Chapter 4 (4화):
Just a short while ago, the two-story brick house had been filled with Louis’s laughter—but now, it had turned into a ruin in just a matter of days. Only the wind remained, rattling the half-broken door. The forge next door, standing side by side, was in a similar state.
Eluana looked back at Kazar and said,
“I’ll be quick.”
Kazar gave a light nod, indicating he’d wait.
Eluana pushed open the creaky door and stepped inside, stopping momentarily. The interior was even more devastating than it looked from outside.
Not a single piece of furniture remained intact. Scattered household items and children’s books were strewn chaotically across the floor.
Passing the rocking chair where her mother, Stella, used to nap, the dining table where they all ate together, her father Ron’s display case, and the framed picture on the wall, Eluana reached for the wall, moving aside an overturned chair.
She pressed six bricks, and one protruded from the center. Pulling it out revealed a small hidden space.
From inside, she took out a wooden box and a silk pouch. From the lavender-engraved box, she pulled out a gold necklace and fastened it around her neck—it was a keepsake from her mother.
After tucking the necklace under her clothes, she opened the silk pouch. Inside were about 30 gold coins and a small brooch. Eluana took out 10 gold coins, tossed them back into the wall space, and sealed it with the brick.
‘Twenty gold coins should be enough to survive until things quiet down.’
The proceeds from the sword auction were still safely deposited in the capital bank, but she had to abandon that. On the run, neither she nor Louis could walk in and withdraw money under their names.
She grasped the silk pouch and opened the medicine cabinet. Popping some fever-reducing herbs into her mouth and chewing, she rummaged for ointment—but there was none for wounds. Since the forge involved frequent burns, only disinfecting alcohol and burn ointment were properly stocked.
Eluana reluctantly added the burn ointment to the pouch. Her back felt like it was burning anyway, so it might still help.
‘Better than nothing.’
Alright. Now came the part that required determination.
Staring at the disinfectant, she braced herself. There was no time to hesitate. She took off her dress. As the fabric stuck to her back tore away, a terrible pain surged through her. Gritting her teeth, she dumped the alcohol across her back in one motion. The cold liquid struck her skin, but instead of cooling, it made her back burn even more. Biting down to stifle a scream, she grabbed some cotton cloth poking out of the wardrobe and slapped it on her back.
After changing into a dress easier to move in, she staggered. Her head spun, and she had to grab the wardrobe to keep herself from falling.
‘I can’t collapse yet.’
Steeling herself, she packed one outfit of Ron’s and one of Louis’s. Using a stray string, she tied her hair up to keep it off her back and stepped outside. She handed the clothes to Kazar and looped the silk pouch around Louis’s neck like a necklace using the same string.
“Noona’s a bit tired, so you carry this for me, okay?”
“Okay,” Louis replied with enthusiasm.
As Louis answered brightly, Eluana turned toward the forge and said,
“You two change as well. We won’t get far looking like this.”
Entering the forge, she sighed. Not a single sword remained from the ones they had painstakingly crafted over time. Only two swords sat in a bucket—they were unfinished. Perhaps that’s why no one had taken them. With a little more work, they could’ve been excellent weapons.
Eluana grabbed the two incomplete swords and a belt.
After one last look at the forge, she walked away. It was time to leave the place where she was born and raised.
***
Kazar helped Louis change clothes. He tucked the silk pouch Eluana had given into Louis’s clothes to keep it from swinging.
“Is anything uncomfortable?”
It was his first time helping a child get dressed, so he was nervous.
“No. Thanks, hyung.”
Louis reached out his small hand. Kazar took it and gazed at the lavender field behind the brick house.
Lavender brought to mind one particular noble family—the Duke of Spes.
‘Could she really be connected to the Spes family?’
Alchemy couldn’t be learned by just anyone. It only manifested through a mix of Spes bloodline and genius.
Ron Vita had said he was away from home.
“Where is your mother?”
“Up in heaven. They say I ate her up when I was born.”
“Who said that?”
“Janne.”
“A friend?”
Louis nodded, and Kazar let out a soft sigh.
“Someone who says that isn’t a friend. Don’t play with them.”
“Okay. Noona said that too.”
After quickly washing his face, Kazar turned his head, sensing a presence. A sword appeared in front of him. He reflexively took the incomplete sword—it had perfect balance. That such a thing could come from an unfinished blade was astonishing.
‘No wonder Ron Vita earned his reputation.’
Turning back, he saw Eluana also wearing the belt with a sword strapped over her dress.
“You’ve learned swordsmanship? If you’ve never cut someone before, put that down. You’ll get hurt.”
Just having a weapon wasn’t always good—especially a double-edged sword. Without sufficient strength, one could end up cutting themselves.
Eluana checked the sword at her belt and replied,
“I’ve hunted with Dad. We caught wild boars.”
“Wild boars?”
