After meeting with High Lord, Irine felt anxious even though they were moving swiftly. Now, she didn’t just focus on what was ahead, but frequently looked back. Jay initially thought she was checking on him, but she was looking towards the eastern horizon. Her eyes seemed to be chased by something.
They stopped to feed the horses and only then did Jay ask,
“Were you worried about High Lord being attacked?”
“No, consider that as just one of the signs that what I’ve been worrying about is unfolding. This incident confirmed it. Something bad is happening in Aranthia.”
“You said you’re not worried about the Black Knight who defeated Barol, the Wolf Knight?”
“I’m not sure. I might have said no earlier, but now, maybe.”
Irine spoke with uncertainty.
“Every gatekeeper or my friend’s letter left at the Blue Gate… All their stories only concern that Black Knight.”
“Shouldn’t you have listened more about it then? From Talrund or Barol who encountered the Black Knight.”
“Didn’t you hear what that soldier, Harler, said earlier? He was incoherent. A few more accounts like that would only confuse more than help.”
Irine continued emphatically,
“The fact that the Black Knight exists and this unsettling feeling I have. Those are enough. From now on, the goal is to find the main culprit causing these two.”
“Find unsettling and ominous feelings? That’s a first. Might as well ask me to find a squirrel with a scar on its left cheek.”
Jay grumbled, but inwardly, he savored the growing challenge of what he once thought was a minor task.
The clear sky clouded over once again, and as the sun set, it became so dark that they couldn’t proceed without torches. Even Irine, who initially insisted on pushing on, agreed to rest for the sake of their horses’ safety.
Finding a spot to rest took some time due to the remnants of heavy rain. Watching Jay busily preparing dinner, Irine commented,
“You seem to cook well.”
“When you travel alone like this, isn’t cooking one of the first things you learn?”
“I can’t. When I go on a long journey, I just get by on dried food.”
“You’ll ruin your health that way. No matter how many prey are before me, I always make sure to eat a proper meal.”
“I’m lucky then, not having to worry about meals.”
Irine remarked as she opened a bottle of wine,
“Moreover, why do you carry so much money? Whenever we visit a village, you always stock up on my favorite wines.”
“It’s money I made from killing people. Not proud of it.”
“Oh, so I’m drinking blood instead of wine?”
Even after making such a grim comment, Irine drank well. Jay, while slicing up the rabbit and deer meat and chopping mushrooms, asked,
“I thought when I met a master, I’d learn some amazing skills. But all I’m learning is conversation. And it doesn’t even feel like I’m learning. More like I’m being scolded.”
“Are you bothered by that?”
“Not really. But still, why don’t you teach me swordsmanship?”
Instead of answering, Irine looked at a herb Jay had taken out of his bag.
“What’s that? You plan to add it?”
It was a herb Jay had casually picked from the roadside earlier that day. Pushing aside the chopped mushrooms, Jay finely sliced the herb.
“It improves the aroma. Rabbit and deer meat can have an off smell when boiled. Don’t worry, it’s an edible herb and I washed it earlier.”
“You’re impressive.”
“Just answer my question.”
“You’re downright ordering now. Alright, I’ll answer. But that meat stew better be tasty.”
“It’s mushroom stew. You can add any meat, but the main ingredient has to be good mushrooms. So, this is all about the mushrooms.”
Jay added the sauce he had prepared earlier to bring out the flavor.
“The backpack might be large, but did you carry all of that with you? It’s like a magic bag. It doesn’t seem like a bag of a hunter who kills people.”
“As I said, if I’m sleeping outdoors often and I want to stay healthy, I need to eat well. Half of my belongings are cooking tools. For fighting, one sword is enough.”
Jay ladled the stew he had painstakingly made into a bowl and handed it to Irine.
Irine exclaimed after her first taste,
“Wonderful. You should be proud.”
“I’ve never boasted.”
“Regardless, answer me. If you really tried your best, I’d be in significant danger.”
“You haven’t seen my true capabilities.”
Jay said, eating his stew.
“I can guess. You probably haven’t found a comparison yet, so you don’t know your real strength, right? In my estimation, you’re already skilled enough to be an active member of the Wolf Knights. Why teach techniques to someone like that? I should teach ‘heart’ to someone of that skill so he doesn’t cause trouble.”
Jay felt a surge of emotion.
“Why do you think… I look like I’ll cause trouble?”
“Don’t you remember the first time we met? You had no manners. Even now, I wouldn’t exactly say you do.”
Irine downed her stew and held out her bowl. Jay refilled it and asked,
“From the beginning, did you see any sign that I’d turn out bad? You were pretty wary.”
“It’s natural to be cautious when a young man, especially a brash and arrogant one, approaches.”
“What if I had been more reserved?”
“I don’t want to hypothesize about things that didn’t happen. Why are you reacting so sensitively all of a sudden?”
Irine asked, looking at the bowl of stew Jay offered again.
