The view was diagonal—making me look down on the plains and the city we had passed during my sleep.
It's the first time I am going up a mountain... My fingers clenched onto the seat we were sitting on.
"This is the place where the beasts may appear," Edward said, crossing his arms past his body.
"So you should stay alert."
"Even with all of you guys?" My hand had settled around my handle.
"Yes, something might happen to Mim when we aren't paying attention—right?"
"...you are right." My hands were wrapping around both my sword and the seat.
"But you don't have to worry—" He pointed at the window behind him, I had sensed it as well—there were beasts.
Why is no one getting up? Is it the same reason as before?
I looked past the balding head of Albert and saw the approaching beast.
The moment it got close enough something became apparent.
It had run into a wall of some kind.
"Is there something protecting us?" I asked as I sat back down.
"Exactly! Have you seen the engravings in the coach?"
I looked around me, unable to see anything.
Until he pointed between my lower legs.
I bent over, and saw something.
These engraving... I have seen them before...
"It's called spirits' language—"
"The one I couldn't understand before?" Thalira shot into my mind.
"Yes—that is the spirits' language."
"Do you know how it worked itself into the carriage?"
"By contracting a spirit's blessing to it?"
"No that is something that to my knowledge has never been done before—a spirit's blessing on anything but oneself."
"No, this is something certain people are able to do with their essence."
"Certain people?" I leaned on my knees.
I guess the same people I read about.
"Yes, these certain exceptions are called craftsmen."
"Do they not need a spirit's blessing to write this?"
"No, this is simply an ability they are born with."
"Most people are able of application—like you and me. But there are others who are only able to do a specific thing with it."
"However they are able to speak the spirit's language, without essence even mattering. Even without understanding it, they just know what to write or say."
"Why are you telling me this now?" I asked, rubbing my hand over the wooden engraving.
It's just engraved with a knife... nothing special.
"I thought that it's something you should know, it's an important piece of knowledge for a knight."
I met his eyes.
"..."
Should I tell them...?
"But does it protect us against everything?"
"No, only those smaller and with lower amounts of essence. Some may break through, but we can guess in advance."
"Let's just hope it doesn't reach its limit—I should have let it be re-engraved beforehand." He sighed, shrugging his shoulders.
Essence really is everything in this world...
A few more attacks came once in a while, but each time it happened it ceased directly after.
The interval between the sounds was widening with each attack, until nothing could be heard anymore.
"Uhmm... I want to ask something... isn't it strange that Mim doesn't wake up no matter what happens?" My nails started cutting into my skin.
"Yes, it's something we said to watch right?" Edward said.
"I may not have been completely honest before..."
"What's wrong? You can tell us Tjer..." Katherine took over.
"So when you were talking about those engravings... I've seen them before—or at least something similar..."
"How...? It's not something commoners are able to reach without flipping the earth in search of them."
I knew they weren't normal.
I took the outer layer of my clothes off and showed them the inside.
"These were the engravings I saw..."
"I was always wondering where you got them from, but I didn't want to pressure you—so, where did you find or get this?!"
I wore my clothing again, feeling the cold reach me after we reached an altitude high enough to make the clouds themselves small.
"..."
"Wait, I'll explain it after this—the most important part has to do with Mim..."
"Mim? Is it the reason why she sleeps so much and deeply?"
"I'm not sure, but I suspect it to be the case..." I took hold of her arm, and rolled her sleeve up.
"Her golden bracelet—that is the culprit."
"The strangest thing about it is... it protects her from beasts, she doesn't feel cold, and maybe even more... there are only helpful things... so I don't know anymore..."
I let go of her arm, which Katherine took over.
They were unmoving while staring at the bracelet.
They held an expression that said enough.
Utter unease.
"I-I can't read it..." Katherine said, lifting her head again.
But Edward was still staring at it, his eyes opening wider, and wider with each passing moment.
"Huff.... I couldn't understand most of it—but I was able to see through a piece of it."
"It's entirely filled with enchantments—something that not even our king would have..."
"Who would give something like this to children. No—how could someone even acquire this..."
"Tell me—who gave this to you—"
The carriage rumbled as the last letter got pronounced.
Heavy fluttering could be heard above us, each flutter was followed by the neighing of the horses—none were in sync.
My ears hurt with each tremble that traveled through the carriage, pushing my body down.
How did it happen out of nowhere?
"Everybody be on standby! Don't move anymore! Tjer you come with me." Edward said, opening the carriage door.
Me? What am I supposed to do? And I followed Edward out.
"..."
What is this?
The scorching sun had been scorching through the windows—it had disappeared.
The entire mountain had darkened, as if night had swallowed everything around us—with sunrays still shining at the end of my what my eyes could see.
I looked up.
And I was met with gigantic wings—wings that were filled with feathers, not even a single piece of skin was visible.
It was at least fifty times a human's size.
How are we meant to defeat this...
"Tjer, you are still unable to fight something like this—just watch." His hand had reached for his sword.
Watch? Is he going to fight it all alone?
"I have been waiting for you!" He screamed, and pointed the tip of his sword at the beast.
"Tjer—this is a Roc, a beast of these mountains." His smile shone—one broader than I had ever seen from him.
I looked down at the road I stood on, trembling as the Roc landed right in front of us.
I understood why this road seemed broad enough to fill up with an entire village.
But before I could lift my head, I was brought to my knees.
The entire ground quaked, lifting even the carriage off the ground as the sound passed.
It was a horrifying screech that had passed, loud enough that I didn't register it.
I looked to my left, and saw the calm horses.
Albert, Katherine and even the guards were calm.
"Tjer watch me—I'll defeat it using your three techniques!" He turned towards me, lifting three middlemost fingers.
The reason for their calm was the man standing in front of me.
The one standing face to face with that otherworldly beast.