Tangled By Fate

"Sebastian, you are hurt."

Ironin's remark made everyone pay attention to Sebastian.

"Let me see," Catherine came forward and scanned him up and down.

"I'm fine. Don't bother."

Sebastian tried to push her away but she didn't budge.

"You hurt your shoulder." Catherine looked at Veronica. "Ver, can you heal him?"

"You don't have to ask," Veronica said.

"No, Mistress, I can't let you do that," Sebastian firmly stated.

"Sebastian, stay still. That's an order," Veronica commanded.

"But Mistress, it's just a scratch."

Sebastian helplessly stated as he stepped away from Veronica. He lowered his head. He couldn't look at Veronica or others.

Despite understanding that he was embarrassed to show his wound, Veronica said, "I don't know if I don't see it."

She stubbornly examined his injury. What he said wasn't wrong.

It was only a scratch. There was a thin red line. He wasn't bleeding.

As for how Ironin noticed his tiny injury, Veronica had no clue.

In the end, she only used her power a little to heal that scratch.

Later, they shared the remaining meat they had for lunch.

"Thank goodness we saved some meat for later or we would have been starving right now," Catherine said as she munched.

"It's because you didn't eat enough for breakfast," Veronica commented. "The meat you are having now is your share."

"That's true," Merlin agreed. "Thanks to Lady Catherine we are able to share this with everyone. Thank you."

"I'm glad we had enough to share. Do you guys want more?" Catherine asked while looking at them. She didn't forget to steal a glance at Sebastian.

While Ironin was rowing the boat, Sebastian was lying in the corner and sleeping.

He was sleeping so soundly that Catherine's intentionally loud voice didn't reach him.

Seeing that he didn't move even a millimeter, she snorted.

'It's not that I wanted to share my food with him or anything. Even if he wanted some, I wouldn't have given my portion. Hmph!'

Although she thought so, she couldn't help but take a glance at him.

Just looking at his peaceful slumber, she also started feeling drowsy.

As she yawned, Veronica told her, "Get some sleep. I'll wake you up when we reach the land. It'll take another few hours."

"Please do. I'll take a nap then."

After that, Catherine washed her hand in the river water.

The boat could accommodate them. It was big enough for them to sleep in.

Without a worry, Catherine lay down in an empty area and tried to take a nap.

"Ironin, do you want me to help you row the boat? " Veronica asked.

"I can handle it," Ironin replied.

"No, no, let me help. I can row the boat for an hour or two," Merlin said.

He was a bit ashamed that he didn't ask Ironin sooner than Veronica. After all, Veronica was the Mistress of the Magic Tower whom he, a magician, served.

Ironin narrowed his eyes. "It's a boat carrying six people."

Merlin gulped and said nothing more. Even he knew he wasn't powerful enough to row that heavy boat for hours.

"Take a nape, Merlin," Veronica said. "I'll wake you up in two hours. Then, I'll be the one who's going to take a nap."

"No, no, I can't do that, Milady," Merlin immediately disagreed. "You need more rest than I do."

"You haven't slept properly the last two days," Veronica offered logic. "At this rate, you will collapse before we reach the desert. Unlike you, I've rested properly and I have more energy."

"...Yes, Milady," in the end, Merlin reluctantly agreed.

After Merlin lay down beside Sebastian, Veronica sat beside Ironin.

She stared at the sky. The sun was setting. Orange and yellow hues touched the burning red. It looked like the sky was burning.

"Too much blood was shed today," she muttered.

"The elves taught you well," Ironin commented.

Veronica smiled.

"They did. Who taught you?" asking she looked at him.

Her question reminded Ironin of his past.

when he was a child, he ran away from home, acting all rebellious. However, he went to an unknown territory in a fit of anger and got lost.

He starved for three days until passed out. The next thing he saw after waking up was a fire.

He didn't have any strength left. As a spoiled young master of a noble family, he wasn't cut out for this kind of place.

Still, his will to survive made him stand up. He looked around. With a dizzy head, he noticed that he was in a cave and an old man was sitting in the corner.

That was how he met his master.

the guy wouldn't give him food or water unless e listened to him. He also taught him how to survive in the woods and desert.

A month later, Ironin went back to his home turning a new leaf.

When he reached home, he found people mourning for him.

His mother was ill in bed thinking her beloved son was dead. His father stopped taking care of their territories in the agony of losing his one and only heir.

After everyone found out that he was alive, they cheered and the castle brightened up in happiness.

Everybody was surprised, noticing how much he changed. He turned into a completely different person.

His parents asked him in concern about what he had faced when he was gone. He told them everything.

His father investigated the man and found out that the old man was the previous general serving their late king. He retired after the previous king died and went to travel the world.

Later, his parents decided to make that old guy their son's master.

The old man flatly refused. He didn't want to stay in the castle and live among people.

Thus, Ironin had to go to him and stay with him for months to be taught swordsmanship among other things.

"This is brilliant, Ironin!" Veronica was impressed.

"I didn't know you were a rebellious child though. I can't imagine you acting like a spoiled brat. Now I'm curious how you looked when you were a child."

she giggled as she tried to imagine.

Ironin frowned. he didn't like people teasing him. But, he couldn't glare at her.

When he tried to, the moment his eyes landed on her pure frame, his gaze softened.

She reminded him of his wife.

"I looked ugly," he commented.

"I doubt that." Veronica couldn't believe him.

The atmosphere around them was harmonious. They sat next to each other and talked in a low tone.

So, the boatman who was sitting on the other side couldn't hear what they were talking about.

"Are you two lovers?" the boatman suddenly asked.

"What?" Veronica was surprised by the question.

"No," Ironin curtly answered.

The boatman chuckled. "You don't have to be so guarded around me. I can smell romance from a thousand miles."

"...I see..." Veronica forced a smile.

Hours passed while they talked. They were surrounded by darkness. Soon, stars popped out and twinkled. The north star appeared among them.

The boatman lit up a candle.

However, it looked more dangerous as they were in the wooden boat and water surrounded them.

Thus, Veronica used a magic stone she brought with her to light up the area.

"It's time to wake them up," Ironin commented.

"Okay..." Veronica stood up and walked toward Catherine, Sebastian and Ironin.

"Everyone, wake up. We have reached the land."

Catherine and Merlin woke up rubbing their eyes and stretching their hands.

"It's night already?" Catherine yawned. She looked at Sebastian and asked, "Why isn't he up yet?"

"Strange, I called him several times. Is he that tired?" Veronica was surprised.

Ironin sharply looked at Sebastian.

"Sebastian!"

He loudly called out but there was no answer. Sebastian didn't move.

The boat reached the dock. The boatman tied the rope with a wooden pillar attached to the dock.

Ironin strode toward Sebastian and jerked his body.

The thing he feared became true.

Sebastian's lifeless body was lying in front of them.