Chapter 52
“His Grace is taking longer than expected.”
Jex looked out beyond the barrier and said this.
The layers of blue magical shields around the cave entrance were keeping them safe inside.
Yaaaawn. Dierian yawned and replied lazily.
“Why don’t we just leave and cross the mountain ourselves? That monster of a man will survive anything and catch up on his own anyway.”
“…”
Eslyn said nothing, but she was quietly folding Dierian’s robe with a strange expression.
She sat down on a flat rock, feeling the coldness through it.
Dierian walked over and sat carelessly near her.
“We can’t stay in this cave forever, can we, Your Highness?”
“Hmm…”
“Sir Jex, if we cross this mountain, isn’t there a city called Lopsion?”
“Yes. It’s a pretty big city, and it’s close to the capital. Only about half a day by carriage.”
“Hmm.” Dierian made a short sound.
“Let’s go to Lopsion and contact Lord Erdan. Or go to my family’s estate in Frey. Or we could just head down south—I know someone there.”
“You? Know someone in the south? Wait—”
Eslyn stopped mid-sentence.
When Dierian asked why, she held a finger to her lips, signaling for silence.
“Don’t you hear something?”
She whispered, frowning slightly. Dierian and Jex immediately went quiet and focused.
The sound was coming from outside the barrier.
Crack… Crackle.
It sounded like something breaking or splitting apart.
Jex quickly drew his sword. Dierian stood up and surrounded himself with magic.
Suddenly, cracks formed in the thick blue shield.
“…!”
A man burst through the torn barrier, breathing heavily. His blood-red eyes glowed like a wild animal’s.
“Sir Tebet…?”
Eslyn whispered, stunned.
He walked into the cave and looked around.
His eyes soon met Eslyn’s.
Emotionless eyes.
Eslyn felt her heart drop all the way to her toes.
“Did he just…”
Dierian’s voice sounded hollow.
“Did he just tear through my barrier?!”
He shouted, staggering toward the shattered shield with trembling hands.
“…”
Tebet ignored him completely and walked straight to Eslyn.
Clink, clink. His heavy armor made noise with every step. Eslyn watched his hands.
Is he going to draw his sword? What do I do if he does?
Clink. The man with the eyes of a predator stood before her, casting a long shadow.
“Haa.”
With a deep sigh, he crouched down. His cape flared out as he knelt.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
His voice came out mixed with a sigh. Eslyn looked at him, dazed.
“N-No, I’m not.”
For a second, she imagined he’d strike her. She blinked rapidly, then locked eyes with his red gaze.
“Of course she’s not! I worked hard on that barrier! But not anymore! Because someone just ripped it apart, and now I’m a poor, drained mage…”
“So noisy.”
Tebet grumbled and tossed something at Dierian.
Dierian caught it by reflex.
“Th-This is…!”
His face changed completely when he saw what it was—a large bottle of magic potion.
With an emotional voice, he said:
“If it means getting more potions like this, I’d forgive you for breaking two or three more barriers, Your Grace.”
Tebet just scoffed.
Then he turned and gently took Eslyn’s left hand.
“Your wrist hasn’t healed well.”
His big hand touched hers, and her body froze.
Both Dierian and Jex stared at her wrist.
“As I thought—your attendants are all useless.”
Attendants?
Eslyn’s lips parted in surprise.
Did I hear that right?
“What… did you just say?”
“Didn’t your memory come back?”
Tebet tilted his head. His hair shimmered under the dim light.
“How did you know…?”
“That talkative mage over there is here, so I figured the memory spell must’ve worked.”
“…”
“Plus, I saw the empty potion bottles in the cabin.”
He said it like it was nothing, then rewrapped her wrist bandage tightly.
He was kneeling, carefully checking her hand. His expression was very serious.
Then Eslyn noticed the glowing red magic stone hanging around his neck.
“Sir Tebet, I…”
“Eshi.”
He cut her off gently while still focused on her wrist.
“Do you remember the vow I made to you? Who I made that vow to?”
“…”
A brief silence passed between them.
“Yes.”
