Chapter 18: The White Horse’s Trail

The forest in the early morning lay in profound silence, a cool breeze caressing faces and effortlessly dispelling any lingering drowsiness.

Dewdrops clung to the wild blossoms lining the path, catching the nascent sun’s vibrant, kaleidoscopic rays, painting a scene of exquisite beauty.

“Clip-clop, clip-clop.”

Yet, a jarring dissonance pierced the tranquil woods—the rhythmic thud of hooves, crushing fallen leaves underfoot.

Aldoran, mounted on a sleek black horse, navigated the sylvan expanse.

Above her, several Harpy maidens, wings unfurled, glided through the air, maintaining a close vigil behind Aldoran.

“Are you truly certain you’ve located that white horse’s dwelling?” The speaker, flying alongside Aldoran, was none other than Liliya.

Learning that Alice intended to join Aldoran in this quest for the elusive white steed, Liliya had adamantly insisted on accompanying them.

Alice, finding herself unable to sway her stubborn friend, eventually conceded, though with the strict caveat that Liliya must not interfere if a battle ensued.

“Of course.”

Though merely two words, Aldoran uttered them with resounding conviction.

“You mean you didn’t even venture out, but simply remained in a tree and somehow pinpointed the white horse’s whereabouts?”

Liliya’s tone dripped with unconcealed mockery.

To her, Aldoran was nothing but a charlatan, her every action a mere pretense.

Her sole reason for tagging along was to savor the moment Aldoran’s “hoax” inevitably unraveled.

“Liliya, that is incredibly impolite,” Alice interjected from behind, admonishing her friend.

“You mustn’t speak to a guest in such a manner.”

“Rest assured, there’s no benefit for me in deceiving any of you.”

Aldoran, for her part, ceased attempting to explain anything further to Liliya.

The denizens of these woods possessed only meager magical abilities and had never undergone formal magical training; thus, their unfamiliarity with perception magic was entirely understandable.

Moreover, Liliya, in her current state, was clearly unwilling to entertain any form of rebuttal.

“Very well, then I shall await the outcome with keen interest, hoping you truly manage to locate that horse.” Liliya had already resolved to watch Aldoran make a fool of herself, intent on proving to Alice that her skepticism was justified.

“My apologies; this child’s words always carry such a sharp, confrontational edge.” Alice, traveling alongside them, found herself apologizing to Aldoran on Liliya’s behalf repeatedly.

“It’s no bother.”

Dispensing with any further futile exchanges, Aldoran cracked her whip, urging her horse to gallop faster.

This relentless pace continued until dusk.

After cresting several mountain ridges, Aldoran finally tugged on her reins, bringing her horse to a halt within a sheltered mountain hollow.

The rest of the company likewise paused their journey.

“What’s the matter, Lady Aldoran? There certainly isn’t a cave here large enough to shelter a horse,” Liliya scoffed, flapping her wings as she hovered in mid-air.

“Are you certain you wish to press on without pausing for a moment’s rest?” Aldoran dismounted from her horse, ignoring Liliya’s taunt.

Instead, she gestured towards the other maidens beside Liliya, who were already glistening with sweat, their eyes heavy with exhaustion.

“It will likely take another full day’s journey to reach the horse’s abode, so I believe we should make some adjustments and resume our travels at first light.”

“Or is it simply that you’ve realized your deception can no longer be sustained, and now you seek to buy time to concoct new excuses?” Liliya’s gaze was overtly scornful, her words bristling with belligerence, leaving Aldoran no room for dignity.

“Tell me, then, which takes precedence at this moment: the welfare of your companions, or this petty argument with me about whether to press on?”

Aldoran spoke, simultaneously unhooking the water canteen from her waist, utterly disregarding Liliya’s now openly mocking expression.

“You—!” Liliya had been poised to unleash another retort, but a glance at her weary companions silenced her, rendering her utterly incapable of uttering even a single additional word.

Indeed, having embarked at daybreak, they had scarcely paused for rest throughout their journey.

The entirety of the day had been consumed by their relentless travel.

Even with Liliya’s formidable stamina, she could not ignore the arduous plight of her companions.

“Aldoran speaks wisely,” Alice interjected, attempting to mediate.

“Everyone has been traveling all day and is quite exhausted.

There’s no harm in taking a temporary rest and regrouping, is there, Liliya?”

“Tch.”

Following a brief, grudging silence, Liliya merely clicked her tongue before descending to the ground.

“Do as you wish.”

“In that case, everyone should come down and rest,” Aldoran announced, beckoning to the other members still hovering in the air, signaling for them to descend.

Having landed, Alice’s first action was not to seek rest, but to approach Aldoran and apologize on Liliya’s behalf.

“My apologies; this child, Liliya, has caused you undue trouble.”

“Hey! Chieftain, you don’t need to be so deferential to this charlatan!” Liliya protested, her voice laced with dissatisfaction.

“Enough! Liliya, cease this childish behavior at once!”

Chastened by Alice’s sharp reprimand, Liliya initially bristled with a desire to argue, but the sight of her exhausted companions compelled her to swallow her words.

She stomped off to a secluded spot, choosing to sulk in silence.

“She is always so impulsive, this child,” Alice murmured, her gaze flickering with a hint of something unreadable, her words imbued with an unspoken, profound helplessness.

“Please, pay it no mind.”

