Ephemeral: A Journey To Find The Meaning Of Life

Chapter 6: Don't Go

Where am I? My body feels weird.... Is this a dream?

All I could see was a dark place with no one. I think I heard someone's voice. He seemed to want to say something to me.

"Don't just leave something behind. At some point, you have to carry it with you."

I'm trying to ask who he is. Why can't my mouth be moved?

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

The morning has come, as usual I will go out for a walk. Before leaving, I told Miss Maria that the day after tomorrow I would leave here.

Today felt a little different, maybe because I always walk with Helen. I don't know what she's thinking right now, it's hard to understand a woman's feelings. Did I do something that made him angry with me. Should I ask him my mistakes? But it seems like it will only make things worse. Miss Maria said Helen left before I woke up.

I want to buy something useful before I leave here, maybe a magic necklace. The village had almost no shops selling such items, as there were rarely any magic users in the village. Only one store sold this.

"Excuse me, I'd like to buy a magic necklace"

"There's some kind of magic necklace here. Which one do you want to buy?" Ask the seller.

Looks like I need a necklace that increases my magic power.

"This is sir" I said, pointing towards a red necklace.

"alright. Is that all?"

"I bought that one too" Pointed it to an ordinary necklace.

"Ready mas. The total price is 250 Euras."

I gave my money to the seller and took the two necklaces I bought.

"Thank you, yeah! Hope your journey is safe"

I'll explain to you about all sorts of magic necklaces.

First, the red magic necklace. A magic necklace that increases the magic attack power of its users. It is the most common and most widely used magic necklace by magicians, due to its simple use and very effective in delivering attacks from a distance.

Second, the green magic necklace. This necklace is usually used by healers, as it helps in the use of recovery magic. Another advantage given by this necklace is being able to recover wounds from its users. Then we can conclude, this necklace is suitable for long-term combat.

Third, the yellow magic necklace. Enhance physical capabilities when used. The body becomes light, increased physical endurance, as well as strong physical attacks. Commonly used by assassins.

Fourth, blue magic necklace. For the witches who had a meager amount of mana, this thing was something they desperately needed. Under certain circumstances, this necklace could be used by expert magicians to launch attacks that required a lot of mana.

Magic necklaces were divided into low, medium, and high levels. The necklace I bought earlier was a low-level, middle-tier necklace had a very expensive price and included quite rare items. Whereas, high-tier necklaces there were only five in this world.

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

I went home after walking around for a long time. When I opened the door, I found Helen standing in front of me with a sad expression on her face. When I asked "You why?" Helen ignored me and immediately left with her cry. I tried to ask Ms. Maria what happened to her. She said Helen was surprised to hear that the day after tomorrow I was leaving the village.

"Luke, go after him. Talk to him, he needs you right now"

Without waiting for long, I went looking for Helen to the place where we met. I'm sure he'll choose that place. What am I doing to improve the situation right now.

I found him standing looking up at the night ceiling. He looked sad and agitated.

"Helen.... Will you talk to me?"

He didn't respond to the words I said. I think Helen needs some time alone.

"I'm sorry I didn't say that sooner. Because I haven't seen you at all since this morning. If you need time to be alone, I won't bother you...."

I took my foot to get out of that place.

"Wait for Luke, I don't want you to go" Helen stopped my intention to leave.

"Then, tell me what happened" Helen nodded and agreed to what I asked for.

"I was shocked to hear you were leaving this place. It makes me sad and upset, I wonder why you didn't tell me. You're the first person I want to spend time with other than Mom. My chest felt very tight when I heard that. I'm sorry if my attitude has been so strange lately, I just don't understand what's happening to me...."

I tried to give a makeshift response.

"I'm sorry too, I don't understand how a woman feels and thinks. I also didn't say that the day after tomorrow I was leaving. I thought that it was a trivial thing, but I was wrong. As a friend, I really suck"

"No Luke, I didn't mean it that way.... And, I feel pain when you say that we're just friends" he said.

I wondered what Helen meant at the time. I tried to ask but he took me home.

Why is the road so fast?

Arriving in front of the house he faced me and said something.

"Luke... I don't want you to go" After saying that, he went straight to his room.

.... Honestly, I can't promise you that.

