Truth Weavers

Chapter 14

Translator: Lizz

Finally freed from the bone-chilling cold that seemed to freeze even the heart, vibrant green began to settle in the fields. Though the air was still chilly, life was sprouting in the small field, signaling the arrival of spring. Of course, in Lille, near the Sera Mountains, even though the calendar declared spring, the cold remained relentless for quite some time.

At this time every year, small spherical leafy vegetables, no larger than the palm of a hand, were harvested. As expected, the yield wasn’t particularly great, but it was just enough to add a little freshness to the dining table, which had been filled with nothing but preserved food for too long.

As Leon reached out to pick two or three more, his hand suddenly stopped midway. He felt a stiffness in his fingers, as if his grasp on the plant wasn’t quite right. A chill ran down his spine. But he quickly reasoned that it must be the cold air. In his home, which was little more than a hut with no decent heating, winter always made his body feel like a worn-out piece of ironwork.

“Your hair is caught in the branches.”

A voice called out from behind, and as Leon instinctively tried to turn around, he felt a sharp tug at the back of his head.

“I told you, just stay still. I’ll get it out for you.”

At the edge of his vision, he caught sight of Nia, wrapped in a well-worn but sturdy cape. Her hand reached out, and as he felt his hair being pulled, there was a dry rustling sound. In the next moment, his head was freed. He thanked her and stood up, bringing his tied-up hair forward. Leaves and small twigs had become tangled in it, and he started picking them out one by one.

“You don’t even take care of it properly. Why don’t you just cut it?”

At Nia’s words, Leon responded with a vague smile.

He didn’t intend to grow it out; he was simply afraid to cut it. Not just his hair, but his nails too. The thought of any part of his body being damaged, in any way, filled him with an unbearable fear. At present, he felt like water poured to the brim of a small vessel; if he lost even the slightest balance, he might spill over completely. Even the smallest cut, the tiniest injury, felt as though it could shatter the fragile equilibrium of his weak and brittle guiding vein.

He knew it was just a delusion. No matter how weak a guiding vein might be, he’d never heard of them breaking from something so trivial. The only cases he’d heard of where magic became unusable were due to either the structural collapse of the guiding vein from overuse or the simple decline of the body and mind.

Most likely, it was the creeping presence of age that had made his nerves overly sensitive, or so Leon had concluded. If he were to say such a thing aloud, someone like Gateau, who was the same age as him, would surely scoff in exasperation: ‘If you’re calling yourself an old man, then that makes me one too.’ By most standards, people in their thirties were still in their prime. But for Leon, even the smallest changes in his body filled him with an inexplicable dread.

He couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had changed compared to a few years ago. But when he realized that an illness that used to heal in a day now lingered for three or four, or when he found himself needing to take a short break halfway up a hill he once climbed effortlessly, he noticed the differences in every passing moment of daily life. Even without consciously thinking about it, he had come to understand that he was undeniably aging. And ever since that realization, the long-standing anxiety he’d carried had only intensified. He’d never possessed exceptional talent to begin with; would he still be able to maintain his magical abilities ten or twenty years from now? Or would his power fade away far sooner than other mages, vanishing all at once…?

So far, his daily magic training remained unaffected by age, or so it seemed. But there was no guarantee that he would be able to perform the same way tomorrow. No, perhaps he simply hadn’t noticed it yet. Maybe the decline had already begun, and one day, in the near future, he would suddenly realize it and be struck with overwhelming despair-.

“Leon?”

“…No, it’s nothing. Did you bring bread?”

“Yeah. …And, have you heard about that?”

“The northern region?”

Nia’s expression darkened as she nodded.

