As ti passed, we found ourselves nearing the capital.
Days of travel accumulated fatigue in our bodies.
At the sa ti, thinking about the forthcoming tasks brought an involuntary headache.
I wondered how many botherso matters wed get tangled with in the capital.
All I wished for was to finish only the necessary tasks and return to Stockpin.
anwhile, Gale approached , steering his horse closer.
The capital should co into view soon.
At his words, I looked ahead.
Yet, nothing was in sight.
I sighed and asked Gale, When do you think well be able to return?
Gale shrugged.
Who knows? Perhaps once His Majesty deems enough ti has passed, hell allow us to go back. It might not be anyti soon, though.
...
Dont worry, Berg. Ill be here to help you.
Gale promised to stay by my side.
With each promise, I felt a bit more at ease.
Then, Gale warned .
Berg. There are things to be wary of in the capital.
I looked at Gale, appreciating his cautionary advice.
He continued, Its best to avoid the nobles.
What do you an?
The capital is ho to various families. Carelessly stirring trouble might land you in an undesirable position. Especially with the issues surrounding the Saintess, its bound to be noisy.
...
I nodded in agreent, adding, I dont want to get unnecessarily involved either.
Thats good to hear. But rember, whatever happens, Ill be here to assist you, so dont worry too much.
...I understand.
After a brief silence, Gale, sly as a snake, suddenly asked.
Speaking of which, Berg...
...?
...How about we train together while were heading to the capital?
That topic again.
Now, it brought a smirk to my face, as if Id heard an amusing joke.
Gale smiled as well.
It seed he was always planning to teach , whenever that might be.
I let out a sigh.
Maybe it was because of all the recent complications that I felt an itch to move my body more vigorously.
I looked at Gale.
...
And then, I nodded slightly.
Considering I had been sowhat resistant to training with Gale due to the issues with Sien... I could no longer find a reason to refuse.
Gale responded to my nod with a smile.
A wise choice, he said.
I looked ahead again.
...Berg.
...?
How are things with your wives?
I saw Arwin and Ner driving the horses ahead.
Things were sowhat nded with my wives.
There was still so awkwardness, but we made eye contact, occasionally held hands, and even shared smiles.
The handholding after a fight felt distinctly different.
Different thoughts swirled in my head.
It felt like these sensations stemd from this unique relationship.
...
I didnt bother to respond.
The answer was now beyond my grasp.
Gale, noticing my reaction, said, Things will get better, Berg. Both of them smile happily when theyre by your side, dont they?
Its good to hear you feel that way.
Its not just good; its remarkable. No one else is quite as extraordinary as Ner and Arwin
I chuckled at his words and added, The head of the Pantora family said the sa. He was amazed that such special beings as Ner and Arwin were tied to .
Mir Pantora?
I raised an eyebrow at Gales puzzled look.
Is there a problem?
Gale pondered for a mont before shaking his head.
...Theres no problem. Its just that the Lizardn always have such... unique perspectives.
I nodded at his trivial remark, and a silence lingered between us for a while.
...Eventually, I asked, compelled perhaps by the story Mir Pantora had shared.
...Gale.
Im listening.
The question ca out with difficulty.
...Is polygamy going to be abolished?
...
...It seems the king wants it that way.
Gale sighed as well.
...Its not impossible.
I snickered at the absurd notion.
The fact that I reacted this way to a topic I would vehently oppose under normal circumstances... might be because I thought my wives might actually prefer it.
After all, ours was a marriage of political convenience.
We were forcefully brought together.
And in such a union, conflicts continued to arise.
By diminishing my own desires, perhaps one of them could gain their freedom.
Of course, this was rely my own speculation.
Even though I had quarreled with my wives, it wasnt proof they wished to part ways with .
Everyone fights at tis.
I hoped, in the end, they would choose to stay by my side.
So, I said to Gale.
Gale.
Im here.
...Im against it.
...I know.
...I wish you could persuade the king.
Gale looked at .
I t his gaze.
After a long mont, he nodded.
