Chapter 194: Commander Ximu’s Instructions.

“We’re not rabbits!” Budno protested. He quickly pulled eggs, wheat cakes, bread, and other food from his storage pouch. “Amanda went to catch some animals. We’re having delicious roast meat later.”

Remembering the grilled carp from lunch, he could not help licking his lips.

His earnest expression amused Ximu. Young people were adorable. Look at those fair cheeks, those clear eyes, that unspoiled air. What sort of family had raised such a lovely child?

Budno grew uncomfortable under her frank gaze. He grabbed an apple, took a large bite, and concentrated on eating it.

Shu Li knew how much Ximu enjoyed teasing people. “Have you eaten yet?”

The troupe was still having dinner. Ximu liked to take her time over a meal—or she used to. Had she started eating that quickly?

“Not yet!” Ximu took Nasha by the hand and made herself at home, finding them both a place to sit. She pointed at the fruit on the low table. “May I have one?”

“Of course.” Shu Li handed her a washed red fruit.

Ximu took a bite and nodded appreciatively. “Very good.”

For ordinary people, fruit was a luxury they might eat only a few times a year. Fresh, juicy fruit like this was usually found on nobles’ tables.

Ximu had wondered about little Amo’s background from the day they met. At first, she had thought only a noble family could raise such a distinctive child. After spending time with him, she had changed her mind.

Not even a royal family could have raised him.

She knew that from experience: she came from one herself.

The Queen of Dalia had told her that the brothers Al and Amo were mages traveling the continent. Al’s magic surpassed that of the mages in royal service and rivaled a Magic Saint’s.

With a brother so powerful, Amo was unlikely to fall far behind.

Eight years had passed so quickly. The little boy who had once depended on his brother had grown into a young man capable of looking after himself.

Angel noticed Nasha sitting quietly to one side, her head lowered. He picked up an apple and offered it to her. “Here.”

Nasha raised her eyes and stared at the silver-haired youth.

“Take it. The apples are good!” Angel placed it in her hands.

Holding the apple, Nasha looked uncertainly to Ximu for help.

“Go on,” Ximu said with a smile.

“...Thank you,” Nasha told Angel.

“You’re welcome. There’s plenty more fruit.”

Nasha took a small bite.

Shu Li glanced at her performer’s clothes and asked Ximu, “Is Senluo Bank not traveling with you?”

Senluo Bank was a great swordsman of the Kingdom of Pedam. He had protected Princess Nasha Kairan all the way to the Dalia Empire and entrusted her to Queen Helati.

Nasha stopped chewing. Anger flashed in her eyes. “Don’t mention him to me!”

Ximu curled a finger and lightly tapped her forehead. “It’s been five years. Are you still angry?”

“He left without saying goodbye!” Nasha bit fiercely into her apple, resentment written all over her face.

Ximu clicked her tongue and glanced at the curious youths around them. “Five years ago, Senluo entrusted Nasha to me and left the Dalia Empire on his own. No one has heard from him since.”

Shu Li was even more puzzled. “Why would he entrust Nasha to you? Shouldn’t she be...”

Shouldn’t she be at the palace?

Had Queen Helati failed to care for her? What had happened in the past eight years? And surely Senluo would only have left once he was certain the princess was safe.

Shu Li had a host of questions, but they concerned other people’s private affairs. He could not simply demand answers.

Ximu chuckled. “I was about to talk to you about that.” She looked around at the handsome youths and asked with a smile, “Little Amo, are all of you headed to the central region?”

“Yes. We’re going to study at Saint Velia Magic Academy.”

“I thought so.” Ximu snapped her fingers. “That’s where I’m headed too. Someone has asked me to escort Nasha to the academy.”

“Oh! Then we’re going the same way,” Shu Li said in surprise.

From Ximu’s words, he gathered that Queen Helati was still looking after Nasha. Given Nasha’s unusual identity, traveling with a performance troupe was probably a safer way to avoid attention.

That explained her costume. She was dressed as a performer to conceal who she was.

“Quite a coincidence, isn’t it?” Ximu said. “You’ll be classmates soon. You can look out for one another.”

With one cheek full of apple, Nasha mumbled, “I can look after myself.”

She had managed on her own all these years. Although she lived under someone else’s roof, she had never lacked food or clothing, and she had received an education. The queen had even found a mage to give her her first lessons. Alek, a mage in royal service, was unpleasant, but he had still written her a letter of recommendation to the academy.

Five years ago, once Senluo saw that she wanted for nothing, he had insisted on leaving to pursue a cause he believed in.

Nasha had wept and begged him to stay, but in the end she had let him go.

She knew he was a great swordsman loyal to Pedam. Having completed his mission to escort her, he would have to return and report.

