“He couldn’t have gone far.”
Billy hoisted their supplies onto the wagon. Suvel removed his heavy shirt, exposing a short-sleeved shirt underneath that revealed his chest muscles. He also discarded the gloves reinforced with leather, and strapped a few daggers to his waist. Billy, on the other hand, unbuckled his iron belt, choosing to carry only the sword from Lontamon and his own.
“Everyone, move towards the village slowly, centered around Black.”
Joffrey, who laid in the wagon, had fainted in pain, and the remaining four were consumed with fear.
“Stay close to Black.”
Billy didn’t waste time giving lengthy orders. He was about to set out immediately, but one of the men interrupted, having offloaded his heavy gear onto the wagon.
“I wish to go as well.”
“It’s just one guy, and he can’t even use a sword. We don’t need a crowd.”
Billy shook his head, but the man persisted.
“Shouldn’t it be all the more reason for me to go then?”
He swallowed before continuing, “Isn’t Kassel, that fellow, taken by the hunter? At least when the hunter appeared, he must have taken the opportunity to escape. That’s why you, Captain Billy, are stepping in and Captain Suvel is accompanying you. Because it’s a hunter of a caliber that requires both of your attention.”
Billy placed his hand on his waist, “And so?”
“I wish to join. I refuse to step back from this fight now.”
Suvel waved his hand dismissively, “Fool! Do you want to end up like your dead comrades? It’s different, the level’s different!”
“All the more reason why I can’t back down now.”
His determination was unexpectedly strong. Suvel seemed intrigued and listened to his argument.
“Originally, there were twenty-five of us, and now only five remain. No, considering Joffrey’s state, only four. But I don’t want to play the waiting role. Let me fight.”
The others stepped forward in agreement.
“I too want to fight.”
“Allow us to accompany you.”
“Are we not among the strongest since we’ve survived this long?”
Before they knew it, their enveloping fear had vanished.
‘Is it admirable or…’
Billy chuckled bitterly. Suvel seemed displeased.
“Hey, hey, just stop. Who’s going to guard here?”
“Why would the hunter come back? His target has already escaped.”
“What’s this? Now this guy’s acting all confident?”
Billy intervened.
“Enough. Fine. State your names. I need to remember them now. We’re short on time, so make it brief.”
“Devin.”
“Howl. Back home, they used to call me Death Howl.”
“Clark.”
“Bridgenail. Just call me Nail.”
With the introduction of the last man, the introduction was over.
“Alright, Devin, Howl, Clark, Nail. Keep up. We’re going to pursue very swiftly. We have until sunset today to get Captain Wolf out of our hands.”
At Billy’s brief speech, all four shouted in unison, “Captain Billy!”
“Suvel, take them and move out first. I’ll follow immediately.”
Suvel looked displeased, “Why make things unnecessarily complicated?”
“If they can’t keep up with your pace, leave them behind. They’ve agreed to that risk.”
“Alright. Let’s see how many can keep up. Be careful. By sunset? I’ll catch him within an hour.”
With that, Suvel dashed off in the direction they anticipated Kassel had gone, and the four immediately followed.
“I’ll be back shortly, Black,” said Billy, addressing Black as if giving a report.
Black nodded in response, “The fear that once clouded everyone’s eyes is gone. It shows the trust they have in you.”
“I might need to reconsider my perspective on people. I believed that once someone’s character was set, it wouldn’t change, but that’s not the case. I never expected such courage from these miscreants.”
“Perhaps you just misjudged people. Those kids have always had that courage. But they just met the wrong people, were in the wrong environment, and couldn’t exhibit their true strength.”
Black pointed at Billy with a finger sheathed in an iron gauntlet.
“Right now, being with someone like me and simultaneously facing dangers in a foreign place like Aranthia, have you not lost your usual composure? Yet you managed to recover quickly, and that was because of companions you never asked for.”
Black rarely spoke, but when he did, his words occasionally held such depth that it caught one off guard. He urged, “Hurry and follow, Billy. You’ll lose your friends ahead. I’ll guard the wagon.”
Billy grinned, “Black, it feels like I came to Aranthia just to meet you.”
