A life of losses and gains

A life to cherish

When the pages of life turnover, you can never know what new things await you. I thought my tale would end, that the pages of my life had run out. But in the twist of events, there were more awaiting me.

After the rescue, I lived in the village that Noc took me to. A peaceful home in the middle of running plains, underneath the endless blue skies and a haven for humans and beastmen alike.

It was paradise and I was forever grateful to Noc. This was why I visited him every day to give him food during training and invited him constantly to eat at my place whenever he returned from missions. For giving me a life, I promised myself I would give him one as well, in my own way.

However, as the days went by I noticed he became more and more scarce in the village, almost as if he was avoiding it.

I talked to his fellow hunters and they said that he had returned from missions several times, and then would take another the day after.

An odd behaviour came coming from him, normally, he would stay for at least a couple of days before venturing out once again to work, but now he was heading out more quickly. Then there was the fact he had not come to visit me once, had something happened?

I tried asking the hunters if they noticed anything wrong with Noc and all they could say was that he looked tired and bogged down, almost as if he had the whole world on his shoulders.

Concern did not even begin to describe the heavy feeling that fell on my heart, hearing that Noc had taken on a burden that was crippling him, nearly made my tears fall to the ground if I had not held them back.

I left the hunters and returned to the plaza where I then just sat down on a bench, gazing up at the sky.

Once again the feeling of tears welling up in the corner of my eyes returned and when I closed my eyes, a tear would crawl down my cheek.

"Noc."

That painful feeling ate my heart, I could not understand it. The mere thought of that boy returning with so little life left made my stomach churn.

I did not wish to imagine his empty, tired gaze, nor did I wish to imagine a corpse returning. Yet that was all that my mind cared to show me and before I knew I was silently sobbing to myself.

"Izotza?"

A voice called out, it was not Noc's though, his voice was not so light, it did not sound like an angel's choir, nor did it have such melody to it. The voice belonged to a man well-loved by the people of the village, the counterpart to Noc, Arthur.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm quite alright, just thinking about something."

"Well whatever it is, it seems to bring pain, can I help in any way?"

His kindness was always so true, but that kindness was not what I needed at that time, so I shook my head and told him that I was fine on my own, but that gentleman could not bare the idea of leaving me, so I decided to humour him a little.

While I did not disclose to Arthur his brother's name, because I was aware there was some bad blood between them, or at least that was the feeling I felt whenever Noc and Arthur were to cross paths, I still did my best in explaining the weight in my heart.

"Sounds as if this person does not appreciate all you have done for them."

"I don't think that's what my friend is thinking, they have shown their appreciation in many ways. And, truth be told, they have done more for me than I for them."

Arthur must have noticed how gently I spoke and realised that this friend of mine was truly dear to my heart and so he no longer kept his criticising tone. Instead, he tried to understand my worries and give appropriate advice... or rather tried to.