Gustaff bellowed in laughter from Nolan’s reaction.
Kyran, on the other hand, felt cold sweat running down his back. He looked at Gustaff in amazement, both on how he was not fazed at Nolan looking at him with daggers in his eyes and the fact Gustaff even considered he and Nolan were— err related in that way. After all, Kyran in Nar’s face had nothing in common with Nolan. This burly guy had guts.
Gustaff looked at the young man behind Nolan. Earlier, he did fail to notice him because he was practically hidden from his view with Nolan’s body frame. Now that he had a better view of him, he felt a little bad for this kid if Nolan planned to train him in that ‘place.’
“How old are you?” Gustaff asked.
Kyran replied at once, “Eighteen.”
Gustaff raised his brows and whistled, “You look older.”
“That’s because he’s in disguise,” Nolan told him.
Kyran immediately frowned and glared at Nolan, “Oi.”
What was the point of him being in disguise if Nolan told other people about it?
“He’s safe,” Nolan replied with a shrug.
“That’s not the point.”
“You’re not using transformation magic,” Gustaff noticed. Like most mages or combat mages in Ylfaen Empire, he possessed Earth Magic. With earth magic as the base of transformation magic, he would detect a hint of it around the young man. However, he did not feel that.
“He’s wearing a mask,” Nolan explained.
“Oi!”
“Whoa! You’re handiwork?” Gustaff looked at Nolan.
“Nope, his.”
“Whoa! He’s an Array Specialist? No wonder you wanted him to go there.”
Blacklines appeared on top of Kyran’s head as he watched the two converse as if he was not there. Should not they be worried that people around might hear them? Even if Gustaff was ‘safe,’ as Nolan said, was it really necessary for him to expose his secret? They did not even bother lowering their voices. Gustaff’s voice was actually a bit loud, in Kyran’s opinion.
Wait.
Now that Kyran was on the subject of people might hear their conversation, he noticed there were no people around. A few minutes ago, there were people everywhere, but suddenly there were none.
Just what was happening here?
Before Kyran could ask, Nolan replied to Gustaff.
“Yes. Now, let’s stop this idle chat and get going,” Nolan did not bother concealing his annoyance. “It’s getting late.”
Gustaff laughed heartily and nodded, “Right. Right, it will be troublesome if we leave any later. Get in, let me just finish getting these—.”
Even before Gustaff said, ‘get in,’ Nolan already raised his hand as black particles seeped out from his cloak. The particles gathered under the crates, and soon, all of them were lifted off the ground and flew inside the caravan.
“Whoa!” Gustaff exclaimed in appreciation, “Your magic really is handy. I wish I could also do that. Unfortunately, if I try to use my magic to lift these crates, they would end up in pieces.”
“No need to feel frustrated. I know I’m awesome, it’s not your fault.”
Kyran’s expression turned blank as he looked at Nolan. If Anette were here, there would already be a huge spoon flying to his head to shut him up.
“Alas, heaven really is unfair. Some people just ended up having everything. Prestige, powerful magic, a beautiful twi—.”
Black particles instantly converged around Gustaff’s mouth. However, he appeared unaffected as he continued to blabber on with a muffled voice.
Kyran raised his brows and looked at Nolan, “A beautiful what?”
“No questions. Get inside,” Nolan scowled and ushered Kyran in the caravan.
Dealing with Gustaff was a pain for Nolan. The only reason he answered all his questions was because of his weird innate ability, which was if a person he asked failed to answer his question within five seconds, that person would end up getting cursed for a day. Nolan had no idea how Gustaff ended up with such a weird ability, but it did have its perk. Once his ability was in effect, any person within a twenty-meter range he did not acknowledge would end up in an illusion and would stay away from him. Because of this reason, people had suddenly ‘disappeared’ around them. Technically, they did not disappear, but they left.
Gustaff’s ability was also good when traveling simply because the illusion also affected beasts. However, it would only work on small and medium-sized beasts. That was why they had to leave now. Who knew what size of beasts they would encounter if they ended up traveling in the wee hours of the night?
As for the downside of Gustaff’s ability, he had no control over it. In short, his ability was passive.
