Chapter 62: “I’m Glad I Brought You Along”
"Your wish to leave is understood, Light—but..." Shinzo begun to speak in a serious tone, preparing an appropriate response to the young man’s grievances.
"No, you do not understand, you understand nothing—I have been here for practically my whole life, struggling, surviving every single day. Don’t tell me you know anything of my situation. I wish to leave." Light interrupted, his voice was anything but calm.
Jacob and Xenia just stared at him, they could see the frustration in his eyes, his body was laced with battle scars. They knew that the boy had endured a great ordeal for all this time. Therefore, there was nothing they could say.
"Listen to me," Shinzo started, "I have been here for millenia, I have met thousands like you, hundreds of thousands. Believe me when I say I know the frustration and pain that is caused here. But the rules have been set, and even I cannot break them."
"Rules?" Light asked him, confusion written on his face.
"Yes. For every creation, there are rules that guide them, you cannot leave this forest until you are supposed to." Shinzo responded, a very vague reply that left Jacob and Xenia staring at him, a shared look of confusion in their expressions.
"Does that apply for us too?" Jacob asked.
"It applies for anybody that steps into this forest."
"That’s a whole load of nonsense! What am I even doing? I came here for nothing! All my time wasted, no gate, no exit! I’m leaving!" Light yelled and stormed off.
"Light, wait!" Xenia called out to him, causing him to halt in his tracks. Much as he was upset, he couldn’t understand why this woman had so much power over him.
"Join us, it would be unwise to walk off on your own after failing to find the exit for all these years. At least, with the three of us, we have a better chance." She said, her initial words stung deeply but after a moment of pondering, he calmed himself.
"Umm... Xenia, what are you doing?" Jacob asked her. He tried to signal to her to quit her persuasion but she wouldn’t budge.
"I’m asking Light to join us, if he goes off on his own again, he’ll never leave this place. Do you want that to happen, Young Master Jacob?" Xenia smiled, her gaze was fixed on Jacob but based on his experience, that smile was anything but friendly.
Light cleared his throat. "As a noble son of the Wutherhorn dynasty, I humbly accept your request to join your party." Light said with his hand on his chest, as if swearing into the noble ranks.
’What a pervert.’ Jacob mused, folding his hands.
"Xenia, can I talk to you for a moment?" Jacob beckoned with a single hand gesture.
The woman walked over to a corner with him and a silent argument begun almost immediately. Light picked his ears and looked at the giant tortoise, paying very little attention to their conversation.
Shinzo also remained silent.
"We don’t have enough food!" Jacob complained, pointing at their bag of supplies which was evidently enough to last them another seven months at least.
"Young master, you know that isn’t true. You’re just saying this because you don’t want him to join us." Xenia replied calmly.
"He’s been here for years. What if he has the appetite of a bear, or a lion. What if he eats all the food in one week, then what?"
"I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen." She said again, her voice the same calm tone.
Jacob growled, but he knew that at this point he had no other choice. This woman was clearly not going to change her mind, but he still decided to try again.
"Xenia, by the authority of the Ironfell blood that runs through my veins, I order you—"
"Jacob, listen." She cut him off, his eyes widened in surprise, she had only stood up to him one other time, but this time was different.
"He is alone, in a place that he supposedly cannot escape from. If he goes off on his own, he might never leave from here, his entire life will be wasted. No Ironfell I know will let that happen to anyone, so stop making silly excuses and do the right thing." She said, walking off as soon as she was done, she went back to where Light stood idly and invited him into their camp.
Jacob stood in shock, her words hit deep. He never believed Xenia could do something like this, he remained silent, forcing himself back on the log, his gaze lowered.
"No Ironfell I know will let that happen to anyone."
The words replayed over and over in his mind, he palmed his own face in slight regret of his actions.
’I let my emotions get the best of me,’ he thought, looking up at Xenia, who mirrored his gaze almost immediately with her usual smile. He knew her words were not meant to hurt him, but to make him understand.
’I’m glad I brought you along.’ He said in his mind.
_ _ _
"Now that the union is over, it is time for your final trial before I pass on the Dao of Origin to you both." Shinzo announced, looking keenly at all three of them.
Jacob rolled his wrists and cracked his neck, Xenia just stood, her blade resting by her side. They both looked up at the giant tortoise.
"The next trial you will undergo, is the Trial of Wisdom." The Great Sage spoke, his deep voice echoing across the forest, a wave of bellows passing through the trees.
"The trial of wisdom?" Xenia asked.
"Precisely." Shinzo replied.
"I don’t mean to interrupt, but am I included in this trial?" Light asked, his gaze shifting between each of them.
"To participate in the Trial of Wisdom, you need to have completed the Trial of Defense and the Trial of Conquest. Are you all ready."
"I’m ready," Jacob responded first, closing his fist tightly.
"I’m ready," Xenia said.
"If I die, go on without me Xenia." Light added.
