"You good?"

A mature man, appearing to be in his late twenties, stares at a much younger-looking man.

The youth seems to barely be twenty years old, with long, light brown hair and ordinary green eyes. He looks small, cute, and a little scrawny by all definitions. The fatigue that has built up on his face, coupled with the dark circles under his eyes, make him appear even more miserable than the signs of malnutrition plastered all over his face.

Compared to him, the older-looking gentleman appears to be in a far better position.

Although he has a slightly rugged appearance, his long brown hair is packed into a ponytail, and his honey-brown, almost orange-looking eyes show deep courage and vitality. Unruly strands of hair cling to his chin and sideburns, giving him the appearance of an adventurer. This is even further accentuated by the scar that runs through his left cheek.

Beneath all of these imperfections, however, is the face of a handsome and noble-like fellow.

Naturally, this is Dustin Aditi.

As for the scrawny, younger man who walks with him... he is none other than Kelvar Cradle.

For several months now, these two have been traveling together.

The Randalorion Kingdom Incident ended around June, and it wasn’t very long after the whole ordeal that the two decided to leave Zen Village based on the prophecy in the mysterious grimoire.

Kelvar had been hesitant initially, but he warmed up to the idea.

After all, he had experienced a lot of fortuitous encounters in the past. If a certain deity was indeed guiding his path, it would only stand to reason that he would have even more fated benefits.

As for Dustin, he only seeks the glory and honor of knighthood.

He wishes to truly be a Knight of Justice.

After walking down the path of chivalry for two years now, Dustin has actually made a good name for himself as the Silent Knight of Darkness. With Kelvar by his side throughout the past couple of months, they have been performing great deeds of merit wherever they stumble upon.

With Dustin’s skills as a Mid-Rank Knight and Kelvar’s Alchemy, the two have become quite a team, their legends spreading throughout the remote areas of the Randalorion Kingdom.

People now refer to them as the Silent Knight of Darkness and his Squire of Repose.

There have been quite a few lofty rumors that have surfaced as a result.

Many exaggerated tales of their strength, too.

Some are rooted in certain truths, while others are entirely made up.

However, for these two who travel together, none of these things actually matter in the slightest.

This is because of one simple reason:

"I’m tired!" Kelvar Cradle screams before collapsing in exhaustion. "I give up! I can’t do this anymore!"

He faces the cool evening sky while gasping for breath.

These two have just finished hiking, descending from a mountain that blocked their path forward.

Looking around them, one can see that there are other similarly sized mountains and hills.

This place is a rather hellish place to tread, and it is also devoid of what one would consider life. It was one of the sites struck by the meteors all those months ago, and even from a distance, one can see the massive boulder-like meteor that devastated a section of the mountain range.

It just so happened that the journey of these two led them to this point, and after several weeks of traversing the area, they’ve finally made it to the base of the mountain in their path.

"I’m settling down in the next village I come across!"

Kelvar cries out loud, passionate tears forming in his eyes. "I can’t keep living like this!"

Rather than offer a response, Dustin simply stares at him.

He understands Kelvar.

Their journey has been filled with all kinds of hardships, and although they were able to experience victory and even gain rewards for some of their trials, they were mostly met with losses.

’My steed died a few months back. Thanks to the hurricane that caught us by surprise a few weeks ago, we lost all our supplies, and we’ve been barely hanging on to life...’ Dustin can clearly tell that Kelvar’s body is on the verge of breaking down due to a lack of nutrients.

Unlike him, who has a far better constitution and can withstand such deprivation thanks to his unique experiences, Kelvar is unable to truly cope.

’In my journey alone, I faced even more obstacles than this...’

Dustin realizes this, but he knows that Kelvar’s journey was mostly filled with fortuitous encounters.

As a result, the lad did not truly understand the rigors of travel.

Until now...

’To be honest, he has endured far longer than I expected. His hopes dwelled in finding more fortune for himself and experiencing good luck. However, we’ve only encountered misfortune after misfortune, only coming across a few auspicious occasions when we were already close to our limits, which ensured that we wouldn’t fall dead.’ Dustin sighs deeply.

The most frustrating part about this whole experience is that the prophecy has yet to be fulfilled.

’The Grimoire told us that we would encounter someone else on our journey and we would meet a group of heroes. We would all travel together to defeat evil and save the world.’ But Dustin and Kelvar have been traveling together for several months, yet they haven’t met any of these people.

At this point, it would be easier to believe the whole thing was a farce.

’But I remember that vision...’ Clenching his fists while gritting his teeth, Dustin fights his own mounting frustration.

Even now, he wrestles against his doubts.

’It was clear as day! There’s no way I could have hallucinated the whole experience.’

But reality is quite cruel.

After all of these months searching for answers, not one has been found.

Wouldn’t it be easier to give up at this point?

To realize the ugly truth?

Maybe... just maybe... there is no real prophecy, and the entire journey has been a waste of time.

Perhaps Kelvar ought to follow through with his intentions and settle down in the next village, or even a town. Thanks to the prestige he has gathered along his travels, he could explore a proper career in Alchemy and make a name for himself in the field.

