❖ ❖ ❖
Reluctant to argue with Zeryn, Laili simply nods and agrees with her statement.
Even with the possibility of the kingdom providing reinforcements and mutual cooperation between the coastal cities of Tierney, Aszino, and Parlate, in the end, the effort would be in vain.
After all, the demon army is massive compared to the royal soldiers of Zefry's capital.
❖ ❖ ❖
Still furious about the previous situation, Zeryn continues her rant.
— What the hell is wrong with those guys?! With all the reports, alerts, and warnings our superiors sent through the communication orb, they still didn't lift a single damn finger! Instead, they just doubted the information.
— This is all the king's fault! — shouted the two beastmen from Laili's group in unison.
In contrast to the general commotion, Mia, Takayo, Rei, and Kazuki simply observed the conversation, nodding silently.
Through Zeryn's account, it became clear how the disaster happened precisely because of the negligence of the capital's authorities regarding the kingdom's cities and villages.
"Well, from what I understand, even if the capital had helped, it still wouldn't have been enough to defeat the invading army."
"In times like these, when people are overwhelmed by despair and grief, they need someone to blame for all the disasters."
"These people can't accept reality, especially Zeryn… She's drowning in her weaknesses, lashing out, trying to find another way. Even if it means being overly emotional, to the point of not caring about betrayal or insult."
"I can't blame her for thinking like that."
"After all, the king and his officials were complete assholes for ignoring the citizens' warnings. A king who neglects his civic duty and jumps to conclusions. What a piece of shit."
"What was I expecting? This was the same guy who murdered Kazuki's brother and declared himself emperor of the kingdom. Even though they're brothers, they're nothing alike."
Moments after contemplating the situation, Rei tilts his head to the side and looks up, listening to Zeryn's speech but not paying attention to her words.
Above him, the vast night sky stretches infinitely, speckled with tiny shining stars, —a breathtaking sight.
On opposite sides, two moons glow intensely in the atmosphere. Although they are at opposite ends, — east and west, — they still contrast with the luminous scenery.
They seem like twin sisters who once walked separate paths, still estranged by their one-sided beliefs. They haven't spoken for thousands of years, perhaps even centuries.
Despite their feud, they love each other deeply, with an unshakable bond.
Yet, despite this mutual affection, they can't resolve their differences. There's a lack of communication, making it impossible to move forward.
That would certainly make for an interesting story if it weren't just the imagination of the boy watching from a distance.
To Rei, the stars in the sky might be asteroids or even planets like Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
He doesn't fully grasp the concept of Arcadia, but he understands that the planet he once lived on, Earth, is probably one of those tiny glowing dots in the sky.
Or maybe this place is a parallel world, or a realm beyond the stars.
...
After finishing his stargazing, the boy glances to the side and notices Kazuki staring at him intently.
Realizing this, Rei smirks, causing the man to react unexpectedly, —quickly averting his gaze to the fire.
Amused by his awkward reaction, Rei chuckles.
Rei's gaze has always been captivating and striking, enough to make people freeze under his attention.
But at this moment, his eyes sparkled under long lashes while his hair swayed in the wind, adding to the contrast of his features.
A question arose in his mind.
What is Laili's group after? Are they traveling through the forest to evade the monsters until they reach the capital, or are they simply wandering forward without direction?
— You guys have nowhere to go… Are you really planning to cross the forest all the way to the capital? Even with the risk of being attacked by demons again? — Rei asks, his voice directed at Zeryn.
The young woman, who had been talking at length about the previous discussion with the merchant and the rest of her group, quickly responds.
— Look, let's not lie. Our plan was to follow the forest path until we reached Zefry's capital, but the roads are swarming with demons and monsters! It's unsettling to even consider that option now.
— If it weren't for an old lady on the road who mentioned a place nearby that's sheltering refugees and survivors, we would have stuck to our original plan of reaching the capital — she adds, her gaze fixed on him.
— A place that shelters war refugees and survivors? There's such a place in this forest?
Hearing the question, Laili looks at the fire again and sighs. Even she wasn't entirely sure about the information—she had only heard it from an old woman.
— Surprisingly, yes. There is such a place here in the northern part of the forest, but I didn't expect them to be offering help — Laili replies.
— Them?
— Yes, the elves.