Turning
chapter-238

Yuder extended his hand to aid Ejain in mounting his horse, his expression carefully unread. The gaze of the young prince had settled far more calmly than when they had met moments ago. Despite still being under the shock of the sudden battle and his injuries, his composure and hardened demeanor swiftly masked his vulnerability. Truly, he was an extraordinary talent.

"I heard from His Highness the Duke... or should I say, Cavalry Commander, that your position is Assistant to the Commander?"

As Yuder contemplated this, Ejain, too, seemed to harbor a question for him.

"Yes."

"For such a young man to have already received a last name, you must be an exceptionally gifted individual."

"Not at all."

"You need not be so modest. Isn't it something to be proud of, having such exceptional abilities?"

"There are many others here who have also received a last name."

Upon hearing this casual reply, Ejain expressed surprise, as he was unaware of this. He had heard of Yuder while conversing with Kishiar, but he had not received any information about the rest of the Cavalry members.

"Then, how should I address you? Sir Aile? Assistant Aile?"

"Either way is fine. Please address me as you see fit."

In his past life, he was addressed as Commander Aile, but now, he was not the Commander of the Cavalry.

"Hmm. Then... Yuder?"

Yuder, for a moment, almost clenched the mane of his Misty Wind Horse too tightly, and glanced back. Ejain wore an innocent smile, making Yuder question if he had heard wrong.

"I want to get to know you better, since you're the one who saved my life. If it's difficult for you, just tell me."

How could he refuse when the prince himself wishes to address him so?

Moreover, Ejain was not just a prince of a minor country. If things were to go the way they did in his past life, he was to become one of the best military leaders on the continent, the sprout of an emperor, and an Awakener who would have great power. Yuder, too, did not particularly want to keep his distance from such a person.

'In order to prepare for a future that may yet again repeat itself...'

Even though Ejain from his previous life did not readily believe or assist when Yuder warned that the world was headed towards its end, he was still a person who tried to prevent his death by evaluating his abilities till the very end.

Yuder, for the first time in a while, found himself calculatingly indifferent.

"...No, either is fine with me."

"Good. Then Yuder it is."

Ejain chuckled.

"I find it rewarding to exchange conversations with the one who saved my life, thus why I switched places with Melbon."

'Switched places?'

Apparently, Ejain seemed to have developed a stronger fondness for Yuder, who had saved him. Yuder, feeling a substantial amount of pressure, was at a loss for words.

'I do question whether he would still show such fondness if I was the one who was covered in dirt... His curiosity and envy of the Awakeners are so large, it's probably why he behaves this way.'

"Yuder. Do you remember the last thing we talked about the day we first met?"

"What are you referring to?"

"That's disappointing. We promised to talk more about the Awakeners."

"Ah..."

While Ejain had indeed made a similar one-sided declaration, Yuder didn't recall making any reply to it. Yet, it seemed as though the recollection had somehow changed in Ejain's mind. Yuder remained silent, but the young prince continued regardless.

"I had planned to visit the Cavalry for sightseeing once, but an unexpected return home hindered me. You have no idea how regretful I was. But seeing we've met again like this, I guess fate is indeed fate."

"Is that so?"

"Was your presence in the imperial garden due to your assistant duties?"

Yuder paused for a moment, turning his gaze naturally to avoid being caught off guard.

"Yes, well..."

The truth was, he had stayed in the palace for a few days due to an unexpected manifestation of the second gender, but he could not openly admit that.

'I hope he doesn't ask any more about this.'

"Then, later on..."

As Ejain, oblivious to Yuder's inner thoughts, was about to continue, suddenly Kishiar's voice came from ahead.

"Prince Ejain."

His call was as gentle as always, but firm enough to interrupt the conversation.

"My adjutant has reported, as he said earlier, that the inspection of the assassins' bodies has been completed. They indeed left no significant evidence. Is it okay if we erase the traces and leave now?"

"Ah, yes, of course."

Thanks to his timely intervention, the conversation with Ejain did not continue. Yuder silently felt grateful and looked at Kishiar. As if he had been waiting for this moment, Kishiar's eyes precisely met his.

"..."

