Chapter 77
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Denial (4)
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Shuren said nothing as he walked through the parted river waters.
Holding my hand and leading me along, he pretended not to notice as I cried ugly tears, dripping down my face while I frantically rubbed at them to hide them.
He simply gripped my hand tightly.
Was he thinking I might disappear again?
Emotions I couldn't put into words kept spilling out as tears.
I'd fled from Cornick Fortress because the moment my mana returned, memories of magic had come flooding back in overwhelming waves.
Long-dead people were still there, screaming in agony like ghosts.
The memories of the spells that had stolen their lives overlapped with the magic that had nearly killed my father, and in my terror, I'd chosen to run.
Still so immature... so foolish...
Ash drew close when we reached the riverbank.
Even though he hated getting wet more than anything, he waded in deep enough for his paws to sink into the mud, staring straight at me.
"Ash... I'm sorry."
I crouched down low and apologized to him.
My body was already drenched, but my voice came out parched, like it wasn't even mine.
"I used your power so carelessly. I shouldn't have run away from there."
'Yeah. You messed up. Can't take my eyes off you for a second.'
Ash's tone was stern, but his long, sparkling silver tail swayed gently back and forth.
Whether he knew it or not, his face wore a sullen expression as he gazed at me.
Only then did a small smile creep onto my lips.
I pulled Ash into a hug and buried my face in his fluffy fur.
"I'm sorry. Thank you for finding me."
A warm sense of relief filled my body.
As his fur started soaking from me, Ash twisted free.
I reached out in regret, but stopped when I saw the bloodstains from my face smeared across his fur.
'We'll talk about what happened earlier later. Right now, getting back to Cornick comes first.'
Ash shook himself once to shed the water, then whipped around and took the lead.
I rubbed my face clean and stood up.
Ash really was different from Barkus. I realized it anew.
I had no idea why such a gap existed, but...
"Dishonest rascal."
Shuren chuckled, eyeing Ash's retreating form.
Ash's tail was wagging excitedly as he led the way toward Cornick.
"Even while we were away from Flavia, he fretted over you like that. Kept looking back toward Flavia."
"Yeah...?"
I managed a wry smile.
From Ash's perspective, I'd vanished the instant he looked away.
We mounted up together.
Shuren settled right behind me and urged the horse onward, following Ash toward the north gate of Cornick Fortress.
"We were only away from Flavia for a short while... Never dreamed something like this would happen."
Shuren let out a deep sigh. I nodded silently.
"I had no idea either... What happened with the magical beasts attacking the farms? No one got hurt?"
"The villagers barely held them off. Houses and fields were mostly burned to the ground. A little later, and it would've been a disaster. But when we got back to Flavia, all hell had broken loose."
Shuren recounted what had happened upon their return to Flavia.
At the moment when the family knights were transporting us to Cornick Fortress...
The knights led by the Silver Guard Knights had finished mopping up the magical beasts, handed off cleanup to Flavia's soldiers, and returned.
While reporting the situation to the White Guard Knight and Blue Guard Knight, the Duchess suddenly burst in and announced that Clemence was missing from her room.
Soon after, they realized not only Clemence but also me, Wedin, and Barkus were nowhere to be seen.
"The Duchess insisted palace mage Barkus must've kidnapped you all. Said he had malice gleaming in his eyes the last time they spoke."
"Ah..."
I let out a sigh.
So that was it. The Duke and Duchess's scheme. Pin the blame on palace mage Barkus.
And go further—accuse Palace Chief Mage Kaela of orchestrating the whole thing, ruining relations between Prius and Prince Raymond.
"Did you believe her?"
"Finding you all came first. Ash bolted right out and started tracking your scent. The Duchess said you'd fled to the capital and we had to chase after you immediately."
"But Ash found me first."
I gazed at Ash's distant figure up ahead.
He'd occasionally turn his head to check if we were keeping up.
"He said he sensed 'your energy' coming from the direction of the ruined Cornick Fortress. The Blue Guard Knight trusted Ash's word and led the knights out. That's when they spotted Duke Lesis and the family knights holding Clemence and Wedin near the north gate."
"Those two? Are they okay? Not hurt?"
I asked urgently.
I'd lured all the Gatras toward me, but I couldn't shake the nagging worry.
Shuren gave a small smile.
"They're fine. They were beside themselves with worry, thinking you'd lured the beasts away and gone inside."
"Anyway, the Duchess was adamant it was Barkus who'd kidnapped you, but it all felt off. Duke Lesis was here instead of the capital, demons this and that... It was confusing, but we had to find you first."
I didn't need to hear what came after that.
The scene the knights had witnessed inside the fortress must've been chaos like nothing they'd ever seen...
"We're here."
Shuren gradually slowed as the north gate of Cornick Fortress came into view.