...Alright. Ill try.
Then, swallowing a breath, he added, But as advice, in preparation for the worst-case scenario...
...?
...It might be wise to have a child.
I chuckled again at his words.
...Ive heard that one before.
...Though things are easier said than done.
****
Before reaching the capital, we set up our last campsite.
If I were to pick a mont when I felt closest to my wives in the past few days, it would be now.
We shared a temporary tent, slept together, and even had so conversations.
I, too, was looking forward to tonights rest.
I wanted to dissolve the awkwardness between and my wives before we arrived at the capital.
I wasnt the only one feeling this way.
Both Ner and Arwin kept stealing glances at , and I could sense they shared my sentints.
Perhaps it was also due to Gales advice.
I wanted to grow closer to them, even just a little.
It wasnt about forcibly impregnating them to bind them to .
Pregnancy still seed like a distant concept to .
But that didnt an I was averse to the idea of having children.
For now, I just wanted to be closer to them.
For that to happen, the current situation couldnt continue.
As I pondered how to grow closer to them, I wrapped up the day with my comrades.
Use the water borrowed from the quartermaster. Tomorrow, Burns will
Berg?
Soone called then.
All my comrades promptly showed respect.
Arwin was standing behind.
...
Her expression slightly betrayed her nervousness.
I had wanted to talk to her, and here she was, approaching first.
I moved towards her.
Yes. Speak.
...Can we talk for a mont?
She asked, holding a small bag.
The sunset is beautiful.
She whispered.
...
From the atmosphere alone, it was clear she had co to reconcile with .
I had no reason to refuse her.
Baran read the mood and nodded at .
Go ahead, Vice-Captain. Ill finish up the remaining discussions with these kids.
...
I nodded slowly.
I took hold of Arwins cool wrist.
...Ah.
She let out a brief moan but didnt push away.
I looked around and found a spot where we could rest.
****
Arwin walked with Berg, watching the sunset.
They moved away from the grand campsite set up by the royal family, walking into the distance.
Being alone with him like this wasnt frightening.
She felt safe with Berg by her side, reminiscent of the tis they went hunting together.
Perhaps it was those mories.
The crisp wind seed to clear the unease in her heart.
Berg seed to feel the sa, his expression more serene than usual.
...Wow...
Arwin exclaid as they found a perfect spot.
Indeed, nothing was as good as freedom.
Everywhere they went, a new beautiful scenery unfolded.
It was the sa now.
The red sunset and the green plains rged into a breathtaking view.
Lets sit here.
Berg said, settling down on the grass.
Arwin nodded and sat beside him.
For a mont, they settled in, letting the awkward air drift away.
Arwin didnt know what to say first.
Reconciliation was not sothing she was familiar with.
She had been accustod to fighting for decades.
Yet, she mustered the courage because she was anxious.
Was it right to waste 60 years like this?
She couldnt maintain the typical elven composure.
...
Knowing she wasnt articulate when it ca to making ands... Arwin pulled out a bottle of liquor from the bag she brought.
...Whats this?
When Berg asked, Arwin mumbled shyly, feeling a bit embarrassed.
...Its Bardi liquor.
What?
...You said you wanted to try it. I asked the royal guards, and they had so...
There was a ti when Bardi liquor felt off-putting.
Now, knowing Berg liked Bardy liquor, she wanted to bring him so if she could.
Similarly, Arwin handed Berg a glass she had brought out.
Then, she cautiously sat beside him and filled his glass.
...
Arwin also took out her own glass from the backpack.
She began to fill it as well.
Watching her, Berg asked.
You dont drink.
...Ill try so.
In this mont of reconciliation, Arwin wanted to share a drink with him.
Perhaps it was a desire to be more like Berg that moved her.
Berg smiled faintly at her words.
This was it.
Even the act of drinking had its aning, just to see that smile.
Soon, they clinked glasses and drank.
After taking a sip, Berg looked at Arwin and smiled.
Only then did Arwin realize her expression had softened a bit.
...Its harsh.
