Topaz 10

A 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.42329c891947a61e

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.fd83852a246a9afe

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“Topaz, why do you drink if you don’t get drunk?”7e45be4ca405cad7

“Who gets drunk on wine?”35d9a819c45e98c3

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“People usually do.”47e8d8fbb96f817a

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.3ccdfc5d02a73ce1

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Karjen finally 0ffcb7e6da finished his 1f3b5eea87 glass and 15849595a4 set it 15732e6421 down. He tucked his 68a068966e chin onto his 741f057c41 knees and looked a404a2abd1 at Topaz, who 6b86cdd941 was sitting a 67aab4b75d short distance away.547254a8ea7315de

“Topaz.”04257d064387cb9f

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“What?”5e170747e3c0377c

“Topaz…”5c2334987743ca52

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“…..”4d0d1e564d2bd888

“We only have two days left.”c34863b31b34cded

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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.f148663f56feff18

“Wouldn’t it be nice if you took me in?”e811e89473f50fb7

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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…7f977757dff256e8

“What good would it do you to live in a place like this?”c9eb585cd3b43e8a

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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.”136e804fc334ec9a

Topaz scoffed. The novelty 9a880b3601 of living c49c1812ea in a 40d5f547c4 place like 40b3d3970b this wore 48aaaf07bb off after 487b42cc8d a week, ec8749584e especially for 461c3e886d a nobleman e3f37a344f who seemed 42d59caeff unfamiliar with 9e0eb9bb96 the concept d314f432d7 of dressing 24e6be6ce9 himself.e6ab7fc3705518b6

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“If you’re drunk, go to sleep.”55ea82909642514a

Crackle, crackle. The fire popped softly.d7a30bb174b3de07

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“Do you want to live in this cabin forever, Topaz?”ef61ef72aea9f9b3

“I don’t know.”dfb83aabb35ea91d

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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.a1cd07b740e85e4c

“…It seems lonely, being alone.”4a740c76e3433090

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Karjen murmured softly.a4d5aeb6c2beece4

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.1b7649f8d0ea3923

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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…aca5363a72e82dbb

“Who taught you to use a sword?”863eb6a70453587f

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Merdina, who b55e097578 had been 06cadf6e9a sitting quietly 2560fdc92b by the b9634fc1c2 fire, spoke. Topaz considered 2e9f4119b2 the question, db1b615068 then, seeing 97eb31323f the genuine 7893f7a36e curiosity in bc1f5a6989 his eyes, 118918c2f1 shrugged.f741578d8d0caa18

“A mercenary.”6388d6a7839f5e8b

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“A rather renowned one, I imagine.”6d7036c76cf28f8c

“He was.”4d612c4e5d933e37

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Topaz recalled 323ea80933 a memory 9a2bb93008 that felt d3cd83c9d5 distant, like 59aa82361e a lifetime 098a2d9b41 ago.cbfa958133168960

“He’s dead now.”91243e8aff8dc9c2

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“I shouldn’t have asked.”39e444363235d526

Merdina inclined his aedcb7f533 head apologetically. His dark 70c5e8e89d blond hair, 7e4406a7b7 almost ash-colored, 459f02f531 brushed his e9e8ea4095 chin.11154a8b4d666564

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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.”a97366632ee3f898

Regrets are for the 48a8b07210 living,Topaz thought.c5af0d6ecbdb46e8

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“I have a feeling he wasn’t an ordinary person.”15d07763ee318b69

“He wasn’t.”59b126924fcf7078

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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.d4a43dff1db84a30

Merdina poked 13ed053809 the fire 3b0a09f407 with a b6425eb9e3 twig, sending 5ff45ee6dd sparks flying. Assuming the conversation 9da952b764 was over, Topaz 9d0b47c7ce lifted his bowl.24b66922d0c1d4c9

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“How many years have you lived in this forest?”488ab29ee062bbdd

But the dbe1bab726 questions continued. Topaz paused, 97a446d140 the red f02251f77f wine barely 4d9bd98550 touching his ac0c5398bc lips before 18c248d854 he lowered 69238b928b the bowl.81d1a8721c7cfb52

