One-Eyed Monster

”The principle I’m going to tell you is simple. For an adventurer, there is no end; the path of adventure is endless. And no matter when, you can start your exploration, because the desire for knowledge will drive you to continually seek answers,” Teacher Hadi continued to explain to Igor.

”Just like how the teacher is searching for the author of this book now, that’s a kind of adventure too, right?” Igor tentatively asked, though he felt this explanation didn’t quite stand.

”You’re a smart person, Igor,” Teacher Hadi didn’t directly answer Igor’s question, but praised his intelligence.

”I understand now.” Igor closed his eyes; he could feel Teacher Hadi’s dedication. Finally, this introductory lesson for adventurers was finished. From the first time he’d entered this little cabin to the present moment sitting across from Teacher Hadi, this lesson had reached its endpoint. And the end of the lesson is the starting point of practice. Igor realized he was truly about to say goodbye to Teacher Hadi. At least, for a long time, he wouldn’t see Teacher Hadi...

The path of adventure is everywhere.

The ways of adventure are diverse.

The most important thing for an adventurer is not the theory, but one’s own heart, a heart that seeks knowledge at any time and place.

Teacher Hadi looked at Igor, the boy who always asked why had finally grown up. He remembered when he constantly asked ”why,” but now he had learned to say ”I understand.”

The brief silence allowed Teacher Hadi and Igor to fall into memories, each thinking of the other’s past, their mouths curling into smiles, hearts full of satisfaction.

Igor was grateful for having such a teacher who kept him from going astray.

Teacher Hadi was gratified to have a student like Igor, which enabled the adventurer’s profession to continue being passed down.

They exchanged a smile, filled with deep emotion.

”Teacher, do you remember how I was before going to Guru Mountain?” Igor suddenly asked Teacher Hadi.

”Back then, you clumsily asked where you could find courage. Of course, I remember that moment,” Teacher Hadi smiled lightly; Igor’s appearance at that time was vividly etched in his memory.

”I’m still very confused, teacher.” Igor propped up his chin, eagerly looking at Teacher Hadi.

”Do you still want to ask where you can find courage?”

”No, not just that. I have many things I don’t understand, teacher,” Igor said as a flood of thoughts suddenly surfaced in his mind, all these confusions emerging at this moment.

”Unable to comprehend, just pursue the answers. Aren’t we adventurers always like this?” Teacher Hadi picked up the book without an author, said with a smile.

”I used to think the world was a blue sky and green waters during the day, and a starry spectacle at night; rivers iced over and snowflakes danced in winter, wildflowers spread across hills and frogs and orioles sang in summer.”

”This picture is really beautiful,” Teacher Hadi said softly, Igor’s words like crisp bells, bringing joy to the heart.

”I always thought the most magnificent building in the world is the Twin Star Grand Hall of the Luona City Administrative Office, and the shortest house is the thatch hut of Cyclops As next door to me; I felt the most learned person in the world is Dean Hoffman, and even thought the most beautiful woman is Clarisse, who sells flowers at the academy...” Igor spoke while laughing at himself.

”Experience accumulates slowly, not in one go, Igor, it’s not something to worry about,” Teacher Hadi said.

”In my heart, good people are good, bad people are bad, the world isn’t so complicated, nor so full of twists. Beauty is beauty, ugly is ugly, good is good, evil is evil. Everything can be clear at a glance.”

”But now, after you went to Guru Mountain, don’t you feel the world isn’t the same as you imagined?”

”No, Teacher Hadi, I am very confused. I can’t judge; I don’t know how to believe what I see, nor understand how to accept it,” Igor’s gaze was perplexed, seemingly thinking of many jumbled things.

”Many things still need you to pursue on your own, Igor,” Teacher Hadi softly said, understanding that Igor’s confusion was a bottleneck, that after overcoming this barrier, everything would be resolved.

”I am very confused, teacher, even though I know courage isn’t the most crucial thing to becoming an adventurer, I still need to find what courage is. But coming back from Guru Mountain, I still have no answer; I don’t know if I’m courageous, facing many things, I always feel fear,” Igor said.

”Oh, haha, Igor, you’re still a naive chap,” Teacher Hadi laughed. This Igor was still the same Igor, not bloated by recent discoveries.

”Teacher, I’ve understood what you just said. The true essence of adventurers needs us to explore by ourselves, but I still don’t understand: what’s the most important thing to becoming an adventurer? Is it courage? If so, am I unqualified?” Igor spoke his inner thoughts; his greatest worry was whether he could become an adventurer.

”Hehe, Igor, courage alone can’t make you an adventurer. It’s that curious heart that’s the key to becoming an adventurer,” Teacher Hadi shrugged.

”A curious heart?” Igor looked at Teacher Hadi in surprise.

”A curious heart is that seeking heart. Keep that heart at any time and place, and you won’t lose direction,” Teacher Hadi said.

”Direction, I always wanted to know where we come from and where we’re going,” Igor suddenly recalled this question.

”We’re always on the road, Igor, no matter what you ponder, dust returns to dust, earth to earth, born with nothing, die with nothing.”

This statement was somewhat unintelligible to Igor. He scratched his head, striving to understand it.

”The road is beneath our feet, Igor. Your path is beneath your feet. When you discover the road underfoot, where you come from and where you’re going, these questions will naturally be answered.”

Igor thought for a moment, then suddenly a brightness flashed in his eyes. He finally realized that many things still require self-pursuit of answers.

”Go do what you should, Igor, whether to pause or sprint, bow or stand tall, don’t you already have the answer in your heart? Otherwise, wouldn’t you have come here looking for me this time?”

Igor looked at Teacher Hadi, even though his heart was tumultuous, he couldn’t utter a single word.

Remember, adventurers are always on the road.