The new day didn’t start with the light of the sun but instead with rain, making the rooms look gloomy.


    “I wanted to go out today,” I mumbled, looking outside the window. Just like that, my plans were washed away.


    “Don’t worry, the rain should stop by afternoon,” Greth said, placing plates on the counter where I sat in front of him.


    “You made the food?” I asked, eyeing the soup filled with chunks of meat and vegetables, giving it a tender and fresh look.


    “Well, I sure did.” He glanced toward the corner, where another group of people were eating.


    The scent of the soup filled the room, and my stomach growled loudly. “It smells delicious.”


    Greth chuckled. “Thanks. It’s a recipe I learned from my mother. She used to make it on days like these.”


    “My grandfather was also a cook,” I said suddenly, surprising even myself.


    I hadn’t been very talkative these days, but somehow, I opened up a little today.


    “Really?” Greth’s eyes lit up with curiosity. “What kind of dishes did he use to make?”


    “He was a master chef, making all kinds of dishes. His signature dish was probably a cake, I guess.” I smiled, taking a spoonful of soup and bringing it to my mouth.


    Greth nodded, his curiosity piqued. “What made it so special?”


    I thought for a moment, unsure how to explain. After all, I wasn’t a chef.


    “He made it—that’s why it was special.” I grinned, making him laugh.


    The conversation flowed easily between us, filling the quiet Inn with a warmth that the rain outside couldn’t dampen. We talked about our families, our pasts, and our aspirations. It was as if the rain had washed away the barriers between us, revealing a shared connection beneath the surface.


    “You’re an Awakener, aren’t you?” Greth asked.


    His question hung in the air, pulling my thoughts back from the warm memories of my grandfather’s kitchen. I nodded, swallowing the mouthful of soup, the taste lingering like an unspoken secret.


    “How did you know?” I didn’t remember telling him or showing my ID.


    “Your face. You’re handsome—that’s more than enough reason to guess you are one. Maybe I would have been wrong, but my guess turned out to be correct.”


    I laughed nervously. It had been a while since someone commented on my looks, especially in relation to being an Awakener.


    “That’s some good reasoning. Who would’ve thought today I’d get called handsome by an old man?”


    I laughed as Greth’s face frowned, but he chuckled in the end.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    “Well, age is just a number, young man. What matters is the wisdom behind those eyes,” he said, winking.


    “Hm, my ears must be failing me today, I guess.” I pinched my left ear to the side.


    Greth laughed at my sarcasm. “I’m sure they work fine; you just don’t get complimented enough,” he said, placing a warm bread roll on my plate.


    “Let’s see if you have brains or if you’re just a brute then.” Greth grinned, his eyes shining with mischief.


    “Here we go again.”


    “Our philosopher Greth is back once again.”


    Whispers echoed through the room; people could be heard sighing as if they had heard this talk more than once.


    Looking around in confusion, I glanced at Greth to explain this scene.


    “They know me here. I come often to challenge travelers like you with a question. It’s like a local pastime.” He shrugged nonchalantly.


    I raised an eyebrow. “What kind of question?”


    Greth leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “A philosophical one. Nothing too serious, just something to tickle the mind.”


    Curious, I took another spoonful of warm soup, savoring the flavor as I awaited the question. The rain had slowed to a gentle patter, and the inn’s warmth was a stark contrast to the damp chill outside.


    “All right, I’m ready for whatever philosophical conundrum you have in store,” I said, wiping my mouth with a napkin.


    Greth leaned in, his eyes gleaming. “If you could have any power in the world, what would it be and why?”


    The question was simple yet carried the weight of a thousand unspoken implications. It had been asked countless times before, but the answers were always varied and revealing. I pondered for a moment, the chatter of the inn fading into the background.


    “To bring back the dead. To always be happy.”


    I answered honestly, curious to see his reaction.


    Greth’s eyes searched mine, a hint of surprise flitting across his face. “A noble wish, but a heavy burden to bear,” he mused, stroking his beard. “And what makes you say that?”


    “Who wants to lose their loved ones? Who doesn’t wish to be happy? Instead of giving a roundabout answer like wanting to be a god or the strongest, the words I spoke felt more than enough.”


    Greth nodded thoughtfully. “Indeed, it is a weighty power, yet one filled with potential for both joy and sorrow. But tell me, if you had to choose between bringing back your loved ones or having everlasting happiness, what would you pick?”


    I fell silent. It was tough. Am I happy right now? I asked myself, but as usual, no answer came.


    “That’s tough. But maybe if I’m happy, they will come back as well.”


    Greth nodded sagely. “It’s a delicate balance, isn’t it? The pursuit of happiness can sometimes feel like a fleeting dream. But perhaps true happiness lies in the journey, not the destination.”


    ‘Ah, I understand now why they gave such unique reactions.’ I truly understood why all the people present seemed tired of this.


    ‘After all, his reply was too… corny.’


    I thought to myself, trying not to smirk at the old man’s profound wisdom wrapped in clichés.


    Greth must have noticed my amusement because he leaned back in his chair with a knowing smile. “Ah, you think me old-fashioned,” he said, not at all offended. “But these are the truths that have stood the test of time.”


    “Yes, yes, I totally agree.” Let’s just make this old man happy today. Who knows how long he’ll live, with how much he talks in clichés.


    Greth’s smile widened as he saw I was engaged. “Ah, but the philosophical journey is not yet complete!”


    “Why do we call monsters ‘Creatures of Beyond’ and not simply ‘monsters’?” he asked in a flamboyant tone.


    Why call monsters ‘Creatures of Beyond’? It was like asking why we call wind ‘air’ and not just ‘wind.’


    “Isn’t it just a name? What difference does it make?” I asked.


    “Most of the world is human, not Awakeners like you. To them, you or any monster is beyond comprehension. How can a person or animal spout fire, water, or fly in the sky?”


    I listened, my curiosity piqued.


    “And why do you think that?”


    “Because they are beyond our understanding. We don’t know what monsters are, and we don’t want to know. So we call them ‘Creatures of Beyond’—because they are beyond us humans.”


    Greth’s words hit home. Was I just another creature humans feared and couldn’t understand?


    “No, simply put, we fear what we can’t understand, so we wish to live in ignorance,” I mumbled.


    Greth smiled, satisfied. “Exactly.”


    “Oh, the rain stopped! I should go now.” I ran, not wanting to hear more philosophy.


    “Run, kid, run!” People cheered as I crossed the door.


    Greth sighed seeing Asher run,but laughed along with them.