I was sitting on a chair inside the house while the old man went out. I just watched the fire burn below the chimney.


    I wonder how long that''llst. How long do I have to suffer? How long do people have to suffer because of me?


    "Daarc, are you okay?" Alisa came closer to me and just stood there.


    "Yeah, I''m fine."


    She didn''t say anything. She just stood there. She seemed a bit too concerned about me today. What was she up to?


    Time passed and I tried to break the awkward silence. "I wonder when he''sing back."


    "Worried about me are we?" The old man announced his presence with his sarcasticugh and came in. Was he standing behind the door all this time? Probably not.


    He had a bag full of stuff. Probably groceries. Jowy and Brenda were busy in the kitchen. So the old man took those bags there. Honestly, if I wasn''t wrong this whole setup seemed kind of family-ish.


    However, the whole vige thing was still weighing down on me. I didn''t meet Mi or visited Dune''s grave. I didn''t have the courage anymore. And I didn''t have the courage to see what became of the vige either.


    "But that reminds me kid. This vige doesn''t happen to be that one, right?" The old chose his words carefully. He must have had his suspicions.


    My lips didn''t move. I couldn''t say anything. I didn''t have anything to say, anyway. He must have picked it up from how I''ve been acting or he could have also surmised it from how the people were treating me. I guess it was stupid of me to assume he wouldn''t find out.


    Seeing my silence, he changed the subject. "Anyway, let''s get something to eat." But just this once, I really respected the old man, for not going there.


    Food was done and we ate. I ate but didn''t really taste anything. It was like I was eating nothing but mush. Even the pirate''s coco-rice was better than this. I couldn''t feel anything: nothing.


    Maybe I should take a walk.


    The idea of going out scared me. But staying indoors and rotting scared me more. "I''m going to get some air."


    "At this time of night?" Brenda said.


    The old man smiled. "Sure. Go get some air."


    "Yeah."


    None of the others said anything. Maybe they all picked up that something was wrong with me. But I was d they kept quiet.


    I went out. It wasn''t midnight yet. The walls were lit up rather nicely. They must have really worked hard. Some people were still out. The vige used to have an open bazaar two days a week. Today was a day of the bazaar as well. So some people were still shopping. The numbers were really low, though.


    There were a lot less people in the vige: maybe two-tenth of the original. I didn''t see any elderly. And most of the kids were gone too. All because of me. But I had no choice.


    Damn it!


    I wanted to check the vige with my own eyes. But, it still stung my heart to walk this road, this very same road.


    I went close to the wall. Someone on top saw me and I waited for him.


    "I didn''t think you''de back." It was Samel. He must have seen meing to the wall. He helped me get up.


    "Me either. How is it?" I tried to be cool. I wouldn''t me them if they med me.


    "Lately it''s been a little quiet. There aren''t any raids at night and honestly, it doesn''t even feel like the stuff that happened just a few months ago was even real." He didn''t harbor any grudge for me. It made me feel guiltier.


    "I see. But I''m d you guys got on your feet." I wanted to cry but held back the tears. Since when did I get this weak?


    "Yeah."


    Our conversation ended and I walked around. I knew four of the guards and the rest knew me. It was a little awkward for them to know me but for me to not know them but eventually we just talked andughed.


    After a while, I got down and the pain from before eased up a little. But I didn''t forget even for a moment, that all this trouble happened because of me. But the moment I got down, Samel and the others stood above the wall and shouted in unison. "Thanks for saving the vige Daarc!"


    I had no idea what they were talking about, but I didn''tin either. Instead, I just waved. The guilt was back again.


    I guess I should visit him at least.


    I didn''t have the courage to face Mi. But I wanted to visit at least Dune and She. After all, it really had been a long time.


    I made my way to the church and carefully examined the surroundings. The church was lit but I didn''t see people inside. And thest I remembered, Mi always used to be home before sunset to see me and Dune-


    My thoughts went nk for a moment. A faint smile crept on my lips.


    Those were good times.


    There were definitely more graves than thest time I came here. It was a little chilly and every hair in my body stood up.


    I haven''t had a cold sinceing to this world, have I?


    It was weird but I never actually had any illness or disease since I came to this world. Maybe that was because of the curse as well. Or it could have been because of all the vines I took back at home. I didn''t know.


    The old man kept sneezing after climbing up from the pond though. So there was a chance he might have caught something. After all, he was the one who stayed in the water for the longest of time. Not to mention he showered twice. And maybe I caught something from him?


    I walked up to Dune''s and She''s graves.


    I suppose I should have seen thising.


    There were two new graves just next to them. I didn''t need to read the inscription to know who they were. I had at least somemon sense.


    So this is what happened…


    "Forgive me Dune. I failed you again." Lamenting would get me nowhere. But I didn''t really have anything better to do. What else could I have done, cry?


    "Daarc?"


    I heard a distant but familiar voice and looked back. It was Mi. "I heard you were back. I kind of hope- thought you''d be here."


    She didn''t look sad. She had her gentle smile on. She was acting tough. She was thest person I wanted to meet.. After all, seeing me would only bring back all the horrible memories of her life.