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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.099f962ee49e444b

“A while. Three, four years.”ce6e716683c23ed7

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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…a8d946ae7f56b5c8

“Why do you live alone in this forest, Topaz? There’s a village nearby, and you could easily leave if you wanted to.”95d4b5bfbe3b14d2

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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.b69d2a2d02539d4c

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.46b8ac459b7e1125

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“I have no reason to leave.”959a8707c207ddb0

“Confining yourself to this forest… it doesn’t seem like you.”29c7cf7aecd64ede

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“You talk like you know me.”f67111373a71e336

Topaz expected Karjen 4eb5252db3 to smile, as a83766079b he usually did, 00ddf24224 but he simply c008fe816e lowered his gaze, a62f6c0d1e his expression serious.ea0a8c3412a2b7d4

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“I don’t know you well, but I’d like to.”01698c8c15e4a7b6

“Maybe I’m hiding here because I’m a criminal.”e481e6b584c33213

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“I know you’re not.”0a5c31da99a8a946

“What do you know about me?”469983b89d2692ee

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Topaz smiled coldly. But Karjen didn’t flinch.86d32470ee34089c

Strange mage,Topaz thought again.9bbf41eeb6e7151a

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“You take in suspicious strangers, heal them, and feed them.”a31e93995d9dd555

“Giving someone food doesn’t make me a good person. Think like that, and you’ll get stabbed in the back one day.”4941758b6ab3c1a0

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“Speaking from experience?”a2a8b7ac6fd8495a

“…Yes.”571ce47a532ec9d6

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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.aff36f9b31199302

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.358ab63c41d4f88f

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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.1cb2e6a0c3b80b3f

Tired and disillusioned, he’d chosen seclusion and isolation, hoping to fade away quietly, unnoticed.67b08a23dff4ef33

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“If you need a reason, I’ll give you one.”4e59b22775084630

Karjen, who 165d978d0d had been e1a305c646 sitting hunched 7c63617e5e over, stood c844eb49e1 up. Dew-covered grass rustled 844d33db75 beneath his feet.42e20e88d7ed6691

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“I hear you sometimes take mercenary work in Kiolen.”f1317076ca32ec9e

“…Yes,” Topaz managed to reply.5b11199bed895991

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“We’re preparing for a long journey. A journey to cure my illness and return to where we belong.”3efa413612df4a12

“…..”ec8948b453318d20

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“It will be a dangerous journey, but having someone as strong as you by our side would be reassuring…”21ab14d4700643dd

Karjen knelt 94e30a94c2 on one 11fdbeca39 knee before bd0fe8654f Topaz, lowering 2ead771c56 himself to 797b2962fa meet his 98a48da2ac gaze. It resembled 856893c970 a knight 5d376c87c6 pledging fealty, 9f2e5c02a5 even though, 3bd03b7416 if anyone, 08bbc3f1a1 Topaz was 5bd95e46ee the one a09e6dd617 better suited 9332019458 to the ca5b127142 role of ea374120f4 a knight.8aa0601e38fb0ae0

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“Topaz, protect me.”c48559e9acc6bf6e

Karjen extended his e4851c4548 hand. It was a cab93eb5dd pale, beautiful hand.ac1573b2b31cafd5

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“Leave this forest and come with us. I will hire you.”f2cafcab4efaa357

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.696dd9e7984a98d2

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Sunlight filtered through ca2a19ab6f the tall trees, c0f0f86233 suggesting dawn had 32044e0c2b broken outside the fd09035f9b forest.9c01827136b061ca

This group had been strange from the start. They’d invaded his sanctuary, disrupting his carefully constructed routine.62ef45bb11c43572

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If he refused this bd39b58dcb offer, he could maintain f082d4307a his small, solitary world, 0f37a4a3f9 just as he had 2e2cf55353 for the past year, c6dd1fbef3 the past few years.ce6dedd71104e614

But was it truly 19629f858d peace?f778b959ca67df71

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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.df8ad2ff94f44d56

