LS Chapter 2 (part 2)

“I used to help my grandmother with healing back in my village,” Yujin explained. “She taught me about herbs and how to treat injuries. I worked really hard to learn, even though… it doesn’t mean much here anymore. But still, I can’t just ignore something I can fix.”

“Is that so?” Bart replied, his tone neutral but vaguely curious.

For a moment, Yujin dared to meet Bart’s gaze. Though Bart’s face remained expressionless, there was a faint sense of calm about him. Emboldened by the response, Yujin felt his spirits lift.

A small smile crept onto his lips as he continued.

“One time, I found a rare herb and ran to get my grandmother. But by the time I came back, it was gone! I’d even marked the spot. I was so upset, but she just laughed and told me it was okay. I spent days searching for it, but I never found it again… until months later, when someone else had taken it. That was a bit disappointing.”

The conversation spilled from Yujin effortlessly. He couldn’t remember the last time he had talked this much. By the time he finally ran out of things to say, the sun had disappeared behind the mountains, leaving the valley shrouded in darkness.

“It’s really late,” Yujin said, glancing around. “I should get going. You probably should, too.”

Without a word, Bart rose to his feet.

“Hey, Bart. Will you come tomorrow?”

Before Bart could respond, Yujin hurriedly added, “I’ll wait here. See you tomorrow.”

Bart remained silent, his footsteps rustling softly against the ground as the call of an owl echoed across the valley. Yujin watched his figure retreat into the dark, his emotions a mix of hope and uncertainty.

As Bart’s silhouette disappeared into the shadows, Yujin stood and turned toward the jackal pup. Carefully, he placed the small creature in a crevice between two rocks, hidden from sight but protected. Gently stroking the pup’s head, he whispered.

“If you can, come tomorrow too. I’ll bring a little food for you—something you can eat.”

For the first time in a long while, Yujin felt anticipation bloom within him. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

* * *

At the healer’s request, Large Mother was on her way to deliver herbs to Bart when she halted in front of the training grounds, glaring at the warriors mid-training.

‘Beasts. Brutes. They wear the title of warriors, but how are they any different from animals?’

Long ago, before she could even walk, her village had been razed by the horse-riding warriors of the Mounted Tribe, and she was dragged here as a child. Like many, she grew up in this brutal place, found a mate, and bore a daughter.

Her precious daughter, her one and only, had taken her own life last month.

“Surrender!”

A loud voice echoed from the warriors’ sword training area. Turning her gaze, she spotted the man who had shouted his surrender and the sneering face of Taron standing over him.

“……”

Fire flared in her eyes.

Taron was infamous in the general quarters for sweet-talking women into sleeping with him, only to discard them shortly after. One day, his predatory gaze fell upon Large Mother’s daughter. When the girl resisted his honeyed words, his rage overcame him, and he forced himself upon her. Unable to endure the trauma, her young daughter had taken her life. Large Mother had known every detail of what had happened, but there was nothing she could do. Taron was a warrior, and she was nothing more than a general laborer in the tribe.

The woman who was simply called “Large Mother” had no name. She managed the kitchens and other mundane tasks. She had once considered poisoning Taron’s food, but she knew nothing about poisons, and there was no guarantee the food would reach him.

Her hands trembled as she recalled the dawn when she had found her daughter’s lifeless body hanging from a tree.

‘How is that bastard living so easily? My daughter is dead, but he’s completely unaffected. Why?’

“You said you could take me down with one hand, didn’t you?”

Taron sneered at the man on the ground, raising the injured hand he had sustained two days earlier when he provoked Bart.

Cowardly by nature, Taron had cried out “surrender” during training, only to slash Bart’s shin when his guard was down. Bart retaliated instantly, stabbing Taron’s hand with a knife and pinning him to the ground. He would have slit Taron’s throat if not for the other warriors intervening.

‘He should have died that day,’ Large Mother thought bitterly, her lips curling in regret.

Bart was the only son of Pasi, the Mounted Tribe’s legendary female warrior. No one knew who his father was. Some whispered it was the tribe’s leader; others said it was just a commoner.

But these rumors weren’t why Bart was well-known. He was infamous for his ferocity and coldness. Being ferocious meant he was cruel, and being cold meant he lacked compassion. Without compassion, his acts of violence became all the more ruthless.

That day, he had tried to kill Taron without the slightest hesitation. Bart was said to be the most skilled warrior in the tribe, with whispers suggesting he would soon become the leader’s personal guard.

Tearing her gaze away from Taron, Large Mother made her way to Bart’s hut. He had been excluded from training for a few days due to his shin injury. Carrying the herbs, she stepped into the hut, carefully ensuring no one was watching or listening. Setting the herbs down, she finally voiced the words she had been preparing.

“The healer sent these for you.”

Bart lay motionless on his bedding. Large Mother studied his still figure before gathering her courage to speak the words she had long rehearsed.

“In the upcoming selection for the leader’s personal guards, kill Taron.”

