Chapter 113
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The weather seemed particularly dreary outside when he'd stepped out to open up the shop. Dark, moody clouds ominously blanketed the skies above the little town of Cem-Elle.
More rain? It's really not letting up this week, huh. Just my luck…
It'd only be a matter of time before it would start raining, so he picked up his pace hurriedly started working. He grabbed his trusty broom and started sweeping, collecting every fallen leaf, twig, and petal he could find in front of the shop.
After he finished sweeping, he walked over to the floating chalkboard that was beside the shop's entrance and wiped it clean. He pulled out a small piece of chalk and rubbed his chin in contemplation.
What were we making this week? Shit. I already forgot. Something with chocolate, right? Or was it something else? I can't remember anymore…
He eventually gave up and popped his head back into the shop in resignation.
"Hey, babe! What are th—"
A gentle voice interrupted him and said, "Chocolate croissants for ten credits. Caramel eclairs for fifteen. A slice of white chocolate raspberry cheesecake for twenty."
He thanked her and quickly wrote out the special offers on the floating chalkboard before he returned back inside the shop. It was almost opening time. Soon enough, the customers would start pouring in and they'd be up to their necks in orders as always…
For better or worse, the small bakery on Fargreen Avenue had become one of the most popular shops in Cem-Elle and a hotspot for the young people in town. It'd become the go-to place for fashionable youngsters to mingle with another, much to the shop owner's dismay.
Sure, he enjoyed the booming profits the youngsters had brought along with them, but he hated the reputation his shop had gotten as a result.
The calmer, older folk in town who'd once been his regulars during the bakery's heydays had now moved on to other bakeries and cafes in light of the recent influx of new blood.
He missed the early days when the bakery had once been a quiet little place for the elderly folk in town. They always had interesting stories to tell for anyone willing to listen to them… unlike the people who now frequented his bakery.
As far as Reed was concerned his beloved bakery, Summer's Ambrosia, had become something else. It wasn't the same place he once loved.
Lu'um, on the other hand, enjoyed the influx of youngsters or rather, what they sometimes brought out of Reed. She loved to peek out of her peripheral vision and catch his ever-so-slightly scowling expression whenever a random guy tried to flirt with her during work.
How his facade would crumble for the briefest of moments before he patched it back up and played it cool. It was the cutest thing in the world to her, or so she thought.
Although they were delicious and well-made, the pastries weren't the only reason that the bakery had grown so popular. It'd become well known in town that a charming beauty worked at the bakery that could steal the hearts of men with a single smile.
She was, in all likelihood, the main reason that the bakery had blown up into what it had become these days. Young men wanted to win the maiden's favor and young women wanted to hunt her down, the devious temptress that she was...
They had put down their lives and settled in a small town in the South, far away from any major city connected to the Grid — the Altar system. Cem-Elle was not part of the Grid and was, therefore, an isolated town that operated for the most part, on its own.
It was a small town of about twenty-thousand people that was located near the border between the South and the West. Simply put, Cem-Elle was a quiet town populated by mortals who lived normal, peaceful lives.
There were no Chosen here in the middle of nowhere, which was what Reed had desired the most.
Here he would not be bothered or reminded of what he really was and what he possessed. He could put down his heavy burden and live a simpler, slower way of life.
Of course, he knew that one day it would end. He would have to return back to that world, the one he had left behind. There was no running from that… inevitability. If there was one thing he was sure about, it was that fate itself would eventually pull him back into the fold, force him to keep walking forward…
But until then, he would reflect in peace and return to his roots.
He had come to realize much in the last two years about himself.
There was a time when all he had wished for was to set off on some grand adventure and live an exciting life. But in truth, what he really wanted was to escape the miserably bleak life he had been born into.
He did not want to live and die without doing something. The thought of dying without having accomplished anything was what frightened him in his sleep back in the slums.
Living an entire life for just the sake of living was his greatest fear. To him, it was akin to already being dead. The only difference between himself and those who'd already been buried six feet under was that his heart was still beating. That was what he had thought at the time.
