The Song Of Sword And Magic

Chapter 52: Rae’s Secret

[Translator — Asuka]

[Proofreader — Karane]

Rae pointed at the thicket in the distance and said, “Look, that’s a kind of thicket unique to Doyle and Sara. It’s called Salva’s beard, which is resistant to coldness. Even in the winter, their roots can still grow beneath the soil. We can dig them out and bring them with us.”

“That’s a great idea.” Fern nodded.

After finding a suitable location, Fern took a deep breath and started digging the soil.

Seeing how difficult it was for the mercenary to dig out the plants, Rae offered, “Do you have one more dagger? I can help you with it.” The branches of Salva’s beard were hard. It was already difficult to get into the thicket, let alone digging out their roots.

“Do you know how to use a dagger?” Fern drew out a dagger from his boot and gave it to her.

“I do.” Rae took the weapon and started doing the same.

After a moment of observation, Fern was surprised that she really knew how to use a dagger. “I thought all magicians are inept at using weapons. Niss doesn’t know how to use a dagger at all. I bought her one before we left Deville, but she has never used it.”

“In Sara, every citizen has to learn how to use weapons, be it swords, daggers or bows. Don’t forget that we live near the Northern border.” Without raising her head, Rae focused on what she was doing.

“Does everyone in Sara have to learn how to defend themselves?” Fern stopped what he was doing and looked at the magician, who was on the other side of the thicket. 

“Yes. When there’s no war, we could be farmers, businessmen or craftsmen. Other than kids who are too young, all of us will transform into soldiers when the Dark Tide strikes.” Rae kept digging out the roots. “We’re just a small country with a small population. We’re not even comparable to Doyle, let alone the rich nations in the South. All of us have to work hard for our own survival.”

Feeling sympathetic, Fern frowned without replying to her.

***

Just then, Rae picked up a root and hurled it at Fern, who grabbed it and stuffed it into his bag. She then tucked her hair behind her ears and lowered herself again. “In fact, even if there’s no Dark Tide, Sara wouldn’t survive for a long time. Our territories are mostly ice swamps and frozen lands, which aren’t suitable for farming. Even though there are some farmlands where wheat can grow, they only ripen once a year. Sometimes, there would be no harvest in an entire year. We didn’t even have enough food to feed the animals, let alone the humans.”

After a sigh, Fern asked, “So, what motivates all of you to survive in this hostile environment and fight with the Dark Tide?”

“I don’t know. Maybe we just love our country. Even though it’s barren, it’s still our homeland.” Rae stopped what she was doing and looked into the distance. “Sometimes, I’d think that the demise of Sara could possibly be a relief for all of us. Why should we suffer this kind of hardship over the generations? Maybe it’s time to end this vicious cycle.”

“Maybe.” Fern got up and stomped his feet to relieve his numb legs. “But everyone has a right to live, and no one can take that away from them.”

“Fern, you should try to stay in Sara for two years, and you’d change your mind.” Rae gave him an impassive look. 

“Alright, sorry.” Fern smiled and took out his bota bag, but he realized that it was frozen all over, so he couldn’t get any water out of it. “I lived through hardships myself, so I know how the Saras feel.”

Rae nodded without speaking further.

***

After a short break, Fern crouched down and started digging out the roots again. Suddenly thinking of something, he gazed at her and asked, “You said that you were still there during the downfall of Sara. How did you end up in Canreto and even stalk us?”

“I was looking for the two of you. To be precise, I was looking for Niss.” Rae hurled another root at him and brushed away the dirt on her palms before sitting on a branch. “Someone from the Magician’s Tower came to me and told me that if I helped them do something, they would forgive me for learning dark magic.”

“So you agreed to it?” Fern took a seat on another branch.

Rae snorted. “I don’t care if they’d forgive me for learning dark magic, for I have nothing to do with the Magician’s Tower anymore.” Rae tied her hair into a ponytail with a rope. “I only agreed to this task because they promised me that if I helped Niss, they would tell me Moses’s whereabouts.”

“Do you still need to know his whereabouts now? You’ve figured out everything you need to know.” Fern turned to look at her. 

