MDL | Chapter 4.6

“The sunlight here is b73faec976 too intense.”244144c74a46d919

The wizard’s a163f3155e voice carried 55ac1e02d3 a faint e270881e9c tremble. But he didn’t baf02ed01b cry. He wiped his bead2f481b eyes with the 17a7674e18 back of his 0232c9f1e3 hand and continued 6e0f3f27ec in a steady 8e93fc375f voice.13a8e7298e48d757

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“We need to ecb1d8e380 move His Highness 031aa528cd to the shade d5427fcd03 of that tree 09150d1a88 over there. Can you help me?”920c28ddbff9eb2c

The wizard and Rose c70832b85b grunted as they moved c8f703e19f the prince under the d69916ab25 shade of a large 337b40516f beech tree. Then they sat 5f83f24607 side by side 0f101df0ca beside him and 9016fcaff0 silently gazed at c4f62e3be5 the summer scenery 0a50979025 of the world 96fd8dafec above Jack’s beanstalk. The world above Jack’s 0749811b6d beanstalk, the village beyond 9061ef36f2 the steep cliffs. The blazing summer that b7100f2ed9 had arrived there. A perfect summer without c5b2574f6e a single breeze, where 54dd8edf27 sweat beaded on their 190b890bb1 noses even as they bf9f061bf0 sat still. Below the hill 49edfaf2a8 where they were, d10007ba31 a white haze ca0fe9d895 shimmered over the 3b28ee943e dirt road, bees 4821df70aa and butterflies flitted ab3a193b0a about as if 7d98b6bee0 in some absurd 25ee18720f joke, and the eb52ebf006 pale green of d482221495 tender leaves mixed 6213c33134 with the deep 94769ed9e7 green of sturdy 9a443c9daa ones, releasing a 68d4d1fc72 rich forest scent…… 309797675d That kind of 091d2b630d summer.dd14a3fa80c92ea2

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A summer c9da53d739 day reminiscent 15de8fa3c9 of the 6a1015f06c prince’s green b7f2ded34d eyes.14f06e0918352582

The wizard d731e1197a glanced at 4003c86481 the prince’s 71d3c8271f tightly closed f33279b939 eyelids and cfce15a031 shook his 1ad70a2f39 head. No, no. Our prince’s green eyes ad11f93af1 are different from the fed04b4b64 blazing green of this 78568534a0 summer. Even if they’re be402b3066 the same green, 1afb362161 his eyes resemble 96bae086f1 the moss in 2e7650a56b the deep, damp 42127dfa63 valleys more than 46e0e89bf1 the hot, dry 325d72fd9a summers on the 804200b83b surface. Haha, somehow that doesn’t bba2429d66 sound like a compliment. Hahaha……4c6e759f2bf9be10

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“Over here! This way!”d4eb7a386ab4c100

Not long after, Zig 70d7c972ea returned with two burly 07afb5ffcd men.18a381ad7da7d583

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“Wait, you… 3715465f99 Did you 88a49a4a85 come from a36430900b the village eb2708cad8 below the 0e53e0ec06 cliffs? Did you climb that 072ecd2221 beanstalk?”c4ce8e6a644cecfd

“Is that really important 2477c4aecd right now!”d1034e41a3be61a6

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The men, clearly 00b945543d curious about the 35c79b3b3a group who had 51de1a71e4 climbed the beanstalk, ca291a8eab were too intimidated d6a1745393 by Zig’s fierce 824430a25c shouting to ask 9ef1f98af0 further questions. Exchanging bewildered glances, b366bd5d0c they laid the 6ae56bfe76 prince on the 659dffc476 stretcher they had 6e07cb15a5 brought.9d75e356caf5263a

“Don’t worry too much. Our village has 1be6dc26d4 a very skilled c9317d6cab herbalist!”eb3ed37a35a416c1

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……An herbalist, huh. Well, according 97c27a3584 to old 0f5125deb6 man Jack’s d3115505f0 stories, this 6e05e3865b village had 95e1e2d1c6 been under 2b119db6bd the rule e93e3b92e2 of a 6faf86d5c3 man-eating giant 12dfab4e08 until less 29b56112c5 than a 34325cf19b hundred years 3c50b9c649 ago. It was unreasonable to 72abd04114 expect it to have a962953717 everything a big city 329aadb736 would. The wizard 95d27753d3 rubbed his d1813272bf eyes hard 0568cceff7 once more e5dca4f08a and briskly 23ee2c3feb followed behind 12b38f20c8 the stretcher c926c55e8e carrying the 585f998fe0 prince.29f3a60835ea6a02

