I fell silent, thinking about who that figure could be. Then I imdiately asked about their facial features or body shape.
"What are the characteristics?" I asked, but he only shook his head, followed by a harsh sigh.
"They wore fully covered clothing. Throughout the road, they kept their head down and spoke only a few sentences to the demon. Then suddenly, the demon gave birth extrely fast."
Once again, I was shocked by his explanation. Who could this person be?
"Alright, thank you. I'll tell Arvan."
I was confused about where to start the investigation, especially since the history book still hadn't been found. This war might be far more painful, the weight already creeping through my whole body.
"What are they after from my body?" I muttered softly, but the owl imdiately let out a quiet chuckle.
"You know, the ancient fla is extrely rare. If soone possesses it, that person can control all elents that exist here."
"Even the demon doesn't have it."
I scratched my head though it wasn't itchy, then left the pavilion.
"You're not going back to the forbidden forest?" I asked when I saw the owl following .
"Once I leave the forbidden forest, I cannot enter again unless the seal is broken by the king."
I took a deep breath and allowed it to follow .
"Fine, you may co with . Just don't speak carelessly."
After that, I was about to re-enter the castle.
---
Training today was led by Arvan. At tis, he acted very strictly toward soldiers who appeared weak. It seed he was recruiting more soldiers to use as pillars in the battle against the Demon. He even often influenced soldiers who looked completely useless—like single-elent carriers—to charge or attack.
The noisy atmosphere made want to leave imdiately. I still had matters left unresolved.
"Arvan, I'll be gone for a while!"
I wasn't asking for permission—I was informing him. Then I walked away without waiting for his reply.
"Where are you going?" Arvan shouted loudly, but I ignored him.
The owl followed wherever I went.
"Xanders... I sll sothing extrely pungent."
The owl perched on my shoulder, and I instantly halted.
"Do you sll sothing?"
It kept sniffing the air, but I continued walking into my room.
"Is sothing odd?" I asked, yet it flew straight onto Farel's bed.
"Is there sothing wrong with Farel?" I swallowed hard as the owl sniffed his bed. Without thinking clearly, I approached it.
"There's sothing strange about him."
"You should avoid him for now."
After saying that, the owl left with questions swirling in my head.
My thoughts stopped when Farel suddenly opened the door. He looked surprised to see in the room.
"Weren't you supposed to be training right now?" he asked. I shook my head.
"What about you? Weren't you also in training?"
He didn't respond. He simply sat on his bed.
"A few days ago, while you were gone, I think soone entered my room. I noticed it because the condition of the door had changed from before."
My gaze turned to the door—indeed, there was a trap that soone clearly set.
"Are you suspecting soone?" Farel asked, looking at intensely.
I shook my head. For now, I couldn't reveal what had been instructed to .
"No, I just want to rest first."
I lay down and pulled the blanket over myself as Farel approached the door.
"I'm sure soone is watching us."
Yet deep inside, I suspected Farel had already used my eyes. I remained silent and closed mine, entering vision mode once more.
When Farel left the room, I opened my eyes. My destination this ti was the house of the book keeper—to check its condition.
---
I rode my horse and hurried to his ho. But when I arrived, only an intact tree remained, while the house had burned down completely.
I tied my horse to the tree outside, then walked in, hoping sothing still remained. I leaned against the tree, realizing everything was gone. Then I gently patted the tree trunk.
"Did your master truly leave nothing behind?" I whispered, letting out a rough breath.
As I was about to leave, I felt the ground beneath shift—slightly different.
"Why is the ground different?"
I rubbed my foot against it and realized it was dug-up soil, uneven with the rest.
I knelt and began digging. After removing enough earth, I felt sothing.
"What is this?"
I pulled out a small silver box. It looked simple but felt incredibly valuable.
I tried to open it, but it was locked. I picked up a stone and struck the box repeatedly. Still, it wouldn't open.
"What is he hiding?" I muttered softly.
The sun had set into night. I returned to the castle, carrying a fragile hope in my heart.
---
When I arrived, I crossed paths with Luvita. She didn't ask anything, but her gaze was sharply fixed on . I ignored her presence and entered my chamber.
Night had fallen.
Farel was already on his bed. Whatever he had been doing, he imdiately looked toward as I opened the door.
"Did you visit the house of that old guardian?" he asked, looking straight at .
"Yes. I went to et him, but I didn't find anything."
"You know, those rumors—they say he was once incredibly ruthless. He rose to power by overthrowing the forr ruler. Anyone who stood against him died." Farel said as he approached . I raised an eyebrow.
"Where did you get that information?"
"Anyway, it's just a rumor—not necessarily true," I replied while changing clothes and secretly placing the box out of his sight.
"So say he had a pair of twins. Have you ever t them?" Farel asked.
"Gustav's children?" I responded reflexively.
Farel imdiately threw a pillow at .
"You speak of him as if he were your friend… tch." he scoffed. I shrugged indifferently.
"So they're inside the castle?" I asked to confirm. Farel nodded.
"I'm not sure, but they're twins. I've never seen their faces."
"Did you find anything?" he asked again, staring at suspiciously.
I shook my head once more.
"No clues remain. So it's better for to prepare for the war."
"Are you going to sleep?"
I had been about to lie down, but I sat upright again.
"Are you planning sothing dirty?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. He ch
uckled softly.
"You truly are the best friend I have."
He approached and placed an arm around my shoulder. I only cleared my throat lazily in response
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