In five to ten years, he could even retire with substantial wealth to last him a lifetime.

And what about Dustin?

Perhaps he should simply abandon his silly dream of becoming a Knight of Justice.

’No, I will never do that!’ Dustin trembles with sheer resolve.

Then, maybe he ought to return to his traveling days and simply abandon the idea of seeking out his destiny among other heroes in order to fight against the forces of evil.

Maybe... it is time to move on.

"Come on, Kelvar." Dustin stretches his hand towards the exasperated young man. "Stand up. We need to find a proper shelter before it gets completely dark."

"...."

For a moment, Kelvar maintains silence and simply stares at Dustin’s stoic face.

The young Alchemist has no clue of the conflict that is currently swirling within his traveling partner.

He cannot see the powerful storm in his heart.

All he knows is his own frustration.

"... Okay."

Kelvar is pulled up by his comrade, who then pats him on the back, and the two of them resume their journey. Not very long after... they see a cave.

However, much to their surprise, this cave is already occupied.

Soft, illusory smoke drifts out of the entrance, and bright amber lights glow from within its depths.

They can even hear vague echoes that suggest a group.

’There are others in this place?!’ Dustin’s eyes widen in surprise almost immediately.

He glances at Kelvar, whose expression has now turned bright.

He is clearly excited.

"Do you think they’ll have food that they can share?"

"I’m not sure, but we should be careful..." The more experienced Dustin sighs while shaking his head rather warily. "They could be outlaws who are hiding out in this remote place. It is rather common practice for marauders to have a base in remote areas where they hide their loot."

Hearing all of these scary things, Kelvar’s expression immediately turns crestfallen. He sighs with a deep hint of demotivation, taking his gaze away.

"T-then... should we keep moving forward?"

"No, we can’t ignore this..."

"But Dustin—!"

"If they’re criminals, we have a duty to stop them, don’t we?"

"Urgh..."

Kelvar had previously admired the chivalry of the Silent Knight of Darkness, especially when he fought back the marauders that attacked Zen Village.

But after traveling with him for so long, he has grown to dislike this side of Dustin.

The man is simply too inflexible with his ideals!

He is too chivalrous!

’We’re both extremely weak, yet he would rather jump into danger just to defeat evildoers...’ Kelvar is tempted to complain, but he knows it will be of no use.

Dustin will not be swayed by anyone.

’And rather than staying outside alone, risking my life, it is better that I stick close to him. That will increase my chances of survival...’

With that in mind, he grudgingly sighs and nods.

"I know you think I am being reckless, but this is the best thing to do," Dustin quickly adds as he slowly approaches the cave.

"W-what do you mean?"

"Think about it. If they’re truly outlaws, then this must be their base. They should have tons of loot that we can use for ourselves. We won’t be stranded anymore. And if they are good people, surely they would be able to spare some resources for us. Either way, the cave is worth checking out."

"You’re right..." Kelvar simply mumbles dispiritedly.

At this point, he is even too tired to think.

The moment they pass the cave’s entrance, a certain stirring occurs within the cave.

It suddenly turns silent.

The warm, flickering glows of fire vanish, and the smoke evaporates.

Then—

"Who are you people?"

A low-pitched yet stern female voice suddenly bursts forth, causing the two who were caught off guard to glance at each other and scrunch their eyes in confusion.

When the fires died out and the sounds vanished, it had become clear that these were illusions.

A spell likely conjured them up as a way to draw in any curious onlooker.

This is a common tactic used by both criminals and wanderers whenever they are in unpredictable territory. By drawing potential enemies to a certain area using illusions, they can get the drop on them and catch them by surprise.

Normally, Dustin and Kelvar—especially the former—should have prepared for this possibility.

However, this area is so remote.

To use such a spell would be a waste, and only someone overly cautious or extravagant would resort to such tactics in such a place. Besides, Dustin and Kelvar had been worn out after a week of endless travel, and without proper nutrition, their cognitive abilities are still not at the optimal level.

Besides, even if Dustin had considered this possibility, what could he do?

He currently has no weapons or resources to counter such a spell. It’s also not like Shamanic Practice is his area of expertise, so he wouldn’t be able to identify and disable it so easily.

All of this contributes to why they fell for this trap.

But it does not explain their confusion.

The reason both Dustin and Kelvar currently have peculiar expressions on their faces can be traced to the voice they just heard.

Slowly turning back, they see a girl—one even younger than Kelvar—staring at them.

However, this girl has a unique appearance.

Her head is bald, and she does not have a single strand of hair on her body. Her skin appears fair and delicate, with a scrawny build and a slim waist.

Her ears are pointy, and she gives off a rather unnatural, youthful glow.

Without a doubt, this is not a Nowe’arn.

’A Fae’lkyn? What is someone like her doing here all by herself?’ Dustin is stunned by the current turn of events, especially after considering the possibility that she cast the spell herself.

But how can that be?

Looking at the stranger, she is clearly only in her early teens.

But it would be a mistake to underestimate her.

Not only does she possess a C Grade Defense-type Armament, but she is also pointing a C Grade Offense-type Armament at them.

Compared to them, she also seems to be in perfect condition.

It is clear where the advantage lies.

