Chapter 13 – Hero
Seris Fadehart POV: Age 3
My name was Seris Fadehart. I had been in this area from the moment I was born.
I don't have a father and don't know who my father is.
I lived with my mother in a broken house, and she was kind-hearted.
She treated me very well.
One day, while eating dinner,
"Mother, what does the outside world look like?" said Seris.
Her mother replied, "The outside world?... Hmmm, the outside world is so beautiful." She continued, "The outside world is totally different from this place."
Seris saw her mother with shining eyes.
"Please, Mother, I want to see the outside world," said Seris.
But Seris' mother didn't say anything because she knew it was impossible to leave this place, and she had been ill since Seris was born.
Then her mother replied, "One day, you will surely see the outside world."
"Mother, promise me we will see the outside world together," said Seris.
Her mother had a sad expression because she didn't know how much time she had left to live.
"Okay," replied her mother. Even though she knew she was going to die, she still said this because she didn't want to sadden Seris.
Then they went to the bedroom.
"Mother, I want to hear again the story of the first hero," said Seris.
Her mother replied, "Again?" Then she smiled. "Hmm... Okay."
Her mother continued, "The hero was born in a commoner family, then......."
After listening, "Mother, does the hero always protect people who are in danger?" said Seris.
Her mother replied while smiling, "Heroes always protect people who are suffering." She continued, "What will you do if you meet the hero?"
"If I meet the hero, then I want to see the outer world and protect people who are suffering," said Seris with a bright smile.
"That's good. You will surely meet the hero, I'm sure," said her mother.
"Oh! Your magic training.... You're asleep. Hmmmm, okay.
We will train magic tomorrow."
They were living a good life until...
One year later
On a rainy night,
"Mother is too late today," said Seris while standing at the house door.
Then two people passed her, and she heard their conversation.
"Hey, killing that b*tch was really a good idea," said one person.
Another person replied, "Hey, hey, that woman was in no shape to enjoy." He continued, "So killing her was the best choice, and we will find another woman soon."
After that, they both started laughing.
"Well, that is right."
Seris heard this conversation. She was getting a bad feeling, so she ran to the place where her mother always went.
The rain was very heavy.
She didn't find her mother in that place. She ran and left that place, and from a distance, she saw her mother in critical condition.
"Mother, are you okay?" said Seris while crying.
Her mother looked at her and touched her cheeks.
Then her mother said in a weak voice, "I hope you live a happy life." Blood fell from her mouth, and even while bleeding, she continued, "Don't hate anyone."
After saying this, Seris' mother died.
"Mother—Mother....." said Seris.
Tears started to fall more, and she hugged her mother.
A few days later
Seris was in front of her mother's grave. She prayed, then said,
"I'm living well. Please take care of yourself, Mother."
She took a long breath and went to the house, but when she came in front of the door, she saw some people inside her house. Then she ran toward her house.
"Oh! Hey, I found her," said one person.
Another person replied, "That's good. I finally found her." He smiled.
"Now, be a good girl. Come with us."
Seris didn't know them. When she was about to run, one person attacked her neck.
She collapsed.
A few hours later
Seris slowly opened her eyes, and she found herself in prison.
She didn't know where she was.
"Oh, you are awake," said one person. Then he gave her a little food.
When that person was leaving,
"Welcome to our new house, little one," he said.
After that, Seris lived in this prison. She didn't go outside.
All days and nights, she lived in prison, and she always heard screaming, weak voices, and the sound of people being beaten.
She was scared by hearing these voices.
Many years passed.
Seris started to question, "Is there any hero?"
Seris wanted to die, and she always told herself that one day a hero would come to save her, but that day never came.
More years passed.
Seris now had no hope for a hero. She wanted to kill everyone who had caused her mother suffering when she was alive.
But one night, everything changed.
She was hearing voices, but she didn't look up because she thought they were beating someone again.
After she heard the voice,
"Are you okay?"
Then she looked up because she had not heard those words for many years.
She saw a white-haired, blue-eyed kid.
She looked at him with wide eyes, and the first thing she thought was:
"Hero."
.....
Present time
"I've never used healing magic before," said Seris.
But Lucien collapsed because he had lost too much blood.
"Hey—hey..." said Seris, but Lucien didn't hear anything. Then she decided to use healing magic.
Her hands trembled as she hovered them over his wound.
"I've never used healing magic before..." she whispered again, tears welling up in her eyes.
"But if I don't try, he'll die."
She took a shaky breath and closed her eyes.
Mana slowly gathered around her hands—weak, unstable, but sincere.
"Please... work."
A soft, pale light flickered as her first healing spell activated.
A few hours later
Lucien slowly opened his eyes. He tried to stand up, but Seris stopped him.
"Your wounds are going to open if you move now," said Seris.
Lucien touched his chest, then thought inwardly,
"Amazing." He smiled.
Then Lucien looked at Seris, but she was in bad condition because she had been using her mana for a long time.
Lucien looked around and saw no one who had been in the prison.
"Where are the people who were in prison?" Lucien asked.
Seris replied in a weak voice because of her condition, "I told them to leave."
Lucien didn't say anything. Then he stood up.
"You should stay sitting on the ground if you—" said Seris.
Lucien cut her off and replied, "I know."
After that, Lucien went to the leader's house where he had seen gold and silver coins, but when he arrived, he saw nothing.
"Where did all the money go?" Lucien whispered.
After he returned to Seris,
"Did you see the coins in the chest?" asked Lucien, but he knew Seris didn't know about any coins.
"I have them. If you want, I will give them to you," Seris replied.
"....? What?" Lucien didn't know what to say.
After Seris used storage magic,
"Do you want some?" said Seris.
Lucien replied in shock, "Storage magic? You can use this magic? "
" As expected, she was amazing," Luicen thought inwardly.
Lucien's face was very close to Seris' face, and her face turned red.
After that, she moved her head to the right side.
A few minutes later
Lucien and Seris rested for a few minutes.
"Let's go," said Lucien.
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End of Chapter 13
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