Chapter 39
“I don’t believe I was waiting for you . ”
“Oh, what a funny joke . ”
There was quite the discrepancy in warmth between us in the conversation . But we were also in the forest five days away from Fhiraldo . We weren’t in the guild where we usually talked .
“What business do you have here?”
“I came chasing after Asagi of course!”
“We should get going, Daniela . ”
I adjust the hollow bag on my back and start to walk away . Fiona immediately begins to follow me on her horse .
Really, what was she doing here?
“Actually, there was a notice regarding personnel changes at Spiris . ”
Fiona begins as if nothing had happened . I listen to her but continue to walk .
“I think it was about three days after you left… I thought that I might still make it in time, so I came riding the best half unicorn that the guild had . ”
“Half unicorn?”
I knew about unicorns . But half?
“Oh, it’s a domesticated horse that is born between an ordinary horse and a unicorn . They are much better than the average horse!”
Fiona wore a smug expression as she slapped the half unicorn . Now that I look carefully, it did look different compared to the usual horse you would see drawing carriages . It was slender and beautiful . I had seen such thoroughbreds back in j.a.pan . Its eyes were a deep violet . Perhaps it was a feature of its monster heritage . However, this horse did not have a single horn as unicorns did .
In any case, apparently, this horse had the energy and strength to cover our five-day journey in just two . I could see what she meant about them being excellent horses .
“But I didn’t think that you would be so close to Spiris already… I was expecting to enjoy a nice long journey with you…”
“Oh, it was a fun journey alright . We even killed some orcs last night . ”
“Orcs!? Why!? I thought Gardo and Ness killed them all!”
Ah, so they had gone out to fight orcs then . It seems that I had been right about that .
“A few happened to escape . And they wandered all the way into this forest . ”
Daniela explains to her . Fiona crosses her arms and thinks about this revelation .
It is now nearly midday . Just as I was starting to feel hungry and rubbing my stomach, Fiona cried out with a loud ‘Ah!’ I turn to look, and she is pointing at something . My gaze follows her finger to an opening in the trees ahead . There’s an open field . Daniela nods with a smile . It seems that we have finally reached the exit .
I try not to look too eager, but my legs definitely start to move faster as we near it . The light shining down on us increases . Then we are out of the dim forest and bathed in a strong light that forces me to squint . But I quickly become accustomed to it and take in the scene before me . The plains ahead, the road to Spiris . There were many small hills here on this undulating terrain . Nothing obstructed your vision here . You could clearly see the gra.s.s in the far off distance moving in the wind . Was that the work of wind spirits?
I take in a slow, deep breath . It’s a different kind of refreshing air compared to the dampness of the forest . I did love the forest, but these gra.s.slands were also great…
“Well, can we move along now?”
Daniela taps me on the back . I might have forgotten myself for a second there . How embarra.s.sing .
I look down the road and I can see the town in the far off distance . Well, I had heard that it was a town, but it looked more like a city . There were ma.s.sive walls surrounding it . I couldn’t tell from this distance, but they looked very high .
“That is Spiris, City of the Plains . ”
Fiona says as she points to it . So it was a city .
“A city… The last time I visited here, it was but a town . ”
Daniela whispers .
“When was that?”
“It was shortly after leaving my homeland . So nearly sixty years ago . ”
“I’d be more surprised if it wasn’t a city after that much time . ”
Daniela scratches her cheek and glares at me sulkily . Hey, it’s the truth .
“Come on . You wanted to go, right?”
I tap her on the back for good measure and begin walking . After slowly walking down the hill, I look behind me to see if Daniela and Fiona were following . Well, we were a company of three now . I’m sure that Spiris will turn out to be a lively place .
We talked about inconsequential things as we continued to walk under the warm sunlight . Such a beautiful day would be perfect for just taking a nap on the fresh gra.s.s . Even Fiona had gotten off the half unicorn and was enjoying stretching her limbs .
I suddenly glance to my right and see a wild rabbit running in the gra.s.s . It stops chasing a b.u.t.terfly for a second and our eyes meet . After freezing for a second, it turns around and bounds off into a hole . It was so adorable that I couldn’t help but chuckle, which Fiona reacts to by jabbing her elbow into my sides . “What’s so funny?”
