“You want to be a knight as well?” She looks surprised for a
moment before happiness took over.

“That’s great! I can ask father to help you!”

Yeah a knight is a better option for me.

“Is that so! Thank you Ollie!”  A small smile flash through my faces as I
lower my head. With mix feelings churning inside me. Happiness and sadness.

Irene peaks at from Ollie’s back. She looks at me sheepishly.
“Thank you for saving me from the bad kids…You can do it! You’ll be a great
knight like Ollie!” Her encouragement was something really I’m gonna need now.

“Oh! Right I still need to finish this, bye bye I’m going
now!”

When I remember that I still need to finish the job. I
quickly turn around and wave goodbye to them.

“Wait!” Ollie stopped me from running.

Did I forgot something “Can...we come with you?” She
said that as she looks at me shyly. On the other hand Irene still looks scared.

“Sure why not.”

And so the two follow me walking silently with no words to
speak of.

The sun has reached it’s peak and since we’re out of the
forest now, I’m being scorched again. My mood turns sour and I can’t help but
curse internally.

It was good 30 minutes walk until we reach the town again.

A 3 minutes walk to the guild and we arrive with no troubles
on the way.

We went inside and head up to the second floor. There in one
of the many counter I can see Lily.

“Wait here. I’ll just finish this.” And with that I walk to
one of the chairs and drag it into the counter again.

“Welcome back Ares! How was it?”

“It was hard Big sister Lily! It was so scary!” I exclaim in
a childish tone.

“Here big sister, I was able to get 5!” With that I return
the bag which thankfully wasn’t damage.

“Right let’s see.” She open the bags and take a look inside.
“My my what a good kid.” She praises me and then she takes out the herbs.

She the pulls one of the drawer behind her and put the herbs
there.

“You got an extra herb so you can take it along with your
rewards.”

“Ehh? Why?” I look at her puzzled by what she said.

“Oh right fufufufu I forgot to tell you the effects of the
herb. You see this herb can help you heal some of your wounds!”

Now that’s pretty useful! My eyes glow in awe.

“How do I use the herbs?” No matter how useful something
is, it’s still useless if you don’t know how to use it.

“That’s easy you just need to apply it to your wounds and
give it a few minutes and you’ll be fine.”

“OHHHH!!! That’s cool!” I marveled at the capabilities of
the herb. No wonder why there’s only two leaves per tree. This is some good
shit!

She then pulls out one drawer under the counter and took
some copper coins. Why copper? I thought I’ll get a silver coin?

“If you’re wondering why I’m giving you copper coins it’s
because a lot of stalls don’t have a change for silver coins.” She looks at me
and explain the situation. She read my mind didn’t she?

She puts the coins at the bag along with the herb and hands
it over to me. “That’s 300 copper coins ok.”

“Why…are you giving me the bag?”

“A starting gift for you, here take it.”

She’s so kind! This world is beautiful and cruel. It’s
not so different from Earth itself.

“Thank you very much!!!” I accepted the gift and took the
bag with me. “Bye bye big sister!”

“See you tomorrow Ares!”

I went down the chair and drag it back where it belongs.

Ollie and Irene are at a different counter so I waited for
them.

*5 minutes later

“Ares let’s go I’ll show you where we live.” Ollie said

Oh right “I” don’t know where they live.

“Hey Ares! Can you be my friend?”

“Heh…back to your usual cheerful tone.” I smirk at Irene
who’s in front of Ollie now.

“Yes! Ehehehehe…” she giggles and then she grabs my
shoulders.

“Hey let’s be friends!” she repeats again and stare at me in
the eyes.

It’s not that long but I feel a sense of nostalgia.

“Yeah sure why not.”

“Anyway let’s go.” I changed the subject.

“Ah yes! To Ollie’s house!”

Ollie nodded and we went out of the guild.

Ollie lives in the residential district like most of the
residents here…it’s okay the priest won’t see me or anything. My cover wasn’t
blown away so I got this.

While walking towards the residential. I hope for the best
that nothing happens.

We reach the center and we’re at the church again. So I walk
faster than ever. Not minding where I look and the shouts of Ollie and Irene.

*Bump

“Aughh!” I hit someone and I fell to the ground.

“Are you ok?” I heard the voice of a tired and sullen  voice of a woman. But this voice is so
familiar. Very familiar.

I look up and my eyes widen, my jaws drop. I froze in there,
simply unable to move. As the woman who lends her hand in front of me is no
other than…

“Mom…” She looks absolutely different now. Her long hair was
gone, her wrinkles show more, her body is skinny in a bad way.

“Eh? What did you just say!?”

What about Char!? Dad!?

“Ares! Wait for us!” I don’t know who called me, but I think
it was Irene.

“Ares? Is that your name kid?”

“Hmm…it reminds me of my daughter’s name.” Her face is
filled with sadness and longing for her daughter

How beautiful if she truly existed. Instead of me taking
over her body…

“Ares come on don’t just leave us!” Irene squawked  at me.

“Ah hello Aunt Iris! Why do you look like that?” Ollie
caught up as well. She gawked at Iris and can’t help but get curious.

“Don’t worry about me. You three off you go now.” She shrug
Ollie and forced herself to chuckle.

“Hey! Hey! Aunt Iris when can we play with Aria?” Irene runs
to Iris and hug her. No…don’t ask her please!