Sudden Realization

Alyth's P.O.V

"...What?" I asked, not able to believe how much that hurt me. "It would've hurt you more if you didn't protect yourself with magic."

...I... A Magicless dwarf can hurt me this much? A normal dwarf, not even a wicked dwarf? Naturally, wicked dwarfs are a tiny bit stronger than normal dwarfs due to their evil aura. I am this weak?

"That's why they're monsters if you didn't realize. Because they're actually so strong. Imagine what they would do to a normal human with no magical control." ...

"Why are they called monsters? Aren't they just normal creatures, wanting to live like we do?" Mallo's eyes widened. They're just normal creatures, why are they called monsters?

Magicless dwarfs are at level 11 of magic. Level 11 is the lowest level. Level 1 is the highest, I think. I heard rumors that level 0 was the highest, but I am not sure. ...I can't imagine the monsters of level 5 and below. I think Abanders are level 10.

If they can hurt me this bad, then... Then I am definitely weaker than level 11. If there was a level 12, I would be at that level.

"Alyth, you do realize that they could hurt you, right?" I stared at him with a bold look, though the blood on my mouth doesn't really help.

"So? Humans can hurt anything and ruin it, but they're not monsters. Dwarfs are normal creatures. They just attack when they're endangered." Mallo nodded slowly, as if trying to understand what I had just said.

It's not fair to them. Being regarded as 'monsters'. Monsters are heartless creatures who only see violence and hatred. That's what a monster is to me. I don't know about the others though.

Ribius was also dumbfounded. Why? Why is it so unnatural for them to realize that some creatures aren't monsters? Abanders are monsters because they attack anything and everything, sometimes even themselves. But just because some creatures aren't human, doesn't mean they're monsters! Just because they look different..!

That's just... Unfair.

What did they do to be treated in such a discriminating way? They're just as innocent as us, maybe even more than us.

Now I understand the struggle main characters go through in Animes and stories (mangas, fanfics, novels, etc.). Though, I can't imagine the pain that the people discriminated against feel.

I... Was always happy, my entire life (3 years, almost 4). Everyone protected me and cared for me. Daddy raised me so well, even if it was for a year only. I never had to be hungry, face dangers, or feel uncomfortable or unwelcomed. I don't have a life that's hard, so I can't feel the pain of others.

...

...

What did I just say...? Daddy? Who the hell... Is 'daddy'? I have a dad? Where is he? Why isn't he here? What's going on..?

"Alyth...? Are you alright?"

Mallo and Ribius stared at me, concerned. I shook my head, basically saying that I wasn't alright at all.

"What is it? Why do you have such a face...? ...Alyth?!" Only until Ribius raised his voice that I realized that I was crying. Tears streamed all over my face, and snot did its job well, reaching my chin.

"Mallo. Who are my parents?"

Mallo stiffened up. "What? What do you mean, Alyth? What's gotten into you?"

"Now when I think about it, if you aren't my dad, who is, then?" Tears were still running down my face. Ribius only stared, doing nothing at all, as the snowing sky hovers over us.

Mallo thought quickly.

"...Alyth, you don't have parents." No, if I didn't, why did I just think about a father? Maybe it's something I've never thought about, but why now? It doesn't make sense. Nothing does. But I am certain that Mallo knows who my parents are.

"...You do have parents, but they died a long time ago by monsters. I... erased your memories of your parents so you wouldn't be affected by it."

...What...?

"That's so selfish! I don't even remember them! Mallo, how could you?!" Mallo just stood there, unable to say anything else. Of all the things he could do, he erases my memories?

3rd P.O.V

"I just did it... because they asked me to." Mallo's heart throbbed. It clenched, reminding him of his lies that will eat him up sooner rather than later.

Alyth didn't know what to say. Should she be mad, sad, forgiving...? What is she supposed to do? She couldn't possibly STAY angry at Mallo because he had raised her for 3 years (Technically 2 years and 2 months). He fed her, bought everything for her, and saved her on many occasions.

He was... Her second father. Vinaha was almost like her mother, who helped her with every little thing. Vinaha would often come over to Mallo's house and help him with cleaning or cooking. Then, she would help Alyth with studying and reading.

She was very kind. Ribius was even like her older brother. Always looking out for her, teaching her, and even scolding her.

Alyth never really noticed how she had everything she needed. Never hungry, bored, or tired.

Everyone cared for her. Everyone loved her. And all she needed was them. Other than that, she needed nothing. Not even finding her real father and mother. She doesn't need them. She already has a family of her own.

After realizing this, she smiled at Mallo and wrapped her arms around his leg.

