Chapter 145: Arwyn's Suggestion
'Queen looks like my cold wife? If that's the case, then she probably used some kind of illusion magic or a similar method to veil her true appearance, something refined enough to deceive even Seraphina's perception, and if that's not the explanation, then I can't find any other answer beyond it being a coincidence, however unlikely that may be.'
Taking in a slow breath as though trying to settle the irritation rising within him, Kael let out a tired sigh that lacked any real emotion and gazed at Seraphina, "So in the end, there remains no real chance of identifying her among the citizens, and even if we somehow managed to narrow her down, I doubt it would help us much when we still lack a proper way to deal with her directly. Which brings me to another matter, how exactly are you planning to defeat her if things come down to a confrontation? Both of you may be considered the strongest knights we possess, but even so, you are still far from being enough."
Seraphina listened to his words in silence, her gaze lowering toward the cup of tea in front of her as an unreadable expression settled across her face, because what he said was undeniably correct. At present, even if she gathered every knight under her command, she still held no real chance of victory against her enemy, and the clash would result in countless casualties on both sides regardless of the outcome. It was also clear that their enemy was deliberately avoiding a direct confrontation altogether. That alone meant Queen was preparing something far more insidious and carefully woven behind the scenes. But where would her enemy strike first in a way that would leave her defeated without ever drawing a blade? Did something like that even exist within her life to begin with? Or was she overlooking something far too obvious?
'I see now. So that's how she intends to move forward, then. Still, this kind of tactic is hardly unfamiliar to me.'
Lifting the cup to her lips, she took a slow and measured sip as though time itself had come to a stop, then calmly met his gaze, "There is no need to concern yourself with that yet, Kael. It does not seem as though we will be heading into battle anytime soon, and there are far too many matters we must remain wary of as time goes on. If my intuition proves accurate, Queen will attempt to harm this town indirectly. To accomplish that, she would need to strike at its economy, its diplomatic ties, and its political foundation all at once."
Arwyn paused briefly as she considered Seraphina's words, then turned toward her with a small nod as she spoke in a tone filled with agreement, "And to make that happen, she will most likely try to dismantle the reputation you have built over the years by allowing crime to spread unchecked, interfering with transport routes through the mountains, and using countless other methods that do not require open conflict. In simpler terms, she intends to drag this town back into the miserable state it once suffered in."
Hearing this, Kael looked at both of them with a blank expression while an inward groan escaped him silently, 'Is this truly how the knight orders handle their planning, by stacking assumptions upon assumptions? Still, I suppose there is some merit to it when everything is considered carefully, and the logic behind it is not entirely flawed. Even so, I will need to look into this myself to be certain.'
His gaze drifted toward the tavern entrance as though he were peering beyond the walls, then slowly returned to the dim interior as he released another quiet breath, "How can you be so sure about that? I am not questioning your judgment, so do not misunderstand me, but the witch's plan feels almost too straightforward, and that alone makes it way too suspicious. There's a chance she could be using this as a distraction while she prepares something far more troublesome elsewhere."
Seraphina frowned slightly, confusion evident in her eyes, "What are you implying? What possible reason would she have to create a diversion against us? I cannot think of one at the moment, can you, Arwyn?"
Arwyn shook her head with almost exaggerated innocence, "No, nothing comes to mind."
Kael let out an irritated sigh, 'You both are terrible at lying, you know that? Your expressions give everything away. Fine, keep your secrets if you must. I am capable of uncovering the truth on my own. Now, I'm starting to regret telling them about that witch's abilities.'
After that, the three of them started to discuss all the things necessary to know between them and how they would overcome certain situations and all that. In the end, it took them almost an hour to do just that, but it was really worth it since Kael was able to learn more about the War of Culture that happened long ago. But the reason behind the war didn't sit right with him, really. Why would two kingdoms go to war against each other over such trivial things as culture? Well, that's for someone who's devoted to gods to understand, not for a non-believer like him. So who cares anyway?
...Outside, the moon had already begun its descent across the sky, and the cold wind whispered through the trees as it passed, carrying with it an uneasy sense of anticipation.
