I won't lie, when I got back I really thought that everything would fall back into place like before. but instead I got hit with the biggest shit in my life. I found out that I was stuck in the rift for about 9 years, but it felt like I was there for 5 months. I even planned to have a vacation, but who would have thought that I unconsciously and unwontedly took 9 years without a vacation.
The first thing I did after returning was look around to see the house. I'd already eaten before leaving that gate so I wasn't hungry. I wanted to see if the house was still ok after leaving for years so that was the first place I went to.
While walking to it I noticed how peaceful it was. I must have looked bad if people were also staring at me. But who cares. I walked past the city to a wooden area. The path to the house was still as grand as I remembered it. The trees and gates looked well, and no one could see past them only through the gate. As I approached the gate, the gates opened on their own. People nearby looked shocked to see them open.
"Did you see that, the gates opened when that guy got close to it"
"I know. I've never seen them open until now."
"Is that the owner of that property? He looks very young to have that amount of money to buy it"
"How would he buy it? It was never up for sell. He must be friends with the owner or something."
I didn't really pay attention to what they were saying. I just walked in and the gates closed behind me.
I wasn't even surprised when I saw how low maintenance it was, it looked like it was about to fall down but sturdy at the same time, well it just needed cleaning. It was understandable no one had lived there since my father went missing and I wasn't allowed to go back home until I turned 21. They can't tell me anything now. I'm glad that no one had broken in and it didn't look like anyone had stolen anything from the outside or wrecked the place.
I started cleaning and fixing the house outside first inside later. I've never thought about how beautiful of a scenery it had,even when it was a mess it still looked beautiful. My dad bought it in a very secluded place near a river. It was a big plot of land filled with flowers and trees that she loved, he bought it just so my mom would look out and smile.
I had forgotten how big of a place my dad chose. You couldn't even see the end of the gates that surrounded the house.
"Uhhmm. . . "
This cleaning is going to take more than just a day. It could even take months if I didn't use my ability so speed is not a problem. It'll just take about 5-6 hours to fully fix and restore the outside. I might as well start it now so I go in early.
I fixed everything outside. The only thing I couldn't do was grow the flowers. It's winter, I really can't do anything until spring.
"What a pity, I really wanted to see and smell them."
"Let's just go in."
When I entered the house it seemed like time stopped in there. It was dirty but clean, no dust, no trash, not nothing. It didn't look like anyone had gone in either so it must have just remained the same for all 11 years my dad left.
" I'll just clean whatever seem dirty "
While cleaning my dads office I found a bunch of journals my father wrote. There were about the weapons and armor he made, their class, metals, levels of mana it could take and a lot more. It seemed like he wrote down each and every one of them in order. He impresses me even while missing. His step by step manuals he created of everything he made. I bet people would kill to have one of these on hand dad was the best S craftsman there was, people would do anything and pay anything to have one of his weapons custom or resold. I still haven't seen another like him around. I should go look around and see who's the best now, maybe I'll get lucky and work for them and learn more about making stuff. I put the book on the shelf and organized the pens, papers that were around.
After finishing cleaning the house both inside and out, I think it would be a great idea to go out to eat.
"It has been a while since I've eaten something good".
"It feels like it's been years. hehe."
I also need a new phone. My ended up missing while getting those two kids out the rift a while back.
I wonder if there's a way l could get my photos back as well. I really liked some of the pictures of my dad I had while he worked on his stuff. Ha.ha . I covered my face. That's something no one should know about, sneaking out to talk to him. That would have been a big fine.
I went up stairs to my parents bedroom to look for extra housekeys. There were bedrooms that could only be opened with the house keys, although the rooms automatically opened when it was the blood relatives. which were only my parents and me, no one else was allowed in. This also included the house in general. That could have also been the reason why no one could get in the house to rob it.
My dad built it that way for safety reasons. It's a very interesting design he made. I wonder if I could also make something like that. That would be amazing.
I move the books, pens, papers, some metal and wires that were left on the table, put them in their place and fix their room. I opened a little box that was left in the back of the bookshelf.