It was why he had been so obsessed with saving them at the time. Why he had wanted to save them in the first place.
It disgusted him to the core of how rotten he had been back then.
He had not saved them because they had been his precious friends. He had only used that as a convenient excuse to hide his true desires.
What he'd wanted was to do something great — something that'd make him feel like his life had a meaningful purpose. That he'd been was born to do something special that only he could accomplish.
A valiant, fearless hero setting off to save his beloved friends? It was almost as if he'd been tempted with his personal holy grail. He couldn't have asked for more even if he wanted to…
That was why he had decided to live a mortal life in Cem-Elle.
Reed had come to the conclusion that his power had corrupted him. He had been way too immature at the time to handle what he had been bestowed.
At his worst, he had thought himself above others. Made himself out to be a chosen one, a hero and much more… He had let it feed on his fears and deepest desires. A fatal mistake that'd cost him dearly in the end.
Thus, he had sealed what had once turned him into a heartless monster. For the last two years, Reed had not once used Anima so much as a single time.
It was to remind himself of what he really was past the incredible power he possessed. He was a human being, just like them.
The first customers had finally arrived and Reed smiled when he saw them. They were the only ones who still stuck around even after the youngsters took over as the bakery's main demographic base.
As soon as the elderly couple walked into the bakery Reed said, "Absolutely dreadful weather today, don't you think? I hear that it's going to last all week, I'm afraid…"
The old man smiled and said, "Rain isn't that bad, my boy. There's plenty you can do indoors that you can't outside, after all. Keeping one another warm, for example…"
Reed snorted in amusement and said, "I can't even begin to imagine how much a pain you must have been when you were young, gramps. You're a lucky guy, having such a tolerant wife, you know that?"
The old man's wife laughed and said, "He certainly was a handful back in the day, but I always knew how to put him in his place. The moment I learned what his weakness was, it was over for him. "
She grinned, looked at Lu'um with a gleam in her eye and said, "Make sure you learn what his weakness is, dear. Once you do, you'll see what I mean…"
Lu'um slowly nodded and said, "I'll make it my top priority, grandmother."
They were an odd couple, for sure, but Reed didn't dislike that about them. In a certain way, it was like they hadn't aged a single day past twenty on the inside, despite being well into the seventies.
Mr.& Mrs. Hartford always seemed to live in their own little world. Whenever these two came, even Lu'um would genuinely smile.
Reed envied them from the bottom of his heart. They, who near the end of their lives, did not seem to be affected in the slightest by the age. In many ways, they were what Reed one day longed to be.
Fulfilled, truly happy, and in love with his one-and-only the way they were…
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The weather seemed particularly dreary outside when he'd stepped out to open up the shop. Dark, moody clouds ominously blanketed the skies above the little town of Cem-Elle.
More rain? It's really not letting up this week, huh. Just my luck…
It'd only be a matter of time before it would start raining, so he picked up his pace hurriedly started working. He grabbed his trusty broom and started sweeping, collecting every fallen leaf, twig, and petal he could find in front of the shop.
After he finished sweeping, he walked over to the floating chalkboard that was beside the shop's entrance and wiped it clean. He pulled out a small piece of chalk and rubbed his chin in contemplation.
What were we making this week? Shit. I already forgot. Something with chocolate, right? Or was it something else? I can't remember anymore…
He eventually gave up and popped his head back into the shop in resignation.
"Hey, babe! What are th—"
A gentle voice interrupted him and said, "Chocolate croissants for ten credits. Caramel eclairs for fifteen. A slice of white chocolate raspberry cheesecake for twenty."
He thanked her and quickly wrote out the special offers on the floating chalkboard before he returned back inside the shop. It was almost opening time. Soon enough, the customers would start pouring in and they'd be up to their necks in orders as always…
For better or worse, the small bakery on Fargreen Avenue had become one of the most popular shops in Cem-Elle and a hotspot for the young people in town. It'd become the go-to place for fashionable youngsters to mingle with another, much to the shop owner's dismay.
