Adventure World Online (AWO)

Special Chapter: Heaven's Gratitude

The young elf left his homeland far behind, ignoring all warnings and objections from those around him. His sole desire was to journey to the ends of the earth, chasing a dream he had held close for as long as he could remember. To follow that dream, he had to leave behind everyone he knew and loved, venturing forth alone. His appearance caused quite a stir wherever he went, as most humans believed elves were nothing more than mythical creatures from legends. The elf began his life of adventure by signing up as a crew member on a large ship. At first, he did not realize it was a pirate vessel, though he did find himself wondering why every crew member aboard looked so intimidating.

The elf was accepted onto the crew for one reason alone—he was a healer, gifted with the magic to mend injuries and cure illnesses. On his first day aboard, the captain summoned him for a private meeting. The elf followed the escort to the captain's quarters nervously. He had imagined the captain of such a rough-looking crew would have a face just as fierce. But when the door opened, the first thing he saw was the back of a man dressed in a simple red cloak with subtle gold embroidery. The captain's quarters were modest yet elegant. Sensing someone enter, the man turned and greeted him with a friendly tone.

"Greetings. So, you're the new crew member. In all my years at sea, I never imagined I'd meet a living creature straight out of a legend. I'm Captain Romero."

The man introducing himself had a clean-shaven face and a polished demeanor, far more refined than his crew. His speech and mannerisms spoke of someone who had been raised with the utmost care and etiquette.

"I am Heaven of Eldar,"

the elf introduced himself briefly.

"Heaven. So, you're truly an elf. According to legend, all elves possess the power to heal, yes?"

Captain Romero smiled warmly. Heaven nodded but remained silent, not trusting anyone—especially those too curious about his elven heritage.

"How curious. I've heard that all elves, male or female, traditionally wear their hair long, down to their backs. So why have you cut yours so short? Still... those distinct pointed ears of yours do lend credibility to your claim. Before I officially welcome you aboard, could you demonstrate your healing powers for me?"

Romero's gaze turned shrewd, and Heaven immediately realized that he was not the first elf the captain had encountered. Even so, Heaven nodded his assent.

Romero brought out a peculiar bird and placed it in front of him. It resembled a penguin but had an unusually large beak. The bird lay listless in a wooden box lined with soft straw. Romero looked at it with evident fondness before turning to Heaven with a plea in his eyes.

"I don't know what's wrong with it. It's stopped eating and has lost its usual lively spirit. If this goes on, it'll surely die. If you truly possess healing magic, please save it. This bird is my sole reminder of the love I once lost."

Heaven examined the bird, his mind wandering to the captain's words. If this bizarre-looking bird represented Romero's lost love, he could not help but wonder how unusual that person had to have been. But as he finished his inspection, the elf delivered his assessment.

"This bird is old. It has lived far beyond its natural lifespan. Its body is failing, its systems deteriorating. Its time is nearing an end. Even if I help, it would only be temporary. No one in this world can escape death. Even we elves, with our long lifespans, are not eternal. We, too, fall to illness, injury, and death, just as humans do."

"You sound just like someone I once knew. Even if it's only for a little while, I'd rather hold on to what time remains. If you can bring back its joy, its spirit, I'd be content."

Romero's gaze grew distant as if lost in memories of the past, reflecting on things he could never reclaim.

"If you truly wish for this, I will help. But have you ever considered that holding onto someone who's ready to leave might actually be tormenting them without you realizing it? This bird's life is nearing its natural end. Prolonging it might bring you joy, but the bird might be suffering."

Heaven met Captain Romero's gaze, speaking with unflinching honesty, undeterred by the possibility of anger or reprisal.

"Ah... I suppose I may be selfish for trying to keep it alive. But I can't bear to watch it leave me like this,"

Romero admitted, his voice heavy with sorrow. Heaven offered a faint smile before reaching out to touch the bird gently.

"In that case, I will help it regain its spirit for a little while, so you can see it lively once more before it passes. Light of Life."

As soon as the words left his lips, a soft blue light emanated from Heaven's palm, radiating with a gentle warmth that seeped into the bird. Moments later, the once listless creature stirred, letting out a joyful cry and flapping its wings with renewed energy.

"Romizane!"

