A dark and desolate forest stretched along the gentle upward slope.
"When I opened my eyes, I was underground. They told me I’d fallen into a crack in the world. Before I explain what the world’s cracks are—"
Lucia’s soft, steady voice drifted past one ear as Ian continued along the main road cutting through the forest. A liquor bottle rested in his mouth while his gaze roamed the overcast sky.
Winter had fully settled in. Before long, snowstorms blowing down from the mountain range would blanket this entire region in white.
If it’s coming anyway, sooner might be better.
Lost in thought, Ian turned his head as he heard breathing beside him. Nila, walking alongside him while shouldering a yoke, was looking at him.
Snort…
"I'm not tired, so don't worry," Ian said, pulling the bottle from his mouth.
The reason he was walking was simple—Moro had been hitched to the party’s carriage instead. They’d loaded the wounded there, after all. With such a punishing schedule, they needed the white horses as support and Moro’s strength as well.
"—When we finally came out of the ruins, a desert unfolded. It was a sea of sand, the boundary between the old Golden Desert and Red Desert, now called the Black Desert."Even amidst this, Lucia's voice continued. Ian took another sip and glanced back. Behind them marched the barbarian warriors and the ember priests.
Their haggard appearances were hardly surprising. They’d taken only the bare minimum of rest while clearing one demonic realm after another and were now pushing through a forced march on top of that. Even with the blessing of the sacred flames, only hardened elite warriors could endure it. In fact, the ember priests had each collapsed at least once in rotation.
"There was no other way. We had to cross the desert."
That was precisely why Ian let Lucia keep talking. While they listened to her story, at least, everyone seemed able to forget their suffering and lose themselves in it.
"It really was an unbelievable adventure."
"Indeed. It deserves to be recorded in history."
Even Thesaya and Nasser, perched side by side atop the carriage roof, and Mev riding along beside them on Selim, were listening intently. They’d already heard the story before, yet they sipped their drinks with shining eyes as if it were all new.
"Like that, we entered the Black Desert."
Of course, he didn’t let her talk all day. The schedule had to be kept, so he limited the time under the pretense of conserving Lucia’s stamina. Thanks to that, the warriors endured the march in silence, counting the moments until Lucia would speak again.
Today, though, it looked like she’d have to stop earlier than usual.
"Just when I was starting to get used to it," muttered Miguel, seated on the driver’s bench of the brazier carriage
Ian turned to look at him. Miguel, looking more like a bandit than a priest now, was staring straight ahead.
"Yeah," said Ian.
Ian followed Miguel’s gaze. The uphill stretch was nearly over, and beyond the skeletal trees, the upper edge of a wall was coming into view.
"We should stop for a bit once we reach the top," said Miguel.
When Ian looked back again, he shrugged. "The road splits immediately on the downhill side."
This also meant it was time to part ways with Lucia. Nodding and taking a sip of liquor, Ian looked back again.
"—But the real danger wasn’t the monsters hidden beneath the sand. It was the sandstorms."
"Sandstorms!"
Just as a low murmur of awe rose, Ian said, "That’s enough. We’ll take a short break once we reach the top of the hill."
As the gazes of everyone, including Thesaya and Nasser, focused on him, Ian concluded. "Priests, prepare to depart."
From beyond the brazier where sacred flames flickered, Lucia snapped her head up. She stared at Ian with widened eyes, then slowly turned her gaze toward the barrier emerging in the distance. A moment later, she squeezed her eyes shut.
"About that, Brother. Um..."
"No." Ian cut him off.
Miguel smacked his lips. "I haven’t even brought up the main point yet…"
"You don't need to," Ian said without even looking his way and raised the bottle back to his lips.
He didn’t need to hear it to know what Miguel wanted to say. Miguel had been traveling with them all the way to Hope City. He was clearly about to ask whether Lucia and the priests could keep going with them.
"All right." With a reluctant click of his tongue, Miguel tugged on the reins.
The uphill stretch was ending. As Nila calmly slowed its pace, Ian took in the downhill slope opening up on the other side. From about halfway down the gentle descent, the road split into two, just as Miguel had said.
"Short break!"
"A break…."
"If you’re leaving from here, then what about the rest of the story?"
The shout came from Volber. The barbarian warriors murmured among themselves and dispersed, likely looking for tree trunks along the roadside to rest against. Voices expressing worry and disappointment followed from all over.
Nasser, having jumped down lightly, ran over. "I’ll take over, Priest."
"Uh… thanks." Miguel, stretching as he stood up, nodded awkwardly. He’d realized Nasser was giving him time to say goodbye to Lucia.
