[BL] Guardians of Fate -
Chapter 128 - 26: The Stirring Shadows [7]
Chapter 128: Chapter 26: The Stirring Shadows [7]
The woman’s features softened, and her lips curved into a smile.
"I can tell that you three are very kind people. Thank you for choosing to warn us instead of continuing with your journey. Even though it’s not guaranteed that the beastspawns will come this way, it still never hurts to be prepared."
She led them through a narrow street, and then after a couple more steps, they finally reached the inn.
It was a modest but sturdy building near the center of the village which was set back from the main street. It was one of the larger buildings in town, a two-story structure made of dark wood and stone and with a thatched roof. Lanterns hung outside, giving off a warm, inviting glow amid the current chaos.
With Leon following close behind and keeping a low profile, Ardyn approached the inn and stared at it. The entrance was flanked by flower boxes, overflowing with colorful blossoms that looked ethereal in the light of the lanterns.
As the four of them entered, Ardyn could almost immediately feel the cozy and welcoming atmosphere. He could smell the scent of wood smoke coming from a fireplace, and it felt warmer in here compared to the chilly evening outside.
A few people were scattered around the room, eating, drinking, and talking in low voices. Only a few seconds after they entered, a couple more villagers burst in and approached what they assumed were their companions before bursting into loud chatter. They seemed to be informing them of what was happening and the danger that lay ahead.
The woman who had led them here stepped forward and spoke to the innkeeper, who was a heavyset man with a kind expression on his face. After a short conversation, the innkeeper nodded and gestured for the trio to follow.
"Follow me," he said with a friendly smile. "I’ll show you to your room."
He walked on leisurely, and the woman smiled at them reassuringly.
"You lads will be staying the night, right?" she said. "Don’t worry. The room is for free."
Luke’s eyes widened. "No, we can’t possibly—"
The woman raised a hand and shook her head. "Please take this as a token of our gratitude. We are a small village, so the soldiers sometimes forget we exist. Most of the time, all we have here is each other. Please allow me to do at least this one thing for you."
Luke, Ardyn, and Leon exchanged glances.
"Then, thank you," Luke said softly.
"We really appreciate it," Ardyn added.
The woman waved at them and then left hurriedly.
The trio followed the innkeeper up a narrow flight of stairs. The wooden steps creaked softly under their weight, making Ardyn feel a little depressed. He remembered how the stairs in his old home used to sound like that whenever he went up to the second floor as a child.
Now that memories were all he had of his original life, they seemed to become more vivid as time passed.
They soon reached the hallway and trudged on until the innkeeper stopped at the last door on the right and opened it to reveal a small, cozy-looking room.
The three of them stepped inside and paused in their tracks.
The room was modest and clean, with three single beds lined up against the wall. There was a small table with two chairs by the window and a sink in one corner.
"You can use the public restroom downstairs. There’s also a bathhouse next door if you’d like to wash up," the innkeeper said. "Here is the key to the room. If you need anything, just come down and ask."
"Thank you," Luke said, taking the key and putting it inside the pocket of his cloak.
The innkeeper then exited the room and closed the door behind him, leaving the three of them in silence.
Leon approached the bed on the left. Each bed was covered with a thick blanket with a small pillow laid against the headrest.
Ardyn, who had taken his backpack from the carriage earlier, placed it on the rightmost bed. "Now what?" he murmured.
"Do any of you feel tired or sleepy?" Luke asked, sitting on the bed in the middle. "I know that you two slept in the carriage earlier, but I’m asking just to make sure."
"I’m fine. I slept enough," Leon said quietly.
"I don’t feel like sleeping, either." Ardyn frowned. "But you, on the other hand..."
Luke looked at him in puzzlement. "Pardon?"
Ardyn reached over and gently pushed Luke down the bed with one hand. He then pulled back with a sigh.
"You only took a short nap back at the carriage. I remember that well. So you should be the one sleeping right now," he said in a serious tone.
Luke blinked, but he did not even attempt to get up. "But if the beastspawns come—" he tried.
