“Mara! I know you’re listening,” Aldrit called out, his frustration evident in his voice. Judging Flora’s reaction earlier, he figured out Mara had approached her before.
He couldn’t dismiss the consequences of his hasty promise to prevent any contact between Mara and Flora in the kingdom. At the ti, he had believed there must be a solution, but upon his return, regret overshadowed his initial confidence.
The challenge of blocking Mara, who could navigate the village’s hidden pathways using small animals as ssengers, proved more formidable than he had anticipated. Negotiations seed a viable alternative, yet Mara remained elusive since his return, showing no signs of cooperation.
Anika’s unwavering animosity towards both the tribe and Mara provided a temporary shield, preventing Mara from approaching from any side. However, he recognized that relying on luck and Anika’s hostility couldn’t be a lasting solution.
Frustrated and feeling cornered, he decided to seek counsel from the elders responsible for safeguarding the magic. Venting his concerns, he was t with amused chuckles and a blunt response, “Kid, your relationship with that creature is simple. Either coexist or break the magic. Don’t expect anything beyond that.”
Confronted with the stark reality of his situation, Aldrit let go of the arrogance that had lingered in the depths of his heart. He abandoned any notion of manipulating Mara to conform to his desires and began to reflect on a more pragmatic approach to the challenge at hand.
“Mara, co out. I’m not here to bla you; let’s have a serious conversation.”
“What about?”
Aldrit hesitated, settling into a seat. After a mont, a mouse erged from sowhere, making its presence known at his feet.
“Did you bring Anika here because you want to utilize the magic you ntioned before?” Aldrit inquired.
“I don’t plan to use it right away,” Mara replied. “But Anika is like my last resort.”
Aldrit wanted to argue that Mara’s perception of using Anika as a tool was incorrect, but he suspected that the fundantal difference in their perspectives couldn’t be easily reconciled.
“For now, Anika shouldn’t leave our village. Do you agree on that point?” he clarified.
“Yes,” agreed Mara.
“So, cooperate in monitoring Anika while I’m away. After I co back, let’s thoroughly discuss your plans.”
“Where are you going?”
“To the kingdom.”
“Again? It hasn’t been long since you ca back.”
“Both of you would be curious about the situation here. I need to assure them that Anika is being protected.”
“You’re going all out.”
Despite Mara’s mocking tone, Aldrit paid no attention. He believed that his efforts were a small return for the favors received from the two.
“Do you comprehend what I’m saying? Don’t rely acknowledge and then proceed to do sothing else. If you repeat that, you’ll let down. I can’t discuss the future with soone I can’t rely on. I’m being earnest.”
“…I understand. But that Anika, her temperant is really bad,” Mara complained.
You’re no walk in the park yourself, Aldrit mused silently. “I have a question. Why didn’t Sang-je feed Anika the seed you gave ? If he had, you wouldn’t have been able to bring Anika here.”
“There’s a risk. The one who consus the seed shares their energy with . That’s how I can track them, know if they’re alive or injured. But if Anika consus it, it heightens the chance of awakening Ramita,” explained Mara.
“Why?”
“It’s like offering at to soone on the verge of starvation. So, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”
Aldrit raised an eyebrow and probed further, “Were you contemplating feeding the queen the seed?”
“I only considered it.”
“What about the king? Wouldn’t it be advantageous to know the king’s location if he consud the seed?”
“Big trouble. If the king eats it… Hey, you’re not planning sothing like that, right?”
“I’m not.”
“I’ll make sure the seeds I provide are ingested right in front of from now on!”
“I said I won’t. Do you think I’m soone who speaks with a forked tongue like you?”
Aldrit recalled Mara’s uneasy reaction and decided to cease asking more about the seeds, sensing an elevated level of caution.
He regarded the mouse with mixed feelings. Sly yet straightforward, transparent yet unpredictable—Mara was an enigma. In the past, he had dreamt of a world where larks would disappear. However, recent experiences had shaken his values. He couldn’t simply label larks as re monsters; they, too, had their thoughts and were earnestly living in this world.
Maybe humans need to find a way to coexist peacefully with them.
The next morning, Aldrit left his hiding place. He instructed the tribe not to mistreat Flora while keeping an eye on her and embarked on a distant journey across the desert.
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