Black nodded slightly in acknowledgment and Billy immediately followed Suvel.
☆ ☆ ☆
“That Kassel, he’s clearly inexperienced at fleeing.”
Suvel mumbled, examining the footsteps on the ground.
Billy, standing beside him, noticed the same marks, “Is that hunter taking him?”
“I’m not sure about that. I only see tracks from one person. But that one set of tracks is enough. It’s almost as if he’s signaling for us to follow.”
Suvel spoke with a confidence as if he had already captured the prey.
“He’s quite fast. We’ve been rushing, and yet there’s no sight of him.”
Billy gazed in the direction they should be heading. The number of trees was increasing, and there were mountains nearby, many roads leading upwards. In the direction Kassel was fleeing, there were also steep rocky mountains.
“It’s quite surprising. After the grueling marches of the past few days, he’s still not within our grasp…”
Suvel glanced back and noticed the four slightly lagging behind, now catching up, panting heavily. He pointed to them with his chin, “Look at them. They might not be trained, but they are quite fit. And yet, they’re already exhausted.”
“To be honest, I’m a bit tired too.”
Billy wiped the sweat from his forehead and admitted. Suvel patted him on the shoulder, “That’s how it is. We’re all tired. He must be too.”
Suvel spoke optimistically, “We’re close. Judging from the footprints, it looks like he’s dragging his feet. If he’s not injured, it probably means he’s exhausted to the point of hardly lifting his feet.”
Though the four bravely said they’d keep up, only Bridgenail managed to, while Clark, Howl, and Devin lagged behind.
“I may not be accustomed to this kind of pursuit, but I feel we’ll find him soon.”
Billy commented as he followed Suvel.
“And then?”
Suvel asked without looking back.
“It’s a basic strategy. Where there’s an easy target, there’s usually another enemy lurking.”
“Another enemy?”
“The hunter. If he’s already joined with Kassel, this could be a trap.”
Suvel stopped and placed a hand on his waist, his sweat-drenched hair swaying.
“In my opinion, these aren’t tracks deliberately left by someone accustomed to pursuit. It’s more like someone trying and failing to hide their tracks. Kassel is ahead of us. Just focus on that. Trust me. Whether it’s him or that hunter, if they’re leaving tracks to lure us into a trap, I’ll see right through it.”
“You seem confident.”
“Do you know how many times I’ve dealt with those hunter folks? Do you even realize who I’ve been training against for the last five years?”
However, Suvel soon realized his mistake. Caught up in thoughts of a potential trap, neither he nor Billy were prepared for the sudden ambush. The hunter wasn’t ahead of them; he was behind.
Both Suvel and Billy instinctively looked back, freezing in place. A blade was already embedded in Clark’s throat, a mere ten steps behind Billy. The hunter, concealed behind Clark, was staring intently at Billy. Blood flowed from Clark’s nose and mouth, staining his neck.
Howl and Devin, right in front of Clark, were still unaware of their comrade’s demise. They believed Suvel and Billy were just looking at them.
“Both of you, get down!”
Suvel shouted a warning to Howl and Devin. Confused, the two quickly turned around. The hunter withdrew his blade from Clark’s throat and shoved him aside. Suvel dashed forward, hurling his sword. The hunter effortlessly deflected the airborne blade with his bloodstained dagger.
Billy stepped forward, unsheathing his blade smoothly, readying his stance.
“Nail! Hand me your sword.”
Suvel took a blade from Bridgenail and stood beside Billy. The hunter paused for a moment before disappearing behind a tree alongside the road.
A tense silence enveloped them. The two others, only now realizing the situation, drew their swords. Suvel spat out, “Cunning bastard. Instead of joining Kassel, he’s been tracking us who are chasing Kassel!”
Billy sheathed his sword, “He’s sticking to the same tactic. Without Black, he’s hunting us now.”
“Impressive patience. Saving the strongest for last…”
“In a way, it’s a relief. If Kassel is alone now, catching him will end this chase.”
“Right. There’s no need to face someone head-on who fights in such a manner.”
Billy agreed and they moved forward. The three left seemed to think that lagging behind would make them targets, so they tried their best to keep up.
