Dancing on Unknown Paths

"It seems you think I'll be afraid of your threats," the black-haired youth said softly, his smile gone. Without it, his demeanor exuded aristocratic grace. Even with a dagger at his throat, his tone remained confident.

Fatenai had been taught countless times that as a noble, one must remain calm and composed, even in danger. Looking at the black-haired youth, she felt she was still an unqualified noble in comparison.

"I believe you will be afraid," Fatenai said, a hint of provocation in her ordinary brown eyes. Her chin lifted slightly, and the dignity that had been absent from her for so long slowly flowed back.

The black-haired youth fell silent, and they stared at each other wordlessly. Fatenai couldn't discern hostility in his eyes, nor any goodwill. The confrontation, which should have been charged with tension, felt strangely meaningless. However, in terms of presence, she felt she was at a disadvantage. She wore rough clothes, her hair was disheveled, and the exhaustion in her eyes was undeniable. The black-haired youth, on the other hand, stood tall and carried himself with effortless elegance.

"It seems, Miss, you don't know what you're about to face?" the black-haired youth said.

"If you think you can have your knights or mages kill me—whether knights or mages, I don't believe anyone would abandon their loyalty," Fatenai retorted, her expression grim. "Your life is in my hands right now. If you want to live, don't anger me."

Fatenai appeared calm, but her heart was pounding with anxiety. If this youth was connected to those mages... She couldn't help but think that the appearance of this youth at such a coincidental time must mean some connection between them, which would make many things uncertain. But other than threatening this youth, she didn't know what else she could do.

She had to gain more leverage.

They remained in a stalemate for a long time. Suddenly, the black-haired youth took a step forward. Fatenai, surprised, tilted the dagger, which grazed his collar. As the youth lunged forward, Fatenai was pushed onto the grass.

"What are you doing?!" Fatenai demanded. To her surprise, this frail-looking youth possessed considerable strength. They were so close that she could smell the herbal scent on him.

"As you wish," the black-haired youth said.

Fatenai blinked in surprise as the black-haired youth stood up and walked away. She should have quickly gotten up and pursued him, but a voice stopped her, making her hesitate to make any rash moves.

"Mr. Ed." It was clearly the voice of the female mage who had intended to kill Fatenai. The female mage had appeared here so silently that Fatenai hadn't sensed her presence at all. "Please return to the castle soon. The cleanup of Eisole Forest is still underway, and we don't want to cause you any harm."

He was indeed connected to those mages, and their relationship seemed quite complicated.

"Do as you please," Ed said. "You don't need to worry about my affairs."

His tone was indifferent and distant. In fact, apart from their initial misleading conversation, the youth's "true" self felt a bit sharp to Fatenai.

Yet, this sharpness felt more comfortable to Fatenai than the smile that now seemed like a pretense.

"Yes, sir." The female mage was clearly hired by Ed's family, or perhaps she was a mage trained by them. She was extremely respectful to Ed, a stark contrast to her demeanor towards Fatenai.

The female mage walked away, her steps somewhat hurried, seemingly having failed to find Fatenai. Suddenly, she stopped and said to Ed, "Oh, right, sir."

Upon hearing the female mage's voice, Ed turned and gave her a look that conveyed, "Go on."

"Have you seen a girl? Her hair is platinum blonde," the female mage asked. "She escaped. If I'm not mistaken, she seems to be the girl Duke Wisdom has been looking for recently."

"A girl from the Wisdom Family..." Ed mused.

Fatenai inwardly gasped. As she heard Ed say this, her heart began to race—she sensed a sliver of danger in his voice.

"Some say she's a fake. The people of the Wisdom Family have violet-blue eyes," the female mage added.

Fatenai was now certain that Ed knew her identity. Commoners couldn't deceive nobles; even the best actors couldn't imitate the true bearing of nobility.

What would he do? Now that he knew she was a young lady of the Wisdom Family, would he tell the female mage that she was hiding in the grass?

"I haven't seen her," Ed replied without hesitation. "Go and do your work."

"Yes, sir, I'll get right to it." It seemed the female mage was well-compensated, as she remained respectful even after receiving such an answer before leaving.

Fatenai's feelings were complex.

Seeing that the mage and Ed were allies, yet Ed had no intention of exposing her... why?

"I've heard much about you, Fatenai Wisdom," Ed said, walking over to the patch of grass where Fatenai was. He bowed slightly and extended his hand. "My name is Ed Ansendil."

