The Forest Race Clonne

Chapter 67

“You’re planning to take Sei on the escort journey?”

“Isn’t this the period right before their awakening? It would be more convenient to keep them close in case of emergencies rather than leaving them alone in the village.”

“Well, that’s not entirely wrong, but…”

Suddenly, Syran raised his hand high, glaring fiercely.

“I’ll take Sei with me!”

“Why are you so worked up…?”

“He came later than me! I’ve known Sei longer than that guy! If someone needs to look after Sei, it should be me, not him! I’ll take Sei!”

“You make it sound like a significant difference. It’s just a day apart at best.”

“So what! I even slept with Sei!”

“That’s because you barged into his room.”

Even though Syran had initially mistaken him for someone else, he seemed to have completely forgotten that now, confidently wearing a proud expression. As Aska cast a glance his way, Syran immediately assumed a defensive stance.

“What, What is it! Got a problem?”

“…No, nothing. But I wonder if you can properly look after him with those short arms and legs.”

“Short… what?”

“Just a reminder that the Aesang is taller than you. If you need to support him, you might end up getting crushed.”

“You snarky… Did you really have to say that?”

Kalph let out a groan and ran his hands over his face. Meanwhile, those around were buzzing with intrigued whispers as they watched the exchange.

“Lord Aska, you’re surprisingly bad-tempered.”

“Isn’t that just outright rude?”

“To be honest, it’s rare to find someone with a good personality among Knights, isn’t it…?”

“Hey, shush, shush. Lord Kalph can hear you. Do you want to get disciplined?”

Watching the whole scene unfold, I felt rather detached. Honestly, it didn’t even register that the name being tossed around was mine. It’s a bad habit, but if something doesn’t make sense, it’s just easier to let it go. As I watched the never-ending bickering, something changed.

“Ah…”

I hadn’t moved, but suddenly my vision swayed dramatically. It was a familiar dizziness, but this time it felt different. My entire body began to feel like it was floating, becoming distant and weightless. My body started to lean to the side.

‘This… might be dangerous.’

My body had felt heavy all day, and now it seemed to be giving out. I clicked my tongue lightly and briefly considered whether I should ask for help. That was my last thought before everything went black.

* * *

All around me was pitch black. Not a single star in sight, it was darkness as deep as a moonless sky. When I became aware, I was aimlessly wandering through this obscure space.

I didn’t know why I was walking, where I had come from, or where I was heading. The one thing I was aware of was that this was a dream.

‘Why am I having this dream?’

I silently questioned myself as I continued to move. Then, an unexpected answer came directly to my ears.

―Because you are meant to meet me.

The voice was low, spreading with arrogance and authority. Yet there was no sense of repulsion, probably because it had a pleasing resonance. It felt strangely familiar, even nostalgic.

‘To meet you?’

I looked around, but there was no one who might be the owner of the voice. I couldn’t tell where they were watching me from, but it didn’t seem close.

―This dream is a passage. Once you reach the end, you’ll meet me. You are walking for that purpose.

‘Why must I meet you?’

―Because it’s necessary.

‘I want to know why it’s necessary.’

―You’ll understand that as soon as we meet.

I frowned at the vague answer. It seemed the owner of the voice didn’t intend to comply in the way I wanted.

‘Who are you, exactly?’

I didn’t expect much from this question either. The response was equally ambiguous.

―Why ask when you’ll find out upon arrival?

‘Are we familiar enough for me to recognize you immediately?’

―You’ll know once you meet me.

The voice, lightly answering, carried a hint of amusement. It felt slightly excited, like strange anticipation. Clearly, this person was thoroughly enjoying this situation. They must like childish pranks. A sigh escaped me.

‘Then, let me change the question. How much further until I meet you?’

―That, I do not know.

‘…That’s very irresponsible.’

—It hurts my heart to hear you say that. I am the one who has been looking forward to our meeting the most, you know.

‘Looking forward to it?’

―Of course. You might think I’m some notorious scoundrel, but that’s not the case. In fact, I’m the biggest victim here.

His voice muttered like a complaint, filled with dissatisfaction. The surrounding environment rippled like water, affected by his emotions. How I knew this was beyond me. I just did naturally.

―So hurry up, Seirakia. My patience isn’t that deep.

‘…How do you know my name?’

