This guy, Yoalnd, did he just say he was a Royal guard?
He looked extremely confident, he possessed a charisma that commanded respect. And given the quality and precision of his attire, I couldn't doubt his royal guard status.
"You alright?"
Yoalnd snapped his finger in front of my face, I realized that I was lost in my thoughts.
"Yeah..."
Then, I remembered that the man was still lying half dead on the ground, when I looked at him, his body was motionless on the ground, bathing in his own blood.
Yoalnd noticed my gaze on him, then approached me, his hand on my shoulder.
"Hey, he's dead. It's over."
Dead? Well, he stayed like that for a long time, bleeding out; I shouldn't even be surprised.
I could feel the cold stains of blood on my hands. When I looked at them, my hands were just filled with blood, I may have put my sword too deeply. Watching them made me want to vomit. I still disliked that smell, the smell of drying blood. This is tiring me, why is this happening to me?
"Why do you look so devastated? I'm sure this isn't the first time you've taken someone's life; the coldness with which you attacked him from behind and how you were ready to execute him, and that look you had as you watched the crowd cheering you."
Yeah, this isn't the first time, But it doesn't change much, it still disgusts me just as much.
"This... This feeling displeases me, that's all."
I didn't really want to talk about that. Just thinking about it made me nauseous, so bringing up the subject is worse. Yoalnd looked at me, he had a smile, that he always had since he appeared. He approached the corpse and crouched next to it.
"Just tell yourself that you did the right thing."
Sure, Maybe it was the right thing. But why?
"But why did it had to be me?"
Yoalnd straightened, facing me again.
"Who else would have done it?"
"You?"
"Maybe, but it's too late for regrets, you did it. So don't mess with your head over it."
Yeah, he was right. I should stop thinking about it. But it's easier said than done, otherwise none of this would ever have happened.
Yoalnd approached the corpse and crouched. He touched it and closed his eyes. He seemed focused; is that how we honor the dead in this world? But I doubt he'd honor someone like him.
As I tried to understand what Yoalnd was doing, in the blink of an eye, the corpse disappeared, followed by a breath of air where it was.
I now realize that I cannot have him as an enemy.
"Where did the corpse go?"
Yoalnd answered me, straightening up.
"Where all the corpses go, the morgue."
Judging by how he says it, bodies are common here. I hope I don't see any more of them.
"Look, uh... What's your name, please?"
Right, I forgot to introduce myself. It doesn't seem to have upset him, but should I tell him? I don't know if he's someone I can trust, but lying to him would be a bad idea. Whatever, I'll just tell him the truth.
"Amos, nice to meet you."
"Likewise, Amos. I've noticed it for a while now, but you have a purgatory sword."
I looked at my sword, filled with blood. I forgot that Elinisa told me to hide it, but Yoalnd seemed quite unfazed by the sight of it. Well, I don't even why I should hide it and why it's called a purgatory sword. But anyway, I put it back in the Scabbard before replying to Yoalnd.
"Yeah, I didn't know what it was before someone told me. I found it on a corpse."
"A corpse? Was it wearing a black dress with a mask?" Yoalnd looked at me with suspicion, even though I was only telling the truth, just not everything.
Wait— He knows about those masked lunatics. I should remain cautious and avoid saying too much.
"Yeah..."
That's the only answer I could come up with, Yoalnd began to rub his chin, he was analysing the sword— And me.
"Amos, do you have an affinity with light?"
Affinity? Light? What? I don't even know what he's talking about, and he isn't even making fun of me. He was looking at me straight in the eyes, expecting a serious answer. Even if it seems like bad idea, I'm just gonna say what I think.
"I don't know..."
Yoalnd raised an eyebrow at my answer, he was clearly surprised.
"You don't know? It's something you learn quite young, though."
Oh. It looks like I said something stupid. He must think that either I'm the worst liar or I'm just a moron. I couldn't tell him I wasn't from this world, The mere thought of telling him reminded me of the pain when I had tried the first time. Well, this is the only thing I could think of.
"I grew up in a rather isolated place, so I wasn't taught any of that."
Yoalnd stayed silent a moment, his gaze at me intensifying. He won't believe that, I really should have done more research on this world, and there's nothing I can do against Yoalnd. Besides, he must be wary of me after what I almost did on impulse.
"I understand, your parents probably didn't tell you anything. Well, you'll discover your affinity for yourself, although I think I already know it since you can wield that sword so easily."
What? Was I really convincing? It would seem so, Yoalnd had a rather neutral expression, he was sincere. And he thinks he knows my affinity? Do I have one first, and what does that have to do with the sword? He asked me about... Well, he must be wrong, because the only thing that looked like an affinity I had looked like anything but light. Whatever, I should leave before my luck runs out.
"It was nice chatting with Yoalnd, and thank you for stopping me from..."
Yoalnd approached again and put a hand on my shoulder. There was something in his glaze... Is that empathy? Or pity? I can't tell. Although, his voice was more soft than before.
"Don't worry pal, It's my job to watch over the town, and you're part of this town. "
He slowly released me, then smiled. That was rather reassuring; it was surely his way of saying that he wasn't hostile towards me, despite what had just happened.
"Thanks."
I turned and headed out the alley. As soon as I was out of it, Yoalnd called me one last time.
"Amos, if you need me, go take a look around the royal castle and ask to see me; I'll answer if I'm there. And don't forget to say that Amos is looking for me."
I naturally turned around when he finished his sentence, but to my great surprise he was no longer there. Just a wisp of wind.