Within minutes, Suvel found an unexpected clue: bloodstains.
“I’d bet my rabbit doll that this is Kassel’s blood,” Suvel commented.
“Where and how did he get injured?”
Billy saw the bloodstains but couldn’t fathom more. Suvel pointed to the disturbed gravel and the rocky outcroppings, “He fell from this rock here. Probably rolled on this gravel, scraping his elbow or knee.”
A nearby stream’s flowing sound was heard. Suvel slowly walked towards it, “He’s been careful in his escape. He’s continually heading towards places with many hiding spots. And now he’s probably thinking of hiding in the mountains.”
Suvel gestured to the looming rock mountain. Though it looked small from afar, it was sizable up close. Billy warned, “We should be more alert here. The hunter might strike again.”
Suvel signaled, “Considering the blood, he passed here only minutes ago. He must be by the stream.”
Billy gestured toward the mountain, “He’s smart. What if he thought we’d go that way and he went the opposite direction? Are you sure about the tracks?”
“A hurt, thirsty, and tired man won’t pass by a water source. His body would instinctively react to the sound of water.”
Billy didn’t dispute any further, trusting Suvel’s intuition.
Though no more bloodstains were present, the direction was clear. At the foot of the mountain, a stream flowed, its banks dotted with pebbles and rounded rocks. The water, although not abundant, was clear and cold enough to invigorate anyone. Looking at the upper stream, it felt like a perfect spot for a picnic.
“Devin, Bridgenail. Check the downstream. Howl, you look upstream. Shout if you see even the slightest movement. Billy, wait here. I’ll catch Kassel.”
Suvel said as he slid down a slight elevation.
“Do you see where he is?”
“I can’t see him, but I have a rough idea. The chase is over.”
Suvel crossed the stream, water splashing, and ran towards the upstream side.
From the opposite bank of the stream, Suvel picked up a piece of rag and waved it at Billy. Though it was hard to see from a distance, it seemed stained with blood.
Billy waved his hand in recognition. Just then, he heard a faint rustling sound. It wasn’t from the front or side but from behind. It was a sound so soft that if he hadn’t been on high alert, he would’ve missed it. And independent of that noise, an eerie presence brushed against his spine.
Without hesitation, Billy drew his sword and spun around. A blade, reflecting the sunlight, rushed towards his forehead. It wasn’t a careless attack that he could have easily blocked with a quick swing. The force behind it was enough to split his skull in two.
As he parried the blow, Billy found himself pushed back towards the slope that Suvel had recently slid down. He barely managed to maintain his balance, but the ground where he stood crumbled, sending him tumbling downward.
“Billy!”
Suvel cried out, crossing the stream again.
The moment Billy was thrown off balance, Devin, Howl, and Bridgenail immediately turned and drew their swords. But Bridgenail, standing next to Billy, was kicked by the hunter and, just like Billy, rolled down the eroding slope.
What was once a 4 against 1 situation, quickly changed to 2 against 1. However, Devin and Howl managed to skillfully deflect the hunter’s blows. They were warriors who had fought countless battles even before their time in Aranthia and had survived the Red Gate. But they couldn’t fend off the hunter’s rapid succession of strikes.
The two blades that the hunter wielded crossed, slicing Devin’s throat and burying into Howl’s chest. Both men rolled down the slope, ending up beside Billy and Bridgenail.
As he fell, a blow to his head disoriented Billy, making it hard for him to regain his bearings. Taking advantage of the moment, the hunter descended the slope. Without hesitation, he approached Billy with his sword raised.
Suvel roared and stepped in front of Billy, swinging his blade in defense. The hunter, initially aiming for Billy, instantly redirected his sword to block Suvel’s.
Upon his blade being parried, Suvel spun and delivered two swift strikes from above and below. The hunter effortlessly deflected the sudden onslaught. Suvel tried to gain distance with a feint, but the hunter retaliated. It was a sharp attack that would’ve cleaved through him if Suvel hadn’t dramatically dodged.