Romero exclaimed, calling the bird's name with joy. Heaven blinked, momentarily startled—the bird's name, Romizane, sounded strikingly similar to his mother's name, Remisane.

That moment marked the beginning of Heaven's adventure. From then on, the elf earned Captain Romero's trust, even though Romizane eventually passed away. Before long, Romero's pirate fleet grew to dominate the waters of the southern archipelagos. Their resilience against injuries and illness made them a force to be reckoned with, even against the empire's navy.

To prepare him for the dangers of battle, Romero personally trained Heaven in combat. As a healer, he could become a target during skirmishes, and knowing only healing magic would not keep him alive. However, due to his physical limitations, Heaven struggled to wield heavier weapons. Romero went to great lengths to find lightweight arms for him to use, but no matter what type of weapon he tried, Heaven could not hold them for more than a minute.

One fateful day, Romero's ship was ambushed at sea by a rival pirate crew vying for supremacy. The two ships collided, locking together, and a fierce battle erupted on their decks. Word of the elf healer's presence aboard Romero's ship had spread, and the enemy sought to capture Heaven for their own. Caught between healing wounded crew members and fending off attackers, Heaven fought valiantly but was eventually cornered near the starboard rail, exhausted.

Below him was the vast depths of the ocean, deep beyond measure. This time, the sight of the water felt more ominous than ever, for it seemed to mirror the end of his own life—a plunge into the unknown from which he might never return. Two armed men advanced on him with menacing intent. If this were to be the end of his journey, Heaven resolved to choose how it would end.

SPLASH!

The young elf chose to leap into the deep sea, preferring it over a brutal death at the hands of heartless pirates. His body plunged downward, powerless and unable even to resurface. In his heart, he bade farewell to everyone he had known, to the grand adventures he had cherished. Though he had not reached the pinnacle of his dreams, he had fought until the very last moment.

Heaven suddenly flailed in panic when a sharp object sliced deep into his arm. Blood poured from the wound, vanishing into the surrounding darkness, the source of the object. He stood on the ocean floor, not knowing what had attacked him. With his lungs nearing their limit, his mind conjured images of countless sea creatures—vicious, terrifying, bloodthirsty. He realized that his choice of death might lead him to experience horror far worse than he had ever imagined.

A sound sliced through the water, something moving at incredible speed. Heaven froze, unable to react. Whatever was approaching him at such speed, how horrendous it was, Heaven did not want to look. He closed his eyes, bracing himself for death, not wanting the creature's horrifying visage to burn into his memory. Instead, something unexpected happened. Heaven felt an object thrust into his hand and then propel him upward like an arrow. His body burst through the water's surface, soaring into the air, leaving him suspended in the midst of the battle, under the astonished gaze of pirates on both sides.

Still dazed, Heaven looked at the object in his hand. Though he had no idea what it was or how deadly it was, he knew it fit perfectly in his hand and caused him no discomfort when held. The years of training under Captain Romero had prepared him for this moment. As his instincts took over, the young elf demonstrated his newfound power, sending the pirates scattering. Heaven became the hero who turned the tide, bringing victory to the crew of Romizane.

Captain Romero watched Heaven with admiration. His pale face revealed exhaustion as he removed his crimson cloak and draped it over Heaven's shoulders. He named Heaven as the captain of Romizane amidst the deafening cheers as he collapsed. Heaven lunged to catch him.

"Captain!"

"You're ready now, my son. Lead this crew and bring glory to the Romizane in my stead. It's time for me to take my leave…"

Romero spoke with a faint smile, though his strength was all but gone.

"Son? What are you saying? How could I possibly take your place as captain? Don't forget—I'm a healer. I'll save you, Captain,"

Heaven replied desperately, placing his hand on Romero. Though his heart raced with questions about the captain's words, this was not time for questions. His only focus was saving the captain.

"Remisane... your mother. She was my lover. Do you think an explorer of my age could spend a lifetime without ever meeting an elf?"

"What!"

Heaven was stunned by what he had just heard. His hand stilled mid-healing as he stared at the captain's face, which was slowly regaining color.

"She's gone, isn't she? I heard the news. I've been longing to see her again. Heaven, will you grant me that reunion?" Romero pleaded, not for life but for death.

