Perching his chin, Edward began pacing back and forth, his steps nimble. "Okay, but first, we have to decide how we'll go about this. How about–How do you do, fellow humans? It is I, Edward Erwin—"
"You've never interacted with another human being, have you?" Lewis shook his head, furrowing his brows. "We're here to send them a message, so let's forgo the introductions for now. A simple warning that they're trespassing on sacred grounds should be enough."
"Ha, sacred grounds, good one. If they've never caught sight of the haven's residents, then it'll just be a normal forest to any passerby. Otherwise…" Briefly chuckling, Edward paused, before muttering, "...Nobody would be living here of all places."
"Regardless, the Haven of Kismet is the safest place for animals like us, is it not?" the bearded man rebuked, scrutinizing his skittish companion.
"...Well, that's true. Even if the Keepers do look creepy and follow their own rules, at least they're doing it for the safety of the haven," Edward responded, tilting his head. "But the way they uphold this peace is something that'll give me the shivers."
"Aside from these Keepers you mentioned, are there other groups we should be on the lookout for?" Lewis asked as the two of them hid behind the bushes.
"Hm, let me think…There's the Scavengers and the Sojourners. Speaking of which, you're part of the Sojourners, aren't you?"
"If you mean the groups that often migrate to and from Kismet, then yes. This area is part of my ancestral homeland, so my family and I often come here every winter. But where we travel to next is entirely dependent on the individual," Lewis explained. "On some occasions, I reunite with my relatives, but it's usually happenstance."
"Ooh, I see. From what I heard, they're pretty neutral when it comes to the haven's inner workings, so maybe that's why you haven't heard about the Keepers yet."
"Hm, maybe…" the latter muttered in return.
"Does it feel nice though? Being able to travel wherever you want to?" Edward asked while wistfully sighing.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Observing his rueful expression, Lewis answered, "Whether it's pursuing a dream or immersing yourself in the world beyond the horizon, I'd say it's a carefree way of life. It does get lonely at times, but I suppose that's the inherent meaning of solitude." Looking up at the starlit sky, he witnessed a view he'd seen many times before, but this time, the night sky appeared grander than ever. Appearing like a massive blanket enveloping the snowy woods, all he could see and hear were the stars and an occasional cricket chirp here and there. Silence was loneliness' sole companion, but at the same time, it was the one that gave warmth to the palpable coldness. It was seeing the world for what it was without any distractions or discord.
"I see. What an interesting way to put it," Edward remarked, nodding forlornly. "If my brother was here, I wonder if he'd say the same thing."
"Is your brother…?"
"He's…somewhere far away—in a place I can't see. But as the second Sojourner who integrated themselves into human society, he's been an inspiration and my solace." Heaving a breath, Edward removed his glasses, wiping away the fog. "Adopting his last name is my way of remembering him, despite others only calling him a "traitorous fool". We dare not say his name out loud, lest we provoke his spirit to awaken."
"But it appears you shirk those very rules."
"Heh, I'm probably the most superstitious out of anybody here, so I'm willing to believe…" Closing his eyes, a fond smile spread across the bespectacled man's face. "...That I'll reunite with him soon. Even if it means becoming the very person he became."
Glancing at his companion's forlorn expression, Lewis lowered his head. "But you must have realized you'll never become this "Erwin" person. Because, after all…" Looking away, Lewis muttered, "...You're Edward Erwin. A wily fool who has nothing better to do with his time, but also someone who aspires to do bigger things. There are other ways to do that aside from imitating what someone else did."
"Hmph, you think I haven't tried them yet? Even if things turned out for the better, there's nobody else willing to befriend a "wily fool" like me," Edward refuted with a scrunched face.
"Well…Someone already did." Brusquely coughing, Lewis glanced at Edward's wide-eyed expression, which was seemingly glowing with awe. Scratching his neck, the burly man continued, "Despite how annoying and skittish you can get, you're still quite a persistent fellow. Someone bound to make each day a little more entertaining than the last."
"Hehe, that's a compliment if I'd ever heard one!" The lankier man cheekily smiled, accentuated by the proud flush in his cheeks. Before it immediately turned into a pout when Lewis' magnanimous hand patted his disheveled hair.
"But keep in mind that it's better to follow where the sun is…rather than staying in someone else's shadow," his friend advised.
"Haha, easy for you to say." Letting out a dry laugh, Edward indignantly crossed his arms, looking away. "...I'll try."