It was a ring my dad made for me. When I first awakened, when my body couldn't handle the awakening, this ring helped lower my mana levels and energy.
"I wonder, would it still work if I put it on?"
It looks too small to fit my finger. I put the ring on my pointer finger, of course it didn't fit but then the ring size changed to my actual finger size. Of course I should have known that my dad would make something like this; he doesn't like wasting anything. If it can be used again he'll make it reusable for the owner only.
I felt surprisingly lighter after putting it on, it wouldn't be bad to use it now and either way I'm planning to start my vacation and everything looks fine. Nothing has happened since I arrived back.
They must have really fixed the opening issue in the 9 years I was gone.
"They must've found a good hunter to replace me after I disappeared as well."
". . ."
I pulled out an old watch my dad used to use all the time. It was a watch I made with him when I started learning to craft things with him. It's nice to see it and both engravings were still there next to each other in the Inside. I put it on and left the room.
I started walking out keys on hand and locked the house to go buy something to eat. While walking up to the gate for some strange reason I felt glad that the hunters didn't need me. I didn't have to put up with everything, it makes me feel free to do what i always wanted to do. Make weapons like my dad. I learned a lot when I helped him make them, I could probably make half the stuff he made without the journals. The only thing I couldn't do was his signature. That's something unique to every artist.
I wonder if my signature would change after not using it for over 10 years. My signature is different from my dads. Whose was a triangle with three circles on each end, mine was a circle that looked like vines with a circle in the middle. While thinking about it I had made it to the city where there were other people also looking around doing what they do. I was impressed by how much people were out at this hour. It was almost 8. It felt very strange how peaceful it was as well.
No one looked anxious or worried about anything. I also finally found a place to get a phone and found a place to get food. After buying what I needed I left to a small park that was near by where there was a bench with a nice flower garden view. Those were winter flowers. I should get some and plant them back home. They would look lovely in front of the gates.
I should also plant them inside near the entrance. My dad really liked lilies and my mom loved peonies. I should get some seeds and plant them there as well. The food i got smelled good so I sat down and took a few bites. I just sat there, I looked around the lights made the garden look very beautiful.
"Father would really like this if he saw it. He would have definitely made one back at home for her."
I took a few more bites. I didn't turn around, and just sat there. After I finished eating I was sitting and asked
"Why do you keep following me around? It's been about an hour."
I still didn't turn around to look at them. I just kept eating, either way it would be a waste to do that and not enjoy the beautiful view.
"…."
they did responded minutes later
"How did you know I was following you?"
Is this guy stupid or something????? I thought about it for a bit. ah… now that I think about it, it seems like no one else really noticed them.
"Well . . ."
Who cares about whatever they want, I don't really care enough to give a shit about it.
Why bother explaining to puff head anything. I guess they're quiet for others but they're not for me at all.
"You stepped on the dry leaf. How could I not notice?"
Even with the weakening ring on I still noticed them, I wonder if the ring is faulty. It has been years since I last wore it.
"Loud? You say. . ." They tilted their head a bit
Eegggghhh. . . it's crazy how I'm not even looking at them and I could probably predict what they will do and say. Bet there gonna be like "so what are you doing out so late?". I looked at my dads old watch. Oh yup I knew it was the devils number 9:06 and if it's not, it will be for me.
"Well I've never seen you around here. So I was curious about what you were doing out this late. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."
They walked up closer and stopped when they were behind me where I could see their shadow.
I won't lie but, I was feeling uncomfortably mad for their unwanted presence that I didn't ask for, so I finally decided to turn around. Like mentally I just got back, can't I just enjoy walking around after cleaning the house for hours I get hungry as well I an't no robot. As pissed as I was, I can't act hostile to someone I don't know. They could be part of some guild and end up following me even more. That would be bothersome.
The light kinda got in the way so I couldn't see them well. I even squinted my eyes at that damn light. I don't feel like activating my eyes to see in the dark. It's a waste. I smiled at them.
"Well as you can see I'm just eating and enjoying the view. Isn't it a beautiful view? "
They looked at me and then they smiled.