I offer her a random answer before once again looking towards the high gra.s.s where the rabbit disappeared . Then the leaves begin to shake and divide as its face pops out to look at me . I elbow Fiona and point to the rabbit .
“Aha! It’s so cute . ”
“Aye, it looks delicious . ”
Daniela was as unfortunate as ever . Though, I was starting to find that very appealing somehow . The masked woman who I met at a street stall . We ate together, fought together and became comrades . At first, I had just been amazed at the strangeness of fate . But I began to realize more and more that she was a rare beauty . Her hair was short but smooth . Evoking the most artistic paintings whenever it moved in the wind . Her almond eyes sometimes looked very intense but they were the most expressive eyes I had ever seen . They shone brightly whenever she saw something cute, something tasty, and it never failed to bring a smile to my face .
Even now, her eyes were glimmering as she looked at the rabbit .
“Ah . ”
Daniela let out a disappointed sound . The rabbit had once again hidden itself in the gra.s.s .
The gleam of metal enters my vision . Daniela was holding her short sword . It was really quite unfortunate for such a pretty woman… Of course, the rabbit would run .
We continue our walk . There would be plenty of delicious food once we reach Spiris . It made me happy just thinking about it .
I wondered how long it would take us to reach it . Just as I am about to look up in order to check the sun’s position, our surroundings are quickly covered in shadows . d.a.m.n, the clouds had come up . The sky had been so clear a moment ago .
Perhaps it was about to rain? I look up and immediately notice that something is strange .
There was not a cloud in the sky .
“What…how…”
“What is wrong, Asagi?”
“The sky . ”
Both of them look up . I too look up and squint my eyes .
There was something huge flying in the sky .
“Whatwhatwhat.w.a.twat is that!!!”
I say without a semblance of calmness and point at the sky . They look directly above their heads and become speechless . However, Fiona was the first to regain control and shouted .
“It’s a wyvern!! Run!!”
She got up onto her half unicorn .
“Let’s move, Daniela!”
I begin running as I call for her to follow .
But, she doesn’t move .
It is as if she were stunned .
“Daniela!? Daniela!!!”
She shudders as if finally hearing, then she looks at me . There were tears in the corners of her eyes .
“Ahh, Asagi…the dragons…”
Her hand shakes as she stretches out to me . And then it occurred to me that the memories she had told me about, the stampede must have…
Just when I realize this, the shadow around us seems to get bigger . I look up and can clearly make out the wyvern’s shape now . The sun is behind its back, but it is obvious that it is staring at us . It’s about to attack .
Daniela doesn’t move . She cannot move . For a second I hesitate . But no, I had no choice but to use it now .
I run over to her and pick her up .
“Asa…gi?”
I ignore her confused voice . Concentrating hard, I imagine the four-part split screen in my brain . Jack of all trades, Master of none . And at the same time, the gift that he had given .
“I’m counting on you, Beowulf…!”
I use ‘Legs of the Forest Wolf . ’ Just like the picture in my head, a silver and emerald wind envelopes my legs . I lean ahead, dig my heels into the ground and dash forward . In an instant, it is as if I have left my surroundings behind me . Like I’ve suddenly appeared on an expressway . It doesn’t take more than a second to catch up with Fiona and her half unicorn .
“Hurry Fiona! Full speed toward Spiris!”
“Asagi!? You’re so fast!?”
I’m sorry . I couldn’t adjust my speed very well . I didn’t know how . I quickly pa.s.s the half unicorn . The angry force that is chasing us does not seem to want to let us go . I look over my shoulder to see Fiona riding behind me, the wyvern glides down and toward us through the sky . The half unicorn also seems to have had something stir in it, as it blows air from its nostrils and picks up speed .
I hold Daniela even tighter so that she does not fall . She clutches me back . Holding her close like this, I increase my speed in the direction of Spiris . But it still looks so far away .
“I don’t believe I was waiting for you . ”. . .
“Oh, what a funny joke . ”.
.
