Early in the morning, we prepared to embark on our journey to Winterland. Despite indulging in copious amounts of beer the previous night, none of us suffered visible hangover symptoms. Our bodies, accustomed to using mana, quickly recovered from alcohol's adverse effects, rendering our celebration inconsequential.
Angie had already readied the carriage, and the other girls loaded the remaining luggage forgotten the day before. Meanwhile, I engaged in sword training, a daily routine. So engrossed was I that I failed to notice Nat calling me until she tapped my shoulder.
"Franz, are you okay? I've been calling you for a long time, but you haven't answered."
"Oh, sorry, Nat. I was so focused that I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings," I apologized.
"I wouldn't call that being focused but rather the opposite. You should be more careful. What would happen if you were suddenly attacked while you were training?" Nat admonished me with a displeased look.
"Huh, you shouldn't worry too much, Nat. I know it doesn't seem like it, but I'm actually a guy with good instincts and reflexes. I shouldn't have any problems even with a surprise attack," I asserted confidently.
"I see," Nat didn't seem entirely convinced.
"Anyway, Nat, what were you calling me for?"
"Ah! I wanted to return this to you before we left. I planned to give it back to you yesterday, but with all the beer, I forgot."
Nat extended her open hand, offering the worn-out military medal I had lent her as proof to gain the others' trust.
Observing the medal in Nat's hand, my blue eyes betrayed a touch of nostalgia. Soon, my gaze returned to Nat.
I remembered her tearful state the previous night.
Today, she appeared perfectly composed. Nat had concealed her sorrow, not wanting to burden us emotionally, given her recent inclusion in the group. However, the effects of alcohol provided an outlet for her emotions the night before.
Ordinarily, empathy would evoke feelings of pity and sadness. Yet, my emotions toward her at that moment were different—an overwhelming respect for Nat.
'To overcome the pain of losing a loved one and move forward with a smile... isn't an easy feat.'
These reflections prompted an unexpected decision.
"Nat, could you keep the medal as a commemorative gift for joining the group?"
I was offering one of my most prized possessions. Had Angelica, Eva, or Jessica witnessed this, the reaction might have been extreme. To Nat, unaware of the significance of the military medal, it held less importance.
But Nat sensed the depth of my request in my tone and expression, leaving only one possible answer.
"Of course, if there's no problem, I will accept it with great honor," Nat replied politely.
Thus, Nat returned the military medal to her coat pocket.
Dressed differently from her village attire, Nat had undergone a transformation, courtesy of the other girls. Previously clad in worn clothes due to border village living and her own poverty, she now donned outfits provided by the group.
Nat emerged as quite beautiful—long, straight brown hair, brown eyes, a tall and slender figure with a generous bust.
As I gazed at her, a sigh escaped me.
'It's refreshing to see such a normal color.'
In the diverse world of Hortana, where hair and eye colors varied widely, Nat's appearance provided a contrast.
Jess, Angie, and Eva, each sporting green, blue, and red hair respectively, sometimes made me wonder if they were created by a single scientist in a lab.
Not receiving any response from me, Nat decided to leave. Just as she turned away, I addressed her again.
"Ah, I forgot, Nat. Have you told the girls about your unique ability?"
"No, I haven't done it yet, but I was thinking of doing it soon," Nat replied.
"Allow me to offer some advice—keep it a secret. Unique abilities need to be guarded, as the more people aware of them, the greater the risk of information leaking."
"So, you think I shouldn't tell anyone else, even if you already know?"
"Yeah, to be honest, I think it was a mistake on your part. Your power, unlike others, doesn't have a wide variety of applications. If it became public, it could put you in a vulnerable position. If everyone knew you could differentiate between truths and lies, they'd take precautions when interacting with you."
Nat found merit in my reasoning and agreed to keep her ability a secret.
"If there's nothing else, I'll leave you to continue with your training," Nat said.
"Sure, you can go now."
With Nat gone, I resumed my sword training. After barely five minutes, a crash interrupted my focus.
"Ouch-!"
I was struck in the head with a snowball. Wiping snow from my face, I saw Nat with a triumphant smile, clearly conveying an 'I told you so' expression.
***
Hours into our journey, we were chatting happily in the carriage, leaving the village far behind. Angie drove, clearing away snow in front of the horses with her telekinesis to enhance speed. Despite an attempt to use magic, my abilities remained restricted, indicating the presence of a large anti-magical barrier.
'Perhaps someone erected a barrier or something similar...'
The thought of venturing beyond the barrier's reach persisted, but after hours of travel, it seemed unlikely anytime soon.
To return to the capital using magic, we needed to find and destroy the source of the anti-magical barrier. Engrossed in my contemplation, a thunderous crash rang out in the distance.
Instantly, I jumped out of the carriage, sword in hand, ready for any threat. Angie halted the carriage, and the others prepared for a battle. However, upon surveying my surroundings, no enemies were in sight.
Turning my attention to the origin of the noise, Angie pointed at something in the distance, yelling, "Franz, look up!"
But it was too late—an enormous avalanche from the nearest mountain was about to descend upon us.