For a moment, I glanced at the hand extended by Prince Keylan. It was so large, as though it carried with it the dangers that he was willing to offer me. So far, I had thought that becoming a hunter of mystical beasts was a dangerous enough occupation.
It turns out the saying is true. Above the sky, there is another sky. In the journey to seek the Soul Crystal, many dangers are bound to emerge. I could get lost in the search, face a giant monster of immense strength, or have to wrest the Soul Crystal from the hands of a ruler. Worse still, I could die at the very beginning of the journey.
Just imagining all those possibilities sent chills down my spine. If I were still the coward I once was, perhaps I would faint upon hearing it.
To this day... fear still often wraps itself around me. It feels as though courage lies buried at the bottom of my heart, never to rise again. Clearly, I was hesitant in making a decision. If I could, I would choose not to be faced with this and would rather play hide-and-seek in the forest with Elvian soldiers. A life like that would be enough for me.
Yet my heart... still feels guilty for dragging my friends here. Though they say they have begun to settle in, the longing for home can never be forgotten. They are only pretending to be strong and endure.
I understand their feelings well. Because I, too, feel the same.
"Yes, of course," I answered, accepting Prince Keylan's hand. "Whether I can make it through or not, I will try my best."
The man gave a wry smile. A warm smile and a gaze full of attention that could truly melt a woman's heart. Deep down, I was grateful that I still had the desire to return to my original world. If I were a native of Juiller, I might have fallen in love and been infatuated with this handsome man. Truly, he was a ladykiller.
The day was growing late. The candlelight flickered dimly, illuminating the tall rows of bookshelves that stretched to the ceiling beams. Dust covered the leather bindings of ancient books, creating a thin layer that seemed to hold the secrets of the past. The scent of leather, ink, and decaying wood blended together, creating a mystical atmosphere that enveloped the room.
"Come! It's time for dinner!" Prince Keylan called.
==========================
Days passed quickly, like turning the pages of a book. It had been two weeks since I arrived in Ruvia. My healing process had been smooth. The physical wounds I had received had completely disappeared without leaving a trace. My body seemed to be improving as well. Not just physically, but mentally as well.
Prince Keylan often invited me to talk and joke around. Occasionally, he would take me on tours around the city. Thanks to him, I could forget the trauma and painful memories, replacing them with new, pleasant ones.
The prince's personal maid, Airi, who had taken care of me when I regained consciousness, had become my new friend. Though we were of different races, we quickly became close. Perhaps it was because we were both women. Airi was an interesting person—she was neither quiet nor overly talkative. This girl possessed extensive knowledge of herbal plants. Since childhood, she had been trained by her grandmother, a skilled doctor in the city, in the art of making potions. No wonder all the potions she gave me were so effective in my recovery.
The day had finally arrived. The day when I would return to Glafelden.
Although it had been pleasant being with them, this place still wasn't my home. Ruvia wasn't where I belonged. I had to return to my hunting companions; they must have been worried. Especially Dimas—he must have wanted to come after me. But if I hadn't heard any news of a human infiltrator in Ruvia by now, that meant someone from Kelam Malam had stopped their crazy plan.
I hoped that was the case!
As my heart finally found peace, I didn't want anything to happen to Dimas that would burden my mind once more. For some reason, I was eager for my return. The morning sun had just risen over the eastern horizon, and its light streamed into my room, casting its glow on the floor. The room now had enough light for me to prepare.
I had just finished showering and changing into the clothes provided. A blue-and-white striped tunic with lace and a long brown velvet cloak. Prince Keylan had prepared some jewelry for me earlier, but I declined, saying it was too flashy. My hand was gently combing through my long hair in front of the vanity mirror.
Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted me. I hurried to answer, and found Prince Keylan standing in front.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Just a moment!" I answered quietly.
I then invited him in, and he sat on the sofa to wait. By the way, this 10x8 meter room was my personal room. The prince had generously given me one of the rooms in his mansion for free. This room was enormous, filled with many luxurious gleaming furnishings. Compared to the 'Kelam Malam' headquarters, that place resembled a pile of trash. Prince Keylan also provided me with three meals a day, all of which were of the "high-standard" variety. Not at all like the food I used to have in Glafelden. Moreover, he had sent one of his servants to take care of my daily needs, just like a noble princess.
Honestly, this was the first time in my life that I was treated this well!
I had never experienced anything like this in my previous life. Leaving a life like this was indeed difficult. But I couldn't stay here forever.
I took my steps back to the vanity and sat on the small chair. In front of me was a large mirror that reflected the entire room. I could see everything happening behind me, including Prince Keylan, who was watching me gently from the sofa.
"It doesn't feel real that it's time for you to leave," he commented.
I continued combing my hair slowly, matching the tone of his words. "Staying here has truly been delightful. I will always remember this memory. Thank you for accepting me here, Your Highness!"
