Chapter 46
Unlike the entrance where Eluana was, the inside of the cave was swallowed by complete darkness. If they went a little further in, they wouldn’t even be able to see their feet properly. As Eluana stared into the darkness, Kazar, having erased all traces that the two had been there, declared:
“Looks like the assassins came first. The break is over.”
Kazar sensed the presence of the assassins and took a step forward. Eluana followed cautiously. Even after taking just a few steps, the darkness engulfed them. It was so thick that even Kazar’s figure ahead was barely visible, making Eluana feel both stifled and fearful.
She hated the dark.
Without realizing it, her hand clenched the metal orb tightly. The orb began to glow softly.
“The orb?”
Startled by the sudden light, Kazar turned to see the orb in Eluana’s hand. A glowing metal orb—both mysterious and strange. As the gentle light spread around, the eyes and mouth painted on the orb became visible.
“Does the orb have a face?”
“Ah, that was Luis messing around. Somehow only this one orb was left.”
“It’s amazing. I didn’t know alchemy could make something glow.”
“…Me neither.”
Eluana was also bewildered, and Kazar let out a low laugh. Even in prison, he’d felt it—her insane talent.
“We can move a little faster. Let’s go.”
The two walked deeper into the darkness.
The cave’s darkness was thick and heavy. The orb’s faint glow barely lit the ground at their feet. Eluana moved cautiously, her whole body tense.
The cave floor was very slippery and uneven due to water droplets flowing down the jagged stalactites overhead. If the orb hadn’t been glowing, she might have fallen flat on the cave floor.
As they went deeper, shallow water puddled on the ground. Eluana bent down and touched the water surface with her finger. Luckily it wasn’t deep, but stepping in would feel like freezing to the bone.
Wiping her finger on her skirt, Eluana gathered up the hem tightly. Watching quietly, Kazar suddenly scooped her up in his arms.
“Waaah!”
“Let me carry you. You’ll get frostbite.”
“What are you doing? Put me down!”
Eluana twisted her body, surprised by the sudden change of perspective. Kazar spoke as if it was obvious.
“Really? How do you think I got you all the way here?”
“Well…”
Eluana recalled how she had been carried over Kazar’s shoulder like a sack of goods.
‘Maybe this is better anyway.’
Being carried, Kazar’s face was uncomfortably close.
“Don’t struggle or you might fall.”
“…Your feet must be cold too.”
“Have you ever seen an aura user get frostbite?”
“Of course not. I only recently saw an aura user.”
Kazar chuckled softly.
“You really say whatever’s on your mind.”
Eluana quietly closed her mouth. Come to think of it, Kazar was a prince too. Meeting him under these strange circumstances made her act overly casual.
“No, Your Highness.”
Mimicking Lady Rene’s elegant tone, Eluana said, but Kazar grimaced.
“Too late. Just do what you were doing.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. That’s better.”
Without hesitation, Kazar continued walking. Only the orb, which worked hard to cast light, witnessed his lips curling into a slight smile in the deep darkness.
The puddle of water underfoot was wider than expected. The water gradually deepened to his knees, then became shallow again. Upon reaching the other side, Kazar gently set Eluana down on relatively flat ground.
Despite his rough tone, his actions were careful. Eluana adjusted her skirt and murmured:
“Thanks.”
“I’ll repay you later.”
Kazar said casually and walked ahead.
Fortunately, the deadly aura they had sensed behind them was gradually fading. After walking quietly for a while, Eluana suddenly looked back.
The black darkness flicked its tongue threateningly at Eluana. Had it not been for Kazar, she might have been devoured by monsters today.
“Why?”
Kazar asked why she had stopped. Eluana, looking forward again, answered as she moved on.
“I just felt that I’m still weak.”
Nothing happens from just determination alone. She knew time and effort were necessary, but somehow she felt impatient.
“Did you want to become stronger?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t most young ladies your age want to be pretty?”
“Pretty enough already.”
Eluana blinked quickly and replied boldly. Kazar didn’t argue—it was true.
“You will become stronger. You’re a Spes and a Cantio.”
“Is that possible?”
“Of course. You have the greatest potential.”
Kazar was certain.
The Duke of Spes had said the same. As a Spes and a Cantio, she had tremendous potential. Eluana was aware of her talent too. At first, she thought the Duke’s praise was encouragement. But after finding and reading books on alchemy in the library, she realized the truth.