As Ian walked toward the back of the brazier carriage, he glanced at Caleb, who was already loosening the yokes on Moro and the white horse. From here on, the brazier carriage would be pulled by the white horses of the Deep Forest alone. Thesaya had agreed to lend them for a while.
"I know it’s disappointing, but I don’t think there’s any helping it, Lucy," Miguel said quietly as he crouched beside Lucia.
Lucia, her hood removed, nodded. "It’s okay. We agreed on this from the beginning."
Good thing she’s not arguing, thought Ian.
Lucia hopped down behind the carriage. Mev was approaching, her helmet tucked under her arm.
Lucia ran straight into her arms. "Please be careful."
"I’ll do my best. You too—stay well at the temple. Safely." Mev wrapped one arm around Lucia’s back.
As the only family each other had left in the world, their bond could only be that much deeper.
"I’ll be waiting at the temple. When you finish everything, you have to come visit."
"I'll try."
As Mev answered, a silver-haired fairy rushed in and wrapped both of them up in a hug.
"Don't worry, little sister. I don't know about Ian, but I'll drag Redhead to the temple somehow," Thesaya whispered with a smile.
Lucia smiled back and said, "Thank you."
"I really wish we could keep traveling together. It’s such a shame. Maybe we could just—yeah. Looking at Ian’s expression, that’s not happening," added Thesaya with a quiet laugh, sneaking a glance Ian’s way.
Ian didn’t show it, but he was struggling with the decision himself.
Taking her along like this is a decision I would never make normally.
For a moment, he wondered if that might be one way to derail the ominous premonition that kept resurfacing. It was a thought he’d returned to more than once. Of course, the conclusion was the same this time.
Still, sending her back is right for now.
Lucia had already endured far too long a dangerous journey. She also carried the future of the temple on her shoulders. As promised to the High Priestess, sending her home was the proper course.
Perhaps this is the right answer.
The Dark Prince bore a grudge against the Great Church, not the Temple of the Brazier. Moreover, it seemed he had a close relationship with Cherwyn, the High Priestess. If Lucia and Miguel remained at the temple, perhaps the worst outcome could be avoided altogether.
Snort—
Nila’s breath beside him snapped Ian out of his thoughts. At some point, it had come closer and was rubbing its head against his arm.
"It doesn’t seem to want to go that way," Nasser said with an awkward smile as he walked up behind him.
Ian's gaze naturally returned to the carriage behind. Caleb was approaching the brazier carriage, leading a white horse. Only Moro remained in front of the group's carriage.
Snort…
It stood there like a statue, staring at Nila. It was probably expecting to pull the carriage together.
"What should we do, my lord?"
Just from its reaction, it was obvious Nila didn’t want that. To begin with, Nila had never so much as spared Moro a glance.
"Have Moro pull the carriage alone. I’ll ride this one."
Nila jerked its head up.
Looking back at the creature puffing its breath as if happy, Ian added, "Tie Moro in, and put a saddle on this one."
It wasn’t a decision made solely because Nila wanted it. Keeping the two of them together would clearly slow their pace.
"Yes, understood," Nasser, answering with a chuckle, turned.
Just then, Lucia, having finished her farewells, walked over and wrapped her arms around Nila’s neck.
"Be careful. Don’t get hurt, Nila."
Nila gently rubbed its head against her. After stroking its neck a few times, Lucia finally let out a long breath and turned around.
Green eyes wavered as they looked up at Ian, filled with a rush of emotions. The look in Ian’s eyes probably wasn’t much different.
Curling up the corners of his mouth, Ian said, "You’ve done well, Lucy."
"Sir Ian!" Lucia finally hugged him tightly.
Burying her face against his chest, she whispered, "Thank you for everything. If it weren’t for you, Sir Ian… I never would’ve made it this far."
A faint smile lingered on Ian’s lips. The girl who had always worn composure like armor, forcing herself to act the adult, had grown honest with her emotions before he even realized it. There was no need to explain that this suited her far better.
"That goes for me, too." Ian wrapped an arm around her shoulders and said, "And besides, if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have been put in that kind of danger in the first place."
"That’s not true. If that were the case, I would’ve been gone from this world long ago…" Lucia trailed off, her words dissolving into a murmur.
Ian tightened his arm slightly, then placed a hand atop the mask at her crown. "Like Miguel said, you've become quite the crybaby."
"If we part now… I feel like I won't see you again."
At Lucia’s whisper, Ian’s smile stiffened—only for a moment.
"That won’t happen. We’ll meet again."
"Really?"
"Yes. Even if I end up leaving, I’ll make sure I see you before."
His voice was low enough that only Lucia could hear.
Thesaya might have heard it, but it didn't matter. It was just to prevent the barbarian warriors from hearing. If it entered their ears, it was clear they would babble nonsense about ascension.