Fueled by determination, Suvel kept swinging his sword. The slippery gravel beneath made his specialty of quick combat challenging. But he believed the hunter had the same disadvantage and didn’t let up. The hunter’s twin blades formed an ‘X’ to block Suvel’s overhead strike.
With a deep breath, Suvel exerted all his strength to press down. However, the hunter’s swords remained unyielding.
“Who are you?” Suvel demanded.
“I am a hunter. Are you one too?” the hunter replied.
“I hunt hunters, punk.”
“How did you come within two steps?”
“Two steps? What are you talking about?”
Suvel pulled back his blade, aiming for the man’s waist. But the hunter blocked it with one sword and swiftly thrust the other towards Suvel’s throat.
It was Suvel’s first time encountering someone who wielded twin blades with such skill. It felt like he was battling two separate swordsmen at once. Victory seemed improbable.
That’s when Billy intervened.
“That bastard isn’t playing fair. We don’t need a straightforward duel.”
Billy immediately joined, reinforcing Suvel’s offense. Suvel initially wanted to refuse Billy’s assistance, but given the circumstances, he continued the fight. Now, with Billy’s help, Suvel’s attacks became even more fervent.
It was an odd sight. Typically, without coordinated training, two people attacking one could be riskier. However, Suvel and Billy complemented each other as though they’d been battle partners for years.
When Suvel attacked from the side, Billy lunged from the front. And when Billy launched a powerful strike, Suvel immediately covered for him.
Billy watched as the hunter suddenly tossed the blade in his left hand straight up in the air. It wasn’t a move for offense or defense; it seemed pointless. But in the tight balance of their combat, the sudden act drew Suvel’s gaze upwards. In that split second, the hunter blocked Billy’s blade and kicked up gravel from the ground.
Both men ducked to avoid the flying stones, and the airborne blade swiftly fell back down. Alarmed by the descending sword, Billy retreated, and the hunter did the same, swiftly vaulting onto a large boulder behind him.
All three paused, catching their breath and regarding one another with newfound respect.
“I’ve never heard of a hunter with skills like yours,” Billy said, looking up at the hunter. “Are you one of the White Wolves?”
“Hmm, no,” the hunter hesitated, “I mean, I’m not a White Wolf.”
His blade work may have been impeccable, but the hunter lacked eloquence.
“Are you here to rescue Kassel?” Billy inquired, but the hunter only brandished his weapon in warning.
“Back off. If you don’t, I’ll kill both of you.”
Suvel, having caught his breath, brandished his sword defiantly. “Try me! Right now! I may have been caught off guard before, but this time I’ll face you alone.”
The hunter disappeared behind the rock.
“Stop, you…!”
Before Billy could intervene, Suvel rushed to where the hunter had vanished, but found no one. They could hear footsteps retreating into the woods, but pursuing seemed daunting.
“It seems he wasn’t singling us out because he’s not used to head-on confrontations,” Billy commented as he joined Suvel. Suvel, frustrated from the chase, panted heavily.
“Rather, he preferred one-on-one because he’s most confident in it.”
“If that’s what he wants, I’ll gladly give it to him! Next time, it’s just him and me!” Suvel exclaimed.
“What’s the plan now?” Billy questioned.
The situation remained unchanged. Suvel asserted, “Kassel must have been injured and couldn’t have gone far. I saw him limping up the stream earlier. We can catch him in five minutes. Once we have him, the hunter will have to come to us. Then, I’ll face him again, one-on-one, just as he likes it.”
Suvel recrossed the stream. Left behind, Bridgenail, still shaken from the earlier confrontation, tended to their fallen friends.
“Stay back. Leave the rest to us. The hunter won’t pursue you now.”
Billy instructed.
For once, Bridgenail didn’t argue.
It was only natural for humans to settle in such a picturesque place with fresh water and lush woods. Still, the presence of people felt oddly out of place. A bearded lumberjack, wiping his sweat with a towel, gazed with innocent eyes at Suvel and Billy as they dashed by. His assistant also stared, seemingly intrigued.
Beyond the dense trees, houses were sporadically visible. The well-trodden mountain path suggested it was frequently used. They were certain Kassel had taken this route.
