“Isa… Is it always this bad every September?”

“Of course not.” Having chowed down on another slice of roasted rabbit, I added. “Sometimes, things got wayyy worse! Why, just a decade ago, the blood moon was so fierce that every wall ended up riddled with holes. Us kits even had to help with building some blockades around the city ‘cause, you know, just in case.”

“...”

Hiro looked a bit spooked upon hearing that. It seemed last night’s madness had left behind quite an impact on him.

“I… I know that this month’s blood moon is always the worst one every year. But… After seeing you guys handle all the other harvests, I just thought that…”

“That we would be able to deal with the worst of the worst just as easily?”

My question was answered with a hesitant nod. How amusing. It appeared that, until yesterday, the boy actually thought those blighted beasts were nothing more than an occasional hazard.

This wasn’t too surprising, of course. After all, not counting some northern provinces, the rest of Bright Land practically never had to worry about a blood moon’s wrath. As a result, most brightlanders could even live their entire life without having to fight a single bane.

Heh, I would certainly know…

“Back when wanderers and seekers formed a kill zone around the western gate, I didn’t understand why. There were still a few days until the blood moon reached its zenith. Certainly, they could still take the fight head on, outside the city’s walls. Yet, who would have thought that…”

“Um hum~ Those snatching beasts were pretty scary, huh?”

During the first day, when things were still tame, my ward was allowed to spectate our harvest on top of the rampart. Even as he delivered one pile of dirt after another, his gaze couldn’t help but wander towards the horizon with an expectant look.

Of course, whatever enthusiasm Hiro might have harbored quickly disappeared, especially once the first wave of darkness crashed down upon us.

“The snatchers that didn’t pass through the opened gate… They just threw themselves against the wall and… exploded… Such mad frenzy… It was bone-chilling… I actually thought the wall would be blown to pieces…”

“And now you know why September is the worst month to travel around.” With a sip of honeyed tea, I added. “It’s a good thing this city has Bun`Thornbee to deal with frenzied behemouths. Honestly, I don’t even want to imagine fighting against those monstrosities, given how troublesome it is just to deal with some mocking birds…”

“I still find it insane that she could simply march out on her own like that… Are all other champions… No, are all S-rank fighters as strong as she is?”

“More or less, though some specialists would have an easier time handling a problem that someone “stronger” might struggle against. For example, a bishop could call down a miracle and easily wipe out a flock of frenzied mockers. However, if I was put in a death match against him, then the holy man wouldn’t be the one getting out alive!”

“That’s a very colorful way to put it…”

“I know, right?”

With that, a lull made itself known in our conversation, allowing me to finish the rest of my breakfast. However, just when I was about to get up and start the new day, a quick look at Hiro revealed that something seemed to be eating him still.

“Anything wrong? You barely touched your plate.”

“Isa, do you… Do you remember what happened to Imit on the second day of harvest?”

“Hm? Oh, you mean how he got unarmed and all that? We already checked, remember? The kit got better!”

During the duration of September’s slaughter, my flock and Imit’s newly formed band of misfits had agreed to join forces. Well, it might be more correct to say that he was convinced to follow my lead one last time for this harvest and the upcoming expedition up north. After that, the boy should have learned enough to break off and become a leader of his own flock, despite being a wanderer.

When the first day of fighting was over, I told my ward to get off the wall and watch how my flock functioned in a fight. The boy was a little confused that I wouldn’t be there to lead them, though I assured him that things would be crystal clear once he got a closer look.

“Wuf`Lunck, that wanderer you put as the vice leader of your flock… His way of “leading” barely involved anything other than “fight, tired, rest, fight again”... As for Imit… He…”

The sound of a gulp slowly entered my ears as Hiro started choking on his own words.

“He just charged ahead and distracted the banes, so that others could get some hits in… Every few minutes or so, some parts of his body would get torn to shreds, forcing him to retreat and get healed by the druids. Near the end of the third night, I even… I even saw his head get ripped apart… Yet, after the boy got healed, he just jumped right back in… He… He never stopped, even after a huge chunk of his body got eaten by a bane… It… It was…”

“Eggcellent! Just like this delicious dessert we have here!”

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

Unfortunately, my attempt to lighten the mood seemed to fall flat, given the incredulous look on my ward’s face. With a sigh, I decided to just give him some food for thought instead.

“Hiro, both Lunck and Imit had fulfilled their duty and led by example. Imit in particular… He knew exactly what he got himself into as well as the risks involved. That boy wasn’t strong or fast enough to get out of a fight unscathed, but he had the will to survive. And as you saw, he survived.”

“He could have led at the back, using a sling to aid his comrades, though. He didn’t… shouldn’t have thrown himself into combat like that… He could have died… Without the druids and the power of a wyld city, he would have died!”

The more Hiro talked, the more heated he became. Yet, all of a sudden, the boy turned still, as if something truly horrible had just occurred to him.

I waited patiently, knowing that the silence would not last long.

“Last week, after you introduced me to your flock, then had us do some team bonding exercises with Imit’s… Do you… Do you remember what I asked in private?”

“Hm~ My memory might not be as good as yours, but I believe that you commented on how young everyone looked?”

“Those working under you are barely older than thirteen years old… Imit is twelve, while those following him are even younger… Isa… Can’t you… Can’t anyone see how messed up this is?”