After a while, Arwyn looked at him in a strange way, a kind of gaze he had never sensed from her before, but he could clearly tell she was judging him, then she spoke, "If what you mentioned about Queen wanting you is true, then your life would be at considerable risk from now on, Kael. You have also joined us, which means you can no longer move freely through the town as you used to. If you continue doing so, who knows what kind of terrible fate might be waiting for you in the streets. As your teacher, I cannot allow you to walk straight into an enemy's trap so carelessly. I'm not that heartless by nature. You do understand what I am saying, right?"
'No, I don't,' he thought immediately, 'You're being far too nice today, and I know exactly what that means. Something bad is definitely going to happen to me soon. You're not planning to use me as bait, are you? I can feel it. That's why you two were pretending to know nothing a while ago, you wicked women. I'll make sure you both pay for this later.'
A drop of sweat slowly trickled down his face as he forced out an awkward smile and said, "Right, so what do you want me to do then? Hide myself away somewhere? I can't just lock myself inside a room and wait until everything passes, can I? I still need to earn money so I can eat and stay alive, you know. If I miss even a single day, I might end up dying from starvation alone."
Seraphina gave him a long, unamused look, clearly unimpressed by his reasoning.
'Yeah, yeah, I know I'm shameless, you don't have to remind me every single time,' he thought inwardly, 'But I did earn some money, didn't I? I even risked my life to bring you a gift. That should count as earning something, shouldn't it?'
Arwyn thought for a moment before answering in an unfriendly tone, "Your excuses are baseless. From what I've learned, you barely take any quests from the guild, which means you earn almost no money at all. The whole day you simply wander around the town and sip tea as though you are exhausted from overwork while doing absolutely nothing. I truly don't know where you get such luxury from, though."
Kael looked away, pretending not to hear the insults directed at him, then said in a slow and indifferent tone, "I'm not sure what you're talking about."
Letting her chin rest against her palm, Arwyn allowed an amused smile to form across her face as her voice softened noticeably, "In any case, you do not need to worry about starving. I will provide you with enough food to keep you alive. What I mean is that I am willing to compromise the hatred I harbor toward men and allow you to live with me, naturally under my protection, at least for the time being. This way, you won't need to worry about waking up from nightmares of being abducted in your sleep by that Archwitch. As you already know, I live alone, so there wouldn't be any inconvenience either. Besides, I have prepared several healing spells specifically meant for you, and if you stay with me, I will be able to teach them to you with much greater ease. What do you say?"
Kael's eyes widened slightly as he let out a confused response, "Huh? For real?"
Seraphina blinked several times before her expression gradually turned cold, and when she spoke, her voice carried a sharp edge, "Arwyn? Do you have any idea what you're suggesting? You can barely protect yourself as things stand, so how exactly do you intend to protect him like that?"
Tilting her head slightly sideways, Arwyn gave her friend a devious look before letting out a soft chuckle, "I am well aware of that fact. But that doesn't mean I can simply leave him alone to live in fear. Or are you perhaps suggesting that you will be the one to take him into your house, hmm?"
Seraphina let out an indifferent sigh before answering calmly, "Yes, I can do that."
Arwyn's lips parted slightly as she stared at Seraphina, clearly caught off guard, before waving her hand dismissively, "You really are quick about these things, aren't you? That's why I'm saying I should... wait... WHAT? What did you just say? You're actually going to let him live with you? You, Seraphina?"
Seraphina took another sip without paying anyone attention, "Yes, I will."
Looking away, Arwyn coughed slightly to calm herself, then said in a soft tone, "Even if you mean it, I cannot simply trust you with him. What if something happens between you two while living together, then I would be the one expected to take responsibility for."
Leaning back slightly, Seraphina responded in a cold and steady voice, "Do not trouble yourself with such concerns. If something truly does happen between us, I will be the one to take responsibility for it. That should be enough to ease your worries, I believe."
Arwyn continued to stare at her friend for a long moment, unable to believe what she had just heard, before poking her own hand as if to make sure she was not dreaming.
Kael watched the exchange somberly while thinking to himself, 'Well, we have been sleeping in the same bed for years and still nothing has ever happened between us, so of course both of us have that level of confidence. Still, lately I feel as though something is off between us, or maybe I am simply imagining things.'
Then Arwyn raised her hand, and a slim green tendril appeared out of nowhere, swaying smoothly in the air before shaping itself into a beautiful bracelet, which she then tossed toward Kael, "Here, take this."
