Chapter 53: A Chance Encounter (Part 1)
Calendar Year 1189, May 1, Southern Silgaya.
It was early morning, with the sky looking a bit gloomy. A few drops of rain fell for a moment, but it soon cleared up.
As the rain was falling, I happened to fly over a towering mountain range. I’m not a fan of water droplets constantly slapping my face and soaking my clothes and hair, so I randomly found a spot on the ridge to land. I tucked my wings away and hid under the dense tree cover, sitting cross-legged while munching on the last of my increasingly hard bread, glancing at the map with a furrowed brow.
I thought I could still remember the route I’d taken two years ago during our march…
But as I flew along, I realized that figuring out directions in the air was completely different from on the ground. Just a few days after leaving Alectine City, I was already confused about the places I had visited before. Looking down, all I saw were hills and trees that looked just about the same.
Thank goodness for the map…
I recalled that the last time I traveled with a mix of cavalry and infantry, heavy rains had caused landslides and collapses in many areas, blocking several routes with mud and rocks. So, we had to take long detours. But this time it was different; I could fly! As long as I followed the directions marked on the map, I didn’t have to worry about any mountains or paths—just blind flying, and I was making great speed. I thought I’d be arriving soon…
If I hadn’t got lost along the way, I might have been even faster.
I began to closely compare the map, but it seemed more like an informal doodle than an official document. The mountains and rivers drawn on it looked hastily sketched, like someone just wanted to make it seem legitimate…
After staring at it for a while, I couldn’t find any mountain that matched with the one I was currently under.
However, there was a clear outline of the territory of Silent Keep. According to the scale on the map, I figured I should be in the realm of House Alanst…
Right?
Hmm…
Who knows?
After staring for a while longer and thinking it over, I finally folded up the map and put it back in my bag, mentally admitting a rather generous conclusion.
Looks like I’m lost again…
But at least I had a general idea of which direction to fly next. So, after the rain stopped around noon, I took off again, soaring into the still lingering grey clouds. The gentle breeze was pleasant, and the sunlight wasn’t too blinding—it was perfect weather for some carefree flying.
I flew over rolling mountains and vast green fields, the rushing air currents wearing me down after hours of continuous flight. It wasn’t just physical fatigue; being up there, drifting through the sky, even while gliding, I couldn’t fully relax.
And after flying for so long, you start to feel restless. I needed a solid ground under my feet to shake off that hollow feeling growing inside.
Time to find a place to rest and sample some unfamiliar food…
The dusk light slowly faded at the edge of the horizon, and the sky darkened, although I could still see the stunning beauty of the mountains and forests below. A winding river on my left stretched out of sight, like the lifeblood of these green hills. I slowed up, my ears catching the rustling sounds of trees dancing in the wind.
Over another lofty green mountain, my vision suddenly opened up—a vast sea of pine trees appeared before me. Moss blanketed the hills, while vibrant purple heather bloomed amidst the dark grey rocks, stretching endlessly.
I made it…
If I was unsure earlier, the moment I laid eyes on the beautiful pine forest made it clear—I had indeed arrived.
“It’s so beautiful…”
I couldn’t help but exclaim.
Memories of Lady Alanster’s voice and her flower-like smile suddenly filled my mind.
[Quiet, peaceful, unfolding like a painting before your eyes…]
[Sir Silvya, if there’s a chance in the future, would you like to return here? I’ll show you this view again.]
[I will.]
[Then I will await your arrival.]
Lady Alanster…
I came as promised.
Are you waiting for me?
The most disappointing part was when I remembered that moment on the wall of Silent Keep, when Lady Alanster mentioned those last words to me. Instead of feeling sorrowful, I found myself strangely unperturbed.
Inside, it was as desolate as the scenery below.
“Whoosh—”
Tonight, should I spend the night in this pine forest…
…Hmm?
Suddenly, just as I dipped lower and began to search for a place to land, I noticed a flickering light in the distance, at least a kilometer away, among the foothills.
Are there people nearby…?
It shouldn’t be a village, right?
Since I always flew high in the sky, even for resting, I looked for those high, rugged terrains that ordinary people couldn’t reach. I hadn’t seen any living souls in days.
I had seen a few corpses on the road.
Should I go take a look?
Hmm…
It’s not that I had this deep desire to meet another human; it’s just that the food I’d been eating lately was getting a bit… whether it’s a village or a merchant convoy, they might have salt.
Ah, but I’m out of money…
Maybe I can trade a bit of my catch for some?
In any case, let’s go check it out…
Boom boom boom—!!!
Instinctively, I flapped my wings, suddenly speeding up. There was a massive sonic boom echoing in the sky, and in an instant, a white mist barrier formed in front of me, and the fierce winds swirled outwards!
At that point, I was flying low, just under a hundred meters from the ground, and the powerful gusts surged downward towards the pine forest. Nearby trees bent under the immense pressure, almost snapping, and a flurry of pine needles shot into the air like a raining pine storm, and dust clouds roared upward.
!
I quickly held my breath.
Oh no…
Whoosh—
Like the howl of a raging wind, the scene rushed rapidly behind me. I hurriedly folded my wings and thrust my hands forward, releasing ice mist to slow down. Once my speed dropped completely, I spread my wings to balance in midair, gliding forward while looking back.
All I could think about was that salt; I may have flapped a bit too hard…
The rising dust and the swirling pine needles looked like an exploding mushroom cloud, slowly rising high into the sky from the forest behind me.
That scene was already several hundred meters away.
“Ugh…”
I puffed out my cheeks and quickly turned my head back, focusing on gliding.
I hadn’t used my full strength in a long while…not even half of it. It suddenly hit me; I might have lost touch with my current abilities… A careless mistake could lead to excessive force.
That noise was definitely enough to startle anyone nearby…
With this flight, the fire that had previously seemed so far away was now much closer. What looked like a campfire was likely not just one pile but several—probably a temporary stop for passing merchants or refugees. There seemed to be quite a few people, with carts and tents… If they look up at the sky, they might notice me.
So, I dove towards the ground. With the wind rushing past my ears, just before hitting the pine forest, I spread my wings, gently flapped them, slowed down, and landed on one of the pine tree branches, rolling twice before landing firmly on the ground.
Then, I glanced around, carefully listening, but I didn’t find anything edible nearby. Disappointed, I brushed off my somewhat disheveled cloak and the dust, put on my hood, tilted my head in thought, and decided it might be best not to approach directly from this side. I should take a slight detour before checking out the situation.