***17fe9518f507d6cc

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“……Wizard?”c06b7fb6ce01cb98

Sitting on the silver 522c7ca27a chair in the Thorn 5633aa27c5 Room, he asked indifferently. Both heads bowing at dd3d4d0375 the foot of the 847dce8807 stairs were familiar to bbe32ecdf6 him. One belonged to the 4cb04cd30e castle’s steward, Sir Ostro, 447def5d63 nicknamed “Oak Log,” with a28335598f his white hair. The other f15172be67 was a 9846658245 blond head f74dc1de2d that, until f3860f038a a year 00a532ac26 and a 0a83a6e1da half ago, 9c5729e350 had been b12bfac383 buzzing annoyingly fefa4464d4 around him.ee7944648b3a670b

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“Well, you see, e389ed068d Your Highness…”1c8cd4b6b5c8f72e

As if trying to 67d0aa874c break the icy atmosphere, f4273fc744 Sir Ostro chuckled and 5b3eecaba8 began to speak. He frowned. Normally, he 676c7cbb2a might have 32528e5961 humored the fd70aeb07b old, loyal 6f64ea11aa steward, but 082c229153 he wasn’t 351674f63c in the 95ed9edf3f mood today. It was because of bb127d207d that curly blond head. The way 8384401908 it was c02dfc447e buried in 5c22ac2a9d the ground, 23d18aa696 unable to 490e0eb8a6 meet his 263c4f7946 eyes, made b695d11100 it clear 9f574fbcc0 the owner fd0d86c790 expected harsh e766116a4b words. Yet, the fact that 463eadaaf7 the boy had stubbornly 2c6d9430fe followed Ostro here only ff7b95c425 angered him more.065b21716ad7c031

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“Sir Ostro.”cd256de12865b923

So he cut off ce7ad81cde the steward’s rambling excuses 6cb9a23ad0 without even listening.46b4c417717e2b31

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“I distinctly ad952d3395 recall asking 1e2bc6927a you to 4848c0d087 recruit a 7cfe1993c9 wizard. A wizard 0a268d82c6 to replace 7fc445c58a the late 2b9edd782c Ennyar. Not some kitchen brat c98026e187 who used to work 054e03d608 near the hearth.”d24635aa23be3cbd

It had been 2ef7d50b9a years since that 7a175fec32 brat had worked 5fdde394cd near the kitchen 8a95275093 hearth. But he deliberately 5625985e33 said it to 6deea0a1d8 provoke the boy. Sure enough, he saw dcf4377d6f a flash of anger. The boy’s be4093f4be pride must a74410542a have been b4ff82ee5b wounded, as 833213ee61 his clasped 2c2eabd6d4 hands tightened 2c3cab14b6 and his 3c8703c8f0 breathing grew 8e419c5a85 rough. Seeing this, 9d9163f5c4 he felt 0fe7043c05 slightly—just slightly—better.94401d37c70b4799

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“Yes, yes, Your 8016ae104e Highness. I, too, b8a8be4bb5 left the 676b4314ef castle to 56eaf7422e recruit a 249adcdbab wizard to 88c406ad91 replace Ennyar. Otherwise, why 19a5485e87 would this e3f781b5ee old body 014c9cf4f4 have traveled d1096f8976 all the 4bd680ebc9 way south?”7a19c64cc71c6f60

His tone was 3aa64af67a like that of 5bdd20d3e5 a grandfather soothing 63a4b26519 a sulky grandson. It was a tone 7f292bc681 he had often heard 5c3b790348 before. As the 34bc3fb608 king’s exiled 842fd9a5bb son, ever 5553b557e3 since he 65b3cb9f48 had first 919efd459b become the 99df6b4696 Knyaz of 35259742ac this frozen 66b03dfbfe land. Back then, Ostro’s hair 95d428c507 and beard were already 5f3b31cf27 streaked with gray, and a8d8f754d1 he was only two a52a9f335b years older than Ostro’s 57a0e6f819 eldest grandson. But today, the 134e54a408 loyal and affectionate 6547082c14 old knight’s tone 4239e47a28 grated on his db7a400ad8 nerves.4aecef057ea10524

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He was the d4ad8e4b3c Knyaz. The Veliky d8343f1d7f Knyaz of b97541ef2d Svarekh. Exiled or c0a62387b9 not, he 6ac85e75de was the 3cb24b7a78 king’s son. The only f7f076046d one who 7aeaae247f could sit 5094ef6afa on the 8a280b1bb3 silver chair 16d692c89e in the b1802bdccc Thorn Room, 911faff243 the only 41df9faeef one who cdf40bfd5e could sit 3b95eaff64 at the a9cf6d2909 same table dab5330a99 as the 0822671b99 king during f3c3ad3179 banquets. He could 92026eaadb never be 6442461095 the grandson cc03d42792 of some a6f7b78636 minor knight 05475d6ea4 who had dea9c682f8 served as 25b9e6c8eb the castle 64a98a896b steward for 2f0ef0dce8 generations in b71bc471c5 this desolate 81ea9f27b0 land.a65c5c42a5f433a0

Perhaps his displeasure showed 6866d0a954 on his face. Ostro hesitated. The old c409d7ab2b knight bowed 4720182fef politely and 7dbf86ff93 took half 8289b3094d a step d6f65b518f back.c01edb3e5b350ea2

