Supreme Lord of Soulnight

Old Martha With A Crooked Cane

RagingInferno swung his new weapon in the air, completely pleased. He kept gushing about how pretty the sword’s red is and how light it is considering the size. Liwan could only laugh quietly at his friend. Jayson sounded like a three-year old on his first trip to the toy store.

“We’ve been hunting for everyone’s equipment but yours, captain. When will we find yours?” B-Champ inquired.

“Nah. Don’t worry about me. I have plans already. After Shadowstrikes, we’ll hunt for my weapon and armor. Denver’s character must be equipped properly first before we could take on the boss I have in mind,” Liwan replied.

“Well, we have completed Valeria’s. RagingInferno has his broadsword,” B-Champ remarked. “We’re leveling up steadily too.”

“True. It’s important to keep leveling. Once we complete everyone’s equipment, we need to focus on grinding. The higher we level, the stronger we get. You two would be the first to reach level one hundred. I’ll send you on a mission while you’re waiting for the three of us to hit the hundred.”

“What mission?” Valeria quipped.

“Recruitment.”

“Uh, we don’t know a lot of people. You’re the only ones we know in the game.” B-Champ was sounding unsure.

“Don’t worry about it. I have the name list already. All you have to do is approach them,” Liwan assured them.

“You sure about this, cap?”

“Yes, Val. Besides, your names are up there on the leader boards. Everyone who saw it would be curious enough to entertain you once you approach them. And if you fail, it’s okay. That just means they’re not for us.”

“Alright. Just let us know when.”

“Okay, that’s settled. Can we call this a night? I’ll leave Blade on AFK mode on the usual spot to grind.”

Soulnight has an AFK or Away From Keyboard system. One can leave their character online grinding experience even if they’d logged out. As long as the mode was activated and the character was set-up, you can log out of the game but the character stays online. That way, you can be assured that your character would continue to grow even without you personally attending to it.

“Yes. I’ll leave mine on AFK, too,” Shadowstrikes agreed.

Everyone left their characters on the same mode.

Liwan glanced at the clock. It’s a little past over twelve in the morning but he couldn’t sleep. He shut down his computer and stared at it for a minute, mind blank. What now? He asked himself but no answer came. He finally shook his head and pushed his chair back. His bare feet slapped softly on the floor as he padded towards the open window.

Ever since he woke up in this body, he immediately focused his mind on re-writing his gaming experience. Sure, he tried to change and be a better person for his parents. But was it enough? Thinking about his mother’s panicked expression made him discard the notion though. He might be sending his mother early to her grave otherwise. His thoughts got cut off when his stomach growled.

With that, he went to his closet and put on a dark green hoodie. There is a convenience store in their area, past Old Martha’s house down the street. Since it’s open for twenty four hours, he might as well go there instead of fixing himself something to eat. He might wake his mother up with the noise. She would insist cooking for him even at this ungodly hour.

He doesn’t want that. If there’s anything he learned when he woke up in his sixteen-year old body, it’s the fact that his mother rises early each day. She goes around the house tending to almost everything, ensuring that their family is comfortable and has warm food on the table. She’s always the last person to rest. So no, he won’t disturb his mother’s sleep. Besides, he feels like walking.

Liwan quietly left the house with his phone and a few bills in his jean’s pocket. He slowly closed the door and stepped out, breathing in the midnight air. His lungs relished the cool air. The tranquil surroundings pleased him, instantly alleviating his mood. With light steps, he set off for the convenience store.

Now he has to pass by Old Martha’s yard before he gets to the store. To his surprise, he found the old woman seated by her usual spot. Liwan blinked a few times to convince himself that he’s seeing the old woman he knew and not some kind of apparition.

“Pssstt…”

Liwan stopped on his tracks, heart pounding. He turned and saw Old Martha’s eyes trained on him. Her hand lifted in a wave. A lantern hang above her head, burning in soft yellow light. It was like a scene from a horror movie; low lighting, an eccentric old woman and silence around. Liwan shivered despite the warmth of his hoodie.

“Boy, come here for a moment,” Old Martha called.

“M-Me?”

“Who else? Is there anyone else beside you here?” she asked back with obvious sarcasm.

Liwan scratched his head, unsure what to do. He only wants to eat noodles at the convenience store, or maybe grab an ice cream after the noodles.

“It’s late, Old Martha. I don’t think it’s appropriate for a courtesy call, he-he.”

“No matter. There’s no one around to judge you. Come here, I’ve to ask you some things,” Old Martha insisted. “Or do you want this old bag of bones to stand and come near you instead?”

The old woman reached for her crooked cane by her side, clambering to her feet. Liwan saw her obvious effort and immediately felt shame arresting him. Before he could think clearly, his feet has already moved to stop the woman. He opened the low gate bordering her property and stepped inside her yard. His legs ate up the remaining distance between him and the woman. He caught her before she fell on the ground, tripping on a half-embedded rock.

“Geez, what a stubborn old woman,” he remarked.

“Geez, what a milksop for a young man,” she hit back.

Liwan could only shake his head. This woman is too quick-witted to her age that he couldn’t think of a suitable come back. Regardless, he’s here now. The least he could do is to hear her out and find out what does she wants. The sooner, the better he could be on his way to get his noodle fix.

“You have questions for me?” Liwan asked.

“Yes. Sit here.” Old Martha patted the space beside her.

He lowered his bum to sit, waiting for her to continue.

“It has been a while since you came by,” Old Martha said. She gripped her cane tighter, poking his leg with it. “How are you adjusting to your new life?”

Liwan stiffened, muscles turning rigid as he stared at her. His eyes widened. Did she really asked him that? She’s implying she knows something! But how? A shaky smile appeared on his face as her words sank in his brain.

“W-What do you mean?” His voice shook a little.

Old Martha’s lips stretched into a knowing smile, her eyes twinkling as she regarded him beneath her lashes. Her silver hair glowed underneath the lantern.

“Oh, I know that you know what I meant. I just know you’re not the same old person that you are. That child has long been gone. Tell me, boy. What did you desire too bad for the universe to send you back here?”

He must have looked utterly ridiculous that the old woman cackled, the sound of her laughter slamming his heart against his ribcage.