“We are out.”
Kael spoke up as he turned around and glanced at Lavinia.
They had been walking for hours and all this while, Lavinia never once tried to initiate a conversation. The woman simply stayed silent. Even when Kael tried to converse, her answers were so short that a proper conversation couldn’t be held.
In the end, Kael simply gave up. He was never a talker to begin with, especially when the other person was clearly so disinterested.
Since the Princess didn’t want to get close to him, he decided to respect that decision and maintained distance.
With both parties putting absolutely no effort into communication, the entire journey was dead silent.
Kael simply walked forward, talking to his children, and Lavinia followed him in silence, not saying a single word. It seemed like she actually preferred things being this way.
Vitaria observed everything in silence as well. Once again, she understood what Lavinia was doing—she was trying to close herself off in order to not get too attached to Kael. This way, when he betrays her, she won’t be hurt.
Yes, even after everything he had done so far, she was still expecting Kael to betray her.
Her mind was thoroughly broken. Trusting others had become absolutely impossible, and her condition was much worse than Kael’s, who at least had his children to keep him sane.
“We are?”
Lavinia blinked. Her tone was monotonous, but there were still some traces of surprise on her face.
“Yes, this region no longer has Zakar’s spies. His manpower isn’t large enough to cover this area.”
Kael answered, and once again, Lavinia had absolutely no clue how Kael knew it.
Honestly, if it wasn’t for the fact that they had been walking for hours in a place surrounded by spies and subordinates of their enemies, without being stopped even once, she would have started doubting Kael.
Lavinia realized that the Hero seemed to have quite a few interesting abilities. He always seemed to know everything that was happening around him, nothing seemed to take him by surprise, he knew every path, every alley and hidden connection between paths and alleys there was—it was almost as if he was born here.
At first, Lavinia just thought that he had familiarized himself and explored the area before making a move. However, when Kael continued this for hours, knowing every little thing that even the people living in this area wouldn’t know,
Lavinia simply accepted that Kael knew everything.
So even if she didn’t trust Kael, she believed everything he said.
“That was quick.”
Lavinia muttered, and Kael nodded.
“I chose the shortest possible path.”
Soon, however, Kael started looking around and pointed at one of the inns.
“We should get some food. That place is popular for the delicacies it serves. Let’s try them out.”
“Okay.”
Lavinia nodded as she waited for Kael to move.
Kael walked forward, Lavinia followed, the two entered the inn. Kael ordered the things people here considered the best. The food was served and once again, Kael had to test it first before Lavinia started eating.
“Do you know how to create a barrier?”
As they were eating, Kael glanced at Lavinia and asked.
“A barrier?”
Lavinia frowned.
“That Magic Spell that casts a barrier around us, making it impossible for others outside the barriers to hear us.
I tried learning it, but I was told that my Mana wasn’t pure enough yet. I need to wait until I become a Fifth Circle Mage.”
“You are… a mage…?”
Lavinia blinked, unable to believe what she was hearing.
She had literally seen this man take down Seventh Stage Warriors like they were nothing. His speed, agility, and strength were all on an entirely different league compared to them.
Lavinia was sure this man was a warrior, a very strong one.
However, instead of answering her question, Kael looked around. Lavinia understood what he wanted and waved her hand.
In an instant, a barrier formed around them, a barrier so thin that if it wasn’t for Kael’s senses that had sharpened to a considerable degree after the Baptism of Eternal Flames, he wouldn’t even have sensed it.
What surprised him more, however, was that…
“How did you cast a spell without forming a Magic Circle?”
Kael questioned, unable to hold himself back.
“I did form a Magic Circle, I just hid it.”
“You… hid it?”
“Yes.”
Lavinia nodded, not explaining anything any further.
“I thought you were a Warrior.”
She simply changed the topic, something Kael didn’t mind.
“I am a warrior.”
He nodded.
“You are a warrior, yet you tried learning a spell?”
Lavinia raised her eyebrow.
“I am also a Mage.”
Kael spoke as Four Magic Circles appeared above his palm, surprising Lavinia.
“You are a Fourth Circle Mage…?”
“I am.”
Kael nodded as he continued eating.
Lavinia stared at him for a while, then, she admitted,
“You are quite talented.”
She praised.
“Thank you.”
Kael smiled.