He rested his chin on his hand, reclining on the sofa in a relaxed manner. "Hey, didn't I tell you not to be so formal with me?"
I turned my body toward him and smiled faintly. "Of course, I can't do that. I'm just an infiltrator in your land, while you are the prince of this realm who once saved me. Even though I'm not from a noble family, at least I know proper etiquette."
After that, I turned back to the vanity. My long hair was neatly combed, and it was time to add the final touch. On the vanity table were various cosmetics. From lipstick to eyebrow pencils, mascara, and others. I didn't know the names of the other tools, nor could I differentiate one cosmetic from another. Though I'm a woman, I'm the type who doesn't like to wear makeup and prefers to appear as I am. Perhaps that's also why I wasn't popular in my previous school.
The thing I was searching for on the vanity was none other than a hair tie. After a quick search, I found it in one of the many drawers. There were two lace hair ties, one purple and the other plain white. Of course, I chose the purple one, as it had been my favorite color since childhood.
"You might want to pick the white one. It would match your blue-and-white striped tunic," he said suddenly.
I turned to look at him. He shrugged and gave me a wide smile. If that was what he wanted, I'd just go along with it. After all, white didn't look too bad.
Once everything was ready, Prince Keylan and I hurried out of the room. The sound of our footsteps echoed as we walked through the spacious, quiet corridor. A little while later, I arrived in the grand living room, where the high ceilings were adorned with a crystal chandelier, and artistic paintings decorated the walls. Along with the plush long sofas and velvet carpet spread across the floor, this room had high-quality furnishings.
Honestly, I couldn't believe I was staying in such a luxurious mansion. It was truly a pity to leave, but I wasn't too sad. After all, I would be meeting my hunting companions soon. I hoped they weren't too worried about me.
Airi, who had just exited the opposite corridor, joined us. Accompanied by a dozen guards, the three of us made our way out of the mansion together. Prince Keylan mentioned that he would escort me to the Kelan River, the boundary between the human and Elvian territories.
After passing several sroth and descending hundreds of steps, we arrived at a stable located near the city's military camp. This wasn't a new place for me. I had previously hidden in a warehouse in this area when I was being chased by the Elvian soldiers.
Prince Keylan was talking to someone from the military near the stable door. I couldn't make out the military rank or title of the Elvian, but it seemed this person was a high-ranking officer, judging by the many badges and insignia on their uniform. Meanwhile, Airi and I waited on a long bench outside the stable.
"It's such a shame you have to leave now," Airi remarked.
"What can I do? I don't belong here."
"If only the relationship between the Elvian and humans wasn't as bad as it is now. Maybe we could visit each other freely," she added, her eyes gazing longingly toward the towering trees. "I've always been curious about the human cities. But the unwritten rule across the land says that we must stay away from humans. Anyone who breaks this rule will be punished and exiled forever."
"It's the same in my city. The stigma of 'enemy of humans' has deeply rooted itself in the Elvian, spreading far and wide. If only there were a time when we could live together and have a good relationship."
"I believe that future exists," Airi said, turning to look at me and shrugging her shoulders. "Though I don't know when."
In the middle of our conversation, I suddenly heard the sound of hooves approaching. Prince Keylan, riding a white horse, led a small cavalry unit, stopping in front of me. His handsome figure and the noble white steed made him look like a prince from a Disney movie. Moments like this were what girls usually dreamed of in their romantic stories.
"Let's go, Anggi!" Prince Keylan said gallantly, sitting atop his horse.
"But I can't ride a horse."
"Don't worry. I'll keep you safe."
Prince Keylan extended his hand and immediately pulled me up. I gasped in surprise, letting out a small yelp. He caught me and placed me in front of him. The space between my back and his chest was as thin as a single strand of hair. I could feel his heartbeat and breath against the back of my neck. Confused about what to do, I could only hold onto the horse's mane, trembling. A moment later, the horse we were riding on began to move.
This was my first time riding a horse. The sensation was completely different from riding a cart. Riding a horse was terrifying. It was so unstable, constantly shaking. I feared I might fall off and get trampled by the horse behind me. On the other hand, this was a new experience for me.
About half an hour later, after riding the horse, we arrived at a large stone bridge. This grand bridge spanned the Kelan River, which flowed swiftly. Most of the users of this bridge were merchants bringing their goods into Elvian territory. Despite the Elvian insistence that their people stay away from humans, they still relied on us.
Goods like household items, raw materials for clothing, food, and drinks were commonly traded. The same was true for humans. This made me believe that in any world, we couldn't live alone.
Prince Keylan leapt from his horse and helped me down. The Elvian soldiers could not accompany us further, for this bridge marked the boundary between the two realms. Just as I was about to thank Prince Keylan, I suddenly heard someone call my name.
"Anggi...!!"