The morning sunlight bathed the unending field in gold and green.

Soft breeze was blowing on the plain like a gentle wave on a sea.

Jennie walked at the head of the party. Her white cloak was swaying behind her slightly. Excalibur and Leviathan were hidden in it. At first sight she looked like any other young hunter.

Snow was walking besides her in silence. The snow-white fur of the wolf shone in the sunlight as though the spirit was walking through the field.

The poor Roxy was staggering under a huge backpack full of books.

"I... I think my books are becoming heavier every day," she gasped.

Jennie turned around with a smile.

"Books don’t usually gain weight."

"They do when you buy more."

"I need them!"

"You bought three yesterday."

"They were cheap."

Jennie chuckled quietly.

"I think old spellbooks can’t be considered cheap."

Roxy pouted but did not contradict.

Snow looked over his shoulder.

"I stopped trying to understand people."

The trio was continuing their walk.

For the first time in many months, there was no threat awaiting them ahead.

Only peaceful roads leading into distant horizons.

The western grasslands were unique place.

Rolling green hills spread as far as you could see.

Blooming wildflowers painted the land in reds, blues and yellows.

Gentle small rivers were running through the field.

There were elegant windmills every few kilometers.

In contrast to normal windmills, giant mana crystals were spinning in them.

There were glowing blue runes on the wooden framework of the mills.

The blades were spinning despite absence of the wind.

Roxy’s green eyes were shining brightly.

"Mana powered windmills..."

"They convert natural mana into mechanical energy."

Jennie looked upwards at the spinning blades.

"So they never stop?"

"Exactly!"

Roxy practically danced with joy.

"They grind flour, pump water, charge rune batteries..."

"They are the best invention of Aurelis."

Snow smiled.

"People used to fight for these plains."

"Now they cultivate them."

"I think that’s much better use of the land."

Jennie nodded in agreement.

"I agree."

The roads became busier.

Merchant caravans of various sizes were passing here.

Some of them carried shining mana crystals.

Other were transporting rare herbs, enchanted fabrics, exotic fruits and beautiful weapons.

The merchants from distant kingdoms were cheerful talking in various languages.

Cheerful children were waving at the travelers.

Jennie was waving back.

Further ahead...

Nomad beast tamers were taking rest under colorfull tents.

Glorious creatures were accompanying them.

Horned elk with sapphire horns were grazing in peace.

Feathered lizards were basking under the sunlight.

Fox-like creatures were running among the grass.

One of them curiously approached Snow.

The Divine Wolf was politely sniffing its nose.

The beast squeaked happily and ran to its master.

Jennie smiled.

"You are making friends everywhere."

Snow answered seriously.

"I merely have good manners."

Roxy giggled.

"I think they are amazed with how fluffy you are."

Snow turned away.

"...This is irrelevant."

His slightly twitching tail was telling the truth.

---

By afternoon they reached a wide crossroads.

Patrols of Hunters’ Guild were patrolling this road.

Two hunters with silver badges riding horses were regularly patrolling the road, greeting merchants and checking if everything is okay.

One captain noticed Jennie’s badge.

"Safe travel, miss Raven."

Jennie politely nodded.

"Thank you."

When the patrol went on, Roxy exclaimed with amazement.

"The roads are so peaceful."

Jennie replied quietly,

"Because they are protected."

Snow nodded.

"Peace is often invisible."

"People always notice war."

"They rarely notice the ones who prevent it."

Jennie looked at the patrol disappearing down the road.

"I hope they will be safe."

They traveled another hour, then the road lead into quiet grove.

Great oak was standing alone on the small hill.

It’s branches were growing widely enough to provide shadow all around the tree.

Under the tree...

Someone was already resting.

Alone traveler.

He was calmly sitting by tiny campfire.

Gray robes covered his body.

Wide hat hid most of his face.

Only the smile could be seen.

Small iron kettle was hanging over the fire.

The steam was slowly floating into the sky.

The smell of freshly brewed tea filled the air.

Jennie was slowing her steps.

Traveler was looking up.

His voice was soft and warm.

"Good afternoon."

Jennie replied politely.

"Good afternoon."

Traveler was pouring the tea into few simple wooden cups.

