When Maxi came to, the setting sun was beginning to dye the sky red.
She stared dazedly at the scarlet rays that penetrated through an arched opening.
Thick furs enveloped her and the ground shook beneath her.
Realizing something was terribly wrong, she frantically flailed her arms to sit up, but her limbs felt as heavy as water-soaked cotton.
Groaning, he managed to get up.
His clouded mind began to recall the moments before he passed out.
She crawled on all fours to the canvas opening to look out.
A dark plain, bathed in twilight, slowly slid by.
Finally understanding that he was in a cart, Maxi screamed in despair.
How long had she been unconscious?
Fear and confusion stirred within her, and she looked around.
He crawled to the end of the wagon as if he were going to jump out.
The cart stopped abruptly.
Maxi stared through tears at the head protruding through the tarp.
“You’re awake,” Ruth said with a long sigh.
She glared at him angrily for his betrayal, then asked in a choked voice: “H-How long… have I been unconscious?”
“You were unconscious for a day and a half,” he replied.
His eyes widened as he realized how much time had passed.
She focused her strength on her trembling legs and tried to stand up, but Ruth hurriedly ran to her and pushed her back down.
"You need to lie down.
That insane paladin paralyzed you with magic.
Your body needs time to fully recover function.
A lot of time, in fact."
“P-Paralyzed?” Maxi repeated.
Even though she suspected, she couldn't believe he had gone this far.
Ruth looked equally shocked.
He clenched his teeth slightly and said, "And he knocked you unconscious.
He overdid it, presumably because he only used the spell on monsters.
That's why it took you so long to wake up."
Before she could protest, Ruth pushed her back onto the mattress.
Her fragile limbs offered no resistance as she fell helplessly.
She felt exhausted even after just a few minutes of sitting.
His emotions, however, threatened to explode.
He was afraid he would start screaming if he opened his mouth.
She was trying desperately to contain herself when an annoyingly calm voice interrupted the conversation.
"She should eat something now that she's awake.
We've only been feeding her wine, so she'll be weak from hunger."
Maxi met Kuahel's gaze with a look of anger, which only reflected his wall of apathy.
He intervened, handing Ruth a plate.
"She should eat this for now.
The wind mage prepared it.
He said it was mandrake soup."
Maxi's tight control over his emotions slipped as he turned his back to leave.
“Y-You have…absolutely no right to do this to me!”
Kuahel turned his head to look at her.
"I gave my word to protect the Tower's wizards.
I had no choice but to stop her from recklessly throwing her life away."
"W-How absurd!
D-Didn't you abandon...
Sidina, Master Geoffrey and Master Albern without thinking twice?"
“That’s why I had to avoid more fatalities,” Kuahel replied, indifferently.
Unable to contain her anger, Maxi stood up with shaking arms.
He took the wooden plate from Ruth's hands and threw it at the paladin.
He was hit in the chest before falling to the ground.
Half the contents had spilled out when she picked up the plate, so the damage was pitifully minimal.
Kuahel looked at his plate.
“I’ll bring you another portion.”
“D-I don’t need this!” Maxi screamed, her voice on the verge of tears.
When Kuahel raised an eyebrow, she bit her trembling lip and murmured, “I will never forgive you… for doing this to me.”
“If you wish.”
With that, he picked up the plate and walked away.
As soon as he was out of sight, Maxi felt the last of his strength drain away.
Not wanting to sniffle like a fool in front of Ruth, she lay down with her back to him and held back the tears.
You heard a worried sigh before he began to pat your back with a series of clumsy pats.
"Sir Riftan will return.
He won't be easy prey, nor will Sir Ulyseon.
With both of them, I have no doubt the others will be fine as well."
"H-How can you be sure?
T-There's no food...
or trees for wood around here."
“We left food and horses in the cave, so I'm sure they'll manage somehow,” Ruth replied with conviction.Maxi stared at him in disbelief.
"And...
who will take care of the horses?
Or if, God forbid, the monsters eat these provisions and horses...
what now?"
“My lady, don’t be so pessimistic,” replied Ruth, with irritation in her voice.