“It’s nothing. Sorry, Master.”
“Tell me.”
“What?”
She inquired as she took another spoonful.
“The conversation you’ve wanted to have with me multiple times.”
“There’s no such conversation.”
“There is.”
“There isn’t.”
“There is.”
“Forget it. Don’t ask. Just eat. I won’t ask anymore.”
While sipping her spoon, Irine gave him a narrowed-eyed smile.
“If you had been a docile follower, I wouldn’t have let you follow me in the first place.”
Jay loudly set his empty bowl down.
“So, what do you want me to do?”
“Do as you wish. If by doing so, you turn out to be a bad guy I disapprove of, we part ways. If you’re a good guy I approve of, you stay with me. Simple. Thinking it’s complicated is your misconception.”
“I’ve always lived doing as I pleased.”
Jay remarked, refilling his stew.
“You seem to.”
Following Irine’s response, they didn’t speak until their meal was finished. They finished washing dishes and prepped for sleep without a word. Jay didn’t speak during the entire process, and neither did Irine. While they often hadn’t spoken for long periods when together, this silence was unusually uncomfortable.
‘Did I say something unnecessary?’
Jay thought, lying covered in his blanket.
Although he had rested quite comfortably the previous night, sleep quickly overtook him. Today’s mental exhaustion from being especially alert during their travels was to blame. However, Irine, who had similarly exerted herself, remained awake, gazing at the campfire. She didn’t seem simply restless; she appeared deeply troubled. Jay remembered how she kept looking behind them.
“If you’re worried about something chasing us, I can keep watch. Master, why don’t you rest a bit?”
Jay initiated the conversation.
“It’s fine. Sleep isn’t likely to come anyway.”
Irine responded in a weary voice. After being stared at by Jay for a long time, she raised her hand.
“Don’t worry about me. You sleep first. I’ll wake you when I get sleepy, and then you can take over.”
Jay still felt guilty about falling asleep by himself.
“I killed my father.”
Upon hearing Jay’s sudden confession, Irine’s gaze, which had been on the campfire, shifted upwards. She slowly opened her mouth.
“It wasn’t a spontaneous act. I had planned it for a long time. I wish I could call it a fair confrontation, but no matter how I look at it, it was an assassination. Because I could never lose to my father in a fight. By the time I challenged him, he had grown so old, he couldn’t even step within my reach.”
“Why did you kill him?”
Irine asked.
“My father killed my mother. Not just her body, but her soul too. I could never forgive that, and I still don’t regret my decision. But half of my blood is his. So, doesn’t that mean I also carry my father’s violent tendencies? Is that why I became a hunter who kills? I often worry about that.”
“Well. I must have touched a nerve earlier. If you were asking because of that, don’t worry. Anyone who spends eight years killing people and living alone in the wilderness tends to become emotionally numb. But you’re still pure. To remain untouched in such circumstances is a feat.”
“How do you know that? I’ve never hesitated to kill. I’m brutal. I’ve even killed people who were falsely accused. Pure? Me? How can you say that?”
“Remember when I first told you to answer every question with ‘yes’? Of course, you do. Even now, you say ‘yes’ with those discontented eyes. That’s when I knew. The answer ‘yes’ from someone with malicious intentions is different. Their eyes are full of greed and calculation. Someone purely brutal and someone brutally pure respond differently. The latter only knows rage and revenge. But you, you’re different.”
“It wasn’t like I blindly followed all your directions.”
Jay regretted speaking impulsively. However, Irine received it with a gentle smile.
“A soldier blindly follows orders. A knight, while obeying commands, also embeds his will into his actions.”
“I’m not a knight either. I don’t plan to become one.”
“Stubborn, aren’t you? It doesn’t matter. You don’t become a knight just because you want to. If you want to be one, you’ll become one. If you don’t see yourself as one, you won’t.”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“That’s why you’re still young.”
Irine said, looking at him affectionately.
Jay shook his head vehemently.
“I still don’t get it. Even this conversation is exhausting. What do we do next? Oh, can’t you just teach me everything from one to ten?”
“Someone will come along and teach you.”
“I haven’t met anyone like that so far. Someone who…”
Before Jay could finish, Irine interrupted, anticipating his words.
“You’ll meet them. But you need to open up first. Who will approach someone who announces they’ll kill on approach? But just to be clear, it’s not me. I’m not your friend; I’m your master.”
“A friend? So you’re telling me to make friends…”
“Shush!”
Suddenly, Irine looked behind her. Her face tensed, and it was filled with fear. She even started breathing heavily. Before Jay realized, her hand had reached for the sword at her waist.
“An enemy?”
Jay whispered.
“I’m not sure. There’s something there.”
Irine whispered back.
“Where?”
“I don’t know. Can you tell?”
Jay, confident in detecting disturbances, tried to sense it. But this time, Irine noticed it first. A little later, Jay too felt a clammy, breathy sensation, but there was no sign of movement or swords. Instead, an unsettling and dangerous feeling ran down his spine.