Lille was located in the northern part of Lavarta, but among the citizens, the term ‘northern region’ carried two distinct meanings. One referred to the literal northern half of Lavarta’s territory, while the other meant Cadenza, a foreign land that hadn’t originally belonged to Lavarta. The latter meaning carried a subtle tone of disdain, as was often the case. Especially for those living in towns near Cadenza, there was lingering resentment. Cadenza had once been a poor, small village, but thanks to its mineral veins, it had suddenly prospered; perhaps jealousy played a role in how others viewed it. When the village’s resources began to dwindle and its decline started, many likely felt a sense of satisfaction. And now, after the place had risen through violence, their hatred toward Cadenza had only deepened.

The news that the people of Cadenza had finally erupted after years of pent-up frustration had already reached the rural village of Lille. Among those branded as rebels by the kingdom were some of his apprentice Zechs’ comrades.

“If the fighting intensifies, will they start drafting soldiers from around here too? I heard the King thinks it’s faster to gather troops from northern towns and villages rather than sending Rhiannon’s knights. Is that true?”

As Leon looked at the girl gazing up at him with anxious eyes, he frowned slightly. The rumors had been circulating for some time, and it was true that such speculation existed. She had likely overheard thoughtless adults discussing it.

Conscription was carried out at the village or town level, with a set number of recruits determined based on the population of eligible individuals. In a small village like Lille, the number was relatively low, but when the call came, those most likely to be chosen are people like Bender, those who weren’t originally from this land but moved here from elsewhere. Nia was probably worried about her father and younger brother. She should be turning eighteen this year, and if he remembered correctly, her brother was one or two years younger than her, fifteen or sixteen. If the war dragged on, he might be sent to the battlefield.

Her concerns were not unfounded. That was why offering empty words of comfort felt inappropriate.

“I’ve heard that rumor too.”

Nia’s eyes wavered. Leon felt a pang of helplessness; he had watched over this girl since she was a child, yet he lacked the power to reassure her.

“I don’t know enough about the situation to say for sure, but Cadenza doesn’t have a large population, and given its geography, supplying resources won’t be easy. I don’t think they can drag this out for too long…”

But when people’s lives and pride were at stake, surrender didn’t come easily. Even if only one remained, they might continue to resist. If that happened, completely suppressing them would be difficult.

Right now, all they could do was pray for a swift resolution. But that wasn’t something he could say to Nia.

A stiff silence settled between them. Perhaps wanting to break the heavy atmosphere, Nia let out a small smile and held out a basket of bread.

“Summer is coming, so at least we won’t have to worry about the cold anymore. Or… is Cadenza cold even in summer?”

“I’ve heard that the temperature difference between day and night in the mountains can be extreme.”

As he accepted the faintly warm basket, he spoke.

“Then, I should buy Father a new coat. His old one got worn out this winter.”

Seeing the girl face reality head-on rather than running from it, his chest ached.

“Just because it’s getting warmer, don’t let your guard down,” Nia reminded him before turning on her heel. As if living alone had drained him, Leon had fallen ill several times this winter, and each time, Nia had taken care of him.

As he watched her bouncing figure disappear, he noticed another familiar presence approaching, someone a head taller than Nia.

Compared to Nia, who wore only a single cape for warmth, Gateau was wrapped in a thick coat that reached his knees. He hunched his shoulders against the biting wind, nodding in greeting as he passed the girl. It was probably too cold to even raise a hand in greeting. On the battlefield, he probably wouldn’t have the luxury to notice such concerns, but this knight was surprisingly weak against the cold. Perhaps it was only natural; after all, he was originally from the south.

“Every time I come here at this time of year, I feel like Lille has been forgotten by the goddess of spring.”

At his friend’s immediate complaint, Leon laughed and gestured for him to come inside. Since he had been conserving firewood, the warmth inside wasn’t enough to completely thaw a frozen body, but at least it was noticeably better than being exposed to the wind.

“There are early spring vegetables growing, at least.”

“You’re kidding. I passed frozen roads on my way here. No, I bet in the north, not just humans but even plants have developed resistance to the cold.”

“Is it already spring in Rhiannon?”

Leon had never been there, so he couldn’t picture what the town was like. But he knew that compared to Daza, it was far larger and had a much milder climate.

