"She is also a manipulator, isn't she?"
I widened my eyes and snapped my head to him. However, Sarfak just ignored my reaction and hummed slightly. "So, it is true, she is a manipulator. That means the book itself is Blessing of Magus, right?"
"How could you make that conclusion?"
He snorted at me. "Lad, I might be an apprentice, but I have the talent to feel people's magus. That is why I know in the first place you are not a magus in the first place. This girl however surprisingly has the most magus I have ever felt, including my father. The only people who have this crazy amount of magus inside their bodies are the ones who were blessed by the book itself. Your reaction just confirmed my suspicion. Now the question is, how do you know about Blessing of Magus?"
I pondered for a few seconds, thinking about what to say. As time flies, I sighed and decided to tell Sarfak the truth. Well, not that I have a choice here, considering we are on the journey to his village right now. Sooner or later, I would be questioned, and it would be better if I could gain Sarfak's trust first before facing his father.
Of course, that doesn't mean I will tell him all the truth. I deliberately left out the part where Nina and Cosma could read the content of the book and what they told me about Andra's condition. I just told Sarfak about my deal with Sarah, which resulted in a frown on his face while looking at Aliyya who fell asleep on my back.
Even though my information about the book is still incomplete, I know reading the content of the book is not something ordinary. There is no way I will put the twins in danger.
As I told the story, Sarfak didn't say anything, shutting his mouth while keeping his focus on what I said. After I finished telling him my story, he sighed before turning around and facing me directly, patting my shoulder passionately.
"My condolences for your mother, Lad." He spoke solemnly. "But I admired your strength. Even though you just lost your mother and are on the verge of losing your brother too, you still could keep going and do your best. Not a lot would be strong enough to do that."
I nodded in agreement before realizing something.
"Wait, you mean you believe in my story? Just like that?" I stare at him with a disbelief gaze. Even though the atmosphere is quite heavy, he just chuckled at my reaction.
"Hahaha! Don't worry, Lad! Although I don't know what are you hiding, all of the stories you told are not lies either. Just like I said, I could detect people's magus, and I didn't feel any fluctuation in your body. Either you are a very good liar or your story is the truth, and I am more inclined toward the latter."
I try my best to keep my poker face, trying not to react too much, especially when Sarfak mentioned hiding something.
"So, what do you think about it?"
"I don't know, Lad." He shrugged. "This Amasia that you are talking about, I haven't heard of any human villages nearby in the last fifty years. And believe me, we would notice if any human village is here. But just as I said, no one would dare to enter the forest this deep if they don't have enough strength to survive."
"No, that is not what I mean." I shook my head. "This Amasia problem, with this little girl on my bark, I would consider it as a success. So, I don't really care about them for now. What I want to know is your opinion about my brother's condition. Do you think it is something related to Magus?"
Even though I know I could always trust the twins, it doesn't hurt to know from the other perspective. And it would also give me more information on how rare it is for someone to be able to read that damn book.
"Hmm…." Sarfak hummed, tapping the beard on his chin with his fingers repeatedly. "Just like I said, Lad. I am not a healer, so I wouldn't know anything about that. And you have already told me about your deal with that little girl's sister, right? What are you worrying about?"
I snorted. "Well, if she is not a manipulative bitch, I would be able to believe her easily. But the moment she offered the deal straight after she witnessed the tragedy that befell my family, I know I wouldn't be able to trust her completely."
"Then, why would you agree?"
"Because I lack information," I replied truthfully. "This world is completely new for me, for my family. We don't know anything about Magus except what she said. So, having an excuse to go out and collect some information, I took it without thinking for too long."
"Smart Lad." Sarfak nodded, appreciating my decision. "If you really want to check your brother, just bring him and your family here. We have an elder who specialized in magus healing. With her touch, your brother will be as good as new!"
From the proud yet still fond tone in his voice, I could tell that the one he spoke to had a close relationship with him. Probably family, if I could guess. However, there is one glaring problem that needs to be solved first.
"What about your tribe's reaction?" I asked cautiously. "From what you told, the last time you received any guest from the outside is Magus the Human, right? Would it be okay for me to go there?"