The recently lit campfire began to dim. It wasn’t flickering from the wind. The flames themselves seemed to shrink, as if a creature was curling its body.
Jay felt a crushing weight on his shoulders, making it hard to breathe. As the campfire dimmed, the darkness intensified and the spooked horses shuffled restlessly. However, they made no sound. Soon, the campfire was extinguished entirely, and the encompassing darkness pressed in on them.
Fear, a sentiment Jay believed he had buried with the killing of his father, returned, amplified since meeting Irine.
“It’s a mage.”
Irine slowly rose from her spot.
“This is the power of a mage? The magic I’ve seen from mages…”
Over the past eight years, Jay had hunted three individuals called mages. Hunters superstitious by nature often abandoned a hunt if a mage was the target. Even the less superstitious hesitated to take on mages. Thanks to this, their bounties were often double. Jay never found them threatening. Most were charlatans or, if not, hardly dangerous.
But not like this.
Never this overwhelming presence that seemed to choke him!
“Almost all mages are trained in Lutia. But not everyone from there is an exceptional mage. However, those recognized as masters in Lutia are different. In Lutia, only they are truly called mages.”
Irine took a tense breath and extended her hand towards Jay.
“Come on, what are you waiting for? Did I scare you too much?”
“I’m not scared.”
Jay stood up, refusing her hand.
“You still have your spirit, I see. I thought you were paralyzed with fear. I might need your help.”
“What should I do?”
Jay asked, trying to sound brave, and took a stance as if ready to draw his sword. But Irine shook her head.
“We can’t rush. We are already within the mage’s spell.”
“A spell?”
“Look at those horses. Overwhelmed by fear, they can’t even make a sound. The same goes for humans. If you were a normal person, by now you’d be whimpering in fear.”
The sticky breath continued even as Irine spoke.
“Visible phenomena aren’t the only magic. Imagine this spell in the middle of a battlefield. A spell that kills thousands is precisely this.”
Jay pondered if he should admit his fear. But Irine, with determination in her eyes, seemed as though she would confront even a real dragon in this darkness.
Finally, Irine drew her sword. In the near-complete darkness, her blade emitted a faint silvery glow.
“Jaymer, I’m going to close my eyes now.”
“What? Why?”
Jay exclaimed, startled.
“We are standing inside a dragon’s mouth. But as long as I hold this sword, its jaws won’t close. Of course, this also means we can’t escape its maw.”
Irine explained, thrusting her sword into the ground. Jay asked,
“So, what do I need to do?”
“While I have my eyes closed, protect me. Whatever approaches, whatever form it takes, don’t hesitate. Strike it down. Can you do that, Jaymer?”
Jay replied with reluctance in his voice.
“Yes, master.”
Irine placed her hand on the hilt of the grounded sword and truly closed her eyes. She began to murmur something. The sensing aura around her vanished. She was now entirely vulnerable.
Jay, unprepared, saw something dark arc towards Irine from somewhere. It was so dark within the surrounding shadows that he couldn’t properly discern what it was. Without even trying to see what it was, Jay instinctively swung his sword, blocking the object. A jarring impact reverberated through his wrist. He barely had time to consider what had attacked or what form his defense took when he parried a similar assault again.
It felt as though he was warding off an invisible axe swung by an unseen enemy. With only those two defenses, Jay was winded, gasping for breath. Not just his wrists, but also his elbows ached, and his abdomen felt as if it had taken a blow from a fist. Moreover, battling an unseen enemy was a first for him.
If any more attacks came, he doubted he could fend them off. Physically he was drained, but mentally, the exhaustion was even more profound. Jay stood in front of Irine, thinking if he couldn’t block the next blow, both of them might die. The immense pressure of that thought weighed on him.
‘If I dodge, Master will die. Does she trust me that much?’
Without time for further reflection, another assault came his way. Swift, unpredictable attacks from every direction flew right up to Jay’s face. These weren’t attacks he could simply see and parry. Jay felt as though he was fighting with his eyes closed, relying solely on his instincts as he swung his sword. A loud clang followed by a forceful push made Jay stagger backward.
He couldn’t defend anymore. His legs gave way, his hands couldn’t grip his sword. Jay dropped to his knees, letting go of his weapon.
‘No, get up!’
Jay couldn’t muster the strength to rise. He couldn’t even lift his arm, let alone grasp the fallen sword. Overwhelming fear consumed him.
‘I’m dying! And behind me, Irine will die because I couldn’t protect her!’
Grinding his teeth, Jay tried to stand, grabbing another sword strapped to his waist.
Another invisible attack came, this time from both sides simultaneously! It was challenging enough blocking one.
“Good job, Jaymer.”
Suddenly, Irine pulled him back.
“Leave the rest to me.”