“……”

She had agonized over this decision countless times. If Bart refused her request and reported her to the leader, she would be executed immediately. But doing nothing felt like a betrayal of her daughter’s memory. Her sweet child hadn’t deserved to suffer so.

“I have nothing to offer you. But if you kill Taron, I’ll serve you for the rest of my life.”

“… The rest of your life?”

For the first time, Bart stirred, his voice as cold and indifferent as his gaze.

“Yes. For the rest of my life. Until you die, or I do.”

Bart rose, inspecting the pouch of herbs before glancing at the worn cloth bandaging his shin. Tossing the herbs into a corner, he picked up a blade with an icy glint and sheathed it at his side.

“Until one of us dies,” he repeated.

His piercing gaze fixed on her, gauging her resolve. His cold, sharp eyes carried an unspoken warning: words once spoken must be carried out.

“Until one of us dies,” Large Mother affirmed, her voice steady despite the chill that ran through her.

Bart pushed past her, stepping out of the hut with a simple reply.

“Fine.”

Taron had been a thorn in Bart’s side for some time. He had already been considering ensuring Taron could never hold a blade again. Large Mother’s offer merely provided additional incentive. She was a key figure managing the tribe’s mundane affairs. Keeping her close could prove useful.

“Bart, people from the southern village just finished meeting with the leader. They’re being assigned quarters now. Want to come with us to check it out?”

Miron appeared out of nowhere, motioning for someone else to join them. Tugan jogged over, his voice brimming with excitement.

“Miron, Bart! I heard there’s a woman from the Garen Tribe among them. Isn’t that rare? I think the last one was the leader’s first wife.”

Ignoring their chatter, Bart examined his saddle.

“You’re coming, right, Bart?” Miron pressed.

Bart set the saddle down with a detached answer.

“No.”

“You’re not curious about the woman from the Garin settlement?”

“Not really.”

“Alright then, if you say so. But you’re coming when they distribute the leather, right?”

“Is that today? When did they say?”

“This evening.”

“……”

“You’ll come, right? See you later.”

It was only after Miron disappeared somewhere with Tugan that Bart lowered his gaze to look at the cloth tied around his shin.

* * *

By the time he had finished all the tasks for the day, Yujin grabbed the long cloth he had washed and dried earlier and headed toward the creek.

“Yujin, where are you going?”

Chi-chi’s voice stopped him in his tracks, his face showing discomfort.

“Where are you going, I said?”

“To rest. Haven’t you finished your work for the day?”

“There’s a leather distribution in the warriors’ quarters today. Aren’t you going?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Why not? Come on, let’s go. If you’re lucky, you might get some scraps of leather. When else would you get the chance?”

Yujin hesitated for a moment. She was right—it was a rare opportunity for someone like him, who only did odd jobs, to obtain leather. No, it was the only opportunity. People in the commoner quarters often collected leather scraps to patch up their clothes or make shoes. Most leather was distributed to the warriors, leaving very little for the commoners.

Even then, the distribution went to those with significant roles, so someone like Yujin or Chi-chi, who did menial work, could hardly hope for a piece of leather, let alone leather shoes or clothing.

“I’m just too tired today…”

“Well, it’s better for me if there’s one less competitor, but are you sure you’re okay with that?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. I’ll get another chance.”

“Alright, then.”

The moment Chi-chi responded, Yujin hastened toward the creek. He was anxious, worried that Bart might have arrived there first and left after finding no one waiting. Truthfully, Yujin had been looking forward to this moment since he woke up that morning. There was no guarantee Bart would show up, but the closer it got to evening, the more excited he felt.

Why had he been anticipating meeting Bart all day? Perhaps it was because ever since being dragged to the Mounted settlement, he had been stuck doing odd jobs, being ordered around, and berated by everyone. Helping someone using the herbs he was familiar with made him feel proud and happy for the first time in a long while.

And Bart was the one who had saved him. The thought that Bart might see him as someone useful, rather than just a menial worker, made him feel almost weightless with joy.

It wasn’t respect he sought. He had come to terms with being dragged here as a hostage and doing the work no one else wanted to do. But that didn’t mean it was right to be despised, abused, or beaten. Perhaps these last few days felt like a reprieve because every other day had been so grueling.

Nearly running, Yujin reached the creek and looked around. Had Bart not arrived yet? Glancing about, he confirmed there was no one else around and pulled out the food he had hidden in his clothes as he walked toward a rock nearby.

As he approached the rock, a wolf cub hiding behind it cautiously poked its head out.

“Have you been well? Come here. You must be hungry.”

When he showed the wolf cub the meat stew he had brought from the rations, it cautiously approached. But when it stopped at a certain distance, Yujin placed the meat on the ground and stepped back. Only then did the cub move forward, sniff the meat, and pick it up in its mouth. Yujin expected it to eat and run, but instead, it sat down and began licking its wound.