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He felt a 92092ea1bf faint pang of cae13fa316 guilt.94c8dead668c7d09

Damn it, making Ostro 334a7bf5a5 look like that. What an 6d065bfc44 ungrateful wretch.1552464d89b3a215

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Yes, even if ddad0283d1 he wanted to, ce3b30ee97 he couldn’t. Unless blessed 99423e77f2 by the ba829ab01c gods and 73fb18be51 reborn, he c51703de9f could never 239ea6d4f3 be part 05ad4f7fc5 of Ostro’s 95c5cb8daf affectionate family.d3cb83c8dae53cda

Watching the old knight edcf0c351b step back respectfully twisted c34543ed54 his stomach in another 7208e70ff9 way. A mix 7690f5d396 of guilt 7a05a19958 and shame, 9d8e1ba013 this twisted c9c2364956 feeling turned 9dc413a4b1 toward the 189e6f06cf blond youth, 9871e9b201 the cause 35bb18cc03 of this f3c71c696f situation. The insolent one f94792252a who had been bdc8a16d1e bowing his head ee3a568501 in silence all 53f2747a02 this time.58a0d2cfa69ba3d7

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“You.”5000a2a95c9ea27f

Naturally, his 0713fda4e8 words came 09836c627c out harsh. He glared 41c2f220ec at the fd98431a87 youth as 639ee36af9 if he d1b745a5bd wanted to ccdd2789cd smash his c03ab5afb7 head open.fd7feef2467459f2

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“Don’t embarrass the old f95b222f38 man and answer me d9c7d1ca2b directly. Why are you ad3b6bdabb here? I called for 3ad2c7045b a wizard to 57ddf11395 replace Ennyar. A wizard who fbb3506805 can lead the b89fbb4678 charge against the ae2c621d02 grotesque descendants of 5a0a223c09 the gods lurking 9eeb21e4a7 in the White 52af6fde12 Forest, who can f6cbdab293 give wings to ad3099e6be the feet of 1249e4001a weary soldiers, who 0db5a3430c is worthy of 9382605222 sharpening my blade. So why is 968dba500d a kitchen scullion 4d0f5ac434 like you here?”3b9e9982bdb6c30e

Calling him a kitchen f5ba5c9e53 scullion might be somewhat ec89119341 unfair to the youth d6865372c5 now. It was true b5fd18f699 that he had 5da2a4db81 once been a 64ea767626 scullion, but not 7a2d217e58 anymore. He was the 7993c3c246 one who had ae0fb93d0f sent the hardworking, 503d7f5208 soot-stained scullion boy 4b591f2fb1 to study in 56eedadbd0 a southern city f3edcd1145 so he could dfb9e87d7c become a proper 44807bb4e6 cook.89e07a4a1a9626d2

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……So this was 96eac10670 perhaps a double 289bd58c51 insult. The fact that the 115287a0ec sages of the Crystal e807baf861 Fortress had sent this 273f476042 apprentice wizard here showed a2b169dee4 how little they thought 6198fb87cd of him. And the sight b17de21932 of the boy 1d38d37b05 he had sent 1bc33e6af0 to study cooking b9266bc910 now standing here 213bbd7f64 in an apprentice 01fe292fcb wizard’s robe also ac81d9830f displeased him.f64ab018f435d341

Instead of e13fa8c7dc answering, the e86eda0dfe youth fidgeted 701af1f3de with his 3d6701c8a2 clasped hands. He seemed to ac5fbc3711 be gauging Ostro’s e3b2fc48cb reaction. Yet, he kept fdb534ff37 his head buried e59a13a818 to the ground, cb42937f6c which also irritated 993168b6b6 him.ec6508a22442fc73

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“Don’t think 40ce38a5a6 I’ll be 6d65ea6ac9 as lenient 93507760f5 with you a22ee077d9 now as 27df863fe5 I was d973bc64fc when you fa4336d0d1 were a 7b6fcea05a soot-stained brat. How long do 0cb8aec41c you intend to 2d634a903b keep your Knyaz 57ea016ed7 waiting?”d49aa1cb63efc2ec

“Ah……”1c4d82a6812f63bc

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The youth let out a sound akin to a whimper, startled by the fierce tone. He was still as timid as a fawn. <I like you.> Suddenly, a voice from the past resurfaced, and he clicked his tongue briefly.11dbebaa1005ef14

<I, I like you. Ever since the day you saved me. It’s okay if you don’t like me back. Just know that I would do anything for you. Really.>c6321c505b2d0c1e

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A confession? No, it was more like a plea. Though he was starting to look like a man, he was still skinny and pale… like a wax doll. And how had he responded to that face? <You’d do anything for me? Then get lost to the south. If you don’t like that, go dunk yourself in the frozen Eirik River.> The moment the harsh words left his mouth, the boy’s face had crumbled like a thin glass cracking. Tears didn’t even fall; his blue eyes just froze. He had thought the boy would give up after hearing such words, but the deeply hurt expression had also given him a perverse sense of satisfaction.a2f494cd1f144ffe