"Ardyn and I will take turns keeping watch!" Leon interjected. "Or better yet, the two of us can keep watch together. We can talk while doing it, too."
Luke looked over at him. Leon had pulled down his hood and mask, revealing his reassuring smile. Luke then looked over at Ardyn, who shook his head slightly, as if to tell him not to refuse.
Luke sighed. If he were to be honest, he was indeed tired. He had fainted a few times during all the chaos in Angelbay City due to a lack of strength and energy, and he hadn’t eaten or slept well, either.
Fortunately, he had managed to eat at the tavern earlier, so all he needed was a good night’s sleep. Or at least as many hours as possible during this dangerous period.
"All right, then. I’m counting on you two," he relented. "Remember to wake me if there’s any trouble."
Luke sat up a little and took off his coat and shoes. Then, he slipped into the blanket and closed his eyes.
Ardyn seemed relieved after Luke started to rest. He then walked over to the table by the window and sat down, opening the window and letting in the cool evening breeze.
Leon took the other seat and kept a watchful eye on the village below. The night seemed calm for the moment, but there was a slight tension in the air.
"Do you think we made the right choice, coming back?" Leon asked softly.
Ardyn nodded. "I believe we did. We can’t ignore people in need no matter the risk."
Leon looked at him. "You’re not afraid of being discovered?"
"We’ll find a way around that, I’m sure." Ardyn leaned back in his chair. "I don’t even know how to activate my magic, so I think I’ll be fine."
He closed his eyes momentarily.
"That time with Luke back in the city... it was all instinct. I was only able to save him because it was a matter of life and death," he said quietly. "Even though it can be convenient sometimes if that’s the case, it still leaves me clueless because I’d like to learn how to use it normally."
Leon nodded. "I can understand."
Ardyn nodded slightly. "From what I’ve seen and learned so far, especially with the Calamity’s return, I don’t think it’s safe for someone like me to go around without knowing how to defend myself. From now on, I have to constantly remind myself that this isn’t my old world anymore, that I don’t have a permanent home, I don’t have a family, I can’t rely on the police, and I have to come to terms with the fact that I’m technically on the run and being hunted by people with power, like your father."
Leon lowered his head guiltily. "That..."
Ardyn waved a dismissive hand. "Don’t get me wrong. I’m not blaming you in any way. My situation sucks, that’s all. Like I said before, I have no choice but to deal with it."
"I... I’ll help you with your magic!" Leon offered quickly. "If you want to learn how to defend yourself, I’ll help you with that, too."
"Really?" Ardyn couldn’t help but smile. "Okay then. How can you help me, though?"
"I’ll help you focus on your essence," Leon said eagerly.
Ardyn blinked. "My... essence?"
What was that supposed to mean?
"That’s where you draw out the magic inside of you," Leon explained. "When I was young, no one really taught me how to use my magic. I used it on instinct, just like you. But mine wasn’t a life-or-death situation. I don’t know exactly how it started, but one day I was playing by myself in my room and I started conjuring these little ice cubes. I loved it, so I started making more every day."
Ardyn smiled at the image of a baby Leon playing with magical ice cubes. The thought of it was cute.
"So how do I find out where this ’essence’ is?" he asked. "It sounds simple when you say it like that, but I don’t think it’s going to be easy for me to do it myself."
"Then we will start with meditation," Leon suggested. "I once read in an old book that some late-bloomer Guardians activated their magic this way. It said to clear your mind and find your center."
Ardyn frowned, eyeing him skeptically. "You sure about this... zen stuff? It sounds very textbook material."
"Still, let’s just try it," Leon encouraged. "Just breathe. Listen to your pulse, and clear your mind of all troubles."
Ardyn huffed, but he closed his eyes anyway.
He tried to clear his mind as Leon had instructed, but that was easier said than done. He had a lot of worries in his head, concerns and anxieties that he had pushed into the deepest recesses of his heart that now came back with a vengeance the moment he was no longer distracted by his surroundings.
Ardyn resisted the urge to curse under his breath.
This was going to be hard.
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