Chapter 118

When I realized what happened, I jumped up immediately. Eriez, my kind friend, fell to the ground. He muttered, “Argh…I… W-who would believe… that I couldn’t catch you… T-that I would lose to you… N-no one… would believe…”

I saw that his left hand was cut clean, his artery spewing red blood every time he breathed. My head spun just watching him, but I recovered quickly. I undid my belt and got it wet with the lake water before tying it around his wrist tightly to stop the bleeding. Eriez shook uncontrollably after losing so much blood at once. When he relaxed a little, he screamed at my ear, “Go! Just go, you moron! Argh… But the next time we meet, I will kill you! We will be enemies, you traitor!”

My ear hurt from his screams, so I took a step back. How was I supposed to feel about this? My strong friend somehow got himself upright and continued to scream, “Arghh! I hope your path is filled with curses! But… But let there be blessing behind you! Let there be blessing to the path you left behind! Dammit! F*ck! I hope… I hope!”

I fumbled as I grabbed my sword. I assumed that my bag was where I left it, on the path where I first faced Eriez. As I ran, I heard him cry out my name.

“Juyaaaaa!”

***

I was a coward.

I hid nearby where Eriez couldn’t see me. I couldn’t leave to go to the old castle until I was sure he was okay. I waited for a long time until I saw the soldiers, who must have heard Eriez’s scream, came to help him. I followed them to make sure they took him back home well.

I also needed to know where the soldiers were before I went to find my bag. It was filled with necessities, but more importantly, if the soldiers found it, they would have figured out where I was going. I had to know where the soldiers would go next to search for me. I would return to where my bag was only if I was sure it would be safe to do so.

I saw that more brothers came out to help Eriez. They screamed when they saw him, “Eriez!”

My good friend was right. If he returned without me, and without any severe injury, no one would have believed him. Of course, this situation was odd as well since the other brothers didn’t know that I was healed. Some probably still thought it was possible that Iztal Eriez just let me go because he was desperately in love with me, but no one voiced this doubt. After all, he was missing a hand and bleeding profusely. Many exclaimed in shock, and it helped to make Eriez’s story believable.

“Oh my god, what happened? What the hell, Eriez?! That traitor Juya… We thought he was half dead when we abandoned him. So he used some kind of magic in the underground tunnel to heal himself?”

“Although he is a traitor, Iztal Juya was still one of us at one point. He was an Innocent One, so how could he do this to you, Iztal Eriez? You were his best friend! You were so kind to him! How could he do this to you…?!”

That’s right. It was best for everyone in Minurd to believe that I somehow became incredibly powerful from my madness and ended up harming Eriez. I didn’t care what they thought. I was just glad Eriez got to the castle in Minurd alive. The healers should be able to stop the bleeding and help him get better. He was a very healthy young man, so I didn’t doubt that he should survive this.

“…”

Tears rolled down from my eyes, and I had to make an effort not to make any noises. However, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop my shoulders from shaking as I watched my friend’s broad back and the brothers who were his family.

Ahh… He was truly loved by so many people.

There was a time in my life when I had people who cared for me. It seemed like it was only yesterday. It almost felt like it still wasn’t too late for me to return… To get my family back…

Eriez told me that the next time we meet, we will be enemies. If he didn’t say this, I would have been tempted to return.

However, I knew the truth in my head. I could not live in Minurd. I could not stay here. I betrayed my homeland, for I left everyone.

“…”

It was over. I only had one option left, and it wasn’t to go back home to my friends. Eriez was right; what I gained from this wasn’t true freedom because if it were, I would have been able to cry out loud. Instead, I had to bite my lips to make sure I didn’t make any noise.

I wished I could cry freely. I wished I didn’t have to hide my tears.

“… huh?”

Suddenly, I opened my eyes, for I felt a presence.

“…”

Through the branches, I saw Iztal Yurema’s youthful face. He was pretty skilled, but I wasn’t sure he was good enough to spot me, who was so far away. Everyone walked back into the castle, but he remained and looked up where I was.

He stared for a long time, and I wondered if he saw me. What was he thinking?

Suddenly, he reached into his pocket and hesitantly took out a miniature bow and arrow. He was alone now, and slowly, he pulled the string. At that very moment, a bird flew by with a loud cry.

“…”

I could finally ease my breath. I looked down with my eyes closed but wasn’t sure if it was enough to hide. Did I even want to hide?

Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.

A long quiet time passed and…

No arrow came my way. I didn’t even hear him shoot any. When I slowly looked up towards the castle, I saw that he was gone. It looked as if there was no one, to begin with. Did I hallucinate everything just now?

“…?”

I watched the spot where Yurema was standing for a long time. My dry lips opened as I murmured, “Eriez. Hakim Karid. Manar. Nairim. Ramish. Yurema… As well as Fatima and Hawaki.”

And the last name…

“Camille…”

I breathed evenly. This was the place I lived for so long. I grew up here. I served this place for many years, and I called it my home.

But… It was all a lie. My life has been a lie.

I was dehydrated. I didn’t even do much today, but I felt exhausted. Thankfully, however, my legs moved just fine, although I didn’t get to eat anything today. By the time I found my bag, the sun was setting. It was there where I left it. It looked like no one touched it since I left.

The first thing I took out was the map that was folded neatly. I could smell the scent of the person who drew this for me. I got it to my nose and inhaled deeply.

Ah.

If I looked back, I could probably still see Minurd’s ugly castle.

“…”

But I had to go. It was time. I had to go to an unfamiliar world—the place where no one knew me. I had to go even if it meant ending up all alone.