Chapter 146 - 141: Morning by the River
The next morning arrived clear and bright.
After the rain, the entire valley seemed washed clean. The sky was a deep blue without a single cloud, and sunlight reflected off the Silverstream like scattered pieces of glass.
John woke earlier than usual.
For some reason, he wasn’t tired.
He quietly left the inn before anyone else had come downstairs.
The village was still asleep.
Only a few chimneys released thin trails of smoke into the cool morning air.
John walked toward the bridge.
The wooden planks were still damp from yesterday’s rain, and small droplets clung to the railing.
He rested his arms on the wood and looked down at the river.
The water moved steadily beneath him, calm but never completely still.
"...You really do carry everything away, don’t you?"
He wasn’t sure why he said it aloud.
Maybe because the river reminded him of time.
No matter what happened, it kept moving forward.
A soft rustling sound came from behind him.
John turned.
The Soul Raven had landed on the railing several feet away.
"You are awake early."
John smiled.
"So are you."
"I do not sleep as mortals do."
"Right."
The raven looked toward the flowing water.
"You have been thinking about leaving."
John’s expression became thoughtful.
"...A little."
"Do you wish to stay?"
That question was harder to answer than he expected.
A few weeks ago, he would’ve said no immediately.
Greenhollow would’ve been just another temporary stop.
But now...
He looked at the village in the distance.
The inn.
The bridge.
The people who greeted him by name.
Nathan proudly showing off his practice.
The children who carved the wooden pendant.
The quiet evenings spent talking with his companions.
"I don’t know."
The Soul Raven gave a low, understanding sound.
"That is an honest answer."
Footsteps approached.
Lythriel appeared at the far end of the bridge, carrying two mugs.
She stopped when she noticed the raven.
"Oh. Am I interrupting some ancient guardian conversation?"
The Soul Raven spread its wings.
"Fortunately for you, no."
It took flight and disappeared into the morning sky.
Lythriel stared after it.
"...Did it just make a joke?"
John accepted one of the mugs.
"I think living for ten thousand years gives you the right to develop a sense of humor."
She laughed and leaned against the railing beside him.
"For the record, I had no idea where you went."
"Then why bring two mugs?"
"Because you’ve been disappearing every morning this week."
John blinked.
"Have I?"
"Yes."
She took a sip of her tea.
"You always end up somewhere quiet."
John looked back at the river.
"I guess I like having a little time to think."
Lythriel gave him a sideways glance.
"There it is again."
"What?"
"Thinking too much."
He groaned.
"I’m never escaping that, am I?"
"Nope."
They stood in comfortable silence for a while.
Birds called from the trees along the riverbank, and the morning breeze carried the scent of wet earth and pine.
Eventually, Lythriel spoke again.
"Do you remember the first time we met?"
John nodded.
"You were pointing a sword at me."
"You looked suspicious."
"I was suspicious."
"You were also covered in mud."
John looked offended.
"I was in the middle of fighting a monster."
"And losing."
"I wasn’t losing."
"You were absolutely losing."
John opened his mouth to argue, then paused.
"...Okay, maybe I was losing."
Lythriel burst out laughing.
"That’s the first time you’ve admitted it!"
"I’ve become too honest around you people."
"Good."
As the sun climbed higher, the village slowly came to life behind them.
A fisherman crossed the bridge carrying empty nets and waved when he saw them.
"Morning, John! Morning, Lythriel!"
"Morning!" Lythriel called back.
John returned the wave automatically.
The fisherman continued on without stopping.
Just a simple greeting.
Yet John found himself smiling afterward.
"You’ve become a local."
"I don’t think a few greetings make me a local."
"You helped rebuild the bridge."
"The children follow you around."
"The baker gives you extra bread."
"You’re a local."
John considered that.
"...That’s slightly terrifying."
"Admit it. You like it."
He looked toward the village again.
"...Yeah. I do."
When they returned to the inn, the others were already awake.
Sylvara sat near the window, carefully arranging several pressed flowers she had bought at the market.
Aerion was reading while the innkeeper prepared breakfast.
The moment John walked in, Nathan—who had apparently arrived early again—jumped to his feet.
"I practiced this morning!"
John laughed.
"You really weren’t joking about every day."
Nathan proudly demonstrated a few practice swings.
They were still rough, but noticeably more controlled than before.
John nodded approvingly.
"Much better."
Nathan grinned.
"Can you show me something new later?"
"If your parents are alright with it."
His mother smiled from another table.
"As long as he doesn’t try to become an adventurer tomorrow."
Nathan looked disappointed.
"But—"
"When you’re older," she said firmly.
John hid a smile behind his cup.
After breakfast, the group decided not to travel far.
Instead, they spent the morning helping around the inn.
Lythriel repaired a loose fence behind the stable.
Sylvara helped sort dried herbs for the kitchen.
Aerion fixed a stubborn door hinge that had been squeaking for months.
John carried supplies from the storage shed and helped stack firewood.
The work was simple.
Repetitive.
And oddly satisfying.
At one point, the innkeeper watched them with a fond expression.
"You know, most adventurers would never spend their time doing chores."
John set down another armful of wood.
"Maybe they should try it."
She laughed.
"Careful. Keep talking like that and I’ll start charging you less rent in exchange for labor."
Lythriel immediately pointed at him.
"He volunteered!"
"I did not."
"You basically did."
Aerion calmly added, "I witnessed the agreement."
John stared at all three of them.
"...I’ve been betrayed."
Even Sylvara giggled.
By midday, the firewood was neatly stacked, the fence repaired, and the innkeeper looked far happier than before.
She wiped her hands on her apron and shook her head.
"I don’t know how to thank all of you."
John looked genuinely confused.
"For helping with a few chores?"
"A few chores that would’ve taken me most of the week."
Lythriel waved it off.
"We’re staying here anyway."
The innkeeper smiled warmly.
"Then lunch is on the house."
Lythriel immediately sat down.
"See? Helping people is rewarding."
John laughed.
"You just wanted free food."
"Both things can be true."
The afternoon passed slowly.
No adventures.
No training.
No urgent plans.
Just a quiet day in Greenhollow.
And as John sat outside the inn afterward, watching villagers move through the sunlit streets, he realized something that would have sounded impossible not long ago.
He wasn’t waiting for the next crisis anymore.
For the first time since his rebirth...
He was content exactly where he was.
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