Chapter 439

Chapter 62 On the Eve of Departure

[Send my regards to dear little Hill.

I write this letter to tell you that I am well and not to worry about me.

Thank you for the gold coins you’ve sent. I haven’t had the chance to tell you this before, but you know Grandma doesn’t like to trouble Father Merlin every month by having him write back to you. Although I really want to do so.

Those gold coins were quite a lot. Grandma used them to buy two cows and made some clothes for Barry. These didn’t cost much, and what remained, Grandma has been saving for you. She plans to use it as your dowry when you eventually get married.

Not long ago, the village held another festival and celebration. The Bountiful Mother Goddess blessed us, and this year was also a good harvest! Grandma still remembers last year at this time, you got drunk at the celebration and curled up at the doorstep, sleeping like a kitten. Time flies, and before we knew it, you’ve been away from here for over a year.

In these past year or so, people have gradually recovered from their sorrow, and life has returned to its usual pace. Many new houses have been built, and there are now some unfamiliar but friendly faces. We will live well, better in the future. Grandma’s health is also good; she hurt her wrist pushing the cart recently, but it’s already healed. I estimate I’ll live many more years. Little Hill, don’t worry about me.

There’s some good news.

Thanks to the benevolence of the gods, six months ago, the annual knight recruitment drive of Fesler Parish selected Barry!

He always talks about you, and every time he mentions you, his eyes light up. He is very proud of you, but at the same time, he’s very troubled. He said he must become a brave and upright knight of the Holy Church, just like his father, to become a hero like you. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to face others saying you are his sister, Hill.

He succeeded.

Barry is now part of the Holy Church’s Third Knightly Order, a glorious and fearless knight. Although compared to little Hill, this is not much of an achievement, it cannot be denied that he has worked hard, running, wielding his sword, and moving forward.

Do you know, little Hill? When I asked Father Merlin to write this letter for you, Barry had already joined the Third Knightly Legion and gone out to fight those demons at Mosley Coast.

The gods bless us. I heard yesterday that they won. I couldn’t help but want to tell you, but by the time this letter reaches your hands, you might have already heard this exciting news, right? Do you know that Barry is one of them? He is there, fighting to defend honor, just like his father and you did.

Grandma takes pride in this.

She is proud of both of you.

I’m sure Elia is too.

Little Hill, Grandma knows you’re busy outside, but I still want to say, if you have time, come back. Come back and stay for a few days. Grandma will cook soup and marinated venison for you. Your Uncle Doug said he would give you a big ham, as compensation for his son, Ryan. He has been thinking about this.

Everyone misses you.

More than anyone else, dear Claire sends her regards.

P.S.: Father Merlin offers his sincere greetings to you, Miss Silviga. Everyone knows of your deeds, and your bravery inspires us. May the great gods forever protect you.]

In the courtyard, under the firelight, the letter in front of me wasn’t long, but Grandma’s love and longing for me were evident on the page. I could feel her emotions through the words. I thought of her wrinkled face, which should have been warm, but…

“Miss Silviga?”

Suddenly, I heard someone call softly, and I looked up.

Charman, wearing casual clothes, walked towards me.

“Are you just back? Why are you standing here? Is there anything I can help with…” she asked with a puzzled look, approaching me with a stern face and a hint of concern in her eyes. Then she noticed the letter in my hand, “This… is a letter? Are you reading it here?”

“Mm.”

I forced a smile, not wanting to talk much, so I changed the subject and asked, “Where’s Vicki?”

“Her Majesty is handling state affairs in the palace tonight and probably won’t return.”

Ah…

She isn’t here.

I instinctively looked toward her lit bedroom.

Then I heard Charman speak again, as if she knew what I was thinking, “Oh, I had the maids clean the house. The repair work on Her Majesty’s bathhouse is done, and there are many things to clean… I heard some noise upstairs just now, so I came down to check. You don’t seem to be feeling well. Should I have someone prepare some hot water for you?”

“No need…”

I felt a mix of disappointment and relief, knowing I wouldn’t see Victoria tonight, so I shook my head, “I’m fine. I’m going back. You carry on with your work.”

“Then… please take care, Miss. Rest early.”

Charman bowed lightly and left.

I returned to the inner quarters under her watchful gaze.

My mind was in a daze. I took off my shoes and entered the living room, sitting on the sofa. After a moment of blankness, I opened the letter again and read it once more, each word weighing heavier on my heart.

Barry that guy…

He actually went to Mosley Coast… to fight those heretics…

How could it be…

Why…

Grandma wrote this letter at least a month ago, around the time the report claimed initial victory in the battle at Mosley Coast. That’s why her words were filled with joy and satisfaction. She must have thought the battle was almost over, and Barry would return with the other knights, honored and decorated, becoming a guardian of the West.

