Topaz 8
by Null“Are these enough flowers? Are they too plain?”
No, they’re excessively flamboyant, Topaz almost blurted out. It wasn’t the flowers themselves, but Karjen, holding an armful of them, that was flamboyant. With a face like that, he could have become rich selling flowers in the marketplace, even without noble blood or magical talent.
‘Topaz, would you like to go flower picking with me?’
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‘…..’
Karjen, noticing the flowers he’d picked a few days ago had wilted, had asked him during breakfast. Topaz hadn’t been able to refuse, not only because of the dark bruise on Karjen’s wrist and the knights’ pointed stares that made his cheeks burn, but also because…
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It had been six days since this strange group had invaded his forest.
Even based on Karjen’s request for a week’s stay, it was already day three. Karjen had recovered considerably in that time. This would be the last day of his insane flower-picking expeditions in a forest full of poisonous plants. The flowers would wilt in a few days, and then there would be no one to replace them.
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“What’s in that direction?”
Karjen, having gathered a substantial bouquet, showed no inclination to return to the cabin. Instead, his curiosity was piqued by a path Topaz had never taken him on before.
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“That way leads to a cliff.”
“Ah, so there’s a sea?”
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Karjen’s eyes sparkled. This wasn’t good.
“May I go see it?”
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Topaz had been waiting for that question. Those from the inland capital couldn’t resist the allure of the sea.
“Haven’t you seen the sea before?”
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“A few times when I was young. I have relatives who live in a coastal city. But I’ve never seen the North Sea.”
Naturally. Most people who lived by the North Sea were soldiers. Topaz, taking pity on the city boy’s excitement over something so commonplace, led the way.
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Karjen followed closely, clutching the bouquet in one arm and lightly holding onto the edge of Topaz’s tunic with the other. Even though he was acting like a child, his actions weren’t annoying, likely due to his face. Topaz observed him, his blue eyes crinkling into a smile.
They walked through the undergrowth. Suspicious rustlings came from the bushes, but the creatures, instead of attacking, held their breath and watched, their instincts urging them to assess the power dynamic. Karjen, though probably aware of their presence, remained unfazed, as if on a leisurely outing.
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As they continued north, the dense trees thinned, revealing a clearing. Beyond it lay the sea.
“It’s beautiful.”
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Karjen’s words were accurate. The azure sea stretching out beneath the cliff was beautiful, a deep, vibrant blue that brought a sense of calm. But no one ever came here for the view.
Long ago, people believed that the land beyond the North Sea was inhabited by monsters. Though it was now known that there were no other continents in that direction, the people of the north still considered the sea to be the birthplace of monsters. Indeed, a significant number of beasts washed ashore from the North Sea every year, making the northern regions a constant battleground.
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And the Grenrosha Forest stretched out between the northeastern sea and the cities below. People feared the forest, but Topaz considered it a buffer zone. The beasts from the sea remained within the forest, rarely venturing further south.
“So, this is truly the edge of the continent.”
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Karjen gazed at the sea below. It was deep, and the waves crashed against the cliffs with a ferocity that would leave no survivor. Karjen stepped closer to the edge, and Topaz, instinctively, reached out and grabbed his arm. Karjen turned, startled, then smiled faintly.
“Don’t worry, I won’t get too close.”
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“I wasn’t worried,” Topaz replied indifferently, releasing his grip. He glanced up at the swaying shadows of the trees. A large, withered tree clung to the edge of the cliff, its branches reaching out towards the sea.
Topaz often climbed this tree to look out at the sea, watching the waves crash against the rocks below. But this was the first time he’d shared the view with anyone.
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In fact, it wasn’t just the view. Sharing meals and sleeping in the same cabin were also firsts. For the past few years, Topaz had been alone.
He turned to see Karjen looking back at him, his gaze no longer on the sea. The sea breeze ruffled his ebony hair.
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Then, a snap. Something broke, and a curtain of long hair fell around Topaz’s face. He quickly grabbed for the falling hair tie, but the old cord, already frayed, had snapped completely. Topaz frowned, gathering his hair in his hands.
“Shall I tie it back for you?”
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“If you can manage it.”
Karjen’s surprised expression at his ready agreement was amusing.
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“Don’t want to?”
“No, I’ll do it.”
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Karjen stepped behind him, his long shadow falling over Topaz. He fumbled for a moment, then extended his hand over Topaz’s shoulder.
“Which ribbon do you like?”
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Several silk hair ties, clearly expensive and soft, lay neatly in his palm. Red, black, blue, and green. None of his companions had hair long enough to tie back, so Topaz wondered where they had come from.
“Blue.”
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“Ah, I knew it would suit you.”
The soft chuckle behind him made his ears tingle. He felt Karjen’s fingers gently combing through his hair, gathering the strands and brushing against his ear and the nape of his neck.
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It felt like a child playing with a doll. Too gentle to be called playful, yet undeniably clumsy. Though not entirely trusting of his skills, Topaz didn’t stop him, sensing a certain cautiousness in his movements. The soft rustle of silk against his hair.
“Finished?”
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“Yes,” Karjen replied, sounding pleased with himself. Topaz, unable to see without a mirror, ran his hand over his hair and was rendered speechless.
It was uneven and lumpy, a mess. He’d known Karjen was clumsy, but this was beyond expectation.
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“Why did you even offer?”
“Well… I did my best.”
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Karjen’s cheeks flushed pink as he scratched his cheek, aware of his failure. Too lazy to retie it, Topaz left it as it was. Karjen murmured from behind him, “I should have practiced. I’ll do better next time.”
“Don’t bother.”
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There wouldn’t be a next time. Karjen stepped around to face him, his gaze falling on Topaz’s tunic.
“Topaz, your clothes are dirty.”
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Topaz looked down and saw dirt smudges on the hem of his tunic, picked up while brushing aside Karjen’s hair and clothes as they walked through the forest.
“Shall I clean them for you?”
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Karjen smiled, extending his hand. It was a delicate hand, as if it had never done a day’s laundry, let alone washed itself.
“Do you even know how to do laundry?”
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At his question, Karjen lowered his head, as if he’d heard something incredibly amusing. Then he whispered, a hint of laughter in his voice, “Cleanse.”
“….!”
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Mana surged as he casually uttered the spell. A cool sensation enveloped Topaz, and the dirt vanished from his tunic. It was a simple cleansing spell, one Topaz was familiar with.
But there was a difference. Topaz lifted the hem of his tunic. Not only were his clothes clean, but his entire body felt refreshed, as if he’d just bathed.
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“…..”
Bathing in this forest, where snow fell until May, meant either breaking the ice on a frozen river or hauling water back to the cabin and heating it. It was a constant chore, and yet, with magic, it took less than five seconds…
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Not entirely useless. Just as Topaz was about to revise his opinion of Karjen, the mage swayed and collapsed forward. Topaz instinctively caught him around the waist. The mage, so chatty just moments ago, was now pale and unconscious.
“Ha…”
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Topaz hoisted Karjen onto his shoulder. He was surprisingly heavy for someone who fainted so easily, and his long limbs made him awkward to carry. Topaz frowned, adjusting his grip.
Having to lug this oversized baggage back through the forest… a steep price to pay for a clean tunic.
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A headache, a long-forgotten sensation, began to throb behind his eyes.