Chương 62: Valir's Crescent

"There are no Veils beyond Aldwyn."

"What?" Lamb was the first to react, but no one said anything else after that and just waited for Bernard to say anything else. But he just sat there, staring at the fire first before looking toward the dark sea. Guinevere looked at the others first, then turned a page in her book and asked, "How do you know that?" Bernard looked at her, then lowered his eyes.

"I left Aldwyn once. A long time ago." The fire crackled between them. And surprisingly, the one who looked most anxious to ask something was Nine. He stared at Bernard for a few seconds, but then looked away. And the one to ultimately break the silence between them was Enel.

"What is outside Aldwyn?" he asked. He wanted to ask Tommen that very same question back in Crown's Guild several months ago. But… the mood did not really seem right for it. Bernard looked toward the sea again.

"Other realms, smaller, larger… stranger. Kingdoms where the roads are wider than rivers, and cities are built on water."

"But no Veil?" Enel asked.

"No." Bernard shook his head.

"But it does not mean that life outside Aldwyn is better. There are monsters out there, too. Wars, hunger… men bring cruelty with them wherever they go. But yes, there is no Veil beyond these shores." Guinevere stopped writing for a moment.

"The Veil not being elsewhere. Why is this not more known? Or in books?"

"Because people leave Aldwyn more often than they enter it," Bernard whispered, lowering his eyes even further.

"And those who return… are simply too tired." The beach once again became quiet after that. Enel stood and walked closer to the shore, letting the waves crawl toward his feet again. He looked at the horizon, not truly knowing where it was as the stars covered and glittered everything. Above and below, an endless number of stars.

"How large is the world," he whispered, "for our troubles to be so small in it?" The others heard him, but no one answered. Even Lamb stayed quiet as that question fully ended their very long day. They all slept soon after, perhaps the best they ever had since leaving Widow's Wall a month ago. The sea… was calming. The next day, the cart continued north along the coast road. Nine sat near the front this time, shoulders stiff as he pointed Bernard through a road that no longer appeared on Guinevere's map.

Lamb just chose to sleep, and even Tiny was sprawled on top of a sack of food, his head bouncing each time the wheel struck a stone. Guinevere was awake. She sat beside Enel, her book open on her lap, once again drawing something. Enel watched in silence for a while before leaning closer.

"That does not look like any map I know."

"It is not a map of Aldwyn," Guinevere said.

"What is it?"

"The World. Or as much of it as I remember," Guinevere showed the map closer to him.

"I saw it from a map during an auction. Father brought my brothers and me once when I was younger."

"Did your father buy it?"

"No. He tried to bid, but an envoy of the royal family won in the end."

"And you remembered it?"

"Only the shape of it."

"That… is impressive." Enel looked back at the page. His eyes moved across the large lands first, then toward the smallest island, where Guinevere had drawn the most detail.

"This one is…"

"Aldwyn." Enel stared at it, then at the rest of the map.

"That is Aldwyn?"

"Yes."

"Why is it so small?"

"I do not know. But it was." Enel leaned closer, blinking several times as he could not believe Aldwyn could be that small. Then, after a moment, his finger moved toward the largest land drawn nearest to Aldwyn.

"And this?"

"Father said that is where the dragons came from."

"Dragons…" Enel looked at it for a long moment.

"Aldwyn killed the last of them, right?"

"Yes." This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"That… is quite sad." Guinevere looked at him.

"Most people would not say that."

"I have never met a dragon," Enel said.

"But I heard from mother that they are similar to spirits. Perhaps… they can be kind?"

"They burned cities, my lord. That would make them more akin to feralfolk and monsters."

"Hm. Perhaps not, then?"

"Perhaps not."

"Huh…" Enel looked toward the sky, then back at the map.

"But what if dragons could carry people through the air? Then perhaps you can steer the flying ship you wanted to make with them, like horses." Guinevere stared at him, then she looked down and started writing very quickly. Enel blinked.

"My lady?" She did not answer. He watched her for a few seconds to see if she would still like to talk, then wisely sat back when he realized she was already lost in her own world. The journey continued. The coast slowly turned away from the road, and the land grew drier. The sand was replaced by a field of grass, and hills surrounded them on both sides from afar. And by the third day, the path Nine led them through turned into a paved road.

"Whoa…" Tiny leaned over the cart.

"This is what they are trying to do with Widow's Wall, right. M'lord?"

"... Yes." Enel nodded, then turned to where the road was leading.

"There," Nine said. And there, ahead of them, was a giant gate made of iron. The walls on its side were attached to hills that seemed to be connected to the mountain behind it.

"That… is not on your map?" Lamb glanced at Guinevere. Guinevere did not really answer and only watched as the gate drew closer and closer. The walls were not as tall as the ones on Widow's Wall, but the gate was massive now that they were right in front of it. But then, for a gate as grand as it was… only two people stood by the gate. And they were not even wearing armor, just clean white robes tied at the waist with rope. One of them raised his hand, stepping forward as the cart stopped.

"Who—Acolyte," the man gasped upon seeing Nine. Then he and his companion bowed. Nine sat straighter, clearing his throat as he looked at the two men.

"I bring seekers who wish to see the truth of the Veil." The two gatekeepers looked at Enel, then Guinevere, then the others. Their eyes paused on Lamb's sword, but only briefly. And the gate soon opened after that. Bernard guided the cart forward, and as soon as they passed through the gate, all of them went quiet. The so-called sanctuary was smaller than Widow's Wall, but… much brighter. The houses were made of pale brick with painted shutters and tiled roofs.

