The crowd outside Delcra Castle was already gathered when Kael stepped out of the gates. The air smelled of smoke and fresh soil—traces of the battle still clung to the capital, but for the first time in years, laughter returned to its streets.
As Kael walked toward the carriage with Elric at his side, townspeople began to surround them, forming a gentle circle. Their faces were filled with awe and gratitude.
"Lord Kael! You saved us!" a woman cried, clutching her child.
"Thank you, Hero!" another shouted, pressing a small basket of fruits into his arms.
One by one, they came forward. Some offered candies wrapped in cloth, others pieces of bread or flowers. Kael didn't refuse any of them. His pale hands filled quickly, stacked with gifts of every color and size.
He stood there quietly—like a statue among the living. His expression didn't change, but there was no trace of rejection or discomfort in his gaze. His red eyes, calm and distant, reflected their joy without absorbing it.
Elric hurried to his side, her brow tightening in worry as she noticed how his arms trembled slightly under the weight. She reached out, ready to relieve him, when she saw a small boy slip through the crowd.
The boy tugged at Kael's robe.
Kael paused, then slowly turned to him. The child held out a single white flower, its petals slightly bruised. "Thank you, Lord Kael. You saved my family."
Kael's eyes softened. He knelt down to the boy's level and gently took the flower from his small hands. For a brief moment, silence fell between them. Then, his lips moved—soft, slow, fragile.
"Thank you…"
The boy's face lit up. He grinned, showing a missing front tooth, and ran back to his mother.
Elric froze where she stood. Her chest tightened—this was the first time she had heard Kael speak to a stranger since he awoke. She could almost see the faint trace of warmth in his usually cold eyes.
But then Kael swayed, his body faltering almost imperceptibly.
Elric's reflexes took over. She moved beside him, catching his elbow under the guise of helping him with the pile of gifts. "I'm sorry, everyone," she said quickly, forcing a polite smile. "But we must go now. Thank you so much for your kindness."
The crowd murmured their farewells as Elric gently guided Kael toward the waiting carriage. She could feel the faint tremor in his hand as she steadied him, her other arm carrying half the gifts he held.
Seeing her signal, Robert hurried from the side of the carriage and came forward. "Here, let me help," he said, taking the heavier bundles from Kael's grasp. Together, they guided him up the steps into the carriage.
Once seated, Kael hesitated when Elric and Robert tried to place the gifts aside. His eyes followed the basket and the fruit—then, with quiet insistence, he reached out and took back a few small fruits and the flower the boy had given him.
He held them gently in his lap, as though afraid they might break.
Elric and Robert exchanged a silent glance. There was no need for words—they both felt the same quiet awe. Kael, who once rejected the world and its touch, now cradled a simple flower as though it mattered.
Robert smiled faintly. "It seems he's… showing emotion again," he whispered to Elric.
The carriage began to move. The wheels rolled across the cobblestone path, carrying them away from the castle. Through the small window, Kael could see the townspeople waving, calling out his name. Servants lined the gate, bowing as their carriage passed.
Kael didn't smile—but his gaze lingered, following their silhouettes until they disappeared from sight.
Elric, seated beside him, watched quietly. She could tell he was exhausted. His skin was still pale, his breathing slow but steady. His heart had stopped only a day before—yet here he was, alive, fragile, silent.
Robert sat across from them, still watching Kael with worry. "This journey will take about seven days since we're not using the teleportation portal," he said softly. "If you feel unwell at any time, please tell me."
Kael didn't respond, but his fingers curled slightly tighter around the flower in his hand.
Outside, the landscape slowly changed—the sun dipping behind the western ridge, painting the horizon gold. The breeze carried faint whispers from the people they left behind.
Elric smiled faintly, her eyes soft as she turned to Kael. He doesn't smile… but I can tell he understands.
Kael leaned slightly against the window, the flower resting in his palm. Its petals glowed under the last light of dusk, fragile yet alive—just like him.
And for that fleeting moment, even without a smile, he looked almost peaceful.
-----------------------------------------
The morning sun filtered through the canopy as the carriage rolled deeper into the western forest. Though they were still within Delcra's borders, the air grew noticeably colder, the wind brushing past the trees with a whispering chill.
Elric leaned closer to the window, watching the golden leaves swirl in the wake of the carriage wheels. "The forest is getting thicker," she murmured. "We'll reach the borderlands by noon."