Of course, if Nolan knew Kyran’s weird circumstance, where all beasts kept their distance from him, he would probably not bother asking Gustaff to give them a ride.
In actual truth, Nolan was not after Gustaff’s weird ability but because he had a terrible sense of direction.
As soon as the three of them entered the caravan, they went on their way.
Inside the caravan, Kyran could not help but look at its forefront. He did not remember seeing any horses or any four-legged or two-legged animal pulling up ahead. How were they moving?
“What’s your name, kid?”
Gustaff’s sudden question snapped Kyran out of his thoughts. He turned to Gustaff, who was sitting across Nolan. The black material that covered his mouth earlier was already gone.
Kyran replied, “Nar.”
“That’s not your real name, huh?”
Kyran’s brow furrowed, and he did not answer.
[Answer him. If not, you’ll end up getting cursed.]
Nolan’s warning sounded in Kyran’s head.
“Curse?”
Gustaff bellowed in laughter as he looked at Nolan, “You’re talking to him telepathically, huh?”
“Yes,” Nolan replied while looking sternly at Kyran. “Just answer him.”
Kyran frowned, but he looked at Gustaff and nodded, “Yes. That’s not my real name.”
Gustaff nodded his head in acknowledgment, then he asked, “Why?”
“Don’t get sassy. Answer him,” Nolan openly warned Kyran.
Kyran could not help but heave a deep breath as he looked at Nolan in annoyance.
“Can you explain?”
Nolan’s expression turned sour as he “Tsk.” To him, the most annoying thing was not the old geezer’s nagging but being in the presence of two people who loved to ask questions.
“HAHAHA! You can ask me instead,” Gustaff told Kyran.
Kyran looked at him apprehensively.
“Kid, I’m telling you. Answer him fast,” Nolan warned him once more.
“People are after me, so I can’t use my name,” Kyran told Gustaff. “Can you explain then why we are suddenly having a question and answer here?”
Honestly, Kyran did not mind getting asked a question. But because of the sensitivity of the questions getting asked, he could not answer. Besides, he did not even know this guy.
Gustaff smiled at him. It was not his first time meeting people having trouble with his ability. It was unfortunate that even if he did not openly ask a question, as long as he thought of one and it was directed at someone if they did not answer at a given time, they would still end up getting cursed. Because of it, he had gotten used to people calling him a walking jinx. He also made it a habit to tell people about his ability openly. It would be bad if he ended up unintentionally cursing others because he failed to warn them.
“It is because of my innate ability. If I asked you a question, you need to answer. If not you’ll end up getting cursed,” Gustaff explained to Kyran.
“Then don’t ask.”
Gustaff chuckled as he said, “Doesn’t work that way. Whether I ask the question in my head out loud or not, that person will end up getting cursed if they don’t answer in time.”
“Then doesn’t that mean you can curse others simply by having a question in mind?”
Nolan snorted after hearing Kyran’s question. He already knew Kyran had a knack for thinking up possible deadly attacks that any magic could perform. But Nolan was still amazed at how Kyran’s expression could look innocent while he spoke of such things.
“Good question,” Gustaff replied and nodded his head. “Yes, but I only have questions to people I acknowledge. I’m good at it. Ignoring others. Ahahahaha!”
Kyran recalled how Gustaff did not notice him earlier and fell silent. He found Gustaff’s ability to be annoying. It made him wonder how Nolan met this guy.
“You look like you have a question,” Gustaff leaned back and crossed his arms while studying Kyran’s expression. “Why don’t you ask?”
Nolan groaned and glared at Gustaff. He said, “Can you not ask him to ask you a question?”
Gustaff looked at him with wide innocent eyes and replied, “Oh, but if I stop asking questions, how are we going to avoid those beasts?”
Kyran looked at him in confusion, and he asked, “What do you mean about that?”
“That’s not the question you want to ask earlier,” Gustaff turned his attention back at him. “If you don’t answer soon…”
“I’m only wondering how the two of you met,” Kyran replied. Then immediately changed the subject, “So what did you mean? About avoiding beasts?”
