The Song Of Sword And Magic

Chapter 49: A Resting Place

[Translator — Asuka]

[Proofreader — Karane]

With Stan as their guide, they once again found an abandoned village, which was smaller than the one they previously stayed the night in as there were only about more than ten houses. It looked more like a resting place for the travelers. 

“It’d take anyone one day to reach Wolfsburg from here, so many travelers from Sara would stay one night here and head for the capital city the next day.” After opening a wooden door, Stan looked inside and told his companions to get in.

Exhausted, Niss took a seat on a wooden chair. “Will we fall into danger if we stay a night here?”

Stan took some tea cups from the cupboard and placed them on the table. “Since the demise of Sara, no more travelers would come here. Even if the villagers didn’t flee from here because of the Dark Tide, this village would still be abandoned sooner or later.”

“That’s sad.” Feeling sleepy, Niss kept nodding her head. 

“Niss, I know you’re tired, but there’s one thing I need you to do.” Appearing to be sorry, Stan gazed at the fireplace. “Luckily, there’s still some firewood left. If I go out to look for some wood, you’ll have nodded off by the time I return.”

“Alright.” After a yawn, Niss languidly walked up to the fireplace and used her magic.

“I’m exhausted as well. Other than sleep, I wouldn’t want to do anything else.” After putting his bag on the floor, Fern slumped onto a chair and unwound himself. 

“I think it’s because Hersey’s magic has worn off. It’s already amazing that we could stay awake for such a long time.” Despite being fatigued, Rae still remained upright on a chair.

“I now remember that we haven’t slept for two days. We definitely need a good night’s sleep now.” Fern said as he rubbed his eyes. “I’m so tired.”

***

Stan hung a pot of ice water on the fire to boil it and started yawning. “I don’t think we need to keep guard tonight. It should be fine if we just block the door and windows.”

“If there’s no one keeping guard, I can’t sleep with ease.” Fern replied as he massaged his temple.

“Alright, Fern will keep guard tonight then. We really can’t take it anymore.” Rae fished out a packet from her clothes and took out some flowers before putting them in the tea cups.

“Oh, these are the flowers of mint plants that are most abundant in the South. It could ensure that we’ll have a good night’s sleep.” Fern picked up a tea cup and smelled the aroma.

“Don’t change the topic, Fern. Who will keep guard tonight?” Rae picked up a cup and sniffed it as well.

“Do I look like I can do that?” Fern replied as his eyes were already half-closed.

“Then what’s the fuss about? Just do it as Stan has said.” Rae rose from the chair and checked whether the water was boiling.

After the boiling water was poured into the cups, the purple flowers floated on it and exuded a minty scent, which made all of them feel relaxed. Fern took out some food from his bag and shared it with his companions. 

It was the afternoon, so the sky above them was bright. Unable to stay awake any longer, they gobbled down the food, after which Fern and Stan moved all the chairs and tables in the house to block the door and windows so that no one could break in. After they were done with it, they realized that Niss and Rae were already asleep. Normally, they were quiet when they were asleep, but now, both of them were snoring slightly.

“They’re really tired,” Fern said to Stan with a smile.

“Yeah. Girls are usually quiet when they sleep. It’s the same for Ril—” Stan caught himself and fell silent. Then, he looked for an empty space and placed his cloak on the floor.

“You still miss her?” Fern threw more firewood into the fireplace. 

“I will never forget her. Even though she was just an illusion in the Source of Magic, she really saved my life. I think I can now understand your love for Kaya.” Stan shook his head and lay down on his cloak. “Let’s sleep now.”

Fern lay down somewhere near Niss and recalled what Kaya told him in their last moments in the Source of Magic. He could still remember how warm her lips and hands were, but sleepiness washed over him as he slumbered off.

***

“Miss, you’ve gotten two sacred seals now, thereby getting closer to your goal.” a hoarse voice was heard saying in Niss’s mind.

“Who are you?” Niss found the voice familiar, but she couldn’t remember where she heard it before.

The man guffawed. “Don’t you remember me? Not long after you embarked on your journey, I had a chat with you.”

“It’s you! Who are you?” It was then did Niss recall that when she was sick on her way to Canreto, she heard this voice in her dream.

“Alright, you finally remember me. I told you before that I need you, and you need me too. So far, you haven’t disappointed me.” The voice sounded smug.

“Damn it! Who on earth are you? I don’t need you, and I’m doing this for myself—it has nothing to do with you!” Niss retorted, but all she saw was endless whiteness. 

“It’s okay even if you don’t admit it. You’ll understand it in the future. Anyway, just remember that you’ll always be in my control.” The voice suddenly turned stern.

“Go away! Don’t come to my dreams again. Damn it!” Terrified, Niss fell on her knees and started tearing up.

The man laughed. “How are you going to escape from me in such a state? Dream on. Be prepared to serve me for all your life.” The voice slowly faded. 

“Niss! Niss!” Fern shook her shoulder gently. “What’s going on?”

Niss opened her eyes with difficulty. Through her tears, she saw Fern’s face under the firelight. “Fern!” Unable to control her emotions anymore, she sat up straight and draped her arms around him.

***

The fire in the fireplace had dimmed significantly. Darkness had descended upon them—it was now nighttime. 

“Did you have a bad dream? I thought you had woken up when I heard you crying, but you were still asleep and sobbing.” Fern patted her back.

After a grunt, Niss rested her head on his shoulder and nodded. “I had a strange dream, in which a man told me that I could never escape from him. It’s as though all I’m doing is what he’s planned for me.”

“In the past, I would just say that it’s a dream. However, after going through so many magical experiences, I’d say there must be a reason behind your dream.” Fern said worriedly. “Let’s ask Rae about it when she wakes up. Maybe she knows something.”

“If I didn’t hear your conversation, I would have thought that the two of you were secretly having a date when we were asleep.” Rae sat up and gazed at them.

Fern and Niss hurriedly let go of each other. While Niss hung her head low in embarrassment, Fern gave Rae a piece of his mind. “Why didn’t you tell us that you’re awake?”

“I didn’t want to bother you as Niss was in need of consolation.” Rae grinned. 

“Rae, I really think that you’ve opened yourself up after we left the Source of Magic.” Fern tried to change the topic. “Did Moses untie the knot in your heart?”

“I think so.” Rae smiled faintly. “Maybe this is who I really am. Isn’t it the same case for all of you? We had all untied our knots in our hearts when we were in the Source of Magic.”

“Alright, we’ll talk about Niss’s dream when the sky turns bright. Let’s sleep for a while more.” Fern flashed a smile at Rae. 

“Don’t do anything to Niss.” Upon finishing her words, Rae lay down and continued sleeping.

Niss lay down on the floor as well. Still thinking about the dream, she forgot to cover herself up with her cloak. Fern did that for her gently and said, “Stop thinking about it. Sleep now.”

Niss nodded slightly and closed her eyes.

Fern heaved a sigh and lay down on his own cloak as he thought about something that was starting to trouble him recently.

***

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