Chapter 12: A Friend’s Courage

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy the soup.”  

“I should be thanking you~ I swear, after applying that juice, my face looks ten years younger in just one day! My blemishes have faded, and my wrinkles are barely noticeable. The customers keep complimenting my skin, and I’m almost embarrassed by all the praise~”  

The innkeeper lady was beaming with joy.  

Thanks to that, she showed me an almost overwhelming amount of affection.  

Since she had a strong network in the village, earning her favor was definitely to my advantage.  

Leaving the inn, I headed to the bakery. 

After buying a hearty amount of warm, fragrant bread fresh from the oven, I set out on my way.  

“Hey! Fabir!”  

At someone’s call, I turned around to see a man waving and running toward me.  

“Who…?”  

“You might not recognize my face, but you can’t even recognize my voice?”  

“That voice… Could it be Baski?”  

“That’s right! It’s me!”

The cloth that once tightly covered his face was gone, and Baski was smiling brightly, his face fully revealed.  

I was stunned by his transformed appearance.  

“Is that really you, Baski? You look like a completely different person!”  

“All thanks to the aloe juice you gave me!”  

I knew the aloe juice was effective, but to erase burn scars so perfectly?  

This is bigger than I thought.  

Baski spread his arms wide, his chest open to the world.  

“Fresh air. Warm sunlight. It feels like I’ve been reborn.”  

“Congratulations on your rebirth.” 

Having known Baski’s struggles since our orphanage days, I genuinely cheered for him.  

“By the way, where are you headed? That’s a lot of bread—surely not all for you.”  

“Oh, it’s for my family at home.”  

“Family?”  

Baski tilted his head, puzzled.  

It must have been surprising to hear that I, an orphan, suddenly had a family.  

“More importantly, Fabir, thank you so much! That’s why… I want to help you out.”  

“Huh? You don’t have to do that.”  

I waved my hands, saying it was fine, but Baski grabbed them tightly, speaking earnestly.  

“You said you’re farming, right? Is there anything I can help with?”  

“It’s okay. I can manage on my own. Don’t feel obligated.”  

This time, Baski clasped his hands together, his eyes shining with determination.  

“I really want to help. I want to repay your kindness, but as you can see, all I have is myself. Plus, I’m curious about how you’re living.”  

I was taken aback by Baski’s sincerity.  

Denying him the chance to repay me might leave him with a burden.  

But I’d never considered bringing someone to the Floating Island.  

And wouldn’t I need Elenia, the Guardian, to approve?  

“Sorry, I don’t think it’s possible today. I need to get permission from my family first. I’ll invite you properly next time when I get the chance.”  

“Really? That’s a shame, but okay. You’ll definitely invite me next time, right?”  

“Yeah, I’ll try my best.”  

Promising to follow up later, I shook hands with Baski to part ways, but—  

As if reluctant to let go, Baski held onto my hand for a long while.  

***

I soon returned to the Floating Island.  

“Kept you waiting, huh? Let’s eat before it gets cold.” 

I served freshly baked bread and warm soup to the two others.  

Ding.  

[The Floating Island praises your good deed.]

[The Floating Island’s affinity has increased by 10.]  

“Out of nowhere, the Floating Island is praising me?”  

“What happened out there?”  

“Nothing big. I ran into an old orphanage friend with burn scars and gave him a bottle of aloe juice, that’s all.”  

“You’re kinder than you let on, aren’t you?”  

“Kind? Nah.”  

“Feeling shy? Building a good reputation through kind deeds is good for you too. The Floating Island was created to cultivate body and spirit, so it’s only natural it praises your actions.”  

“I didn’t do it for praise, but it does feel nice to be recognized.”  

I bit into the bread and sipped the warm soup.  

It warmed not just my body but my heart too.  

*** 

A few days later, as I headed to the inn to make a delivery—  

“Hey! Fabir!”  

I saw Baski waving at me in front of the inn.  

Was he waiting for me this whole time? 

I tilted my head as I approached him.  

“Good morning. What’s in the bag?”  

“These are crops for the inn. What are you doing here so early?”  

“What else? I was waiting for you.” 

As I suspected, it wasn’t just a coincidence.  

“What about your job?”  

“My job? I quit, obviously. I need to help you out.”  

…What?” 

I was so dumbfounded that my face froze for a moment. 

Unable to believe it, I asked again.  

“You really quit your job?”  

“Yeah, I told you I want to help you.”  

“Haa…”  

A heavy sigh escaped me as my chest tightened.  

“Baski, I haven’t given you an answer yet.”  

“I know. Your stance hasn’t changed. But I’ve already decided I’m going to help you no matter what.”  

Baski smiled innocently.  

Is his head full of flowers, or what’s he thinking?  

Baski is a good friend, no doubt.  

But unfortunately, he’s a bit simple-minded. 

Once he makes up his mind, he acts without a plan.  

“Ugh.”

