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Chapter 156: - Ivana\'s Secret Pain

"Broken," Booba was the first to respond. "I want to come with you. There\'s no way I can let you go alone, you know."

"No, Booba. I\'ll move faster on my own, so you don\'t need to come. I promise I\'ll catch up soon enough."

Elincia then spoke up. "Are you sure, Broken? We would all feel much safer if you weren\'t traveling alone. I can come along too if needed; I can travel quickly as well."

"No, I don\'t think that\'s necessary. Polly can run fast, and I\'m confident I can catch up and meet you within a day. Besides, Ivana will be with me, so you can rest easy. She\'s over level 200 and more than capable of protecting me," he tried to reassure them.

After hearing his explanation, everyone agreed to head to the capital first, while Broken would take a detour to Deadbay City with Ivana.

To save time, Broken and Ivana quickly left the village, riding Polly. The white fox darted swiftly across the barren desert roads, Broken seated in front while Ivana clung tightly behind him.

The two sat in thick silence, neither daring to break it. Then, unexpectedly, Ivana\'s voice cut through the tension.

"Broken... May I hug you from behind?" she asked with a soft chuckle.

Broken couldn\'t help but sigh. "It\'s okay, though. This will be a long journey, so make sure you feel comfortable."

"I mean, I\'m sleepy," she yawned, "so I wish I could sleep holding onto you." As if on cue, she immediately wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek on his back.

"I enjoy journeys like this," she then said.

"What kind of journeys?"

"The quieter ones."

Broken pondered for a moment about her mention of "quieter." He knew Ivana as someone cheerful and always friendly with everyone. But even someone as sociable and cheerful as she needed some peace and quiet, didn\'t they?

He decided not to delve further. Perhaps she missed her mother? After all, his detour to Deadbay City was also to meet Fokil, and Ivana was returning home. Although she had expressed interest in joining him on the journey to the capital.

He could feel Ivana\'s cheek against his back as Polly continued to sprint with all her might. The sound of the wind blew gently, with only the rhythmic pounding of Polly\'s paws breaking the silence.

Every now and then, he heard a faint whimper coming from Ivana. He pondered if she was crying and felt a strong urge to ask her what was wrong. However, he found himself unable to form the words.

Is Ivana crying? Or am I just hearing things? he thought.

Finally, after what felt like hours, they arrived at Deadbay. They stopped in the central plaza, and Ivana quickly dismounted, bidding her farewell. They would meet again later at Fokil\'s place.

Broken couldn\'t contain his excitement to share the news with Fokil about his Legendary- grade item. He immediately sprinted toward Fokil\'s Smithy.

Standing before the Smithy\'s door, he took a moment to catch his breath before knocking on the door.

Fokil opened the door shortly after, and the first thing he said was, "Kid, did you know that Gia passed away right after you left a few weeks ago?"

Broken froze, stunned, and unable to believe the words Fokil had just uttered.

"Gia..." he whispered. He suddenly felt an urgent need to see Ivana. "Sir, I\'ll be back," he said hurriedly.

The moment Broken heard Fokil\'s news about Gia\'s death, he bolted out of the Smithy, desperate to find Ivana.

His mind raced with questions and grief. "Why didn\'t she tell me about this? Was this why Ivana seemed so gloomy during our journey to Deadbay? So her mother has passed away, which is why she finally summoned the courage to leave the city and explore? Because she has no reason to stay anymore?"

He asked aloud as he sprinted across the city, asking several people who might know her whereabouts. Eventually, he gathered enough information to figure out where she might be. He came to an open area of rolling hills where a slight breeze had begun to blow. In the middle of the field stood several tombstones sticking out from between the shadowy trees like rigid fingers.

A surge of emotion coursed through his veins as he approached, and there, standing amongst them in a white dress that fluttered in the wind, was Ivana. Her blonde hair seemed to be dancing in the gusts, almost as if it were calling him towards her.

His steps echoed as he cautiously approached her, who was standing in front of two somber tombs. He slowly moved to stand beside her.

As she gradually raised her head, he could see that her cheeks glistened with freshly shed tears. She peered into his gaze, a faint smile curling the edges of her lips.

"Hey... Broken... You found me here..." she whispered. She then turned her gaze back to the tombstones.

A silence descended over them as they stood side by side in this hallowed ground, contemplating the pain and loss life can bring.

Broken gazed at the two tombstones before them, both bearing names of those no longer here with them. Two names were inscribed on them-Gia and Gale. Gale must have been

Ivana\'s father.

"Why didn\'t you tell me about this?" he asked softly, his voice barely audible above the sound of the wind sweeping around them and rustling the dry leaves at their feet.

She smiled then, although it wasn\'t a happy smile. It was one full of understanding and

sorrow.

"You\'ve been busy. I didn\'t think it was something important enough to discuss...." she said, her voice trailing off.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"I think you need to talk to me more; I\'m okay with this," he said. "I\'m here to listen to your worries too... we are friends, right?"

Ivana then turned back to Broken, watching his face for a moment. A thin smile appeared on her face, although her cheeks were still visibly wet with tears. "I was going to tell you this," she said. "I guess I\'m too late now, you\'ve found out on your own."

Ivana lowered her head, unable to hold back her tears any longer. "Because of her death, I wanted to become an adventurer, a shielder, so I could protect those I care about and do more for them," she said, her voice clearly breaking.

Broken hesitated for a moment before gently placing his hand on her left shoulder, slowly pulling her closer. She sobbed as she leaned her forehead against his chest. "I don\'t know

what to do anymore," she said.

"You\'re an adventurer now, right?" he replied gently.

Still sobbing, tears continued to fall from her eyes. "I tried to become a chef so I could make the best food for her, to help her get healthier... but I couldn\'t even make something that would keep her alive longer," she said, still regretting what had happened.

Broken then slowly wrapped his arms around Ivana as she continued to sob, her tears soaking

his shoulder.

"You did your best... Ivana," he whispered.

Ivana continued, her voice shaking with sobs, "I wanted to do more for her... to repay all the kindness she gave me. I miss her so much."

Tears streamed down her face as she added, "I\'m all alone now... I didn\'t know it would be this hard to go on. I tried to forget by taking up this new activity, becoming an adventurer,

and fighting monsters..."

"But even so, I\'m still trapped by regret... and it gets stronger every time I come back to this

city and stand in front of her grave."

As she spoke, fully revealing everything she was thinking and feeling, Broken felt a sense of relief. At least now, he could help lighten the burden she was carrying.

Time passed as Ivana tried to calm her sobbing, revealing the hidden sadness behind her cheerful facade and her constant efforts to show kindness in front of others. This was the

weakest moment in her life.

As she opened up, pieces of the puzzle in Broken\'s mind began to fall into place. Ivana\'s sudden transformation made sense now - it was the events in her life, connected to Gia\'s death, that had changed her. She even mentioned her reason for becoming a chef.

But then, something caught Broken\'s eye. He glanced at the date on Gale\'s tombstone and noticed the year of his death. Thirty years ago? he wondered. Shouldn\'t Ivana be in her early

twenties?