Sure, he enjoyed the booming profits the youngsters had brought along with them, but he hated the reputation his shop had gotten as a result.
The calmer, older folk in town who'd once been his regulars during the bakery's heydays had now moved on to other bakeries and cafes in light of the recent influx of new blood.
He missed the early days when the bakery had once been a quiet little place for the elderly folk in town. They always had interesting stories to tell for anyone willing to listen to them… unlike the people who now frequented his bakery.
As far as Reed was concerned his beloved bakery, Summer's Ambrosia, had become something else. It wasn't the same place he once loved.
Lu'um, on the other hand, enjoyed the influx of youngsters or rather, what they sometimes brought out of Reed. She loved to peek out of her peripheral vision and catch his ever-so-slightly scowling expression whenever a random guy tried to flirt with her during work.
How his facade would crumble for the briefest of moments before he patched it back up and played it cool. It was the cutest thing in the world to her, or so she thought.
Although they were delicious and well-made, the pastries weren't the only reason that the bakery had grown so popular. It'd become well known in town that a charming beauty worked at the bakery that could steal the hearts of men with a single smile.
She was, in all likelihood, the main reason that the bakery had blown up into what it had become these days. Young men wanted to win the maiden's favor and young women wanted to hunt her down, the devious temptress that she was...
They had put down their lives and settled in a small town in the South, far away from any major city connected to the Grid — the Altar system. Cem-Elle was not part of the Grid and was, therefore, an isolated town that operated for the most part, on its own.
It was a small town of about twenty-thousand people that was located near the border between the South and the West. Simply put, Cem-Elle was a quiet town populated by mortals who lived normal, peaceful lives.
There were no Chosen here in the middle of nowhere, which was what Reed had desired the most.
Here he would not be bothered or reminded of what he really was and what he possessed. He could put down his heavy burden and live a simpler, slower way of life.
Of course, he knew that one day it would end. He would have to return back to that world, the one he had left behind. There was no running from that… inevitability. If there was one thing he was sure about, it was that fate itself would eventually pull him back into the fold, force him to keep walking forward…
But until then, he would reflect in peace and return to his roots.
He had come to realize much in the last two years about himself.
There was a time when all he had wished for was to set off on some grand adventure and live an exciting life. But in truth, what he really wanted was to escape the miserably bleak life he had been born into.
He did not want to live and die without doing something. The thought of dying without having accomplished anything was what frightened him in his sleep back in the slums.
Living an entire life for just the sake of living was his greatest fear. To him, it was akin to already being dead. The only difference between himself and those who'd already been buried six feet under was that his heart was still beating. That was what he had thought at the time.
It was why he had been so obsessed with saving them at the time. Why he had wanted to save them in the first place.
It disgusted him to the core of how rotten he had been back then.
He had not saved them because they had been his precious friends. He had only used that as a convenient excuse to hide his true desires.
What he'd wanted was to do something great — something that'd make him feel like his life had a meaningful purpose. That he'd been was born to do something special that only he could accomplish.
A valiant, fearless hero setting off to save his beloved friends? It was almost as if he'd been tempted with his personal holy grail. He couldn't have asked for more even if he wanted to…
That was why he had decided to live a mortal life in Cem-Elle.
Reed had come to the conclusion that his power had corrupted him. He had been way too immature at the time to handle what he had been bestowed.
At his worst, he had thought himself above others. Made himself out to be a chosen one, a hero and much more… He had let it feed on his fears and deepest desires. A fatal mistake that'd cost him dearly in the end.
Thus, he had sealed what had once turned him into a heartless monster. For the last two years, Reed had not once used Anima so much as a single time.
It was to remind himself of what he really was past the incredible power he possessed. He was a human being, just like them.
The first customers had finally arrived and Reed smiled when he saw them. They were the only ones who still stuck around even after the youngsters took over as the bakery's main demographic base.
