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 Japan. 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 grass 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 grasslands 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 embarrassing.

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 massive 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 grass. 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 grass. It stops chasing a butterfly 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 grass 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 grass.

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. Damn, 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.

“Whatwhatwhatwatwat 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 pass 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.