Chapter 91: Chapter 91 - Mage , Wolf And The Girl ( Part 3)
The golden rays of the sun were shining over the snow-covered peaks of the mountains.
The gentle breeze was rustling among the branches of the trees and bringing the fragrant smell of pine and fresh snow.
Jennie was walking along the trail.
The snow was silently padding behind her, leaving huge paw prints in the snow.
Behind them...
The ruins of the ancient temple of Eldoria Sanctum were disappearing in the fog of the mountains.
Jennie stretched herself out with a smile on her face.
"I think..."
"We managed to leave before she noticed."
Snow cast a glance to the side.
"...Perhaps."
Jennie looked at him.
"What do you mean ’perhaps’?"
The ears of the Divine Wolf were fluttering a bit.
"I have learned that it is often misfortune to celebrate in advance."
Jennie smiled.
"That’s rather wise."
"I have lived for more than a thousand years."
"I had plenty of time to make mistakes."
Jennie nodded.
"True enough."
They walked in silence during some time.
Only the sound of snow cracking under their feet could be heard.
Jennie closed her eyes for a moment.
"This is nice."
"Silent."
"No monsters."
"No ancient guardians."
"No disasters."
But then...
The distant shout was heard.
"WAAAAAAAIT!!"
Jennie stopped.
Snow slowly shut his eyes.
"...And here it is."
Jennie turned around.
High up the mountain...
A tiny girl was waving her hands.
"MISS JENNIE or RAVEN!"
"PLEASE WAIT!"
Roxy.
Jennie could hardly believe it.
"...She found us? "
Snow nodded.
"Obviously."
Jennie turned around and shouted:
"Just say one Jennie or Raven! "
Roxy began to run as fast as she could down the snow slope.
Her huge backpack was bouncing behind her.
Books were flying out.
Her giant mage hat was almost covering her eyes.
"I’m coming!"
"Don’t leave without me!"
Jennie sighed.
"She really followed us."
Before anyone could say a word...
Roxy stepped on the loose stone.
"...Huh?"
She lost her balance.
For a moment...
She somehow managed to stay standing.
Jennie thought that she recovered her balance.
But then...
"Nope!"
Roxy stumbled and fell forward.
She rolled down the mountain like a ball.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
She bounced off the rock.
Spun around twice.
Bounced off the bushes.
Covers herself with so much snow that she resembled a walking snowman.
Her backpack opened.
The books were flying out like frightened birds.
Her mage hat was flying away.
Her staff was bouncing after her.
Jennie watched the whole scene in silence.
"..."
Snow went forward.
Just before Roxy crashed head first against the big pine tree...
He stretched out his paw.
Thump.
Roxy landed softly against the fur.
She blinked a couple of times.
"...Thank you."
Snow gently placed her back on the ground.
"You are welcome."
Roxy brushed snow from her robes.
Well...
She tried.
It was just too much snow.
Jennie walked over to her and picked up her hat.
"It should be on your head."
Roxy smiled brightly.
"Thank you!"
She put it back on her.
And it immediately slipped down to cover her eyes again.
Jennie couldn’t help smiling.
"You probably need to get yourself a smaller hat."
"But this one makes me look like a real mage!"
Snow whispered silently.
"Also this prevents you from seeing."
"I know."
"It has disadvantages."
Jennie smiled helplessly.
Having gathered all the books which were scattered all over the mountain, Roxy started to stuff them back in her backpack.
Jennie looked at the backpack packed with books.
"...How are you carrying all of these?"
Roxy proudly puffed out her chest.
"I have organized them!"
Snow peeked into the backpack.
Books were sticking out in all directions.
"...This is not the word I would use."
Roxy paid no attention to him.
She suddenly stood up straight.
Took a deep breath.
Then made a bow which was the most dramatic that Jennie had ever seen.
"Miss Jennie!"
"Please let me travel with you!"
Jennie answered instantly.
"No."
There wasn’t even a second pause.
Roxy slowly raised her head.
"...Could I ask you why?"
Jennie pointed a finger.
"You woke up an ancient golem."
Second finger.
"You nearly buried us all."
Third finger.
"You froze my cloak by accident."