She also knew that once he left, they might never meet again.

Two years later, news reached her that the Black Knights of Cecilia had conquered Pedam. Her father and mother had both... died.

She had shut herself in her room and cried until she had no tears left. By sunrise, only hatred remained.

As long as she and her brother were alive, Pedam had not truly fallen.

She asked the queen to let her go to the central region to study magic.

Senluo had said she was unsuited to swordsmanship. Then she would follow the example of Amo, whom she had met years before: she would study magic and become a powerful mage.

The queen agreed.

Fortunately, Nasha had magical talent. She awakened an affinity for fire magic.

For three years she studied tirelessly. At last, she earned a junior magic apprentice’s badge, qualifying her to attend the academy.

She had expected the queen to send guards to escort her to the central region. Instead, the queen had hired the capital’s famous performance troupe.

Nasha already knew Director Ximu well. She agreed to travel with the troupe, never expecting to meet Amo and his companions along the way.

Earlier, she had been angry because she felt deceived.

For years she had thought Al and Amo remarkable. Even the queen had spoken highly of them. Yet it turned out they had other names.

Full names and nicknames? Did they think she was a clueless child?

She and Senluo had given their real names freely. Amo had never told her his.

She had sulked in the carriage for a while. After Ximu talked to her, she decided to let it go. They were neither family nor close friends. Why should he have been obliged to tell her his real name?

Ximu had insisted on bringing her over to be friendly. Nasha had resisted, but she could not prevail against the director’s forceful nature and had come along reluctantly.

She understood what Ximu wanted: for Amo and his friends to look after her.

But Nasha did not want to trouble anyone.

She was eighteen now, capable of standing on her own. She never wanted to be anyone’s burden again.

She would find her brother herself. She would avenge her family and her country herself.

Amo and his friends had no place in her plans for revenge.

Shu Li had no idea what was going through Nasha’s mind. Since Ximu had brought it up, he was happy to treat Nasha as a fellow student.

“My brother says that at home, you rely on family, and away from home, you rely on friends. We’re old friends, so of course we should look out for each other.”

“Sperien’s friend is our friend,” Dixiou said.

“Dixiou’s right!” Budno nodded.

“There’s no need to feel awkward. We can all help one another,” Angel said with a smile.

“If there’s anything you don’t understand in your studies, ask me,” Kumandi added coolly.

Seeing Nasha’s uncertain expression, Ace said gently, “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If you keep trying, you can succeed.”

Nasha looked at him instinctively. When she met his emerald-green eyes, she suddenly felt calm.

How strange. It was as if someone had soothed her, clearing away the gloom in her heart.

Ximu clapped. “You’re all good children.”

“Heh, thank you!” The Little Fairies accepted her praise without a trace of modesty.

Ximu laughed. The look she gave them grew even more eager.

“I’m back!”

Amanda came bounding into camp with four rabbits and three wild chickens in his hands. Nimble as a monkey, he dropped his catch on the ground and said excitedly, “Sperien, hurry! I want roast meat!”

Shu Li looked at the rabbits and chickens still kicking and struggling on the ground. He had gained a new appreciation for a dragon’s hunting ability.

“Wow, so many! That’s a lot of meat!” Budno’s eyes widened.

Amanda puffed out his chest. “I could have caught more if I hadn’t been worried about making you wait!”

Dixiou rubbed his hands together. “There’s enough for everyone!”

“There might be too much,” Angel said, smiling. “I’m worried Sperien won’t be able to roast it all.”

Shu Li gave Angel a grateful look. Exactly. Roast meat was delicious, but cooking this much at once would leave his arms aching.

“Impressive!” Ximu gave Amanda a thumbs-up. “Looks like Nasha and I are in for a treat.”

She was openly inviting herself to dinner.

Amanda blinked in confusion. “Should I... catch another couple of rabbits?”

“No, there’s plenty!” Shu Li said quickly.

He soon set everyone to work. One advantage of magic was being able to conjure clean water whenever they needed it to wash the animals.

After preparing the rabbits and chickens, Shu Li took out a collection of spices and seasonings and began flavoring the meat.

Ximu watched with interest and called Bart over to learn how to barbecue it.

Bart was a large, rough-looking man, but he paid close attention. He watched Shu Li prepare the marinade and carefully memorized each step.

“Oh, so this is what eastern spices are for?” he asked in surprise.

“Of course!” Shu Li said. “They’re meant to make food taste better.”

“A lot of nobles use spices to scent their clothes,” Bart said.

Shu Li stared at him. He could hardly imagine how overpowering clothes that smelled of five-spice powder would be.

Preparing and marinating the rabbits and chickens took some time. At last, they were ready to roast.

As the meat cooked, its aroma spread through the camp. The Light Squad were hungry enough, but even the troupe members began gathering around.