After a moment, Kishiar slightly squinted his eyes and lifted the corners of his lips, then turned his head again, so subtly that others would find it hard to notice.

'...What?'

Yuder blinked, staring blankly at him before finally realizing the meaning behind his actions. Kishiar's interruption hadn't been coincidental. He had intentionally intervened to prevent the conversation with Ejain from progressing in a direction that could be uncomfortable for Yuder.

'Ah...'

While he had been busy receiving the last reports and inspecting the site before leaving, he managed to keep track of even the small conversations here. It seemed unbelievable, but it was indeed possible for Kishiar. Nobody except Nathan Zuckerman and Yuder knew that he could read the movements of those passing outside even while lying behind closed doors.

'Did he know I was uncomfortable talking about the second gender manifestation and help me out?'

The thought made a strange surge rise from deep within his chest.

"Now, as the last member is on the horse, let's erase the traces and leave. Yuder."

"Yes."

As soon as Nathan Zuckerman, who had completed his inspection of the scene, lightly mounted the horse behind Priest Lusan, Kishiar reached out and called Yuder.

"I leave the rest to you."

"Understood."

It didn't take long to erase all traces of battle and deeply bury the bodies with his earth-moving abilities. Yuder accomplished all this in an instant without moving a single finger.

As the trembling ground swallowed the bodies of the monsters and assassins, pulling them deep beneath the surface and smoothly flattening out, the people from Nelarn let out a mixed gasp of fear and admiration.

"Whew..."

Later, if someone came here and tried to dig up any traces, it would be almost impossible to find the deeply buried bodies with human strength. Yuder checked that the ground, previously torn up by the aftermath of the battle, had been neatly restored and then withdrew his power.

"It's done."

"Good."

Kishiar, after a quick survey of the surroundings, nodded in satisfaction.

"Let's move out now. It looks like it might rain on the way, so everyone, be careful."

The Misty Wind Horse that Nathan, who was leading the other horses, rode stood at the forefront, followed immediately by the one Kishiar was on. Yuder, being with Prince Ejain, who was the most important person in this mission, maintained a position that did not deviate from the center, keeping a lookout around them.

The Misty Wind Horses quickly moved away from the land where the battle had taken place, advancing without hesitation. The long hair of Prince Ejain, who was sitting behind Yuder, occasionally brushed against the side of his face.

"Speaking of which..."

After a long silence, Prince Ejain suddenly murmured from behind.

"Wasn't your ability to fly? Melbon said so."

"…I don't have the ability to fly. It seems you felt that way seeing me treading the air using the wind."

"Wind?"

Prince Ejain, after a brief counter-question, fell silent for a moment, then let out a voice unable to hide his astonishment.

"So does that mean… you have more than one ability?"

"Yes."

It was okay to say this much, as he would eventually see Yuder using his powers while carrying out this mission. Besides controlling wind and earth, he could freely handle four elements, including fire and water, and there were several other peculiarities, but Yuder did not initially mention them in detail.

"It takes decades of training for mages to properly control a single attribute… It's incredibly hard to believe. Is it common among the Awakeners?"

"Unlike mages, it's hard to think the same, but even here, it won't be too common."

"I see. Right……"

At the time, there were hardly any people in the Cavalry who could use multiple abilities. Yuder was the only one who could handle several natural attributes. However, he knew this wouldn't always be the case.

As time passed, some would develop the abilities they initially possessed, gaining new power that seemed completely different from before. There would also be Awakeners who were born with more than one power.

And Prince Ejain, who was expressing his astonishment at Yuder's abilities from behind him, was one such Awakener in his previous life.

'The silver king followed by six stars. Guardian of the barrier.'

Yuder recalled Ejain's nickname from his past life and then erased it from his mind.

"…"

Prince Ejain was silent for a while. He spoke again when Yuder used his power to gently bend the rough branches that could hit their faces while rushing through the forest, like drawing a curtain aside.

"...I had been curious about the Cavalry before coming to the empire, but seeing and hearing directly, it feels like the information I had was an understatement."

The sigh Prince Ejain breathed out rang long in Yuder's ears.

"The more I know, the more I realize how remarkable it is."