Roxy looked ashamed.
"...Sorry."
Fourth finger.
"You exploded your backpack."
Roxy scratched her cheek.
"...Twice."
Jennie nodded.
"Twice."
Roxy thought about everything that Jennie said very carefully.
Then she nodded seriously.
"These are all good reasons."
Jennie smiled.
"I’m happy that we understand each other."
She turned around.
"Let’s go, Snow."
Snow followed her.
This conversation was finished as far as Jennie was concerned.
Five peaceful minutes passed.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Jennie walked on.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Crunch.
The footsteps didn’t stop.
Jennie sighed even before turning around.
"...She’s still there."
Snow nodded.
"Indeed."
Jennie turned around.
Roxy smiled brightly and waved.
"Good morning again!"
"...You’ve been behind us the whole time?"
"Yes!"
"You said no."
"I know."
"...So why are you following us?"
Roxy cocked her head as if the answer was clear.
"I thought you would change your mind."
Jennie blinked.
"You thought wrong."
"Oh."
Roxy nodded once.
And...
Kept on following them.
Jennie watched it.
"...You’re still following."
"I am."
"Even though I told you ’no’? "
"Yes."
"Why?"
Roxy smiled warmly.
"Because I don’t think that you are really a mean person."
Jennie folded her arms.
"And what makes you think so?"
Roxy replied without hesitation.
"You saved me."
"You protected me."
"And..."
She looked toward the ruins behind them.
"You destroyed the guardian without destroying the city."
"A bad person wouldn’t care."
Jennie didn’t know how to answer.
She just looked away.
Snow was watching their exchange quietly.
A small smile appeared on his muzzle.
Maybe...
This cheerful little mage knew Jennie better than Jennie herself.
Jennie gave a small sigh.
She stared at Roxy for a long couple of seconds.
The young mage stood in the snow, smiling brightly as if she hadn’t been rejected.
At last, Jennie broke the silence.
"You never give up, huh?"
Roxy smiled.
"Well, my teacher used to say that persistence is the greatest gift for a mage."
Jennie raised an eyebrow.
"...Your teacher also told you to chase a stranger through dangerous mountains?"
Roxy scratched her cheek.
"...No."
"That part was my own decision."
Jennie couldn’t deny that.
She simply turned around and started moving forward.
Snow followed alongside her.
A minute or two later...
Steps behind her became louder.
Jennie even didn’t need to turn around this time.
"You’re still following."
"Yes."
"You still haven’t changed your mind."
"I know."
"...So, why?"
Roxy smiled.
"Just wait."
Jennie glanced at Snow.
"She will be always answering like that?"
Snow’s tail moved softly.
"I believe so."
Jennie covered her face with her hand.
"This journey is going to be a long one."
The three started moving along the mountain path.
Snow went at the front, using his enhanced senses to check the area.
Jennie was walking in the middle.
Roxy was running and laughing behind them, whistling some unknown tune.
Suddenly...
"Amazing!"
Jennie turned around.
"What is it now?"
Roxy pointed at Snow excitedly.
"Look how fluffy he is!"
Snow turned his head.
"...Thank you?"
"Could I stroke you?"
"No."
"Maybe if I ask politely?"
"No."
"What if I bribe you with snacks?"
Snow thought for one second.
"...No."
Roxy blew air from her cheeks.
"You’re being very strict."
"I’m a Divine Wolf."
"So?"
"So... dignity is important."
Roxy nodded seriously.
"I understood."
A short pause.
Then...
"...Could I hug your tail?"
Snow lost balance.
Jennie burst out laughing.
Snow looked horrified.
"Absolutely not."
The next hour was peaceful.
The mountains slowly turned into snowy forests.
Some birds were chirping among the branches.
Rabbits were jumping between the bushes.
It was the most peaceful road Jennie walked in many days.
Snow moved closer to Jennie.
His voice was so low that only she could hear him.
"You’re attracting strange people."
Jennie kept staring straight ahead.
"I noticed."
Roxy, who was following behind them, suddenly raised her hand.
"Thank you!"
Jennie blinked.
Slowly turning her head.
"...Was it a compliment?"