“That smells wonderful!”

“What kind of roast meat is that? How can it smell so good?”

“Look, the skin’s turning golden. It must be crisp!”

“Bart, learn how to make this so we can have roast meat next time!”

Bart stroked his beard, troubled. “It’s rather complicated, and those spices aren’t cheap.”

Kumandi took out his notebook and turned to a page. “I wrote down the method in detail. Would you like a copy?”

Bart paused and looked at the black-haired, dark-eyed youth. “If it’s no trouble...”

“Just a moment. I’ll copy it in the common language. Or would you prefer the beastmen’s language?” Kumandi asked.

Bart was a beastman, so Kumandi thought he might be more familiar with it.

“The common language is fine,” Bart said. He had left the beastmen’s country when he was very young. He could understand and speak their language, but he could not write it.

This youth, on the other hand, could apparently write it. He must have quite a gift for languages.

Kumandi’s quill moved swiftly across a sheet of paper. He tore out the finished page and handed it over.

“Thank you.” Bart glanced through it, then tucked it carefully into his pocket. Perhaps he would roast a rabbit for the director when he had the chance. As for the others... they were not part of his plans.

Those spices cost enough to buy a hundred loaves of bread.

More than an hour later, Shu Li finally finished roasting all the rabbits and chickens. Sweat covered his forehead.

“Here.” Ace handed him a clean handkerchief.

“Oh, thanks.” Shu Li took it and wiped his face. When he brought it near his nose, he caught its fragrance.

It smelled fresh. Where had he smelled it before?

Once he had finished, he looked at the wrinkled handkerchief and said sheepishly, “I’ll wash it before I give it back.”

“All right,” Ace said.

Shu Li folded it into a square and tucked it into his storage pouch, intending to wash it after dinner.

Sprinkled with cumin and chili powder, the roast meat looked irresistible.

At Shu Li’s word, everyone began eating. Amanda immediately twisted off a rabbit leg and bit into it.

“Mmm, that’s delicious!”

The roasted rabbit had golden, crisp skin and tender, juicy meat. It left their mouths greasy and made it hard to stop eating.

Budno pulled off a rabbit leg too and gnawed it without hesitation, his eyes sparkling. It tasted so good he nearly bit his tongue.

At last he understood what made meat special. He felt he could eat it every day without growing tired of it.

Ximu secured a generous piece of rabbit. She ate with relish and gave Shu Li a thumbs-up.

As Nasha gnawed on a wild chicken leg, she decided that Amo’s cooking was far better than the palace chef’s.

Amanda, with his enormous appetite, finished two rabbits by himself and still wanted more. He regretted not catching a few extra.

Harding was fortunate enough to receive a chicken neck and its feet. He ate them down to the skin and bones.

The other troupe members could only smell the food, which was almost unbearable.

After dinner, the tidy Little Fairies quickly cleared away the scraps and buried the discarded bones.

Ximu wiped the corners of her mouth in satisfaction and took Nasha back to the troupe’s camp.

Night had fallen. Everyone retired to their tents.

The Light Squad had pitched two tents, each large enough for four. Amanda, Angel, Dixiou, and Budno shared one; Shu Li, Kumandi, and Ace shared the other. Harding slept in the carriage.

Dixiou, Angel, and Budno had wanted to sleep beside Shu Li. Shu Li worried that Amanda might expose his dragon tail in his sleep, however, and did not entirely trust him to be careful. So he had declined and chosen the quiet, studious Kumandi instead.

Inside their tent, Shu Li lay between Kumandi on his left and Ace on his right. None of them fell asleep straightaway, and they talked for a while.

“How did you meet Director Ximu?” Ace asked curiously.

Kumandi frowned slightly and touched Shu Li’s hand beneath the blanket.

Shu Li understood the warning. He squeezed Kumandi’s fingers in return to show he knew what he could and could not say.

“Eight years ago, my brother and I were traveling when we met Ximu’s troupe. We traveled with them for a while.”

He passed over the important details, shared only what he could, and ended his account when they reached Daoto City.

He neatly avoided everything that had happened afterward in the royal capital.

Ace listened closely. “You said Nasha and a guard named Senluo were wanted by the Hemon Knights?”

“Uh, yes,” Shu Li said.

Ace turned on his side to face Shu Li and spoke quietly. “I’ve heard of the Hemon Knights.”

“Oh? Are they famous?”

“They used to be knights of the Hodehe Temple,” Ace said thoughtfully. “After the temple was struck down, the Hemon Knights claimed they were free of it. In secret, they still obeyed its orders.”

Shu Li and Kumandi sat up, staring at their blond human classmate in surprise.

“You mean... the Hemon Knights worship the God of Darkness?!”