"I asked you a question..." With a suspicious look, she narrows her gaze and takes a step closer. "Who are you people?"

"My name is Dustin... a wandering knight seeking—"

"We are known throughout the lands as the Silent Knight of Darkness and the Squire of Repose!" Out of fear for his life, Kelvar quickly blurts out their titles, thinking that such honorifics would be the best way to ensure their survival.

After all, he knows very well how persecuted the Fae’lkyn race is.

Many Fae’lkyn are treated as labor slaves and sex workers. Their youthful, hairless bodies are coveted, and their weak physique makes them the prime target for exploitation.

To this child, Nowe’arns are likely monsters who took her parents from her and deserve death.

So, the best way to get out of this situation is to paint a positive image from the jump, informing this girl that they aren’t like other Nowe’arns. By regaling her with tales of their heroics, they would best be able to survive this ordeal and make it out alive.

Even if she isn’t moved by their heroics, she should at least be fearful of the consequences that come from killing such famous figures.

’She’s a teenage girl who has had to fend for herself,’ the young man who was previously too tired to think suddenly finds himself deep in analysis. ’Those Armaments look well-made, which means she has some contact with Nowe’arn civilization. She should know about us, since tales of our heroics must have reached this area...’

However, much to Kelvar’s dismay—

"Never heard of you guys."

"A-ahh...."

His jaws drop as tears glisten in his eyes at this moment.

’Are we going to die here?’ he wonders.

However, right at this instant, she drops her weapon and sighs. Although her eyes are on them, they seem to have lost the apprehension from before.

"But since you two won’t be able to harm me anyway, I’ll let you go."

Upon seeing her two Armaments, no one would doubt that she is certainly strong. Still, her boldness is so extreme that one can’t help but wonder if there is more to her statement.

However, neither Dustin nor Kelvar questions this.

Instead, they express sheer gratitude for her kindness—especially Kelvar.

"T-thank you so much!" He bends his extremely stiff back and bows in gratitude. "We will leave your territory immediately. You will never see our faces again!"

He turns to Dustin, who, strangely, has a calmer disposition than one would expect.

Leaning towards the much taller man, he whispers harshly;

"Come on... Let’s go!"

However, before Dustin can respond, the girl speaks up yet again.

"You two must be hungry. I can feed you if you like."

"E-eh? For real?"

"Yeah. You seem to have lost your supplies as well. I have excess, so you can take some of them."

Dustin and Kelvar stare at each other in shock.

Who would have expected a Fae’lkyn to show them so much consideration?

It’s almost unbelievable!

"You must have your suspicions, and I understand. You are free to refuse my help and be on your way, but I can clearly see that your Existence is diminishing. At this rate, you won’t last very long."

"E-Existence...?"

"Come with me if you wish to be saved."

The girl ignores their questions and walks right past them, entering the cave that they had previously almost ventured into. Illusory sounds and smoke ooze from the walls as she waves her hands, likely deactivating many kinds of arrangements that she had already made prior to their arrival.

Just by seeing this, the two clearly understand...

’If we had gone in there without any precautions, we would already be dead.’

In a strange way, the girl saved their lives.

’Could she be... the one from the prophecy?’ Dustin and Kelvar think to themselves at this point, but neither of them voices their thoughts.

Instead, they quietly follow her into the cave.

The Fae’lkyn girl leads them to a particular juncture before stopping and pointing at soft structures for them to sit and even lie on.

Then, just as they are about to settle in, they witness an incredible sight.

’T-this is—!’

A mountain-load of resources; from food, to water, to all kinds of weapons and tools... all of them are in a grand pile right next to the wall.

The girl follows their gaze and glances at the pile of supplies for a moment before looking away.

Then, she speaks coldly.

"My people perished in the meteor strike. Fortunately, I was away when it happened, so I survived. I was also able to restore a considerable amount of their possessions, while some were unharmed by the impact, which is why I have gathered so many resources."

"S-sorry for your loss." Dustin nods solemnly, while Kelvar is astonished by her luck.

He used to believe he had been rather fortunate, especially after his mother’s death. But to think this girl actually avoided such a catastrophic outcome that wiped out her people due to simply being ’away’ when it happened.

"There are still many supplies scattered all over the area, which is why I go out every day to find them."

Her words carry both a hint of sadness and a heavy weight of responsibility.

’Now I understand how and why she was able to cast such a spell. It also explains why she was outside earlier. Perhaps she was returning after searching all day.’

"So help yourselves to whatever you would like. It’s the least I can do for heroic travelers like yourselves." The Fae’lkyn girl smiles warmly before referring to the pile.

At first, the two are hesitant to receive her help.

They even stare at each other, unsure of what to do or say.

But after realizing that they are truly in no position to be modest, and also considering how the girl could have killed them at any time, they set aside their suspicions and hesitation.

"Thank you... erm... What should we call you?"

Smiling warmly at the two, who are both stunned and curious, she responds with her name.

"My name is Javier."

[A/N: For those who are confused by the name, please refer to Chapter 73 in Volume 1. Javier Aditi saved a group of Fae’lkyns, and one of them decided to call herself Javier.]