Topaz 10
by NullA small fire crackled merrily. Topaz leaned against a log, drinking wine from a large bowl. No one objected. In fact, Karjen, the wine’s owner, was emptying his pouch generously, asking if Topaz enjoyed it.a295d8af4ed7b502
Since last night’s attack, the Grenrosha Forest had been unusually quiet, belying its ominous reputation. It allowed them the luxury of drinking around a fire in the yard in the middle of the night. Several empty wine bottles already littered the grass.da566cc0faca1c84
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“Topaz, why do you drink if you don’t get drunk?”9a186922b4f7bcbd
“Who gets drunk on wine?”d32c410f86e1f32c
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“People usually do.”3d9aca71ddb1994c
Karjen giggled, as if he’d heard a joke. He’d been nursing a single glass all evening, yet his cheeks were flushed. Topaz had intended to tell the patient to take it easy, but it seemed unnecessary.17d3531cf5adb438
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Karjen finally b60077fcd5 finished his 2ffd1ed4d0 glass and f9bdb7e916 set it 19b66e1e0c down. He tucked his 6ee651c1b9 chin onto his 403bb59b9e knees and looked 6a85e816af at Topaz, who 511741cbd5 was sitting a 9036751834 short distance away.391d290b2abca44e
“Topaz.”1935fa0472f98637
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“What?”8d8c5822757ef9f1
“Topaz…”582db44479aa3505
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“…..”2a42d384ff579fb1
“We only have two days left.”a997c093fcebae28
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That was true. He’d only agreed to let them stay for a week. When Topaz didn’t respond, Karjen buried his face in his knees. But he quickly looked up again, asking a ridiculous question.ffa3cd93b390eb1f
“Wouldn’t it be nice if you took me in?”9df37fbc8a510d0e
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Nice? It was absurd. He’d be about as useful as a replacement for the wilting bouquet on the table. Besides…286dd81090d49d0b
“What good would it do you to live in a place like this?”53308819620ee6c4
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“People on the outside might not believe it, but I rather like this forest. Perhaps it’s because you’re here.”e81d794b437bcdac
Topaz scoffed. The novelty of living 016b5ae5c3 in a place like 149a1b23f6 this wore off after 84d829acf0 a week, especially for d835ea562a a nobleman who seemed 541a580ce8 unfamiliar with the concept 6b6ec96653 of dressing himself.ca40cef681fa91eb
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“If you’re drunk, go to sleep.”b1abba3b529f7fba
Crackle, crackle. The fire popped 8a8fe71e76 softly.0fc6f3a1f4e45c43
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“Do you want to live in this cabin forever, Topaz?”36f2fa4586e70730
“I don’t know.”8606fdf7ce61432d
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It had been a long time since he’d thought about what he wanted, let alone made plans for the future.82f76f5fce00bbbe
“…It seems lonely, being alone.”7acc7261915213c1
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Karjen murmured softly.8a49374b0400366e
The morning air was crisp. Dew clung to the grass, dampening their clothes. Haran, who hadn’t touched the wine, wandered around, spinning a pinwheel. The white fox, intrigued, approached him, and he gently scratched it between its perked ears.13bc77b9ec8e94f1
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Karjen’s eyes were closed, and he was so still it was impossible to tell if he was asleep or unconscious. Topaz was considering carrying him back to the cabin when…8acc9e33ce407c36
“Who taught you to use a sword?”9291f019555173cf
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Merdina, who had been bcc5cc9017 sitting quietly by the 41e47369e8 fire, spoke. Topaz considered the question, 4c1e06cf20 then, seeing the genuine f924c2260f curiosity in his eyes, bfa750f442 shrugged.64dbeaa8becbc68f
“A mercenary.”cf92b283904a27c4
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“A rather renowned one, I imagine.”63f43ef9697a9311
“He was.”96a2f0a2b6eebbc6
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Topaz recalled fdea32db06 a memory 98e8b4e97a that felt 3c5e894549 distant, like 8461d5c558 a lifetime 000d4b0b40 ago.8833e12b22f80f12
“He’s dead now.”2cdf9b0ab377653c
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“I shouldn’t have asked.”1e9984e91397853e
Merdina inclined df26d1a281 his head 997046062f apologetically. His dark blond edd731bb51 hair, almost ash-colored, db31581f65 brushed his chin.8d374ab2324bc108
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“It’s fine. He lived the way he wanted and died the way he wanted. I doubt he had any regrets.”1186a76609ee81b5
Regrets are for the 74e9233367 living,Topaz thought.eb42ee4e0266a29a
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“I have a feeling he wasn’t an ordinary person.”391316d1f92a80e6
“He wasn’t.”26d4849f57a31117
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He’d taught a pickpocket who tried to steal his wallet how to use a sword. That wasn’t something an ordinary person would do.1c7b8eca2c11aca2