"No! I won't let you die!"

the elf replied, pushing even more energy into his hands in an attempt to keep the captain alive.

"And yet, you once told me that when someone's time has come, it's kinder not to prolong their suffering."

"Well, yes, but you're not at death's door yet. And if you truly want to see my mother, you need to stay alive—because she isn't dead. She's being held captive."

Heaven's words reignited hope in Captain Romero. With Heaven's healing, the captain recovered fully. It was then that the father and son had their first heartfelt conversation since their reunion. Heaven finally understood his peculiar status within the elven tribe—why no one ever mentioned his father and why his mother had been kept in captivity since his birth.

Heaven decided to bring his biological father, Captain Romero, to Eldar, their homeland, to give the captain a chance to prove himself worthy of Heaven's mother. If Romero succeeded, not only would the couple be reunited, but his mother would also be freed from her confinement and reinstated as a respected member of the elven community.

"And that's how the first elven pirate king came to be. You know, after I acquired Caduceus, I became truly unstoppable. Across the southern seas, there wasn't a soul who didn't know my name, who didn't fear me. Power, treasures—I had it all in abundance,"

Heaven said proudly. With the members of the Pendragon Guild busy building their new city, buried in meetings and constant discussions, Heaven had no one to share his nostalgic tales with. Left with no other choice, he turned to the wandering spirits in the area, who appeared to have all the time in the world.

Gathering the spirits around, Heaven began recounting his legendary adventures. The spirits listened intently; it was not every day that a stranger—let alone an entertaining one—showed up to share fascinating stories.

"And who's Heaven, exactly?"

one spirit asked.

"Why, it's me. And guess what? Not only was I the pirate king, but this very city that's about to be built—it's going to bear my name!"

"Really? That's incredible."

"Of course it is. And you know who deserves all the credit for this? My heir—Siegfried!"

Heaven exclaimed, his voice full of seriousness. His loud declaration carried over to the nearby meeting hall, where Siegfried and the others were deeply engaged in their discussions. Heads turned at Heaven's booming proclamation.

"I never imagined I'd have an heir as talented as this one—skillful, clever, unmatched in every way. I'm truly the luckiest soul there is!"

Heaven continued, dramatically pretending to wipe away tears of pride. Siegfried, now flushed with embarrassment, could feel the weight of countless stares—both from the amused ghosts gathered around Heaven and from his fellow guildmates in the meeting.

"Let's continue the meeting,"

Siegfried said evenly. The group chuckled softly and returned to their discussion, however...

"Siegfried. Hey. Wave to my spirit friends here. They're all so impressed with you."

Heaven shouted gleefully toward the meeting hall. The guild members could not hold it in any longer and burst out laughing without regard for the young man.

"It seems like he's absolutely over the moon that you used his name for this city,"

Peach Blossom teased with a laugh.

"Yeah, and it looks like he'll be riding this high for quite a while,"

Rafael added, chuckling just as much as the others.

"Look at him, so thrilled he's completely dropped his usual stoic demeanor. Unbelievable,"

Draco noted. While he understood the ghost's gratitude, brimming to the point of overflowing, he could not help but laugh.

"Who would've thought it'd turn out like this? Should we just rename the city at this point?"

Siegfried muttered, rubbing his temples in exasperation. If things kept going like this, the meeting would not accomplish anything. Although he appreciated Heaven's pride and happiness, hearing it said so openly was enough to make Siegfried's cheeks burn.

"Are you sure about that? You wouldn't want to see Heaven turn into a depressed ghost, would you?"

Lidded Wet Trash Can chimed in with a playful jab.

"That'd definitely make the atmosphere in the city spooky,"

Oliang quipped, imagining a sullen Heaven and feeling a pang of pity.

"I'm just joking. Let's get back to the meeting already!"

Siegfried said, trying to steer the conversation back on track.

"Siegfried, wave to them quickly."

Heaven's voice boomed again, cutting through the meeting, freezing everyone in place once more.

"That's enough already!"

Siegfried shouted back, clearly flustered and at his wit's end. His outburst sent the group into another round of laughter. The meeting, as expected, ended up being a total disaster. Siegfried was forced to call it off and retreat to a quiet corner to compose himself. His face burned bright red, thanks to the relentless teasing from Heaven and his ghostly entourage.

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