He Xi's Friend

He Xi's heart stirred.

He hadn't expected Isla to specifically catch up to ask about this.

Although he was still struggling in this quagmire himself, he instinctively didn't want to drag this kindhearted girl into his troubles.

"There is such a thing." He tried to keep his tone light. "But don't worry, I'm working on a solution."

Isla clearly wasn't so easy to fool.

She had tossed and turned over it all night yesterday.

"What solution?"

"Well..." He Xi hedged, trying to change the subject. "The power of the curse isn't actually as terrifying as you think. Look, aren't I perfectly fine right now? As for the specific way to deal with it... I'm still figuring it out. I'll tell you once I'm sure."

Isla's gaze swept over his frail body, her suspicion practically written across her face.

But seeing that He Xi was unwilling to say more, she couldn't press him further.

"I might not be able to help you much right now..." she said dejectedly. "But Saint Veronica has many powerful priests and Temple Knights. I was originally going to ask what kind of curse you had. Once I get there, I can help you ask around."

Help me?

A brilliant idea flashed through his mind!

"Isla!" His eyes lit up. "You can help me! Really!"

Isla's beautiful eyes instantly widened in confusion. "Me? How?"

"It's like this." He Xi gathered his thoughts. "The reason I wanted to start training again was actually for a friend of mine.

He really wants to learn knightly skills. I originally planned to learn them myself and then teach him, but... as you can see, even if I barely manage to learn them, I definitely won't be able to teach them well.

If possible, could you teach him?"

"Teach... your friend?" Isla struggled to follow his train of thought. "I can, but... what does that have to do with your curse?"

"It does!" He Xi said firmly. Of course, he couldn't explain the existence of the mysterious orb, so he could only invoke the old "it's a secret" method again. "Trust me, Isla. This is extremely important to me."

Seeing that He Xi stubbornly refused to tell her the truth, Isla felt a little sulky again.

Why wouldn't this guy tell her anything?

When they trained together before, he had clearly been so obedient. If he made a move wrong, he would meekly let her correct him.

But now, he was like a completely different person! First the hair tie, then boldly asking her to dance at the ball, and now acting all mysterious...

Could it be... that he had finally come around?

At that thought, a faint blush quietly crept across Isla's cheeks again.

But she didn't have much time left in Plint, so Isla took a deep breath and suppressed the awkwardness in her heart. "Then... all right. I believe you. Where is your friend? Shall we start now?"

"Great!" He Xi breathed a sigh of relief. "Wait here for a moment! I'll go get Bruce! He knows the way!"

He needed Bruce to run ahead and give Tuen a heads-up.

Their stories had to match. They would say Tuen had been able to speak from birth, or it would be hard to explain if Isla asked.

In this world, powerful magical beasts being able to speak wasn't exactly something earth-shattering, right?

Along the forest path, sunlight filtered through sparse branches and leaves, scattering mottled patches of light.

Isla followed behind He Xi and Bruce, curiously looking around.

"He Xi, your friend... lives in these woods?"

As Isla followed behind He Xi, she looked at the bleak trees around them, her heart filled with doubt.

Though she knew there were no dangerous magical beasts in this forest, what kind of person would choose to live here?

"He's rather special," He Xi replied vaguely. "Just follow Bruce."

Bruce seemed to have caught a definite scent. He suddenly sped up and vanished into the dense woods ahead.

They walked a little farther.

Isla's footsteps abruptly halted.

She saw it.

In a clearing among the trees ahead stood a yellowish-brown figure.

It was a bear!

An Earth Bear standing upright, awkwardly waving at her?!

Though it appeared to still be in its juvenile stage, the innate powerful pressure it radiated made Isla's hairs stand on end!

"Careful!" Isla barked in a low voice. Almost instinctively, she stepped forward and shielded He Xi behind her!

Her Right Hand swiftly pressed against the hilt of her sword! Her eyes, sharp as an eagle's, locked tightly onto the bear!

Yet beneath her uncertain, startled gaze—

The Earth Bear gently placed its left paw over its chest, then... bowed slightly.

"Hey... hewwo!"

Tuen tried hard to force out a friendly smile, only to reveal a mouthful of gleaming, razor-sharp teeth.

Isla: "..."

Her hand froze around the sword hilt, and her entire body turned to stone where she stood.

He Xi regretted it a little.

He hurried forward and supported Isla, who had staggered half a step back in fright, her face pale.

How had he ever thought it was a good idea to send a dog to coordinate stories with a bear?

"Isla," He Xi quickly explained, "Tuen is an Earth Bear, but he means no harm to humans! Really! He's my friend!"

"An Earth Bear?" Isla took several deep breaths and forced herself to calm down.

But the lingering shock in her eyes gradually gave way to incredulous confusion.

She had heard of these powerful earth-element magical beasts and knew they were relatively gentle, but she had never imagined they could be so... polite.

She had especially never expected He Xi's "friend" to be one! And living in the woods outside Plint Town, no less!

Tuen had clearly realized that his earlier "greeting" had frightened her. His massive body shrank back slightly, and an uneasy rumble rose from his throat. He tried to speak again, but his pronunciation became even more muddled.

"Hewwo... I... I... y-yoo..."

This clumsy yet earnest appearance, paired with his enormous body, made Isla burst out laughing.

Seeing Isla laugh, the rumble in Tuen's throat became lighter. He awkwardly swayed his huge head, as though expressing goodwill.

The atmosphere finally eased.

He Xi seized the chance to say, "Tuen, this is my friend Isla. She's a very impressive knight! Haven't you always admired knights?"

Tuen's eyes instantly lit up as he stared intently at Isla. "Y-you're a knight?"

"Yes, Tuen. I am Squire Isla," Isla answered solemnly.

[Earth Bear Tuen's favorability toward you has increased. Parsing Points +20]

He Xi pressed on and raised the crucial question. "Tuen, would you be interested in becoming a knight? Like Holy Knight Roland, the knight you admire most?"

Tuen's huge body suddenly trembled.

"Me? Become a knight?" He had never considered that question. Though he had been born with great strength, becoming a knight? That seemed like a path meant only for humans.

"I... I'm a bear... an Earth Bear... Can... can I become a knight?"

Isla keenly caught the confusion in Tuen's eyes, along with the fleeting longing that flashed deep within them.

She asked, "Tuen, can you tell me why you like Knight Roland?"

At Isla's question, Tuen fell silent.

He sank into his memories, and mist welled up in his brown eyes.