RE:VIVAL

Kadoc Wagner/Silvester's truth

"......"

We both stood silently as we tried finding the source of the sound. Upon hearing closely, I could see a bush moving and so I moved closer with faint steps. I was on guard and prepared for everything.

But our fear was turned into something not very horrific.

"Ah!" A scream came out from the bushes. It felt like a scream of a child, "It hurts,"

As I watched a boy jumped out of the bushes. He wore an unsatisfied look and continuously rubbing his arm.

'The bush must have some thorns to them.'

I thought as it stood as the only plausible explanation for me, but moreover I was concerned about another thing.

"A child?" said Brandon with an agonized yet surprised tone.

I had the same reaction. For a moment I thought he was lost and was finding his way back home.

"Mister, that was amazing!!!" He screamed with joy in his voice and his legs as he jumped across to let out his excitement.

I was of course aware of the danger, but he wasn't and I shouldn't expect anything more from a child.

I was little relieved that there wasn't any active danger or anything but a child being in here.....

I walked towards him and got on my knees to match his height.

"You think?"

"Yes, it was. You jumped in the air and then.....Baam!"

He imitated my actions. It seemed that he was present here all along.

I had to know why he was here, but I didn't wanted to scare him or just scold him right away. So, I played along a little bit.

"I just want to be like you," He said.

"Nah, trust me. There are more better people out there."

"No, you are the best. Because I saw you."

He went on praising me. It was good and satisfying.

But, I didn't want him to be an Adventurer.

Not because, he can't be.

But because, he had to give away his five precious years.

It was a heavy a bargain for me. Ishi always has been against me being an Adventurer.

We lived in fear, that was what we were taught from the very beginning.

'You run away, you become a coward. No worry...because you'll live.'

That's what were taught. It was important to live more than to fight and that is the reason even though we Adventurers were praised for our valor, we also were criticized for our stupidity.

"What's your--"

I was going to ask his name, but then I heard another voice from inside the forest. It wasn't loud but it echoed due to the trees which surrounded the place.

"Kadoc?"

The voice sounded like they were in trouble or were worried. After a few seconds we saw another person coming through the same place from the boy came.

"Kadoc!"

A woman came out of the bushes and ran towards the boy tightly embracing him.

'That's his mother, I guess.'