Chapter 6
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Swirling Fate (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After that, I couldn't leave the bed for quite some time.
I had no clear sense of how much time had passed.
Sometimes I'd feel well enough to sit up and gaze out the window, only for sudden shortness of breath and pain to crash over me without warning.
When it hit hard, I'd black out right there on the spot.
Each time, Mother was utterly shocked.
She grew paler by the day, her face losing all expression. That, in itself, was another torment for me.
One afternoon, Madam Amara stayed by my side instead of Mother. She said Mother was discussing something important with Father.
Madam Amara looked utterly heartbroken and exhausted too.
Even with Mother's and Father's reassurances and support, she seemed to blame herself, thinking it was her daughter's doing.
She couldn't comprehend how her dead little girl had tried to harm me, and it filled her with anguish and grief.
Madam Amara eyed me like she wanted to ask how her daughter and I had played together, but she knew that question would hurt both me and herself.
In the end, she said nothing and tended to me with utmost care.
As if that act, as always, brought her some comfort.
I took medicine that eased the pain, slept a bit, and woke to find Father by my side instead of Madam Amara or Mother.
Father stood with his back to the darkened window, holding my hand and looking down at me.
The moment I opened my eyes, our gazes met. Father smiled softly.
"You're awake. Feeling any better?"
I nodded faintly.
The medicine's haze hadn't fully lifted, leaving my mind half-empty and dazed, like I was still dreaming.
Father gently brushed a few strands of hair from my forehead.
"Lib, listen carefully. We're leaving for Prion tomorrow."
At first, I couldn't grasp what Father was saying. It took thinking it over twice for the words to sink in.
Prion?
"We can't just leave you here like this. Your mother agrees."
"Why... can't I stay here?"
My voice was hoarse and cracked. Father's face filled with sorrow.
"I can't tell you everything right now. But in Prion, you'll get much better treatment than here. There are plenty of holy mages and top-notch medical facilities. For now, just focus on that."
I nodded obediently. My foggy mind couldn't string thoughts together anyway.
Father pressed a light kiss to my forehead.
"We'll head out in the morning. You don't need to worry about a thing—just rest quietly."
"What about Mother...?"
My consciousness sank into deeper, darker depths.
Father said something in reply to my question about Mother, but my half-submerged mind couldn't catch it.
More time passed.
A sobbing boy's cries brought me back to awareness.
I barely managed to lift my eyelids a fraction.
Everything around me was hazy, like a fog had settled in.
In the midst of it, a black-haired boy wept as he looked at me.
"...I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Lib. I... I was supposed to protect you..."
Shuren crying looked blurry, like a dream.
In the dream, I told him it was okay. It wasn't his fault, and he had no reason to feel guilty.
Even in the dream, I didn't want to see Shuren cry.
I hardly remembered leaving home for Prion. Father must have carried me asleep into the carriage.
I came to again inside the jostling carriage.
Unfamiliar sensations surrounded me.
I blinked and sat up.
It took a little longer to realize I was in a small, enclosed space—a stationary carriage interior.
The seats faced each other, clean and spacious enough that even lying across one, I wouldn't take up half.
A red square ornament adorned the ceiling, and a small lamp swayed gently.
I was wrapped in a blanket as I shuffled toward the carriage window.
Sunlight flickered through the gap in the red curtains.
I pulled them aside slightly, and dazzling light flooded in, revealing a landscape I'd never seen before.
Vast fields stretched endlessly.
In the far distance, gentle hills and clusters of trees dotted the horizon, with scattered houses here and there.
Nearby, a clear stream flowed.
A bird chirped from somewhere, mingled with the murmur of people's conversations.
Where was this?
I stared out, bewildered.
"Lib?"
I turned to see Father peeking in through the slightly open carriage door.
"Hungry? Want something to eat?"
Father held out a bowl of soup as he asked. He'd been eating.
The sight made a savory aroma waft over, stirring my hunger.
I nodded.
"Wait just a moment..."
"I'll get it, sir."
Erner's voice came from outside.
Father said something like "thanks" and swung the door wide open.
The two had been sitting by a small box in front of the carriage, eating.
"Lib, anywhere hurting?"
I approached Father.
His large hand reached out to my cheek as I sat on the seat. A warm touch brushed my skin.
"You've got a bit of fever. Probably from the change in environment."
"I'm fine..."
My voice came out so small and unfamiliar that it startled me.
Father gave a wry smile.
"If it gets tough, tell me right away. No pushing yourself."
Erner returned with a small bowl of food.
I bowed my head politely, took the bowl, and started eating.
Warm, savory soup, a chunk of bread, and tender meat pieces.
