chapter 15.2

Beneath the fading twilight, Alcard rode onward, his black steed carrying him along the deserted path that stretched far beyond the village he had left behind. The sky darkened as night unfurled its vast, star-dotted canvas, while the pale glow of the moon cast long shadows upon the road. The rhythmic sound of hooves meeting the dirt was the only company he had now, a steady beat that accompanied the storm of thoughts swirling in his mind.

A gentle night breeze brushed against his skin, its cool touch doing little to calm the turmoil within him. Since his parting with Arwen, he had been trying to make sense of everything that had happened, searching for logic within the tangled web of mystery he had stumbled into. But the more he thought, the deeper he seemed to sink into an abyss of unanswered questions.

"A Life-Seer," he muttered under his breath, repeating the words Arwen had spoken before they parted. "A guide chosen by the gods."

It was difficult to believe, but he could no longer deny the things he had witnessed. Reinhard, a Jotun, was real. The silent village had miraculously come back to life. And Arwen, with her unwavering composure, had seemed to know all along that this was how it would unfold.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment, recalling their journey together—the way she had carried herself, the way she had remained calm even when they were surrounded by assassins. Not once had she truly faltered, never showing fear in the way most would. Looking back, it was as if she had always known where this path would lead.

"So… Arwen… she knew everything from the start?" The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.

A nagging feeling crept into him—something akin to betrayal. He had believed himself to be her protector, the shield that stood between her and the dangers of the world. But if she had always known, if she had foreseen this journey's end, then had he merely been a pawn in a game far larger than himself?

"Was I just a tool?" he whispered, his grip on the reins tightening. "Was I only meant to ensure she reached her destination?"

A slow burn of anger flickered in his chest. Every fight they had endured, every wound he had taken, every moment of pain and exhaustion—had it all been part of something predetermined? Had he been nothing more than a guardian meant to serve his purpose before being discarded?

But just as his mind threatened to be consumed by frustration, a memory surfaced—the look in Arwen's eyes as they parted. It had not been the gaze of someone who had merely used him. There had been gratitude in her expression, something sincere and unspoken.

Alcard exhaled deeply, trying to temper his emotions. Perhaps he was overthinking things. Perhaps Arwen had no more control over this than he did. If she was truly a Life-Seer, then her fate had likely been decided long before she even understood it herself.

"Then… maybe she was trapped in this just like I was," he thought, lifting his gaze to the sky. "Maybe she was simply following a path she had no choice but to walk."

And yet, despite his attempt at understanding, he could not shake the lingering doubt that gnawed at his gut. Arwen had not lied to him, but she had certainly kept things from him. And if their paths ever crossed again, he would demand the answers he had been denied.

"For too long, I've walked blind in the dark," he murmured. "If I see her again, I won't remain ignorant any longer."

The resolve within him grew stronger. He might not yet understand everything, but one thing was certain—he would not stop seeking the truth. Whatever had happened, whatever remained hidden, he would find out on his own terms.

With that thought anchoring him, Alcard urged his horse forward, increasing their pace. The sound of hooves echoed against the silence of the night, carrying him back toward The Wall—the place where everything had begun, and perhaps, where the answers he sought would finally be revealed.

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