"Don't worry, Lad." He waved his hand, dismissing my concern. "They might confiscate all your weapons and interrogate you first. But as long as you said the truth and I vouched for you, that will be alright."
Yeah, with how nonchalantly he spoke, I really have a hunch that it wouldn't be that simple.
After that, we spent the next few minutes in silence, walking through the forest with only the sound of the wind breezes and the leaves rustling accompanying us. My mind is still wandering around, thinking about my siblings that I leave alone.
'How is Andra's condition right now? Is he awake? And are the twins okay with that girl?'
However, a tuck on my hair suddenly snapped me from my thought. I don't need to turn around, as there is only one person who could do it from behind.
"Are you awake, Aya?" I asked softly, which was replied to by a slight nod from the girl on my back. She buried her head on my body, mumbling something that I couldn't hear very clearly.
"Did you say something?"
"My sister….."
"Hmm?" I leaned my body slightly, trying to get closer to her mouth. "Can you speak a little louder, Aya?"
However, what she said next caught me off guard.
"My sister is not a manipulative bitch!" I was speechless for a moment, not knowing which one is worse. The fact that she knows that kind of foul language or she overheard my conversation earlier. However, she didn't give me any chance to explain as she keeps speaking, "I know she could be cold to everyone. But she really cares about me! She could just tag along with Father's plan and let them kidnap me. But she didn't! She chose to go against her father's wish and get captured! That's why sister is the best!"
I hummed slightly before I stopped walking, putting Aliyya down from my back and facing her face directly.
"I am glad that you have a wonderful sister, Aya.. But, what if I told you out of a sudden that your kidnappers are good guys?"
"But that's different!"
"Yes, it is different. But don't you see my point here?" Seeing her confused gaze, I sighed before continuing, "Everyone has the freedom to choose what they believed in other people. Someone that is always nice in front of you, do you think that they are always like that to other people? Just like your kidnappers, do you believe that no one would think of them as nice people?"
Aliyya keeps listening, her head bowed to the ground. After a while, she raised her head hesitantly, asking another question.
"So, you think my sister is a bad person?"
I sighed at her question.
"Well, Aya… You don't have to think about what I believe. As long as you see your sister as a nice person, I think you will be alright."
I don't really know what to say, as my mind wandered to the cave where the twins are. At this time did I know how hard it is to educate kids younger than me. Thinking of Cosma and Nina who seem to be at the same age as Aliyya, I have to take my hat off toward Mama and Andra who were successful to teach the twins how to be a good person.
"Lad!" Sarfak suddenly shouted from afar. "What are you doing there?! Come here! We are about to arrive!"
Hearing that, I faced the girl once again. "Well, we can speak about your sister later, maybe with your sister's presence too. As for now, let's save the boy first. Can you take a walk or do you want me to carry you?"
Aliyya seems hesitant for a second before she shook her head, "No, thank you. I will take a walk from here."
I could only sigh as I watched the girl trying to avoid me. Well, if someone calls my sibling a bitch, I would definitely react stronger than that, so I could understand her feeling. I am just glad that she still knows that her priority is to get the boy's help first.
"Come on, Lad! We are here!" I shook my head before shouting, "Okay, I am coming!"
After walking for about a minute, finally, I arrived in front of a massive wall, with a lot of things painted on it. If I had to take guess, it would be the dwarf's long history that was engraved there, just like how the early humans on Earth did in the past. Besides me, Sarfak is grinning like a loon, asking a question with a smug face.
"So, what do you think about it, Lad?"
"Impressive." I praised. "If I am not seeing it by myself, I would never believe there is a majestic wall like this in the middle of the forest."
And I mean it. I mean, this wall is about 30 feet tall, without anything for people to handle if anyone wanted to try climbing it. On top of the wall, I could see a lot of shadows moving, observing us from afar. This is what I imagined how the Constantinople wall was in the past. Tight protection to prevent any intruder.
'Ha! You only see the wall and are already amazed? Just wait until you saw our architecture!" Sarfak grinned proudly. Then I remember one of his stories, that dwarf race is proud of their unique architecture. However, before I could ask anything, we were interrupted by a rude voice,
"HALT! State your business here, human!"