"I hope you don't mind me sitting next to you. Let's see what you see."
Of course I mind there's a reason why I didn't go to a public place, you peace of shit.
"I guess you're right it does look nice. I never really looked at it at night. "
I looked down at the watch 9:15 yup I was right it was the devils hours it's alway number 9. Well at least I could take a better look at them.
"So what's your name? you. I'm Sylvester Manioc. We look about the same age 24? right so we can talk without formality."
I was 18 when I entered that place. So I'm around 26 now. The more I think about it, the more upset I got. It also means they haven't found my dad for over 10 years. I hadn't looked at the date properly. I turned in the phone 9 years for me and 11 years for my dad-
"Hey? He waved his hand, you stopped talking for a bit there. You ok?"
"Uh. . . "
"ya I'm ok. I'm Astor. . . Astor Ruthburnim and I'm actually 26 not 24 hehe. . ."
26 AM LIKE AN OLD MAN NOWS?!?!? How embarrassing I feel like crying wtf…
"A Ruthburn? "
"Uh, I haven't heard that name in a while. Are you related to that S class craftsman by chance?"
He looked at me seriously.
"I Heard he had a son but no one's ever met him or known him but I'm sure he'll also have the family's name."
"He was around 18 when he started helping some guild they called him lil bunny"
18?!?, more like 14 when i started working. I wasn't allowed to see my family because of the politics.
"The craftsman son? who's that "
What's all this BALLSHIT I'm hearing, these foul words coming from this person. I tried to act surprised. I don't know if he'll fall for it,
"Who's that?"
"The S craftsman who married the top hunter "Ria" she took her husband's last name Ruthburn. "
"He was known for his beautiful works and keen eye sight for materials. I Hurd people would do anything for one of his pieces. Though there aren't many anymore, the maintenance for those items are expensive and hard to fix."
"I see. How many items are still out there made by him? I'm just curious."
"On file that we're aware of about 7. He went missing about 10 years ago after his wife disappeared. I think his son was left with the agency and died in one of the fights."
"7 items? Isn't that too low of a number? "
What is this guy talking about that's way too low of a number from what he made. I remember him working on more than 300 items and I don't need to hear the whole back distorted backstory.
"Believe it or not all those monster waves hit very hard over here. We lost lot of the weapons made by him. With him missing no one could fix back so almost all of them were lost, but the guilds were able to control the rifts and dungeons. Are you new to the area by chance? It sounds like you haven't been here before?"
"I am not , I moved back yesterday I used to live here a long time ago."
All ballshit I came back yesterday with my perfect vacation plan. And I'm planning to work a humble crafting job like my dad. It's like I can see my perfect life already.
"I see. You came back but ."
"Yah?" you better see "but what?"
"Have we met somewhere? You seem quite familiar. Your name doesn't come up anywhere but you look familiar."
I paused for a bit and looked at him. I took a closer look at his face. Oh it might be someone I saved back then.
" No, I've never seen you."
I saved many people before. Why should I remember all their rude faces? In fact none of them ever really thanked me for saving them. Well there was that one lady that was sincere but other than that nothing came up.
"I'm sorry I don't think we've met before. It's getting late so I should head back. It was a pleasure meeting you Sylvester."
Sylvester looked at me.
"Ar.. Are you a hunter by chance?"
I froze
"A hunter? me? You're flattering me, no I'm a craftsman. "
He got up and grabbed my arms and looked down at them. He got a bit too close, it felt like he was going to kiss me or something. Ewwwww I hate people touching me, it makes my skin crawl.
"But your watch and ring there's no way you could have either of them without being a hunter. Anyone can tell they're not regular items. And civilians aren't able to buy any hunter items because of their high demanding prices."
Wow, did- did this airhead just called me fucking poor.
I pulled my hands back and looked at them with an angry expression.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Are you saying that a craftsman can't have beautiful things."
'N-no thats not what im saying, its just tha–"
" items like those are really expensive and not anyone can afford to have them."
"And what is your point? It hasn't changed. You're still calling me poor or something."