Ephemeral: A Journey To Find The Meaning Of Life

Chapter 13: I Respect You

"Luke, over here!" Caris called.

After passing through the guard soldiers, I managed to get to where Caris was.

At last...

I fell down from exhaustion. My body hurts in all parts. I tried to fight that pain, because the fight was still not over before Jorgun got here. I really hope that he is okay, we will definitely go home with a full member.

I forgot something about Gorris. When I saw her, she was very pale and had almost run out of blood. I asked if anyone could use healing magic among all of them. Bad luck befalls us, no one can use such magic. Gorris is dying, there is no hope of saving her.

"Hey..." Gorris called.

"I told you, don't talk too much!" My word.

Gorris didn't listen to that and kept talking to us.

"If this is the last time, let me pour out my whole heart..." Gorris.

Gorris is someone who always endures everything alone, that's what I heard from Jorgun. He never told her anything that happened to him. Gorris is always struggling to prove that she will be someone useful someday. Always living alone since childhood. Gorris's parents were killed while on a mission, at which time Gorris was four years old. Behind his stubborn attitude, he was someone who cared deeply for the people around him.

"Caris, you are someone who will be a leader in the future. Be a strong leader, you can do it, I know that... And Luke, I'm sorry for my attitude towards you all along. I honestly still don't accept the existence of the race that killed my parents... Uhuk!"

I've never seen a Gorris side like this.

Suddenly I saw someone coming towards us. Apparently it was a Jorgun, it seemed like Jorgun had managed to defeat the assassin. The wounds on his body were quite severe, but he was still able to survive.

"Now, you're the only human I admit. I respect you, you're a great man, I'm nothing compared to you." Gorris.

Jorgun came to check on Gorris. Jorgun said that Gorris will soon meet his death. There was nothing we could do right now, Caris was crying nonstop. I was also unable to hold back my cries, why all this could happen to Gorris who had not committed any crime.

"You came, old man. I remember when I was sick and you took care of me until midnight. I always remember all those moments." Gorris.

......................

This is a story about Gorris' past.

I lost my parents when I was four years old, they died on a mission from the village chief. The memories I have of them are few, perhaps only when I was just born? Because after that, they went on a mission and ended up dead.

Everyone in the village cared about me. I always blamed other people back then, why didn't they come to my parents' aid? Are only my parents able to fight and they are completely useless? That's how I thought at the time. This is such a childish opinion I say to people.

Jorgun was the first to care about me. He always took the time to check on me, he also taught me how to fight and protect myself. He was never gentle with me, always being someone who was very hard and firm. He shaped me to be a strong man.

When I was fifteen, I did my first mission with Jorgun and the others. The mission ended badly, I saw all my comrades killed in front of my eyes directly. Shouts of pain and asking for help desperately, how terrifying the scene was. I always stay away from other people because I don't want to see it happen again. Always regretting my very weak self and being unable to do anything at that moment.

Jorgun stayed by my side after all that happened, he was the only person who understood my feelings. When I make trouble, he always saves me at the cost of his life. I really love him and don't want to lose him someday.

The day I met him arrived. Luke, a human adventurer who suddenly appears in the village. Humans are the creatures that I hate the most, I have seen their treatment of the Elf race as well as other races many times.

At first, I thought Luke was just like any other human being. But there were a few different ones from her, the flower elf did not stay away from her, but always followed her. I want to prove, is he a worthy person?

That day, I fought with Luke to see his abilities. He was amazing, even for someone who had almost no fighting experience, he was extremely talented. I will not deny his talent. But I still doubt the goodness from the bottom of his heart.

That day, we were given a mission by the village chief. It was only I, Caris and Jorgun who should have accepted the mission. But I suggest you take Luke with us. At first my wish was denied, but after I explained my reason, the village chief could understand my intention to test Luke. Luke, after all, has a fairly high fighting intelligence.

......................

Back to the present moment.

"From the bottom of my heart, I respect you Luke Freud! If only I had been given the chance to survive, I'd like to see your journey further. But I think it's too late to fulfill that desire." Gorris.

I didn't expect those words to come out of someone like him. Jorgun was unable to endure his cries anymore, a strong man seemed to be able to cry as well.

After all, Jorgun also had feelings. No matter how strong the person is, he will be sad if he loses the person he loves.

"Oh come on don't cry like that Jorgun, it doesn't reflect you very much..." Gorris had realized the time was not long.

"It seems like we'll be separated soon. Jorgun, I'm so grateful to you. I'm ashamed to tell you this actually... But it's time I said that, right?" Gorris.

Jorgun looked at Gorris who started crying.

"Thank you for being a father to me all these years. I love you, really... I want to call you dad one last time, okay?"

"Of course it's stupid!" Jorgun.

"Haha.... Thank you, A-yah..."

Gorris lost her life right after saying that. Caris told me to leave Jorgun alone, Jorgun was crying very loudly. It hurts so much to hear that. But I tried to say something to Jorgun before leaving.

"Look at his face, he has no regrets at the end of his life." My word.

Jorgun realized that, and he became a little calmer after that. Gorris was truly smiling, she was like she did not have a single regret in this world.

You should have smiled a long time ago. Haha, basic!

I really hope he can rest in peace. But, something strange happened.

This was the aura at that time! It feels so crowded.

One of the demon race creatures suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The large body, red eyes, creepy stature and made everyone frightened when they saw them.

Why would there be demons in a place like this?! Couldn't he be from the slave trade? Shit, the devil cares about that!. How do we deal with it under these circumstances?!! He's much stronger than all the killers. DAMN IT!!!!!!

All who were in this place had already resigned themselves to their destiny. We don't have the strength to fight anymore, hope is already completely destroyed.

When everyone is desperate. Suddenly the big tree let out a light and said something.

"How dare you bastard, approach this place." The tree let out a light and illuminated this entire place.

The demon was gone and we were suddenly somewhere we had never met before. A very beautiful and peaceful place, more than any place I have ever met. I wondered to myself.

Where is this?! Why are we all suddenly in this place?...

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