“Sometimes they come down from the northern forest and destroy crops.”
Kazar’s mouth opened slightly. A young noblewoman hunting wild boars? He’d never heard of such a thing.
“Are you really a noble?”
“For now,” Eluana said with a grin. Her small hands were calloused at every knuckle. She started walking briskly.
“Let’s go. We have to get out of Aden fast.”
Kazar grabbed her arm. He hadn’t objected to her crazy idea of stopping at home during their escape for a few reasons.
They needed money to survive outside the territory. And—
“You need medical treatment. No medicine at home?”
“I disinfected it and packed ointment. I’ll get treated after we leave Aden.”
Eluana resumed walking before Kazar could argue further.
“We’re going through the forest.”
Their pace quickened. The dense forest was perfect for hiding. Though weeds tangled at their feet, Eluana pressed forward without hesitation.
‘She shouldn’t be able to walk like that.’
Maybe it was for Louis’s sake. She didn’t show pain, and her voice was unnaturally cheerful.
‘It’s irritating how much I care.’
After a while, the sun began to set. Darkness descended over the forest, making Eluana feel a bit relieved. More than half of Aden was forest, and its night was too dark for effective searching.
A bell rang out from the lord’s castle—an alert. A sound never heard in peaceful Aden.
“They must’ve realized we escaped.”
“Took them long enough,” Kazar replied calmly.
By now, they were deep into the woods. Kazar thought of Regis. By now, he would’ve found the caged attendants. What a sight that would be.
“Wait.”
Kazar grabbed Eluana’s arm.
“Someone’s ahead. Hide.”
In a low voice, he warned her. Holding Louis, he ducked into the shadows of the bushes. Eluana also quickly crouched into cover.
Rustle, rustle. Something moved through the underbrush. Soon, a man emerged.
‘Uncle Sam?’
Sam the hunter was one of the few free to roam the lord’s forest.
Both Eluana and Kazar held their breath. Louis clamped his hands over his mouth.
“I definitely heard something…”
Sam nocked an arrow and scanned the area. They hoped he’d just pass by, but he didn’t lower his guard. As part of the patrol force, Sam was determined to find the source of the sound.
Eluana, knowing how skilled he was, grew anxious. They couldn’t afford to be delayed.
She slowly straightened and peeked over the bush.
“Uncle Sam.”
“Eluana?”
His rugged face lit up with recognition. As she awkwardly smiled, he lowered his bow and approached.
“My wife said you and Louis were jailed…”
Sam trailed off. Ten steps away, Eluana didn’t look like herself. Pale face, disheveled hair—it didn’t make sense for her to be here at this hour if they had been released.
Plus, they were far from town.
“You alone?”
Just then, a strange boy stood up nearby, holding Louis. Louis’s tear-streaked face peeked out from the boy’s arms.
Sam slung his bow over his shoulder and turned.
“I didn’t see anything.”
He muttered gruffly and walked away.
“Thank you, Uncle.”
Eluana called after him. The only reply was the sound of fading footsteps through the underbrush.
Eluana immediately sighed in relief, but Kazar remained alert until all signs of Sam disappeared. His presence faded into the sound of rustling leaves and wind.
“Can you trust him?”
It was a small estate—people were bound to know each other. But looking the other way during an escape was another matter. If caught, it would mean death.
“Whenever there was a drought, our family shared food. No one in Aden ever starved because of us.”
Almost everyone in Aden owed their lives to Ron or Stella—whether directly or through family. That’s why Eluana and Louis were special here. It was also how she’d been able to survive by selling swords in Ron’s name.
Kazar was starting to understand how the peace here was maintained. No crime—because everyone had just enough to get by.
“Still, it’s best not to trust people too much.”
No matter how close someone seems, you never truly know their heart. Even his trusted guards eventually chose betrayal.
“Trusting isn’t the bad part. Betraying trust is. I trust you, too.”
Eluana pressed forward again through the brush. Kazar said nothing and adjusted his hold on Louis.
“Once you’re out, are you going to find Ron Vita?”
“Huh? Um, yeah. I will.”
Her response was vague, but Kazar didn’t press further.
They walked for some time. Darkness had fully enveloped the forest. He could barely see Eluana now—only the rustling sound of Louis in his arms told him she was still behind.
Eluana pointed to a small hill.
“Just over that is the path to the neighboring territory.”
“If we head to the main road, we’ll get caught.”
“Hmm. Then maybe we just stay in the woods and keep going in the right direction.”
Her voice lacked the confidence she’d had earlier.
“You don’t know the way?”
“I’ve never been outside the estate. I only heard others talk about this route.”
“But you’re sure about the direction?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I’ll lead from here.”
Eluana nodded, and Kazar took the lead. Cradled in his arms, Louis gazed at Eluana’s tired face behind them. The sounds of insects filled the forest.