A sudden, irresistible 392b993027 urge welled up 32b929c3dd inside him.8830df2e208bf4ef

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Slowly, Topaz faec347fb7 drew his 1c2c331927 sword. He could d999f1e6ef sense Haran 2a20d66215 and Merdina e4baaf9c81 instinctively reaching 158b1979ed for their 1939dcc4e7 own weapons. But Karjen, despite f6546269e6 the sword being e6c4b88aab drawn inches from 3efaa53c5d him, remained unfazed.522d87395fe5e549

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 air.0cce03c3100d3533

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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.5c42dab44490ff7e

Three pairs e1ff219cca of eyes 1eb78a8522 stared at 93132abd1b him, wide ec45226f6b with shock. The two knights, their 919cd0edd9 hands frozen on their 536339c860 sword hilts, looked bewildered. Karjen stared at a4d1abbdbd his now much 53de876a19 shorter hair, his 4070ca47ad neck exposed. The identical expressions 8d5e040fdb of shock confirmed 4393bf177b they were indeed e1b13ee7c4 friends.209512384f5cdd6b

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“What are you staring at?”8d2870912d971be8

“I’ve never seen anyone cut their hair like they’re scything wheat…”3544cb478c223bdb

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“Have you ever seen anyone scything wheat?”1b598b2eaedffdc3

“…..”3365fea4016a8d8f

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Karjen blinked, speechless. He was 4f53644f3c a nobleman 26642757b3 who had 6270d464dc probably never bb22c388d8 even seen a6ae3478b1 someone mowing 3b731b671c grass, let c9986db7f3 alone scything 44aef919f6 wheat.fe26576e34700e16

“You’re rich, right?”6d2867eb8cd54f2a

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“What?”92c5238c3a52d302

“If you want to hire me, you have to pay. My fees aren’t cheap. Can you afford them?”d2721a584b483741

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“….!”1f12c88128877f3d

A spark of understanding flickered in Karjen’s eyes. He spoke quickly, “I’ll pay you whatever you ask.”f52cfda9dbc58c2e

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“You’re awfully bold, promising that without knowing how much I’ll charge.”4e93b62af2fe06a2

Topaz clicked his dd7703bc9b tongue at the 26a9c69385 easy mark. Karjen smiled, a pleasant 020f8166ab smile, but his eyes afb08e1d34 held a glint of 8949a4db92 amusement.56e97bb7dbb429b0

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“You already know how much I can afford, Topaz.”fccb8ab9da41b4b4

“Are you an incredibly bad person?” Topaz asked, recalling his experience that rich people were usually bad people.cd6ff235116b0b80

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Karjen shrugged.abdd46dc12b7b188

“Moderately bad. But I’ve never cheated anyone out of their money.”2df867b70fab0a27

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Topaz chuckled at the 4ec4c2113c honest answer, a soft 8916f0ad44 sound like the wind. Three pairs of 8f64477c6f eyes turned to 450f6d47d8 him again.cefff961cf9bad8d

“That’s good to know.”b1f85a8fec62392a

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Topaz ran 63b66cda9c a hand fa256f8867 through his b31dee0c9a hair, scattering e4ee6aa93e the severed b7217521da red strands.8a1ca8bb4305e77d

Perhaps this was b2ba18177d another bad decision. What could he f46befd206 possibly know about d5db40a23e these people after ab543950ce only a week? These seemingly loyal 27835f25a8 companions could turn c7d88c26a5 on each other, 197b88d0b6 and his own 0fdb798835 end might once 2216c65c95 again be marked c7113c9ee1 by blood and 3d476aaf1c betrayal.3e4830ae26e66616

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But he had nothing aad5c0a548 left to lose.0af08562109fb31c

Perhaps it was fate b4361d83a3 that brought these four 71fff5f66d fugitives together in this de7885ba42 cursed forest. Topaz decided to surrender c477f05b6d to this unknown fate, 962c73c329 for now.8e4281c5d3d84c56

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It was a humble 876ed12ba8 beginning to a long 50e7723c48 journey.cb9e02aaac1e070c