Seirakia. It was my real name, one I hadn’t spoken since abandoning the name of Lavant. My startled inquiry elicited a clearer laugh from the voice.

―Because this is a dream.

* * *

As I opened my eyes, I saw the sky through the transparent windowpane. Without needing to look around, I knew I was in my own room. I reached up and touched my forehead, feeling the damp cloth placed there. Someone had put a cold compress on me. What was going on? Why was I like this? While I was still dazedly contemplating, someone spoke up.

“You’re awake. Are your senses coming back?”

I turned my gaze to see Kalph’s face looking down at me, his expression full of concern. Realizing the situation, I slowly recalled that I had lost consciousness. I remembered feeling my body tilt, but nothing after that. I tried to sit up quickly, but Kalph shook his head, stopping me.

“Your fever was quite severe. You won’t have the strength to move for a while. Just stay put and rest.”

“…I’m sorry. I must have caused trouble.”

“Trouble? Nonsense. What kind of kid says things like that? When you’re sick, don’t try to tough it out; let us take care of you. That’s why we’re here by your side.”

Was I still feverish? The gentle touch on my forehead, stroking my hair, made me feel like crying. It was a strange sensation, as if I had regressed to my early childhood. Though I never had such an illness back then, realizing this made the situation feel even more awkward.

“I don’t understand why I collapsed. My body felt unusually heavy all day, but…”

“Ah, it’s alright. It’s just the start of your awakening. It’s a natural phenomenon, so don’t worry too much.”

“Awakening?”

“It’s like growing pains, where your body undergoes changes and development. It’s happening a bit sooner than I expected. I thought it would start around next spring, but it seems your body has started the process earlier. You can think of it as your body beginning its full awakening.”

“Ah, I see…”

So, this was a sign of my awakening. I was told I might collapse at any time, and it turned out to be true.

‘I thought it was just a cold.’

I couldn’t believe I had forgotten the warning completely. Luckily, other than feeling a bit fuzzy-headed, I didn’t seem to be in much pain. Being in the initial stages, the physical changes weren’t noticeable yet.

But Kalph’s expression as he gazed down at me was somewhat peculiar. His eyes were scrutinizing, as if he were analyzing every detail. When I looked back at him curiously, he snapped out of it and gave an awkward smile.

“Ah, sorry. Sei, you said you don’t know much about your father, right?”

“Yes, I only heard he was a mercenary.”

“Hm, and… you’re certain he’s deceased?”

“As far as I know, yes.”

“You never heard anything specific about him? Like his hair or eye color, any distinctive scent of flowers, his personality, or way of speaking?”

“Sorry, nothing like that…”

“Hm, I see.”

Kalph brushed his lips with a look of frustration. It seemed he was more embarrassed for pushing the questions on me rather than disappointed with the answers.

“Sorry about that. Don’t mind what I just asked. The timing made me wonder, but it’s probably nothing. Aska tends to say unnecessary things…”

“…What did Lord Aska say?”

“Nothing important. Even if it were true, it’s not something we can verify right now. I’ll tell you if I’m more certain.”

It seemed he had someone in mind who could be my father. Could it really be related to Aska? Remembering Aska’s insistence on taking me along, I felt another wave of curiosity.

“What’s more important for you right now is this.”

Changing the mood, Kalph spoke cheerfully and brought a wooden bowl. When I sat up to accept it, it appeared empty. But Kalph placed his hand over the bowl, and steam began to rise, filling it with a milky-white liquid. It was clearer than milk and slightly more fluid.

“Here, drink it all. Don’t expect it to taste good, though.”

Kalph urged me to drink it before I could even marvel at the strange phenomenon. Normally, I would have complied without question, but this time I had to ask.

“…Can I ask what this is?”

“Hm? Do you really want to know? Sometimes ignorance is bliss, you know.”

“…”

“Haha, just kidding. This is called Anima.”

“Anima?”

“It’s a tonic that helps restore vitality. It’s made by condensing my life energy into a liquid form, similar to an internal elixir. You must drink it whenever you undergo awakening, so bear with the taste.”

Life energy? Internal elixir? These were terms I had never heard before. I had heard that inside the bodies of long-lived monsters or spirits, there exists a core formed from accumulated energy, so I wondered if it was a similar concept.