Leon had muttered the name of the town absentmindedly, but Gateau didn’t respond. Whatever thoughts crossed his mind, he kept them to himself. Instead, he spoke in a playful tone.

“I came to say goodbye for a while.”

“And I’ve heard nothing from you all winter too.”

Leon replied in the same lighthearted manner, though he understood the true meaning behind those words.

“That’s true, but for those who don’t live here, traveling all the way to this place makes the cold feel even worse.”

“I’m not blaming you. So, if you braved the cold to come here, does that mean it’s finally time?”

‘Yeah,’ Gato nodded casually. His expression didn’t seem particularly serious, but Leon knew that this was always how he acted before heading off on a mission; it was impossible to gauge the gravity of the situation just by looking at his friend’s face.

“Until things settle down over there, I probably won’t be able to wander around too much. Ugh, what a hassle.”

“Honestly, I don’t think a knight should be wandering around so much in the first place.”

“By the way, Leon, why don’t you come stay at my place?”

The offer was sudden, leaving Leon momentarily at a loss for words.

To be fair, this wasn’t the first time Gateau had brought up the idea. In fact, it had almost become a yearly ritual – he would bring it up at least once before winter arrived. There were even times when he had been completely serious about it, especially right after Leon’s apprentice had left in what felt like a bitter fallout. But this time, things were a little different.

“My older brother took over the family home long ago, and the place I live now is in a quiet part of town, so there’s no need to worry about inconveniencing anyone. I don’t employ many people, and from my attendants to my servants, they’re all well aware of my eccentricities, and have long since given up trying to change me. So, having one more mage in the house wouldn’t make a difference.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

Leon wanted to ask if that was really okay, but that wasn’t the issue at hand.

“I like this village, and I think the people of Lille are generally good-natured. But you, more than anyone, know that no matter how kind people may be, they aren’t always tolerant when faced with certain situations.”

Gateau spoke with a graver expression than when he had acknowledged the war in the north.

From his words, it was clear that this war wouldn’t end so easily. If the conflict dragged on, not only would villagers be conscripted, but supplies would also dwindle, and unease would spread among the people. Naturally, the frustration of an oppressed populace would find an outlet, and it was only logical that it would be directed at the village’s parasite.

“I appreciate your concern.”

“But you’re not going to accept, are you?”

Leon simply shrugged.

The last time Gateau had invited him, it had been out of worry, when Leon had been on the verge of reckless despair. This time, however, he was concerned for Leon’s life.

“Why are you so attached to this village? Is it because of your debt to Master Ceres?”

Leon thought about it for a moment. If he claimed it had nothing to do with it, that would be a lie. This village was the place Ceres had given him, a place to live. Abandoning it so easily felt like it would be a betrayal of her expectations. Though, in reality, that indifferent old woman probably wouldn’t care at all.

“I don’t think I’m particularly attached to Lille. I just don’t feel like I could survive anywhere else.”

He didn’t have the skills to open a private school in a big town, nor could he join a Guild. Of course, even in Lille, his work was practically nonexistent these days.

“That’s why I keep telling you, you should come stay at my place.”

“I can’t do that.”

Leon refused firmly, ignoring the way Gateau frowned at him.

Indeed, if he accepted his friend’s offer, he might be able to live without hardship. But once he placed himself under Gateau’s protection, he would never again be able to see their relationship as one between equals. More than anything, how could someone who couldn’t even protect himself ever hope to accomplish anything for another?

To outsiders, his reasoning might seem foolish, something to be mocked. But to Leon, this was the very meaning of his existence.

“If things get truly dangerous, I’ll leave the village right away.”

He smiled faintly at Gateau’s grim expression. Then, before his friend could say anything, he laughed louder, deliberately cutting off whatever words were about to come. He even threw in a playful wink.

“Don’t worry. I may not look it, but I’m far too stubborn to die so easily.”