As soon as the elderly couple walked into the bakery Reed said, "Absolutely dreadful weather today, don't you think? I hear that it's going to last all week, I'm afraid…"
The old man smiled and said, "Rain isn't that bad, my boy. There's plenty you can do indoors that you can't outside, after all. Keeping one another warm, for example…"
Reed snorted in amusement and said, "I can't even begin to imagine how much a pain you must have been when you were young, gramps. You're a lucky guy, having such a tolerant wife, you know that?"
The old man's wife laughed and said, "He certainly was a handful back in the day, but I always knew how to put him in his place. The moment I learned what his weakness was, it was over for him. "
She grinned, looked at Lu'um with a gleam in her eye and said, "Make sure you learn what his weakness is, dear. Once you do, you'll see what I mean…"
Lu'um slowly nodded and said, "I'll make it my top priority, grandmother."
They were an odd couple, for sure, but Reed didn't dislike that about them. In a certain way, it was like they hadn't aged a single day past twenty on the inside, despite being well into the seventies.
Mr.& Mrs. Hartford always seemed to live in their own little world. Whenever these two came, even Lu'um would genuinely smile.
Reed envied them from the bottom of his heart. They, who near the end of their lives, did not seem to be affected in the slightest by the age. In many ways, they were what Reed one day longed to be.
Fulfilled, truly happy, and in love with his one-and-only the way they were…
The weather seemed particularly dreary outside when he'd stepped out to open up the shop. Dark, moody clouds ominously blanketed the skies above the little town of Cem-Elle.More rain? It's really not letting up this week, huh. Just my luckIt'd only be a matter of time before it would start raining, so he picked up his pace hurriedly started working. He grabbed his trusty broom and started sweeping, collecting every fallen leaf, twig, and petal he could find in front of the shop.After he finished sweeping, he walked over to the floating chalkboard that was beside the shop's entrance and wiped it clean. He pulled out a small piece of chalk and rubbed his chin in contemplation.What were we making this week? Shit. I already forgot. Something with chocolate, right? Or was it something else? I can't remember anymoreHe eventually gave up and popped his head back into the shop in resignation."Hey, babe! What are th"A gentle voice interrupted him and said, "Chocolate croissants for ten credits. Caramel eclairs for fifteen. A slice of white chocolate raspberry cheesecake for twenty."He thanked her and quickly wrote out the special offers on the floating chalkboard before he returned back inside the shop. It was almost opening time. Soon enough, the customers would start pouring in and they'd be up to their necks in orders as alwaysFor better or worse, the small bakery on Fargreen Avenue had become one of the most popular shops in Cem-Elle and a hotspot for the young people in town. It'd become the go-to place for fashionable youngsters to mingle with another, much to the shop owner's dismay.Sure, he enjoyed the booming profits the youngsters had brought along with them, but he hated the reputation his shop had gotten as a result.The calmer, older folk in town who'd once been his regulars during the bakery's heydays had now moved on to other bakeries and cafes in light of the recent influx of new blood.He missed the early days when the bakery had once been a quiet little place for the elderly folk in town. They always had interesting stories to tell for anyone willing to listen to them unlike the people who now frequented his bakery.As far as Reed was concerned his beloved bakery, Summer's Ambrosia,had become something else. It wasn't the same place he once loved.Lu'um, on the other hand, enjoyed the influx of youngsters or rather, what they sometimes brought out of Reed. She loved to peek out of her peripheral vision and catch his ever-so-slightly scowling expression whenever a random guy tried to flirt with her during work.How his facade would crumble for the briefest of moments before he patched it back up and played it cool. It was the cutest thing in the world to her, or so she thought.Although they were delicious and well-made, the pastries weren't the only reason that the bakery had grown so popular. It'd become well known in town that a charming beauty worked at the bakery that could steal the hearts of men with a single smile.She was, in all likelihood, the main reason that the bakery had blown up into what it had become these days. Young men wanted to win the maiden's favor and young women wanted to hunt her down, the devious temptress that she was...They had put down their lives and settled in a small town in the South, far away from