"I forgive you, Mallo." Mallo felt something wet running down his cheeks. Ribius took notice of this and made the hardest effort ever to wrap an arm around Mallo's waist while his cheeks were dusted a light red.

Mallo kept crying for a bit and bent down to hug the both of them. Alyth hugged back with a large smile and Ribius pretended as if he hated it (he didn't mind).

The moment did not last long.

Alyth jerked away from Mallo as soon as she sensed a fourth presence. Ribius also sensed it and jumped away from Alyth and Mallo. Ribius surrounded himself with a mana shield, and so did Mallo and Alyth, though Alyth's was stronger.

"A monster?" Asked Ribius. Mallo thought carefully. He didn't sense an evil presence, so maybe it was a normal creature? "Come out. We can sense you either way." Mallo declared.

The small presence slowly came out of the snowy hills, only for the three to find out that they'd been confronted by a dwarf. A magic dwarf.

A magic dwarf is still on the 11th level, but they are stronger than a magicless dwarf.

It was clearly scared.

A small body, wearing brown and beige cloths around, leather scraps as shoes, wrapped using hay and straw.

"A dwarf...?" Alyth questioned. Ribius's hand was stretched forward, in a position where he'd use some magic.

Mallo stood more confident than ever, knowing he wouldn't be hurt by whatever the dwarf could do.

But what surprised him was what Alyth did. "Alyth...?" Ribius questioned slowly when he saw her walk towards the dwarf.

She reached out her hand and smiled brightly. "I am Alyth! What's your name?" The dwarf took a small step back and stared her down. Alyth kept smiling.

After reassuring that Alyth wouldn't hurt him, he slowly took a step forward and shook her hand. "Damur." He said with a high-pitched voice.

"That thing over there is Mallo, he's a perv,"

"Hey."

"and the kid is Ribius."

Damur nodded at Mallo and Ribius in acknowledgment. "Damur, why are you here and not in your village?" Alyth asked. Damur looked down at the ground.

"...Can I get my friend...?" Alyth blanked out a bit but quickly nodded.

The dwarf took out some horn from his pouch (which was wrapped on his waist) and blew in it, making a very loud 'HUMMMM' sound. After a moment of bursting their ears out, a small dwarf's head popped out of a tree hollow. Alyth's heart almost melted. 'Adorable...' She thought at the moment.

The small dwarf slowly walked behind Damur. "...Why... here?" Damur did some strange movements with his hand, making a signal for the small dwarf. The small dwarf also did some signs, and at the end, they nodded.

"I am Bappo, pleased to meet you..." The small dwarf spoke, the voice indicating that it was female. "Hello, Bappo!" Alyth waved.

Bappo glanced at Damur for a pure second and looked back at Alyth, then at Mallo and Ribius. "Are you guys... The Osphos?" Alyth tilted her head, with a smile still.

Damur and Bappo looked at each other for a bit, then nodded.

"The Osphos... Is a hero. The hero who saved the Mongapo (dwarf) village one thousand years ago. Before the Osphos left, he gave us a scroll. That scroll told us that one thousand years later, another hero will save us from another crisis." Damur explained.

"When we saw you guys, we felt some strange magic source coming from the girl. We had a reassuring feeling, as if someone was telling us that you're the Osphos." Beppo continued.

Alyth had a strange pang feeling in her heart. She clearly wasn't the Osphos or whatever. She felt it. She was not the chosen one.

Yet she still smiled. "Actually, we were on our way to Courheth. Do you possibly know a way to get there quicker?"

"Um, we know a shortcut to there, in case you're following the Pin Saption Compass (The Pin Saption Compass is basically a compass leading only to the North, South, East, and West using magic. It pinpoints the Village, city, town, or kingdom's magic barriers and leads you there. But if a village or so was on the Southeast, the compass won't lead you there, it would point to the nearest south or east village only. The Pin Taption leads you to all the Southeast and northeast blah blah)."

"How do we get there?" Mallo asked.

Damur walked over to Mallo and Ribius. "Can I see your compass?"

Mallo got his compass from his Stone and handed it over to Damur. While Damur lifted it up to see, he carried a face of utter shock.

"You were headed to Courheth, right?" Damur asked, blinking twice. "Courheth is in the East. This... Is an SN (South & North) compass. If you kept going, you would've reached Wondo, not Courheth."

Mallo looked at the compass. "I knew I felt something off." He commented as if nothing was wrong.

"So, where are we right now?" Ribius asked. Mallo took out his magic map.

"...Near Wondo." Damur said.

....

....

....

'We're so done.' Ribius, Mallo, and Alyth thought at the same time.

___End Of Chapter 16___