The Guardian: The Elementalist

The Story of the Hermit

Alesse was still filled with question marks, he did not understand what the girl was talking about. Finally he put the handkerchief in his pocket and went back inside Levy.

"Are you going to obey him? The girl looked very suspicious" Geni said. In the end Alesse continued to walk straight as Alice said.

Unfortunately hours had passed, but he found nothing. "I told you, Alesse! That girl is too suspicious!" geni.

Shortly after, Levy passed through the forest. Alesse's attention was on an old man walking alone in the middle of a shady forest.

"Wait, Alesse! That...it is..the Hermit!" exciting Geni. "That old man?" alesse asked, he tried to go down while Geni looked excited to see the old man's face again.

"Pull all of my words! That girl... she's really great! How does he know we're looking for the Hermit? I'm so impressed!" exciting Geni.

Alesse came out of Levy and approached the old man, but he did not say a word, he just looked at him.

"Say something!" geni said, unfortunately Alesse ignored him and just kept quiet. The old man smiled and walked over to Alesse.

"It's been a long time, finally we meet again," said the old man. "Who?" ask Alesse. The old grandfather kept smiling despite Alesse replying to him in a cold manner.

"Once you hear people's advice, I don't think it's all bad" said the old man then tossed his wand behind. The stick was right about a snake that was about to sneak-3ndap to prey.

The blood of the serpent gushed down Alesse's cheeks. As if already knowing what was in Alesse's pocket, the grandfather took the handkerchief that was inside and began to wipe away the blood that soiled Alesse's face.

The way of rubbing Alesse's cheek is exactly the same as Alice did when giving Alesse a gesture.

"So, grandfather is the Hermit?" alesse asked, he began to speak. "So there's something you want to ask? I can also teach you some things and give you good advice" said the old man.

Alesse just kept quiet as if there was no more information he needed from the old man. Alesse turned around to leave her.

Unfortunately the old man saw Alesse as someone he had met before, a foreign figure that made him nostalgic.

Before Alesse got further, he ran and hugged her tightly. "Grandfather? What's the matter?" ask Alesse astonishment.

"I'm sorry son! Forgive this old man who can't teach you good things, forgive grandfather for making you the most evil person in the world!" my grandfather said it was full of regrets.

Alesse was astonished by his attitude, he did not know what was really going on and chose to remain silent until the grandfather calmed down. Unfortunately the old grandfather's muscular body made him claustrophobic.

"Grandfather! Your hug is too tight! I could die out of breath" Alesse said. "I'm sorry, I got carried away" said the grandfather then wiped his tears.

"It seems like a lot of sad stories have happened to this grandfather. I feel pity," said Geni feeling pity.

Unfortunately Alesse did not respond too much, he was still flat expression as usual. "Ehm, don't you wonder why I'm suddenly hugging you?" ask the old man. Alesse shook his head with his flat expression, making the old man slump.

"Alesse, at least show some sympathy!" reproof Geni. Unfortunately Alesse did not press him, he still had a flat expression as usual.

"You're a different person to the Warden I've met. I think I can change people's point of view on Warden! So, will you..... cooperate with me? I'm sure you can cover up all the mistakes made by your predecessor, " said the old man.

Alesse's eyebrows began to rise, now he has something he wants to ask. "So, what do you mean about this predecessor? Can you explain more details?" ask Alesse.

"I don't think it's in a place like this either" said the old man. He felt a bad feeling after seeing Alesse's eyes so burning with curiosity.

"Ba... alright! This is a story from a dozen centuries ago. You might call it a fairy tale, but to me it just happened yesterday" said the old man. He doubted that Alesse would believe his words.

"Tell me what happened, why do you look so stupid? The problem I believe or not is not important" said Alesse.

"Be.. is right, it doesn't matter. I just need to tell a story like a fool," said the old man somewhat annoyed at being said to be a fool.

He continued his story in detail as if he had really experienced it.

After a long story, the old man looked curious about Alesse's opinion. After listening to his story he seemed stunned for a moment.

"What did you think after hearing this story?" ask the old man. "Simple, the Dark Warden is stupid, whereas the Warden only thinks rationally. I don't think there's anything wrong with the goal" Alesse replied.

"Do you really think so?" ask the old man. "You're just asking for an opinion, you have no right to judge it to be right or wrong. After all you're telling it subjectively, it seems to be more in the Dark Warden's favor" Alesse said.

"Of all the Warden I've ever asked for an opinion, why are their answers always the same? Is this what reincarnation memory means?" ask the old man.

"I don't believe in that fantasy, I really think with my own thoughts" Alesse said. The old man looked glum and disappointed.

"Are you going to take the same path as your predecessors? You're going to side with Mehyi? Just like the opinion you just said," the old man asked.

"Agreement does not have to make you side with one of the camps. I don't really believe what you say. Let me find out for myself the truth, I'd rather find information thoroughly than listen to the words of old grandfather, if he was senile...isn't that a problem?" ask Alesse.

"It's rude! I'm not old old! You don't see this body?" asked the old man while bare-chested and showing off his muscles.

"I don't believe in muscle-brained humans any more" Alesse said with his flat expression. The old man laughed too. "You have a sense of humor that can make other people upset, regardless of your flat face," he said.

"It seems like there's nothing more I need to listen to, I'll go" Alesse said, turning around.

The old grandfather was worried, he had witnessed Warden's departure many times after listening to his story. He always wished they had made a different decision than their predecessors. This time he looked hopeful.

"Wait!" said the old man while holding Alesse's arm. "Other thing you want to talk about?" alesse asked, he was astonished as the old man continued to hold his arm.

The old grandfather suddenly knelt before him. To Alesse's astonishment, unfortunately he remained flat expression as he did not care much about what the grandfather was doing.

The old grandfather could only stare at Alesse's cold expression, it made his eyes glaze over. "Please, my life will soon be over, can you? Can you side with Meith this time? I'm afraid I can't tell this story to the next Warden, so please, year after year for centuries" said the old man. He hoped that Alesse would be devastated after seeing him groan and continue to beg.

Unfortunately, Alesse's face did not change in the slightest. "I can't keep your word. Didn't you say I was a Warden yourself? Why should I side with Meith? Isn't he the Dark Warden?" ask Alesse.

The old grandfather seemed to have guessed with the answer Alesse gave, but still it made him fall because he inserted a thousand hopes on him. He can't speak anymore either.

"But I'll work on your request. The chaos in this world? I might be able to fix it, but not by siding with the Dark Warden. I'll do it my own way" said Alesse.

Instantly the old man was surprised by his words, he felt as if a fresh light had just poured over his body, making his withered hopes start to refresh again. Alesse finally left her.

The old grandfather could only wave his hand then return to the cave. "Am I going to see a different ending this time? Hopefully my age is still enough to see it too" he said, staring at the dark ceiling of the cave, he realized there was a small hole that made light enter the cave even though it was very thin.