Chapter 228: What Was Left Behind

Forest of Aked.

As if last night’s events had been noisy, bloodstains were splattered everywhere.

A man crossed between the fallen men. His gaze turned for a moment toward the end of the Forest of Aked, then returned.

His pitch-black hair floated in the air, though not a single breeze was blowing. His dark blue eyes flashed for an instant, and his position changed in the blink of an eye.

The northern end of the Forest of Aked.

The air above a small, quiet clearing seemed to warp, and in an instant, a human shape appeared.

The gaze of the man in the black robe rested on one place. He walked toward the altar with steps so light they were like a stroll. They were light steps, as though he was not affected at all by the formless force that had grabbed the boy’s feet and refused to let go. The man, having reached the altar not far away, stared silently at the cluster of white light floating above it.

Woooong.

The area around the altar began to vibrate. As if it were trying to push the man away.

But nothing here could suppress the man.

The man reached his hand toward the cluster of light.

The cluster of light that had been floating quietly spun and resisted fiercely. Space distorted, and the light bursting out as if it would explode bleached everything around it white. Inside the dazzling space where nothing could be seen even an inch ahead, a blue light swept past like a flash. Soon, the mass of light vanished.

And the small clearing where the mass of light had vanished was quiet, with nothing left in it.

***

Some memories disappear so completely that even the moment they are remembered cannot be known. There are times when they vanish without leaving even a faint afterimage behind. Remembering something again when not even a remnant remains would probably be a distant thing without some special trigger.

The carriage carrying Lucia ran on without stopping. But no one asked first where they were going. As though everything was flowing according to reason, they only kept silent and rode on. As though they believed the road ahead was right.

***

Whispers tickled Giselle’s ear.

When Ragniel’s words ended, Giselle nodded.

“Everything is proceeding without trouble, Your Majesty. There is nothing at all for you to worry about.”

It was a voice one had no choice but to believe. Ragniel nodded with a face not very different from earlier. It was because he knew the nobles’ gazes were focused on him. But Giselle noticed that the strength had left the hand gripping the armrest of the chair.

Giselle drew back and looked at the Hero who was slowly revealing himself amid the approaching roar of cheers. There was still some distance left, but things that an ordinary person’s eyesight could never see began to appear in Giselle’s eyes.

A face that seemed startled, a face that hesitated and looked around as if his soul had slipped out while still not understanding why. A face that, even as he gripped the reins again at the knight commander’s urging, could hardly come back to himself.

Yes, this was how he would forget without knowing anything.

Forever.

Without even knowing what had been taken from him, without even being able to think of looking for memories scattered like dust.

Giselle felt the air tighten coldly around him.

Letting the voices of the nobles who were chattering however they pleased pass by, he let his gaze sweep past as if looking at the garden, and there he met eyes with a shadow.

***

A tremendous roar like the sound of drums packed every direction full without a single gap.

After entering the capital and walking the road toward the royal castle, they received an enormous welcome.

The kingdom’s people were boiling hot with enthusiasm, like water boiled in a cauldron. Not knowing what kind of news had reached the capital in the meantime, they were flustered by this heat, yet blushed as if embarrassed. Even the soldiers, who had sunk coldly down, seemed to gradually regain their energy. And so, the cruel and burning afterimages they had seen on the battlefield seemed to grow faint under cheers even hotter than that, and under the joy of return.

“......”

However, the three massive men walking at the very front suddenly stopped.

They wore identical expressions, as though someone had assigned them. The kingdom’s people, not understanding why, thought their stopping was part of a promised event and rushed in to shake their hands and scatter the flower petals they had prepared.

But they did not see the beautiful petals fluttering through the air, or the kingdom’s people sweating heavily with faces reddened by the hot weather. As if by promise, they merely looked around the empty air with blank expressions. It felt as though they had left something behind, but they could not remember what it was no matter what. An ominous premonition brushed through their hearts, saying they might never be able to remember it. Even while they tried to convince themselves that something they could not remember could not possibly be precious, their hearts stirred strangely.

It felt as though a light that had been near them had left.

An indescribable, strange, and longing feeling filled them.