As if the campfire had reignited, Jay’s surroundings filled with a red glow. He mistook the massive, red-flaming creature in front of him for a beast. But it wasn’t a beast; it was Irine, and it wasn’t red fur, but flames resembling red hair.
Despite the direction of the wind, Irine’s short hair fluttered. Her blade emitted a red glow, and even her eyes burned with the same hue.
The unseen attacks entering the red zone finally revealed their form. Jay recognized them as bat-like creatures he had previously defended against. Only now did he realize why they were so challenging to parry; they moved as swiftly as arrows.
Irine, watching the black bats, raised her sword slowly, to Jay’s impatient observation. There were no Sword gaps around her.
Jay, forgetting about the incoming bats and his thoughts about Sword gaps, was mesmerized by her silhouette. Her seemingly slow swordplay was mesmerizing. It appeared as though she held no stance, but it also looked like a brief pause amid intense motion.
In a moment, her slow-moving blade moved with lightning speed. Following the blade’s trajectory, a wave of red danced, and the bat-like creatures disintegrated upon contact with the red tide.
As slow as when she swung her sword, Irine took a seemingly paused step to the side, then suddenly vanished. Jay traced her movement by the trailing afterglow. She was already ten steps to Jay’s left, swinging her sword towards the void. For a moment, Jay caught sight of something retreating into the shadows, hiding amongst the grass.
It was a billowing robe. The robed figure stopped and extended a hand towards Irine. Black smoke rose from the fingertips of the gloved hand.
“Master Wolf.”
A malevolently resonant voice echoed.
“Didn’t expect to find you here. Or did I draw you here?”
Jay felt chills just hearing the voice, his spine tingling. Yet, surrounded by the warm glow, Irine retorted confidently.
“Whoever you are, yes, I came because of you. What wickedness do you plan in Aranthia?”
“I plan nothing.”
The mage in the gray robe scoffed. Jay strained to see the face within the robe, but only darkness met his gaze.
“You must know, Master, no evil essence can pass through Aranthia’s gates. How could a mere fragment of darkness like me cross Aranthia’s sanctity?”
“Don’t play games. You’ve already passed the Gray Gate to be here. Are you aiming to cross the Red Gate now?”
“We’ll see. I’ll do nothing. Just follow.”
The mage in the gray robe melded into the darkness, disappearing. Irine waited for a while before muttering.
“He’s gone.”
As she spoke, her sword lost its red glow.
Catching his breath, Jay asked, “What was that?”
“Start the fire.”
Irine’s voice was firm.
“That wasn’t a mage from Lutia. No one from there uses such horrific magic.”
“That bat-like creature attacked me. Was that his magic?”
Jay rekindled the fire. Before the roaring campfire, Irine sat looking utterly drained.
“Give me your sword.”
Jay handed over the blade he used for defense.
“You did well. If you were even grazed by that black entity, you’d have rotted or withered away. If that happened to you, it would’ve happened to me too.”
Irine held Jay’s sword above the flames. It bore scuffs as though it had struck rock multiple times. Astonishingly, it was corroding in real-time. She tossed it into the fire where it disintegrated into ash.
‘That makes twenty-five swords broken during my hunts, and this one broke in the most sickening way.’
Pointing at his blade, Jay asked, “But were you a mage, Master?”
Though her blade had returned to its regular appearance, the residual red shimmer caught Jay’s eye.
“Just because this sword can combat mages doesn’t mean I’m one.”
“So the sword does the magic?”
“Not precisely, but you can think of it that way.”
“Regardless, if that was the real mage you spoke of, I never want to face another. If you hadn’t driven him away, what would’ve happened…”
Wiping his sweaty palms on his pants, Jay shivered.
“I didn’t drive him away.”
Wrapping herself in Jay’s cloak, Irine continued.
“He withdrew on his own. If we had fully clashed just now, one of us would’ve died for sure. And nine times out of ten, it would’ve been me. He knew that too. But why did he retreat? And he claimed he’ll do nothing? Wants to cross the gate? What does all that mean?”
Sometimes deep in thought, sometimes with a melancholic gaze, Irine reflected until dawn. Jay was more curious about who the assailant had been and why they had attacked, rather than why they had retreated. However, Irine appeared as if she had no such questions, or perhaps she already knew the identity of the entity.
Throughout the night, Jay quietly watched Irine’s contemplation. He wanted to assist, but she seemed too strong-willed for his help. He felt powerless, and that pained him. Yet, as the morning sun began to rise, she spoke words he hadn’t expected.
“I’m glad you’re here with me. Thank you.”
Irine looked at the campfire, her eyes red-rimmed. Jay couldn’t discern exactly what she was thankful for.
☆ ☆ ☆
The Red Gate lived up to its name, its entrance bathed in red. However, its walls looked ordinary. Contrary to the other gates they had seen, this gate was both taller and broader. If the gate remained intact, it would have been a monumental architecture of Aranthia worth admiring. However, the moment they approached the gate, there was no room for such leisure.
