Sitting on the edge of the cliff August watched his father and his companions descend slowly as they gradually vanished behind the thick trees.
While his father said that he will serve as their reinforcements, the truth, however, wasn't that simple.
More than actually participating in the battle, his father probably wanted him to observe the situation carefully and gain some useful experience from it.
Because there was no telling if the Monarch would really dispatch more of her troops to aid these outposts.
Honestly, the forest was very huge but more importantly it was dense. Which meant she could build as many bases as she wanted around their town and could still remain completely unnoticed.
Who knows, there might really be more than two outposts in the vicinity already.
And if that turns out to be true, things could go ugly. Also maybe at some point he has to enter the battle as well.
Although he hadn't fought any non-human enemy before, August was still confident in his sword skills. Yet, if his skills did not meet the expectations, things could get dangerous then.
While it was true that Lady mist was here for his protection but right now she was blocking the echoes from reaching him directly.
And if he were to fall in a danger where Lady mist has to step forward, August would definitely be hearing the echoes then—pure and unfiltered.
Not like the faint whispers he was experiencing right now.
Even a powerful creature like Lady mist couldn't possibly fight at two fronts at the same time after all.
As he thought of that an unusual thought suddenly emerged in his mind. A strange idea that normally he would never dare to reveal.
"Lady mist…" he called as the cold wisps of wind slowly blew around him. Then fumes of mist swirled taking a humanoid form.
"What do you want, August?" a faint silhouette of a woman spoke from within the formless mist.
August pursed his lips together and then confidentially spoke,
"I want you to stop protecting me."
— —
After climbing down from the height, Valerius slowly moved forward into the dense forest.
Then, the moment before start of the mission he looked at his companions one after another respectively,
"Stay alert."
The mages gave him a firm nod and continued to move deeper into the forest—carefully taking each step.
All three of them were veteran soldiers of the war, so they were careful not to make any mistakes.
Hiding behind the trees and slowly moving forward knowing the consequences of the situation if they were to be spotted.
"My lord, can I ask something?" Mage Vala whispered slowly, wording her concerns.
Valerius did not turn to face her he only responded as he had already expected,
"You want to know why I brought my son along in this dangerous expedition, don't you?"
Vala was stunned, that was indeed what she was going to ask. Then again, this was Lord Valerius—the most exalted warrior who sees right through the enemy before it could even strike.
"Yes my Lord," she answered. "This is indeed the most dangerous place right now, we can't say what chaos would befall this forest in the moments to come. Then, how could you possibly be alright with bringing the young lord here?"
Valerius unexpectedly let out a stifled chuckle,
"What? Do you question my competence now Mage Vala? You think I won't be able to keep my own child safe?"
"No.. No, that's now what…" Of course she didn't mean that but in the nervousness, she couldn't form her words properly.
"Oh… I am just joking," Valerius immediately lifted her pressure. "You see Mage Vala, August is not like the other children of his age. And I am not praising him for being unique, quite the contrary."
Vala felt a sudden change in the commander's voice, as if it grew somber,
"Everyone knows he's an Ambivalent, but not everyone, not even me, could understand what that feeling really is. I saw him, Mage Vala— every time he tried to resist the wills of the elements he cried rivers."
A sudden silence washed over the surroundings until he spoke again,
"As a bystander I can only imagine the pain could have been insufferable. And I cursed myself for not being able to help him every time."
Valerius took a deep trembling breath as he continued,
"But you know, even without anyone's help he resisted the echoes. Again and again, he endured the pain, suffered the agony, did anything but yield before them."
His footsteps halted as he turned to face Vala,
"So, you tell me Mage Vala, do you still believe that this battlefield is dangerous for a child as strong as that? Do you think those soldiers of the Monarch are a greater threat to him than the wills of the forces that literally shaped the living world?"
Vala didn't speak but she seemed to have realised the fact too. Indeed, if August is already exposed to a kind of danger like echoes already, then the soldiers of Queen Monarch are just pawns in comparison.
Valerius as he realised that Vala had also understood his reason he turned back and continued with the mission.
Even so, Vala opened her mouth, her tone empathetic,
"I know My Lord, you wouldn't have chosen this life for him if you had a choice."
Valerius kept moving forward as he quietly whispered after a while,
"If I had a choice, I wouldn't have chosen this life for you too. Not for anyone."
The silence settled heavy in his heart as Valerius questioned himself once again. Why doesn't he still have a choice? Has he still not escaped from being a pawn?
The questions were important but there was nothing like a right answer. It never would be.
He had walked throughout his life in search of those answers but in the end what he found was only more questions.
Just at the moment Mage Arden who was walking in front suddenly seemed to have stiffened.
He immediately turned to Valerius and gave a gesturing nod.
They have found the first enemy outpost.
— — — — —