There was quite the discrepancy in warmth between us in the conversation . But we were also in the forest five days away from Fhiraldo . We weren’t in the guild where we usually talked
.
“What business do you have here?”.
“I came chasing after Asagi of course!”.
“We should get going, Daniela . ”.
.
I adjust the hollow bag on my back and start to walk away . Fiona immediately begins to follow me on her horse
Really, what was she doing here?.
“Actually, there was a notice regarding personnel changes at Spiris . ”.
.
Fiona begins as if nothing had happened . I listen to her but continue to walk
.
“I think it was about three days after you left… I thought that I might still make it in time, so I came riding the best half unicorn that the guild had . ”.
“Half unicorn?”.
.
I knew about unicorns . But half?.
.
“Oh, it’s a domesticated horse that is born between an ordinary horse and a unicorn . They are much better than the average horse!”.
.
Fiona wore a smug expression as she slapped the half unicorn . Now that I look carefully, it did look different compared to the usual horse you would see drawing carriages . It was slender and beautiful . I had seen such thoroughbreds back in j.a.pan . Its eyes were a deep violet . Perhaps it was a feature of its monster heritage . However, this horse did not have a single horn as unicorns did
In any case, apparently, this horse had the energy and strength to cover our five-day journey in just two . I could see what she meant about them being excellent horses
.
“But I didn’t think that you would be so close to Spiris already… I was expecting to enjoy a nice long journey with you…”.
“Oh, it was a fun journey alright . We even killed some orcs last night . ”. . .
“Orcs!? Why!? I thought Gardo and Ness killed them all!”.
.
Ah, so they had gone out to fight orcs then . It seems that I had been right about that
.
“A few happened to escape . And they wandered all the way into this forest . ”.
.
Daniela explains to her . Fiona crosses her arms and thinks about this revelation
.
It is now nearly midday . Just as I was starting to feel hungry and rubbing my stomach, Fiona cried out with a loud ‘Ah!’ I turn to look, and she is pointing at something . My gaze follows her finger to an opening in the trees ahead . There’s an open field . Daniela nods with a smile . It seems that we have finally reached the exit
.
I try not to look too eager, but my legs definitely start to move faster as we near it . The light shining down on us increases . Then we are out of the dim forest and bathed in a strong light that forces me to squint . But I quickly become accustomed to it and take in the scene before me . The plains ahead, the road to Spiris . There were many small hills here on this undulating terrain . Nothing obstructed your vision here . You could clearly see the gra.s.s in the far off distance moving in the wind . Was that the work of wind spirits?.
I take in a slow, deep breath . It’s a different kind of refreshing air compared to the dampness of the forest . I did love the forest, but these gra.s.slands were also great….
.
“Well, can we move along now?”.
.
Daniela taps me on the back . I might have forgotten myself for a second there . How embarra.s.sing
I look down the road and I can see the town in the far off distance . Well, I had heard that it was a town, but it looked more like a city . There were ma.s.sive walls surrounding it . I couldn’t tell from this distance, but they looked very high
.
“That is Spiris, City of the Plains . ”.
.
Fiona says as she points to it . So it was a city
.
“A city… The last time I visited here, it was but a town . ”.
.
Daniela whispers
. . .
“When was that?”.
“It was shortly after leaving my homeland . So nearly sixty years ago . ”.
“I’d be more surprised if it wasn’t a city after that much time . ”.
.
Daniela scratches her cheek and glares at me sulkily . Hey, it’s the truth
.
“Come on . You wanted to go, right?”.
.
I tap her on the back for good measure and begin walking . After slowly walking down the hill, I look behind me to see if Daniela and Fiona were following . Well, we were a company of three now . I’m sure that Spiris will turn out to be a lively place
□ □ □ □.
.
We talked about inconsequential things as we continued to walk under the warm sunlight . Such a beautiful day would be perfect for just taking a nap on the fresh gra.s.s . Even Fiona had gotten off the half unicorn and was enjoying stretching her limbs
I suddenly glance to my right and see a wild rabbit running in the gra.s.s . It stops chasing a b.u.t.terfly for a second and our eyes meet . After freezing for a second, it turns around and bounds off into a hole . It was so adorable that I couldn’t help but chuckle, which Fiona reacts to by jabbing her elbow into my sides . “What’s so funny?”.