"The Ansendil Family?" Fatenai was somewhat surprised that he knew her name. She feigned composure and placed her hand in his outstretched one. His hand was quite cold. After pulling her up, he gave a slight bow, making it seem as if they had met at a ball.

"May I have this dance?" Ed asked, not immediately answering her question.

Fatenai was taken aback by the strange invitation. However, she had underestimated Ed. Unable to break free from his grasp, she realized she had no choice but to participate in this seemingly out-of-place activity.

As the eldest daughter of the Wisdom Family, Fatenai had received all necessary training. After nodding, she immediately got into character. Ballroom dancing wasn't difficult; even in different worlds, it tested one's responsiveness. Fatenai found her dance partner to be exceptionally skilled, so she danced with abandon, without any reservations.

With such a trustworthy partner, Fatenai felt he wouldn't step on her skirt—though today, Fatenai was wearing trousers.

"The Ansendil Family, are you from the Duchy of Ansendil?" Fatenai asked, stepping back two paces to match Ed's steps.

Hundreds of years after the Holy War, the Kingdom of Luther had maintained its status as a kingdom. However, the original empires of the continent had fractured. Some of the various fiefdoms were reclaimed by the Kingdom of Luther, while others formed independent states, such as the Duchy of Ansendil.

It was perplexing why this frail youth from the Ansendil family would be here.

One couldn't help but suspect that Ed's arrival might signify some intentions of the Duchy of Ansendil towards the Kingdom of Luther.

"Indeed. It seems we have a notorious reputation," Ed said.

"The fact that you know my name surprises me even more," Fatenai replied. She hadn't officially joined the social season and wasn't familiar with nobles outside the Kingdom of Luther.

"Duke Wisdom is an admirable duke, and thus people know of her cold demeanor and her useless daughter who cannot use Mana," Ed continued.

At this moment, Fatenai's hand slipped from Ed's, she spun in place, and then her hand returned to his.

They danced without music, yet they were surprisingly in sync.

However, as they talked, the conversation took a turn. Fatenai found herself struggling to keep up with his pace. Why was he suddenly mocking her?

"What is the reason in your heart?" Ed asked.

"The 'Brook of Pludar'," Fatenai answered truthfully.

She found the song warm and peaceful. Heaven knew how she discerned a peaceful mood from music.

"That truly is a song for the weak," Ed stated bluntly.

Fatenai suddenly felt that communicating with this person was impossible; he was like a collection, one page a comedy written by a skilled comedian, and the next moment a tragic figure from a playwright's pen.

Her tone then took on a barbed edge: "Then what is the song in your heart? Is it the 'Hymn of the Sea'?"

That was a song describing an ambitious king who wanted to conquer the ocean, only to be eaten by a fish summoned by the sea god—it had once been banned in the Kingdom of Luther due to its overly sarcastic tone.

However, the melodies of these two songs were indeed very similar.

"Why would a noble lady who cannot use Mana appear in Eisole Forest?" Ed ignored Fatenai's taunt. "I heard you are already engaged."

"And why would a sickly noble gentleman appear in Eisole Forest?" Fatenai retorted. "However, my name is Fatenai Frayton. I hope you don't get it wrong."

The two's dance was about to end. Fatenai was truly dancing to the rhythm of the "Brook of Pludar." Just as she silently recited the song in her heart and was about to perform the final move, Ed suddenly stopped. Fatenai, leaning forward, lost her support and nearly fell.

What was wrong with this person?

Just as Fatenai felt her patience was reaching its limit, Ed suddenly said, "Do you want to know where Wickel is?"

Fatenai's eyes lit up. Before she could answer, Ed extended his hand. That pale hand slowly pointed towards the forest. In a scene that was almost miraculous, the wind became visible, gradually converging into a transparent horse that had a peculiar texture in the sunlight.

At the same time, Ed began to cough, lowering his gaze slightly as if accustomed to it.

"Ed Ansendil," Fatenai said, looking at his fragile appearance, "you are not as fragile as you pretend to be. Don't try that act with me."

"Do I not look like a real patient?" Ed said softly.

"At least I've never seen a patient who could control Mana so well." Fatenai understood the flow of Mana intimately.

Ed glanced at Fatenai, but unfortunately, Fatenai couldn't discern his true emotions.

"Mind your own business first," Ed said. "I suddenly had a bit of an urge to do good, so I've invited you to witness your friend's... journey towards death."