IBWCD 38

Chapter 38

After leaving the camp, Evelyn made her way to the outskirts of the clearing.

She’d hoped to slip back into the straw bales and use her magic, but now that she’d made her presence felt, she was overwhelmed by the attention she was receiving.

Most of the attention was favorable, but she couldn’t help but wonder if she would be seen.

‘I don’t want any rumors of where the grand duke has been picking up trash.’

Even if it was on the outskirts, it was only a hundred meters from the camp, so it wouldn’t be dangerous.

“That would be good.”

When she found the right spot, she ran up to an oak tree perched on a small hill.

The smell of fresh grass and a cool breeze on the hill was a breath of fresh air.

On the other hand, her mouth dropped open as she realized that this peaceful landscape had been created at someone’s expense.

While many hailed his ability to wield the power of darkness as a gift from the gods, Evelyn felt differently.

What a burden, what a cruelty, to place the tranquility of the Empire in the hands of one man.

Evelyn remembered the bitter cold of the north, where her fingertips would have fallen off, and she thought of Kalian, who had spent his life in such places.

And the calm that surrounded her now made her feel even more fondly for him.

“He’s right, I must be useful before I can ask for what I want.”

Evelyn resolved herself and began her training.

She stretched out her hands, letting the breeze blow through them, and the faint moonlight fell like a veil over them.

Slowly, as Kalian had taught her, following the memories of her past life.

Several times she channeled the magic within her to her fingertips, and soon her tiny palm was glowing white.

‘That’s it, you’re doing well, very well.’

Kalian’s soothing voice echoed in her head, the one she’d heard so many times before.

*Throbbing*

Just remembering his affectionate gaze on her made her heart ache.

Though perhaps even in those moments, he’d been superimposing someone else over her face.

“Wake up, don’t think about it.”

She shook her head to clear her mind and squeezed her eyes shut.

Then, just as she was about to focus on the energy that flowed through her like a clear stream, she felt a sudden tug on her back.

*Rustle*

‘What the hell, I think someone’s looking at me…’

A chill ran up her spine.

There was a group of knights not far away, but she was the only one in the area anyway.

‘No, there’s no way a demon would appear in the Empire, which is a clean zone, unless the gates are open…’

She reassured herself and slowly pushed her eyelids up.

*Rustle, rustle, rustle*

“……!”

With a sickening sensation, Magi stretched out from behind her back like a mist and began to slowly tighten its grip on her throat.

The smell of a foul creature.

Sensing it instinctively, Evelyn stiffened like a rock, inhaling and exhaling in one breath after another.

‘Don’t turn around!’

Demons have a habit of attacking anything that moves.

If she moved too quickly, she would be caught in their lightning-fast bite and have the nape of her neck chewed off until she couldn’t breathe.

‘Eeeekkkk!’

I screamed in terror.

But when the grotesque sound of the device she’d heard in her dreams rang in her ears, she couldn’t hold it in any longer and jerked her head around.

*Cackling*

“Kaaaaaah!”

And then, she came face to face with a pair of piercing eyes that seemed to be made of pitch blackness.

Kwak-!

Evelyn screamed and fell to the ground, hot liquid poured over her head.

Silence followed the creepy crashing sound.

The stench of blood, the scorching temperature, and the ghostly, dripping gruel made her brain freeze.

‘What is this? What the hell happened?’

Evelyn cautiously closed and opened her eyes.

A grotesque creature had split in half and was writhing on the floor.

It all seemed so unreal, she couldn’t think.

Unable to breathe, let alone scream, she lifted her gaze to the pool of blood on the floor and saw Kalian shoving his sharpened sword back into its scabbard.

He turned to Evelyn, who was gasping for breath.

“Are you hurt?”

Her heart raced. Evelyn pursed her lips, unable to answer easily.

A rush of fear made it impossible to move, as if her feet were planted firmly in the ground.

“You look fine to me.”

