chapter 14.5

Reinhard remained still, his sharp gaze observing the clear confusion etched across Alcard's face. As if understanding the storm of questions raging in his mind, Reinhard finally spoke, his voice calm but laced with undeniable authority.

"Your mission has ended, Alcard," he said, his eyes unwavering. "Arwen's goal was to find me, and now she has."

Alcard frowned, his thoughts growing more tangled with every passing second. His gaze narrowed, scrutinizing Reinhard's words, which felt far too simple to justify everything they had endured. "So… that's it?" he asked, skepticism dripping from his voice. "All of this—the dangerous journey, the battles we fought—was just to bring her to you? What the hell is actually going on here?"

Reinhard did not answer immediately. Instead, he offered a faint smile—not one of amusement, but the kind that hinted at a deeper knowledge, something far beyond what Alcard could grasp at this moment. "What is happening here is not something you need to understand right now," he said at last, his tone composed, as if stating an indisputable fact. "All you need to know is that your role is done. Take whatever supplies you need from here—they'll be enough for your journey back to The Wall."

Alcard almost scoffed, ready to argue, but before he could speak, Arwen took a step forward. There was something different about her expression—softer, filled with gratitude that went beyond mere words. Her voice was gentle, yet every syllable carried weight.

"Thank you, Alcard," she said, her gaze holding something he couldn't quite decipher. "You protected me through this journey, and I won't forget your bravery and kindness. But now, it's time for us to part ways. I believe… fate will bring us together again someday."

Her words struck something deep within him. After everything they had been through, after all the dangers they had faced together, was this really how it was going to end? It felt… sudden. Too abrupt. Yet before he could find the right words to respond, Reinhard spoke again.

"Do not worry, Alcard," Reinhard said, stepping forward with an air of certainty. "You have done more than enough. But now, you must return to where you belong. Trust me—this is the best course of action."

Alcard barely had time to react before Reinhard lifted his hand and, with barely a touch, pressed his fingers lightly against Alcard's forehead. The contact was brief, barely perceptible, yet an overwhelming sensation flooded through Alcard's body.

A sudden weightlessness overtook him, as though the ground beneath his feet had disappeared. His vision blurred, light and shadow swirling together, twisting and melding until the world around him became nothing but a vast, infinite void.

Then, just as quickly as it had begun, it ended.

When Alcard opened his eyes, he found himself standing in a bustling stableyard. The noises of daily life in a village filled the air—voices calling out, footsteps crunching against damp soil, the distant laughter of children. The distinct smell of straw and damp earth reached his nose, grounding him in reality.

His black horse stood nearby, its dark eyes calm, as if nothing unusual had happened. But Arwen's white horse… was gone. And so were Arwen and Reinhard.

Alcard blinked several times, his hand instinctively reaching up to touch his forehead where Reinhard had touched him. Had it all been real? Or had it merely been an illusion, a trick played on him by forces beyond his understanding?

He exhaled slowly, his gaze sweeping over the villagers going about their routines, oblivious to the surreal experience he had just endured. It was as if nothing had changed, as if the events that had shaken his very perception of the world had never occurred.

Taking a deep breath, Alcard stepped toward his horse, gripping the reins with practiced ease. But something inside him felt different—an unfamiliar, lingering sensation that he couldn't shake off.

As he led his horse out of the village, his mind remained restless. Reinhard… Arwen… What had all of this truly been about? Had he really completed his mission, or was this merely the first step in something far greater?

One thing was certain—his journey was far from over. Whatever this was, it had only just begun.

And if there was one thing Alcard had learned, it was that the world held far more secrets than he had ever imagined.

And sooner or later, he would uncover them.

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