting all these rewards after taking care of these two. I got this fantastic cultivation path and also these Eyes of Providence. Same way I can find some materials, antidotes, ways to make them both recover.’
His expression turned serious as he quietly muttered to himself, making sure no one around him could hear. "I won’t think about the future for now. The first step is clearing my first-ever dungeon, becoming stronger, and then finding a way. I have limited time, but it’s enough to secure a way to save both of them."
He closed his eyes, finally letting sleep embrace him. He fell into a deep slumber because of his sore muscles from hours of training with Sara.
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The morning rays of sun entered through the slightly open windows, spreading across the floor. The sun was already at the head; the rays eventually fell across Ethan’s face, pulling him out of his sleep.
He stretched his arms up in the air, took a deep sigh, and got out of bed. A tired smile crept on his lips as he muttered. "Ah shit!! Here we go again."
The day passed on as usual; he did chores, prepared meals, and cultivated for hours as he tried to circulate his mana comfortably this time and succeeded in it.
Finally, the time to train again with Sara came. Ethan and his wives were sitting in the hall; Isolde and Ethan sat on the same couch, but at opposite ends. Next to them was Athena’s wheelchair; no one spoke anything, but there wasn’t any need to do so.
While they were waiting patiently, finally Ethan spoke to neutralize the eerie silence. "How was the food?"
Isolde was the first one to reply; a warm yet gentle smile crossed her face. "It was a delicacy. Your cooking is definitely soul-touching, Ethan."
Athena was, as usual, just replying with her usual one-liner stoicism. "It was good; I loved it." Her tone remained neutral, but at least she didn’t try to defame his cooking. She was grateful that someone was out there willing to cook meals for them without demanding anything in return.
Soon, the knocks echoed through the chamber. They were coming through the main gate. Ethan didn’t waste time; he quickly made his way, grabbed the handle, and pulled it inward to open the door wide.
Elina and Sara stood within his vision. Sara wore a long cotton tracksuit that looked comfortable and perfect for training, while a sheathed sword rested gently at her waist.
Beside her, Elina wore a black top with a matching frock and a designer headband that completed her outfit. She held a basket filled with fresh apples in one hand.
Elina entered through the door as Ethan went alongside Sara to train. They stood at the same exact location as yesterday, but the training was a bit different this time.
She taught him how to hold a sword and try to attack and defend with it. She showed him various movements; in some she used mana, and in some she used brute strength.
Ethan tried to copy her and failed multiple times, but eventually learned how to do so.
Time passed, and the next day came. The day on which his first dungeon was scheduled, his inner self was screaming at him not to step out of the house, but it was already too late for that now.
It was five in the morning; the sun still hadn’t risen from the horizon. It was the perfect time for him and Sara to move towards their work location.
Sara was already waiting at the road; her arms remained crossed; she was wearing pauldrons on her shoulders and elbows.
When Ethan approached her, she took a good look at him once before asking. "Are you mentally prepared for what’s about to come?"
Ethan didn’t know what she meant by that. He couldn’t fathom any difficulty beyond fighting for his own life. ’What kind of difficulties is she talking about? I think I just have to fight for my life and return in a single piece.’ He muttered inwardly.
For a while, no one said anything, but Sara studied his face; the expressions on his face gave away what he was actually thinking.
A faint grin tugged at the corner of her lips. "You’re thinking about survival? Survival is definitely a must, but there are several other aspects out there."
She took a small pause as she continued explaining. "You’ll shed blood; you’ll see the blood of your companions. You’ll see your companions die, and you’ll try to save them but eventually realize that you’re not strong enough to do that yet. The battle isn’t about just ’survival’; the actual battle is against you and your mentality."
Instincts kicked in; every sense in his body was shouting at him to back off right away because if he stepped forward, he’d never return as he is right now.
But he had already made up his mind, and that was enough for him to smile at her. "I’m prepared; if I wasn’t... why did I go through that hellish amount of training?"
"Very well, then we shall make our way to the adventurers’ guild because our companions might already be on their way."
He gave a polite nod before walking behind her trail; he looked at his home once before taking a deep breath. ’There’s no need to worry about anything. I’ve prepared well for it, and I’m definitely coming back home.’
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A/N: I hope you’re liking the story!! If you’re then please drop some Power Stones.