"IT'S JUST... RARE to hear that he saves people," Nyrinn finally answered.
"I completely understand. But you never know when someone can change for the sake of the good."
People don't change for the sake of someone else. They only think for themselves. They don't care about others or for their own sake. They are selfish and greedy and would do anything just to get what they want. It's the nature of humans, they're the ones who created such avarice and spread it across the entire world of Azalia like a virus.
Nyrinn wanted to counter his remark but she doesn't want to start with an argument with the being who just decided that evil beings can change just because he was saved by one of them. Not just by anyone, but by the most evil of them all, the Destroyer of Peace.
But unlike most of them, Astier seems to be the only one to feel such excitement on their journey. That was their official first journey together. He can't help but stretch his lips for a smile, his heart keeps throbbing inside his ribcage like a wild predator wanting to be released.
'Keep still, Astier. Keep still. She's right beside you.' he scolded himself. He shouldn't be too excited or he'll make a fool of himself in front of her.
He gently cleared his throat. 'Just start a normal conversation.'
He cleared his throat for the second time but he still can't get himself to talk. The queen finally takes notice and spoke to him:
"Would you like to drink some water?"
"H-huh?"
"I said, would you like to drink some water?"
"N-no, I'm alright. Are you comfortable in your seat, my queen?"
"I'm not your queen, but I'm comfortable, thank you."
"Are you hungry?" Astier queried. But why would she be hungry? They just had their breakfast.
"We just ate before we left." 'What is up with this man? If I said "yes" is he going to give me a piece of bread with poison in it?'
Neiryl may have felt some comfort and assurance with him from earlier but she still won't trust him. It is better to stay off from that boundary rather than have another regret. He doesn't look perilous but appearances are often deceiving. Until this man keeps his word that he will bring them to Destroyer, she will keep a close watch on him.
"The soldiers from earlier," Astier recalled, "how can they treat you like that?"
They almost weren't allowed to leave had it not been for the queen's reason for their search for Destroyer.
"Treating me without the fear of freezing to death?" she sarcastically clarified.
"Which you could have done so easily. But you didn't. When they stopped us on our arrival, you also didn't want me to kill them when I could have beheaded them and torn their limbs in a snap."
In the book, the Queen of Ice was regarded as the coldest and one of the most terrifying queens of Azalia. Everyone fears her name and even the sound of her approach, which involves tiny snowflakes suddenly appearing and floating in the air, the people will already cower. This is why Astier was baffled by how his queen fell so deep that the people no longer feared her.
"People used to be afraid of you. No other man was allowed to be near you without the consequence of freezing to death. Humans and other beings, especially your people, they look up to you, " he added.
Neiryl glances at him, slightly confused but at the same time amazed at how he knew so much. 'Perhaps, he was telling the truth. But it's still unlikely and odd that he knows more about me than his own existence. What is this man trying to do?'
Her lips curved for a small smile. "It seems like you know more than you can tell. You said you travel a lot, surely you must have heard."
"Heard about what, my queen?" he inquiringly glances at her. What did she mean by that?
She's beginning to find it confusing now because everyone in Azalia supposedly knows about it already. Of course, humans built the foundation of lies, everyone believed them when they spread the story of the seven queens being the real enemies.
Truth is, everything can be facilely reversed when you have the power.
Neiryl doesn't want to dwell on that subject so she subtly shifts to another one. "You told me you could have killed those soldiers so easily but you can't even land a punch on the general."
"That is because he was too fast for me." 'And I was afraid to use my power.' he mentally added.
"But with all I can, I'd give my all to protect you against anything," he queried.
"Really? You'd do that? May I ask why you have gone so keen on protecting me? We've only met yesterday."
He glances at her with a smile. It would have been cute but she has completely no interest in him.
"I have known you for a while now. But don't think too much about it."
'Oh, believe me, I won't.'
"Where do you actually live?" Neiryl inquired. She wants to keep their conversation directed at him and find out more about this man's identity. The sense of familiarity she felt from him lingered in her mind, keeping her away from the floor of her peaceful mind.
"I live in Ni--- near the Malum Kingdom." Fortunately, Destroyer's address was mentioned in the book. His queen must be suspecting him now for his incapability to answer her simple questions.
The name of the kingdom jogged an old memory in Neiryl's mind. Of course, who wouldn't remember it? Hundreds of years ago it was the home of all those who wanted to escape the reality of what was happening.
"What has become of it now? The Malum Kingdom?"
He merely shrugged. "I haven't been there for a while now. But I believe that I heard the rumour of their queen disappearing into the abyss."
Thankfully, that statement was also mentioned in the book. Astier turned his attention to the road, and a group of people suddenly appeared, blocking their way. They emerged from the bushes, their large blades hanging behind their backs gleaming from the sun's beam.
"What's the matter? Why did you suddenly stop?" asked the queen. Astier pointed to her the beings blocking the road.
"What do they want now? We don't have any money," Grim uttered upon perceiving the bandits.
One of them bravely stepped forward and demanded, "Hand over your gold, silver, and food and we will spare you," he said those words while pointing the tip of his blade at them.
"Gentlemen, you do realise that you are speaking to one of the seven queens of Azalia?" Ardelian interrupted.
"Our eyes can clearly see," yelled one of the bandits, "but we don't fear that monster."
Astier is insulted by the remark and looks at his queen, seemingly asking for her approval, "What would you want me to do, my queen? Shall I kill them for you?"
'Was he serious about what he said earlier?' she pondered. An idea suddenly came into her mind. Neiryl inclines her head, a playful smirk displaying on her beautiful face.
"You said you will protect me against all odds?"
"Yes, my queen," he eagerly affirmed.
"Good. Then kill them for me. Get rid of this blockage and let us proceed peacefully. And I don't want nothing left."
He lowered his head respectfully, as though he took her words so seriously before dismounting the wagon. But before facing them alone, he turned to his friend and asked, "Ardelian, can you lend me a kunai?"
"How many do you need?"
"Oh, just one."