Among the things they had left behind on the battlefield, there should not have been a single thing to miss.

Then what was the cause of this heart that churned as if they might vomit?

Fortunately, before people could crowd in, the knight commander intervened, and the Heroes began walking again. Their wavering eyes looked straight ahead, and they too could see Giselle watching them without difficulty. Thinking that perhaps even the reason for the strange feeling they had just felt might be something he knew.

After the long procession and shower of flower petals, they finally arrived at the royal castle.

Passing by those who bowed deeply and respectfully, the Heroes reached the nobles seated in long rows, dismounted, and slowly walked toward the dragon throne. Ragniel, sitting in the chair atop the high platform, looked down at the Heroes.

“My sons have returned.”

Ragniel’s voice spread wide.

Ragniel’s speech, celebrating victory while invoking the name of Saint Leviantehnuk, continued at length. Young attendants hurried out and scattered flower petals as they had practiced.

Under the summer blazing sun, beneath the awnings held high by the attendants, flower petals flew toward the Heroes’ faces. Petals of every color scattered like snow.

Tears flowed down Luman’s cheeks. Without realizing it, he reached out and held one petal in his hand. The petal crumbled in his palm. Looking at the leaf that had only traces left behind, Luman thought he wanted to see snow. A hazy shadow that seemed about to come to mind vanished immediately, and his eyes met Ragniel’s bright eyes.

“Luman.”

“Geloman.”

“Temar.”

“And though he is not present, Verdi, who went to the battlefield and lent strength to the sword of victory.”

Ragniel called, one by one, the stars who lit the royal castle.

At his call, the Heroes came forward in order and bent their knees before the king.

Silence flowed through the solemn atmosphere. The attendants tried not to make even the sound of breathing, and even the nobles who usually slighted the king’s authority kept silent in this moment.

“I bestow medals upon you, who protected the light of the royal castle.”

When Ragniel gestured, the attendants who had been bowing their heads below them slowly approached the kneeling Heroes. When they offered what they held in their hands, the Heroes grasped the medals and fixed them to their cloaks. The glittering gold reflected the sunlight.

The Heroes wearing the medals swept their cloaks back, drew their swords, and drove them straight into the floor. Wooong. The earth rang long. Before that ringing settled, the Heroes bowed their heads to the king and spoke words of loyalty. Their voices sounded like an incantation. When the mage standing behind the king swung his staff, the air vibrated briefly.

Giselle approached Ragniel and whispered something, and Ragniel waved his hand.

Victory music rang out, and those who had been holding their breath hurriedly let it out.

There were nobles who grumbled as if they did not like this ceremony, but they were soon buried beneath the music.

Looking around at those gathered, Ragniel smiled like sunlight and told them to enjoy the festival, then announced that the gathering was dismissed.

The soldiers moved to the palace banquet hall under guidance, and the kingdom’s people began enjoying the festival. The sound of music, the smell of food, children’s laughter, and adults’ voices mingled together. The liveliness, heated hotter than the summer sun, shook every street and the entire kingdom.

“We should have a drink too.”

After everyone had withdrawn, Luman, who had been standing there blankly, grinned. An embarrassed light colored his face.

What man cried?

Luman believed tears should only be shed when seducing women. But to suddenly cry like that, was it not utterly shameful!

“Yeah.”

Temar answered after a pause. Geloman also nodded.

“Where did Verdi go?”

“Hey, aren’t you a little too uninterested in your comrade?”

Geloman rolled only his eyes and stared at Luman.

“You don’t know either.”

His disbelief was obvious.

“You could say that. But that isn’t what’s important. What’s important is......”

Luman stopped speaking for a moment.

What was important, again?

“You empty-headed bastard.”

Geloman, giving a scolding unlike himself, pulled strong liquor from his coat. It was alcohol meant only for Heroes.

“Temar, what are you doing?”

“Nothing. I was thinking about something I left at home.”

“That worn-out old shack? What, did you hide a lover there?”

“......”

“What? Seeing how you can’t answer, it must be true.”

“......No.”

After that, the three of them continued exchanging idle talk.

Each of them talked enough in their own way, but none of the three was focused on the conversation.

All of them were thinking about something they had left behind.