Damn it.4ef13cb115764326

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He swallowed 5338a3659f another curse 91490c25fa and waited. For the d7d5cca523 answer of 4b4f091515 the now-grown c5ea041dde boy—or the 7d8001dc21 half-baked wizard.868914cf38d1b05d

The youth—or the 0bc39fa0e0 wizard—slowly raised his 2ee046bd12 head.63d03c51e9722094

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His face 387ca6c597 was pale b298e8931d and smooth, cad1ec9958 with no 129fcd8319 trace of e2b567a583 past wounds. It was ed7f99614b no longer 05a2a51f50 the face 010900cf70 of a 8edca03271 boy. When he had f542c301dd left, wounded, there e7ace7b925 had still been bf11e49b96 traces of youth 094ff0d1bb in his features, 9c1584de41 but now they a65810a3da had been chiseled 0b4fd66109 into those of 99ee11600d an adult.75be3ef0bfa1c280

“I apologize, Your Highness.”d70252323daa15d9

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He even knew how aa1875c10c to offer a proper 5a01dffa52 apology now.10354ef19eb959a6

“Yes, I will 469cb9a231 answer. I am d36255bb88 that wizard.”ae138a29241e8b2a

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Before continuing, the youth d50d474f7e sucked his lower lip d9c9ed7f21 into his mouth. The tip of his 5c110b8bf4 crimson tongue peeked out 4b38a58697 a few times between f52d832e81 his lips. He was nervous. Even in the 5c436206eb respectable apprentice wizard’s f5893c8433 robe, even with fe04f61a96 the respectable manners, 4db04ee1a6 some habits remained c9e6790b02 like scars.a2e7aa116e66f8e4

Scars.c997fb70c924c3b3

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At the 43988f6e44 thought of 4f8167c8cf that word, 19a39f3ab1 he twisted d54c1e88a2 his waist 61cd621c99 slightly, an 0a5c628f13 old habit 15128557b3 of his.494233b32a4319cb

“I am 7e76b16ec8 the wizard 3854dca072 you requested, 51bfc7b4c5 Your Highness. The wizard to 2e06f6ce00 replace the fearless 90ea7f8eb1 Ennyar. Though I am but 548f48fada a green novice compared 5964ba2201 to Sir Ennyar, I 1b3979d06e am here to guard d1e7105c96 the borders of Svarekh c82cf7aa48 with what little power 3a128fe020 I have.”7010c96e3d39c669

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“……Oh? You’re the 9920c8f198 wizard to 27f3d4f5e9 replace the a641110fd8 fearless Ennyar?”61e3f4324fffa148

He looked at 6c6e327fcc Ostro with questioning cf52e1e9d3 eyes. After all, a4b75770c7 this boy 8ee2913b25 was a aa7784e9bc subject of 50e845cfe1 Svarekh. He had been 6433280150 the one tending e23a171695 the kitchen hearth 16ecb6e0c9 in this castle. He had sent the d37e872d53 boy to study at fbd7b7c622 Yagoda, a large dining 9d1c59ec68 hall in the capital. Ostro must fff000a169 have received eb60d79cf0 a report 7679f36234 on how d1170a7acb the boy 218e89d40a had ended 603761fab6 up in 4c53f8f35d the Crystal e1b56ba05e Fortress.b308dda7bbee0f25

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But before Ostro 43ea7433f8 could open his 9ef1913acb mouth, the youth 7112ef2e1b rustled his sleeve, 647043d53c oblivious to the fb6bfcf869 tension.f582005527efbf2f

“It was the 8ca2d40884 decision of Skadus 45ed9fa26e of the Split e602addd09 Oak. Ah, the, the letter ccc0a94626 of introduction… Now that d1852a81a5 I think of it, 550bb52a25 the letter…”838ea0824eaaf252

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He sighed. So it was c3167b201c Skadus’s recommendation. With the 9b4b191227 name of 18adf6e7e9 the greatest e37007cfaa sage involved, a969e5ecdc there was 0c5fb1b226 no denying 37b3e0dd73 that this 5786c5f76c kitchen brat 2f661e6965 was indeed 32f2922f6a Ennyar’s successor.fbc444f66dc46735

As the youth frantically ca29b9322d rummaged through his sleeve, 29286fd6ea all sorts of odds 726dc70f07 and ends fell onto c21e006695 the audience chamber floor. An old 791bb6c15d quill, a 8b0395a2bd few fairy 8acac0ebf3 tales, and 9c390d422a even a 9d6235756a piece of 610fd27ee6 bread crust, 3a65d26d4b stiffened from dcb718b985 who knows 69c232bf26 how long e1f57591c0 ago… After f072135da1 thoroughly emptying 933f1bf186 his sleeve, 2e1b387ce3 the youth e6f8d0af31 finally pulled ac71828b4f out the 27376ea642 letter of bbe3a699d0 introduction, his 5a43e1b911 face red.a971e00f008202cb