Water ran through narrow stone channels beside the road, clear enough to reflect the sky. Gardens filled the spaces between houses, and flowers hung from windows. But most importantly, children ran through the streets. Dozens of them, and not a single one looked gaunt at all. Enel's hand slowly closed around the side of the cart. Tiny swallowed.

"This place looks better than Widow's Wall." Lamb glared at him.

"What?" Tiny whispered.

"It does." Guinevere did not speak. Her eyes moved everywhere, studying the water channels and the road that led straight to the mountain ahead. They stopped wandering, however, as she saw the end of the road. Two stone pillars rose before the mountain, and between them was the mouth of what looked like a large cave. And inside it, thick fog. Lamb's eyes widened as she noticed it, too.

"That is the Veil?"

"Yes," Nine said, stepping down from the cart.

"Valir's gift to us." Before Lamb could answer that, a man in white robes approached them with both arms spread wide. His face was incredibly full and heavy, with a smile that made his cheeks rise. And like most of the children, a crown of small white flowers rested on his head.

"Esteemed acolyte," the man said warmly as he looked at Nine.

"You return with guests." Nine bowed his head.

"Seekers of truth, Brother Hadd. And perhaps supporters and future brothers and sisters."

"Supporters are always welcome." Hadd turned to Enel and the others, bowing deeply.

"Welcome to Valir's Crescent. May the Veil open your eyes and quiet your suffering. I am Hadd." Enel stepped down from the cart and bowed his head in return.

"Good day to you. I am Enel of House—" Tiny moved between them before Enel could fully introduce himself.

"His Lordship, Enel of House Whitewood."

"House Whitewood?" Hadd's smile widened.

"A noble house. Blessed indeed."

"Yes…" Enel squinted, his words slowing as he stared at Tiny. But soon enough, he stood up straight and motioned to Guinevere.

"This is Lady Guinevere of House… Sky…horse."

"Sky… horse?" Hadd slowly looked at Guinevere.

"Yes. She is my betrothed," Enel quickly continued.

"Then that is Lamb, our hired brute. Tiny, my Hand. And Sir Bernard, our cartman." Bernard bowed, and Hadd's eyes lingered on him for a breath, then moved on. He clasped his hands together, then turned his focus back to Nine.

"Acolyte Nineteen. Please, you must rest—I have wasted your precious time already." And Nine did not waste any time at all and walked away, not even looking back. Lamb watched him go.

"Did he just leave without saying farewell?" Tiny crossed his arms.

"Why would he not? You scared him for three days."

"I did not."

"You scared him just by you breathing close to him."

"I am jealous." Hadd laughed softly.

"You have grown close with Acolyte Nineteen during your travel."

"Nine… teen? Why do you say it like that?" Lamb squinted.

"Whatever do you mean?" Hadd blinked, then moved to the side as he looked at Lamb's sword.

"You must all be tired from the road. Please, leave your weapons on the cart. No one will take them here." Lamb raised an eyebrow at that, and he glanced back at Enel, who nodded in response. And although hesitant, Lamb clicked her tongue and placed her sword on the cart. Enel followed, and then Tiny. He sighed heavily, and then began pulling… numerous daggers from his clothes. There was one from his sleeve, then his boot, then from the back of his belt. Lamb stared at him.

"I… did not even know you brought a weapon. How many do you even have?"

"This is the last one." Tiny placed another dagger on the cart. But as Hadd turned to speak with Enel, Tiny's fingers moved, and one of the smaller daggers slipped back into his sleeve. Lamb noticed that, and Tiny noticed that she noticed. …And the two only grinned. Hadd turned back around, the smile on his face now even more welcoming.

"Please. We have food prepared for guests."

"You… do seem to have a lot of food here," Tiny said while staring at Hadd's… shape.

"You are not suffering from the Veil?" Hadd looked genuinely confused.

"Why would we suffer?" Tiny glanced toward the cave.

"Well, the Veil is—""The Veil provides," Hadd said.

"Come. Come! I will tell you more about our community while we eat. I am quite famished, too."

"... You are?" Hadd led them deeper into the sanctuary. People greeted him as they passed, while some bowed to Enel and Guinevere when they saw their clothes. Others smiled at Lamb and Tiny, though Lamb's attempt at smiling back made several of those smiles disappear quickly. …And there truly were so many children. Enel could not help but stare at them playing. Most of them were humos, then kaniin, and then hiskers, and even the rare orgens were there, too, flapping their little wings. Hadd noticed him looking.

"The most beautiful of all Valir's gifts. Come. You wish to learn more about our lord, do you not?"

"We wish to learn about the Veil," Enel said. Hadd looked at him, still smiling.

"Yes," he said.

"Valir."

"I suppose. If it would help us learn more about the Veil."

"I do not see why not?" Hadd chuckled.

"The Veil is Valir. His body, and he lives through it. If only you had come two full moons earlier, you could have asked him yourself."

"We have not yet—Huh…?" Not only Enel, but the rest of the party stopped walking as soon as they heard that.

"You… have met Valir?" Enel blinked.

"Why, of course?" Hadd also blinked.

"Unlike the Sovereign and the Earthmother, our god actually shows himself and answers our prayers."

"You… have spoken to a god?"

"Of course. He visits us every year."