And he was asking,

"Would you like to drink a tea?"

Jennie was hesitating only for a moment and nodded.

"If it is not too much trouble."

"It is not."

He gave her cup with steady hand.

The tea was smelling wonderful.

Mountain herbs and wildflowers.

Jennie tasted it cautiously.

Warmth was spreading through her body.

"It’s delicious."

Traveler smiled.

"I’m glad."

Roxy was accepting her cup with sparkling eyes.

"Ohh! Thank you!"

Immediately after she was taking a big gulp.

"Hot!"

She jumped up.

"My tongue!"

"My tongue is burning!"

Jennie tried not to laugh, covering her mouth.

"I think tea is supposed to be sipped."

"I know that now..."

Snow quietly was looking aside.

"...Educational experience."

Roxy pouted.

"You two are mean."

Traveler chuckled softly.

"This happens more often than you can imagine."

Snow silently approached the traveler.

Without saying anything...

Man was reaching into small leather bag and pulled out the strip of dried meat.

He offered it.

Snow was carefully looking at him.

Then...

Surprising Jennie...

He accepted it.

"Thank you."

Traveler was softly scratching his ear.

Snow was closing his eyes for a second, then he caught himself and proudly sat up.

Jennie blinked.

"You are surprisingly good with animals."

Traveler smiled.

"I met many companions on my travels."

"They teach us more than we can realize."

Snow quietly finished eating dried meat.

"...It was good."

"I’m glad you liked it."

For a long time...

Four of them were sitting under the big tree.

No monsters was appearing.

No urgent quest was interrupting them.

Only sound of the moving leaves was accompanying their conversation.

Traveler was asking ordinary questions.

"Oncoming roads."

"About the weather."

"On the quality of bread in nearby villages."

He didn’t ask anything about Jennie’s swords.

Didn’t ask about Raven.

Didn’t ask where they came from.

Jennie felt oddly comfortable.

"So..."

She asked.

"Have you been traveling long?"

Traveler was looking at endless horizon.

"For a very long time."

There was a peculiar weight in his voice.

Like these words contained much more meaning that they should.

Jennie just nodded.

"I hope your journey was kind."

He smiled.

"It has become kinder."

For some reason...

These words were strangely warming Jennie’s heart.

But eventually the sun began to sink into western hills.

Jennie was standing up and putting her cloak straight.

"We should go before sunset."

Roxy quickly was packing her things.

Snow was standing up.

Jennie politely was bowing.

"Thank you for the tea."

The traveler returned the bow.

With a gentle smile he had been wearing from the very beginning, he added:

"May your way stay kind."

Jennie smiled back.

"And yours."

The trio continued moving ahead, not knowing that the traveler had observed them until they went beyond the hills from under the old oak.

Under the brim of his straw hat...

Two ancient crimson eyes slowly opened.

For a moment.

Then shut again.

The traveler raised the cup of tea.

A soft smile played around his lips.

"...You really changed."

His words carried away by the wind.

And there was nobody left to hear them.

The warm breeze kept sweeping across the endless meadows.

Jennie, Snow, and Roxy continued along the stone road leading to the distant horizon.

Behind them slowly disappearing from sight, the great oak was growing.

For some time...

Nobody spoke.

Besides the rustle of grass.

Jennie smiled silently.

"That was nice."

Snow nodded.

"It was."

"The tea was surprisingly good."

Roxy stretched her arms.

"And free!"

Jennie laughed.

"I believe that’s what impressed you most."

"It definitely is."

The three continued moving ahead.

Another peaceful meeting added to many pleasant memories of their journeys.

Or so they believed.

Ten minutes later.

Roxy stopped.

"...Stop."

Jennie turned around.

"What is it?"

Roxy frowned hard.

With furrowed brows as if she tried to remember something important.

"...Something seems strange."

Jennie tilted her head.

"About what?"

The traveler."

"What about him?"

Roxy pressed one finger to her lips.

"I just figured something out."

She looked from Jennie to Snow.

"...When did he make the tea?"

Silence.

Jennie blinked.

"...What?"

"The tea."

Roxy pointed toward the distant tree.

"When did he boil the water?"

"When did he collect the firewood?"

