Chapter 53: A Shared Journey

“You’re going to find Diya?”

Nolan’s words reached my ears, and I froze, then asked bluntly.

Yes, the Cyril family had no kin in the capital.

Nolan wasn’t some naive boy drawn to its bustle.

At a time like this, heading to the capital could only be for Diya, whose whereabouts were uncertain.

What else could it be?

“Well… I’ve been thinking about it for a while,” Nolan said with a smile.

“I feel my body’s nearly healed. You told me to recover first, Tiya, and I had no choice then. But now, there’s no reason to delay, right?”

My mouth opened and closed, watching Nolan, unsure what to say.

Based on that message, Diya seemed to have been taken to the capital by Grand Knight Kaswin.

Whether willingly or coerced, I didn’t know.

But Nolan seeking his sister was undeniably right.

I had no reason to stop him.

“The capital’s far—half the country away. Are you ready?”

“Yeah, it’s a long way, but with enough coin for the journey, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Nolan bent to pick up his crutch, then said slowly:

“Still, I need to plan carefully—travel funds, provisions, all that. Maybe even hire a carriage.”

“Have you talked to Mr. Leyak about this?” I’d just heard him mention—

“I told you, it’s not servitude…”

“Fine, fine, not servitude.”

“But—have you thought about whether Leyak will let you go? You said he wants to experiment on you, right? Who lets their test subject wander off?”

‘I meant to stay neutral, just warn the boy,’ I thought.

But my words sounded like I was blocking Nolan.

Looking up, I heard him say:

“It’s fine. I’ll talk to Mr. Leyak about it.”

“But…”

“But what?”

Nolan’s tone hesitated.

“You—Tiya, what about you?”

He looked up at me, his eyes serious.

“What about me… what do you mean?”

“Since we know Diya’s in the capital, I have to go, even if not today. But you, Tiya? You said it’s far—it’s not a small thing…”

“Me? What’s there to ask? Of course I’m…”

My mouth opened to answer, but something stopped me, and I shut it abruptly.

“What’s wrong?”

Nolan noticed my sudden shift, asking.

“I… can’t answer that right now.”

I hesitated, giving a non-answer.

Yes, this wasn’t trivial.

Trekking to the capital, a thousand miles, unpredictable.

I had no right to decide for Kritiya.

Nolan seemed to think I was mulling it over, adding:

“I’m thinking about what happens to you after I leave.

Maybe I can ask Mr. Leyak to look after you for a while—

He’s decent, though his tongue’s sharp sometimes, but he’s a kind elder.”

“Who knows about that…”

I muttered, resisting the idea.

Not that I distrusted Leyak—having read the novel, I knew his skills and character.

But something in me recoiled, and I shrank, mumbling:

“What about you? That far, you’re going alone?”

“Maybe we could travel together?”

Nolan mused thoughtfully.

“It’s not like I’d be the only one on the road—merchants, travelers, maybe others…”

“What if you don’t come back…”

I muttered, almost to myself.

“No, that’s not it…”

Nolan scratched his head, hesitating, then sat beside me on the steps.

“I’m just going to check on Diya, find out what’s going on, and come back— After all, my business with Mr. Leyak isn’t done. I’ll definitely return.”

“Then why—”

I looked up sharply at Nolan, mouth open, but the words stopped, stuck in my throat, refusing to come out.

I wanted to decide, to tell Nolan I’d go to the capital too, to find Diya.

The road might be rough, full of risks, but I could be a reliable ally, help him through, bring Diya back safely—

But I couldn’t say it.

Right now, both I and Kritiya were tangled in trouble.

Instead of helping, I might bring dangers Nolan wouldn’t otherwise face.

My gaze flicked to his limp right arm.

When he was first hurt, it was just stiff.

Now, it was nearly useless.

I’d acted to fix that mistake, tried so hard, but after all the chaos, it only backfired.

The one bottle of Essence of Life Elixir, meant to heal flesh, didn’t go to Nolan.

I drank it instead.

Who could say?

I felt more and more lost in this world.

If there was a designer of fate’s joys and sorrows, why bring me here, hiding in Kritiya’s soul, thinking I knew everything?

What was the point?

Cool flecks fell from the sky—the rain-snow’s second act had begun.

Lost in thought, I heard Nolan’s voice beside me:

“No need to rush anything. You can think it over slowly.”

He stood slowly, pushing open the wooden door.

A wave of heat from the blazing charcoal hearth surged out, warming my back:

“It’s snowing again, and it’s cold out. Let’s go inside and talk.”

Nolan said.

***

“I’m going.”

Nolan brought it up again casually when Kritiya woke.

It was lunchtime, and the two were eating.

Leyak rarely stayed at the shop, only dropping by occasionally, so he wasn’t there.

These days, under Magic Goods’ roof, meals were far richer than before.

I shouldn’t complain, but it felt like Leyak was deliberately challenging us.

Almost every dish had garlic or needed peeling—nuts as sides, or port-city specialties like crabs and oysters.

With Nolan’s one-handed struggle, peeling was a mess, so Kritiya handled it, preparing food for easy eating.

During their chat, she learned of Nolan’s plan and said without hesitation:

“Tiya, the capital’s really far. I don’t think you need to…”

“You’re not mobile. You need help with daily tasks. It’s settled.”

Kritiya didn’t even glance at Nolan, just lowered her head, arranging peeled shrimp neatly on the plate, deciding firmly.

Then, as if it just occurred to her, she looked up, adding:

“If you don’t take me, I’ll go myself.”