Berserk: The Prophet

"Fairy Scale Powder? That sounds unusual. What's so special about it?" Green asked curiously.

Jiedu sighed softly, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes: "I remember my father saying that 'Fairy Scale Powder' was an extremely rare substance, said to possess miraculous effects, capable of curing many intractable diseases."

"Perhaps only this can cure my mother's illness. That's why my father took us around to search for it."

"So, you've already met the fairy. Has your mother's illness improved?" Grimm looked at Jett, who was curled up in a ball and drawing on the ground with a twig, and felt that things weren't so simple.

"My mother... although she's gotten a little better, my father's whereabouts are unknown and her health is getting worse. I have to go take care of her later." Jiedu looked somewhat forlorn. After the ordeal they went through, his already seriously ill mother's fever had subsided thanks to the scale powder... but she hadn't gotten out of bed since and was nearing her end.

For him, all he can do now is take it one step at a time.

Green had intended to invite Judau to join his caravan, but it seems that the opportunity is no longer available. Looking at the three crooked little figures left on the snow, they are a happy family of three.

Green didn't know how to comfort Jiedu. Those days when he had to become a pickpocket to support himself must have been very hard.

Living in such turbulent times, simply hoping for a happy and fulfilling life for one's family has become a luxurious dream.

Although Green had no experience of that kind of "happy and fulfilling family"... he vaguely remembered that he had once longed for that kind of warmth.

Unfortunately, life had already taught him how to be a man. If he had simply knelt down and begged for warmth, he wouldn't have been able to stand up strong and face the life that was right in front of him.

Some things... can only be resolved by standing up for oneself. Otherwise, it's just a temporary rescue.

...People always have to accept separation, whether it's unwilling or resentful.

"I have my own caravan. If you ever don't know where to go in the future, you can come to the Merchant Guild and find me. I can arrange a good place for you."

Judau paused for a moment, then smiled gratefully: "Thanks, Green. But right now I just want to get my mother's illness treated first, and once everything settles down... I might really come to you for help."

"Yes, the harvest hasn't been good lately. It's hard to buy a loaf of bread even with twenty copper coins. I have a lot of grain and dried meat stored in my cart. You can have something nice to eat with your mother tomorrow for Christmas."

"Jacob, go to the carriage and get some butter, dried meat, and bread. If there's any fruit, bring that too. Try to get as much food as possible."

Jacob accepted the order and left, returning shortly afterward with a large basket of food.

Looking at the tempting cream, neatly stacked wheat bread, and dried meat in the basket, Judah's eyes welled up with tears: "Green, this is too precious..."

Green patted Jadu on the shoulder with a hearty laugh and stuffed the basket of food into his arms. “When you’re traveling, it’s only right to help each other out. Besides, your mother has just recovered from a serious illness and needs to nourish herself. This dried meat is all top-quality beef and mutton, perfect for making soup. Please accept it.”

"Wow, it's delicious!"

The aroma of bread and wheat mingled with the sweet scent of butter wafted through the air. Buck had somehow returned and was excitedly circling the food. The air currents stirred up by his wings sent breadcrumbs fluttering down, and he brazenly burrowed into the pile of food to feast on it.

...Suddenly, it feels a bit like a pest.

Watching Buck devour the food without any regard for his image, Green and Judah couldn't help but exchange a smile.

...Even if this guy really is a pest, he can't eat much.

Judau gently nudged Buck and chuckled, "You rascal, all you ever do is eat. You were nowhere to be seen just now, but now you're popping up as soon as you smell food."

Buck, his mouth full of food, mumbled, "It's not my fault, these things smell so good." Then he continued to wolf down his food.

Looking at Buck's expression, Green shook his head helplessly: "You really are a little foodie."

"It's getting late. The snow is melting much faster than I expected. My caravan needs to set off soon." Green looked up at the weather. It was a rare, cloudless winter day. The snow had mostly melted, and the sky was very clear.

Green turned to Jacob and said, "Jacob, go and tell the caravan to prepare to depart. We'll leave as soon as possible."

Jacob nodded and quickly ran off to relay the instructions; the team was about to get busy again, just like always.

Green then looked at Jiedu and said seriously, "Jiedu, my schedule is tight here, and my brothers are waiting for me at home, so I have to go now."

"Take good care of your mother. As for your father, if I find out anything on the way, I will have someone inform you as soon as possible."

Jiedu's eyes reddened slightly, and he nodded gratefully: "Thank you, Green. I will take good care of Mother, and thank you for keeping an eye on Father's whereabouts."

Green patted him on the shoulder and then turned and walked toward the caravan.

As if struck by a sudden thought, Jiedu placed the food basket in the circus troupe's carriage, took out a small cloth pouch from his pocket, and turned to run towards the caravan where Green was.

Meanwhile, a certain chestnut-headed boy who was secretly eating vegetables and fruits was caught between jerky and apples by the sudden jolt: "Ah! Hey, what's with all that sudden movement? I almost choked...really..." But no one heard his complaint.

“…Wait, Green.” Judau caught up with Green’s caravan and handed him a small pouch. “Here, take this.”

"...What's this?" Green looked at the panting Jedu and wondered about the small purse. Was it going to give him money?

"It's medicine, specifically 'Fairy Scale Powder.' It's very effective for injuries, stomach aches, and fevers. It can be used both externally and internally, and it works very well."

Green looked at the small purse that Judau handed him in surprise, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart as well. "Judau, this is too precious. Your mother needs this. I can't accept it."

Judau firmly stuffed the purse into Green's hand and said, "Green, you've already helped my mother and me enough. I can get these scales from Buck, so please accept them."

Looking at the small pouch in his hand, Green felt Jiedu's sincerity and goodwill. He nodded, "Okay, I'll accept it. I will definitely use it properly."

"Thanks, Jiedu."

Nothing is more precious than this kind of pure friendship, especially between two children who are both homeless. Green chose to give the other a friendly hug as a thank you and farewell.

"You're too kind. I should be the one thanking you." Jiedu didn't stand on ceremony either. At least they had the experience of sitting down and having a heart-to-heart talk. Only fellow travelers who had been stranded far from home could understand this feeling.

"Haha, take care, Jiedu."

"Have a safe trip, Green."

After a brief embrace, Green mounted his horse, carefully put away the small purse, waved goodbye to Jedu, and then raised his whip, and the caravan slowly started moving.

Jiedu stood in the snow, watching the caravan's wagons gradually disappear into the distance, their wheels crunching over the melting snow.

The cream in the basket gleamed warmly in the sunlight filtering through the curtains, and the salty aroma of dried meat mingled with the wheat scent of bread, wafting into the air.

He suddenly remembered that the last time his whole family sat down for a meal was three months ago in a small inn in a border town. His father used a dagger to cut the bread into three pieces, and his mother scraped the cream from her piece onto his bread, saying that children should eat more sweets.

Although things have changed and people are no longer the same, those beautiful moments are etched deeply in my mind as if they were forever...

Perhaps, sometimes, people really do live for just one moment.