Swallowing was tough, but hunger drove me to keep going.
I glanced around as I ate.
The carriage had stopped in a sunny clearing.
A campfire burned in the center, with people gathered in small groups around it, eating.
Besides the guests who'd visited our house, there were many others.
About seven or eight wore knightly garb or had swords at their waists.
Familiar faces among them: Railin and Joel from the mansion, and Luwen.
"Father..."
Father turned from his quiet talk with Erner.
"All done eating?"
"Where's Mother?"
Father and Erner exchanged briefly flustered looks.
Father stood and came inside the carriage to my side.
Unable to understand, I looked around again.
"Where did Mother go? What about Shuren?"
"Lib, Mother's coming soon. We're just going ahead a little. Shuren will come too."
Father spoke soothingly, but I couldn't help feeling upset.
I had things to say to Shuren, and I'd only caused Mother worry.
Despite Father's words, an anxious feeling settled in—like I'd never see them again.
"Why can't we go together?"
"There's a lot to wrap up at home. The head butler and his son Shuren have their duties too. Once things are settled, they'll come for you. Can you hang in there till then?"
"...Yes."
I felt downcast but nodded anyway.
If I'd known, I would've fought to stay awake. I hadn't even properly said goodbye to Mother.
He said we'd meet again soon, but this was the first time I'd been apart from her for so long. The anxiety was unavoidable.
"Lib, take a look at this."
Father pulled something from around my neck.
Wrapped in the blanket, I hadn't noticed it—a Melgram, the one Father had given me.
The small crystal orb, once blackened when Selena tore it off, was clear again.
"Your mother replaced the necklace cord so you wouldn't lose it."
A finely braided silk cord hung around my neck.
I clutched the Melgram tightly in both hands. A warm glow pulsed through it...
"Can you wait for Mother?"
"Yes, Father."
Father smiled and ruffled my hair.
After finishing the meal, I took the medicine Luwen brought. It was bitter, but my desire to get better kept me from complaining.
Then Luwen unwrapped my bandages to check the wound.
Neither Luwen nor Father's expressions were good.
Luwen placed his hand over the wound and muttered something.
Mana swirling around him rippled in response, seeping into the injury.
The stinging eased considerably.
"Best to get some rest, Lib."
Luwen withdrew his mana-shimmering hand and forced a smile.
"By the time you wake, we'll be in Prion."
I hoped so. I wished these painful moments would pass quickly.
Father pulled the blanket up over me, and I slipped into shallow sleep.
My consciousness hovered at the dream-reality border.
A voice drifted from afar—but not too far.
"...Have you given it any thought?"
Luwen's voice.
Father let out a short sigh.
"I don't want to think about it right now... Recovery comes first."
It was about me.
My awareness sank further, but curiosity stirred even then.
"Of course."
"I've always planned to let Lib do what he wants. That's why I left the family."
"What if Lib wants to learn magic?"
"...Then I'd have to ask you to look after him."
Father's voice carried a bitter edge.
"I couldn't bring myself to say it in front of your mother."
Wandering the dream-reality divide, I snapped awake at a sudden firm voice.
Not much time had passed since their last exchange.
I couldn't make out the words, but the mood had shifted entirely.
I cracked my eyes open slightly.
Beyond the carriage's small window, a shadow paced—Father.
"Is that... true? That he could turn into a Demon?"
My eyes flew wide. Sleep vanished in an instant.
"From the cases so far... yes. My magical diagnosis shows Liberic's soul is incomplete.
Kids with imperfect souls are easy prey for Demons. They get devoured, turn into Demons themselves, or get killed by people first..."
"Enough. That's plenty."
"...Sorry."
A heavy silence fell between Luwen and Father. Not even breaths could be heard.
A chill seeped through me; I hugged my shoulders.
"It's... not certain yet, right? Luwen. Just speculation."
After a long pause, Father forced cheer into his voice.
Luwen's reply weighed heavy.
"Yes... I'd need to investigate more back at the tower. Even if it is true, no need to worry too much.
Technology's advanced far beyond the Demon Emperor's reign. There'll be a way. Things like back then won't..."
"They won't happen. They can't."
Father's tone was firmer than ever.
I pulled the blanket over my head completely.
I tried not to hear more, forcing sleep.
But Luwen's words lingered in my ears.
My soul—worn and shattered from endless lives and deaths, bound by the Demon Emperor—could never match an ordinary person's.
A soul carrying all my past life's memories could never align with this world's natural order.
Why hadn't I realized? I curled up small.
In this peaceful new world, living happily as a cherished child... What a delusion.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Swallowing hurt. Fever rose again.