"When did he set the kettle onto the fire?"

Jennie opened her mouth to reply.

But then...

She stopped.

Because she couldn’t recall.

She thought hard.

Sure enough, she remembered sitting under the tree.

She remembered taking the wooden cup.

She remembered drinking the warm herbal tea.

She even remembered Roxy burning her tongue.

But...

She couldn’t remember the traveler preparing any of it.

Not once.

Jennie slowly frowned.

"...That’s..."

"...Strange."

Snow lowered his ears a little.

"I also don’t remember."

Roxy looked surprised.

"You too?"

Snow nodded.

"I remember the smell."

"I remember the warmth."

"I remember him giving me dried meat."

"But..."

He shut his eyes.

"I don’t remember seeing him lighting the fire."

Jennie looked behind them toward the road.

"...Maybe we simply weren’t paying attention."

Roxy quickly shook her head.

"No."

"I always watch people making tea."

Jennie couldn’t help smiling.

"That’s a hobby?"

"It is now."

Despite the joke...

The strange feeling stayed.

Jennie looked back toward the distant hill.

"The tree shouldn’t be far away."

"Lets check."

Snow silently agreed.

"I’d like to know that as well."

The three turned back.

Running swiftly.

Soon...

They were back on the hill.

The great oak tree standing right there where it used to stand.

Its huge branches dancing gently in the wind.

The golden sunlight filtering through countless leaves.

Everything seemed peaceful.

Except...

The traveler was nowhere to be found.

Jennie looked around.

"...Excuse me?"

No reply.

Only birds singing above their heads.

Roxy searched the other side of the tree.

"He couldn’t have gone far."

Snow sniffed the air.

His keen senses scanning the surrounding meadows.

No traces of human smell.

No footprints.

Neither of them.

Nor of the traveler’s.

The grass was perfectly clean.

No footprints at all.

Neither of them.

Nor the traveler’s.

The campfire was completely disappeared.

No ashes.

No burnt logs.

Nothing.

Gone were the wooden cups.

Vanished the iron kettle.

Even the flat stone where the fire used to burn seemed untouched.

Everything seemed to have disappeared.

Roxy slowly turned around in circles.

"...That’s impossible."

Jennie bent down.

She touched the ground.

It was cold.

Untouched.

Almost untouched.

Then...

She noticed something.

A light trail of vapor rising up from empty space.

Tiny wisps.

Warm.

Sweet-scented.

With the familiar smell of mountain herbs.

The tea...

Was still lingering in the air.

Jennie reached out towards the dissipating vapor.

Before her fingertips touched it...

The last trace was lost in the wind.

Nobody spoke.

The cheerful atmosphere they had felt before quietly disappeared.

Even the meadows seemed unnaturally quiet.

Snow slowly looked behind them.

His blue eyes narrowing.

For the first time since Jennie had saved him under the Abyss Crystals...

The Divine Wolf looked uneasy.

Not scared.

But...

Cautiously.

Jennie instantly noticed it.

"Snow?"

He didn’t answer at first.

Just continued looking toward the endless plains beyond the hill.

As if looking for somebody who was invisible.

Finally, he spoke.

"...Somebody was here."

Jennie blinked.

"The traveler?"

Snow nodded.

"But..."

His voice becoming softer.

"I don’t think he wanted us to notice anything."

Roxy hugged her notebook closely.

"...Who was he?"

Slowly shaking his head.

"I don’t know."

"And that..."

He took one more look toward the empty road.

"...troubles me."

Jennie looked for the last time at the lonely oak tree.

Whoever that traveler was...

He shared the tea with them.

Gave food to Snow.

Spoke kindly.

Asked for nothing.

And vanished without leaving behind even the slightest trace.

One question was left in Jennie’s mind.

"...I wonder if we will meet again."

Far beyond the rolling hills...

Where Jennie and Snow couldn’t see...

One traveler dressed in gray robes silently walked along another road.

The straw hat shading his face.

In one hand...

He held a simple wooden cup of tea.

He smiled faintly to himself.

"They noticed."

His soft laughter carried away by the breeze.

Then...

Like an illusion under the afternoon sun...

The traveler disappeared again.