The noble scion was restless as he went on and on with his rambling. In the face of this, I remained silent, content to let the tirade end on its own.

After all, my various trips to Resting Branch had long taught me that there would always be stuff wylders and humans could only agree to disagree. It was truly a shame, given how nobles could not help but butt heads with us and so many adventurers over such silly topics.

“-and I know that there were a lot of casualties back when the Crimson Dragon attacked, but I thought it was merely an exception and not… I just… I just don’t know anymore…!”

Having exhausted his breath, the boy leaned back into his chair while listlessly gazing at the ceiling. Soon, tried as I might, my nose could not help but twitch at the amount of uncertainty oozing out of him in spades.

“Hiro.” My word was acknowledged with barely a tilt of the head. “You have read about humans’ specialty, right? Do you remember what it is?”

“... Their attunement to holy magic?”

“Their ability to call down miracles, yes. Most humans get to live in Bright Land, where the sky is clear and the air is easy to breathe. However, above all, Bright Land itself is seeped with the Goddess’ miracles.”

I closed both eyes to enjoy the honeyed flavor of my tea, knowing that it would always pale in comparison to what a brightlander could have.

“Just like how wylders adapted to Wyld Land’s harshness after countless generations, humans did the same by basking under the warmth of their homeland.”

My ward twitched a bit upon hearing that. Slowly, his eyes wandered to the side with a bit of guilt. Perhaps, it had finally dawned on him how lucky he was, being able to grow up in the wonderland.

“While other races could barely call upon an echo of the last deity, humans can simply pray at a church and get their weapons blessed. The holy amulets that ward off the blight rarely run out of juice thanks to Bright Land’s blessing. And let’s not forget how humans still have access to countless bright inventions that give them an edge against the monstrosities that plague Frthea.”

By this point, the message had already been delivered.

“For the rest of us, however… Well, I would be lying if I said the magical tools hadn’t made our life easier. Truly, it is a shame that the pressure of this land drains so much power from them...” I shook my head at the wistful thought. “In the end, though, us wylders still have to rely on what we know best to survive. It is not pretty. It is not something you might ever find agreeable. But, it is a necessity that we must endure, if we still want to thrive.”

“...”

A silence descended upon the room as both of us stared at each other. In the end, though, it was not me who blinked first.

“... My apology. I spoke out of line.” Hiro started with a self-depreciating chuckle. “It was ill-mannered of me to judge, even when knowing that things are different around here. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that this is another world…”

“Don’t worry ‘bout that.” I smiled at my ward. “You might not remember what your home looks like, but deep down, it’s nothing strange that your subconscious still compares it with the differences around here. Indeed, many nobles who visit Wyld Land have also described the experience as “venturing into another world” as well!”

“... Huh? No, I meant “another world” as in-”

*Wham*

For whatever reason, Hiro suddenly decided to rest his face on the table instead of continuing his thought. I blinked once, then twice at the image of two puffed up lips trying to mimic movements of a stranded fish, before shrugging at such a tact.

Nobles. Nobles are just weird!

Despite the strange way my ward ended our “serious” talk, there was no doubt that both of us had grown to understand each other a little bit more. Thus, with a smile, I hopped away from the muffled conclusion, eager for the new day ahead.

•ㅅ•

“... Isa, there is no way that was normal. You should really have a druid do some checks on your ward before going on an expedition next month.”

Well, at the very least, this morning was memorable, unlike my current date with a certain someone.

“Nonsense! At worst, it should just be a lingering effect of “the throw”. Besides, I have actually traveled north and met human nobles who are even stranger, so you can trust me on this!”

“Uh huh…”

Imun huffed dismissively before turning back to her snack. The sight of a bὕnny stuffing both cheeks like some hungry squʝrrel was certainly something that I could poke fun at for weeks on end.

A shame, truly. Especially now that we were about to say our goodbye.

“So… You’re really doing this…”

“Um hum.”

“Moving to Crescent Well gathering, tie the knot with a boring buck, pop out one kit or two. Then, that’s it. Tale’s over.”

“I am hopping towards my happy ending, Isa.” My cheekiest friend replied without missing a beat. “For me, this is when my tale truly begins.”

“Hmph…”

A silence separated us, despite the shouts of people moving up and down the caravan for one final inventory count.

“Heh…” I leaned into her packages, which looked so small compared to everyone else’s. “Years from now, when you get bored out of your mind and crawl back here, I will be sure to rub it in your face!”

“Sure, sure. Whatever you say, doe~”

“...”

Quietness, once again, despite a myriad of things that I so badly wanted to say, to shout at her.

After we lost everything… Have you forgotten the promise we made, when both of us first got into this city?

Are you truly content with being another blade of grass, instead of reaching for greater height?

Just…

Don’t go…

Don’t leave me like this…

“...”

In the end, though, after what felt like forever, only the sound of footsteps could be heard as my oldest friend began to walk away from me.

“Hey, Isa.”

I stopped, if only for the briefest moment.

“I will miss you.”

None of us turned back, though it wouldn’t hurt to reply.

“A gathering is supposed to be one of the safest places. So, if I check on you later and find that you somehow get hurt… Well… You better not!”

“Um hum. Same to you, Isa. Same to you.”

With a smile on both of our lips, we continued our own path, certain of the bright future ahead.