The hero of Erykaya, the entire village would be proud of him…

But now…

Angel said that the Third Knight Legion encountered the clown, and there would surely be a fierce battle with uncertain outcomes ahead… Facing those madmen, many knights might sacrifice their lives… And this urgent intelligence reached Angel’s hands in the capital after more than half a month.

What kind of joke is this…

Barry, you are the only one left for grandma…

Without being by her side, you’ve only been a knight for half a year and don’t even know how to use Order Power, yet you insist on going to Mosley Coast to fight those fanatical heretics. Do you know what that means… What do you intend to do… To show off your heroism!

A sudden surge of inexplicable anger welled up inside me.

This anger had barely surfaced when it was extinguished by stronger worry and unease.

It has been half a month already… The fighting must have started long ago over there…

Grandma must be worried sick…

What if something happens to Barry…

I—

In the dark living room, a girl with hair like a ribbon and eyes like stars curled up alone on the sofa, holding the letter in one hand and clenching her small fist to her mouth, biting hard.

Elyia…

It was all because of me that Elyia…

It’s all my fault…

If anything happens to Barry… What will grandma do…

Why did he go to Mosley Coast…

Tick, tock.

The sound of the clock clearly echoed in my ears.

—I can’t wait any longer.

No matter what, I must get there as soon as possible.

I need to find Barry, give him a good beating, and then bring him safely home…

Thinking of this, I quickly got up from the sofa and ran upstairs “deng deng deng deng”, entered the bedroom, opened the window, and shouted loudly twice: “Goat cheese! Goat cheese!”

After waiting for a while and not seeing the silly bird return, I tilted my head and thought for a moment, then sat down at the desk, lit the lantern, took out paper from the drawer, wrote a leave letter to Professor Melville, briefly told him about my trip to Siljaya, placed it on the desk, pondered for a moment, and then took another piece of paper to write a message to Sarah, telling her to inform the girls in the dormitory that I would be away for some time, and that I wasn’t sure when I would return or what I was doing.

Then I rolled up the two pieces of paper, put them together into the letter tube, and stored it. Putting the letter tube back into the drawer, I rubbed my hair, turned to look at the black leather box leaning against the corner, and hesitated whether to write another letter to Shantelle Castle…

—Forget it.

They’re not in the city anyway, they won’t receive the letter, and even if they do, it will only add to their worries.

With these thoughts, I stood up, walked to the wardrobe, took out two sets of spare black leather skirts, threw one set by the bedside, and wrapped the other set with several clean undergarments in silk fabric. Then I turned to the corner of the room, opened the leather box, stuffed the package into the compartment where the books were kept, thought for a moment, and took down Mr. Sword Saint’s first edition notes from the bookshelf, putting them in too.

Then I picked up the leather box and placed it at the foot of the bed, patting it lightly.

“I’m leaving now… Captain Gray.”

Waited for a while, but Captain Gray didn’t say anything.

—Of course it wouldn’t speak; what am I thinking?

But after doing all this, I felt a little more at ease.

Outside, the moon was bright and the wind clear.

The lights in Victoria’s bedroom had already gone out.

She didn’t come back tonight.

That night, I tossed and turned unable to sleep.

…………

When I woke up the next morning, my head felt somewhat dizzy. After taking a bath, I felt a bit clearer. I rushed to the mirror and found that despite not having slept much, my face seemed even more captivating. Under my hazy eyes, there was a slight hint of dark circles.

—I’m so tired.

Rubbing my eyes and yawning, I changed into the leather skirt I had taken out last night, then walked to the window, pulled the curtains open, and saw that Goat Cheese was indeed standing outside. I opened the window to let it in, tied the letter tube from last night to its leg, and combed its feathers.

“Go to the academy, to the principal’s office. Give it to that old man… You know who I mean, right?”

“Ga—”

“Don’t make a mistake.”

“Pepe! Fool—”

The silly bird flew away while clamoring.

I stood by the window for a moment, slowly closing it, then turned around, brushed my hair, walked to the foot of the bed, picked up the black leather box, and put it on my back, jumping in place.

Last night, it felt like…

Captain Gray hadn’t moved in a long time, and it seemed to have become much lighter.

—No, wait.

It’s because my physical strength has increased significantly over this period…

I looked at my delicate and tender palm, clenched my fingers slightly, and furrowed my brow.

This gradual increase is hard to notice in daily life. For me, holding something weighing one pound feels almost the same as holding something ten pounds.

Since the battle with Nero in the capital, I haven’t used my full strength, not even when practicing alone in the forest. So, I actually have no idea how strong I am now.

Just right.

Let’s go to Siljaya and test it out…

What was his name again…

“…Clown?”

Although I will try to use only the power of Frost Order…

But if you dare hurt Barry, pray for yourself then.