‘If he was injured and still managed to move through such rough terrain, he wouldn’t be able to travel any path but this well-trodden one,’ Billy thought, keeping pace with Suvel’s near run. Yet, even with their rapid pursuit, they only found traces of Kassel. Contrary to Suvel’s earlier prediction of catching up quickly after leaving the stream, the chase had lengthened.
‘He managed to move this quickly with an injured leg?’
Suvel’s pace began to slow.
“We’ve been had,” he muttered.
“What do you mean?”
“This guy… he isn’t injured. No matter how strong his willpower, he couldn’t have run this far on an injured leg.”
“If he’s not injured, then…”
Billy also slowed down, joining Suvel who spat in frustration, kicking a nearby stone. The surrounding trees had thinned, replaced by large rocks forming a barrier on either side of the path.
They had unwittingly reached the base of the distant rock mountain they’d noticed earlier.
“Damn it! I was fooled. It wasn’t him whose judgment waned from exhaustion—it was mine.”
“Why? Explain.”
Billy prompted.
Suvel, pushing back his sweat-soaked blonde hair, explained, “Kassel isn’t the type to excel in a chase. There were signs everywhere of him struggling to leave no trace. I pursued confidently, as if toying with a novice hunter. Until then, there were no traps or anything. I was certain of that. But then, I found signs of his injury.”
“Yeah, that blood trail.”
“Seeing that, I thought I finally had him, believing he couldn’t have gone far with an injured leg.”
Hearing just that, Billy spat in annoyance, “Cunning bastard.”
“Exactly! Thinking Kassel was injured, we shifted our focus from behind to what lay ahead, believing that once we caught him, the fight would be over. In the end, we got trapped, becoming the hunted. That kid, pretending to be clueless! That damned jerk!”
Billy thought for a moment and shook his head, “Wait, that’s a stretch. Kassel had no contact with that hunter in between. If your theory is correct, Kassel would’ve had to coordinate with him at least once. But there wasn’t enough time or distance for that.”
“I’m not sure of that. But I feel Kassel didn’t plan this from the start. As he fled, the situation just evolved this way.”
Suvel placed a black stone on the ground. Behind it, he put several smaller stones and lastly placed a larger one. Pointing to the black stone, he explained, “This represents Kassel, the ones behind represents us, and the large one is the hunter. This is probably how Kassel visualized the chase from the start. It seems ludicrous that a prey would think that way, but if he did and orchestrated all of this, he’s either mad or a genius. No, more like an audaciously brilliant strategist. And perhaps that hunter read Kassel’s tactics even faster than we did?”
Billy rearranged the stones, “Okay, so now the situation is like this?”
“It might be,” Suvel agreed, grouping the third large stone with the black one.
“They’ve met up now?”
Suvel nodded, and Billy inquired, “So what’s the plan?”
Billy had left the chase to Suvel up till now. After pondering for a moment, Suvel separated their stones and put one near Kassel’s.
“We split up. I’ll move ahead, and you keep following.”
“Are you sure? Taking on that hunter alone might be too risky.”
“Is that concern for me? Aren’t you confident?”
Billy remained silent, prompting Suvel to lightly punch his chest, “I won’t lose, not on solid ground unlike before. Go on. It shouldn’t be too hard to follow. Kassel is undoubtedly exhausted. If my prediction fails and I stray off course, I’ll leave the rest to you.”
“Fine. If we get separated, let’s meet where Black is.”
With that, Suvel dashed off, disappearing behind some trees.
‘He said he’d move ahead, but which path is he taking? It’s his first time here.’
Billy continued running along the mountain path. As Suvel had predicted, traces of Kassel’s passage were easy to find.
There might not be any traps, but Billy remained alert. There had been no signs before the previous ambushes.
After about half an hour of running, the trail suddenly went cold. Billy paused, realizing that a path had appeared where one could flee without leaving footprints.
Kassel had headed towards the rocky hillside. It was evident he was exhausted. This route was disadvantageous for Kassel. No matter how physically confident he was, he couldn’t fend off both Suvel and himself on this slope.