Black smoke poured from the open entrance.
Upon spotting the smoke, both Irine and Jay spurred their horses to a gallop. By the time they arrived, the situation had already concluded, and it was eerily silent. Dismounting swiftly, Jay inquired,
“Is this the doing of the ones who attacked High Lord? Or was it the mage from yesterday?”
“If it were the mage, I wouldn’t feel his presence here. As for those who attacked the High Lord, I was told they were not in large numbers. They couldn’t possibly overrun a gate fortified with an army.”
“But they did manage to overcome the troops with the High Lord, didn’t they?”
“Let’s check it out.”
Jay paused for a moment, now habitually searching for clues. Right beside his footstep was a massive animal footprint. Examining it closely, he found a long trail of deep imprints leading straight into the gate.
“There are wolf tracks.”
Jay stated.
“There are many large wolves in Aranthia. Let’s go in and check.”
Irine urged.
“But these are huge, aren’t they? Are all wolves in Aranthia this big?”
Comparing the size, Jay placed his palm next to the print.
“This is at least twice the size of a very large wolf’s footprint. Whatever made this must be monstrous, at least up to my waist. It could even take down a bull. Are creatures of this size common in Aranthia?”
“What does a wolf have to do with this?”
Shielding her nose with a damp cloth, Irine entered the gate. Following suit, Jay rushed inside, the space darkened by the thick smoke.
“Is anyone there? If you’re alive, give us a sign!”
Irine shouted. No response came.
Jay found a few fallen individuals, but they had all succumbed. As he was about to step outside due to the suffocating air, a faint groan echoed from within. Pushing forward, they found a man pinned beneath a broken table, blood pooling around his head, a blood-soaked cloth covering his face.
“Hold on a bit.”
Lifting the table, Irine made space while Jay pulled the wounded soldier out. He groaned in pain, but Jay prioritized getting him out rather than inspecting the wound. Once outside, Irine rushed to him and promptly asked,
“Who did this to you?”
Coughing up phlegm, the soldier replied,
“The Black Knights…”
Irine’s eyes widened in alarm. She bit her lip before managing to ask,
“Are there any other survivors?”
“I’m not sure. Many seemed to have escaped. But the moment the fighting began, I got struck, and… When I came to, the place was filled with smoke… I couldn’t move, just as you saw.”
His recollections were fragmented.
“Understood. Stay here!”
Irine left the soldier be and, along with Jay, went back inside the gate to search for survivors. With the smoke obstructing their vision, they dragged out any fallen individuals they came across. However, the nearly thirty people they brought out were already dead, and it wasn’t from the fire or smoke inhalation.
Perhaps there wasn’t much to burn in the fortress, as the flames hadn’t spread significantly.
There were areas they had to abandon due to the lack of breathable air, but Irine and Jay continued their search almost to the point of suffocation. The only survivor was the soldier they initially found.
When Irine and Jay emerged from their seemingly futile search, the surviving soldier was sitting up, regaining his senses. Irine wiped the soot off her face and grabbed the soldier’s shoulder.
“What happened? Explain in detail.”
“There was a group of about twenty people trying to pass through the gate. No, maybe more, but I wasn’t in charge, so I’m not sure of the exact number. But it wasn’t more than thirty.”
The soldier seemed confused, and his recount was a bit jumbled, but he began to piece things together.
“One of them wore a pitch-black armor. Isn’t it strange? Such heavy attire for a journey. I felt something was off, but following the gate entry rules, we decided to charge them the passage and road use fees. However, they seemed to be out of money. There were a lot of them, but the passage fee isn’t that high. One of them got angry, and another tried to calm him down. It was a typical scene. From that moment, I kept an eye on the situation.”
Jay handed him some water. After taking a sip, the soldier continued with clearer enunciation.
“About that black armor. Even at a glance, it was very luxurious. Frankly, if you sold just that helmet, it would cover the passage fee. Someone among us muttered that the person might be a knight from Excelon. But I had never seen one before. Anyway, they said they would arrange the money for the passage fee and asked us for some time. They went outside to discuss. We waited. But one from their group sent us a little warning. That they were criminals.”
“Hold on, this doesn’t add up. One of them told you they were criminals?”
“He sent a note. I had it somewhere…”
He rummaged through his pockets but shook his head.
“I must’ve lost it. But I remember it because it was brief. It said, ‘Criminals, do not allow passage.'”
Still puzzled, Irine asked again.
“Who was this person to label his own group as criminals?”
“It was a blonde young man in his twenties, dressed differently from the rest of the group. He was very polite and formal, but it was somewhat awkward… Anyway, upon receiving that kind of information, whether it was true or false, wouldn’t it be right to check it out? In the end, what happened did happen, but we were prepared for the worst.”
He coughed a few times, drank some more water, and continued.