“It’s no matter; I pay it no heed,” Aldoran replied, settling onto a fallen tree trunk.

“You should sit as well.”

Alice acknowledged her words with a soft sound and took a seat beside Aldoran.

“Guest, you mentioned you are a traveler.

Might I inquire about the places you’ve journeyed to?” Alice asked abruptly, breaking the brief silence as she sat beside Aldoran, her gaze fixed on the slowly sinking sun.

“Me? I haven’t traveled much at all.

In truth, this journey of mine only commenced a few days ago,” Aldoran responded, her eyes also fixed upon the fading sunset.

Alice nodded slowly.

“And where, then, is your ultimate destination, honored guest?”

“I’m not certain.”

“A journey without a fixed destination, then…”

Aldoran paused, a fleeting moment of surprise crossing her features, before taking a sip of water and offering a nod.

“One could certainly phrase it that way.”

“What, then, is the purpose of your travels?”

“To find someone.”

For reasons unknown, Alice suddenly fell silent for several long seconds.

It was only when the plaintive call of a homing bird drifted from the distant horizon that Alice’s voice, tinged with a delicate melancholy, once more reached Aldoran’s ears.

“If I may ask, what kind of person is it you seek?”

“Someone important.”

The setting sun elongated their figures, casting attenuated shadows that stretched deep into the oppressive darkness of the dense forest behind them, silently consumed by the encroaching night.

After a considerable pause, Alice finally parted her lips.

“If that is the case, might I perhaps impose upon you with a request?”

“Please, speak your mind,” Aldoran’s voice resonated clearly in Alice’s ears, “if it is within my power to grant.”

“Though this may sound incredibly abrupt, might I implore you to take Liliya along on your travels?”

Aldoran was taken aback once more.

“If it proves inconvenient for you, then please, pay it no mind,” Alice quickly added, observing Aldoran’s momentarily stunned expression.

“No, no, it’s nothing at all.

Please, do continue.”

Swiftly regaining her composure, Aldoran gestured for Alice to proceed with her explanation.

A nascent curiosity about the girl named Liliya began to stir within her.

“Perhaps you are unaware, but that child—” Alice paused here, her brow furrowing slightly before quickly smoothing out again. “She lost her mother at a very tender age, and then, many years later, her father departed with another.”

“…” Aldoran offered a slight, understanding nod.

“Her father fell deeply in love with a traveler, an outsider much like yourself, and subsequently abandoned Liliya.

That is why…”

“So that’s why she harbors such animosity towards outsiders like us, isn’t it?”

“Precisely.

For reasons we never understood, that child’s father was absolutely resolute in his decision to leave with that traveler.

No matter how earnestly we pleaded or attempted to dissuade him, he remained utterly unmoved.

Then, one fateful night, he abandoned Liliya.

From that day forward, Liliya…” As Alice spoke, a tremor ran through the corner of her eye.

In the distance, the luminous moon began its slow ascent from the horizon, its pristine light mirrored in Alice’s gaze.

“Her heart, you see, is not inherently unkind…”

A crisp mountain breeze swept through, playfully stirring the wisps of hair at Alice’s temples, while in the distance, a chorus of frogs began their evening serenade.

“Liliya’s greatest aspiration, her most cherished dream, is to one day locate her father…”

“Thus, you wish for her to accompany us on our journey?”

“Indeed, this is also a dream of my own…” Alice turned her head, her gaze meeting the clear, bright pale blue depths of Aldoran’s eyes.

The wind had grown somewhat chillier; Alice instinctively drew her neck back.

Above them, scattered pinpricks of starlight began to emerge, their faint luminescence softly illuminating Alice’s features.

“He is your younger brother, isn’t he?” The wind, as if eager to deliver, carried Aldoran’s words distinctly to Alice’s ears.

“Forgive me, I peered into your inner thoughts.”

Within Alice’s mind, Aldoran had glimpsed the image of a rather melancholic man.

“No, no, it’s nothing.” Alice continued to gaze into those eyes.

Beneath the soft moonlight, glistening tears shimmered, reflecting a pure and beautiful radiance without reservation.

“My apologies, to be so disappointingly weepy as a woman.” Alice, hastily wiping away the tears from her eyes, offered a somewhat strained smile.

“I understand your intentions now.

Once this endeavor concludes, I will convey your request to Liliya.” Aldoran remained seated, the blue glow from the bracelet on her wrist gradually fading.

“Truly?” Alice appeared visibly moved, grasping Aldoran’s hand impulsively.

Aldoran nodded.

“Rest assured, I will certainly see it done.”

“Hey! Chieftain! Dinner’s ready!” No sooner had Aldoran spoken than Liliya’s voice drifted from afar.

Turning her head, Liliya seemed to have forgotten their earlier unpleasantness, waving enthusiastically at Alice.

“It’s time for dinner, honored guest.” Alice rose, recomposing herself.

Aldoran remained seated where she was.

“Please, go ahead.

I will join you shortly.”

“Then, I implore you to be swift.” Alice left Aldoran to her solitude, turning to walk towards Liliya.

Aldoran, meanwhile, sat upon the decaying tree trunk, the gem on her bracelet once more emitting light—this time, a pure white glow.

‘Just a little longer,’ Aldoran murmured, gently covering the bracelet with her hand, her voice barely a whisper, ‘until tomorrow, when my hands will be free to fight without restraint.’

She spoke, though it was unclear to whom these hushed words were directed.