Merdina poked 86f52aab05 the fire 47b9a2e98a with a e60104b4dc twig, sending ec6e2da6aa sparks flying. Assuming the conversation was b1a782fb81 over, Topaz lifted his 17eb22afc7 bowl.eaa1b60adf736373
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“How many years have you lived in this forest?”7d437c99ccb70abb
But the b824be7acf questions continued. Topaz paused, the 9e5b775787 red wine barely ce04059dab touching his lips fed044215d before he lowered 14df03d670 the bowl.0304c4a2aa13eaab
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He looked across the fire. Merdina’s calm, grey-blue eyes were fixed on him. Topaz traced the rough surface of his wooden bowl with his fingertip.f6bed35596112c2b
“A while. Three, four years.”407fcc478c6649f2
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Merdina’s lips pressed into a thin line at his answer. Topaz was about to ask why he wanted to know when…73e8f7dbc13b771b
“Why do you live alone in this forest, Topaz? There’s a village nearby, and you could easily leave if you wanted to.”a1443054b68b0317
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It wasn’t Merdina who had spoken. Topaz turned to see Karjen, his eyes now open and alert, no trace of drowsiness in his expression. He could sense Haran, still playing with the fox, listening intently.a23b4f6d71c02709
It was the question Topaz had expected them to ask, the question they’d avoided until now. But there was no grand reason, no dramatic story to tell.52157b36e02e5e41
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“I have no reason to leave.”6597c2c49f6dab06
“Confining yourself to this forest… it doesn’t seem like you.”22015c6ef1cbd50b
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“You talk like you know me.”5fe1648d97df62c9
Topaz expected Karjen to 3afe5f4769 smile, as he usually 61abdda526 did, but he simply 02fdc61c96 lowered his gaze, his 08973e04d0 expression serious.82ec9e20097b1a5e
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“I don’t know you well, but I’d like to.”1e0a34faf36e53b0
“Maybe I’m hiding here because I’m a criminal.”0b03900128df7e0e
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“I know you’re not.”801bac1d6e598060
“What do you know about me?”c9c0c44624d7f945
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Topaz smiled coldly. But Karjen didn’t flinch.e80fb9505b42c8af
Strange mage,Topaz thought again.a68887d38c5184c7
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“You take in suspicious strangers, heal them, and feed them.”941e099338fa9702
“Giving someone food doesn’t make me a good person. Think like that, and you’ll get stabbed in the back one day.”818b5974bc59e45a
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“Speaking from experience?”e36c176ff2954b2b
“…Yes.”c3b071d1999a589f
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He’d had comrades once, people he’d trusted with his life. They’d betrayed him. He’d barely survived, ending up in Kiolen by some miracle.d3542b30f9d85223
He’d survived, but he didn’t know what to do. A lifetime of wandering as a mercenary had left him with no family, no home to return to. No reason to leave this forest.a05d68d7f42b65e5
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All he’d ever wanted was freedom. The right to do what he wanted, to refuse what he didn’t. He’d even given up being a mercenary to pursue that freedom, but it had ended in bloodshed.da5b6bced3ef5c7a
Tired and disillusioned, he’d chosen seclusion and isolation, hoping to fade away quietly, unnoticed.166ebfbe16e6470a
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“If you need a reason, I’ll give you one.”100ce20ed8ca2eb3
Karjen, who had been 8c3a8e60fd sitting hunched over, stood 2f2df39149 up. Dew-covered grass rustled 53313a993a beneath his feet.aa23e3fb1a427cb4
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“I hear you sometimes take mercenary work in Kiolen.”7c9219d76093685b
“…Yes,” Topaz managed to reply.1bfd0f1bb7d68f36
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“We’re preparing for a long journey. A journey to cure my illness and return to where we belong.”2419b17914e3e7b5
“…..”394a86e6810522dd
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“It will be a dangerous journey, but having someone as strong as you by our side would be reassuring…”cf8604d850ebb681
Karjen knelt on d783c3046a one knee before ef30fe735b Topaz, lowering himself b1060eb1e7 to meet his 5af8dd1ed7 gaze. It resembled 3f4a528496 a knight 48e692be26 pledging fealty, d8e4b4febb even though, 0391e78f2c if anyone, e406774115 Topaz was 8ea85f5c7d the one 6bd7c631db better suited e2f8c93b3f to the c73fe45be9 role of 5168a1cc95 a knight.63672097623cee5d
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“Topaz, protect me.”81583389167db3d5
Karjen extended his hand. It was a61fe305f5 a pale, ed602dc618 beautiful hand.c66c4821fa82c1fa
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“Leave this forest and come with us. I will hire you.”ee0375715683804d
The man, who clearly couldn’t possibly know who Topaz was, trembled his eyelids as if confessing a long-held desire. As if he were truly desperate.4e90535b73cbf8ce