"I know."
"But I accepted it anyway."
Snow gave a deep laugh.
Jennie stared at the sky.
"Why is this happening?"
Amused voice of Excalibur echoed in her mind.
"Maybe fate just enjoys your company."
Jennie sighed.
"Please, don’t encourage that."
In the evening, the cold wind from the mountains became even stronger.
Snow found a small clearing, protected by a ring of high pine trees.
"We’ll camp here."
Jennie nodded.
"I’ll go gathering firewood."
"I’ll go for water."
Roxy proudly pointed at her staff.
"I’ll prepare our dinner!"
Jennie hesitated.
"...Are you sure?"
"Sure!"
"I prepared lots of dinners."
Snow whispered quietly.
"I have doubts."
Jennie whispered in return.
"So do I."
But...
They still decided to give Roxy a chance.
After ten minutes...
Thick black smoke started coming out of the clearing.
Cough!
Cough!
Jennie ran to the campfire.
Somehow, it was twice bigger.
Some nearby bushes caught fire.
Cooking pot became red-hot.
Inside it...
Meat became something which shouldn’t be called food anymore.
Roxy gave a nervous smile.
"...I used a bit too much fire magic."
Jennie stared at the burnt meat.
"...A bit?"
Snow carefully tapped it with his claw.
It sounded metallic.
Clang.
Three of them were staring at it.
Finally, Snow said:
"I think it has transformed into a weapon."
Roxy buried her face in her hands.
"I’m sorry..."
Jennie laughed.
"It’s ok."
"We still have more food."
Roxy quickly stood up.
"I’ll prepare it again!"
Jennie and Snow said in chorus.
"No."
But this time, Snow decided to take control.
He carefully froze the rest of meat with his ice magic.
Thin ice layer was sealing its freshness.
Jennie prepared a small fire and roasted the frozen meat on it.
Delicious smell soon filled the air.
Roxy’s stomach growled loudly.
She looked away in embarrassment.
"...That wasn’t me."
It growled again.
Snow smiled.
"I think it doesn’t agree."
Jennie offered her a wooden plate.
"Here."
Roxy carefully tasted it.
Her eyes lit up.
"This is amazing!"
She stared at Snow in disbelief.
"A wolf..."
"...is a better cook than me."
Snow raised his head with pride.
"I’ve got more than one thousand years of experience."
Roxy dramatically fell backwards into the snow.
"I was defeated..."
Jennie burst out laughing.
Tears began streaming down her face.
For the first time in a very long while...
Laughter was completely sincere.
Night was coming.
Campfire was gently crackling.
Roxy was sleeping, holding some of her books.
The book was resting on her face.
Her hat had slid onto her eyes again.
She was snoring.
Jennie smiled.
"She must be tired."
Snow was lying near the campfire, looking at the sky.
"She has a good heart."
"But has a talent to create disasters."
Jennie giggled softly.
"That’s for sure."
She leant against a tree.
Light of the campfire was dancing on her silver hair.
For a long time...
She was just looking at her two companions.
Just weeks ago...
She was sure that this journey would be the one full of loneliness.
She was sure that walking alone was the price she needed to pay to protect people she cares about.
But now...
An ancient Divine Wolf, waiting for her a thousand years...
And hopelessly clumsy young mage, who wasn’t willing to accept rejection...
Were sitting near her.
They didn’t want any fame.
They didn’t care about legend of the Sword King.
They just wanted to walk with Jennie.
Not Leonis.
Jennie.
Soft smile appeared on her face.
"...Maybe..."
"...this journey won’t be so lonely."
Voice of Excalibur echoed in her heart.
"Every king walked alone once."
"But the greatest kings weren’t staying that way."
The next morning, the three packed and continued moving westwards.
Jennie still hasn’t officially accepted Roxy as her companion.
But Roxy was acting like she already did.
And Snow long time ago gave up trying to change her mind.
Unlikely trio vanished into the infinite snowy horizon.
Far beyond the mountains, under the waves of western sea, a huge temple started trembling.
Deep in the flooded halls of that temple, sealed Divine Sword was shining with dim blue light.
Leviathan...
...started waking up.
