The creaking wooden wheels trembled gently to the rhythm of hoofbeats. The lingering scent of floral mist hung in the air, mingled with a barely perceptible trace of medicinal herbs.
Inside the carriage, Leichir leaned against the wall, wrapped in a thick gray-blue cloak.
His face was still frighteningly pale, and cold sweat clung to his temples, but his eyes were much clearer than when he had first awakened.
Louis watched him for a while before speaking softly. "Can you tell me... what exactly happened?"
Leichir's lashes fluttered. He slowly raised himself, struggling into a seated position against the wall.
He did not answer immediately. Instead, he gazed at the fabric canopy overhead, as though weighing his words.
Should I tell him?
Should I... conceal my identity?
"You don't have to force yourself." Louis looked at him without any pressure in his eyes, only a curious hint of sincerity.
"Still, this happened near my territory. I have a responsibility to know what you encountered, so I can take precautions."
Leichir looked into those eyes. The black-haired youth sat upright on the other side of the carriage, concern plainly visible on his face, yet his manner remained composed and politely restrained.
That demeanor finally prompted Leichir to speak softly after a long silence.
"I... am a mage," he said very quietly.
"I was ordered to investigate some... unusual signs around here. But I never expected... our squad to be attacked in the nearby forest."
Louis's expression shifted slightly, as if a particular word had struck a nerve. His eyes widened in "surprise." "Wait... did you say you're... a mage?"
When Leichir uttered that word, Louis gave the most natural reaction imaginable.
Shock, confusion, followed by undisguised awe and longing.
He acted so well that he almost fooled himself.
Seeing his astonishment,