Chapter 58
The sun was shining brightly. The wind was a bit chilly, but not too strong. The sky was clear and clean. It was perfect weather for a long journey.
All the members of the Duke’s household came out to see us off.
The forest where the elves were said to reside was located in the center of the continent.
It takes over a month and two weeks of riding south from the imperial capital to reach the outskirts of this vast forest.
Strange creatures live in that forest.
No emperor’s army or king’s knights could invade it, and finally, they gave up entering it out of reverence and piety.
A place where humans cannot live. That’s where we are going.
Father Adrian was the first to get into the carriage, and I stayed behind for a final farewell.
Duke Desmiere, Reedmore, and Ayla were at the forefront.
The Duke was the first to say goodbye.
“Have a safe journey.”
Reedmore and Ayla followed.
“Take care, Khalia.”
“Stay safe, Miss.”
I carefully looked at each of their faces, wanting to imprint them in my mind. I wouldn’t see them for nearly five years.
I hugged each of them. Their hands patting my back were warm, regardless of who they belonged to.
With reluctance, I took my steps toward the carriage.
“I’ll be back.”
I greeted them energetically and got into the carriage. Andrew and Guinness, who were to escort the carriage, mounted their horses.
“We are departing.”
The coachman whipped the reins. With a crack and a jolt, the carriage wheels began to roll.
Today, we planned to travel out of the capital by carriage and stay overnight in a nearby town.
We would also deliver some necessary goods to the trading company under the Duke’s jurisdiction, and from there, we would ride horses for better mobility.
“You seem very close to the members of the Duke’s household.”
Father Adrian said, noticing I couldn’t take my eyes off the window.
“They are more than I deserve.”
I tore my gaze away from the scenery and sat down. The space behind the seat was piled high with bundles of goods to be delivered to the trading company.
“Really? It doesn’t seem that way to me.”
He smiled warmly. I took another good look at this peculiar travel companion.
His appearance was as holy as if an angel had descended.
Even knowing that outward beauty or ugliness doesn’t determine nobility or virtue, it was still striking.
His platinum blond hair was immaculate, and his clear blue eyes were like glass. He had a prominent nose, smooth lips, and dimples that appeared when he smiled.
It was a face everyone would want to trust and love.
“You’re always kind to me, Father.”
I murmured. His eyes curved into a half-moon shape.
“It’s always a pleasure to recognize a talented person. You are special.”
“In what way do you find me special?”
“Your talent, your character, your lineage… everything.”
There it was again. Every time he said things like this, it made me feel really strange.
Before I could figure out how to respond, he added,
“In truth, I did not accompany you on this journey solely to track the demon’s traces.”
“Then why did you come along?”
“Elves are known for their reclusive nature and reluctance to show themselves.”
I felt my body tense.
He was right. When I boasted about going to the elves for guidance on spirits, this was my greatest concern.
“Long ago, elves, dwarves, and various other races lived together on the continent with humans… but now it is not so. Elves retreated to the forest, dwarves to the mountains, leaving humans as the dominant race, armed with weapons and armor.”
The carriage jolted over a bump. The bundles clattered. The coachman’s apologetic voice came from outside.
“Dwarves still occasionally interact with nearby residents, but elves are rarely seen anymore.”
“I am aware, Father. Do you have a way to help us?”
Impatience tinged my voice. If he could help, it might make things much easier.
“I happen to know someone who last saw an elf. If we approach through him, our visit might be easier.”
“Who is this person?”
He pointed to himself with a smile.
“It’s me.”
“Father, you?”
I had never heard this story before. My eyes widened.
“It happened twenty years ago.”
Adrian placed his hands on his lap and began recalling his past.
“I was thirteen, just a year after hearing the voice of the main god. I was on a pilgrimage across the continent as a layman.”
It was hard to imagine a thirteen-year-old Adrian.
“One day, while passing by that forest on the pilgrimage, our group was attacked by monsters. We scattered, and I ended up alone in the forest. While wandering in fear, a monster chased me. Just before it caught me, an arrow came from somewhere and pierced it.”
“It was an elf.”
I listened, fascinated. It sounded like an old legend. Adrian nodded.
“Yes. A young man dropped from a tree. He introduced himself as ‘Nuovis.’”
“Elves are known to shun other races. Nuovis was very kind.”
“They are also creations of God. They are more lenient toward a pure priest. Nuovis was intrigued by the strong scent of Lord Runic on me.”
He smiled softly.
“Thanks to that, I was able to meet and interact with a few others, albeit briefly.”
He looked at me directly.
“With your connection to spirits, they may not reject you outright. But the forest has become more isolated over time. I thought I could help you with your training and visit an old friend, so I decided to come along.”
“I’m very grateful, truly.”
“It’s nothing.”
He bowed gracefully and closed his eyes.
I, too, fell silent, mulling over his words. The carriage passed through the checkpoint at the city gate.
Outside the gates, open fields stretched out. People busily moved about, carrying sacks of grain, tending to livestock, and forming small communities.
I opened the window wide. Fresh winter air flowed in. I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes.
It had been a long time since I left the capitol.
Not since I was seven, when my father died, and I arrived in the capitol with Baron Barden after our estate burned down.
I opened my eyes. The scenery outside the window flashed by quickly. Guinness, riding alongside, approached the window.
“We will reach Insandra in about four hours. It’s our destination for today. We will find horses there, send the carriage back, and spend the night.”
“Understood.”
I nodded, and he moved away. Feeling the chill, I closed the window and leaned back into the seat.
Insandra was the farthest we could go before sunset.
The small town was the largest in the area, a bustling hub where people stopped to replenish supplies and take care of various tasks before or after visiting the capitol.
The road to Insandra was well-maintained, and knights patrolled regularly. There was little chance of danger.
The warmth and safety of the carriage soon made me drowsy.
‘I should take a nap.’
With nothing else to do, I welcomed the sleep that overcame me.
<b>* * *</b>
“Miss Khalia.”
A cautious voice woke me. Before I focused my eyes, I felt the carriage’s steady vibration. We were still on the move.
I rubbed my eyes and sat up. I had stretched out on the seat with a white blanket, likely Adrian’s, covering me.
“I apologize for the undignified display.”
I sat up and began to straighten myself. He smiled and stopped me.
“No need. Guinness said we’ll arrive in 30 minutes, so I woke you. You wouldn’t sleep well tonight if you slept too much now.”
“Thank you…”
A few blinks brought me fully awake.
Dusk had fallen outside. The sky was tinted yellow.
With nothing else to do, I felt restless.
‘Still 30 minutes to go.’
Unaffected by the carriage’s movement, Adrian was reading a thin book.
‘I should have brought a book.’
He noticed my gaze and looked up.
“Are you bored?”
His voice held a hint of laughter. I admitted, somewhat embarrassed.
“Yes.”
He closed his book and set it aside.
“Shall we play a card game?”
“You play card games?”
Curious, I asked, and he looked around playfully.
“If the bishop were here, the answer would be ‘no’…”
He winked playfully.
“Luckily, it seems he’s not hiding here.”
“Ha ha.”
I laughed naturally. Adrian laughed too. He pointed to the piles of luggage behind my seat.
“I saw a deck of cards there before we left.”
“Where exactly…”
I looked but couldn’t see well among the piled-up goods and bundles.
Digging around, I opened a long wooden box.
It was filled with bags, blankets, and spread-out fabrics. It was quite deep, casting a shadow inside.
“Not there. I think it was under the red cloth-wrapped box…”
Adrian, leaning over, added.
“Really?”
I squinted, trying to see, and closed the lid.
Thunk.
A long arm reached into the box and grasped the edge.