The night air felt colder than before. During the previous nights in the carriage, Howarth had hoped for a comfortable sleep once they reached the village.
But now, beneath the dark sky, he stood in front of the residence. Torchlight flickered across his amber irises. In front of him, dozens of villagers had gathered. Their faces were tense. Their whispers no longer concealed.
Beside him, Sebastian stood as well. His face was still pale, though the bandages around his shoulder were hidden beneath his clothes.
Howarth glanced at him briefly. "You should have stayed inside."
Sebastian did not look at him. "And let you walk out after three glasses of alcohol?"
Howarth snorted softly. "I'm still aware."
"That's exactly what worries me," Sebastian replied flatly.
Howarth smiled crookedly. "You think too much."
"And you never think," Sebastian cut in.
Voices from the crowd began to rise.
"We haven't forgotten!"
"Don't think we'll welcome you with open arms!"
Howarth shifted his gaze forward. He did not respond. He simply listened. Not just to the words spoken aloud.
But to the voices inside their heads.
One by one, he studied their faces. Their emotions were wide open. Unfiltered. Unhidden. Loud.
Howarth closed his eyes briefly, focusing. The voices overlapped.
Anger. Fear. Hatred.
And among them, two stood apart. Sharper. Clearer. Carrying deeper emotion.
Howarth tilted his head slightly.
Found you.
An older man stood closer to the front. His fists were clenched, his body trembling, not with fear, but with something long restrained.
And another, a younger man beside him. His gaze was wild, filled with the urge to ignite the situation.
Two centers, Howarth narrowed his eyes. The rest are just following.
"Why are they just standing there?"
"Didn't they come here to bring trouble?"
"Just like before!"
The last words lingered in the air, like a wound that had never healed.
Howarth did not react. But in his mind, fragments began to form. Images he had not seen, yet could feel.
Screams. Fire. Panic.
And a little girl.
Her body lay still, unable to move. But she was still breathing, faintly, holding on.
Howarth exhaled slowly.
'Ah… so that's it.'
Footsteps sounded.
Kael stepped forward, positioning himself between the crowd and Howarth.
"That's enough," he said firmly.
Howarth raised both brows as the noise subsided, if only slightly.
Well, he's clearly not ordinary.
"They didn't come here to fight," Kael continued. "They came for an agreement."
"An agreement?" one villager scoffed. "The kind that gets betrayed, like before?"
Kael kept his gaze steady, ignoring the remark. "Winter is coming soon."
Several villagers exchanged looks.
"Other regions in Valenroth are running short on cloth," he went on. "The southern trade route is blocked. Only the northern region, this village, has an abundance of wool."
"So?" a voice called from the back.
"They want to cooperate."
"Cooperate?" the younger man laughed coldly. "If it only benefits one side and harms the other, that's not cooperation. That's monopoly."
The crowd stirred again, provoked.
'Because of them… my child can never stand again!'
The younger man's thoughts rang louder, heavy with emotion.
Howarth let out a quiet breath. Then, without much thought, he spoke.
"We understand your disappointment. Your daughter became a victim several years ago…"
Silence fell.
As if the air had been pulled from everyone's lungs.
Kael turned sharply toward him.
"Howarth…"
"…The Valenroth Palace has the finest alchemists!" Kael cut in quickly, turning back to the villagers.
All eyes shifted.
"She is capable of treating illness. Even outbreaks," Kael continued, his voice steady.
Sebastian leaned slightly toward Howarth.
"You knew about this outbreak?" he whispered.
Howarth shook his head faintly. "No."
"Then why are you quiet?"
"Because I just learned about it as well."
Sebastian frowned. "He didn't tell you?"
"No," Howarth replied softly. "And if I had known… I wouldn't have entered this village so easily."
Sebastian fell silent for a moment. "Impressive."
"Mm."
"So now we're stuck in a village that hates the palace… and has an outbreak?"
Howarth smiled faintly. "More or less."
"Wonderful."
In front of them, Village Head Halvern stepped forward. He studied Howarth and Sebastian briefly before speaking loudly.
"Josselyn is the palace alchemist, correct? I heard she personally treated the ailing Queen."
Howarth turned his head slowly.
"We can entrust treatment to her…" Halvern continued, his eyes fixed ahead. "Isn't that right, gentleman from Edevane?"
All eyes turned to Howarth again.
No one spoke.
Howarth smiled. A perfect, hollow smile.
"She is indeed a palace alchemist," he replied lightly.
Inside his mind, thoughts moved quickly.
'Young. Limited field experience. Unstable impulses.'
He gave a faint shake of his head.
'And you expect her to handle an outbreak?'
He clicked his tongue softly, his smile unchanged.
"But…" Howarth began, intending to offer a proper excuse.
"Then prove it."
The voice came from the older man. His eyes were red, his jaw tight.
"Heal one of us."
"Yes!"
"Prove you don't just bring trouble!"
The younger man beside him stepped forward. "Or leave this village. Now."
Howarth exhaled slowly.
"Damn Killian…" he muttered under his breath.
Sebastian glanced at him. "What?"
"Nothing."
Howarth looked back at the crowd.
"That request is reasonable," he said casually. "But our time is limited. If we must first prove we can heal one person, winter will arrive before we produce a single piece of cloth."
Kael turned toward him. "She can, it's just…"
His words were cut off by another voice.
Soft.
But clear enough to make everyone turn.
"I will prove it."
Howarth froze.
Slowly, he turned.
At the doorway of the residence stood Josselyn. Her hair was slightly disheveled. Her face pale. But her eyes were resolute.
"Howarth…" Sebastian whispered. "You said she was asleep."
"Their voices were too loud," Howarth replied with a faint smile, though his gaze remained sharp.
Josselyn stepped forward.
One step.
Then another.
She came to stand beside Howarth without looking at him.
"I will prove my ability," she repeated.
Kael smiled faintly, though concern quickly replaced it. "But you still need rest."
"I'm fine," she said calmly.
Howarth watched it all, choosing not to speak yet. He was still curious what the girl would do next.
She truly is unpredictable. One moment this, the next something reckless. So what now?
Josselyn lifted her gaze, directly at the older man.
"I can try on your daughter."
Silence fell.
Howarth nearly lost control of his expression.
She has no idea what she's saying.
A quiet chuckle slipped out.
She wants to heal someone who hasn't walked in years.