CHAPTER 73…………………………………………..
Ashur sat in the training ground, even though it wasn’t a training day.
There, Barrel remained, wanting to continue practicing Eshkal’s training methods.
“Phew…”
Next to him, sweating profusely, Ashur let out a sigh as if lost in thought.
“Hey, loosen up your arm a bit. You’re overdoing it.”
Still, he occasionally chimed in with advice during the training.
“You’re supposed to become one with the spirit, not just bend it to your will.”
After hearing the repeated advice several times, Barrel finally snapped.
“Ugh, seriously! Why do you have to nag from the side? What’s the problem?”
Ashur hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke.
“…You know what the kingdom’s wedding culture is like, right?”
“What? You don’t know that either?”
“Don’t pick a fight… I’ve never even left the sanctuary.”
“Really? I thought you’d obviously know, since you speak the common language so well.”
“…Is my pronunciation okay?”
Barrel flinched slightly, frowning.
He didn’t want to praise Ashur so easily.
“Well, anyway… the kingdom’s wedding, huh. I’ve seen one before.”
The bride wears a radiant dress and carries a beautiful bouquet.
The groom puts a ring with a gemstone on her finger and kisses her.
They slowly walk through the crowd, receiving applause from everyone.
“Simple, right?”
“…The ring?”
“Yeah. Exchanging rings and a kiss. That seems to be the most important part.”
Ashur suddenly remembered the moment he gave her the “ring reflecting destiny.”
At the time, he had just thought it was surprising because they suddenly became close.
Now, he wondered if that was why Sierra had flinched.
He pictured her face, smiling brightly as usual.
Could it be that she had thought of a wedding back then?
“Then… what kind of ring would Sierra like?”
From seeing her in Sherzan, she couldn’t take her eyes off sparkling stones. Would she be happy to receive a ring with a gemstone too?
“But just giving her a ring isn’t enough.”
Ashur let out a deeper, troubled sigh.
A period of complete rest followed for some time.
The weather lately had been perfect, with gentle warm sunlight and a refreshing breeze that lifted the spirits.
Sierra prepared a picnic, recalling memories from her childhood.
A cute patterned patchwork cloth, sandwiches wrapped in the kingdom style, and fruit juice.
“Ashur! Let’s go on a date.”
“A date?”
“Yeah! Somewhere with a pretty view, eating delicious food.”
They packed a modest picnic basket and headed to a quiet lakeside.
Laughing and chatting, they quickly finished the food they had brought.
Lying in the grass, with the warm sunlight as a blanket and Ashur’s arm as a pillow, Sierra relaxed.
Enjoying a long nap, she slowly opened her eyes.
“Haah… Ashur, you didn’t sleep?”
With a playful smile, he gently brushed her hair back.
“Mm. Just watching you is fun enough. I didn’t even notice the time passing.”
“Ah, really…”
She had enjoyed watching him sleep, but opportunities were rare.
‘Maybe it’ll be different from now on?’
Sierra glanced around, confirming that the forest was still filled only with the sound of birds.
“…Hey, Ashur. I’m working on a fun magic spell. Want to see it?”
“Sure. What is it?”
She brought her hands together, holding them close for Ashur to see.
Sierra’s mana sparkled and rose within her hands.
The snow-like mana fragments formed a familiar vision.
The day Ashur first confessed his honest feelings.
Behind the silhouettes of the two touching, brilliant fireworks erupted.
“This is…”
He couldn’t speak, as if his breath had been taken away.
After the dreamlike image dispersed, a deep blue earring remained in her palm.
“Ashur, let’s live together now.”
“Huh?”
Sierra showed him one of the earrings left in her hand.
“In the sanctuary, people share something precious with the one they want to be with. I had nothing, but…”
A soft light flickered inside the translucent earring, projecting a magic circle.
“I put eternal magic in it instead.”
Ashur exhaled the breath he had been holding.
“Sierra…”
He carefully embraced her.
“I was a step late… thank you, Sierra.”
“Mmm, I’m grateful too. For always being patient and waiting…”
“…You knew I was holding back.”
“Hahaha.”
Sierra shyly smiled in his arms.
“But Ashur, while we prepare our home together, there’s something I need to do.”
“What is it?”
“I think I need to visit the kingdom at least once.”
“…The kingdom?”
Ashur stiffened, as if tensing with anxiety.
Sierra gently pushed his chest and met his gaze.
“I want our children to grow up without knowing war. For that… I’ll do my best.”
The kingdom’s citizens don’t know about dark magic.
They wouldn’t know how she intends to modify her magic circle.
They might not even know what the sanctuary is or who lives there.
‘But what if the kingdom realizes it’s not militarily superior, and that this war could seriously threaten your property or lives?’
She would have to persuade the people, including the nobles. Absolutely.
“You can do it.”
Ashur looked at her anxiously.
“How can I let you go alone? I also…”
“I engraved a magic circle in the earring to sense each other’s danger. Ashur, I…”
Sierra’s gaze was serious.
“I don’t want you to be in danger either.”
“But…”
“There’s no danger for me in the kingdom. I’m certain of that.”
“Sierra…”
She swallowed nervously and continued.
“And I want children… only after I’m sure we have peace.”
Hearing this, Ashur froze.
“So… when we move into our home, can you prepare that warm drink then?”
Sierra’s voice lowered, shy and almost a whisper.
“Of course.”
Still, he answered quickly.
“Hahaha. Good. Um, Ashur. Should I make the earrings for us?”
“Sure. I’ll make them too.”
Earrings of the same color shone on both their ears.
Ashur fiddled with her ear and said:
“Sierra. When the day is perfect, let’s have our own wedding. Actually… I was preparing a proposal too.”
“Eh?”
Sierra’s eyes widened at his unexpected words.
Ashur lifted her hand and kissed it.
“At that time, I’ll put a ring that vows eternity.”
As she looked at him with lips on her finger, Sierra’s heart raced.
“Not the sanctuary way, not the kingdom way, but our own way, we’ll make the vow.”
By now, the sunset light had spread between them.
“Yes. Ashur… I love you.”
Suddenly, she reminded him of the girl in his dreams.
How desperate he had been back then.
But now, there was no reason not to return the feeling.
“I love you too, Sierra.”
Their lips met.
They exchanged hot breaths, reminding themselves that only their shared warmth was reality in this dreamlike moment.
“Mm…”
“Phew…”
He had always wanted to be with her, and now she had spoken first. He felt ecstatic.
But he decided to wait a little longer.
He didn’t want to remember their first time too hastily.
Just until the moment they move into their new home.
Nahia blessed them with joy.
“Just wait! I’ll get you a truly wonderful home!”
She even said she would request help from another village and borrow the power of the spirits.
That would not only shorten the time needed but also make the house much more beautiful.
It seemed Ashur’s influence came in, remembering how impressed Sierra had been by another village.
Their companions, who heard the news first, were also happy as if it were their own matter.
“[Even if we don’t have a wedding, we need a small celebration, right? Hey, hold him!]”
That night, they held Ashur on both sides and poured alcohol into his mouth.
Sierra, watching, could do nothing but panic.
Kadiya nearby laughed quietly and didn’t stop them.
“[He’s Eshkal’s greatest warrior. A little of this won’t do anything. Anyway, they’ll probably pass out first.]”
Sure enough, Rohita’s face was flushed and her eyes shone with a faint madness.
Alnab’s expression was excited enough to recognize it for the first time.
“[Hmm… yeah.]”
From a corner of the village, drunken shouts and carefree laughter echoed through the night.
