Chapter 5 - The aftermath of the battle
Chapter 5 – The aftermath of the battle
After the intense battle with the red bear, Ren waited for Matias and Valdel to wake up. While waiting Ren started to think up a story for what had happened. After awhile the first to wake up was of course Matias, when he saw the dead red bear, and the huge crater he started to panic. Ren went near him and immediately calmed him down. He then proceeded to explain what had happened.
Of course Ren told his father the made up story he thought off. A story in which Valdel awakened to a strange power trying to protect him, and with that power he had killed the red bear.
Matias of course couldn’t believe what he had heard, but he had to believe what he was seeing. He then carried the unconscious Valdel and returned to the village with Ren. Once they got back the whole village was in an uproar, since they heard a loud explosion coming from the forest.
All the villagers started to surround Ren’s group. When Valdel’s parents saw their unconscious and wounded son, the two rushed forward and took him from the also wounded Matias. Milly, Matias wife and Ren’s mother hugged her wounded husband while crying.
Lisa who saw the unconscious Valdel gasped and ran towards him while crying. Lara was running towards Ren and hugged him, no one could see her face since she was burying it on Ren’s chest. But she was most probably crying.
The village elder asked what had happened to the trio. Matias started to explain the first part of the story and the last part was explained by Ren.
Of course Ren told a bunch of lies to cover up what he did. Basically after Matias had fainted, Ren tried to hit the red bear with arrows, but it was to no avail. Valdel who was standing on the side suddenly charged at the red bear, while glowing he then struck the red bear killing it. After the kill he immediately fainted.
There was another uproar when the villagers heard Ren’s side of the story. The village elder looked at the Valdel and held a town meeting with the men of the village.
…
When Valdel woke up he saw the familiar roof of his own house. The moment he tried to stand up somebody suddenly hugged him from the side. It was his mother who had suddenly pounced on him crying.
“Thank goodness you’re okay!” Valdel waited for his mother to calm down, before asking what had happened. Valdel listened to his mother explaining that his father and the other men of the village had a meeting, but when he heard his mother explain the story Ren told the villagers, Valdel immediately stood up.
“VAL What are you doing?! You must rest!” Valdel’s mother tried to stop him, but he didn’t listen and simply left the house in a rush. He was heading towards the neighboring house where his best friend lives.
He bursted into the house, his mother following behind him.
“Oh my Val what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be resting?” Milly was surprised by Valdel’s sudden entrance. Valdel didn’t bother with her and went immediately towards the guy who was eating bread like nothing had happened.
“Val what’s happening to you? Why are you being so rude?!” Valdel’s mother spoke to her son, who was still ignoring her.
Right now Valdel was looking at the carefree Ren who was eating bread. Ren looked at the serious eyes of Valdel and sighed.
“Mother can you and auntie leave for a minute. I just need to talk with my buddy Val over here. Since we did go through something horrible today, Val must still be in shock. So don’t worry I’ll talk to him to calm him down.” Ren assured his mother that everything was alright.
Hearing her son’s calm voice made Milly calm down too. She told Valdel’s mother that they should leave the boys for now, and she could talk to Valdel once he calms down. Valdel’s mom was hesitating to leave her son in such a state, but she knew that Ren was the only one who could calm him down, given the situation.
Once the two mother’s were out of the way, Ren looked at the glaring Valdel eye to eye. “So what do you want Val?”
Valdel held Ren’s shirt and gripped it tightly. “WHY DID YOU SAY THAT! WHY DID YOU LIE!”
“First off Vall you need to lower your voice, the whole village will hear you.”
“Who cares about that! Why did you lie!” Valdel angrily shouted at Ren. 𝚋𝚎ｄ𝚗ｏｖ𝚎𝚕．ｃｏ𝚖
“Lie about what? Also can you stop griping my shirt you might tear it.” Ren took hold of Valdel’s hand that was gripping his shirt, and forcefully removed it from him. Valdel couldn’t even resist, which made him even angrier.
“YOU already know what you lied about! Why did you tell them I killed the red bear?! While you weren’t able to do anything! Why did you make me into the hero! You were the one who was calm at the time, while I shivered in fear! It was you who fought gallantly with the a.d.u.l.t red bear, while I had difficulty with a child! So then why did you pass all the credit to me! Why Ren? Why?”
Valdel looked at Ren with confusion and heartbreak. His best friend in the whole world, was now nothing more than a person he had saved, while he became the hero of the story. Even thought it was suppose to be the other way around. This thought made Valdel even more irritated.
Ren who was looking at his human friend, scratched his cheek and sighed. “I didn’t lie about you killing a red bear, you did kill one you know.”
When Valdel heard Ren say that, he started to remember what had happened. “But still you were the one who killed the a.d.u.l.t one. Why didn’t you tell the truth? We could’ve been both heroes? Just like we dream back then.”
Valdel was still confused about that power he suddenly acquired, but he was still more worried about his best friend’s own situation.
“I decided not to be a hero, I decided to let you have that role. I on the other hand will be the hero’s companion, the one who will support him no matter the dangers.” Ren smiled gently at his friend. He hadn’t smiled like this for anyone aside from his human mother.
“But… Shouldn’t you be the hero?… I know that even with the new power I acquired I still can’t match up to you. So you should be the hero, since the hero is supposed to be the most powerful.”
“I guess I’ll tell you now, the power you used is the power of a hero. It means destiny had picked you and not me. But don’t worry… Do you remember what I told you before about what I truly think about heroes?”
Valdel was shocked by the sudden information his best friend gave him. He had the power of a hero? How does Ren even know anything about the power of a hero? Ever since he could remember, this friend of his has always had knowledge beyond anyone in the village.
At first he thought it was because he keeps on talking to the village chief, but over the years as he grew older Valdel noticed the abnormality of his best friend… Still it was alright no matter what, since Ren can only be Ren.
“Yah, I always remember what you told me that day. A hero isn’t the strongest existence there are a lot of things stronger than the hero. But then you immediately denied the claim saying you just dreamt it.”
“Today I decided to be the one who would become stronger than the hero. Well seeing the hero is you, didn’t I already fulfill the requirements?” Ren smiled mischievously at Valdel.
Valdel had finally calmed down, after hearing his best friend declaring such a thing. “Fine you can become stronger than the hero, but I will be the strongest hero that ever lived!” Valdel extended his fist forward.
Ren seeing this motion of Valdel, replied by bumping Valdel’s fist with his own. “If you are going to be the strongest hero, then I will be the strongest thing in existence!”
…
After talking for a bit longer with Ren, Valdel had fully calmed down and left Ren’s house. He wanted to apologize to his mother and auntie immediately.
Once Valdel left the house, Ren looked at the corner of the room. “I know you’re there Lara. You’ve gotten good in using darkness magic.”
In the corner of the room, a little girl with a stoic expression suddenly appeared. “Can I be strong with you guys?” As usual she went direct to the point.
“Hmph, with your talent and me teaching you. I would be ashamed if you didn’t become strong.” Ren answered with a condescending tone similar to what he once had when he was still the strongest demon lord.
Hearing Ren’s answer Lara’s stoic expression broke and she revealed a very natural beautiful smile.