I left Arwin and, after checking the training grounds, went in search of Adam Hyungs house.
Today, as always, he looked up at from a mountain of paperwork.
He blinked his eyes, which seed dry, for quite a while before asking,
What happened?
Why?
...
He let out an ambiguous grunt and quickly dismissed the matter.
I didnt press the topic either.
Instead, I sat down in a chair and said,
Now that the eting is over, give the next request.
I was actually sifting through a few.
He handed several docunts.
Choose.
I looked over the papers that he handed .
I couldnt read them properly, but there were so characters I had beco familiar with.
...Sa...ran...
While I muttered to myself, recalling what Arwin had taught , Adam Hyung asked,
Whats this, Berg? Are you studying letters lately?
...
It was embarrassingly evident how insufficient my knowledge still was.
Since there were few characters I could read, I put down the papers.
Then I replied to him,
Im trying.
Adam Hyung smiled and asked,
What brought this on? You never bothered when I told you to learn before.
..
Explaining everything that happened with Arwin seed too botherso, so I changed the subject.
Anyway, Ill head here.
Sarik Village.
A Dwarf Village?
As I asked, he nodded. Scratching his nose, Adam Hyung said,
But why the rush? You could rest a bit before leaving.
I couldnt give him a clear answer either.
I might have been acting this way because I wanted to nd the awkward relationship with Ner.
Of course, last nights drinking session had eased the atmosphere a bit... I had built many mories in the last ti in the Dems Village.
I was hoping for such a break again.
Hyung watched in silence and then nodded.
Yeah, go ahead. Last ti, it seed like you got along better with your wives, which was nice to see.
...
I sighed softly, unbeknownst to Hyung.
I thought that was the case too.
But having heard that Ner might have soone else... it felt like I was facing a new obstacle.
She had no intention of giving her heart to .
She even ntioned having a predestined partner.
Of course, marrying had put an end to that issue.
I would have normally not bothered about it.
But perhaps because the person involved was my wife, it made think again.
Maybe I was worried because I had harbored feelings for soone.
...
Co to think of it, Arwin too, being of a long-lived species, said she couldnt love .
We had beco closer, but it wasnt love.
Even though I expected it... why?
Was it because I felt an exchange of hearts?
Unlike in the past, this topic didnt feel light anymore.
Maybe that was why I wanted to take on the next request quickly.
I sighed.
Then I said to Hyung,
...Ill leave tomorrow.
...
At my words, Hyung frowned again.
...Do you really have sothing going on?
...Sort of.
I dodged the question.
...
Ill go.
****
As I was returning ho, I spotted Ner bustling around in the center of the village.
Her white tail and perky ears, along with her stunning beauty, were striking.
Usually shy about her tail and not one to wander outdoors, it was curious to see her alone there, doing sothing.
As I approached her, Ner noticed .
Her face brightened beautifully. Her tail began to wag.
Berg!
Her voice sounded happy.
...
I couldnt help but smile slightly. Lately, just seeing her face made react this way.
She bounced over to from a distance, coming right up to .
The closer she got, the more beautiful her smile beca.
What are you doing here?
I asked, smiling gently.
Ner replied,
I was looking for you!
?
Was it because of the awkwardness from yesterday? It seed like she was making an effort too.
I happily accepted her effort and said,
Whats up?
We agreed to go for a walk yesterday, rember? So, lets go for that walk.
I scratched my head.
I didnt rember promising to take a walk with her.
Did I say that?
Ner looked at , then averted her gaze.
She suddenly seed timid.
Then she mumbled in a barely audible voice,
...Why, you... you were talking about how to make up with your wife, rember?
Ah.
I stroked my chin.
So thats why we drank yesterday.
Ner exhaled a disgruntled sigh.
Then she muttered gruffly,
...Shall we not go?
She asked.
...
Seeing her like this brought out another slight chuckle from .
There was no reason to refuse when she was making such an effort.
No, its fine. Id like that. Lets go.
Then, I reached out and casually took her wrist.
...
I hesitated for a mont.
Like a vivid scar, the words of the prophecy she had received kept coming back to .
It was tornting to have these thoughts erge even when I didnt want to.
I hated that even my natural movents were now filled with hesitation.
-Swish.
...
But at that mont, Ner lightly loosened my grip and intertwined her fingers with mine.
Frozen in her light gesture, I looked down at her as she looked up at .
...Didnt you do this with Arwin?
Her teasing expression was a bonus.
At her words, I smiled again.
Yeah, I did.
I responded.
.
.
.
Is the dwarf village next then?
As Ner and I walked hand in hand through the small forest within the village, we exchanged conversation.
In truth, it wouldnt have mattered if we had let go of each others hands by now, but wanting to thoroughly resolve yesterdays incident, I didnt let go.
