Chapter 8: I Can Do It
Chapter 8: I Can Do It
~~[803 Words]~~
This wall was massive, just ridiculous—it shot up from the base of the hill, thick with old trees, so high you could stare until your neck hurt and still not see the top. Three hundred meters? More like infinity. The kind of thing that eats the sky.
Down at the foot stood three people. Yuren, a little boy who really looked like he belonged in elementary school, plus a young man in his late twenties and a woman about his age. Yuren's hands were balled up, his tiny face drawn tight.
"Just listen to your grandfather, Yuren. Quit being stubborn," the older guy said, his voice firm, "I'm telling you for your own good, remember that."
Yuren sighed, sounding tired enough to be twice his age. "Do I really have to? You guys are setting me up." The wind came rushing in, wild and fresh, flipping his hair and filling the air with that deep smell of nature.
"Stop whining. Just do it," the man shot back. "Once you put that bandana together, you get to see your grandfather," he explained, like it was obvious. "So don't blow it."
"For real, Uncle?" Yuren's whole face cracked open with excitement, he was all smiles now.
"Yeah. Do your best. You need to finish before it gets dark," he said, dead serious. "Now, come here."
Yuren walked over. They stood face to face.
"Turn around." Yuren did, with no protest. "Close your eyes."
"Why? What are we even doing? "
"Just trust me. Close your eyes."
"Okay——"
He squeezed his eyes shut. Then felt arms wrapping him up, his uncle's hands, strong and careful. At first he thought that was it, just a hug. But Uncle pressed his palm right over Yuren's eyes, making sure he couldn't peek.
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Yuren tried to open his eyes instinctively, but Uncle held firm.
"Keep them closed, Yuren. Just a second."
"Ah—O-Okay—"
Wosshh.
When Yuren finally opened his eyes again, everything had changed. The wind slammed him, colder and sharper. Clouds felt close enough to touch. Somehow, Uncle had whisked him up to the top of the wall.
"H-how— What happened, Uncle? That was crazy fast! "
"Doesn't matter. What matters is finishing that bandana. Here, take it."
He handed Yuren the cloth, who turned it over in his hands, eyes full of questions.
"Is this what I have to use? "
"That's right. You'll swap that for the first bandana you find and then the next—and keep going till you reach the very last one. Got it? "
"So that's how it works," Yuren muttered, rolling it in his fingers.
"Oi, Yuren. Are you paying attention? "
"Yes, sir—" He spun around, his face totally alive, grinning widely.
"Good. Then let's get moving."
Uncle picked Yuren up, making it look easy, a toss over one shoulder, like he weighed nothing. He leapt from branch to branch, nimble and quick, and then landed on soft grass below, setting Yuren gently on his feet.
"When you pull this off, I'll have a prize waiting," said his uncle, his hand heavy on Yuren's shoulder, eyes locked. "Go on." He gave him a solid pat. "Move it. What's holding you up? "
Yuren ran—then stopped, suddenly unsure. He looked back, eyes searching the ground beneath his feet, worry creeping in. He swallowed.
"Uncle, come with me," he called, his voice thin and cracking. "I don't think I can do this alone."
"You only think you can't," the guy answered, gentle but firm. "And anyway, I can't go with you," soft refusal, no anger. "You're the only one who can. Your grandfather set this up himself, so you've got nothing to be scared of." He smiled, just a little, and for a second there was something striking about him, not flashy, just quietly strong. "Ten is the perfect age for this. Trust me, it's no joke." His voice got calm, steady. "Go on. I believe in you, Yuren. Toughen up. And pretty soon, you'll have the cold cure in your hands—the one that heals every cut and scrape." He meant every word, no hesitation.
The girl, standing nearby, watched him with the kind of smile you don't need words to understand. Her lips pressed together, soft and gentle, then relaxed. "It'll be quick. Don't worry." She gave him a thumbs-up, her smile warm and steady. "You've got this, kid. Easy for you." She winked, a breath escaping, grin never fading. And when she smiled wider, a dimple showed up on her cheek, framed by her thick lashes.
Something changed in Yuren. All at once, courage flooded in. He grinned back, relaxed. He breathed deep, almost peacefully. Whispered, "I can do this." Raised a fist.
"I can do this," he said again, louder.
And then, just like that, he took off running—into the forest's depths.