“They came back, saying they’d repay the money later and requested passage. Our gatekeeper told them if they handed over even one of their swords, that would cover the passage fee. Then, they, or to be precise, one of them firmly refused. Some skirmish happened, but I don’t remember the details. I’m not sure, but I think they preferred to fight than to hand over a sword.”
“So a fight broke out.”
“Yes. But we were prepared for that. We weren’t surprised and took appropriate combat stances. The Blue and Gray gates might be lax, but the Red Gate experiences these minor conflicts a few times a year. However, no one ever died… until now.”
“Despite the forces of the Red Gate, they couldn’t be stopped?”
Irine looked over the thirty-nine bodies she and Jay had dragged out and spoke bitterly. There would still be more corpses inside the gate.
“They won’t say they were caught off guard, nor will they make the excuse that it was a surprise attack.”
The surviving soldier laughed weakly.
“Our force is, I can confidently say, the second strongest in Aranthia, following the Gold Gate. Even among the fifty or so soldiers guarding this gate, some had narrowly missed joining the Wolf Knights. They were waiting for another chance to reapply. So, I can definitively tell you, it’s not that we were weak, but they were incredibly strong.”
The soldier closed his eyes as if he didn’t want to remember. Then he pointed to a few of the bodies that Irine and Jay had brought out.
“About ten of those were not gate soldiers, but part of them. Normally, they would’ve been overwhelmed by our attack, regardless if we numbered twenty or even two hundred. But three of them… especially the one in black armor…”
He shook his head, looking distressed.
“It might not be my place to say, having been knocked out so early in the fight, but that man’s skill was beyond human. The halberd he swung could shatter stone walls and break through our shields. The armor he wore was impervious to spears, and even when struck by a sword, it gave off an eerie vibe, as if he wouldn’t die. In a word, ghost-like?”
Jay never considered that the soldier might be hallucinating from the smoke.
“When the fire started, we didn’t know how or from where. Thankfully, those flames saved us. The smoke obscured everyone’s vision, and thanks to that, about half of our forces could escape. As I mentioned earlier, I was unconscious when I woke up, pinned under something heavy and injured, so I couldn’t move.”
“A fire?”
From the start, there was something off about this fire. There was a lot of smoke, but the gate itself was not engulfed in flames. And using this smoke to escape seemed even more strange. Jay naturally assumed the enemies had started the fire.
“Who started the fire?”
Irine asked.
“I don’t know. Ah, one of the monstrous three mentioned a name while talking about the fire, Kassel, saying he wouldn’t let him off for starting the fire. Seeing this smoke, other forces might come, so they said they should hurry to the Gold Gate. Ah, damn it!”
He hit his palm with his fist.
“I don’t know who you folks are, but if you’re heading towards the Gold Gate, please relay this information. Those three are on their way to the Gold Gate! If they let them pass without realizing it, they might even reach Nadium.”
Irine nodded.
“Understood. We will arrive at the Gold Gate before them.”
Having been silent, Jay suddenly asked,
“Didn’t a giant wolf pass through?”
The soldier looked at him with half-closed eyes, as if asking what he was talking about.
“How big of a wolf are you referring to?”
“This big!”
Jay drew a massive size of a wolf in the air.
“There’s no way a wolf of that size exists.”
The soldier let out a wry laugh.
“Why are you bringing up wolves again?”
Irine asked. Jay pointed to wolf tracks on the ground.
“A wolf passed through the gate and followed the path. From what I see, it’s the same as that Black Knight… What I mean is, it’s the same route! I’ve seen it before. Do you remember when the fire started? The time those guys passed?”
“Two hours? One hour? I don’t remember clearly, but I think it’s been that long. I was unconscious, so it could’ve been longer, or seeing that I survived in the smoke, it might’ve been less.”
Irine bit her lip in frustration.
“If only we had come two hours earlier…”
Jay couldn’t agree with that. They had ridden their horse so hard that it was frothing. If they had come even faster, the horse would have certainly collapsed mid-way. In the end, they would have been even later than they were now.
“Master. First, the Black Knight appeared here, then the fire started, then the giant wolf passed by, and then we arrived. Kassel started the fire? That’s Captain Wolf’s name, isn’t it? Right? This doesn’t all seem like a coincidence. And then, that mysterious mage last night…”
Recalling that sight, Jay shivered momentarily. He spoke in a lowered voice.
“Be honest, Master. You’re not worried about the Red Gate being destroyed, are you? You’re worried about that Black Knight, aren’t you?”
Irine didn’t bother hiding it.
“Yes. To be precise, I’m concerned about the very fact that the Black Knight is heading towards Nadium.”
“So, what’s there to worry about? Nadium has the Wolf Knights.”
Jay tried to sound upbeat to allay her concerns, but Irine’s expression remained grave. She spoke with conviction.
“If he was simply a knight in black armor, skilled with the sword, he wouldn’t have passed through the Red Gate. Isn’t that so?”
Looking to the soldier for agreement, he laughed weakly.
“What excuse can a defeated soldier give?”