Billy moved off the path, heading towards a hill formed by large clustered rocks. The round boulders offered no grip, and if one slipped, there were no protrusions to halt a fall. Though it wasn’t a massive cliff, the height was sufficient to spill one’s brains out if fallen headfirst.
As he proceeded, flat surfaces to step on became rarer, and the cliff’s edge drew nearer. A strong wind gusting up from below ruffled Billy’s hair. On what could barely be called a path amidst the rocks, he pressed himself against the wall, waiting for the gust to pass before proceeding.
The pathway, barely wide enough for two feet, had rock on the left and a sheer drop to the right. If Suvel had intended to race ahead on this track, he would have had to be on the opposite side. Given the time constraints, that seemed improbable. It looked like Suvel hadn’t managed to get ahead of Kassel. But that was no matter.
Eventually, Billy caught up with Kassel, who was advancing at a pace slightly faster than a tortoise, treading cautiously on the narrow path.
Without making a sound, Billy moved closer. In just a few steps, Kassel would transition to flat ground and undoubtedly sprint with all his might. Billy didn’t feel like running any longer.
‘Let’s just end this.’
Fate favored Kassel. A tiny pebble, dislodged by Billy’s careful step, tumbled down the cliff. The small stone bounced off several rounded rocks on its descent.
Hearing the noise, Kassel glanced back, eyes wide, and quickened his already rushed pace.
“Stop. From this distance, I can still throw my knife and hit you.”
Billy shouted. He had no real intent to do so; he just hoped Kassel would freeze out of fear. Predictably, it didn’t work, and soon Kassel was just one step away from the safety of flat ground.
Another tiresome chase seemed inevitable. Luckily, the concern was short-lived. Breaking Billy’s expectation, Suvel stood on the opposite end of the pathway.
Suvel pressed his blade against Kassel’s throat.
“Enough. Honestly, I want to throw you off right here.”
Suvel declared.
Resigned, Kassel’s shoulders drooped. Suvel, grasping his shoulder firmly, was interrupted by another figure emerging behind him.
Another person had followed, and it wasn’t just Suvel. Or perhaps he hadn’t been pursuing Kassel but had been tailing Suvel. The hunter stood there, knife in hand.
“Behind you!”
Billy shouted desperately. Without looking back, Suvel instinctively swung his blade. Steel clashed against steel.
Having attacked without assessing his opponent’s position, Suvel’s strike was weak. The hunter parried Suvel’s blade, grabbed his collar, headbutted him, and then slammed the back of Suvel’s head into a rock. Weakened, Suvel dropped his sword and collapsed to his knees. The shock combined with his accumulated fatigue had taken its toll.
Billy drew his blade, rushing forward.
“Stop.”
The hunter pressed his blade against Suvel’s throat.
Blood dripping from his nose, Suvel shouted, “Don’t stop! You can beat this guy. Just keep coming!”
Billy remained frozen.
Meanwhile, Kassel had made it safely across the perilous cliffside path to the flat ground, picking up the sword Suvel had dropped.
Even with a blade at his throat, Suvel’s burning gaze was fixed on Kassel, his eyes blazing with the ferocity of a predator eyeing its prey.
“Wouldn’t it be better to kill me, Kassel? If you let me go, I’ll chase you again. Same goes for you, hunter.”
Suvel didn’t seem to care about the blood flowing from his nose or the wound on his head. Initially, the blood that oozed from the back of his head started to trickle down his forehead, covering his face.
Kassel put a hand on the hunter’s shoulder and said, “You mustn’t kill him.”
The hunter nodded, “As he said. If we let him live, he’ll come after us again. It’s better to kill him.”
“If you kill him, that man over there will come charging for revenge.”
The hunter briefly glanced at Billy and remarked, “Let him come. He doesn’t seem much of a challenge.”
Twisting in pain, Suvel retorted, “Exactly, because you think he’s no match, try killing me and face the consequences. Do it now!”
The hunter looked questioningly at Kassel. Why shouldn’t he end it? His eyes seemed to ask. However, Kassel shook his head.
“Please, I don’t know on whose behalf you came to save me, but don’t kill him.”
