Summoner's Second Chance

Chapter 32

The group of friends dragged their tired body back to the camp, but this time, they were accompanied by a strange entity. A book that flies and talks. Although in the back of their minds they knew that Trace had found yet another amazing thing, they were simply too tired to address it properly. They kept their silent until they are back at the camp, drinking warm milk and covered themselves with blankets. They reached their camp in silence, and everybody gathered around the campfire.

"So... what's that thing exactly?" Fang pointed at the flying book. His voice cracked because of the nervousness. "Calling me a thing is very rude of you. I do have a proper name, although I have not introduced myself." The book flew slightly forward, and spoke again. "I am Freos, a grimoire sent by the goddess, to aid Trace Redfate's journey" Fang nodded, and asked another question. "Why? What's so special about Trace's journey?" Although he himself knew that Trace will be having many adventures in the future, he just can't understand why something as special as a talking grimoire was sent to him, by the goddess herself no less! Curiosity stirred in their hearts, and the grimoire finally answered. "As you all know, Trace is not your usual youngster. He still retains the memory of his past life."

Like a flash of inspiration, everyone immediately knew what those words means. Trace was not an ordinary child. His extensive knowledge comes from the time where he was an adult, and now, the soul of an adult is walking around in a child's body. Liu, the quick witted one, raised one of his eyebrows, and asked a question that nags him. "Then was Trace once a sage from a land far from here? The way he do things are way too different than the adults around us." Freos was about to continue, before Trace raised one of his hands. "Thank you, Freos. But let me do this. I owe them an explanation, after all..."

I grew up in Lumen, just like everyone else here. Born to the Redfate family, I was underestimated each and every time, but I had no way to refute any of their jeers and mockery. At the time, Olivia was still the way she was before we met her. She was cold, and everyone called her 'Rose Queen'. I do not know why at the time, but some times on our second year, she passed away.

Olivia shuddered as she heard Trace's words. His words were true! Olivia's brains couldn't help but to scream these words, over and over again. She hugged her shoulder, as if the cold suddenly got into her. Trace smiled, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Do not worry, Olivia. At the time, I do not know what plagues you, that is why I could not save you." Olivia rested his head on Trace's shoulder, and Trace smiled as he looked around at his friends. "Then I will continue..."

And Alice was... let's say that she is still the same Alice as she is now. Bright. Cheerful. Warm. She was like a sun to everybody at the academy. As she matured, many tried to propose to her, but everyone was shot down. Thinking about it now, it was rather amusing.

Trace can see a faint blush creeps on Alice's face. She tried her best to not change her expression, but Trace managed to pick up the slight change on her expression. Trace laughed, and continued the story.

Everyone here was the same. We met each other in different ways, but in the end, you are all still the wonderful friends I remembered. That is why... when I met you all for the first time, I felt like it was my duty and obligation to keep you all from harm's way.

Gilbert raised a hand in front of him, and asked, genuinely confused. "Wait, what do you mean keep us from harm's way?" Trace gripped his wrist until his fingers were white. He bit his lip, so hard blood started to come out. Melody walked beside him, and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Big brother? What is the matter?" Trace shook his head, and took a deep breath. His words after that was filled with sadness and anger.

When we were 25... something... unthinkable, happened. Red class Aesirs appeared, and tore down our wall... Just like hot knife through butter, our defenses were breached, and countless Valkyries and Einherjars came pouring in.

Trace looked up, and pointed at his friends, one by one, telling them what he saw that day.

Gilbert. You died alongside your wife, fighting to protect your child. If I was stronger, then I could've saved you, your wife, and your child. I am sorry. Fang, Liu and Rose. The two of you died protecting your family, just like Gilbert. Melody... You shielded me from an attack, even though you could've survived if you abandoned me. And... Alice... If I knew alchemy at the time, I could've saved you... I am truly sorry...

Trace took a deep breath, trying to calm his heart. Emotions mixed and clashed as he spoke about them to his friends. He gripped his chest, and tightly closed his eyes. He felt like his lungs was ripped away, making him unable to breathe. Melody hugged his brother, and rested his head against her chest, as if comforting a crying child. After a while, Trace separated himself from Melody, and continued his story.

After that, I continued on wandering for hundreds of years. The first thing I found was an elixir that somehow stopped my aging, and from then, I kept on finding relics after relics, filling up my soul space. If I remember correctly, I think Freos was one of the relics I found, although she didn't speak before. Anyway, as I wandered around the continent, I realized that the world was not as small as this one island. There are at least three more large island, although from what I could gather, all are already overrun by monsters.

Gilbert took a deep breath, hearing Trace's explanation. There are many questions going on inside his head, but he was sure of one thing. His friend did not lie. Trace had bare his heart, and he knew that what he said next could either break, or support him. He took a deep breath, and spoke. "Trace... my logic is screaming at me to not believe you, but... when you said that with that kind of expression, with a flying, talking book hanging over your shoulder, I can safely say that you are telling the truth." He walked to Trace, and stretched his hand towards him, with a somewhat sad grin on his face. "Sorry for yelling those things at you. I knew nothing, yet I talked like I knew everything." Trace smiled, and shook his head. "You have nothing to apologize for. In fact, I'm thankful that you haven't left me after all I've put you through."

Trace took Gilbert's hand, and shook it firmly. "I'll be counting on you from now on, old man." Trace smiled, and humphed. "Shut it, greenhorn." As those words came out of his mouth, a dam broke inside his heart. The empty feeling he had until now was finally filled. Finally, he understood what he wanted. I didn't want to just protect them... I wanted friends that could walk side by side with me... He closed his eyes, and laughed. His friends looked at each other, confused as to why Trace was laughing. He shook his hand in front of his face, and snorted. "It's nothing. I finally knew what I wanted, that's all."

Trace looked at Freos, and put on a tired smile. "So all of my effort was all for naught, wasn't it?" "That is not true, Trace Redfate." Trace raised one of his eyebrows in confusion, and Freos continued her explanation. "The 42 Judge's Gate you destroyed is no more. Only 24 are left in this world. Well... 23 if you count the one you just destroyed." Trace's expression turned to shock, but that was quickly replaced by happiness as he slumped and smiled to himself. "I see... so it wasn't for naught..." Melody looked at Freos, and asked a question herself. "You mean... big brother destroyed all of those gates... alone?" "Yes." Her answer was brief, and filled with certainty.

Everyone looked at Trace, their eyes filled with admiration. In their hearts, they swore to catch up to him someday, and walk alongside him. Gilbert noticed something, and asked Freos. "I know this is something that I shouldn't ask, but why Trace?" Freos paused for a moment, before answering him. "There are a lot of candidates, of course, but... Trace was the only one who wholeheartedly wished that he could save all of you, not vengeance." Gilbert looked at the slumping Trace, and smiled. "I see..."

"Then the goddess must really favor you, Trace! You were sent back in time to receive your second chance in life, after all!" "That is not entirely true." Everyone's attention went to Freos, and they all froze. Somewhere, deep in their heart, they knew something that good couldn't be true. Trace must've paid some price to be able to do what he did now. Everyone was waiting with butterfly in their stomach, and what Freos said next was like the bell that signals the passing of a life. "The goddess is not as all-powerful as you think she is. In order to send Trace back, she exerted enough power to rebuild this world, and of course, Trace himself had to pay his due." Freos flew nearer to Trace, and spoke once more. "Trace Redfate. You only have three more years to live. On behalf of the goddess, I would like to apologize for our powerlessness."