Berserker – Part 02
The cold air seeped into their bones on the morning of departure.
The four had gathered at the Third Main Gate of the Independent Trade City.
Since it was an urgent journey, they wouldn’t be using a carriage like they had with the Militant Nation. They would travel only by horseback. Cecily and Aria didn’t know how to ride, so they each rode behind Luke and Ewen on their respective horses.
The pairing caused some friction between Aria and Ewen.
“I’ll be in sword form, settled into Cecily’s sheath, so you can ride alone, Ewen.”
“No, Aria, please ride behind me.”
“What? Don’t be unreasonable.”
“I’m not being unreasonable.”
“I appreciate the thought, but it’s way too extreme. Let’s take it slow.”
Even so, Ewen refused to budge. Aria reluctantly, but with a slight smile, hopped onto his back. Her chestnut hair swayed as it brushed against Ewen.
A shiver ran through Ewen.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Don’t push yourself.”
Cecily refrained from butting in. She had only heard vague details about their situation, and while she was curious, she could sense a special atmosphere between the two, so she decided to leave them be. It was probably for the best.
Cecily turned to look at her own riding partner. Luke was setting up the saddle on his sturdy chestnut horse for her. The horse let out a small neigh, as if tickled by the process, its breath puffing white in the cold air.
For warmth, Luke had thrown a thicker cloak over his usual work clothes. A katana was strapped to his waist. Cecily, too, had Aria’s deep-red sheath with her.
“Where’s Lisa?” Cecily asked.
She hadn’t seen her since they met up.
“She’s not coming. She’s staying behind.”
Cecily was shocked. Lisa was Luke’s only assistant, and as far as Cecily knew, she always traveled with him. She had assumed Lisa would join them this time as well.
“I gave her homework instead.”
“Homework?”
“I’ll explain later,” he answered without even turning back, almost as if trying to avoid the subject.
After securing the saddle, Luke mounted his horse. “Get on.”
“Ah… okay.”
Cecily felt a little nervous. She had little experience riding horses and didn’t know what to do. Carefully, she placed one foot in the stirrup, and with Luke’s help, she swung herself onto the horse behind him. She lost her balance and unintentionally clung to his back. Her mind went into a frenzy.
Th-This was not what I expected.
Her grandfather’s death spell had been modified by the first Housman. She asked to join this trip because she truly wanted to know why he agreed to become the Sacred Sword’s Sheath, a forcibly-transformed Infernal Blade.
She needed to understand the true nature of the Campbell family. She had always been proud of her lineage, but now she was starting to question whether it was the right path. Though she trusted her father’s intentions, she had decided to stop blindly trusting everything.
She needed to learn the truth. So she could keep fighting without hesitation. But she never imagined it would come to this. That she would end up clinging to Luke’s back.
“There’s going to be a lot of rocking, so hold on tight.”
Nervously, Cecily wrapped her arm around Luke’s waist. Naturally, this put her in a position that had her leaning against his back. She could smell charcoal and a faint personal scent, and she flushed with heat.
“I’ll save you,” he had said.
Aah, calm down.
Since that day, the distance between her and Luke had subtly changed. There hadn’t been any specific events, but somehow his words and actions toward her seemed way softer than before.
Since their first meeting, the distance had gradually shrunk. And each time she realized this, her chest tightened, and it became hard to breathe. Even now.
“I-I’m good to go.”
“All right.”
Luke, with his foot in the stirrup, looked toward Ewen. Ewen, still tense, awkwardly nodded in return.
Aria, who had her arm around Ewen’s waist just like Cecily, mumbled softly, “I, um…”
“I-If it’s all right with you, you can stay as is,” Ewen said.
“I don’t mind,” Aria whispered softly.
Cecily could see Aria tightening her arms around Ewen’s waist. It was a rare hesitation from someone usually so decisive, and it made Cecily feel embarrassed just watching.
Hmm?
Cecily noticed the pack strapped to Ewen’s horse. Since the trip was short, both she and Luke had packed light, but his pack was unusually large and bulkier in contrast.
What could be inside? She was curious, but Luke kicked the horse’s belly and it started moving before she could ask. The sudden jolt startled Cecily, and she clung to Luke’s back even tighter, pressing her cheek against it and closing her eyes.
Is it just me?
His actions were gentler now, but Luke remained calm, as always. It was Cecily who was in a constant flurry, overreacting to every little thing he did. She was being ridiculous, getting excited over nothing.
He had said he would save her. But what exactly did that mean to him?
“Everything okay back there?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
Cecily, with her eyes closed, held on tight to his back, pressing her cheek against it. Secretly, she sought comfort from him.
She didn’t notice that Luke’s ears were turning red, let alone what it meant.
The former Crowd Powers lay south of the Independent Trade City, which on the continent, meant the northeastern region.
The small nation Cecily and the others were heading to was once part of the former Crowd Powers but had yet to come under the Federation’s banner. In fact, it had rejected annexation outright and risen in rebellion.
The term Crowd Powers itself was more of a convenient label than anything else. It referred to a cluster of dozens of minor states that belonged neither to the Empire nor the Militant Nation. These nations had never truly unified. One king had once attempted to govern them as a whole, but he passed the throne on long before that dream was realized.
Each nation had its own distinct culture and ideology, making it impossible for them to come together as one. As such, it wasn’t strange that some of those nations refused to merge with the Empire. The group’s current destination was one of those that resisted.
Amid the tension caused by the formation of the Imperial Federation, Hugo had arranged permits and letters of introduction for crossing the border. After weighing the value of the first Housman’s records against the risks of leaving the city during such a time, he had ultimately deferred to Luke’s decision.
“The merger of the Empire and the Crowd Powers was indeed shocking, but in reality, I don’t think it’s as much of a threat as it sounds,” Ewen explained during their first break. “For example, there were nations in the former Crowd Powers that traded their citizens as slaves abroad. Their main customer was the former Empire. Many of the smaller nations resented this system, which is why the unification of the Empire and Crowd Powers was never seamless. Our destination is one of those countries, which has repeatedly rejected the Empire’s demands for annexation.”
“All right, break’s over. Let’s go.”
“So, um, it’s one of the relatively safe areas within the former Crowd Powers.”
“Ewen, is it really that hard having me in the back?”
“N-N-N-N-Not at all! I was just finishing my explanation—ah, no, I mean, let’s go. Please just get on the back, Aria. Don’t get mad!”
As they moved south, the climate grew colder. About halfway through their journey, powdery snow began to fall gently over the plains. It rarely snowed in the Independent Trade City, so the sight felt fresh to Cecily. But the sky was a grayish white, and with a snowy forest lining the road, it almost looked like the Ashen Woods.
Snow brushed her cheek, and she shut one eye against the cold. Though she’d tucked a few pieces of jewel steel in her cloak for warmth, the chill was still biting. After a moment’s thought, Cecily wrapped her arms more tightly around Luke’s waist.
“Ow. What was that for?”
“I-I’m just trying to keep warm. No other reason.”
“Well, that’s fine then.”
The brief exchange left her feeling warm inside. Luke was a nice person, after all. She felt incredibly happy.
After departing in the early morning, pushing the horses hard until they were exhausted, they reached their destination just before the sun had completely set, right when the city gates were about to close.
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