Holding Suvel’s sword and looking at Billy, who was precariously near the cliff’s edge, Kassel shouted, “Billy, I don’t want to kill either you or Suvel. So, please do as I say. Otherwise, we’ll have to start this chase all over again.”
“Speak.”
Billy replied.
“Draw your other sword.”
Without hesitation, Billy drew the blade from Lontamon.
Kassel, pointing towards the cliff, said, “Throw it down there. I believe that blade won’t break even from this height.”
As soon as he said that, Billy threw the blade. Kassel looked surprised, as if he hadn’t expected Billy to comply so easily. Suvel, nearly screaming in anger, shouted, “You damn fool! You did it just because he tells you to? Huh? You’re doing what this liar asks? Wasn’t that sword more precious than your life?”
Billy smirked, “Kassel was just trying to get away from us. He wasn’t lying.”
Turning to Suvel and then back to Kassel, he added, “I’ll have to go down this mountain again to retrieve that sword. So, release Suvel.”
Kassel nodded and threw the sword he was holding to Billy, who caught it deftly by the hilt.
“Step back,” Kassel instructed.
‘He sounds as if he’s asking a favor. He must be really exhausted,’ Billy thought to himself.
Billy slowly retraced the path they had come. As he crossed over the cliff’s edge, Kassel made a plea to the hunter.
“Please release Suvel now. Without his sword, he won’t be a match for you.”
The hunter, looking apprehensive, removed the blade from Suvel’s neck and stepped back. Kassel had already retreated a few paces. Suvel quickly stood up, seemingly ready to charge, but restrained himself.
“Don’t follow me,” Kassel warned as he turned away, heading towards the large rocks and the path behind them. The hunter followed, occasionally looking back.
“Stupid fools,” Suvel muttered, reaching into his robe. He had more than just a sword for a weapon. He drew out a hidden dagger. Yet, in the end, he didn’t throw it.
“Damn,” Suvel mumbled, dropping his arm and exhaling deeply.
☆ ☆ ☆
“I’m sorry. I messed everything up. I led us into a trap, and because I was taken hostage, the guy we had captured got away. I have no excuses,” Suvel repeatedly apologized as they descended the mountain. Billy walked ahead without saying a word, occasionally looking up at the cliff to check the spot where he’d thrown his sword earlier.
“Why didn’t you just attack then? Even if I was taken by surprise, couldn’t you have taken him down?” Suvel asked, visibly frustrated.
“Be honest. Aren’t you stronger than me? Ever since you fought with Black, I’ve thought so. We never directly faced off, but I always kind of hoped we were on the same level. But, in truth, you believe you can beat me, right?”
“No, I’ve never thought that way. Just as you consider me strong, I’ve always seen you as a formidable opponent.”
There weren’t many trees around. But pinpointing the exact location where the sword had been thrown from a high place wasn’t easy. Billy gave a nonchalant response while continuing to survey the surroundings.
“Tell me. How do you think you’d have fared against that hunter? Huh?”
“Well, if we fought with all we had, I think the chances would’ve been fifty-fifty. But he probably didn’t showcase his full skills, so I assume I’d be at a disadvantage.”
“With the confidence you exude, I can’t believe you’d give such a doubtful answer.”
Billy grinned, playfully pulling Suvel closer. “It’s the most confident I’ve been. If I had fought that hunter at the cliff, I’d have lost. I was tired and he wasn’t. Plus, if you had died, how could I perform at my best? It was a rational decision in that situation. A decision to save both of us.”
Suvel continued grumbling. “Still not convinced.”
Pushing Suvel away lightly, Billy resumed his search. Suvel, glaring at his back, spoke up.
“Did I ever tell you why I returned to the Wolf Knights?”
“I think you did, but I don’t remember.”
Scratching his head, Suvel admitted, “It was because of a woman.”
Billy finally turned his attention back to him, prompting Suvel to blush.
“Damn, why did I even bring that up?”
Muttering to himself and clearing his throat, he continued, “Remember the Wolf Knights test a while back? There was a woman named Azwin. Recall that?”
“You mentioned a very strong female swordsman who you had the misfortune of losing to.”