He smoothed his slightly disheveled hair and crouched down so he was eye level with her.

“I’m glad I’m not late.”

He gently wiped the blood from her cheek and held her gaze.

Evelyn felt much more at ease with that alone.

Even more ridiculous was the fact that as soon as his body heat touched hers, the fear that coursed through her body vanished.

Just being next to him brought a deep sense of relief, which meant she could rely on him.

“It’s…, it’s close to the camp, I thought it would be safe.”

Evelyn clasped her intermittently trembling fingertips to calm her racing heart.

“I wanted to be of service to the grand duke in any way I could, and I didn’t mean to cause any trouble…”

She shook her head.

Her blurry eyes widened, and all the emotions she’d been holding back exploded at once.

That alone made it clear to her how much she had missed this man.

Not wanting to show her reddened eyes, Evelyn leaned her forehead against his shoulder.

“I didn’t expect a demon to come out of nowhere like this,” she said, “because usually demons… head for more populated areas.”

It was strange to say.

A normal demon would have instinctively headed for a place where the scent of humans was concentrated.

He frowned, puzzled, and touched the creature’s carcass with the tip of his blade.

Instead of green blood, black oozed from the hollowed-out flesh.

It was similar to the one he had encountered earlier in the swamp. A mutation, as if an ordinary plant or animal had been infused with the blood or soul of a demon.

“It’s certainly ominous that I’m the target of such a creature.”

There was a crunching, grinding sound near his jaw, and his sinewy clenched fists trembled slightly.

But she didn’t feel afraid.

It had been a long time since anyone had cared about her, and it felt oddly comforting.

Evelyn leaned against his broad shoulder and gave his hand a slight tug.

It was rough and warm.

Through the skin against his, the magic that had been eating away at his body escaped and traveled up her palm and arm to his heart.

She breathed deeply, remembering to channel her healing powers to make him feel better.

“Thank you for saving me.”

His face went blank for a moment, then he sighed. It was as if he was holding something in.

Evelyn shook her head, obviously still not over her anger.

“And I’m sorry for the way I acted, and I’ll apologize, and please don’t be angry with me if you are, after all, you came to save me, in the temple, and now…”

His anger really scared her.

Her words came out like a whimper, and Kalian immediately tempered his intimidating momentum.

“I didn’t mean to scare you, so this is, like, a different emotion than being angry.”

Sighing, he reached out and smoothed her windblown hair, meeting her gaze.

“And don’t say you’re sorry, even if I’m the one you’re apologizing to.”

“I’m not used to that. I’ve spent my life apologizing for things I didn’t do wrong.”

“…what.”

He looked uncharacteristically flustered.

But instead of adding, he removed his own cloak and wrapped it around her black, bloodied body.

Tying the knot tightly with his large hands, he quickly picked her up and began walking away.

“I think we should wash up first. There’s a lake behind our camp, and we’d better freshen up there.”

* * *

How far they walked.

Before their eyes, a waterfall cascaded down like a white beard and the lake beneath it appeared.

The moonlight in the sky cast the velvety surface of the water at an angle, and the sight was magical.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

Kalian lowered her light body into the darkened lake after the tenth time he’d said she was pretty, covered in black blood.

“Wash up and get out.”

Evelyn took off her shoes, puzzled but obedient.

She sat down on the shore and dipped her feet in. Her rear end prickled with embarrassment, even though it wasn’t hot.

Kalian looked at her backside, which was starting to splash, and thought for a moment.

This could have been bad.

Just the thought of it made his heart beat wildly.

He couldn’t tell if it was the longing of never seeing a face that looked like her again, or the loss of the healer he’d finally gotten his hands on.

Maybe it was both, he thought, but he pushed it away.

Sewing up torn emotions would only make them more tattered.

Kalian’s gaze lingered hesitantly on the back of Evelyn’s head, then moved away again.

‘Was it really necessary to turn away? Was that really the best answer?’