“There’s no need for that now, but it’d be best if I could meet him.” Rae put on a faint smile.

“Then why did you still choose to take the risk and follow Niss?” Fern looked fixedly at her.

“Isn’t it the same for you? Despite knowing that this is a dangerous journey, you’ll still keep her company till the end.” Rae flashed a smile at him. “I think the fee isn’t the main reason, right?”

Fern lowered his head and laughed in self-mockery. “Things have come to a point where there’s no turning back for us. Our destinies have been woven together.”

“Yes, Niss needs us, and we can’t escape from our responsibility to save Wallis.” Rae looked into the distance. 

“To be honest, Wallis doesn’t matter to me. To put it in another way, I don’t care about the continent’s future.” Fern peered into the distance as well.

“I know. You’re just a mercenary. Unlike the magicians, you’re not concerned about Wallis’s history and future. You’re only persevering because of some people or something.” Rae curled up her legs and hugged her knees. “Or, you’re doing this for a certain someone.”

Fern let out a breath and continued his work. It was unbearable for him to stop moving for a long time in this Northern climate. “I’m just a mercenary, and I will always be one.”

“A mercenary can be noble too. He can save others and pursue happiness. Just like what you said, everyone has a right to live. Are you going to eat your words?” Rae’s tone changed.

“You’re right, but these pursuits are unachievable for some people, and there’s a gap they can never cross.” Fern exerted more force with his hands as though he was trying to vent out his emotions.

“I know it’s useless for me to say anything now. Maybe in the future you’ll have the courage to break this barrier in your heart, or you’ll hide behind the barrier forever. Be it a brave man or a coward, you have to make your own decision.” Rae spoke no further and continued her work.

***

Both of them remained silent and kept digging out the roots. When the sun was sinking into the horizon, they carried the bags full of roots on their back and returned to the house.

Fern pulled himself together and pushed his conversation with Rae just now to the back of his mind. “So, the archmages told you to follow Niss to protect her?”

“I think so, but they might have some worries, so they can’t protect Niss on their own. That’s why they looked for me—a magician who had left the Magician’s Tower.” Rae skinned the root with a dagger and started chewing it.

After giving it a thought, Fern believed he found the crux of the problem. “Maybe the Tower is divided into two groups now. There’s this group of people who want to protect Niss, but they can’t let the other group find out about this. Both groups must be in a tussle now.”

When Rae heard his speculation, she stopped eating the plant and said, “You’re right. It must be the case! Fern, I have to admit that sometimes you’re a genius.” She teased him. “But sometimes, you’re a fool who doesn’t let anyone enter your world.”

“Is this a compliment or what?” Fern shrugged helplessly and thought of something. “Whether this is the truth or not, don’t tell Niss about it first. She has just untied the knot in her heart, so I don’t want this matter to trouble her again.”

“Got it.” Rae resumed chewing the root.

Outside the house, Stan and Niss were trying to remove the organs from the fish. After that, they cut the fish into pieces and covered them with snow.

“Just let them freeze overnight, and we can put them into our bags tomorrow,” Stan explained. “This is how we store meat in Doyle. Aside from fish, you can do the same for any meat.”

Niss nodded excitedly. Seeing Fern and Rae, she hurriedly ran up to them. “Fern, I’ve learned something new today. Maybe I’ll be able to live in the wild on my own one day just like you.”

Seeing her, for some reason, Fern didn’t have the urge to talk to her anymore. After flashing a smile at her, he went straight into the house.

“What happened to him? Rae, did you upset him again?” Niss gave her a look.

“Maybe. He’s a little fragile, isn’t he?” Rae shook her head helplessly.

Stan approached them and rubbed his hands together. “Fern is just always worried that his decisions would bring about dreadful consequences for those around him. Hopefully, his experience in the Source of Magic could change him for the better.”

“This is who he is, so it’s hard for him to change.” After a sigh, Rae took a piece of fish meat from Stan and put it into her mouth. “It’s delicious. There’s no fishy taste at all.”

“I’m experienced in making this.” Stan replied proudly.

Rae arched an eyebrow as they laughed and entered the house. 

***

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