Amidst his chaotic thoughts, Burning Feather had already reached the edge of the village, and the small wooden cabin belonging to him and Alphea was visible in the distance.
However, his footsteps suddenly halted, and his body tensed up instantly.
Because at his doorstep, a figure appeared that shouldn't have been there.
It was a young man with neat short black hair and a prominent streak of white dyed into his bangs.
His features were so handsome they seemed almost illusory, as if carved by the greatest sculptor without a single flaw.
Wearing a well-tailored black trench coat, he stood tall and still, as if he were the center of the world.
Not a mortal, but a god.
Burning Feather's heart sank.
Although the gods of the lower world seal their divine power and live as mortals, their innate divinity and that sense of presence surpassing all things could never be completely hidden.
It wasn't the oppression of power, but a difference in the level of life itself; a mortal could clearly distinguish it with just a single glance.
An ominous premonition gripped his heart.
He saw that Uncle Chaldo was also standing aside. He wasn't wearing his usual casual clothes but had changed into a suit of heavy black armor, with the greatsword he usually spent his time polishing now slung heavily across his back.
The cabin door was pushed open, and Alphea stepped out.
She was still in her familiar black Gothic gown, her face as expressionless and cold as ever.
The three of them stood together, creating a scene of an impending long journey.
"Are you leaving, Alphea?"
Burning Feather walked over, his voice soft yet exceptionally clear.
He didn't ask "Where are you going?" or "Why?"; he simply stated a fact he had already seen.
Hearing his voice, that black-haired god—Erebus—turned his head.
His gaze lingered on Burning Feather for a moment with a hint of scrutiny before glancing at the expressionless Alphea, a playful smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "Oh? Is this the child you two mentioned? He certainly is interesting, and his talent is quite astounding. What a pity."
A trace of regret flashed in Erebus's eyes.
As a god, he could see things that mortals could not.
The boy before him possessed a maturity far beyond his years, with insight as sharp as a cheetah's. Even more rare was the resilience and character that allowed him to live peacefully under "The Silence" for eight years.
This child was born to live in the blood and fire of the Dungeon, not in this remote village.
Unfortunately, they had no more time.
No time to investigate the secret of why he couldn't receive a favor, and no energy left to plan a future for him.
They had a more important, and darker, mission to fulfill.
"Leave this place and go live in a big city."
Alphea finally spoke. She didn't look at Burning Feather but instead took out a heavy cloth bag and tossed it over. "This place isn't for you."
Her voice was as pleasant as ever, and as cold as ever.
Burning Feather instinctively caught the bag. It was extremely heavy, and the crisp clinking of metal came from within. It was currency, and quite a lot of it.
He gripped the bag tightly and stood silently where he was, without saying a word.
"Let's go."
Alphea dropped those words and, without giving him another glance, turned and walked toward the outskirts of the village.
Her back was resolute, showing not a hint of lingering attachment.
"Live well, kid."
Chaldo stepped forward, and his large, calloused palm patted Burning Feather's shoulder with a gentleness that belied his rugged appearance.
Then, he also turned and followed in Alphea's footsteps.
Erebus was the last.
He walked up to Burning Feather and leaned down, those deep eyes seeming capable of seeing through one's heart.
He smiled and said, "Little guy, if you're unwilling to accept this, then do your best to become an Adventurer."
After saying that, he also turned to leave, his black trench coat tracing a stylish arc in the wind.
The figures of the three gradually drew further away, about to disappear at the end of the road.
Burning Feather remained silent, like a stone statue.
But at the very moment they were about to vanish from sight.
"Alphea!"
He shouted the name with all his strength.
The slender figure walking at the very front indeed stopped in her tracks.
She didn't turn around but just stood there quietly, as if waiting for him to continue.
Burning Feather looked at her back, the sadness and confusion on his face swept away.
He grinned, revealing a bright smile.
"See you tomorrow!"
He said loudly.
Alphea's figure stiffened almost imperceptibly, but in the end, she didn't turn back or answer.
After a brief pause, she started walking again, disappearing over the horizon along with the other two.
Far from the village, having stepped onto the desolate ancient road of the northern lands, the silent journey felt somewhat oppressive.
Carrying his greatsword, Chaldo glanced back at the village whose outline had long since vanished. He suddenly chuckled, breaking The Silence. "By the way, Alphea, didn't that kid use to clamor every day that he'd marry you when he grew up? Won't you consider it? It's enough for me to go alone."
As soon as he finished speaking, a chill that could almost freeze the soul suddenly descended.
Erebus shivered and instinctively moved a couple of steps to the side, distancing himself from the source of that chill.
Alphea slowly opened her tightly closed eyes.
Her left eye was a deep gray, and her right eye was a translucent green.
A pair of heterochromatic eyes now gazed emotionlessly at Chaldo as she said flatly:
"If you want to experience death prematurely, I can fulfill that wish for you."
"Wait, wait, wait! I was just joking to lighten the mood!"
Chaldo immediately raised his hands in a gesture of surrender and laughed dryly.
"Besides, I quite admire that kid. Just for the fact that he dared to say those things to your face and is still alive and kicking, I know he's a man with guts."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, the look of astonishment on Erebus's face was instantly replaced by a deep interest in gossip.
"Someone actually dared to confess to 'The Silence'? And is still alive? That's truly a miracle. Quickly, tell me, what happened?"
"Noisy."
Alphea's cold and impatient words instantly cut off their conversation.
Chaldo and Erebus immediately shut their mouths.
They both knew that if they continued, this woman would truly get angry.
And the consequences of a truly enraged "Silence" were more terrifying than facing a Giant Dragon head-on.
The atmosphere returned to a dead silence once more, with only the sound of the three's footsteps and the never-ending cold wind of the northern lands echoing across the open wilderness...