Robert rummaged through the small travel bag at his side, pulling out a folded wool blanket. He turned toward Kael, who sat quietly beside Elric, his gaze fixed on the moving scenery outside. Without a word, Robert leaned forward to drape the blanket over Kael's lap—
—but Kael caught his wrist, his touch gentle yet firm.
"I'm fine," Kael said quietly. "I'm not cold. You use it."
Robert froze, blinking in surprise. For a moment, he simply stared at Kael before chuckling softly, scratching the back of his neck. "I'm fine, young master. You healed me yesterday, remember?" He grinned and turned to Elric for support. "I can even run a hundred meters in five seconds now!"
Elric rolled her eyes but played along. "Kael," she said softly, her tone warm but firm, "you're still weak. Your well-being is our priority. Just let yourself be a little warm, alright?"
She reached out and took his hand, her touch light but reassuring. Kael's red eyes met hers for a brief second before lowering again. Finally, he let Robert settle the blanket across his legs.
"Good," Robert said with a satisfied nod. "Now you look like a proper noble again."
Kael didn't answer. His gaze returned to the window, watching as the last glimpse of Delcra's castle vanished behind the trees. The golden towers were gone, replaced by the endless green of the forest. His fingers lightly traced the edge of the window frame.
"It seems we'll have to wait for another time to walk through the city together," Elric said softly, breaking the silence.
"Yeah," Robert added, resting back in his seat with a grin. "The western lands are a blessing. The cities here have the best food! Especially their fruit—fresh and sweet." He pointed toward the small basket resting in Kael's lap. "Speaking of that, want to try some?"
Kael looked down at the pile of gifts he still held from the townspeople. After a moment's hesitation, he reached for one of the fruits—round, red, and heavy. A pomegranate. He turned it in his hand, studying it carefully before pressing his thumbs into the skin.
The fruit didn't budge. His hands trembled slightly; the strength just wasn't there.
Robert immediately noticed. "May I?" he asked gently.
Kael said nothing, simply passing the fruit to him. Robert's hands moved with practiced ease, twisting and splitting the fruit in half. The ruby seeds shimmered like gems in the sunlight.
He offered it back to Kael with a smile. "Here. The west's treasure."
Kael stared at the fruit in silence. He had never seen anything like it before—not in his past life as the Hero, nor in his days before the palace. The rich color fascinated him. But he didn't move to eat it. He simply stared, uncertain.
Both Robert and Elric exchanged a brief glance. Then Elric reached over, plucked a small cluster of seeds, and ate them with a soft crunch. "It's delicious," she said gently. "Try it."
Her voice was patient, coaxing.
Kael watched her for a moment, then followed her motion, bringing one of the seeds to his lips. The burst of sweetness mixed with a faint tang surprised him—so vivid, so alive. His expression didn't change much, but Robert and Elric caught it—the faintest flicker of curiosity, a softening in his gaze.
Robert smiled. "That's it. See? Worth the effort."
Elric laughed lightly. "Vaelthorn doesn't have fruit like this," she said. "But we do have the best meat. Maybe when we return, I'll show you the city. It's beautiful in spring."
Her tone lowered, teasing just a little. She leaned closer to him, her breath brushing against his ear. "Just the two of us."
Kael froze. His gaze turned toward her briefly before averting. Her perfume—soft jasmine and something faintly floral—filled the space between them, stirring a memory he'd tried not to recall: their kiss beneath the moonlight the night before.
His hand clenched slightly on his knee. He turned his face toward the window again, watching the forest blur by.
Elric's cheeks warmed as she pulled back slightly, pretending to adjust her sleeve. Robert, seated across from them, pretended not to see anything. But his lips curved upward, a quiet smile breaking through his composure as he turned to look out the opposite window.
He's getting easier to read, Robert thought. Even if he still won't admit it.
The carriage rocked gently along the dirt path, the rhythm steady and calm. The air outside smelled of pine and damp earth. Inside, the warmth lingered—a fragile, wordless peace between the three of them.
Kael's gaze drifted to the flower resting in his lap. Its white petals were beginning to curl at the edges, but it was still beautiful. His thumb brushed against it softly, as though trying to preserve it a little longer.
And though his face remained calm, there was something almost human in that small gesture—something that told Elric and Robert more than words ever could.