Turning

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Chapter 267

The vast Great Sarain Forest was not confined to mere plains and trees, despite stretching so wide as to blur the boundaries of several nations. Within its expansive bounds lay not only mountains and rivers, but unexpected marshes and rocklands as well.

Until recently, those who traded by land, the merchants, mercenaries, and adventurers alike, traversed these paths. Among them were the Cavalry members who, following the faint trails of these former travelers, decided to spend the night in a colossal crevice in the rocks by a shallow stream, providing just enough shelter to rest their weary bodies.

Despite the overpowering scent of the dense forest that made their heads spin and the discomfort of resting on the cold, fireless ground, no one complained. Protected by their comrades, nestled safely at the most secure spot within their makeshift camp, Ejain dozed off. However, a sudden rustling sound pulled him from the depths of his slumber.

While the rest of the troop curled up soundly asleep in their places, one person was missing from his original spot – their Commander, Kishiar La Orr. Turning his head, Ejain noticed him standing a little distance away by the stream. Despite the danger lurking in the darkness of the unknown, the night sky reflecting off the streaming water, shrouded in countless twinkling stars, was overwhelmingly beautiful.

The man with golden locks, glowing in the soft, pale-blue hue of the moonlight and starlight that descended from that sky, seemed like a natural part of this surreal scenery. Unconsciously captivated by this ethereal sight, Ejain finally noticed, slightly belatedly, that a small bird perched in the outstretched hand Kishiar pointed towards the sky.

'A bird?'

Although it was difficult to see clearly due to the intertwining darkness and moonlight, it was evident that the bird was not perched on his finger, but rather half-lying in his palm. Through the gaps between Kishiar's pale fingers, a sudden flash of red seemed to flicker.

Before Ejain could even contemplate the meaning of this sight, his body reflexively moved. As Ejain quickly rose, Kishiar gently covered the bird with his other hand, long strokes from its head to tail feather calming the small creature.

A moment later, Ejain, now standing on two feet, noticed the bird fluttering its small wings within Kishiar's grasp. He had certainly thought he saw blood, yet the bird now seemed perfectly unharmed as if he was still dreaming.

'Was I mistaken about it being injured?'

Though Ejain had been trained to remain calm in any situation, there were several times these past days when this was impossible. Now was one of those moments. While he blankly watched Kishiar and the bird, the man, gently caressing the bird's head with his fingertip, turned his head.

"If you are awake, shall we talk for a moment?"

He spoke as if he knew all along that Ejain was awake, his words delivered in a whisper barely audible, yet piercingly clear.

Ejain, careful not to wake the others, stepped out to join Kishiar. Despite always looking down on others due to his high status, Ejain did not feel the same in the presence of this noble. It felt as though he was back to his childhood.

The small bird in Kishiar's hand, noticing Ejain's approach, lit up its black, bean-like eyes and cocked its head. Tied to the bird's leg was a tiny pouch, used for carrying letters.

"A courier bird, then?"

"The following Peletta Knights brought letters for you," began Kishiar. "But their contents were rather unusual."

"...I wonder what they contained."

"Did a deceased servant ever present you with a lost hair tie, Prince? And, do you still possess it?"

Kishiar's question was abrupt, yet his face betrayed no hint of jest. Ejain studied his eyes for a moment, then quickly nodded his head.

"Yes, there was such an instance. I still have it, but why..."

"Apparently, it seems to carry a scent that someone might be tracking."

The explanation was brief, but it gave Ejain enough to surmise the circumstances. He immediately lowered his head, looking at his chest area.

"It seems new assassins are on their way. Assassins who track people through scent... I have a hunch about who sent them."

The face of the dead servant flickered in his mind. Biting his lip, Ejain reached into his pocket and pulled out the hair tie. It was a keepsake from his mother, something he'd never parted from since he thought he'd lost it once. However, if it was indeed a cause for being tracked, he had to dispose of it naturally.

With a glance at the hair tie, Ejain was about to throw it into the stream without any hesitation. He would have done so if Kishiar's outstretched hand hadn't stopped him.

"...Why do you stop me?"

"If you discard something so precious that you've been carrying around, won't you regret it someday?"

"But what choice do I have? As it is..."

"Even if we kill them, other assassins will keep coming. You can't keep discarding things to live."

"What then, are you suggesting?"

In response to Ejain's question, Kishiar broke into a strange smile.

"Nothing."

"Excuse me?"

"You needn't do anything. They will never make it here anyway."

"What do you mean?"

Bemused by his response, the red pupils gazed somewhere beyond the forest.

"If they're following the scent, they'll follow exactly where you've been. Remember where we were last."

Ejain blinked, taking a moment to swallow.

'The base where the mages stay...!'

Many mages who had been at the briefly visited base sprung to mind. The young priest who was attempting to heal them, and one other face left behind there passed through his mind.

The Cavalry member with a strange aura and black hair. The first friend he had ever made in his life, Ejain was taken aback as he recalled him.

Others he might not have minded, but he couldn't allow that man to suffer due to him.

"Isn't that an even bigger problem? They will be in danger there because of me. What can I... You need to send a message there quickly, don't you?"

Despite Ejain's dismay, Kishiar calmly shook his head.

"Even if we send word now, it will be too late."

"Then please send someone there, anyone. Even if late, so they can have some help."

"There's no need."

"What are you trying to say?"

"What I am saying is that, as long as the person we left there remains, there is absolutely no need to worry."

Ejain stared in surprise at Kishiar.

He immediately knew who was being referred to as the person they had left behind. It was the very man, whom Ejain had just been worriedly anxious about.

"Don't you worry about... him?"

Ejain asked hesitantly. On the way, he had seen enough of Yuder's abilities left at the base to have a rough idea of how formidable he was. However, he couldn't understand Kishiar's calm face, asserting that there was no need to worry, even knowing that the assassins trailing Ejain might raid the place.

"Of course, I'm worried."

"He's one of your valued subordinates, isn't he?"

"I value him greatly."

"Then why would you say you'll leave him and do nothing?"

Just by watching for a few days, Ejain knew how much Yuder was devoted to Kishiar. He'd seen the concern for his Commander and comrades behind Yuder's emotionless face, and had felt a profound envy that such a person was not at his side.

And yet, the one who received that absolute faith was planning to abandon him in a moment of danger?

Seeing Ejain's skeptical expression, Kishiar smiled.

"If I were to return there now, he wouldn't listen to me ever again."

"..."

"The one I left behind is someone I trust to handle things even when we have no means left from our side. What we need to do is to trust our backs to him and quickly move forward, not turn back for unnecessary reasons."

Ejain was lost for words, just looking at the man before him.

'Trust? ...No, can it be called trust or faith, that thing?'

He felt the same emotion now as when he had been conversing with Yuder before. Something absolute, incomprehensible to him, seemed to stretch out, connecting the two men.

At first, he thought it was just deep loyalty. But now, looking into Kishiar's eyes, he got the feeling that maybe it wasn't just that.

"Anyway, since we have pursuers, we can't rest anymore. I will send the message back to the Peletta Knights. We should also move forward quickly. Are you okay physically?"

"I am, I'm fine."

Hearing Ejain's confused response, Kishiar smiled quietly.

"I'm glad."

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