Ash leaped straight up onto the unmanned ramparts the moment they arrived.
The morning sunlight starkly illuminated the crumbled ruins of Cornick Fortress.
Prius knights were gathered here and there in small groups around the north gate and plaza.
Campfires burned in spots, and simple tents had been set up for the wounded. Some knights were busy preparing meals.
It was hard to believe this peaceful scene had hosted a fierce battle just the night before.
Shuren reined in the horse at the gate and helped me down.
After handing the reins to a coachman, he turned to me.
"Let's go to Saint Grain first."
I nodded, forcing a calm expression.
Was Father alright? Had my magic hurt anyone else...? My steps grew heavy with worry.
"There! That's the kid! The one who took down all those Gatras alone."
As we passed the wounded tents, an excited voice rang out.
An injured family knight pointed at me, and everyone around turned to stare.
"Red gem shards sprouted everywhere. They exploded before anyone could even touch them..."
I flinched back from the stinging gazes I'd never felt before, but Shuren grabbed my arm and pulled me along.
"This way."
We hurried past a couple of buildings. The stares faded quickly.
But I could easily guess this would go on for a while.
The least damaged building near the central plaza served as the makeshift clinic.
We followed a servant carrying clean water and dry cloths into the building.
The wounded lay on mats spread across the floor, with Grain's back visible in the center as he examined a patient.
"It's well secured, so don't move for a while. Otherwise, you might never move that arm again."
Grain spoke with a gentle smile, and the family knight with the broken arm groaned, his face ashen.
A White Guard knight trailed behind, keeping watch over them.
"Lib!"
Grain spotted me and jumped to his feet in surprise.
"What happened? What's that on your face!"
"Ah, it's fine..."
I'd meant to ask about Father first, but Grain rushed over with a dry cloth and started wiping the blood from my face.
"Stay still. I'll heal it in a sec."
At his words, I froze like I'd turned to ice.
Shuren brought a basin of water, and Grain rinsed the bloodied cloth clean.
"...Lib?"
Father appeared from behind Grain.
My eyes widened.
"Ah, Father."
His face was weary and exhausted, clad in a thin shirt, his left arm bandaged all the way up to the shoulder.
It was a relief the wound hadn't spread further, but... the red-stained bandages squeezed my heart just looking at them.
My mind went blank.
The only thought that surfaced was that I had to beg forgiveness.
"I'm really, really sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"Glad you're safe."
Father strode over and pulled me into a tight one-armed hug.
My body went rigid from the shock.
A hot sigh brushed my ear.
"You have no idea how scared I was when you vanished like that. Ash found you again, didn't he?"
I nodded, unable to speak.
"Sorry for worrying you..."
My voice finally emerged, hoarse and muffled.
"What's this on your face? Scratches?"
Father cupped my face and lifted it.
I couldn't bear to meet his eyes, but looking up like this, tears welled up unbidden.
Father was safe. He was his usual self. It made me so happy.
"Blue Guard Knight, let me take a look."
Grain stepped forward, and Father moved aside.
"Not deep. It'll heal right up."
Grain's finger touched the wound on my cheek.
I was supposed to stay still, but tears kept leaking out. I rubbed at my eyes without thinking, and the injured skin began to sting painfully.
As blood spread again, Grain paused the healing.
"S-sorry."
Even as I apologized, the tears wouldn't stop. The pain made more come.
The more I rubbed, the worse it hurt. I had no idea what to do, just tears dripping down.
Why was this happening? It was like my eyes were broken.
"It's okay, Lib."
Grain smiled and handed me a dry cloth.
I pressed it firmly against my eyes, taking deep breaths to fix my broken eyes.
In the end, I had to accept Grain's suggestion to calm down first before treatment.
Shuren left the clinic to let Clemence and Wedin know I'd been found, and Father headed off somewhere to fetch something to eat.
He paid no mind at all to his left arm, tightly wrapped in bandages.
Compared to him, I felt so pathetic and pathetic, overwhelmed by self-loathing as I huddled on the corner stairs, slumped over.
The pathetic tears had finally stopped, but my face still burned with shame and pain.
My wet clothes were damp and cold, and I was covered in abrasions I hadn't noticed from rolling around all night.
"This is the best they had."
Father's voice came, and a warm blanket draped over my chilled body.
I looked up in surprise. Father stood before me with a gentle smile.
Erner was beside him, holding warm soup and bread.
"Most servants and supplies are still back in Flavia. It's not much, but eat this at least."
I accepted the food gratefully. Seeing it made hunger hit me all at once.
Running around all night and casting spells had drained my stamina considerably, and I hadn't eaten properly the day before that either.
My ordeal with spicy food in Flavia felt like ancient history now.
Even after Erner left to tend to other matters, Father didn't leave my side.