But at least I managed to get Yoalnd's support. I don't really know why he's so keen to help me, but in the end, Yoalnd seems like someone I can trust, so if I ever need him, I won't hesitate.
On my way back to the inn to see Leah and Mira, the sounds of my own footsteps were inaudible in the flood of questions in my head.
But one thing Yoalnd said really caught my attention. He thinks I have an affinity with "light." But that black thing that appeared on my fist wasn't luminous at all.
Seeing the passers-by in front of me, I asked myself a question, Yoalnd said that we learn our affinities from a young age, so do all these people have affinities? Ugh, I have no Idea. I should ask Leah— That's a bad idea, she'll find that suspicious.
That was frustrating, there were a lot of things that I couldn't really understand and didn't make sense. Affinity, that purgatory sword, Does this have anything to do with the magic that mage I fought or the magic Leah used to heal me?
I couldn't answer any of those, and even if I wanted, This was cut off upon reaching the inn.
Leah and Mira were already outside waiting in the carriage with the white wolf. I was a little far away, and they couldn't see me; they were chatting and both eating a piece of bread.
This scene was pleasant to watch, just normal. As I approached, Mira noticed me and waved her hand with that long smile that stretched across her cheeks. When she saw Mira looking at something, Leah also realized it was me and smiled towards me, her way of welcoming me I suppose.
Upon reaching their level, Mira immediately climbed down and hugged me. Her little face was pressed against mine, her little head down below looking at me with a smile on her lips.
"Mister! Mister! I helped Leah carry everything in the carriage; it was very heavy!"
She seemed proud of herself. Her big eyes were filled with pride. I patted her head and smiled.
"Oh yes? That makes me happy that you're going out of your way for us."
Then Leah approached, a small laugh on her lips.
"Yes, even if it was just one crate. Like I told you, the way, it won't take more than half a day."
It looked like we were about to leave already. Well, we can't waste too much time either. Despite her calm demeanor, I could see that Leah was quite anxious; I don't know if it was because of the trip or something else. I was also quite anxious about setting off on another long journey.
I patted Leah on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, It will be alright no matter what happens."
Leah was quite caught off guard, and when she heard me, her smile dropped a bit.
"I sincerely hope so."
I didn't really know if that's what I've should say. There was a slight awkward silence between us, We were both worried and didn't know what to say.
Honestly, in my previous life I never had so much responsibility, and especially such a heavy one like this. It's extremely stressful and terrifying; the slightest mistake can turn into a disaster.
I clenched my fists; I didn't want to lose them both. I had to plan for everything. I never wanted to be responsible for someone's death again.
Then, a small voice interrupted Leah and me.
"Hey! I forgot to tell you but I have him a name! It's Balto!"
It was Mira, crouching near the Wolf, or rather "Balto" while petting him, who, seemed to adore her caresses.
Then Leah patted me on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, It will be alright no matter what happens."
She told me exactly what I've told her. She must have seen that I was tense and lost in my thoughts. But she and Mira reminded me of something.
I can count on them.
Leah saw that I had calmed down, and she had too, for that matter. It was a relief.
Leah jumped into the driver's seat of the carriage, and patted beside it.
She definitely wanted me to sit there, so that was the signal for the official leaving.
"Mira, get in."
I said, before sitting Next to Leah on the driver's seat, both hand holding the reins of Balto.
Mira run with her little feet in the carriage from the back. As soon as she climbed in, Someone familiar came out of the inn door.
"Are you leaving already? Then be careful and come back in one piece."
It was none other than Royler, the innkeeper. I was surprised he came to say goodbye, but well, he and Leah are pretty close, it's normal.
Leah and I smiled at him, our hands waving at him. As for Mira, She poked her head out and screamed like a hysteric.
"Goodbye, mister grandpa!"
We couldn't help it but let out a laugh, even Royler laughed.
"I'm not that old! Go away before that kid calls me a dragon fossil."
"Later, the old man." I said.
"Don't die of old age before my return." Leah said with a soft, laughing smile.
We left the capital with her joyful words, heading north as Leah had indicated to me where the domain was.
...
We had already covered half the distance, the sun already a few hours before nightfall.
Leah was humming a song near me, Mira was admiring the scenery behind her, and I was driving.
It was calm and soothing. The soft thud of Balto's paws on the ground, the carriage wheel jingling with the birdsong. The wind carrying Leah's humming to my ears.
Even in my old world I would never have experienced this. It was surely one of the few advantages of that world, the simplicity of peace.
But all of this was interrupted when my stomach rumbled.
"Amos, did you remember to eat before leaving?"
I scratched the back of my head, a bit ashamed.
"I'm sorry, but I completely forgot."
Leah sighed, then she took something from the provisions box.
She handed me a handful of dried meat.
"Here, this will relieve you a little."
Naturally I took them. Unlike what I was used to eating, it didn't look much like the meat I'd seen before.
""What kind of meat is this?" I asked Leah.
I hope it's not one of those common animals of this world eaten by everyone, but I don't know because it's one that doesn't exist in my world.
"Oh, it's horned Bunny meat."
Horned Bunny meat? What's that? I'd like to see one, well, not cooked, but alive.
I nodded and, took a bite of it to avoid appearing suspicious.
To my great surprise, it was extremely good for dried meat, of something I had never tried in my life.
Leah smiled.
"Good right? Horned rabbit isn't really an everyday dish, but reserved for travel, this must be your first time, right?"
"you're right, this is the first time."
Leah turned to Mira, handed a handful of dried meat for her too.
""Do you want some, Mira?"
No one answered.
Why?
Mira wasn't there anymore.