[BL] Guardians of Fate
Chapter 126 - 26: The Stirring Shadows [5]

Chapter 126: Chapter 26: The Stirring Shadows [5]

Silence fell between the three of them, and only the wind and the rustling of the branches could be heard in this peaceful evening.

Leon had his mask and hood down, and the illumination from the moons and the stars cast highlights on his surprised and innocent face. It was sometimes amazing how an expression could instantly change a man’s features.

Although Luke knew him — by name and position, to be exact — as Duke Hartengrove of Elfroien’s son and sole heir, after meeting him and being with him like this since yesterday, it wasn’t hard to remember how young he was. Especially at this moment.

Leon took another look at the town before giving a weak nod. "Okay," he said. "I think it would be better for us to move on."

Even in the dark evening, Luke could see Leon give Ardyn a furtive glance. He felt his heart warm a little. It seemed that the boy was also thinking of Ardyn and the danger he might be in.

But Ardyn was the one who looked reluctant now. "I don’t know, man," he said quietly. "I don’t have a good feeling about this."

"So what do you suggest we do?" Luke asked, but not unkindly. He was just curious about what Ardyn had in mind. After all, of the three of them, it was Ardyn who would be in the most danger if they ever got caught.

"Well..." Ardyn rubbed the back of her head, looking conflicted. "I know that staying overnight has its risks, but going on could put us in even more danger. From what you’ve said, we have no idea what’s out there. I mean, sure, the carriage is invisible and all that, but it can still be touched, right? What if we accidentally bump into one of those dangerous creatures? And what if we get surrounded? We could be in even more danger. Apart from Leon, we don’t have any good offensive skills. We might even become a burden to him."

"You have a point," Luke admitted. "But like I said, you’re the one in the most danger. I understand what you’re saying, but we can’t fight the beastspawns and an entire village at the same time if we’re discovered. We’re outnumbered either way."

Silence fell again. They seemed to be at a temporary standstill. Leon glanced at the two of them back and forth, and he didn’t seem to know the right words to say.

Ardyn felt his fingers tremble. He had this sinking feeling in his gut that he couldn’t ignore. It was as if he could sense something in the air, something dark and suffocating.

Maybe it was his paranoia playing tricks on his mind since he had just learned about the danger of the beastspawns, but it was still disturbing. He felt like he was being watched by unseen eyes, and it sent a chill down his spine.

He looked around. It was getting so dark that if they walked a few more steps, they might need a lantern or something to light their way. The trees in the distance, swaying gently in the breeze, made him feel uneasy.

What was this feeling?

And was it real?

Ardyn hesitated, then looked up and met Luke’s gaze with determination in his eyes. "I still think we should stay. If those beasts attack, the villagers will be defenseless. We can’t just leave them to die."

A flicker of emotion crossed Luke’s eyes. Leon, on the other hand, seemed startled.

"Will you stay? Even though you could be in even more danger if they discover who you are?" Luke’s voice was gentle and not chiding. "They won’t understand, you know. Even if you explain your situation. They’ll fear you and turn a blind eye to your suffering."

Ardyn sighed. "I know. I don’t doubt your words, I swear. But... we can’t always run from danger. Sometimes we have to face it, even if it scares us. We can’t let fear dictate our actions."

He paused for a moment to take a deep breath.

"If we leave now without doing anything to prevent it, the guilt could haunt me for the rest of my life," he said quietly. "I’m the one who brought this monster back into the world, so I should take some responsibility. But I don’t want to involve you two if possible..."

"What do you mean?" Leon sounded confused. "We’re in this together."

Ardyn looked surprised. "Hey, you’ll be in danger, too. Your identity..."

A trace of sadness flashed in Leon’s eyes. "I... I don’t want to run away either. And my father and the council will have to tell everyone about me, anyway. The soldiers have seen my magic. Word will get out whether I like it or not." He gave a small smile. "So, I don’t really care. I don’t like injustice, so I want to protect people as much as I can. I remember that Ely and Evan would do anything to protect their people as well. So if you want to stay, Ardyn, then I’ll stay, too."

Ardyn reached out and patted him on the shoulder. "You’re a good kid."

Luke sighed again, his resolve wavering. "Are you sure about this? I can’t guarantee anything when we get back. Anything could happen."

Ardyn nodded. "I’m willing to take the risk. But what about you?"

Luke blinked. "Me?"

"Yeah. What do you think? Honestly." Ardyn seemed hesitant. "I don’t want to force anyone to do things my way. I want to know your thoughts, too."

"Well... I’m not keen on it," Luke admitted without hesitation. "But I can understand your position, and it’s a good thing. I’m not going to let you two do this on your own. Even though I’m not an official one yet, I’m still your Summoner. I can use my magic to heal anyone if something bad happens. I’d be happy to help the townspeople as well."

Ardyn let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

He had been a little afraid of what Luke might say. Not because he thought that the man was cold and cruel with no empathy, but because he could sense that Luke had been through a lot and had a different way of thinking than he and Leon.

The man had a good heart, but it seemed that trusting ordinary people was a little difficult for him.

"We’ll just stay out of sight as much as possible," Ardyn suggested. "We’ll stay for the night, and then we’ll only help out if the beastspawns attack. We also need to be ready to leave in the morning. Do you think that’ll give us enough time to get to Ravencoast before the soldiers catch up to us?"

Leon thought for a moment. "Judging by the distance, if we leave in the early hours of the morning, we’ll reach Ravencoast in about five hours. The soldiers still need to investigate what happened and come to a decision, so that would be enough time for us to escape as soon as possible before the port towns and villages get surrounded."

Luke’s expression became thoughtful. "Now that I think about it, it would be dangerous to take a boat trip in the dark," he said slowly. "You never know what sea creatures might be out there. Hardly any boatmen go out in the evening. I think it would be a really good idea for us to stay overnight, after all."

"Okay," Ardyn said. "That’s good. This might be a better option for us."

"I’ll go and check on the carriage first, so you guys can go back and find somewhere for us to stay," Leon said, checking the crystal in his hand. It was glowing faintly. "Maybe I could park it somewhere safer and out of sight."

"You can’t go alone," Luke immediately said. "It’s dangerous. We’ll come with you."

The three of them made their way back to the carriage, moving cautiously. The night was still eerily quiet, except for the occasional rustling of leaves and the distant sound of crickets. It gave Ardyn the creeps.

Even back in his world, whenever he went out at night, he always made sure to have at least one or two friends with him. He lived in the big city where crime was rampant, so he was always cautious at night.

They soon reached the area where they had parked the car last. Leon made it visible to the senses before getting in and moving it to a more concealed spot deeper in the trees.

Ardyn and Luke followed cautiously, their eyes alert for any movement in the area. They soon reached a small clearing that was well-hidden by the surrounding trees and brush.

"This should be hidden enough," Leon said after exiting the carriage and turning it invisible again. "We can come back for it later in the early morning."

As they turned to leave the clearing, a sudden unsettling feeling washed over Ardyn. It was so unnerving that he stopped in his tracks.

He had not stopped feeling uneasy since he left the village. It was as if his gut was silently screaming at him.

And now that particular feeling grew stronger, crawling up his throat.

"Do you feel that?" he asked.

Luke paused as well, his eyes narrowing. "Yeah. There’s something... off. A dark energy nearby."

Leon looked concerned. "What is it?"

"I’m not sure, but it’s coming from that direction," Luke said slowly, pointing to a dense thicket at the edge of the clearing.

The three of them exchanged glances.

"Are you sure that we should go over there?" Ardyn said warily. "I’m pretty sure that’s not a good idea at all."