His eyes widened as though he had suddenly realized something, and it was evident that he had understood that I had taken care of the cost of the treatment myself. Although Aunt Greta had done me a favour by bartering the cost of my treatment for something else, there was no need to mention that to him.
After a while, he suddenly spoke up, "I didn't know." He paused for a moment before continuing, "I didn't think that far ahead."
As he spoke, I couldn't help but think that I was talking to a boy who was still trying to find his place in the world. Despite being more mature than some of the brats I knew back on earth, it was clear that he was still inexperienced. As I processed everything he had just explained, my anger began to subside, and I started to calm down.
Taking a deep breath, I replied, "It seems like you were preoccupied with other things and didn't consider something so obvious and important." Pausing for a moment, I added, "But, to be honest, I can't even bring myself to be angry with you. So, there's really nothing for you to worry about."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his eyes widen once again as he turned to face me. "You forgive me?" he asked, hope and joy spreading across his face. But that wasn't what I meant.
"No," I firmly responded.
Confusion washed over his expression, but I pushed on. "From following you to the Vlkyr vines location when I should have refused, to charging headfirst into danger instead of staying hidden and letting the warriors do their work. If I hadn't done all those things, I wouldn't be in this mess. So there's nothing for you to worry about because I can't forgive you if I wasn't angry with you in the first place."
To be honest, it would be foolish of me to blame Gorg for everything that had transpired. The only one to blame was the former Orion, but he was long gone. I couldn't hold a grudge against a dead man especially when he was the main reason that I could transmigrate into this world.
Gorg's lips slowly curved into a smile, and he asked, "So...are we friends again?" There was a hint of hope and anticipation in his expression.
Nonetheless, although I harboured no ill feelings towards Gorg, as he was Orion's former friend, his actions and the way he handled the situation were unbecoming of someone who claims to be a friend. Therefore, I cannot make the same mistake that the former Orion did by allowing someone like him to become my closest friend.
I met his gaze and firmly responded again, "No." At first, his hopeful expression faltered, replaced with a look of dumbfounded confusion as he struggled to process my words. "The former Orion died with his memories, leaving me with no recollection of you or any belief that you are my friend." Suddenly, Gorg halted in his tracks, mouth agape and trembling with disbelief as my words sank in.
Nonetheless, I continued walking away with my final words trailing behind me, "Although we cannot be friends, we can still maintain a close relationship and conduct business together in the future," I said before closing in on Ursa and Sura's position. I paid no mind to the fact that he stood there in utter stupor.
I'm not entirely sure what he was expecting, but if he thought I would simply 'forget' everything and carry on being his friend without question, he was sorely mistaken.
"What were you two discussing?" Sura inquired, her eyes bright with curiosity. She turned towards Gorg, who now wore a sombre expression despite his earlier cheer, before redirecting her gaze towards me.
I shook my head and replied, 'It's nothing to worry about. We were just clearing some things up.'" Despite my succinct answer, the tone of my voice and the manner in which I spoke was enough to dissuade further inquiries, prompting the two girls to redirect their attention to the road ahead.
Both girls had a similar attitude of not involving themselves in matters that didn't concern them, unlike the former Orion. Therefore, I knew that their curiosity was already waning, and they were no longer interested in what had transpired between me and Gorg.
After half an hour of walking, Mr Tog suddenly made an announcement, "For those of you who have the potential to become warriors, be at the village chief's compound on the day after tomorrow. As for those who wish to work on the farm, Mrs Shani will be at the gates early tomorrow morning, so don't be late." Everyone nodded in understanding and began to disperse. As we approached the path that led to my hut, I bid Sura and Ursa farewell and started making my way home.
Of course, I noticed that Gorg was still trailing at the back of the group, with his head bowed and a solemn expression on his face. However, I decided to focus on moving forward and kept walking. At least now, I understood why he had put so much effort into building a close relationship with me. Fortunately, we've cleared the air between us, because right now my only focus is awakening my gift - nothing else matters.
After a few minutes, I arrived back at my home to find a surprise waiting for me - Reena, Gina, and Mother were all there, gathered together with a clay bowl full of Kalna and Lipry fruits.
They had planned a celebration to mark the end of my awakening ceremony and were eager to hear all about my gift and whether I had awakened it. But when I confessed that I hadn't yet discovered my gift, their faces fell in disappointment. Despite this setback, they put on a brave face and decided to go ahead with the celebration, determined not to let it dampen their spirits.
"Don't worry, Orion. The fact that your gift is taking this much time to awaken means that it's a good one," my mother said with a reassuring smile. She brought my head close to her chest, allowing me to lay it down on her plump motherly breasts as we lay on the mat beneath us.