Kael caught the bracelet and examined it closely, and although it did not look particularly fancy to him, it still appeared rather beautiful, so he asked, "A bracelet? Why are you giving me this? What am I supposed to do with it?"
Arwyn waved her finger once again as another tendril emerged, moving fluidly in the air, "It is something meant to be used in an emergency. If you ever get caught by those witches, just break it apart, and it will notify me instantly along with your location. Also, make sure to wear it everywhere except during your bath if you want to stay alive, understood?"
Kael's brows furrowed slightly as his thoughts darkened, 'Emergency, huh? Don't fuck with me. I know you gave this to me so you can keep a close watch on me. In other words, it's a classic case of killing two birds with one stone. This is definitely Seraphina's way of clearing her doubts about me. It seems the masked man will have to disappear for a while.'
He nodded calmly, "Understood."
Moments later, another bracelet floated above Arwyn's fingers, and she casually tossed it toward Seraphina as well, "This one is just for you. I suppose I don't need to explain how it works to you, do I?"
Seraphina tilted her head slightly, her expression calm and composed as ever, "No need. I am aware of how to make good use of it."
She paused for a brief moment, then her gaze settled on Kael with an intensity that made him straighten unconsciously before she rose from her seat at an unhurried pace, "Also, Kael, I'm heading out since there is nothing else left to discuss... so don't make me wait. I'll have to make sure you get the proper welcome from me, after all."
With that, she turned and left the tavern without sparing even a single glance behind her, her footsteps steady and unhesitant. Still, why did those words feel less like a welcome and more like a direct death threat aimed straight at him?
At that very moment, Arwyn approached him quietly, leaning closer until her lips hovered near his ear as she whispered softly, "Make sure to make good use of this once-in-a-lifetime chance. You know, it's not every day one gets the opportunity to sleep under the same roof as the Captain."
Kael frowned slightly, confusion settling in as he turned toward her, "What exactly are you talking about?"
Arwyn hesitated, her lips curling into a mischievous smile as her eyes shifted away for a moment, "Nothing important. I'm just saying that I'm quite sure you are the only one who can crack her."
Kael froze completely, his mind going blank as he struggled to process what he had just heard, because he genuinely did not know how he was supposed to react to that. Or could it be possible that he misheard her entirely? It must have been the wind, or maybe she meant something else altogether. There was no way she meant what he thought she did, right? No way at all. That idea alone was just... just... so ridiculous.
Soon, soft shades of red began to creep up around his cheeks and ears, and before he realized it, his body felt noticeably warmer than before, as though someone had lit a fire beside him without his knowledge. Who even did that to make him feel this way?
'Ugh, damn it... I've got to calm down a little.'
Parting his lips slightly, he took a deep breath before speaking, his voice coming out more flustered than he intended, "C-crack her? Can you please explain yourself a little bit more carefully? Because I think I might be misunderstanding something without realizing it. I honestly don't want that, you know. Why would a friend of hers even suggest such a thing?"
Arwyn paused, and only then did she fully realize what she had just said, her face turning a deep shade of pink as she quickly covered it with her hand in embarrassment, her thoughts spiraling inward, 'Oh, gods... what have I done? How could I let such words slip so carelessly in front of him?'
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she waved her hand in front of him as if trying to fix the situation, "Hear me out, Kael... I didn't mean it like that. I was actually referring to cracking her cold facade. I have noticed several times that whenever she is around you, she tends to lose her composure a little, and that is why I want you to help me break it."
Kael stared at her for a few moments in silence before blinking slowly, "I... understand. But don't you think you should work on your phrasing first?"
Arwyn looked away, clearly uncomfortable, "I'll remember that next time."
Without saying anything else, Kael stood up and headed toward the door, almost ready to leave, when Arwyn suddenly shouted after him in a hurried voice, "Hey, if you do the latter properly, I'm sure you can earn the former as well."
Kael paused and looked over his shoulder, giving her a long and irritated look, and at that moment, he finally understood why his wife often referred to her friend as a damn witch. She more or less deserved that title. Still, what was she even up to anyway?
The way she acted made it feel as though she genuinely wanted him to live with her friend instead of her, and he could not tell whether it was simply because Seraphina behaved differently around him or if there was something more hidden beneath it all.
He couldn't really tell.
So, he didn't care.
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(Chapter Ended)