GameDev Reincarnated into His Own Creation

Chapter 10.2: Divergence

Kein's sword crashed into his ribs.

The force wasn't enough to break anything, but it was enough to knock the wind out of Vel. He stumbled back, wooden sword slipping from his fingers as pain flared through his side.

"Match over." Celia announced

Vel coughed, sucking in a breath, but Kein was already stepping back, lowering his sword.

"You hesitated," Kein said simply.

Vel clenched his jaw, rubbing at his side. His heart was still hammering—not from the fight, but from the choice he'd made. The spell was there. He could've used it. He almost had.

"You were moving better than before," Celia chimed in, stepping forward. But her expression was thoughtful. "But... that wasn't like you, Vel. You weren't fighting properly."

Vel forced a small laugh, shaking his head. "Guess I still think too much."

Kein frowned slightly, but didn't press. Instead, he slung his wooden sword over his shoulder and glanced toward the village. His expression shifted, something flickering behind his eyes—distant, unreadable.

"You okay?" Celia asked, picking up on it too.

Kein hesitated for a fraction of a second before smirking. "Yeah, just thinking about some things."

Vel didn't push, but the unease settled deep in his chest.

The match had ended, but it didn't feel like a victory for anyone.

Celia's shoulders shook as the first sob broke free, catching both Vel and Kein off guard. She tried to stifle it, pressing her sleeve against her face, but it was no use. The tears spilled over, and her quiet cries filled the clearing.

Vel froze, unsure what to do. His fingers twitched awkwardly at his sides before he took a hesitant step toward her. "Celia-chan... come on now," he started gently, his voice uncertain. "Don't cry... we're not saying goodbye forever."

Kein sighed heavily beside him and scratched the back of his neck, looking almost embarrassed. "Yeah," he added gruffly. "It's just four years—blink, and it'll be over."

Celia didn't respond immediately. She shook her head fiercely as she sniffled into her sleeve, her small frame trembling with emotion.

Vel exchanged a glance with Kein, who rolled his eyes but softened ever so slightly as he crouched beside Celia.

"You're making this harder than it needs to be," Kein said quietly but firmly. His hand hovered awkwardly near her shoulder before finally resting there in an uncharacteristically gentle gesture. "I'll write if I can—or send something through someone coming from Lona or Elnor."

Celia hiccupped a laugh through her tears and lowered her sleeve just enough to shoot him a weak glare. "You better... or I'll hunt you down myself."

Vel let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and managed a small smile despite the knot in his chest tightening at the sight of Celia's tear-streaked face.

"We should walk back together," Vel suggested after a beat of silence. He didn't trust himself to say anything more comforting without faltering completely.

Kein nodded curtly before standing and offering Celia a hand up without waiting for further discussion.

They made their way back into town at an unhurried pace—almost too slow for what should've been routine steps along familiar paths.

Through Kein's window near Elnor's main road, they saw Lorene moving purposefully inside, surrounded by packed crates and clothes draped over bags—clear signs of leaving.

The sight hit harder than Vel had anticipated.

"Already packing..." Celia murmured under her breath before falling silent again.

Kein entered first, mumbling about helping, but they all stayed. They lingered past sunset, sharing stilted conversations that avoided farewells.

The evening air hung heavy as they lingered in Kein's house, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on all of them. Celia fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve, her eyes darting between Vel and Kein. Vel could see the struggle in her expression—the reluctance to leave—but Kein leaned back against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching them both.

"You two should go back," Kein finally said, breaking the silence. His voice was firm but not unkind. He shifted his weight slightly, glancing toward the window where faint traces of moonlight filtered through. "I'm fine here. Stronger than both of you combined, so don't worry about me."

Vel opened his mouth to argue but caught himself when Kein raised a hand to cut him off.

"Celia," Kein continued, looking directly at her now. "It's late—Althea's probably worried sick by now. You should head back to the orphanage."

Celia hesitated before nodding slowly, though her grip on her rapier-like practice sword tightened as if reluctant to let go of something tangible.

Kein's gaze turned toward Vel next. "And you—don't stick around just because you feel bad or whatever. You've got your own place waiting for you too."

Vel exhaled quietly through his nose and gave a small nod. He could see there was no convincing Kein otherwise tonight.

Before either of them could respond further, Celia took a half-step forward and looked at Kein intently, her voice soft but steady as she spoke one last time: "Don't forget our promise."

Kein blinked at her words before letting out a quiet chuckle under his breath—a rare sound that carried more weight than any farewell might have. "Wouldn't dream of it," he replied simply.

With nothing else left to say, they exchanged muted goodbyes that hung heavy in the stillness around them before stepping outside into Elnor's dimly lit streets.

Vel walked alongside Celia in silence for most of their journey back toward the orphanage until they reached its gates beneath flickering lanterns. He stopped there as she turned toward him briefly with a weak smile.

"Goodnight," she said softly before disappearing inside.

Vel made his way home after that—feet dragging slightly despite himself—and collapsed onto his bed once he arrived, staring blankly up at the ceiling above him.

His mind churned endlessly despite his exhaustion—turning over thoughts about how nothing seemed to go quite as planned lately and how uncertain everything ahead felt... yet he couldn't stop clinging stubbornly to fragments of hope amidst it all—even if he didn't fully understand why anymore...