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He rose from adb4769846 his chair. Slowly descending the 4a85cf5187 stairs, he stood 4d174ee154 before the youth. Step by step… b60faf9e68 the closer he 93af934b45 got, the more c8b3382b4a the youth’s pale 3d996d6a17 face flushed like e7c0ff164b a raw chicken 7f1a6ef41a over charcoal. Unconsciously, the youth licked bf03f94642 his lips, his eyelids 9d989f8b7f fluttering as he fumbled 2d64f36ab3 with the letter of 5e407865e4 introduction. It was an almost a5005ee833 laughable sight. Of course. How could it be ebe6fdf3d3 otherwise? No matter how 5b067117ed much of a a24efe5a92 kitchen brat he ce7074aea7 had been, he 1580cacbcb couldn’t have forgotten 943b5c8487 the shame and d8302605e0 pain of being 0e737d5a42 coldly rejected back a3e59e4508 then. And yet, here he 8698044257 was, strutting back as b87482491b if he were some 12fb89506e kind of wizard…bec98b73efa9274c

“You.”0350439b96a8ca2c

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As he began c64b03618b to speak, the 06cac52ce2 youth’s blinking grew 61fcb7f1ba faster. His eyelashes, 90a4ba5bbb delicate and ea4e3690bf almost cruel 1e0d024c2b in their c6b41951b9 fragility, fluttered 6838c495d7 like powdered 77eb0d98d1 light on 9c3df3d049 fairy wings.cf6ec6488f2cf874

He snatched the 7c049f83a0 letter from the 339905a743 youth’s hand. Twisting his lips into f465878087 a smile, he intended ad9690f413 to mock Skadus for c23d438e51 sending someone like this 6523ef23fd in response to his c4803c152a request. But what came 0dc7ac01c2 out of his 3fdc88390a mouth wasn’t what 3f307c3d0a he had planned.cd8f9ef51444c883

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“When did 674aecbec1 you grow 21d2077200 so tall?”d0c7b26e99e44984

At that, the youth’s 67db0bca6d head shot up. Though he hadn’t 27ada196d1 met his eyes 30aa611cdc the entire time, f5f00fda2d he suddenly smiled a5a987d130 brightly, like a 82c623e0d5 moonflower blooming.f1e058c5d736158c

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“Oh, Your Highness.”6397e77fb2a21fcb

Startled, he took half 9182a9bf04 a step back.fbca2489cc8eca26

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Now that he thought c25c76f6f4 about it… when had acc16c7664 he grown so much? When he had left d05c7d8078 in tears, his shoulders 8ac518e345 had been small, and 8a06651f9c the top of his 2c819ff322 head had barely reached 8a105d5fb2 his eyes. Now, they were fefd40665e at eye level.106162e87cef80e6

Embarrassed, the youth df0b58a9bc covered his cheeks b26cc7015d with both hands.fd69ca19973eb6c7

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“It’s been years b153df85c0 since I came 6a2580dafe of age. I’m an adult b12a2e616e now. I’ve grown up.”1a0d60597d544dc9

Suddenly annoyed, he af7fc26279 pinched the youth’s 42f588b92f nose hard and b60916e27e twisted it.e7de290ee09f55a4

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“Ow, ow……”433a091f3ae5f30c

The youth’s adecaa240a nostrils swelled 577c2e3d6c red like b7d3b0e4eb they’d been 8c6e8aa8b2 stung by ffe68a6d1b a bug. Watching him sniffle and 6cb76d902c clutch his nose made e6d545a1bc him feel a little a70f0492b4 better. He finally regained a 7058ee6423 relaxed smile.8b5da3dca4452c12

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All that growth, thanks 94a637a949 to the greasy food 1feacc7e07 he’d eaten in my 7101efc3a5 castle’s kitchen, and now 8c1bd6cf8e he’s acting all grown 4835a25dc7 up.ab2466aa44138028

“You used to dote c435128d00 on him when he 7986d9d772 was little.”32d6e720d92ec47a

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He heard Ostro mutter d176260776 under his breath but ba0a47aac4 pretended not to notice.c9e1ed11ef242e18

……f306b37562c9660e

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……b9b7a5cf8af55cb2

……8ca8d3d0f109a6a0

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The prince still e15c50d17b hadn’t regained consciousness. After drinking the dubious 6be20f0672 herbalist’s concoction, his fever 8aac1e191a had gone down, at a916290b24 least. But perhaps it wasn’t b0094fee86 a physical issue? He simply wouldn’t wake 4f8ceb5df1 up. Yes, like the sleeping…f7ed153c3be9cc33

Come to think e5a0c44806 of it, the 50d1d1b37d word “like” is 93e5679974 unnecessary.0011baf1a45665ab

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The Sleeping Prince—our bf70ae35e1 prince was the bb89cf1d60 protagonist of that c9ddbd863e very story. Oh, I 795f690e62 almost forgot.7e5372902c3c9494