Irine shrugged and continued.
“There’s only been one time in history when a force with hostile intent passed through the Red Gate.”
“Excelon?”
When Jay responded, Irine immediately continued.
“Even they were defeated in front of the Gold Gate by the Wolf Knights. You think I’m worried just because there’s a knight in black armor and two other skilled swordsmen? Even if that Black Knight truly is the Knight of Lontamon, the very Excelon Knight, he can’t do anything on his own. After all, the Gold Gate didn’t open even when the entire Excelon Knights were present.”
Irine briefly reminisced before continuing.
“Yes. But why do I feel this anxiety? Why did I dream of the White Gate collapsing because of this incident?”
She tightly closed her mouth after saying this.
Jay didn’t believe in dreams. However, her dream felt as credible as the traces he had observed. After seeing the red magic she displayed yesterday, he felt he could believe any word from her.
Irine went outside the city gates and returned with a horse.
“I’m heading to Nadium first. You take this soldier to a safe place.”
A sinking feeling enveloped Jay. Struggling to hide his quivering voice, he calmly asked.
“Hold on. What do you mean?”
“It means I’m parting ways with you now. You continue on this path, and I’ll take another.”
It was an unexpected announcement of departure. Jay asserted.
“I refuse.”
“Refuse? Listen. You have a job to do…”
“We promised I’d accompany you wherever you go.”
A hint of annoyance crept into Irine’s voice.
“Listen to the end! First, you need to take this man to safety. Are you planning to leave him here?”
Looking at the soldier still sitting, he waved with a smile.
“I’m fine now. Seeing this smoke, someone nearby will come to help. There are many kind-hearted villages.”
Still, Irine shook her head.
“I need to take a shortcut. I can’t bring you there.”
“I can go wherever. Haven’t you seen? I’m more confident in finding and walking paths than anyone!”
“But where I’m heading isn’t a path like you’ve known.”
Irine looked at the mountain range in the south. As she mentioned a few days ago, after passing the Red Gate, the snow-covered peaks in the south appeared faintly, like a mist. The soldier, catching her gaze, exclaimed in surprise.
“You plan to pass through Trakast Mountain?”
“It’s the quickest route to Nadium.”
“Are you mad? That mountain connects to the Sky Range. No one who has entered there has ever come back alive. No, it’s said no human can enter.”
The soldier exclaimed in agitation. Irine simply nodded.
“Right. That’s why I can’t take you with me, Jay.”
“It doesn’t matter. There hasn’t been a mountain I couldn’t climb until now! I’ve climbed the highest mountain in Acrand! I’ve crossed places where the snow doesn’t melt all year round! If there’s a path you can take, I can take it too!”
“The Sky Range is different!”
Irine shot back coldly.
Jay opened his mouth to reply but couldn’t find the words. She spoke hurriedly.
“Listen carefully. You’ll follow the path straight to the Gold Gate and then to Nadium. Once you clear a simple identity check, you can pass through the Gold Gate. I’ll notify the White Gate in advance. Just rush along the main road. You should be able to catch up quickly.”
Irine stared intently and asked.
“What’s your answer?”
“I can’t give one. You go first. I’m becoming your disciple now, right? You said there’d be a third test when we get to Nadium.”
“Let’s postpone that. Now is not the time.”
“I can’t wait! It might not be a big deal for you, but I’ve waited my whole life. I…”
Jay stopped speaking and turned his head.
“I refuse. I’ll go with you, Master.”
Irine’s tone shifted from irritation to softness.
“Jaymer. Look at me, Jaymer.”
Jay refused to turn his head. Still, she continued.
“Don’t worry, Jaymer. I’m sorry. I’ve been confusing you. Especially last night, I probably got your hopes up too high. To be honest, I can’t take a disciple. I’m not ready yet and I don’t have the luxury. I’m still just a childish girl, roaming alone because of my selfish desires.”
Irine sighed.
“I never thought I’d confess this to you.”
She smiled as she continued.
“Yes. Jaymer, seeing you has been both painful and pleasurable. When I see your purity, I feel like I’ve lived with such a tainted heart. Yet, when you call me Master and guide me, it’s joyful and delightful. But, I can’t take you as my disciple. You’re too big of a vessel for me to contain.”
She gently stroked Jay’s neck.
“Instead, I’ll recommend you to the Wolf Knights. Then you’ll become Quain’s disciple. Within a year, you’ll become a Wolf Knight. And in a few years, you’ll become a White Wolf. You have the talent.”
The soldier, who had been listening, widened his eyes. Like many, he too had come to Aranthia to join the Wolf Knights but was stationed at the Red Gate due to a lack of skill. Many skilled swordsmen came to this place, looking to join the elite group.
Bluntly, mercenaries of all sorts tried to break through the Red Gate to defeat the Wolf Knights. The soldiers of the Red Gate would challenge them playfully. Some ignored the challenges and headed straight to the Gold Gate, but most accepted, showing off their skills. After their defeat, some left in shock while others stayed to guard the Red Gate.
