“What the hell happened?” said Anette.
“Don’t tell me the others…”
“I was just asking about that,” said Hebaron, standing over an empty liquor barrel.
His sharp gaze landed on Kuahel Leon as the paladin entered the tent.
Disentangling himself from his damp coat, Kuahel handed it to the Temple Knight behind him and sat down opposite Hebaron.
He was about to begin his explanation when Calto, Celric, and Miriam burst in.
Their faces were pale, having already heard about the companions who did not return.
“Looks like they've encountered trouble,” Calto commented, sweeping his solemn gaze over those present in the tent.
In a matter of days, the old man's face had become cadaverous.
Although he was now just skin and bones, his dignified manner was the same as always.
As he sat in front of the fire, silently demanding an explanation, Kuahel began a monotonous account of events.
The Temple Knight's insipid tone infuriated Maxi to the point that she had to restrain herself from screaming.
Even though he knew he had done the right thing, he couldn't help but resent the man's calmness.
Riftan, Ulyseon, Sidina and the other mages were trapped somewhere near the monster city.
If he had shown even a little guilt or hesitation, she wouldn't be so furious.
After giving Kuahel a withering look, Maxi bit her lip and lowered her head.
The glimpse must have touched Anette's heart, for she made Maxi sit by the fire and threw a blanket over her shoulders.
Until then, Miriam had been patiently silent.
“How could you come back without the others?” she exploded.
“Shouldn’t they have gone to their aid when they didn’t return on the agreed day?”
“And endanger those who remain?” retorted Kuahel, looking at Nevin and Maxi.
Maxi jumped to her feet, ready to scream at the man to stop pretending he had done this for them.
A wave of exhaustion hit her out of nowhere, and she sank into her chair.
He held his forehead as dizziness blurred his vision.
Hebaron's calm voice interrupted.
“Do you think the monsters discovered the scouting party?”
“We cannot rule out the possibility,” Kuahel replied brusquely.
"If they did, they will begin a search around the city.
We left a lot of footprints during the investigation, and although we did our best to cover them, they might notice if we are unlucky.
Worst case scenario, they might find us here."
“Then we must leave immediately,” muttered Hebaron, stroking his thick beard.
Surprised by his cold response, Maxi turned her head to him.
She expected him to declare a rescue mission for Riftan and Ulyseon.
Speechless, she opened and closed her mouth when Miriam spoke.
"I can't believe this!
You want us to abandon the others?
And you still call yourselves knights!"
“Watch your tongue,” warned Kyle Hager, Hebaron’s aide, coldly.
“Our commander is among the missing, so why wouldn’t we want to find him?”
“So why not?”
“Miriam, we simply don’t have the resources,” Celric said calmly.
"If the fight dragged on for weeks, we would all starve to death.
What about the cold?
The only reason we were able to save coal and magic stones was the hot spring, a possibility that isn't viable near the monster city.
We would lose the means of keeping warm in a few weeks.
Plus, we don't know if they're still alive.
Even if they are, they'll already be out of food.
Do you think they'll last long enough to be rescued?"
As she half-listened to the conversation, Maxi felt strength leave her.
His words confused her even more than Kuahel's insensitivity.
Having assured herself the entire way that something could be done once they returned to the ruins, the heartless arguments of her fellow mages plunged her into despair.
“W-We still have to try!” Maxi said, choking on the words.
Although she wanted to sound as dignified as possible, it came out as a plea.
"I-I'm not suggesting we rush into battle.
I'm sure we can...
send a small rescue party.
W-We can at least find out what happened to them.
W-We can't just abandon them like that!"
Hebaron looked at Maxi's desperate face with sympathy, then turned to Kuahel.
“Did you detect any tracks on the way here?”Ruth responded immediately.
“I used magic to monitor a wide radius as we traveled, but I detected no signs of pursuit.”
“This means the chances of our presence being discovered are low.”
“Let’s avoid jumping to conclusions,” Kuahel said.
"The monsters only need to wonder how the humans were able to find their city, and they will naturally think of this plain.
They can send forces to investigate.
I prefer not to believe that the Ayin race is made up of such intelligent monsters, but it is not unlikely if we consider their actions so far."
“Only if the reconnaissance group was discovered,” Hebaron said in a deep voice.