She blurted out, almost as an excuse.
Berg chuckled.
The reconciliation happened without words.
Neither felt the need to explicitly say sorry.
As they sat together, Arwin found herself pondering if this was what being a couple was like.
It seed they shared an unspoken understanding.
For a while, they engaged in this silent conversation.
After so ti, Berg quietly broke the silence.
These monts, Arwin...
As Arwin refilled his glass, she looked up at him.
He was gazing at the distant scenery and the sunset.
...With each mont like this, you beco more precious to .
......
They had shared many such monts together.
When she was rescued from the World Tree.
In the Dems village.
During their hunting trips.
And when they got caught in the rain in the forest.
There were endless monts when they could feel affection for each other.
Berg seed to cherish each one of them.
Arwin found herself at a loss for words.
In a soft and earnest tone, Berg almost seed to ask himself, ...Is it just ?
...
As Arwin hesitated, pondering her response and choosing silence, Berg turned to look at her.
Their eyes t.
In Berg, Arwin saw... once again, a fleeting and endless beauty.
Her emotions intertwined.
There was much she wanted to say, yet the words wouldnt co easily.
Could there be a more perfect opportunity than this mont...
...to whisper love?
...
But at the sa ti, the quarrels of the past haunted her mind.
Practical issues also existed.
The concerns she had been suppressing hadnt just vanished.
Yet, there was sothing she wanted to say right now.
Matching his courage, she decided to open up.
... too...
She bit her lip, starting and stopping.
...If it werent for the lifespan issue...
...?
Taking a deep breath, Arwin whispered while looking into Bergs eyes, reflecting the hues of the sunset.
...I would have fallen in love with you long ago.
...
It was the truth.
If not for the issue of lifespan, she would have been sharing a deep love with him without any reservations.
Now, Arwin was aware of her own feelings.
Thats why she gently let Berg know her heart.
...
Berg remained silent for a mont, then chuckled at her words.
He then raised his filled glass towards Arwin.
Arwin, doing the sa, clinked her glass against his.
They swallowed the liquor once more.
The taste was undoubtedly different from before.
They didnt engage in much conversation after that.
They simply enjoyed the mont of the setting sun, feeling the breeze.
Arwin felt her mind clearing up.
Through their conversation, what was important beca visible.
The issue of lifespan.
She knew it was a problem, but in another sense, it was the only problem.
If only there was a way to resolve it.
...What if she could share her extended lifespan with Berg?
Not just a re 60 years, but hundreds of years together.
Creating mories hundreds of tis over than those they had already made.
By that ti, there would be no one to hinder them.
Not Ner, not the saintess, no one.
They wouldnt be around.
Sharing her lifespan could also solve the issue for their children.
Their half-elf offspring might not have to face the tragedy of dying prematurely.
...
It was a fleeting thought.
...But it felt surprisingly right.
Sacrifice was undoubtedly necessary.
Under the assumption it was possible, it would an offering up ones lifespan.
One would have to give up their days of living.
The future of becoming a mythic being, living for more than a thousand years, would also have to be forsaken.
...But Arwin knew.
The few months spent with Berg were far more aningful than the past 170 years.
Thus, the choice could be made astonishingly easily.
She felt she could make the sacrifice.
No, if only it were possible, she would want to.
She couldnt imagine a life without Berg anymore.
Thinking about it, they would indeed live a profoundly touching life.
Leaving this world on the sa day.
Berg was already precious to her now, how much deeper would their bond grow after centuries together?
Perhaps in the mont of closing their eyes for the last ti, they could whisper to each other about the happiness of their life together.
...
Whether there was a way to share lifespans... Arwin didnt know.
But looking at the World Tree, it was evident that lifespans could be shared.
Perhaps there was a way.
If not, maybe it was sothing to be discovered.
Moreover, they were on their way to the capital.
The capital might hold the answers.
The more she thought about it, the more exhilarating the idea beca.
...
With these thoughts, Arwin gazed at the setting sun.
The End of The Chapter
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