any major city connected to the Grid the Altar system. Cem-Elle was not part of the Grid and was, therefore, an isolated town that operated for the most part, on its own.It was a small town of about twenty-thousand people that was located near the border between the South and the West. Simply put, Cem-Elle was a quiet town populated by mortals who lived normal, peaceful lives.There were no Chosen here in the middle of nowhere, which was what Reed had desired the most.Here he would not be bothered or reminded of what he really was and what he possessed. He could put down his heavy burden and live a simpler, slower way of life.Of course, he knew that one day it would end. He would have to return back to that world, the one he had left behind. There was no running from that inevitability. If there was one thing he was sure about, it was that fate itself would eventually pull him back into the fold, force him to keep walking forwardBut until then, he would reflect in peace and return to his roots.He had come to realize much in the last two years about himself.There was a time when all he had wished for was to set off on some grand adventure and live an exciting life. But in truth, what he really wanted was to escape the miserably bleak life he had been born into.He did not want to live and die without doing something. The thought of dying without having accomplished anything was what frightened him in his sleep back in the slums.Living an entire life for just the sake of living was his greatest fear. To him, it was akin to already being dead. The only difference between himself and those who'd already been buried six feet under was that his heart was still beating. That was what he had thought at the time.It was why he had been so obsessed with saving them at the time. Why he had wanted to save them in the first place.It disgusted him to the core of how rotten he had been back then.He had not saved them because they had been his precious friends. He had only used that as a convenient excuse to hide his true desires.What he'd wanted was to do something great something that'd make him feel like his life had a meaningful purpose. That he'd been was born to do something special that only he could accomplish.A valiant, fearless hero setting off to save his beloved friends? It was almost as if he'd been tempted with his personal holy grail. He couldn't have asked for more even if he wanted toThat was why he had decided to live a mortal life in Cem-Elle.Reed had come to the conclusion that his power had corrupted him. He had been way too immature at the time to handle what he had been bestowed.At his worst, he had thought himself above others. Made himself out to be a chosen one, a hero and much more He had let it feed on his fears and deepest desires. A fatal mistake that'd cost him dearly in the end.Thus, he had sealed what had once turned him into a heartless monster. For the last two years, Reed had not once used Anima so much as a single time.It was to remind himself of what he really was past the incredible power he possessed. He was a human being, just like them.The first customers had finally arrived and Reed smiled when he saw them. They were the only ones who still stuck around even after the youngsters took over as the bakery's main demographic base.As soon as the elderly couple walked into the bakery Reed said, "Absolutely dreadful weather today, don't you think? I hear that it's going to last all week, I'm afraid"The old man smiled and said, "Rain isn't that bad, my boy. There's plenty you can do indoors that you can't outside, after all. Keeping one another warm, for example"Reed snorted in amusement and said, "I can't even begin to imagine how much a pain you must have been when you were young, gramps. You're a lucky guy, having such a tolerant wife, you know that?"The old man's wife laughed and said, "He certainly was a handful back in the day, but I always knew how to put him in his place. The moment I learned what his weakness was, it was over for him. "She grinned, looked at Lu'um with a gleam in her eye and said, "Make sure you learn what his weakness is, dear. Once you do, you'll see what I mean"Lu'um slowly nodded and said, "I'll make it my top priority, grandmother."They were an odd couple, for sure, but Reed didn't dislike that about them. In a certain way, it was like they hadn't aged a single day past twenty on the inside, despite being well into the seventies.Mr.& Mrs. Hartford always seemed to live in their own little world. Whenever these two came, even Lu'um would genuinely smile.Reed envied them from the bottom of his heart. They, who near the end of their lives, did not seem to be affected in the slightest by the age. In many ways, they were what Reed one day longed to be.Fulfilled, truly happy, and in love with his one-and-only the way they were