“It is an aftereffect of my ability. Once triggered, anything within twenty meters will be put into an illusion. Thus, avoiding getting close to me. You can say, it is also a counter of some sort to my ability. With this aftereffect, I will not end up asking more people questions! Ahahaha!” Gustaff answered.
‘No wonder people seemed to have disappeared back there,’ Kyran thought in realization.
But then he suddenly felt an incoming headache as he looked at Nolan. He contemplated whether Nolan asked Gustaff to take them along because he had a bad sense of direction or did not want their journey to be delayed if they encountered forest beasts. If it was the former, then it was understandable, but if it was the latter…
Should he tell Nolan about his weird effect on beasts?
‘No, let’s not say anything now. I don’t want others to know about it,’ Kyran decided after hesitating for a second.
However, Gustaff, who was still observing him, noticed his hesitation and asked, “You just hesitated. Why?”
“For the love of—!” Nolan pursed his lips before he could let out a tirade of curses.
Kyran, who was trying to get used to Gustaff’s weird ability, gritted his teeth and replied, “I’m just curious if Nolan asked for your help because he can’t remember how to get to that place.”
Nolan turned to him and scowled, “Oi. I never said I can’t remember.”
Gustaff laughed out loud.
“Right, right. He always had a bad sense of direction! Hahahaha!”
Feeling that this kind of conversation would continue for the duration of their journey, Nolan heaved a sigh and leaned back. He would have to bear with it and leave everything with Kyran. Honestly, he was in a foul mood after Kyran’s ‘trap’ earlier. Kyran might not ask follow-up questions; however, Gustaff almost let something slip. Nolan knew it would only be a matter of time before he had to come clean about his relationship with Cade and Rin. But he honestly did not want to talk about it because even now, he felt guilty at what he did.
“Gustaff, wake me up once we’re close,” Nolan said to Gustaff before closing his eyes.
Black lines appeared on Kyran’s head as he looked at Nolan in disbelief. Was he planning to let him deal with Gustaff all the way to their destination?
“Oi, Nolan—.”
“Sure,” Gustaff replied to Nolan without taking his eyes off Kyran. “Tell me, Nar. Did Nolan tell you anything about our destination?”
Kyran looked back at him in sudden realization. Nolan and Anette did not tell him anything about that ‘place’ for reasons unknown. But Gustaff might be different.
“He didn’t!” Kyran answered at once. He glanced sideways at Nolan, waiting for him to stop their conversation. However, Nolan did not budge. His attitude confused Kyran.
Seeing Kyran looking at Nolan apprehensively, Gustaff chuckled and said, “You can’t blame him. He can’t freely say anything about that place.”
“How about you?” Kyran asked him.
Gustaff raised his brows, “Me?”
Kyran nodded, “Yeah.”
“I can tell you a few things. What do you want to know?” Gustaff replied with a smile.
With a slight frown, Kyran pondered at Gustaff’s words. The way he phrased his answer, it appeared, he was allowed to say a few things but not much. If that was the case, then the best way to deal with it was to let Gustaff choose.
“What can you tell me?” Kyran asked after a short pause.
Immediately, Gustaff’s brow furrowed. “Hm?”
Before Kyran could ask what was wrong, Gustaff said, “This is weird. Your answer was another question, but it seems my ability has accepted it. This is a first.”
Kyran gave him a blank expression.
‘Please, don’t make an expression where others might misinterpret!’ He berated Gustaff in his head.
“Anyway, to answer your question,” Gustaff paused for a moment before continuing, “That place is neither a ‘real place’ nor a ruin. Its origin was unknown, and even the person who constructed it was a mystery. However, many great things can happen to anyone who ventured inside. If they are lucky, they will receive many benefits and rewards. If you’re unlucky, well… you can still receive benefits albeit it is a far cry to those who are lucky. But, luck is only part of which one can receive the best that place can give. What one needed the most is one’s resolve. Because if your resolve is weak, you can never reach a higher floor.”
“Higher floor?” Kyran asked. Although, he was beginning to have some idea of what that place was about.
Gustaff nodded his head and rolled up his sleeves.
“I managed to reach a higher floor, but in the end, failed, and so, I am left with this.”
Kyran’s eyes widened as he gaped at Gustaff’s arm.