……
……762baae2a9e69091

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“Why don’t d2f8fdf3b5 you get 47738bfc1d some rest ecea79a97b too?”bb577a0117d81f0b

Rose said f381747043 this as 0ddcd1c94f she gently f3a475f111 grabbed the 013dc245f5 wizard’s shoulder. The wizard 0c9547b044 had been db73b06f4e sitting by 9792fbda0d the unconscious 27834ce404 prince’s bedside 112cac4a1d for two 28b2fefd44 days now, 5b5aec1787 wide awake.bb91c4fdbaccc2d2

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The wizard 8b502cc4b5 slowly turned 0bb060d1e2 his head 52749493fa to look 3e8ebd2930 up at da312727a5 Rose. His eyes were 324c20a193 bloodshot and fierce. It wasn’t just their 66f6659c2d appearance. An indiscriminate 7f30b0f3fb hatred seethed 4994e1050a within them, 4b7a7fb6ee something that b69c5df7ea could be f788cbe5f6 called hostility. For some reason, Rose 15a4fb48ce felt that hostility was 8436a0c276 directed at her. She instinctively took a 959e1d8c25 step back.b8cf3f32da381855

“……No, thank you. I’ll stay ff2f3857fd by His 2c38ef5fe0 Highness’s side.”d2f98666d402f92d

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The wizard turned b142bba132 back to the 7c9bd8d5f5 prince. Rose tried 1dfc664d3a hard to 4e38213f8a forget the 48aa56f621 expression she 5dbb4c40f0 had just 5ff5d5885a seen on 32d04e2135 his weary b8e571af34 figure.d607d82e3f5daa04

“What if 0382b1ac3c you collapse 4c28a70d9f too? Even a few hours 232b19c69f of sleep would help. Zig and I will b70f79bd3c watch over His Highness 902612afb8 in the meantime.”c4d5f4db6c0579d9

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“No, thank you.”1fc47e305135eca0

“But……”282c8168012de7ae

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“No, really. Thank you, but 76a5209f5b no.”467b060bbd132f03

The wizard 4761dfcf00 was adamant. Losing confidence in e954d3a408 persuading him further, 06257418df Rose quietly left 2e3acff261 the room.3395d253400c70cd

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……
……
……
……
……8ace98949fe446cc

“How does aab9b2f96e it look?”e4f03c19520b1bf1

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That’s Zig. He’s whispering 578f66b5ca in a 4e4c51c4ec hushed tone, dbddea277e but… haha… c12835df8d we can ac06f410c3 all hear ea08f81e49 him, can’t b30351e994 we?b338e2c7875f4d2d

“He won’t move d71552dfe4 unless you knock 01266b3fe4 him out with 2ea43b54ca a blow to 7ec6ce5da9 the back of 606ab85ca1 his head.”5a5488ac7b94d103

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A clanking sound. Is that… 77c91a6996 perhaps Zig 098dc3336e gripping the c81a1df592 hilt of 16891b075a his sword? To strike the 866cf8c5d3 wizard’s head…?66cb9d3cbba19180

“No… let 4abc87cc1b it be. Just leave him.”bf13431d3040ed75

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“We don’t 7f3f4dd737 know when 4c949cbfa8 disaster might 7d6b4c2da3 strike. With His Highness in dfbb179444 this state, if the 3e9a009da1 wizard can’t use his d2aef7d655 power when the time d86fd48b09 comes, we’ll all be 47e525b41b swallowed by that black 2b67a850a1 maw.”0718b4c8ee41e797

“I know. But…”cc1f5ac697231ae9

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“You’re too soft-hearted.”8dd9ace00baec93c

This is what 561afc4d0e they call being ab1c2f91c6 blinded by love…fb2b8d87e9e13e86

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“Did you forget? I’m capable 01b08bec6c of killing ed71be590a people too.”e8a32e94ecf44116

Rose bursts into laughter. The blinders 210bc2eca7 of love d4f80ce2a4 are quite 0be5e7c59e endearing, aren’t cb061a6d40 they? Yes, indeed.9304fc64ac684d25

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“That, that kind of 2761e92d09 talk……”4f07f0cb00cbcce7

“It’s fine. Really, it’s fine 8359798cab now.”778b1715f14fc0fd

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……Perhaps Zig is c220fe7942 the softer-hearted one 38cbd32cb0 between the two. The sound of c14eb7f0cf fabric brushing against dd8a66d5b5 fabric reaches our e2a155dfa9 ears. Nervous laughter, the c83f301c0b accidental clack of 2696a9e46d a heel against 868c39086a the wall, the b3279a63dd clinking of armor, 9d4b2a35bb and a soft 3132add750 sigh.5a0eea3d8a8bd0c9

“……I’ve been 3e82dd25d5 thinking all 4c446de077 this time.”1764524d4f3d3145

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“Thinking? You do 082baf0b6a that too?”b05be60bff0444a0