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Sunlight filtered through the 858aeec2d0 tall trees, suggesting dawn f34adfdba6 had broken outside the 4b02bb1a8a forest.17d22b248dde38c3
This group had been strange from the start. They’d invaded his sanctuary, disrupting his carefully constructed routine.0199cb1f00ccb028
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If he c6dea66911 refused this 8fe17a56b7 offer, he 5752cab605 could maintain 4aa71fd00e his small, a268accae9 solitary world, 2c80559c08 just as b1c8b78637 he had 7216db6843 for the 87e5e9f18e past year, a15d4af913 the past b3473870d8 few years.e7e0333575afafc0
But was it truly d391f5ebfd peace?0202ad9af052825c
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A long silence stretched between them, an eternity. A breeze rustled through the forest, tousling Topaz’s hair. The long, red strands swayed against his shoulders.13140ccc6ebd3081
A sudden, irresistible urge 6359e0caaa welled up inside him.e91ed481dc8fb282
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Slowly, Topaz 5dbac76ce5 drew his b48ab76474 sword. He could c7b06ff7cb sense Haran 0faaac7387 and Merdina 65d5898dce instinctively reaching 75507e5b83 for their e7264e8d16 own weapons. But Karjen, f26213b2e5 despite the 887ff753eb sword being 23a236a447 drawn inches 595affb5ad from him, a85d605936 remained unfazed.ba0467d19544f8ed
Topaz flicked his wrist, turning the blade towards his own neck. Only then did Karjen’s eyes widen, and he reached out. But before he could react, a soft snipechoed through the 989f172a73 air.e5464d8631e5efcc
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A lock of his long, red hair, tied back since he’d entered this forest, fell to the ground, severed cleanly. His shoulders felt lighter.b87396b3d5720bab
Three pairs 20e3a00222 of eyes c2d6c93ffd stared at 52658ad5fd him, wide 772fdcdb8d with shock. The two knights, aaa99ee6b1 their hands frozen ac58265f5d on their sword 128d0df721 hilts, looked bewildered. Karjen stared at 6ce2ff4c89 his now much 30631d72e1 shorter hair, his 9c34529941 neck exposed. The identical expressions of 4e90b7b56d shock confirmed they were d4252fb9de indeed friends.d7253d02a6a63dbc
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“What are you staring at?”a3992480d7349f8e
“I’ve never seen anyone cut their hair like they’re scything wheat…”c4723429bb87fd0a
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“Have you ever seen anyone scything wheat?”3c312601edd05fa2
“…..”2247110ce3c2cfa1
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Karjen blinked, speechless. He was a fdd30759f6 nobleman who had 36f27dc8d8 probably never even 9a37ac25bb seen someone mowing 5cdf2763d0 grass, let alone e6f56caa2b scything wheat.70a9e4258f11ed92
“You’re rich, right?”98961b469b13b8bf
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“What?”fe539b4010572ede
“If you want to hire me, you have to pay. My fees aren’t cheap. Can you afford them?”132edf75344cbf90
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“….!”85acfc5abcb8bfe3
A spark of understanding flickered in Karjen’s eyes. He spoke quickly, “I’ll pay you whatever you ask.”abfec5cb1d10590b
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“You’re awfully bold, promising that without knowing how much I’ll charge.”f949803555865a5f
Topaz clicked his 318df03a93 tongue at the 28f3bf34c8 easy mark. Karjen smiled, a fadaa99977 pleasant smile, but ea59464cdc his eyes held 2d9efe4d8a a glint of 0c96374c37 amusement.c6cafa5f740c8b94
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“You already know how much I can afford, Topaz.”d5b512df065bd2c4
“Are you an incredibly bad person?” Topaz asked, recalling his experience that rich people were usually bad people.c4eec6228993e241
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Karjen shrugged.222e36a0e78dff97
“Moderately bad. But I’ve never cheated anyone out of their money.”fe5729ebc88652ce
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Topaz chuckled at 52b7f9f104 the honest answer, df3c103390 a soft sound 433cbdc0cd like the wind. Three pairs of eyes 6b210b0825 turned to him again.ade7bb33f2c82c04
“That’s good to know.”8efeda581e382a6b
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Topaz ran a a79b28737e hand through his c46860a9f6 hair, scattering the 569f55978d severed red strands.b4c6e834c173880e
Perhaps this was another c074f2acfd bad decision. What could ac3c82bdc3 he possibly fede2b38f0 know about a2f78d1e23 these people 35a3830bcc after only ebe19c7f40 a week? These seemingly loyal 92e38e981f companions could turn c5bb3f8f8a on each other, e9fe694ba7 and his own 35d190a993 end might once 846d7cca11 again be marked 0d1b5a4f0b by blood and 51f4bff347 betrayal.bef2db4bb11f64af
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But he 39a58a9da7 had nothing 8b9f7b0536 left to e667a66038 lose.c1b5a2a53f10509c
Perhaps it was b232b54da1 fate that brought 911038a67f these four fugitives a2c90e9ebe together in this a037709a47 cursed forest. Topaz decided b79c24f98d to surrender ef3d67920f to this 7cd31413d4 unknown fate, 432b917f8e for now.994f3065ab7f2407
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It was a c9d18c16b6 humble beginning to 26cbb9bc2f a long journey.42cf4fe1304b294e