Ian did not know what Hilliard had gone to do today, but he guessed it had something to do with Harrison Port's sea beast invasion today, all thunder and little rain.
Given the momentum with which the Redwood Natives had mobilized in full force this time, the Spirit of the Sea among the Redwood People's four great totem spirits—the two Giant Eels coiled in the depths of the ocean—could not possibly have stayed out of it. Yet from beginning to end, there had not been a single trace of an eel.
Ordinary Empire folk might have guessed it was interference from the Great Storm, but Ian believed it was all thanks to his teacher's actions.
Since the man had returned safely, the boy had already felt much relieved. That alone was enough to prove his teacher's considerable strength... until he saw the noticeably deeper wrinkles on the man's face.
"Mm, I'll need to rest and recuperate properly for a while."
Faced with Ian's worried gaze, Hilliard merely smiled gently. He reached out and patted the boy on the shoulder. "I can hear Elan. He's probably hungry, isn't he?"
He did not wish to say more.
After silently nodding, Ian did not press him either. Instead, he went to clean the soaked stove, intending to find some sealed firewood that had not gotten wet and start a fire to cook.
Plague poison... he murmured inwardly, only to helplessly realize that he had no way to help his teacher.
Then again, how much did he really know about Teacher Hilliard?
He could perhaps guess a little about the man's identity, and surmise why he had wanted to take him on as a student... but his past, his experiences, his convictions and beliefs...
What were those deeper, more fundamental things?
Ian turned back