KAGAGAGAGAK. BANG!
A deafening roar exploded out, impossible to believe had come merely from swords colliding.
Swinging a sword the size of a child’s body with complete freedom, Geloman drew up his authority.
The ground rolled violently, dirt bursting upward. The clumps of earth that lunged toward Temar’s body abruptly faltered at that moment.
“Stop-!”
Because of the voice that cut between them.
“I said stop-!”
Ragniel staggered, unable to finish his words through his ragged breathing. A servant hurriedly caught him and shouted in his place.
“Heroes, lower your swords at once-!”
“Obey the king’s command!”
Without relaxing his guard, Geloman kept his eyes fixed on Temar. The bluish energy surrounding him gradually subsided, and Temar walked forward with a blank expression. A faint trace of laughter flickered in his eyes.
“Ren!”
And the name that left his mouth made Geloman go still in shock.
“Temar-.”
Geloman grabbed him with a rough hand, but Temar lightly brushed it away and approached Ragniel.
To match his height, he dropped to one knee and reached out toward Ragniel. The servant recoiled in horror and tried to stop him, but Ragniel shook his head.
Temar’s hand touched Ragniel’s cheek. Holding that thick hand, Ragniel spoke.
“Temar.”
It was different from the bright, lively voice filled with affection.
Ragniel’s voice sounded somehow exhausted and dry.
Slowly, focus returned to Temar’s eyes.
Ragniel’s figure reflected in those dark brown irises.
Blond hair of a different shade from Ren’s, and eyes looking down at Temar.
There was affection in those eyes too, but it was different from Ren’s.
Ren’s eyes, eyes that desperately craved love while pouring all his heart into loving Temar, had always sparkled.
Yes, so brightly that even his gaunt cheeks and thin body disappeared beneath that light.
Like squinting because the sunlight is too dazzling once you face it directly. Like failing to see your surroundings because of that brightness.
Temar realized that he himself had been the same.
Blinded by Ren’s two eyes, shining like dew gathered on blades of grass, like sunlight resting on flower petals, he had failed to properly see his younger brother.
Only now, standing before someone else, did Temar finally understand.
One by one, the things hidden behind that gaze rose to the surface.
The flesh that had melted away beneath his fingertips when he touched Ren’s face. The bones he had felt against his back when he carried him. Ren’s body, with barely any flesh left on it. The moments he would quietly struggle in pain from time to time......
“Ah......”
A groan escaped Temar’s mouth.
Wrapped in blue light, slaughtering humans, carving fear into their bodies with a Hero’s authority, trying to erase the sight of humans screaming, wailing, writhing in agony—
What it was he had forgotten because of all that.
What he had wanted to say while holding onto Ren before leaving for Media.
That he had wanted to turn away from the kingdom, from the king to whom he had devoted his entire life, and leave with his younger brother instead.
That he had wanted to hide Ren away somehow, after seeing the possibility of authority sleeping within him.
That his younger brother had not merely been fragile, but sick.
And that all of it had been too difficult for him to accept, so he had pretended not to know.
Tears welled in the dark brown eyes that had finally reached understanding.
Those bloodshot eyes filled with emotions too tangled to explain.
As though he understood him, Ragniel quietly watched Temar.
Without offering comfort, with a rather dry gaze, he simply observed the realization filling those eyes.
“Temar.”
“......”
“Your brother left.”
It felt as though Ragniel’s voice traveled through the cheek Temar still held in his hand.
“Your Majesty.”
A muddy voice called out to Ragniel.
“Was it... Your Majesty who did this?”
“He left of his own accord.”
“Ren, my brother, would never do that.”
Understanding even the faintly accusing voice and the emotion clenched between gritted teeth, Ragniel held Temar fully within his gaze.
“Temar.”
He asked the face trembling ever so slightly with fear.
“How much do you truly know your brother?”
Sorrow lightly colored Ragniel’s face.
‘How much do I know Ren?’
He was that child’s older brother. His only family. His brother.
For Ren’s sake, Temar had volunteered to become a Hero. For Ren’s sake, he had wandered battlefields. For Ren’s sake......
But among the memories passing through Temar’s mind, there were almost none spent together with Ren.
“Do you know him well?”
The calm question came once more.
Temar could not answer.
And he realized he could never claim to know Ren well.
Temar did not know when Ren had learned to read. He did not know Ren’s favorite food. He did not know what Ren disliked either.
There was only one thing he knew for certain.
That his younger brother loved him very much.
Only that.
What else had ever mattered beyond that?
Temar froze like a statue.