“I’ll just take a look at your wound. It’s okay.”

Slowly, step by step, Yujin approached. Fortunately, the cub didn’t run and let him examine the injury.

After tending to the cub’s wound, Yujin sat down in the spot he had used the day before, waiting for Bart. Was Bart at the leather distribution in the warriors’ quarters? Was that why he wasn’t here?

If Bart didn’t come, he would leave. But unable to give up hope, Yujin waited endlessly for Bart.

As the sun began to set, he heard footsteps. Ears perked up, Yujin stretched his neck to see who it was. Spotting Bart, he jumped to his feet and waved enthusiastically.

“Over here!”

“……”

Seeing the cloth he had tied still wrapped around Bart’s shin, Yujin chuckled softly and untied it.

“It’s still tied up nicely. How’s your leg? Feeling better? It looks like it’s starting to heal.”

He ground the herbs he had gathered in the mountains at dawn and placed them on Bart’s shin before tying it with a clean cloth he had prepared.

Worried the cloth might come loose while Bart moved, Yujin tightened the knot. When the rough fabric brushed against Bart’s tender, healing skin, Yujin winced as if he had felt the pain himself. Bart’s gaze briefly settled on Yujin’s hands.

“It’s fine. It’s just because the new skin hasn’t fully formed yet. The wound hasn’t had time to heal since I keep working, so it’s taking longer. People say it’ll callous over soon, but I guess it’s going to take a while for me.”

“……”

“By the way, they were distributing leather in the warriors’ quarters today. Did you get any?”

“……”

“Did you come straight here instead?”

Yujin didn’t know what answer he wanted to hear. But he looked up at Bart with eyes full of expectation, hoping for an answer that he had come here just to see him. Unfortunately, Bart remained silent.

As Yujin gazed into Bart’s deep, quiet eyes, hidden beneath his thick eyebrows, he finally looked away in disappointment. He picked up a small pebble and tossed it toward the water for no reason.

“They say warriors usually have a lot of scars, but you don’t seem to have many.”

Yujin wanted to say that Bart’s muscular, firm body looked manly, but he stopped himself. Saying something like that might only make the contrast with his own pale skin and skinny frame more glaring. Besides, he was genuinely curious. Chi-chi had mentioned that warriors who often went hunting or fought battles were covered in scars and wore them like badges of honor. Yet, apart from the injury on Bart’s shin, Yujin couldn’t spot any notable marks on him.

“Is it because you’re strong that you don’t get injured?”

“……”

“Are you good at riding horses too?”

“……”

“Do you train a lot? I do laundry… I mean, work every day, so I guess warriors train daily too, right? You’re taller than most warriors, aren’t you?”

Yujin kept asking questions, even though he already knew the answers. He just wanted to hear Bart’s voice and for Bart to pay attention to him. Fidgeting with his raw, sore fingers, Yujin stole a glance at Bart.

Even from the side, Bart looked striking. His sharp jawline seemed to reflect his personality, and his thin, tightly pressed lips hinted at his reserved nature.

He’s probably popular with women, right? Maybe he even has a wife already? …But those weren’t questions Yujin could ask. Worried that the silence would bore Bart, Yujin racked his brain to find something to talk about.

A bird chirped somewhere beyond the creek. Should I ask if he thinks that sound is pretty? Or should I mention how the wolf cub I treated yesterday already trusts me? But before he could decide, Yujin’s stomach growled loudly.

Growl.

He had woken up at dawn and wandered the mountains, then worked all day. The evening meal he received was halved to feed the wolf cub. Though he hadn’t completely skipped a meal, the noise from his stomach betrayed him. Embarrassed to the point of wanting to bury his head in the ground, Yujin’s face turned beet red as he clutched his stomach and stammered.

“I-It’s just… my stomach isn’t feeling well. It’s not because I’m hungry…”

Grrrroowl.

As he tried to brush it off as a stomachache, his belly rumbled again, even louder this time. Mortified, Yujin hunched over, clutching his flat stomach. Bart, who had been watching him, opened the leather pouch hanging from his waist and handed it to Yujin.

“Why… why are you doing this? Is this for me?”

Peering at the dried meat inside the pouch, Yujin asked hesitantly. Bart gave a small nod. Dried meat was incredibly valuable, especially for commoners like Yujin—and even for warriors, it wasn’t distributed often.

“Can I really eat this?”

The dried meat Bart offered was different in quality from what was given to commoners. It was thicker, more plentiful, and even spiced to mask the gamey smell.

“It’s for you. Eat it.”

“Then… I’ll take just one.”

After hesitating, Yujin picked a piece that wasn’t too large or too small, carefully selecting the most moderate-looking piece. But Bart suddenly overturned the pouch, dumping all the meat onto the ground.

“Wha—this is so valuable! What are you doing?”

Panicking, Yujin scrambled to pick up the spilled meat. Bart answered matter-of-factly.

“It’s payment for the herbs.”

“Oh… thanks.”