The fire lasted until sunrise.
By morning, everyone's face was covered in soot, and their clothes were blackened.
In front of the burned house, everyone sat around on random objects, looking at each other.
"Haha… now we really have no choice but to go to the Elven forest."
"Yes, we have to."
"You're leaving?" Suna asked.
"Not just us. Anna is coming too," he said, looking at Anna.
"Why should I go with you?!"
"Because before he died, Alaris asked me to take you somewhere safe.
He searched across the entire Flame Kingdom and realized there was no safer place than the Elven forest. That's why he asked me to take you there."
"Why?"
"Because many people now want the position you hold.
Ask Gustav—he can explain it better."
"Gustav, please explain everything to me."
"I'll explain it now. Your grandfather was the only human with the title of Duke in the Flame Kingdom.
He was given this title because of his royal bloodline.
Because of that, he was also one of the potential successors to the throne.
There are currently two people in the Blackwood family who have a valid claim to the throne: the crown prince… and you."
"But I don't want the throne."
"That may be true. But the crown prince's supporters might not believe that.
They may try to get rid of you."
"Then why didn't they act while my grandfather was still alive?" Suna asked Gustav.
"Because up until recently, he supported the queen."
"Until he demanded the truth about the black magic," Valorant added.
"Yes. In the last six months, the lord didn't meet with the queen even once, nor did he send her any letters.
That led many to believe that the duke was preparing to place his granddaughter on the throne."
"Rumors about Alaris's past involvement with dark magic gave people the idea that he would do whatever it took to make her the ruler.
The queen and the prince might know that's not true, but their followers might not think the same way."
"Young lady, that's why I'm asking you to stay in the Elven forest for a while," Gustav said.
"Until Gustav improves the situation here," Valorant added.
Anna fell into thought.
A long silence followed.
After a while, she came to a decision.
"But… my grandfather," she said, her voice trailing off.
"Don't worry, young lady. I will take full responsibility for everything," Gustav said.
"Then… I agree."
"Sir Valorant and Attu will escort you," he added, as if to say there's no need to worry.
I spoke up as well.
"If you'd like, Suna can come with you too. Right, Master?"
"Sure, we'll bring her along."
"Oh, so now I'm something you can just take whenever you want?
Don't I get a say in this?" Suna snapped, looking at me.
"I thought… if you were with her, Anna wouldn't feel so alone."
"In that case, fine. Someone has to keep an eye on Anna anyway."
"Then get ready.
We'll leave this place as soon as possible."
Everyone stood up and began packing.
After half an hour, I was the first one to finish and went over to Master.
His things were packed as well.
He was sitting on the steps, holding his sword, and looking toward the gate.
"Looks like you've packed everything."
"Yes. I don't have much anyway. What about you?"
"I'm done too, Master."
"Still feeling guilty?"
"How did you know?!"
"You don't need to be wise to see it.
You may have hidden your eyes behind a cloth, but your face still tells everything."
What he said was true.
I always tried to act as if nothing was wrong.
"When I think about what happened…
It feels like I had a chance to save Mr. Scott."
"Scott couldn't have been saved. He had already become undead.
The choice you made at that moment was the right one.
If you hadn't made that decision, we might not be having this conversation right now—
and Suna and Anna wouldn't be here behind us."
"But that choice is still crushing my heart.
It feels like… there must have been a better choice."
"Life often forces us to do things we don't want to do.
To make choices we don't want to make.
Even if a decision doesn't feel right to you, it might be the best one for the sake of others.
Every choice you make, everything you do,
is the best decision you could've made at that moment for others—and for yourself.
So never regret what you've done, no matter how painful or unpleasant it is."
"I understand."
His words made me reflect.
Even though what he said might be true, it wasn't what I wanted to hear.
And that made me sad.
[Master is saying what he believes is right.
But to me… it still feels wrong.]
"Have you learned anything new during this journey so far?"
"Only a few things. Nothing too important."
"Like what?"
"I learned that a fight isn't just with swords or fists…
It's also a battle of the mind."
"And…?"
"And that I ignore a lot of things.
I've realized that's one of my flaws."
"You haven't fully realized it yet.
The things you think are unimportant…
One day, they'll be the most important—both in life and in battle."
"I'll try to understand them better, for sure."
"Alright then, let's put that attention to the test," he said with a smirk.
"I'm ready."
"Describe Gustav, Anna, and Suna to me."