She didnt seem to mind my insistence and didnt bring it up.
Yes, the dwarf village.
I answered her question as we walked.
...I heard that elves and dwarves dont get along well, do they...
Ner muttered worriedly, clearly referring to Arwin.
I responded to her concern.
Arwin will have to travel alone in the distant future, so it might be better for her to get so experience with first.
There was a brief silence from Ner, then she spoke.
Ah, Berg.
Go ahead.
What did you do that ti?
...?
When you and Arwin-nim disappeared together. What did you do?
Hunting.
And after that? Didnt your plans get ruined by the rain? Where did you rest?
I wondered if Ner had always been this curious, but I recalled the situation at the ti.
Then I looked at her.
Even if Ner claid she had no feelings for , she didnt understand polygamy.
It was a trait ingrained in her race.
Would it be right to tell her what I did with my other wife?
...
But at the sa ti, I thought, what was the point in hiding it?
It probably wouldnt affect her much anyway.
We took shelter from the sudden rain in a small gap at the base of a tree.
What?
...
...So, youre saying you rested close together? Thats what you an?
We had to. I didnt want Arwin to catch a cold.
...Youve been really concerned about Arwin-nim lately.
Ner, mulling over sothing, then changed the topic and said.
Ners steps gradually slowed, and then she ca to a halt.
Our interlocked hands stretched out, creating a long shadow.
Shes my wife.
...
Ner?
As I asked, Ner looked up at .
Her pupils seed a bit sharper.
...Berg.
Hmm?
...
She parted her lips. The atmosphere turned heavy in an instant.
...Haa.
Then Ner let out a sigh.
...Its nothing.
After swallowing her words, she resud walking with a stiff expression.
...What is it?
But I stopped her.
I pulled on our joined hands to turn her towards .
This was not a mont I wanted to gloss over uncomfortably.
Sotis I feel like you forget.
As I halted Ner, she seed unable to hold back anymore, as if she had been waiting to be asked this.
Forget what?
That Arwin-nim is of a long-lived race.
I replied in confusion.
I havent forgotten. Thats why I was just talking about the dwarf village with -
-Its not about that, Berg.
Ner stepped closer to .
She pulled out the World Tree leaf that hung around my neck from inside of my top and started fiddling with it.
As she observed the leaf, Ner spoke.
...Are you really thinking of getting close to Arwin-nim?
...What?
...The criteria for life are different for them. They are beings we can never fully understand no matter how hard we try.
She looked at with those sharp eyes, devoid of any smile, and said,
...Do we, the short-lived, seem like re flies to them? Thats why you dont need to worry so much. Even if shes your wife. Arwin-nim doesnt worry about you, so why do you worry about her so much?
...
I was taken aback by Ners aggressive words.
I hadnt expected her to say sothing like this.
It made wonder if their relationship wasnt as good as I thought.
And even though Arwin was an elf, she was now my wife and friend.
The claim that she didnt worry about at all seed flawed.
So, I made it clear to Ner.
...I dont know why youre saying this suddenly, but dont box Arwin into stereotypes. Even if other elves are like that, Arwin is-
-Arwin-nim is a Celebrien, right? From the most elf-like lineage?
...
She has a much longer lifespan than other elves, I heard. She boasts about living over a thousand years after parting with you. Dont you see the possibility that she values short life less than any other elf?
Following Ner, now Arwin too.
I couldnt understand why suddenly there were these unpleasant stories erging about each other.
The more I tried, the more it felt like sinking deeper into quicksand.
...Im worried that you dont understand elves enough.
I wanted to dismiss Ners words.
...Thats okay. Stop it. I dont want to hear baseless slander about Arwin all of a sudden.
.....Not.
What?
...Its not without basis.
While I was frozen, Ner quietly approached.
She moved closer to .
She tugged at the World Tree leaf hanging around my neck.
I naturally bowed my head.
...Its a story I intended to keep hidden.
Ner looked at from a distance no more than an arms length.
Gone was the fearful look she used to have when our eyes t.
Ner spoke to .
...I still rember, Berg. The day you were hunting the boss monster outside Celebriens territory.
...
Arwin-nim and I were together then. While I stayed quiet... Arwin-nim...
I had a bad feeling.
Frowning, I tried to lift my upper body in rejection.
But the more I tried, the tighter Ner held onto Arwins World Tree leaf.
If I pulled too hard, the necklace might break.
Her tail was also wrapped around my waist.
...Arwin-nim...
Was it a defense chanism?
I rembered what Arwin said to that day, sheltering under the tree from the rain.
I like you... as a friend.
And at the sa ti, Ner whispered.
Just loud enough for only to hear.
...Arwin-nim wished for your death, Berg.
The End of The Chapter
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