A brief silence fell over the tent.
Hebaron looked at Kuahel's face, then asked, "You said earlier that we can't exclude the possibility of them being discovered.
Doesn't that mean there are other possibilities?"
Faint lines appeared on Kuahel's smooth forehead.
He frowned and nodded slowly.
"Correct.
Something may be preventing them from returning even if they have avoided detection.
They may be hiding because they are in danger of being captured, or have encountered something that compels them to continue their investigation."
“The second seems more likely,” said Hebaron, twisting his lips into a smile.
"I know our commander.
He's not one to make mistakes.
And a man of his skills would find a way to escape, whether it's the monster's lair or not.
At the very least, he would have ensured that some of his team broke free.
The fact that we haven't heard anything means there must be another reason."
Maxi clung to that hope.
It lasted only a moment, being replaced by fear of a potentially worse fate.
She looked at Hebaron in terror.
“There is nothing more dangerous than optimism on the battlefield,” said Kuahel, pouring cold water on his hopes.
"I know Calypse's capabilities, but we don't know what's in that city.
Something may have happened, something even he couldn't handle.
The best way to avoid further sacrifice is to assume the worst and act accordingly."
Leaning toward the paladin, Hebaron responded angrily, "Our return like this comes with its own risks.
If the monsters discovered our presence, they will prepare your city for an invasion.
That would make this war much more difficult.
We should at least send a team to monitor the monsters' movements."
"We will think of a suitable solution to the situation when the time comes.
Stay here and lose all advantages.
All the information we have gathered will be lost, and the Western Continent will be defenseless against an invading army of monsters."
“Then we will divide the group.”
All eyes turned to Calto.
The elder swept his gaze over the faces present and continued solemnly, "Both sides have a point.
It is crucial that we continue to monitor the monsters' movements and safely inform the church of our findings.
Finding out the fate of the scouting party is also a priority.
I propose that we go our separate ways.
Half of us to deliver our findings, and the other half to remain here."
“But our groceries“”
“The group that returns will have to return with a contingent of supplies,” interrupted Calto Celric, lifting his chin.
"Please go to the nearest town and bring supplies as quickly as possible.
The rest of us will remain to monitor the monsters and search for the scouting party.
Of course, if our presence has been discovered, we will have to leave.
We will decide on a route now to ensure we cross paths if we need to return."
Kuahel considered Calto's suggestion.
Praying silently, Maxi kept his eyes fixed on her lips.
Soon, the Temple Knight sighed.
"Very well.
We will divide the group."
The group promptly began preparing to leave.
With the possibility of discovery hanging over them, they decided it would be safest to leave as quickly as possible.
The Tower wizards stored all their records in a baggage cart, and the knights quickly dismantled the tent and stable.
While everyone was busy, Kuahel and Hebaron sat opposite each other to divide the supplies.
The task was not without friction.
Their heated voices occasionally heard each other.Away from the hustle and bustle, Maxi just stared at the snow-covered hill.
The icy wind hit her from all sides, but she didn't feel cold.
In fact, she felt like she was being roasted alive.
Although Hebaron's optimism had given him a glimmer of hope, the situation was still desperate.
She continued looking at the snowy plain despite the cold drying her eyes.
Clasping her hands in prayer, she closed her eyes.
His body was numb with anguish.
I should have fought to go with him.
She should never have agreed to part with him.
After all, she had become a mage to be by his side.
Someone who could be useful to him“that's how she wanted to be.
Not someone who needed protection.
She wanted to free herself from this crippling anxiety and fight alongside him in any way possible, no matter how inadequate her abilities.
She wanted to face every danger with him, even if he didn't want it.
Maxi bit her lip as tears ran down her cheeks.
She hastily wiped them away, fighting the sobs that rose in her throat.
Although Riftan had said he would do anything to be with her, his version of that sentiment excluded any moments of difficulty.
Stubbornly, he kept her away from the slightest sign of danger, insisting on facing it alone.
All he wanted to share with her were peaceful, pleasant moments.
But suffering and sadness were also part of life, and Maxi wanted to experience all aspects of it together.
Turning around, she fought to keep the tears from her red eyes.
She couldn't lose him like this.
Never.