TYHL 08

~Chapter 8~

“Do not touch it.”

“Huh?”

“I know it looks pretty…but it’s poisonous.”

Leviathan’s brow furrowed deeply as he pushed me away.

“Sybelita Herb.”

“Oh, that one…”

I started to correct him but stopped myself.

Abelita and Sybelita—two herbs with eerily similar names and appearances. Though a closer look revealed every detail was different…

‘To the untrained eye, they probably look the same.’

The greatest distinction lay in the blue magical aura enveloping the flowers.

This made it impossible for mages to confuse them, but for non-magicians, it was a challenge—unless one was well-versed in herbs.

“Do not meddle recklessly. It could be disastrous.”

I withdrew my hand and nodded obediently.

Well, it wasn’t something I needed right now…

“Your Grace, the barracks are ready!”

“Let us go.”

The man extended his hand, which I grasped as I turned around.

“Wow.”

Before me stretched a neatly arranged array of tented houses.

“Impressively swift.”

Knights moved efficiently among the tents.

“Hoist! Hoist!”

Muscular displays of strength unfolded here and there.

Though they appeared to be mere brawny men, these were veteran knights famed in the war.

“Truly, men of the North…”

I murmured with admiration.

“You’ll be like that soon enough.”

“Ugh… huh?”

“The Jebert family is a house of knights. To remain there, you must become a knight. No exceptions.”

Oh, what a thunderclap.

“You’d better build strength properly in the North.”

Though I must conceal my powers, I am actually a fairly strong mage…

I briefly imagined my future:

Running through the training ground with a fragile frame, vomiting repeatedly;

swinging a sword hundreds of times, vomiting;

shooting arrows a million times, vomiting…

‘A vomiting ending…’

How is that different from destruction?

“I don’t know what you’re imagining, but your expression is quite something.”

“Yeah. I’m a delicate child whose face betrays all hardships.”

“Only now.”

“I can’t help it…”

“Cute words won’t save you.”

He pinched my earlobe lightly.

“Do not worry.”

He scooped me up, my limbs dangling like a doll’s.

In his sharply arched eyes, our gazes locked—violet and gleaming.

“First, I’ll fix those feeble limbs of yours.”

It sounded like a witch whispering her intent to fatten and devour.

“I’ll train you properly in the North.”

“Please don’t say things like that with such an evil smile…”

I seemed to have followed a villain disguised as a hero.

While the villain inspected the camp, I fled toward Sir Leon.

“Are you alright, sir?”

“Nothing wrong.”

Leon sat on a rock, removing his upper garment.

Even amid such circumstances, his precise folding of clothes had an oddly intimidating charm.

“Nothing wrong? Your whole body is a kaleidoscope.”

Red, yellow, blue…

How had he borne it all?

The worst was his shoulder, severely bruised as if struck hard.

“How did you manage to ride with that shoulder? You insisted on carrying me without realizing it…”

I sighed in worry, examining the swollen wound.

“Sorry, sir.”

Leon flustered slightly.

“This… is my fault. It’s not your burden.”

“But…”

“Don’t make that face. Honestly, I could carry you for a whole month.”

“That’s not something I like… Ugh! Wait!”

Suddenly, an unpleasant smell filled the air. I pinched my nose.

Leon revealed an unidentifiable ointment.

“What’s that awful smell?”

“…It’s medicine.”

“The smell’s not that bad.”

Leviathan appeared, tousling my hair with a laugh.

Unbelievable!

Using such old-fashioned bruise ointment!

Nowadays, there are odorless, effective ointments—though only in the Mage Kingdom!

“It’s cold. Stop playing and get into the tent.”

He draped a thick cloak around me.

“Ugh… okay.”

I hurried to my feet.

Leon was slathering the ointment wildly like a pig rolling in mud.

He said he wasn’t in pain, but—

It must hurt a lot.

“I’m going to check for monsters nearby. Stay put and behave.”

“Yes, sir!”

After escorting me to the barracks, Leviathan and the dark knights mounted their horses and vanished.

Thanks to a blazing hearth, the interior was comfortably warm.

I hesitated, then quietly moved toward the Abelita herb.

“I never thought I’d need this so soon.”

I gathered a small amount into my cloak pocket.

Back in the barracks, I washed it clean, separated stems, leaves, and flowers, then finely ground them with a nearby flint.

‘This must be the ointment’s base formula.’

Herbology was a fundamental skill for mages.

I planned to enhance the ointment’s potency with magic.

‘It’ll be better with infused mana…’

Wouldn’t that seem suspicious? An ointment healing injuries overnight?

I carefully mixed only the herb powders.

Suddenly, a crackling noise pierced the air.

[… Are you there?]

Like the static of a modern radio frequency.

I paused, head snapping up.

The night was still save for the rustling tents.

Was it my imagination?

I tilted my head, refocusing on the ointment.

[…! …!]