I offer her a random answer before once again looking towards the high gra.s.s where the rabbit disappeared . Then the leaves begin to shake and divide as its face pops out to look at me . I elbow Fiona and point to the rabbit
.
“Aha! It’s so cute . ”.
“Aye, it looks delicious . ”.
.
Daniela was as unfortunate as ever . Though, I was starting to find that very appealing somehow . The masked woman who I met at a street stall . We ate together, fought together and became comrades . At first, I had just been amazed at the strangeness of fate . But I began to realize more and more that she was a rare beauty . Her hair was short but smooth . Evoking the most artistic paintings whenever it moved in the wind . Her almond eyes sometimes looked very intense but they were the most expressive eyes I had ever seen . They shone brightly whenever she saw something cute, something tasty, and it never failed to bring a smile to my face
Even now, her eyes were glimmering as she looked at the rabbit
.
“Ah . ”.
.
Daniela let out a disappointed sound . The rabbit had once again hidden itself in the gra.s.s
The gleam of metal enters my vision . Daniela was holding her short sword . It was really quite unfortunate for such a pretty woman… Of course, the rabbit would run
.
We continue our walk . There would be plenty of delicious food once we reach Spiris . It made me happy just thinking about it
I wondered how long it would take us to reach it . Just as I am about to look up in order to check the sun’s position, our surroundings are quickly covered in shadows . d.a.m.n, the clouds had come up . The sky had been so clear a moment ago
Perhaps it was about to rain? I look up and immediately notice that something is strange
There was not a cloud in the sky
.
“What…how…”.
“What is wrong, Asagi?”.
“The sky . ”.
.
Both of them look up . I too look up and squint my eyes
.
There was something huge flying in the sky
.
“Whatwhatwhat.w.a.twat is that!!!”.
.
I say without a semblance of calmness and point at the sky . They look directly above their heads and become speechless . However, Fiona was the first to regain control and shouted
.
“It’s a wyvern!! Run!!”.
.
She got up onto her half unicorn
.
“Let’s move, Daniela!”.
.
I begin running as I call for her to follow
But, she doesn’t move
It is as if she were stunned
.
“Daniela!? Daniela!!!”.
.
She shudders as if finally hearing, then she looks at me . There were tears in the corners of her eyes
.
“Ahh, Asagi…the dragons…”.
.
Her hand shakes as she stretches out to me . And then it occurred to me that the memories she had told me about, the stampede must have….
Just when I realize this, the shadow around us seems to get bigger . I look up and can clearly make out the wyvern’s shape now . The sun is behind its back, but it is obvious that it is staring at us . It’s about to attack
Daniela doesn’t move . She cannot move . For a second I hesitate . But no, I had no choice but to use it now
.
I run over to her and pick her up
.
“Asa…gi?”.
.
I ignore her confused voice . Concentrating hard, I imagine the four-part split screen in my brain . Jack of all trades, Master of none . And at the same time, the gift that he had given
.
“I’m counting on you, Beowulf…!”.
.
I use ‘Legs of the Forest Wolf . ’ Just like the picture in my head, a silver and emerald wind envelopes my legs . I lean ahead, dig my heels into the ground and dash forward . In an instant, it is as if I have left my surroundings behind me . Like I’ve suddenly appeared on an expressway . It doesn’t take more than a second to catch up with Fiona and her half unicorn
.
“Hurry Fiona! Full speed toward Spiris!”.
“Asagi!? You’re so fast!?”.
.
I’m sorry . I couldn’t adjust my speed very well . I didn’t know how . I quickly pa.s.s the half unicorn . The angry force that is chasing us does not seem to want to let us go . I look over my shoulder to see Fiona riding behind me, the wyvern glides down and toward us through the sky . The half unicorn also seems to have had something stir in it, as it blows air from its nostrils and picks up speed
I hold Daniela even tighter so that she does not fall . She clutches me back . Holding her close like this, I increase my speed in the direction of Spiris . But it still looks so far away