As I swallowed a groan, Baski finally noticed my discomfort and cautiously asked,  

“Did I put you in a tough spot? I just wanted to help…”  

I rubbed my forehead, feeling a headache coming on.  

It felt wrong to flat-out reject his earnest offer, but I had no idea where to begin explaining.  

“This won’t do. Come with me.” 

First, I delivered the crops to the inn, then headed straight for the forest.  

“Where are we going?”  

Baski, dragged along by my hand, asked in an uneasy voice.  

“I’m going to show you.”  

“Show me what? What’s in this forest?”  

“Dorori!”  

Flap.

Dorori, who had been waiting nearby, landed beside me.  

“What’s that?!”  

Startled by Dorori’s massive size, Baski stepped back.  

“This is my friend Dorori. He’s my trusty ride.”  

I patted Dorori’s neck.  

“Oh, is that so? Nice to meet you. I’m Baski, Fabir’s friend.”  

“HH!!”

Dorori nodded its head.  

“What you wanted to show me…?”  

“No, I’m about to show you my farm.”  

“Really?!”

Caught off guard, Baski jumped with excitement.  

“But you can’t go inside the farm yet. I haven’t gotten permission from my family. Still, I thought it’d be better to show you from a distance and explain.”  

“I don’t mind seeing it from afar! I just want to see what it’s like!” 

Baski’s face lit up with anticipation.  

“I’m ready! Where are we going now?” 

I pointed upward, and Baski, who had been buzzing with excitement, froze and tilted his head.  

“Huh? Up?”  

“Yeah, we’re going to the sky.”  

 ***

“Arghhh!” 

Baski’s entire body stiffened with tension. 

Glancing down made him so dizzy he couldn’t keep his eyes open.  

Grip.

His hands instinctively tightened.  

“Squawk!”  

“Baski! If you hold too tight, you’ll hurt Dorori!”  

“Ah! Sorry!”

Startled, Baski loosened his grip. His palms were slick with nervous sweat.  

Just moments ago, Fabir had said he’d show him a farm in the sky and climbed onto the bird.  

Honestly, it was hard to believe. 

The idea of flying was terrifying, and he’d hesitated.  

But knowing Fabir wasn’t one to joke around, he followed along blindly.  

And then, the bird shot upward like it was piercing the sky!  

“How high are we going?!”  

Baski screamed.  

“We’re gonna crash into the clouds! Arghhh!”  

The dizzying ascent toward the clouds.  

Splash!  

Contrary to his fears, the clouds had no substance. 

Instead, thick white mist filled his vision.  

Flap, flap. 

The bird, showing no signs of stopping, kept climbing through the fog.  

“Squawk!”  

“Arghhh!”  

It ascended even more fiercely.  

He couldn’t muster the courage to look down.  

With uncontrollable fear, he squeezed his eyes shut.  

Moments later.  

The bird finally stopped climbing.  

“Baski, open your eyes.” 

A faint beam of light filtered into his vision.  

“…That’s…”  

Above the clouds they had pierced—  

“That’s right. The Floating Island.”  

An indescribably massive island floated atop the rippling clouds.  

“The farm I told you about is up there. That’s where I live with Dorori and my family.”

Fabir’s words brushed past his ears like a dream.  

“It’s… beautiful.”  

In his dazed state, he grasped for the best word he could think of.  

It was a word so unfamiliar he could count on one hand the times he’d used it in his bleak life.  

But its weight sank heavily into Baski’s heart like never before.  

“Baski? You okay?” 

Baski nodded blankly, his eyes unfocused. 

He couldn’t tell if this was a dream or reality.  

A land of opportunity to leave behind earthly burdens and start anew.  

If paradise or heaven existed, would it look like this?  

Thump, thump! 

His heart raced.  

His breathing grew rapid.  

His blurry vision spun, and—  

His consciousness faded.  

“Baski! Baski, wake up!”  

Flinch.  

Fabir’s voice snapped Baski back to reality.  

“You okay?”  

“…Why am I lying down?”  

“You passed out. Probably altitude sickness.”  

“…Altitude sickness?”  

“Yeah. The air’s thin up here, so you must’ve gotten dizzy.”  

“Oh…”  

“So, helping out at the farm might not work.”  

Baski’s eyes trembled.  

Am I useless again?  

He’d thought he was reborn.  

But even with a new face, he was still the same.  

A wave of despair washed over him.  

Self-loathing tightened its grip, making it hard to breathe.  

Then—  

“But I appreciate your heart.”

Flinch.  

He looked up at Fabir’s voice.  

“You overcame your fear and trusted me to come this far. Honestly, I was surprised.”  

“Fabir…”  

“So don’t feel down. With that courage, you can do anything.”

He thought I’d see him as useless.  

But there was no trace of judgment in Fabir’s eyes.  

“Come on, get up.”  

“…Yeah.” 

Baski took Fabir’s outstretched hand.  

A single word of warm encouragement.  

It shone like a ray of sunlight into Baski’s heart, which had grown cold from harsh words.