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

When I woke up in the morning, I heard a noise from downstairs. Looks like Miss Maria and Helen are talking about something. What the hell is going on?

"Helen, have you thought about this well? You see, it's not an easy thing."

"I understand Mom, but I want to follow my heart right now"

"I can't allow it yet, what can you do? Luck alone is not enough to survive out there!"

"Do I have to continue to settle in this boring village? I don't even have any friends here Mom!"

I think I heard something I shouldn't have known. But, I want to know what Helen's goal is.

"Sorry, I can't allow that yet. You're not helping later, you're weighing on him. Think carefully about it, if you care about her you have to think about what's best for her." Mary tried to convince Helen.

"Give up, I won't give you the answer."

Helen with a feeling of annoyance walked out of the house. Miss Maria looked confused and sad at the moment.

"Mom, what's really going on?" I asked Mary who was moody.

"Finally you wake up too, there's something I want to tell you."

Was that something to do with me?

"Luke, you're going to continue your journey tomorrow, right?"

I just nodded my head.

"I know you heard our conversation. The topic we are discussing is related to you. Do you think it's easy to let go of someone we already consider a child to leave us?"

"I think it's a hard thing" I said.

"You know, he didn't think about it at all. I felt sad when he said he wanted to leave. But I was also happy, because he finally followed his heart. Helen's never been like that before, she's changed since you've been here."

I think I know what Ms. M*a**ria means. But I better not interfere too much.

"All decisions are yours, because the one who knows Helen the most is you." I'm handing over control to Miss Maria.

Now I'm going to find Helen and try to talk to her. I don't want to go away with regrets. At least, I will do my best at the moment.

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

Tumben once he's not in this place, where should I look for him? Maybe I should ask the people around.

When I tried to ask, they said he went to the Ardal River not far from the village. I rushed there as fast as I could.

Wait for me Helen.

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

Finally met him too, tired as I ran non-stop from earlier.

Helen was sitting by the river throwing small stones into the river.

"From Luke, sit here"

"I understand the current situation, you seriously want to do it? Why do you look so doubtful." I asked Helen who was worried.

"I really want to go with you, Luke. I don't want to see you walk out of my life, I don't want anyone precious to me to leave me again."

Helen cried after saying that, of course, the loss of biological parents alone has left painful memories.

"But on the one hand, I don't want to leave Mom alone either. Even though he's not my biological parent, I still love him. I'm really selfish, right? I don't want to lose you and Mom, but I don't know which option is right."

"Everybody can have a wish, you're not wrong Helen. Don't rely too much on someone, your life is yours. A choice will always exist in this life. For me, there is no wrong choice, only the storyline is different. Decide for yourself what you want, Helen."

He put his head on my shoulder. It seemed like he was exhausted thinking about it, before falling asleep he said something.

"Don't leave me, okay?" He also fell asleep after that.

"Haha, you really know what makes me weak, huh?"

I looked at his sleeping face. I don't even remember that she was really very beautiful, I only knew a woman who felt very lonely.

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

Soon it was night, I took him home and rested in his house. I carried him all the way home. I took him to his room and I put his body slowly into the bed.

Thank goodness he didn't wake up... Oh yeah, I forgot to give it to him. I just put this necklace and paper on the table, hopefully she'll take it.

"Sleep well, don't think about too many useless things"

I left his room and went back to my room.

"Finally, things started to calm down. I can rest in peace"

While trying to sleep, I remember the fun moments I felt while in this place. Honestly, I feel hard to leave this village. Even so, I still have to continue my journey, many new things are waiting ahead there.

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

This morning I was getting ready to leave this place. When I finished getting ready, I came down the stairs to say goodbye to Mary and Helen. But all I saw was Miss Mary.

Where is Helen? Is he not awake yet? Come on, I just give you my regards.

"Are you ready to go, Luke?"

"Yes, Mom. Thank you for allowing me to stay here, I learned a lot of new things since I was here."

"Thank God then, be careful"

"Yes ma'am, until my greetings to Helen."

I put my foot up to go. But something stopped me.

"Wait Luke!" Helen said from upstairs.

Finally he came out to say goodbye to me.... He's wearing the necklace I gave him. I'm glad to see him wearing my gift. It's a little painful to have to part with you here, but I hope we can meet again someday. Well, let's tell me, Helen!

"Luke, i..."

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