* * *
After Mamil's lesson, Cadel took Lun and Van to Drakium's night market. He wanted to eat the delicious grilled skewers here one last ti before leaving Drakium. When Van realized what was going on, he quickly left to get so, and while waiting for him, Cadel made small talk with Lun.
“Forest of Enchantnt?”
“Uh. Have you heard of it?”
“I've heard of it. It's a notorious forest.”
“You've never been there?”
“I don't really have a hobby of going to those places.”
Lun glanced over at Cadel, who sighed heavily. Ever since his last lesson with Mamil, Cadel had been uncharacteristically somber. Was it because he was sad to see him go?
Lun tried to console him with a joke as he tried to figure out why.
“I don't know why, but don't be too depressed. Leader has a sense of unfairness from the beginning, so when you make that expression, you look really pitiful.”
“Shut up. Do you want to get hit?”
“So brutal. But what’s with the Forest of Enchantnt all of a sudden? Do you have any plans to go there?”
“Yeah.”
Lun blinked dazedly for a mont, not expecting an imdiate affirmation of his question. Cadel turned to face him and smiled grimly.
“You have to go too, my friend.”
“Um…… Nope.”
Lun sighed, avoiding Cadel's gaze. He was a native of the Kingdom of Mainue, and had heard the infamy of the Forest of Enchantnt since childhood. The Forest of Enchantnt had many nicknas, but the most famous were the ‘Forbidden Forest’ and the ‘Forest of Death’. Very few people ever made it out alive.
No matter how interesting Cadel was, he was not yet enough to follow him to death-trap. But just as he was about to express his refusal, Cadel frowned at him and pushed him away.
“Isn't it only when you accompany to a place like that that you can appreciate the true value of the other person? It's not like I'm going to die, I'm just picking up a bunch of herbs from there. You can't even do that? And you're a swordsman? Since when are you so cowardly and lacking in ambition? I'm disappointed in you, Lun.”
“Even if you snap at like that…….”
What can't be helped is what can't be helped. The mont Lun was about to say that, soone's arm ca out from behind as if splitting the two.
“That’s why I said, give up on that guy early, Commander. He's not gonna help you one bit.”
The owner of the forearm was none other than Van, who stretched out his arm as if to hug Cadel from behind and handed him a skewer, which Cadel ekly accepted after stopping his wheezing. Van, who had been giggling at Cadel and wishing him a good al, turned a cold shoulder as soon as he saw Lun standing next to him.
“I could sacrifice my life for Commander. Wouldn't a trustworthy subordinate be much better than an extra coward?”
Van, who had placed a hand on Cadel's shoulder, said sarcastically. eting his hostile gaze, the corner of Lun's mouth twitched upward.
* * *
It took five full days to cross the border of the Mainue Kingdom. Each ti they traveled by carriage ― rented with funds from Lun, who ultimately decided to accompany them.
The good news was that Cadel's frail body had adapted to the long journey. Aside from the occasional bout of extre motion sickness that left him leaning on Van's shoulder for the entire trip, he was able to function fairly independently.
And so the journey entered its sixth day. Lun, Van, and Cadel had reached a small village near the Forest of Enchantnt.
“Everyone get so rest today, because as I've said a few tis, what we need most tomorrow is stamina and speed, okay?”
“Yes, Commander!”
Cadel patted Van's head as he answered, then jerked toward Lun, only breaking eye contact when he saw him nod with a bitter expression.
The village was small, consisting of a few ramshackle houses and restaurants. They decided to stay at the ho of an elderly couple who had a spare room. The generous couple refused Cadel's offer of lodging and even offered him a ho-cooked al. Of course, being a poor village, the food wasn't the most flavorful or plentiful, but Cadel and his party were able to finish the al in good spirits.
There was only one room. It was cramped for three adult n, but they were in no position to complain. If it weren't for the goodwill of the elderly couple, Cadel’s party would have been holess by now.
“Commander, are you comfortable in the center?”
“Any place is fine.”
“If you're comfortable with walls…… No, the walls are chilly, so you're probably better off sleeping in the center.”
Since the original purpose of the only room was a utility room rather than a bedroom, they had to lie down on sleeping bags. Van unfolded the sleeping bag himself despite Cadel's disapproval and put his own sleeping bag right next to it. Lun, who was holding his share of the sleeping bag and watching him, frowned.
“If you lean towards the center like that, the space left will be narrow. Stuck at the end”
It was a valid point, but Van didn't even give him a second glance as he crumpled into his sleeping bag.
“If it's narrow, stand up and sleep.”
“What?”
“Stand up and sleep.”
Lun spat out a laugh at the absurdity of the response.
‘Why are they like that again…….’
Realizing that if he left it at this, it would lead to the kind of pointless bickering that had been plaguing him the entire trip, Cadel stepped in to diate between the two.
“Both of you, don't strain yourself, Lun, co here. If you sleep right next to , it will be less cramped.”
“Commander, I'll just go to the side.”
“Thank you, Leader. It was still cold, but I can sleep very warmly.”
Lun quickly clung to Cadel's side and unfurled his sleeping bag before Van could slip out of it and move away. It was a quick move, almost as quick as his attack.
Maybe they should all just sleep a little further apart. Sighing, Cadel flopped down on his sleeping bag. Disgruntling at Lun, Van turned off the bedside lamp.
Falling asleep while being pinned down on either side by two tall n was quite an ordeal. Unable to turn over or even turn his head, Cadel lay stiffly, feeling like a toothpick stuck in a fruit, staring at the black ceiling.
‘Tomorrow, I'll do well……?’
Cadel had faced a variety of enemies, but he had never fought against a knight candidate before. Furthermore, all of the fairy knights were obtained through gacha, so he was pretty much ignorant of the Forest of Enchantnt’s storyline.
Poor images and extrely low amount of information. It was natural to be worried.
‘It's even called the Forbidden Forest, and it's full of dangers. Our best bet is to find so herbs and get out of there in the shortest amount of ti…….’
He had to be prepared for that if that wasn't the case. And then there was the battle with the fairies. His head was already pounding. He couldn't shake the nagging feeling that he was using his n for personal gain. Still, he couldn't go into the forest alone.
The thought spiraled out of control and grew more and more negative.
Cadel pressed hard against his burning temples and swallowed back the sigh that rose in his throat. As if sensing his frustration, sothing ca out of nowhere to his right and enveloped his hand that was holding his head.
He turned his head, startled, and locked eyes with Van. Van gently grasped Cadel's hand in his own, larger one, and slowly pulled him closer.
“Van……?”
“Don't worry, Commander. I'll protect you no matter what.”
The whispered voice carried on the cool breeze in the room, tickling my ears. The warmth of his hands was as clear as the distance between them. Cadel stared into Van's golden eyes for a mont, then slowly took his hand in his.
“I'm good on my own, so you take care of your body. And don't jump in like a moth to fire to protect . Got it?”
Van's gaze fell to their joined hands. His thumb reached out to brush the back of Cadel's soft hand, and he smiled wryly and nodded.
“……Good.”
Seeing his face soften, the tightness in his chest dissipated a bit.
‘Yeah. We've got a long way to go, but we can't hesitate here. We're going to do it, we're going to be strong, and that's all that matters.’
With a resolve, he gently withdrew his clasped hands. In the silence of the room, Cadel slept for tomorrow.
Reviews
All reviews (0)