Chapter 25
It had been several days since I met Kayin. I stayed in the hut to recover and went out into the forest for a walk.
Kayan is the old man's name. He is a soldier who deserted from the Kruthian army and has been living in this forest. The villagers call him the forest wizard, even though he has no magical powers.
"Kiva. Did you bring enough firewood?"
Kayan asked, looking at me.
I replied as I threw the firewood floating beside me in front of the hut:
"Yes. It looks like it's going to rain soon."
Kayan asked:
"Are you a wizard in disguise, Kiva?"
I looked at him and said,
"So what if I am? Will you report me to the kingdom?"
Kayan replied,
"Although the kingdom of Krothia opposes wizards, they do not deny their usefulness."
I said sarcastically,
"Does not denying their usefulness mean conducting experiments on them?"
Kayan replied, limping on his long cane and approaching me with shining eyes:
"Of course. The power of wizards should not be exclusive to them. We are equals."
I said:
"Anyway, I don't care, I'm leaving soon."
When Kayan heard that, he said:
"Have you forgotten our promise?"
I raised my eyebrows slightly and smiled:
"Of course not. Let's go anytime."
Kayan said:
"We'll go tomorrow. Today I need to prepare our equipment."
I didn't understand his obsession with finding this thing. Maybe it was something special to him?
"It's fine with me, I'll go take a bath in the river."
I left him alone and left while thinking.
What is this thing he needs my help finding? What will I encounter?
I decided to use my former name and not use the name Ruthvien. After all, I don't want to be targeted for ransom by my family because I am a noble.
"No need to wonder, I'll find out tomorrow."
I muttered as I took off my clothes to bathe and touched my neck.
"The cut marks are still here. Ferma's power seems to be special. I need to find her and question her about her power. This may be the turning point in my death."
I got into the water to wash my body while thinking about Ferma. Ferma's power affected my body in a strange way. It slowed down my body's regeneration and somehow stimulated my power.
You're probably wondering what my power is, right? We are in a magical world, so of course I can use magic. Although it is very different from the magic you are familiar with, it is something similar, which I will explain later because I am lazy.
*****
Kayan said and moved his stick to easily avoid the pits:
"Move carefully, there are many pits here."
I said as I avoided the holes:
"I see you move with agility that belies your age, old man."
We are now in the forest, walking deep into it to help me find what I need.
I asked as I approached him:
"Aren't you going to tell me why you need my help? Is it a fruit that requires the sacrifice of a young man's body?"
Kayan replied, walking with his back to me:
"No, it's not a fruit. We're almost there, it's behind that hill."
I sneaked up behind him and whispered in his ear:
"So you're taking me far away so you and your friends can violate my beautiful body?"
Kayan flinched when he heard my words and felt my breath on his ear, but he said calmly as he moved away from me:
"You have a vivid imagination, Kiva."
I said as I moved forward at the same pace:
"I have a vivid imagination? Then how about we go there to find out?"
Kayan replied calmly, but I noticed his stick trembling slightly:
"Of course, of course."