A Pause at the Cliffside Grave
Drip, drip, splatter―――
"Nngh……."
The faint sound of rain filtering through the window gradually pulled my hazy consciousness back to the surface. I slowly lifted my heavy eyelids, revealing the dimly lit private room of the inn.
From the floor below, I could hear the bustle of people coming and going, their loud chatter. A medley of smells from stew that had been simmering god-knows-how-long wafted up subtly.
I thought about sleeping a bit more and tried closing my eyes again, but even with them shut, sleep wouldn't come, so I finally opened them just a crack.
"Haaah……."
Cold air seeped in through the window beyond the rough blanket, making my body shiver involuntarily.
Cold.
A body that wouldn't freeze even in the Arctic, yet I felt the chill so keenly. After all these long years, it was still a mystery to me.
I wiggled my fingers slightly, invoking a spell. Warmth bubbled up from deep inside my belly, quickly enveloping my entire body in cozy heat. It seemed simple, but it was advanced high mage magic requiring precise control.
One slip, and I'd cook myself alive from the inside.
Now that I was warm, I stripped off the chemise I'd slept in, stuffed it into my backpack, and wiped down my body with a damp towel. Being small made it quick work.
I blew off the moisture with magic, then dressed for the road: sturdy cloth tunic and pants, leather skirt, and calf-high leather boots. Standard traveler's garb.
Once ready, I stepped into the hallway, knocked on the next door over—Kasian's room.
Once, twice, three times.
No answer even after several knocks. With a sigh, I pushed the door open. It creaked as it swung wide, revealing the gray-haired boy still dead to the world, sprawled out in bed.
Looking down at him, I suddenly thought, Has this kid gotten this big already? I'd picked him up when he was practically a newborn, and now he was nearly my height. He'd surpass me soon enough.
Over the years, I'd raised dozens of disciples and seen this happen time and again, but it always felt strangely bittersweet.
That aside, sleeping like a log—what a lazy disciple.
I trained him daily without fail, but I didn't push him to exhaustion. Yesterday's toughest bit was just zapping him with high voltage for a few minutes.
Guess it wasn't enough.
I summoned a tested method—electricity—in my hand and gently stroked Kasian, just enough not to kill him.
With all the love of a caring master, of course.
"GyaAAAAAHH!!"
Kasian flopped like a fresh-caught fish, snapping awake instantly.
Lightning really was the best alarm clock.
"Two silvers."
"Here."
I handed over two half-silver coins and one whole, receiving two bowls of hot stew and a loaf of bread in return.
The stew had been bubbling forever, steam rising lazily, but it was a murky mix of unidentifiable animal meat, mystery offal, and mushy vegetables—not exactly appetizing.
"Here."
"Thanks for the meal……."
Maybe from the morning shock, he looked a bit dazed.
I set a bowl of stew and bread in front of him, and like any growing boy, he devoured it. The bread was tough as hell, but he didn't soften it in the stew—just chomped it down indifferently.
I don't need to eat to survive, but hunger was another matter, so I scooped up a spoonful and brought it to my mouth.
...Salty.
Tenderized mystery meat blended with squishy veggies in a symphony of extreme saltiness.
It wasn't my first rodeo, but the undeniable brine hit every time.
Still beats starving. I endured the tongue-numbing salt and shoveled it in.
We finished the unenjoyable meal quickly, packed up, and headed out. Clouds hid the sun, but dawn had just broken.
The rain smell hit strong outside.
It had weakened since waking, but still enough to soak us instantly, so I donned my prepped cloak. Kasian followed, lugging a backpack half-again his size.
"Master, where to now?"
"Hmm. Where should we go?"
We'd wandered plenty already. No real destination, just roaming the continent—that's how it went.
North along the coast or south, either worked. Aimless travel's like that.
The continent's vast; places left to see outnumbered those we'd hit.
But whichever way, one stop nearby first.
"There's a tall coastal cliff around here. Let's hit that first."
"Oh, that big one way out there? Why go there?"
"Someone I wanna check on."
Half a day walking past the city gates. Rain stopped, but thick clouds veiled the sun now nearing midday.
Looked ready for another downpour.
Not ideal weather, but skipping it might mean years till next time, so I ignored it.
We reached the coast—not sandy beaches, but sheer cliffs tall enough to stack a couple buildings. In the middle, one particularly steep peak, carved out around it.
Hadn't seen it in ages; it looked a tad different.
Kasian gawked up at it.
"Whoa, that's high……."
"Enough gawking. Let's climb."
"Huh? The one you wanna see is up there?"
"Something like that."
I hopped over jagged rocks, reaching the summit in seconds. Kasian followed effortlessly.
Whoever taught him did a damn good job.
Atop the flat peak: panoramic coast, scenery, short grass carpet, and smack in the center, a small mossy rock.
"Nobody here?"
"Right there."
I pointed to the mossy stone amid the grass.
Brushed off the moss—faint letters emerged underneath.
I'd worried it might be eroded away, but faintly readable. Lucky.
<Tomb of Krat Poll Mite | 42 - 20>
"Gravestone?"
"Yeah."
"...Whose?"
"An old disciple I taught. Your grand-senior, basically."
Set my pack down, pulled out a bottle of wine—cheap local stuff, but he'd guzzle anything boozy, so no complaints.
Placed it before the stone, knelt, clasped hands, closed eyes, and prayed.
I knew it was pointless self-consolation, but sometimes I craved these dips into the past.
How'd we meet? Right—caught him pickpocketing my wallet at market.
Surprisingly gifted in magic; rewarding to teach. Only my second disciple then.
Shocked when he grew up and proposed marriage.
I can't love anyone, regardless of gender—still feel a twinge of guilt refusing.
Those memories from my old world are the core of who I am now.
...Though they led him to a harem-king life with over ten women. Kinda ruined.
Still couldn't hate him.
Praying like this, I recalled boozing with him around adulthood.
"……."
A bit longer, unmoving, then unclasped and stood.
"...Done?"
"Yeah."
Finally, poured the wine over the stone. Crimson liquid soaked the worn rock.
Years till next visit? Probably with a different disciple by then—not Kasian.
"...Master."
"What."
"...Nothing."
Kasian'd been quiet awhile.
No need to ask; he was pondering his own mortality, no doubt.
Sudden chill on my scalp—I looked up. A snowflake kissed my cheek, melting fast under my finger.
Snow.
Winter's here, right on cue.
Piling up would suck; time to move.
I glanced at the stone, now dusted with fresh flakes, then turned my back and walked away.
"Let's go."
I'll drop by plenty more times.