“Yes, it was unfortunate. But at the same time, I fell for her… By that age, just over twenty, I’d been with at least a dozen women. Don’t get the wrong idea. I never paid for them. They all willingly came to me.”
“I can understand. Many women would easily fall for you.”
“But she was different.”
Suvel clenched his fists as he recounted, “For the first time, I found a woman truly beautiful. I used to think women wielding swords were unattractive. But she wasn’t. As embarrassing as it is to admit, I think she was my first love.”
“A guy who’s been with countless women talking about first love? What were the others then? Casual flings?”
“Not countless! And even if it was, so what? Physical affection isn’t the standard of love for me.”
Billy spotted a glinting object and walked towards it. Suvel followed, continuing his story.
“That woman, however, didn’t seem interested in me. Naively, I thought I could win her over with my skills. But, like Kassel mentioned, Azwin was as formidable as a White Wolf. Moreover, I don’t think I was her type.”
“What type was she into?”
“Tall and brawny. She had a thing for big guys. And there was this guy named Loyal, because of him… “
Suvel ruffled his hair in exasperation, “In the end, I gave up on the second test.”
“You gave up? Not failed?”
“Yes, I quit the day before the final results. I felt I’d be overshadowed by other strong competitors and didn’t feel confident surpassing them in the same bracket.”
“Hmm, so that’s why you got so upset when Knight Barol said that.”
“Said what?”
“Did you really think training solo would make you stronger than training with the Wolf Knights… something like that.”
“Oh, that. Yeah, that made me furious. You’ve got a good memory. Thanks for reminding me and stirring up my anger again.”
The sword from Lontamon was embedded in a rock. Occasionally, the hilt would sway in the breeze. One of the few rays of sunlight piercing through the hidden leaves illuminated the sword, reflecting off its jeweled hilt. It looked like a legendary sword that should have been enshrined in a sacred cave.
Unintentionally, Suvel let out a sigh of admiration.
“So, why did you come back to Aranthia? To show that woman how strong you’ve become?”
Billy asked as he stood on the rock where the sword was embedded.
“Perhaps. I think so. Initially, I was somewhat embarrassed, but when I compared it to the reason you visited Aranthia, it seemed pretty childish. That’s why I haven’t mentioned it until now.”
“Why mention it now?”
“I made a fool of myself earlier, didn’t I? Might as well get all the embarrassing stuff out in one go.”
Billy tried to pull out the sword, adjusting his grip when it didn’t budge easily.
“This sword is stuck in the rock even after that high fall. Must be a really good sword. Need help?”
Suvel asked.
“No, I’m good.”
Billy twisted the sword and applied more force. He paused for a moment, then said, “I know what Captain Loren expected of me. I’ve always harbored excessive resentment against the Wolf Knights for defeating Excelon, and that became my barrier. I think he gave me the sword to shake that off.”
“So you didn’t intend to use the sword to challenge one of the Wolf Knights?”
“When I met Barol, I did. But thinking about it now, it was quite a shameful act.”
Billy finally drew the sword. The sword was stuck so hard that Billy staggered back momentarily. Checking the blade for any damage, he commented, “I feel like the wall between us has finally crumbled.”
“Wall?”
Billy didn’t seem keen to delve into that topic. “Let’s chase after them.”
Suvel frowned. “Now? How?”
“I’m not suggesting tracking them over the mountains like before. Kassel clearly said they’re heading to Nadium. They’ll have to pass through the Gold Gate. I checked the map earlier; the Blue, Grey, and Red Gates can be bypassed in several ways. But not the Gold Gate. The only way to Nadium without passing through that gate is across the Sky Mountain range.”
Suvel touched the nose that the hunter had injured. “They say no one can climb the Sky Mountains…”
Billy firmly sheathed his sword. “It’s simple. If we get to the Gold Gate first, they’ll have no choice but to confront us again. We can start our revenge there.”
Suvel finally smiled. “It would have been frustrating if the conflict ended without a proper fight.”
“Let’s go. Black is waiting.”
They descended the mountain, feeling the warm sunlight pouring through the forest like rain. Now, Black wasn’t the only one with business at the Gold Gate.
–TL Notes–
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