If the Road is Long, Run Anyway
Rood dashed toward the long line of trees. The surrounding sounds blended into a chaotic mix—birdsong, frog croaks, leaves rustling in the wind. Noise came from every direction, yet Rood listened in silence.
That way.
He pressed forward through the forest where countless sounds overlapped. Thwip! An arrow flew straight at him moments later, but Rood ducked and kept charging.
So I was right.
Rood couldn't hear the archer's footsteps, breathing, or the sound of a bowstring being drawn. Still, in a forest full of noise, one spot remained unnaturally quiet, and he ran straight toward that silence. Animals possessed sharp instincts and could sense the presence or killing intent of someone wielding aura. Rood didn't know this consciously, but the fact that only one place stayed perfectly still was no coincidence. It let him locate the hidden archer with ease.
Clang! Rood knocked an incoming arrow aside with his sword and closed his eyes.
"If it's in the way, I'll remove it."
Thick green aura wrapped around his blade. He swung it in a wide horizontal arc. The sword cleaved through a thick tree trunk, sending it toppling backward. The falling tree revealed the archer, who had been trying to circle around.
"Damn it, how is he moving like that?"
The archer nocked another arrow and faced Rood head-on. Thwip! The arrow tore through the air, but Rood reached out and caught it barehanded. Green aura flared, and the arrow dropped to the ground. The wound on his hand healed instantly. The archer let out a long sigh.
"Ugh, disgusting."
"Which side are you with? Did Duke Callisto send you?"
Boom! The hooded archer punched a nearby tree, shattering it despite the fact that it should have stayed rooted in place.
"What? Do I look like the type who'd work with some fallen noble scum?"
"Then why target the acting head of the Voenac family?"
"That's none of your business, pal. Wouldn't you rather just keep playing lapdog for those nobles?"
Rood couldn't make sense of the man's identity. Regardless of purpose or affiliation, the stranger had attacked without warning. Still, Rood's thinking was simple: anyone who targeted his liege had to be eliminated, no matter who they were.
"If you came to kill, you'd better be ready to die. Shut up and die already."
Rood swung to cut the man in half, but red aura flared around the archer's body. The moment the sword touched it, the blade bounced away.
"Hah! Looks like you don't even know what my aura does. You must've awakened recently, huh?"
"Shut it."
Boom! Rood struck again and again, but every blow was deflected.
"Puhahaha!"
Heat rose in Rood's head—he was furious—but he forced himself to stay calm. Why isn't he shooting at me? The archer's refusal to use his bow felt too deliberate to be mere mockery. Being underestimated as a warrior didn't sit well with him either.
"Think about it, pal. Think about the suffering of our people who keep dying while the Empire and the Alliance fight their pointless wars."
"Hah, what nonsense. If the Alliance can't hold and surrenders, we'll just live under the Empire's tyranny. You think that won't be suffering?"
Crash! Rood kept swinging, hoping one strike would eventually land.
"If we unite all the way to the Empire, we can end it. A world where everyone struggles and everyone rules."
"Even that world will have rulers. Maybe not at first, but eventually someone will rise."
Rood continued, "People want to be ruled because they themselves want to rule."
From his time in the army, Rood had noticed something: those who were most deferential and disciplined toward their superiors were the harshest to their own subordinates. They preferred clear hierarchy over uncertainty—they wanted to be ruled so they could rule others in turn.
"You've got no romance in you, pal. But do you really think it's fair for only those with the Divine Dragon's blood to live comfortably?"
Veins bulged on Rood's forehead.
"What makes you any different? Don't spout grand ideals when you're just a murderer killing people for this idiotic reason!"
"Whoa, calm down. Why so angry?"
"I've already got a mountain of enemies to worry about, and now some worthless insect shows up spouting nonsense I can't even kill properly. Of course I'm pissed! Satisfied?"
Boom! Rood still couldn't understand. What had Isabelle done to deserve being marked for death? He'd once despised nobles as much as pigs, back when he was an orphan. They took whatever they wanted with ease, yet scrambled desperately for what they couldn't have. Meeting Isabelle had changed that.
"You're trying to kill a woman who might only have a year left to live, someone who's still doing her best in her position, just because she's a noble?"
"I know she's the Supreme Commander of the Kingdom Alliance. Thousands have died because of her plans. I'm here to break that chain."
"Without her, tens of thousands more would be dead."
"Typical noble lapdog. Your tongue must be worn out. Still, thanks for the tip—the Supreme Commander is on borrowed time. No need to kill her if she'll die on her own."
"Stop right there!"
The archer charged toward a tree. Using the repulsive force of his red aura, he ricocheted between trunks and vanished.
"Damn it!"
Rood's irritation spiked. He'd let slip information he shouldn't have, and worse, the man's application of aura was impressive. His aura must have a repelling property. Sniping from beyond normal arrow range, deflecting every sword strike, and using trees' elasticity to escape—Rood couldn't help but acknowledge the skill.
"What the hell was he?"
Something didn't add up if the man had truly come to kill Isabelle for no reason. The fact that Isabelle is the Supreme Commander is classified information. It was sensitive enough that even Rood hadn't known until she told him after his arrival. Someone deliberately leaked it.
Rood sheathed his sword and headed back to the mansion to find Isabelle. Curses kept slipping from his mouth the entire way, though only he could hear them.
***
Isabelle nodded after hearing Rood's report.
"Not Duke Callisto's man, but sent by him all the same."
"How can you be sure?"
"Someone who knows I'm the Supreme Commander yet deliberately leaked that information to test your abilities—who else could it be?"
"Only one person fits that description."
"Are your hands all right?"
Isabelle kept glancing at Rood's hands. Even though the wounds had healed, blood still stained them darkly.
"I'm fine. They healed completely, as you can see."
"No matter how much aura heals you, don't be reckless with your body."
Rood nodded. He'd caught the arrow with his hand because dodging had been impossible. He didn't enjoy being pierced or cut any more than anyone else, but ever since learning aura could heal him, his swordsmanship and fighting style had grown far more aggressive.
"My liege, do we really have to go to the Alliance conference? The venue is dangerous enough, but the journey itself will be no easy task."
"You're right, but this conference must happen. Too much depends on it for me as well."
Isabelle continued, "I can't abandon the request from that lady either. It's the only way to obtain the fruit of the Holy Tree."
Completing the lady's request would grant them entry to Tleque, the elven nation. That ticket had to be secured.
"So we have no choice but to push ourselves."
"If the distance is far, we still have to run, don't we?"
Rood nodded at Isabelle's words.
"If we're departing in five days, I have a request."
"What is it?"
"Please help me learn to control my aura properly. I need more power if I'm going to protect you."
Isabelle chuckled softly.
"I already told you, didn't I? Speak casually and I'll teach you."
"Isabelle."
When Rood called her by name, she met his gaze.
"Teach me how to handle aura better."
"All right. Come here and stand for a moment."
Rood stepped closer. Isabelle rose and moved behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"W-why are you doing this?"
"I told you to speak casually, remember? Stay still. I need to feel your aura to help you."
She placed her hands crossed over his navel.
"Send your aura into me. All of it."
Rood released his aura as instructed.
"Kuh! Th-this is……"
Isabelle's appearance changed—the refined, elegant lady she was meant to be. Rood felt dizzy from the sensation at his back, but he forced himself to keep his aura steady.
"That's enough. Rood, from what I've sensed, your aura isn't a healing type."
"What do you mean? It's not a healing attribute?"
"Your aura is……"
Isabelle hesitated briefly before speaking. Rood hurriedly dispersed his aura upon hearing her words.
"My aura is what, exactly?"