'Big brother, I’m okay.'
His younger brother came to mind, comforting him even while impaled on a sword, even with death approaching.
“Temar. You know that child possesses the qualities of a Hero too.”
“Your Majesty, that child is......”
“He’s a clever child. Clever enough to leave on his own.”
Ragniel smiled faintly.
“So, Temar, do not look for Ren. That is the last advice I can give you.”
Ragniel’s hand slowly slipped away after brushing across Temar’s cheek.
Temar could not tell what emotions hid beneath the eyes concealed by lowered lashes.
He merely remained frozen in that posture, staring at the king’s retreating back.
The fact that Ragniel would not search for Ren meant he would not drag Ren into becoming a Hero.
If Temar truly wished to protect Ren’s freedom, then he too had to stop searching for him.
The tears that never fell gathered at the corners of Temar’s eyes like starlight.
After confirming that Temar’s authority had completely died down, Geloman turned his gaze away.
So the boy left.
That boy who learned quickly. The boy who unexpectedly laughed easily and cried easily. That childlike Ren.
He could vividly picture the way Ren would sharpen his expression while cautiously reading the room, and the way his eyes softened beneath warmth.
A shame.
But if it was for the boy’s sake, then wasn’t this how it should be?
Geloman strode over toward Temar, who still remained kneeling.
“Temar. It seems there is only one thing left for us to do now.”
After all, this tiny kingdom is Ren’s hometown, isn’t it?
Hearing those words, Temar mechanically rose to his feet. Seeing the regret overflowing across that twisted face, Geloman narrowed his eyes.
At times like this, advice would be meaningless.
Reaching into his coat, Geloman pulled out a bottle of strong liquor and shoved it into Temar’s hand.
“We return tomorrow.”
It meant: control yourself.
Without looking back, Geloman headed toward the royal castle. His ash-gray hair scattered in the wind.
***
“AAAAAH!”
At Ren’s scream, the tree trembled as though answering him.
Pressing himself rigidly against the ground and shivering like a cat with all its fur standing on end, Ren changed expressions within a second and snorted.
“What the hell. It’s just a branch?”
What had startled Ren was a thick tree branch.
Ever since being frightened by the snake earlier, anything remotely similar kept making him jump.
“What kind of branch is this long?”
Ahem. Ren unfairly blamed the branch.
“Lord Lucia.”
“Y-Yes!”
A knight called out to Ren from not far away.
Ren immediately dashed toward him like an arrow. Despite repeatedly being warned not to wander off, the moment the knight’s attention slipped even slightly, Ren vanished like a squirrel. Not far away, but always circling nearby.
“Lord Lucia. Didn’t I tell you not to go too far?”
S-Scary!
The knight’s eyes flashed sharply.
At first, Ren had thought the man was merely cold and dry like winter air, but somehow he had gradually become a nag.
Ren had thought he disliked emotional attachment, but after arriving in the Forest of Aked, the knight had subtly changed.
Of course, for lonely Ren, that attitude was more than welcome.
“Where’s the old man?!”
“He said he went to look for herbs.”
“Mhm. I see.”
Ren nodded. His bright hair swayed softly.
The knight, who had been watching him for a moment, suddenly spoke.
“Lord Lucia.”
“Yes?”
“What kind of person is the old man... no, that physician?”
“Huh?”
What kind of person was the old man?
Ren blinked wide eyes.
“What kind of person? You mean his personality?”
“I’m curious overall. Did he do something else before becoming a physician?”
To the knight, Veron was no ordinary man.
Snow-white hair, a body and stamina that didn’t match his age, and above all—
He possessed a forcefulness that did not lose even to a knight tempered entirely through training.
There was something in those calm eyes that seemed as though no storm in the world could shake them.
No matter how one looked at him, he was not an ordinary human.
The knight had even begun to wonder if Veron might belong to another race.
He had accepted the man into their company only to avoid immediate death, yet sometimes he questioned whether that had truly been the right choice.
Ren quickly turned his head, checking his surroundings, then beckoned the knight closer.
When the man only stared blankly, Ren let out an “Ah,” then casually grabbed the knight’s arm. The knight reflexively almost knocked Ren’s hand away, but barely managed to stop himself at the touch of that thin, weak hand.
“Don’t grab people carelessly.”
“Ah. Sorry.”
Ren awkwardly let go.
“What were you trying to do?”
“No, I just......”
I was only trying to whisper!
Swallowing his embarrassment, Ren lowered his voice.
“Actually, I wanted to ask too.”
“......About the physician?”
Ren nodded.
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