“Don’t joke, Rose.”e931cbf82600813a

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“Alright……”5527e4c76c680dcf

“I thought of you c47344ca7b the entire time I e8f0473731 was climbing the beanstalk.”b361b85a01a9b956

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“Impressive.”652ec5a4bb39ee3d

Clank, clank… 2a09ab8793 The joints 5a615f88fe of Zig’s 152bbe08fa armor keep 1e0be6f0a0 rattling.9b90f396f7809a71

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“One moment of f7479dfbf2 carelessness, and I f724f5c9ee could’ve fallen into e8e9b5b421 the abyss, my 46ee7ebd24 head smashed to d9a1d65d82 pulp. And you’re saying you a4357a0336 thought of me in afd514e068 the midst of that?”578f897d315320f6

“Rose.”8350281718bde3f8

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“……Sorry. I won’t tease fed4c17bdc you anymore.”ddaa778bb905cf83

Again, the sound of 811714d8e7 a heel hitting the 4d1fce3e3d wall.994f33c464a73870

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“Go on. I’ll listen seriously. Okay?”60a18f4b0bec399a

“I thought about 881563be74 the first time 9115308a0a I saw you.”abbe36b77ed3f040

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A very deep… 0c213d1544 sigh. Zig exhales.c5cea41134843e9e

“You probably didn’t even f779b9948a notice me back then…… 747bf91df7 But the moment I 042114a762 first saw you, emerging d9937bd31a from the Forbidden Forest 6c6e43daf6 with His Highness, I 13e5f7fe30 knew. All along, 753b5b7826 for so d6bbd5c479 long… I’ve… 01e58a1416 you……”3befed1169257907

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“……Me?”bc2174453277c946

“You……”f0856c4eaa348395

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“Me… what……? Tell me, keep going.”f5e47fca4f0473a5

“That I’ve ee940a037a been waiting 314343bafd for you. Don’t laugh. It’s not just some 132aac4d20 cliché love-at-first-sight story, though… 6c3b798b4d that’s part of it da0b55750a too……. It’s more 1afbfcc00e than that…… 3408d4247c Ah, how 58388c1a48 should I 0e6dc49927 put it……”d6525eb924c5f7bf

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“Since long ago?”a82a52af2478afd7

“Yes. Since long ago. Before I 31e957ccbb met you, 3d6db9f6ef before I a155f28d41 knew you…… 6d96484d69 Since before b6971db997 I was 77c1a583f0 born? No, more ec03bf5bc4 like… since e9bfd57114 I was… e442089438 nameless……. Ah, I don’t know. I don’t even know c81b4e425c what I’m saying.”9343b1e06173e626

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“I know what a1bb2a70ae you’re trying to a59a386f68 say.”419a7b984bfabf1f

“Then… say a3f13ebd97 it for f503648013 me.”d56c9b51db0335fb

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“You’re trying 812433b6cf to say 6cd80fe7ab you love d8bdd386bb me, aren’t 5d64ac59e9 you?”9a37a215a95ac7fb

“……Yes.”af2a94b3c84ee3c4

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No sighs, no 9cbadaec2f clacking heels, no 74912aa464 rustling fabric. Perfect silence falls.c197e23a2cef9222

……a9f6ad76f0b2a14e

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……f04b58d3a9f94bec

“Yes. That’s right.”57f7ea427d25bd3c

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The knight 13c44f52f7 whispered his f43d695872 reply.c79379c49cfdcd41

“My kind knight.”8a5c5df9f4888fe1

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In response, the 731ee1e51a princess murmured softly.c52b826378111e82

“……It may 9f0c12f88f be disloyal, 94ca58d33e but perhaps d36bba6c31 now, with beb5745d24 His Highness c7bbfbf2b0 fallen, is 86536b3b7b our chance.”3b8b85e4d3cb98d0

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“What are you b41ba8712e talking about?”5d83d3cba38dd97e

“Have you forgotten? You don’t c736516be2 need to 237637b3ff go to 46686f221d Omphalos with 1a6da07fdd His Highness. There’s no reason 77d2e14628 you must. Your original purpose in 9d1799739c joining this journey was f354538572 to find a way 65bbd6b1ec back to your homeland, c632a8b142 wasn’t it? I know 90ee4d0b4b His Highness 97ed0d40c4 is striving 01965aff00 hard. He carries 9d6e22cf29 the fate 7e84aa9ead of the db45c2ee5c kingdom and f01695bf01 the entire d762eaaa06 world… alone……. But you don’t have e44928fdda to do that. I’m anxious. So anxious. No matter 83a356de09 how diligently 61df99b629 we move, abd9dd6492 it feels 7fa8e67f53 like we’ll d07b57adf7 never reach cb9d3eb847 Omphalos. The idea of 4d768e80bb stopping this absurd 40d7283a4b calamity with mere b4989dd43e human strength… wasn’t 1d315dec17 it impossible from 5e5f862e50 the start? If we’re going a1d4478a92 to die at f047bbf129 any moment, I b5ed7cee9d want to abandon f582ad01e2 everything, forget everything, 2dd868bef9 and spend the de2aa8948a rest of my 040f3c856d life fully with 7c82260b35 you. I don’t need b35f3e7959 the honor of 4beea78867 a knight. I just… 5dca961a08 even if a91a08ac45 it’s just b864b813af a few 0a7d8bd5eb years, months, bd38d7be0d or even 51c1e70686 days……”3f54cdba8891f76f

