Where Beginning and End Intersect

Back in the cave, Forresten and Ed sat by the fire. Forresten had already returned and was resting with his eyes closed by the fire, while Ed was still flipping through his book.

The sound of their return caused Forresten to open his eyes. He said, "Any findings, Wickel?"

"I've gathered some information for you that should be useful." Wickel took off his cloak, tossed it aside, and sat down on the ground. The movement kicked up a cloud of dust. He then pulled aside one side of his leather jacket and tossed a stack of folded papers to Forresten.

"Thank you, old friend," Forresten said. His hands, like withered branches, trembled slightly as he grasped the papers. With his other hand, he reached inside his cloak and pulled out a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, which he placed on his nose. In the quiet environment where no one spoke, Fatenai could hear the crackling of the fire mixed with the crisp sound of paper being unfolded.

Everything seemed peaceful, yet Fatenai could sense a hint of urgency in the old man's movements. She couldn't quite make out the changes on Forresten's face as he read, until she and Helise sat down in a corner by the fire.

"Your timing is excellent," Forresten said after finishing what Wickel had brought back. He tucked his glasses into his cloak, stood up, and shook himself off. "Old friend, I need you to head to Bredalin."

"Should I help you deliver a message to Atwood?" Wickel asked, leaning against the wall and stretching his long legs. He seemed more relaxed than Forresten.

"That's right. Have Atwood come to Starlight in Mist Month... no, Birth Month," Forresten said.

Wickel couldn't help but tap the ground. "My goodness... I was hoping to go to Starlight for a special strong tea. This is quite a hassle for me... but alright, I'll leave now. Is there anything you need me to bring him?"

"Just finding him is enough. Rose Month is here, and that Gnome is always elusive," Forresten said. "Thank you, old friend."

"Since you consider me an old friend, bring me a couple more Magic Potions next time we meet. Hey, if you do this, Atwood will get angry with you. After all, he considers his Gnome stature to be that of a Dwarf," Wickel said, picking up his cloak from the side. The heavy, thick cloak rustled as he lifted it, and he quickly walked towards the exit.

Fatenai was a bit surprised by Wickel's hasty departure, but Helise was used to it. Seeing Fatenai's expression, she said, "Adventurers are always like this, with no fixed abode. They leave when they get a job, provided there's a suitable reward they can't refuse." Helise said this.

"We'll head back tomorrow morning. There's no need to stay in the forest any longer," Forresten added immediately. This made Helise very happy, but his next words caused a huge shift in her expression. "Go find Hubert. He should still be out completing his research. If I recall correctly, you're in the same group."

If anyone else had brought this up, Helise would have argued, but facing the principal, she couldn't refuse. Looking at the injured Fatenai, she couldn't help but sigh in resignation.

"You can pretend none of this happened." Perhaps the change in their relationship started with her, Fatenai felt a pang of guilt and said.

"This has nothing to do with you; it's my fault," Helise sighed and then draped her cloak over her lap.

Although Fatenai often said similar things like "This has nothing to do with you," the meaning behind their words was entirely different.

Fatenai remained silent. When Helise's figure disappeared at the cave entrance, Forresten said to her, "Have you always been a Forest Hunter, Fatenai?"

"Of course, with my parents," Fatenai said, thinking Forresten was just trying to get Helise out of the way.

"That is quite interesting." To her surprise, Forresten simply said that. While talking to Fatenai, he put the papers Wickel had given him into his cloak. "I hope you can adapt to your future life."

"I think I can help her," Ed, who had been silent, finally spoke. He read incredibly fast. When Fatenai left the cave, he hadn't even finished half of it, but now only a few pages remained, or rather, he had finished.

Fatenai looked at his sincere smile, her heart unmoved. She finally stood up and walked towards him. "Thank you for your help."

As she spoke, she returned the jacket she had been holding onto for too long and then walked back to her corner, wrapping herself in her cloak, closing her eyes, and turning her back to them, seemingly falling asleep.

"I recall you have another remarkable mage companion," Ed said, taking his jacket and shaking his arm before setting it aside. He then said to Fatenai, "Isn't he with you? I believe the teacher is very interested in that mage."

Fatenai herself didn't know how powerful Merlin was, but while Forresten hadn't noticed, Ed had sensed it.

"He went home. During Rose Month, it's most important to reunite with family," Fatenai replied dismissively to Ed.

Where did Merlin go? Fatenai didn't know either. In the legends of King Arthur, that mage, in a sense, facilitated Arthur's birth and lived with him until he brought the Sword in the Stone back to Britain and helped him ascend to the throne...

So, where could he have gone?

Fatenai didn't want to think about it anymore and fell into a deep sleep.

Why did he suddenly mention reuniting with family? Fatenai had been preoccupied with Merlin's matters and hadn't given this detail much thought, so she didn't understand why familiar figures kept appearing in her dreams.

While everyone else was resting in the cave, Helise lay down next to Fatenai. Hubert and Forresten were in another corner. Forresten, being the elder, sat leaning against the wall, his staff dangling precariously as his neck swayed.

The black-haired youth walked out of the cave. The wind blew against him, and his pale face seemed frozen, but his azure eyes stared straight ahead, saying nothing.

"Master, I've found out," a shadow emerged from the forest, handing a sealed scroll to Ed. "It's about Fatenai Wisdom."

"Oh? And who were you planning to give this to? Let me think, that foolish Morton?" Ed took the scroll, his voice unhurried, but the air around them gradually solidified as he spoke. "The word 'loyalty' suits you well, but the person you are loyal to is not me."