Amid the rain and gloomy weather, the voices of the villagers rose with joy and cheer, as the lands were watered and the crops began to bloom.
Toki entered the village, his head bowed, pitying himself.
His messy hair fell over his neck, damp from the rhythm of the rain.
Behind him, Shon looked anxious, raising his head to the sky, his face marked with seriousness.
Then he noticed an umbrella floating among the clouds, luxurious in its design.
"What a strange day…" he whispered to himself, as his electric body emitted faint sparks from the rain.
Toki returned to Ryder's juice shop.
He opened the wooden door, its creak echoing through the room, reflecting his current mood.
He stepped inside and sat on a round seat beside a table, where candles were carefully arranged.
Their shadows danced in the chilly air. Ryder turned toward Toki and then sat across from him.
"What's wrong today? I'm not used to seeing you like this," Ryder asked.
"I don't know what's happening to me…" Toki replied, his expression showing resignation.
Toki's shadow moved erratically, filled with negative inner voices from his past selves.
Ryder sighed, leaning on his right hand, then said, "Take it easy, boy. Go on… you can tell me what's bothering you." He smiled and handed him a glass of apple juice.
Toki clenched his fist. "I've never felt this before; I thought I had long forgotten this feeling."
He opened his palms slowly and continued, "But… this has changed… Is it because I cared for and became attached to this village, or is it something else?"
He sighed deeply and added, "I no longer know who I truly am."
Ryder stood and walked toward one of the hanging wooden shelves, as if searching for something.
"I think you'll manage to get through this — and you remind me of someone I once knew…" Ryder said, retrieving a photo from the shelf.
Toki watched quietly as he placed the square photo on the table. It contained four people.
Ryder added, with understanding in his voice, "I once had a colleague, sarcastic and indifferent, who lightened the mood during difficult missions, and could be provocative to some."
"Before he earned the title of the strongest hunter, he changed suddenly overnight; his state resembled yours," he pointed to the person on the right side of the photo.
"But he became different. He was no longer the companion we knew with his spontaneous behavior. He became silent… executing tasks with precision in seconds, feared by everyone."
Toki asked hesitantly, "And what happened to him?"
"I honestly don't know, but I grieved for him deeply," Ryder replied, placing the photo back on the shelf.
"As far as I remember, his name was… Zeer… no, maybe Zeni or something like that. I've forgotten."
Toki smiled faintly. "Really… what a coincidence. I suppose I know why." He lowered his head slightly, staring absentmindedly at his cup.
Ryder crossed his arms and glanced into Toki's eyes for a moment, then added with an optimistic smile,
"We are human; each of us faces pressures in life. Even if you have authority and great power, the truth still follows you. Be realistic; everyone changes without realizing it."
Toki was surprised by his words. Ryder stepped closer, placing his hand on Toki's wet head and continued,
"The true meaning of perseverance… is not the goal but knowledge and the search for your role in it."
Gradually, the sparkle returned to Toki's eyes. He smiled and lifted his head toward him, then whispered,
"I understand… I know what you mean. That's what I had lost…"
Ryder nodded with a wide smile, chuckling softly.
Toki pushed the cup aside and said, "Shon always used to call me 'little mind' — I never understood it back then; I thought it was mockery."
A laugh appeared on Toki's face, filled with the remnants of his lost emotions returning.
"Really? That's good," Ryder replied.
Sway… sway…
Marcy entered the shop carrying a plate of breakfast for her father.
The candlelight flickered in rhythm with the falling rain and wind.
"Hello… sorry for interrupting," Marcy said carefully as she walked in.
She placed the plate on the table beside Toki and added, "It seems you're enjoying this morning."
Marcy wore a white cotton cloak over her head to protect herself from the heavy rain, while also keeping the plate dry.
After a brief silence, Toki stood and began thanking her for caring about him and for spending time with Luna.
Marcy stepped back shyly, waving her hands, "No, no, it's nothing…"
"On the contrary, you've honored us with your hospitality, and also…" Toki continued, avoiding their gaze, "It's the first time I've found a friend who shares my interests. Luna is a great help to me—"
Toki grasped the cup, which gradually faded, converting it into part of his energy to store it in another dimension. He added understandingly, "Thank you for spending time with her. I always wanted her to explore new things."
Ryder replied after a while, "Don't worry, she brought back some of my happiest memories. And don't forget… the true meaning of perseverance… is not the goal but—"
Toki and Ryder spoke together in calm voices, "Knowledge and the search for your role in it."
Toki decided to head to the blacksmith to refine his sword. With each step toward the shop door, he left the warm atmosphere behind.
He felt the weather grow harsher, and the jingling of his left ear earring rang harmoniously.
He stopped at the door as the sound of thunder and storms nearly pierced his eardrums.
A sheep with butterfly-shaped ribbons tied to its elbow passed by, flung high by the storm, followed by Shon's terrified screams and expressions.
Shon's voice echoed as he ran through the hall and main street leading to Orfin's house: "Roni!! I'm coming to get you back!… Roni!!"
Roni's bleat rose into the sky: "Maaah…"
Toki stepped out of the shop, watching Shon amid the roaring storm and the heavy rain that battered his body, his shirt flapping violently.
He raised his gaze to the sky, where Shon flew, absorbing all the lightning bolts aimed at the village, especially Roni.
Shon became half-electric, moving swiftly to reach his beloved Roni, but failed.
He was careful not to harm her due to the effects of water and electricity, while his body emitted sparks in the rain.
Each time he reached her, the wind forcefully pushed her away, as if she were slipping from his hands.
To Toki, the scene looked like an artistic performance, blue streaks painted across the sky.
While Toki walked toward the blacksmith, he was preoccupied with the decision to leave Sophie and her choice in pursuing her desires.
But the scene before him now overshadowed his thoughts, and he thought wryly, 'How attached that brute is to his sheep… ha… I've seen enough so far.'
To be continued…
(Author's note: Where are you flying, Roni?)