Chapter 5 : Freedom
After flying for ten minutes, Cloud was exhausted, even though he had done nothing but stand. However, the speed at which they flew made him feel dizzy and tired.
It felt as if he were standing on invisible ground, and the wind hitting his face forced his eyes shut involuntarily.
Just the thought that he was flying in the sky made his heart tighten.
Suddenly, he sensed that their flight path was no longer straight — they had begun to descend.
Cloud slowly opened his eyes, resisting the wind that still pushed against him, and then… he saw the most breathtaking sight of his life.
It was a city that stretched with indescribable grandeur, surrounded by towering square-shaped walls, their edges glinting faintly like the shimmer of metal. The city pushed its way through a strange layer of dense fog, which clung to it like a living creature, silently observing, cloaking it in mystery and beauty.
From above, the city appeared like a giant maze, its streets and buildings interwoven in a surprisingly harmonious design. Its vast area spanned tens of kilometers from the southern gate to the northern one — if not more.
Cloud was slowly descending, his eyes locked on the captivating scene, unable to see the city's end. It looked as if it had no limits, swallowing the horizon in a majestic view.
The main entrance lay directly below them. The blond man landed steadily, an indifferent look on his face.
The guards assigned to watch the gate quickly stepped forward and saluted respectfully.
"We salute the Third Young Master!"
The blond man nodded with a smile and said to the guards,
"Thank you. Keep up the good work."
After his greeting, one of the guards rushed to open a small door set within the large gate itself. Once Cloud and the blond man had passed through, they shut the door and returned to their posts.
"Boy, this is the City of Mist, one of the ancient cities of the Empire. What do you think of it?" the blond man asked.
But when he looked at Cloud, he smiled. The look of awe and admiration on Cloud's face was answer enough.
"Amazing…" Cloud spoke, still wearing that stunned expression. It was his first time outside his village. He had never gone anywhere far, other than the safe surroundings nearby.
When Cloud stepped through the gate, his feet touched dark-colored stone pavement — clearly designed to endure years of horses and carriages. The streets were relatively clean, lined with solid brick buildings in a reddish-brown hue, interlaced with dark wood on the upper floors.
Many stalls were open at the far end of the street. People walked by, some entering shops, others returning home, and some chatting in the open. The atmosphere was full of life!
But what caught his eye the most was a massive white castle. Though it stood far from their current location, its size made it visible to all.
It was incredibly distant, yet its towering presence pierced through the fog, still visible despite the distance.
Cloud didn't know what it was, but he was stunned by its overwhelming, majestic form.
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"Thank you, sir, for helping me. May I have the honor of knowing your name?" Cloud asked, his tone respectful.
He had just remembered he still didn't know the name of the man who had helped him. But considering the situation he had been in, it was only natural to forget something so simple.
"Edward," the blond man replied with a smile.
"Thank you, Sir Edward, for saving me and treating me kindly. I will surely repay your favor one day," Cloud said, offering a respectful bow.
"But may I ask you one more thing?" he added, pulling out a small booklet.
It was a beginner's training manual for Origin Energy.
Edward glanced at the booklet, then smiled slightly and said,
"That's a basic training manual for the early stages of Origin Energy. It uses an old and somewhat impractical method, but… it's still not bad."
He paused, then continued:
"So, do you have any plans now?"
Cloud paused, trying to think, but soon let out a sheepish chuckle, scratching his head awkwardly:
"I totally forgot, hehe…"
He lifted his eyes toward Edward, a little nervous, but there was a spark of determination in his gaze. He gathered his courage after a brief silence and spoke honestly:
"Sir Edward… may I ask you for one more favor?"
Edward nodded silently, a mysterious look in his eyes, but the faint smile remained on his face.
"Can you teach me about Origin Energy? I want to become strong."
That request had been stuck in his heart since they were flying. He had thought Edward might be a good and principled person — after all, he hadn't abandoned a fifteen-year-old in the forest.
And now, asking about his plans meant he might be willing to help again. So Cloud decided to ask for help with training, leaving the rest to fate — whether Edward would agree or not.
Edward's display of strength had changed everything in Cloud's mind. He no longer saw power as just a means to survive — it had become, in his eyes, the key to freedom.
He had been free in his village, but he had never truly felt free. With every monster attack, with every moment of helplessness, he realized how limited and powerless he was.
But today… he saw something different. He saw what true freedom meant.
He saw it in Edward's strength, in his calm steps, in the confident smile that surrounded him like an aura.
And so, he deeply desired that strength — not to harm, but to live as he chose.
In his eyes, a new look of resolve was born, one that had never been there before.
He saw his future.
He saw the path.
But he had no idea… that what fate had in store for him would be far beyond his wildest expectations.
End of Chapter.