“Sir Elliot volunteered to wait for them in the cave for a few more days, so there is no reason to worry.”
“S-Sir Elliot stayed behind?” she repeated, dazed.
Despite the relief she felt, a pang of worry shot through her.
She knew well the dangers that lurked there.
Although Sir Elliot was undoubtedly an exceptional knight, it was very dangerous to be alone in a den of monsters without even a wizard to heal him.
Seeing his face dark with worry, Ruth clicked her tongue.
"Do you really fear for the safety of a talented knight?
Have you forgotten that you tried to go to the city of monsters alone?"
“B-But…”
A sudden wave of dizziness cut through his protest.
Ruth pulled the blanket up to her neck and made another click with her tongue.
"Stop talking now.
The dizziness comes from being paralyzed for almost two days.
You need to lie down until you recover completely."
“W-When I’m better… I’ll make that man suffer the same fate,” Maxi promised through clenched teeth.
Ruth shook her head and got out of the wagon.
Maxi continued to feel lethargic throughout the next day.
Although he felt a little better when he first woke up, his limbs were as weak as a baby's.
Walking was already an arduous task, let alone beating up a Temple Knight.
Riding was out of the question, ending all hopes of escaping to look for Riftan.
She could only look resentfully at the man who had done this to her.
If I could, I would strangle him.
Of course, he knew that even in his best condition, there was no hope of scratching that man.
Maxi stared at the cart with despair.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he saw the Temple Knights gallantly riding their horses.
As she was transported like lifeless luggage, not knowing if her husband was alive, the paladins trotted along calmly as always.
After giving them a withering look, Maxi huddled in a corner of the wagon and lowered his head onto his knees.
Riftan's voice echoed in his ears.
I don't want to go through this again.
She closed her eyes tightly.
He was afraid of her, he had told her.
Why had words failed then?
Why hadn't she been able to tell him that she would never leave him again?
That I couldn't bear it a second time?
Now, he might never have the chance.
A moan escaped as she held her head.
She argued silently with herself.
That wasn't possible.
He had promised to return unharmed, so he would certainly return to her without a scratch.
No matter how many times he repeated this, it didn't seem to dissolve his worry.
“Almost there!”
Nevin's voice broke Maxi out of her thoughts.
She raised her head and craned her neck out of the wagon to look ahead.
A dazzling white face rose before them.
She eagerly wet her lips.
The White Dragons would soon rush to the monsters' base to help Riftan, but there was no guarantee that he and the others would still be alive.
Maxi quickly dismissed the thought and muttered softly, as if to hypnotize his mind into obeying.
Riftan was the Dragon Slayer.
He had to be safe.
Something must have happened to prevent him from returning.
The cart soon stopped.
As Maxi stumbled out, he saw a figure approaching.
Whoever it was moved with a supple grace that belied their sturdy frame.
His eyes widened.
It was Hebaron.
He had come all the way from the ruins while they were gone.
Hebaron's big, sharp eyes swept over Ruth, Maxi, Nevin, and the Temple Knights before landing on Kuahel.
“Where did you leave the others?”
“They were unable to return,” Kuahel replied coldly as he descended from the saddle.
Although Maxi took pleasure in watching Hebaron punch the man, the knight merely crossed his arms over his muscular chest and arched an eyebrow.
After a long moment, he tilted his head toward the tent.
“Why don’t we go in and explain?”
A little disappointed with her calmness, Maxi walked regretfully towards the tent.
Ruth joined her, supporting her arm.
"Did that paladin mistake you for an ogre?
What strong spell did he use on you to“"“I-I can walk alone,” Maxi said, stubbornly pushing his arm away and entering the tent.
He hated feeling like a helpless child.
Upon entering, Anette greeted her with furrowed eyebrows.
“Are you hurt?”
Maxi's eyes filled with tears of joy when she saw her friend.
Immediately sensing something was wrong, Anette stood up and walked over.
"What happened?" She looked questioningly at Ruth and Nevin, who entered behind Maxi.
"Where is Sidina?
And Master Geoffrey?
Master Albern?"
Nevin's dejected look was answer enough for Anette.
His expression became serious.