Looking at Ian with tear-filled eyes, Lucia whispered, "You promised."
"Yeah. We might even see each other again sooner than you expect. You never know when we’ll need the temple’s help," Ian added, wiping the tears gathered on her face. "By then, the High Priestess will probably move herself—but I should at least get to see you."
"Yes, I’m sure it’ll be like that," Lucia answered at once, clearly determined to make it so.
Ian, having wiped the rest of her face, smiled. "So take care of yourself. Study hard, too."
"I will. …I should go say goodbye to Moro and Nasser too." Lucia, tilting her head to the side, turned toward the carriage.
Following that, the priests who had exchanged greetings with the group lined up in front of him.
"Thank you sincerely once again, Agent of the Saint," Alec said, placing his fist on his chest as a representative.
The other priests also placed their fists on their chests and bowed. Their expressions looked lighter now—no doubt because they were finally free from the forced march.
Ian nodded. "Please take good care of the Vice High Priestess."
"Of course. We pray that the Blazing Goddess’s blessing will always be upon you, Agent of the Saint."
The priests turned around. Alec headed to the driver's seat, two to the top of the carriage. The remaining three lined up at the back.
Almost simultaneously, Miguel finished securing the white horses with Caleb and walked over, brushing dust from his collar.
"You were right."
"About what?"
"He’s not pulling anything. Just watching."
Only then did Ian turn to look behind them. Among the barbarian warriors squatting and chewing on rations, Askel stood leaning against a tree trunk, his eyes fixed on Lucia.
Longing practically dripped from his gaze.
"Watching him, it’s kind of pitiful, honestly…."
Like hell you mean that.
Ian snorted inwardly just as Nila passed by his side. Lucia and Nasser were returning.
"I'm sorry for leaving without telling you everything! But everyone, please stay healthy!" Lucia shouted, looking back at the barbarian warriors.
Those who had been resting jumped to their feet all at once and shouted back.
"Not at all! Go safely!"
"Eternal passion to the Saintess of White Flame!"
"Passion—"
Amidst the noisy shouts, Lucia looked back at Ian. "Then… I'll go."
"Don’t drink too much," added Ian as she passed.
Lucia chuckled. "I'll try."
She didn’t forget to leave that last line behind.
Which means she won’t.
Ian watched as Lucia took the priest’s hand and climbed into the carriage.
Clip-clop, clip-clop—
As if on cue, the carriage set off. The shouts of the barbarian warriors grew louder.
"Go safely! See you again! Definitely!"
The one shouting loudest was, of course, Askel. He couldn’t say a word to her face, yet now he was waving his axe overhead.
"See you! Little sister!" Thesaya also shouted, waving her arm held high above her head.
Standing at the rear of the carriage, Lucia turned back toward all of them, waving both arms as hard as she could.
Ian did not take his eyes off Lucia as she receded into the distance. Only after she was gone did the sense of loss and emptiness finally settle in.
It wasn’t strange. He hadn’t spent a short time with her, after all. The number of times they’d crossed the line between life and death together couldn’t be counted on one hand.
I’ll have to get used to it.
Even so, that realization didn’t bring about any particular change of heart. He just resolved once again to prevent the ominous foresight from becoming reality somehow.
The carriage entered the fork beyond the slope and soon disappeared behind the bare trees.
Only then did Thesaya let her arms fall limply as she murmured, "She's gone…."
Ian swung himself up onto Nila’s saddle. "Alright. Let’s get going too."
Mev pulled her helmet back on and turned away, while Miguel moved to stand beside Thesaya and Nasser.
"Rest over! Assemble!" Volber's shout followed.
As the barbarian warriors moved, the carriage pulled by Moro rolled up alongside the group.
"We’re setting off," said Miguel, having climbed onto the driver's seat next to Caleb, naturally taking the reins.
As it passed, Moro kept glancing back at Nila. Nila, of course, never met its gaze even once. It seemed determined to ignore Moro completely.
Clip-clop, clip-clop—
Only after the carriage had fully passed did Nila start walking again. The barbarian warriors naturally gathered around them.
"Now who will tell the story…."
"Of all places, she stopped at the most interesting part."
It wasn’t just Askel. Everyone looked openly disappointed. With Lucia gone, they’d lost both the sacred flames and their gifted storyteller.
"Can’t be helped," Thesaya said lightly, after she and Nasser climbed onto the carriage roof.
As several barbarian warriors looked up at her, she smiled. "Looks like I’ll have to take over from here."
The eyes of the barbarian warriors widened in unison. It was the moment a new dawn shone on their rapid march.
Two and a half days later, the subjugation squad reached the outskirts of Hope City. Under normal circumstances, it was a journey that would have taken four days.