Eslyn finally replied.
Tebet looked up at her.
And smiled warmly.
“That’s all that matters. I know there’s a lot we need to say—but let’s do that after we get off this mountain safely.”
As he spoke, he gently stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.
Eslyn quietly nodded. His gaze softened even more.
“Safely?”
Dierian interrupted. He seemed to sense something odd in what Tebet said.
“Didn’t we already get rid of all the monsters?”
“We didn’t destroy the core yet. Actually, we couldn’t even find one.”
“What?!”
Dierian shouted. Tebet stood and turned slightly toward him and Jex.
“My men are still looking, but the mountain isn’t safe.”
That was bad news. They’d thought the core was already destroyed.
“Ugh. This is too strange. It’s almost like someone purposely let the monsters loose…”
Suddenly, Eslyn whipped her head toward Dierian.
Their eyes met—his were cold.
Then he smirked and shook his head.
“What? No way. I was just saying.”
“But you once told me… that humans can control monsters.”
“Only dark mages can do that! And to become one, you’d have to fall completely into corruption, using cursed blood…”
“…”
Eslyn stared silently at Dierian. He flinched under her gaze.
“You’re not talking about… Tatulan, are you?”
Tebet asked, tilting his head. When the name Tatulan came up, Jex instinctively gripped his sword tighter.
That name was tied to a terrible mistake from the past.
Dierian sneered.
“He’s dead! Remember? He kidnapped Her Highness years ago and got his heart stabbed through by His Grace here!”
“But even then… something felt off.”
Eslyn muttered. She still clearly remembered the mage with yellow, snake-like eyes who had taken her back then.
Yes, he had died. But still…
Why do I feel so uneasy…?
“Becoming a dark mage isn’t easy… Damn it!”
Dierian angrily kicked a rock across the cave.
The mage sighed heavily, running a hand through his messy hair.
“I’ll have to stay and investigate this mountain more closely.”
“To check for signs of dark magic?” Tebet asked.
“Yes. So Your Highness should leave the mountain now. If this is the work of a dark mage, this place is extremely dangerous.”
“You’ll be in danger too.” Eslyn protested.
Just then, Jex stepped forward.
“If my lady allows it, I’ll stay with Lord Dierian. So please don’t worry and head down safely.”
“What?! You, Sir Jex? Why? Are you finally ready to become my magic student?”
Dierian brightened up, but Jex stayed quiet. Eslyn gave him a side glance.
“Don’t tease him.”
“I’m serious though.”
Jex looked like he regretted his offer for a second.
“Then… it’s decided.”
Tebet gently placed a hand on Eslyn’s shoulder. When she looked up, his face was soft and calm.
“This time, let me be the one to protect you.”
* * *
“We’ll meet in Lopsion. Diel, send me a magic message when you arrive—just like always.”
With that promise, the four of them split up.
Tebet held Eslyn’s hand and led her down the forest path. The full blue moon lit the way ahead.
“Can you walk? If not, I’ll carry—”
“I’m fine. Please just lead the way.”
Her firm reply made him chuckle.
He had been ready to scoop her up at the slightest hint of exhaustion—but of course, she’d seen through his feelings completely.
Tebet pushed through branches with one hand, clearing the path. In his other hand, he held Eslyn’s. It was warm.
“…”
A tightness rose in his chest.
This time, she wasn’t just letting him hold her hand—she was holding his back. That warmth… he had longed for it for so long.
Whoooosh. A strong mountain wind suddenly blew.
Tebet instinctively turned to shield Eslyn with his body.
He saw her eyes shut tightly as she leaned into his chest, bracing against the wind.
Even in that moment—she looked so lovely, he could hardly stand it.
The wind slowly calmed down.
He let go and looked around. The only sounds now were insects and the occasional rustle of wild animals.
Time passed quietly.
“…Sir Tebet?”
Her voice called him back. He blinked slowly.
Her clear, gentle voice echoed in his ears. He tilted his head.
The small woman in his arms—blue eyes and light-purple hair…
What… is this feeling?
Tebet’s vision began to blur.