“But why follow two different paths? Why not focus on being just a warrior instead? Your talent as a warrior is much stronger, no? You are already an Eighth Stage Warrior.”
“Huh? I am only a Fourth Stage Warrior.”
Kael answered nonchalantly.
“What…?”
Lavinia’s mind crashed.
“I am a Fourth Stage Warrior.”
Kael repeated his statement, not that it helped Lavinia in any way.
“You are… a Fourth Stage Warrior…?”
“Did I not tell you that?
Oh right, you never talked.”
Kael chuckled.
Lavinia, however, completely ignored his taunt and asked another question instead,
“If you are only a Fourth Stage Warrior, how did you take down a Seventh Circle Warrior?”
“Did you already forget who I am?”
Kael smiled mysteriously.
“I am Hero.
I have plot armor, it is obvious that I will be stronger than others at my level.”
“Plot Armor…?”
Lavinia raised her head.
This was the first time she had heard about this.
“I never saw you wearing an armor. Is it one of the invisible Artifacts? I thought they stopped making those because of their impracticality.
Why is it called an Armor if it is empowering you? Should it not be a type of enhancer instead?”
“…”
Kael turned silent, not knowing what to say.
It was so difficult to find people who appreciated culture, especially in a different world.
“I was joking. I do not have any armor.”
He answered.
“As for how I am so strong, I do not know. It is Lord Feraos’s gift, maybe.”
“A Gift, huh…”
Lavinia muttered.
It seemed like she had something to say when she heard Lord Feraos’s name, but in the end, she held herself back and,
“Why did you want me to cast the sound barrier?”
She changed the topic again.
“Right.”
Kael nodded, recalling what he had to talk about.
“So, where are we going next?”
He questioned.
“Huh…?”
Lavinia raised an eyebrow.
“What do you mean?”
“You are not planning to roam around in the forest, do you?”
Kael questioned.
“Didn’t you say you had a few places you could run away to when we met? What about them? You think they will take both of us in?”
Lavinia stayed silent for a moment. Soon, however, she narrowed her eyes and changed the topic again,
“…didn’t you say you ran away from the Kingdom? You left one place and now wish to settle in the second one, how does that make any sense?”
This time, however, Kael didn’t allow it.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
He had been letting the woman control the conversation because he wanted her to get a little comfortable, but there were limits to how far he could go.
When he needed answers, he needed them.
“Those places, will they take both of us in or not?”
Kael repeated his question and this time,
“…”
Lavinia didn’t say anything.
As her silence extended, Kael finally realized it.
“You… You have no place to go to, do you?
You were lying.”
“…”
Once again, Lavinia stayed silent, Kael, however, was sure of it.
“Why did you lie?”
He questioned.
“I doubt you have been honest with me the entire time we conversed.”
Lavinia replied.
“I was.”
Kael answered, and at those words, Lavinia just shook her head,
“Everyone lies, Kael Carter. You are no different.”
“I lie.
I just do not lie to people I trust.”
“And you trust me?
Why?
Because of some dream you saw?”
“Yes.”
Kael nodded without shame.
“Well, unfortunately, I do not see these Visions, so I am not inclined to say the truth just because you are the one asking questions.
I do not trust you, Kael Carter.”
“…”
Kael stared at the woman in silence.
Soon, however, he just sighed,
“So what you are saying is… that we have no place we could go to, is that right?”
“You were the one who rescued me, didn’t you? Don’t tell me you did it without a clear plan.”
“Woman, I have been in this world for a month and most of that month was spent inside castle walls. You think I have the knowledge and experience required to come up with a big plan?”
Kael retorted, acknowledging his weaknesses.
“The only reason I even left was because I couldn’t live in a place where its leader was my future enemy. Who knows which of my actions will offend and turn him against me? I did not wish to one day die in my sleep without even knowing why or how.
I had no choice but to leave and I couldn’t ask for anyone’s help either since that place was full of snakes. I didn’t know who I could trust and who I could not.”
He explained himself and this time, Lavinia couldn’t say anything.
After all, she had trusted people in the Royal Palace once and her end wasn’t good.
If anything, Kael’s decision was much smarter than hers.
And while Lavinia was thinking that, Kael spoke up,
“Well, I did have something of a plan.”
“What is it?”