The static grew louder.

“Could it be…”

I cautiously touched behind my right earlobe, where a small magical sigil lay.

Barely visible—like a mark or scar.

A Sigil of Oath.

Yet I had not sworn it.

I had received it.

“Kalid?”

I whispered as I traced the symbol.

The noise ceased.

Then, as if tuned correctly, a clear voice followed.

[ Master! ]

‘Kalid? Is that you?’

I closed my eyes, focusing inwardly.

Kalid was a child I met on the battlefield.

I had saved him once, and he now called me master, trailing after me.

I parted ways when I went to the Canalan Gorge.

[ You have no idea how worried I’ve been since I couldn’t detect your mana. ]

[ You were nowhere to be felt. ]

Mages’ oaths entwined their mana like ropes.

This allowed simple communication and life signs to be checked with ease—but also meant carrying a bothersome tail for life.

[ Where are you? ]

‘I am…’

[ Ah, Babylon. ]

Kalid cut me off.

[ Just wait. I’m coming soon. ]

‘What? How will you get here? It’s far!’

[ Don’t be surprised. Be cute. ]

‘What did you say?’

[ Press behind your ear. I can’t hear you. ]

I pressed my earlobe again.

‘How are you coming? Aren’t you at the southern tip of the continent?’

Kalid chuckled softly.

[ Where can a runaway mage not go? ]

Oh, right.

Kalid’s mother had fled the Mage Kingdom while pregnant with him.

She secretly gave birth somewhere on the continent.

Hence, Kalid was an unregistered mage.

[ See you soon. ]

‘No, that’s not it. If you get caught, I’ll… Hello? Kal!’

The connection suddenly cut off.

No matter how I called, no answer came.

‘Kalid? Kalid!’

I suspected he intentionally severed the mana link—effectively blocking me.

That arrogant Kalid Riork!

“Just wait.”

I clenched my teeth. When we meet, I’ll bite his hand!

Late at night.

Sir Leon Shujerk was returning to the barracks after patrolling.

“Sir! Sir!”

Leon stopped.

From the left side of a tent extended a tiny hand, beckoning.

Without realizing it, he moved forward.

There stood a child, barely reaching his waist, grinning mischievously with hands clasped behind their back.

Moonlight reflected off shimmering blue eyes and silvery hair.

Though unevenly cut, the hair looked incredibly soft.

Leon recalled the little head that had bobbed before his chest earlier.

He remembered the shock of touching the chest feathers of a white wagtail once in the forest.

‘Is it like that?’

He clenched himself several times to resist the urge to reach out.

“Are you feeling better?”

The child asked suddenly, cheeks dimpling.

Ruby then produced a small object from behind their back.

“A gift!”

“What’s this?”

Leon accepted it awkwardly.

Inside was a translucent ointment speckled with powder.

“Ointment?”

“Yes. The smell was terrible, so I ground some flowers into it.”

Leon smiled.

Such a childlike notion.

Covering a foul odor with flowers.

‘Though somehow it smells pleasantly fragrant.’

Used to the pungent smell of bruise ointment, he was surprised.

What puzzled him was why Ruby gave it to him.

Leon looked down at Ruby.

“Why give me this…”

“For thanking me for the ride earlier.”

Ruby spoke clearly.

Leon Shujerk knew little about children.

But he sensed this child was different from those in the capital.

Capital children were pure.

Their laughter in the central square was like bells.

That was his pride.

The pride of preserving that laughter.

He looked again at Ruby.

“I won’t be a burden. Don’t worry.”

No child with such resolve had ever spoken to him—at least, not in his experience.

Leon regretted his earlier harshness.

He reflected that perhaps he’d been too severe.

Yet, he lacked the skill to soften his words.

Ten years of war had changed his manner.

‘Despite my harsh words…’

He was thankful to hear gratitude.

“You know, the war is over.”

How did Ruby know he still clung to war?

Leon’s tongue loosened.

He resolved to redeem himself with kinder words.

This time, gently and well.

“I mean…”

“?”

“I don’t think you’re a burden.”

No fluff.

What he wanted to say was that such a small, gentle child should have the safety of the capital, running through the square like other children.

“So what I mean is…”

He wished Ruby could smile like that.

“Sigh… it’s hard.”

But words failed him.

Leon spoke plainly.

“I’m sorry, and thank you.”

Ruby’s face seemed to understand everything.

“Yes!”

Leon reached out and tenderly stroked Ruby’s round head.

With his awkward touch, Ruby pursed lips like a bird and smiled.

A warm breeze seemed to blow.

Indeed, it was an incredibly soft sensation.

After Sir Leon recovered somewhat, the journey resumed smoothly.

The knights procured a new carriage with large windows, giving a panoramic view.

I gradually grew accustomed to riding.

Each time I did, Sir Leon seemed a bit regretful—but no matter.

After weeks, we finally arrived.

The Jebert Duchy!