It takes a minimum of three years, up to more than ten years, of training to control affinity materials like Eluana does. She was a late bloomer, but once she could control the materials, explosive growth was possible.
However, no matter how talented, if she withered before blooming, it would be useless. Eluana wanted to experience that explosive growth. As soon as possible if she could.
So no one could ever hurt her or Luis.
They walked a little further. At the end of the path, light was visible. The cave ended. As they exited, fresh, non-damp air greeted them. The orb in Eluana’s hand stopped glowing.
“Thank you, orb.”
Whispering softly, Eluana looked around and assessed the terrain. She spotted a familiar ridge and found their direction.
She pointed with her finger.
“The village is that way.”
Kazar scanned the surroundings and placed Eluana behind him.
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Though no threatening presence was sensed, her hair stood on end. Her nerves tightened, whispering danger. But they couldn’t stay here.
“Don’t stray too far from me.”
Looking once at Eluana’s worried face, Kazar drew his sword and moved slowly forward.
The forest was rough. Though a path existed, it was overgrown with weeds, as if long abandoned. Kazar slashed through the waist-high weeds and thorns with his sword. The need to stay alert slowed their pace. They couldn’t even attempt to erase their tracks.
The tension made their necks and shoulders stiff. The closer they approached the village, the more the air clung stickily to their skin.
Eluana was equally tense. She walked carefully to avoid noise. Every rustle made her muscles twitch as if they would cramp.
Walking silently, the two stopped simultaneously. Eluana glanced around and pressed close to Kazar.
“This is…”
Tracks of people passing by.
Not just one, but at least ten moving together. Kazar examined the direction of crushed and cut weeds and stared toward the north.
“About ten people? Looks like they entered from the village side and then left again.”
Kazar pointed deeper into the forest.
“The villagers don’t come this way. Wild boars appear. They said there are also half-moon bears.”
As far as Eluana knew, no villagers ventured this far. Hunters used the eastern forest, and even kids didn’t go near the northern woods—they’d get seriously hurt if they did.
“If not villagers, it must be Regis. Once in a hundred years.”
Kazar muttered.
“What?”
“There’s a record that one prince visits here around this time once every hundred years.”
“One prince?”
“More precisely, the crown prince or the one most likely to succeed the throne. On the way back to the capital from Aden, they encountered mages from the western mage tower. Probably related.”
Kazar’s gaze settled on the movement toward the inner forest. He planned to take Eluana to safety and then return.
Following his gaze into the forest, Eluana stepped forward first.
“You want to check it out, right? Let’s go.”
Kazar grabbed Eluana’s arm.
“No rush. I’ll take you somewhere safe first.”
“I want to know too. Why Prince Regis came to Aden.”
Since Regis appeared in Aden, Eluana’s life had completely changed. Days passed like a whirlwind where she couldn’t clear her head. And now she was in this forest.
She wanted to check the start of this whirlwind.
Kazar was about to warn her it might be dangerous but glanced at the path to the village. That way led to the village. She should feel more relieved as they got closer, but instead, her anxiety intensified.
From experience, trusting intuition was best in such cases.
“Alright. Let’s go.”
They turned direction right there. They had no idea where that choice would lead them.
After walking and walking, they unexpectedly came across something. In the middle of a round clearing stood a solitary statue.
“A ruin?”
Eluana tilted her head as she looked at the large statue.
The statue of a winged boy looked up at the sky with an innocent smile. Though lifelike, it wasn’t particularly special. It didn’t look old enough to be an artifact.
Eluana, who had imagined ancient ruins or dragon lairs, felt somewhat deflated. Her questions only grew deeper.
“Why come here once every hundred years?”
“There must be a reason.”
Though he said this, Kazar couldn’t guess why either.
On their way here, they found plenty of signs that people had stayed. Not just recent, but old traces too. And all footprints stopped in front of this statue. Yet, nothing specific could be found. Eluana, watching footprints carefully, said:
“If it’s not the place that’s important, then maybe the people gathering here are?”
“That could be.”
Then what had Regis done with the mages of the western mage tower?
While Kazar looked for other traces, Eluana examined the statue. The boy-sized statue was full of life.
“Who could this be a sculpture of?”
Kazar also observed the statue’s face and decorations, but no figure came to mind.
“I don’t know. It looks fairy-like from the appearance.”
“Fairy?”
Could be. The beautiful face, slender body, and wings on its back fit that idea. As Eluana absentmindedly touched near the statue’s shoulder, a clear voice echoed in her mind:
[It’s a person! Hello, person?]