The Red Gate was a gathering place for exceptional swordsmen. However, even for them, joining the Wolf Knights was the ultimate goal. Some aimed just to attempt the tests.
For Jay, this tremendous privilege had suddenly been granted. For the soldier, it was shockingly unexpected news. But Jay immediately declined.
“I refuse.”
Irine, attempting to persuade him once more, bit her lip. Since her return to Aranthia, she had encountered several surprises and setbacks, but nothing was as unbelievable as the scene unfolding before her.
Jay was crying. She looked at his unexpected tears and was rendered speechless.
“I am Master Irine’s disciple. I never once thought about becoming a White Wolf.”
Jay spoke slowly, his voice shaking with tears.
“I’m bad at talking. I don’t know how to be courteous, what to do, or how to do it. I’ve lived by cutting down people, taking lives, earning money that way, eating with that money, buying new swords with it… That’s how I’ve lived. I don’t even know how to value a life. I don’t know its worth, its weight. At times, I thought it wouldn’t matter how I died. But last night, when Master held that blade, I was so scared. Not because I was scared of dying, but because I was scared that Master might die because of me…”
Jay knelt before Irine.
“If I had encountered that magician alone, I would’ve just died. I would’ve given up out of fear. Do you know why I fought? Do you know how I held on? Because Master believed in me. I was so happy… knowing that Master closed her eyes trusting me.”
Jay struggled with his words, and Irine said nothing. Jay had often felt the anguish of not being able to express himself, but this time, it was especially difficult.
‘I need to speak better. If not, I might lose Master here. If only I could speak a little better and reduce my swordsmanship.’
Yet, Jay spoke. He wanted to let out everything he hadn’t been able to say until now.
“Please take me with you, Master. Take me with you.”
A constant thought lingered in a corner of Jay’s heart.
‘I was abandoned.’
By his father, his mother, Kar, the villagers, his friends, and Ewini.
‘It’s okay. It doesn’t feel like anything.’
He wanted to forget everything and just drift with life. But every time he tried, the memories of the past would surge up, gripping his heart. When Irine spoke of parting ways, the pain that he had been suppressing gushed out from the depths of his heart.
Jay, with his hands on the ground, cried out.
“Please don’t leave me, Master.”
Irine only looked down at Jay, who was still kneeling.
“Please don’t… don’t leave me.”
Jay repeated.
Irine quickly wiped away the tears forming in her eyes. Holding back her rising emotions, she spoke with unexpected coldness.
“Stand up, Jaymer.”
Jay couldn’t rise. Irine shouted at him.
“Now!”
Jay, head bowed, flinched at the volume of her voice. Irine continued with a fiery look in her eyes.
“When did I say I would abandon you? It’s strategy. We both aim for Nadium. I simply want to handle things efficiently. Can’t you get up? What’s your answer?”
Wiping away his tears, Jay stood up.
“Yes, Master.”
He managed to say with great effort.
“Good.”
Irine lightly tapped his cheek.
“But let me make this clear: do not engage with those black knights, even as a test. As much as it sounds like an excuse, I too am avoiding them. So, never, under any circumstances, should you confront them directly, especially the Black Knight. Just rescue Captain Wolf.”
“Yes, Master.”
Suddenly, Irine kissed Jay’s lips. Without giving him a chance to react, she continued with the same cold gaze.
“See you later.”
She swiftly mounted her horse and galloped south without looking back. Heading towards the dim mountains blanketed with snow from the foothills, Irine quickly disappeared.
“Just who is that woman?”
The soldier asked.
Wiping his tears and calming his heart, Jay replied.
“My Master.”
He brought his horse closer and pointed to the back seat.
“Get on. I’ll take you to the nearby village.”
“As I mentioned earlier, I’m perfectly fine. Isn’t this very situation all the more reason for me to protect this place?”
“As you wish.”
Jay mounted his horse. The chilly air following the rain had long disappeared, and the humid warmth of summer was returning.
He spurred his horse on with vigor. Though Master advised him not to engage with the Black Knight, he wasn’t sure if his youthful blood, ever eager to seek strong opponents, would let him be. Moreover, now that he knew Master truly acknowledged him as her disciple, he felt fearless in the face of the world.
“Five days from the Blue Gate, three days from the Gray Gate, two hours from the Red Gate…”
He hadn’t intentionally set out to follow them, but in the end, Jay found himself trailing behind the captain of the White Wolves. Calculating the time he spent pursuing them, it wasn’t a matter of when he would catch up but how he would do it.
“I don’t know who you are, Captain Wolf, but I’ll rescue you as per Master’s command. If you turn out to be unworthy, I won’t let you off the hook.”
Jay mumbled to himself as he gazed down the long road ahead.
–TL Notes–
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at patreon.com/MattReading
Join my Discord! https://discord.gg/jB26ePk9