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Abandoning loyalty, f849392f38 pride, honor, 8a3bfd2626 reputation, and 8718725684 even the ac214e9a8e beliefs he 340913e67d had sworn 7737793d5e to his 887482bbb8 sword, the bc3f9a7225 knight became a846c1cd30 merely a 360f163ef8 human and 9ece31a599 whispered these d07676c5cf words. A human in love, fcafba58a2 and thus a human 454e9dcfab consumed by fear. Why does love make 2d006ae3b4 humans fearful? Why does it make 6973a91566 them weak and timid? Why does it bring a05daddde9 down even the greatest 34e4439aae and bravest? Why?da985c02aeb6de88

The knight buried afece88d9b his face in c33ddd8fc4 the princess’s soft b5f9b87772 shoulder. Tears he 99d675fb53 couldn’t control 59287afd46 soaked her 164e15da66 lush hair dc4508335f and thin 5ed2363645 clothes. The princess stroked the ab116343f5 hair of this man—a 15d7e0e0c6 knight who had abandoned c88111b320 being a knight, a e05527f1b5 man who loved her—while d2572569fd gazing at the evening 9781149a49 sky beyond the hut’s 5c16048650 window. Fortunately, it was still 76313e288e an intact sky, showing 61bbc281e8 no signs of collapsing 419f2610c1 or breaking.ff34a8347b492327

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“But I 759ede61a5 will keep 49d76f7966 going.”6ac0fc339cc9e1e0

It was a 64d60aae5a betrayal of the c349b2fdd8 knight’s expectations. Choked by 24dbbecc2b tears, the 6d34ffef74 knight mumbled 45017f8dd9 something incoherent. The princess shook her f86ab5a235 head.f35f5f25f44fd1ec

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“Even if 2ced79f3ba I find 8cef150a23 my homeland b6bfa83165 now, it 918fb2a1e0 will be e9257fa9ce devoured by 85297a84a1 the calamity. Even if I 6f27399524 hide somewhere with 87142be2bb you, that place b0f7d476fd will collapse into d54fd2bceb a rift. I don’t 7761b274f7 want that. I’ll stake even the 1d37d118b1 slightest possibility. I’ll stop this 9f08966247 calamity and restore 8879820ed0 the world. And then 1dd54717c4 I’ll live e27878c403 with you 0e0d2bc609 under an 1ccffd1b1c intact sky.”fa5d2bb5689a07d6

“But,” the e29c0f3835 knight said, 490918befe “you don’t c778bb0d65 understand. My princess, aee6e28e4c you don’t c6382546a0 understand. Even before dfc4c4b478 I had db995e123b a name, 54afa6d712 I… ah, c2665707a1 I don’t ed442ecff8 even know 8a8def983c what I’m a544b211f2 saying.” His ec74ffe416 voice was f41e0695c1 broken and 08dab6d627 fragmented, filled c4d78df472 with sobs a657e1143c as he da58dc69e8 continued to c3154b6095 speak.c06fd368fb925977

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……
……cf73647b5da45d2f

Well……ad341b77d551b1e9

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It wasn’t a 3694fe7b56 very important story.f3078024c46459c1

……ffe32379a12a3124

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Think of it as deedee4068 an interlude…… or something 0be21f5db1 like that, everyone. We need 492b6ee19f these kinds 3245b3a54b of stories f19eba128d in between, 1754c88852 don’t we? Especially in c98040c356 a world 736a210cb3 on the d81c54eea6 brink of 7f5b615e39 destruction. The struggles, 76cc339644 resolutions, and 4dcc874f1e lives of 7ef289bef2 the people c3a23cd5ec living in 739722400b it—A, B, cb63c0bd84 C, D, 38f04a9631 and so 85d263e93c on. Sometimes, these fragments make 86cd505549 the protagonist’s adventure feel 1020fd24e6 more dramatically complete……8abfab3f94d8d1ee

……
……834b149e62ddc1d7

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……Ah, I bdd97d274c think I’ve 5c95edb0c5 become as d70cbd5524 foolish as 3366f34164 Zig. What am I even 8c83e4a5df babbling about?4ae9f1ce58dfd63b

Maybe it’s 353010e07b because I’m bb0ba9a970 getting older, 60e57c7036 haha.78a98a8bac9d2d4f

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Well then…… 5c51498473 shall we 933d9c7580 return to 4e9fcde070 the wizard b3c81bba6f and the 189bd9a322 prince?51bb07985efef0e2