"That's true," Hilam said. "But there is no telling if this is also his plot."
"Don't be like this, Hilam," Yalen said with a frown. "Remember what the Saint always tells us? It is better to be a fool than always live doubtful of others' intentions. While he might have hidden motives in helping us, the identification with the Abbot's seal cannot be forged. Besides, she will know if it is fake."
Hilam looked ashamed as he lowered his gaze.
The Saint had lived a harsh life before she got to where she was now. But that did not stop her from believing and trusting others. She would often tell them about giving others the benefit of the doubt rather than living always doubting the people around them.
Besides that, the Abbot granted the young man an identification. That showed how much he was willing to trust him. If the Abbot was willing, why should they not?
"She is right."
"Soria," Yalen looked at the woman who told Hilam to be careful earlier.
Soria smiled at Yalen before looking at Hilam, "His origin is suspicious. But you've heard he was not fluent in our language and unaware of common knowledge. Thus, our initial guess may be true. Yet, none of that mattered.
"I don't know how he met the Abbot, but since he was asked to assist and honored it by coming here, don't you think that spoke somehow about his character? Besides, if we want to get to the border in one piece, we will need his help. There's also the matter of the supplies."
"Argh! That's right. We managed to hide it before the enemies appeared, but going back there is..."
"Those beasts are likely still there..."
Their expressions fell, recalling how the enemies lured a lot of ferocious beasts close to where they hid the supplies.
Kyran cleared his throat. He did not mind them discussing amongst themselves, but they could have excused themselves first. Did they have to talk about him as if he was not there?
All of them turned to look at Kyran with flushed faces. They only realized they had spoken blatantly about him and how to use him. It was a little embarrassing, given their background as apprentices of the Abbey.
"I don't mind you guys using me," Kyran shrugged. "Heck, even your Abbot did the same—."
'Oi.'
The old man could not help but complain after hearing what Kyran had said, although he knew it was only an act.
"— but can we not stay here? The stench of fresh blood will soon attract all the ferocious beasts nearby, and dealing with them is annoying," Kyran ignored the old man's complaint and told the others.
The Eidums' faces brightened at his words.
"Right! I sense the wind is about to pick up, so the smell of blood here will definitely reach that place." One of them agreed. "Once those beasts are drawn here, we can retrieve the supplies!"
Kyran sighed inwardly. His remark was not made in passing. It was something he said for them to pick up on that fact since he realized how stupid— ahem— innocent they were.
"Then, it's all set. We'll trust him and have him assist us on our way," Yalen said, wanting to confirm if they all agreed with her.
"Yes," they all nodded.
Kyran raised his brows as Yalen turned to look at him. Before she could say anything, though, he said, "I heard you just fine. Lead the way."
Yalen flushed in embarrassment but nodded and said, "Okay."
On the other hand, Hilam could not help but frown at how the 'Imon-spawn' spoke rudely to Yalen. But since the latter did not mind, who was he to fuss about it?
"Follow me," he said, giving the Imon-spawn a hard glare before making his way to the left.
Kyran ignored the glare. He was not about to strike back at Hilam for acting like a spoiled brat.
"Right, err... mister, what is your name?" Yalen asked as soon as they followed Hilam.
"Nar," Kyran replied curtly.
Yalen smiled, "Nar... I see. Thank you."
Kyran paused when Yalen said his name and felt a slight sense of nostalgia.
Yalen did not sound like Cyneah. But the way she carried herself reminded him a little of her.
Choosing not to respond to Yalen's expression of gratitude, Kyran focused his attention ahead.
Meanwhile, inside the Void World, the old man shook his head with a wry smile. He did not expect Kyran to use what he learned about 'Imon' to convince his people to trust him.
'You are quick on your feet,' he commented with mirth in his eyes. 'I was doubtful when you told me about telling them the truth. But I did not expect you to actually tell them the lie, but technically 'true' about my abduction.'
'That is the truth in this place, which your people will find out soon. Did you think I would tell them about 'your truth'?'
'Ahaha! As a matter of fact, I did,' the old man admitted. 'More importantly, I'm impressed you managed to weave such a convincing lie. You even pretended to stutter with our language and not knowing what identification is to support your lie.'
Kyran did not comment. Truthfully, he did not stutter. That was truly a miss on his part. Good thing that helped give these guys a reason to suspect he might really be an 'Imon-spawn.'
'Do you want to tell the 'real' truth when I meet with the leader?' Kyran decided to change the subject.
The old man shook his head, 'No. Let them believe the 'fake' truth. The fewer who knew the truth, the more convincing the fake truth would be.'
'Hm,' Kyran agreed with a nod.
After walking in the forest for almost half an hour, they finally came to a clearing with a large boulder.
The Eidums let out a sigh of relief upon arrival. They had been on their toes all this time because they feared encountering ferocious beasts. Although Kyran was with them, they were not optimistic about surviving once they encountered them. After all, the sheer number of ferocious beasts lured by the enemies earlier could wet any veteran and powerful Noble Knights; what more if a single 'Imon-spawn' saw them?
Right. They had not established if he was truly an Imon-spawn, but so far, all the clues they had pointed to that. Apart from that, it was the only explanation they could think of for his strength.
Going back on topic, they were relieved they had not encountered any ferocious beast. Even the clearing did not have any signs of them.
Hilam looked at Kyran and said, "We buried the supplies here."
"Dig them up," Kyran told them and jumped on top of the boulder. "I'll keep watch while you do that."
"You're not going to help?" Hilam asked with a frown.
"I'm already doing that, aren't I?" Kyran replied with a deadpan voice.
Hilam's brow twitched. Technically, keeping watch for ferocious beasts was 'helping' them. But he was talking about helping with the labor of digging up the supplies.
"There is no need to ask his help digging up the supplies," Yalen looked at Hilam with a slight frown. "We can do that ourselves."
Hilam sighed. He knew that, but something about Kyran did not sit well with him. Thus, he did not like the latter staying way up there, looking down at them.
The rest of the Eidums already started digging even before Hilam questioned Kyran. Unlike him, they knew that the help Kyran would provide was not about manual labor but protection.
Ignoring the Eidums below, Kyran sat cross-legged on the boulder and closed his eyes. To the others, he appeared to meditate while silently observing his surroundings.
But those who realized the strange behavior of beasts whenever he was around would know he was resting.
'Young man,' the old man, who was one of those few who already realized Kyran's special ability, called. 'Aren't you even going to pretend to walk around and survey the area for ferocious beasts?'
'And waste my energy? No thanks.'
'You... I've already noticed you have a way with beasts. They may sense a very oppressing aura around you that they steer away from you. But what if my people's presence still tempts a few and try to attack?'
'That will not happen,' Kyran replied with such conviction that the old man was speechless.
After almost half an hour, the Eidums dug up all the supplies, and Kyran went down.
"You guys did not forget anything?" Kyran asked, looking at the small boxes and crates around.
"That's everything," Hilam confirmed, looking at the supplies apprehensively.
They were so happy at the thought they could retrieve the supplies that they forgot one important detail: they no longer had a carriage with them. They had space storage, but they could only carry a few.
How would they carry all of these?
"Then let's go," Kyran said and waved his hand.
In a blink of an eye, all the supplies vanished before their eyes.
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