"So, what is it you want to say to us?"
"I propose a collaboration. I will guide and assist you, and in return, you stop pursuing my brethren."
"We refuse."
Yuder's response was cold and immediate. Despite the man's claim of self-sacrifice for his comrades, Yuder didn't sense any genuine determination or the cautious air of a negotiator. Why should he accept a proposal from someone who seemed so tricky, especially without a compelling reason?
However, despite the curt refusal, the man merely smirked, showing no signs of defeat or disappointment.
"Blunt. But that's to be expected from someone unfamiliar with the stubborn arrogance of the Eastern nobles. Even with an imperial mandate, things won't be easy here. How quickly do you think you can achieve your goal on your own? From my perspective, it seems impossible."
"You know something, don't you?"
"If you're curious, accept my proposal."
"..."
"I promise there will be no harm to you."
The man's audacity clearly stemmed from some hidden confidence, even in this unfavorable situation.
If it were entirely up to Yuder, he would have beaten the truth out of the man without hesitation. But while that tactic worked on some, his instincts told him this man wouldn't be so easily swayed.
'If Kishiar were here instead of me...'
Yuder suddenly thought of the absent Kishiar. His commander might have let this man continue his game, purely out of curiosity to see what he'd do next. That was Kishiar's way.
It was a risky method, but one that often came with valuable insights. When confident in superior strength, sometimes there was no better way to gather information than to allow the enemy some room to maneuver.
'Besides, this is an exploration mission. It's always been one of my weaker points.'
Yuder made up his mind. Whatever abilities this man had, Yuder didn't sense he was stronger. If it stayed within controllable limits, it might not be so bad to mimic Kishiar's approach just once.
"Fine."
"Yuder?"
Gakane, startled by the unexpected agreement after the long silence, called out Yuder's name. He had been certain Yuder would reject the proposal. But Yuder simply gestured for him to remain calm before addressing the man again.
"Do as you wish. You'd probably follow us anyway, even if we refused."
"You've caught on. Exactly right."
The man with the odd scar smiled calmly and nodded.
"But before we proceed, tell me the real reason you'll try to follow us—and what exactly the Eastern nobles are hiding."
"Impatient, aren't we?"
"If I don't like what you reveal, I'll arrest you on the spot and turn you over to the guards."
"You seem practiced at making threats. Fine. Mutual trust is important, after all."
With a casual wave of his hand, the man swirled the air around him. Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted dramatically, as if a veil had been lifted. The true sky, lit by the bright moon and stars, was revealed overhead. Beneath it lay a peaceful mountain landscape, and tied to a tree—a horse that had not been visible before grazed quietly.
With practiced ease, the man loosened the reins of the horse and mounted it. His fluid actions left everyone around him astonished.
"The sky... it's suddenly clear! And the horse too... Is this that man's power?"
"Little brother's sharper than he looks."
The man's low voice answered Jimmy's whispered question, though it was loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Exactly as you guessed. This is my power."
"...An illusion?" Yuder asked quietly. The man nodded, a gleam flickering in his otherwise unremarkable eyes.
"Yes. Not as grand as your abilities, but useful in its own ways. With this power, despite my appearance, I can move freely and detect visitors like yourselves the moment you arrive."
His explanation was vague, but the group quickly understood. His illusionary ability extended beyond merely masking his grotesque appearance. It was powerful enough to cloak an entire area and alert him to intruders.
Yuder had encountered a few illusion-casters in his previous life, but none of them had wielded power as refined as this man's. He wondered if such skilled individuals had met early deaths while mingling with bandits in his past life.
"So, your confidence comes from thinking you can escape at any time. Even knowing what your ability is, detecting it would still be... troublesome." Gakane muttered, grimacing as he grasped the implication of the man's words.
"Now, shall we discuss the details as we travel? The village isn't far, but it's best to arrive quickly."
At the man's suggestion, Yuder mounted his horse in silence, with Gakane and Jimmy following suit. They trailed behind the man, careful not to drop their guard despite his relaxed pace.
"One of my brothers used to visit the village regularly to keep an eye on things and purchase supplies. However, a while ago, he left for the village as usual but never returned. The others assumed he ran off with the money, but I didn't think so."
The man's voice, surprisingly clear, cut through the rustling wind and the steady clopping of hooves against the dirt.
"I believe he was captured. But until now, I couldn't rescue him because I didn't know where they were holding him. That is, until the person you're seeking arrived here."
"What does that have to do with any of this?" Jimmy frowned, boldly voicing his frustration.
"The old lord and the couple who visited to receive their title early died in a fire that day. Despite such a major incident, the two remaining sons haven't reported it to the capital. The entire village is buzzing that the man you're searching for is about to be executed, but no one knows where he's being held. His family members also disappeared after that day, but no one talks about it. Don't you find that strange?"
"...Are you suggesting someone deliberately confined them and is trying to quietly bury the incident?" Yuder asked, his tone sharp.
The man glanced back at him.
"In the East, the House of Duke Diarca holds more respect than the Emperor."
His response seemed a bit irrelevant, but Yuder waited for more.
"Did you know that ever since rumors spread about the Emperor's younger brother forming a Cavalry, persecutions against Awakeners have intensified here in the East? Awakeners of commoner origin with notable abilities have been falsely accused and imprisoned—and no one knows where they've gone."
"I never heard about such things before I left for the test! Of course, people here feared Awakeners more than in the capital, but..." Jimmy's voice trailed off.
"Jimmy."
Yuder's curt call silenced him, but the man had already shifted his focus to the younger boy.
"Just because you're from here doesn't mean you know everything. Especially at your age, you're limited in what you're exposed to. But were your parents just as unaware?"
Jimmy's expression immediately hardened.
"What do you mean?"
"Normally, no matter how strong the child, parents wouldn't send them alone to a distant place unless staying home was more dangerous. What if your parents feared staying here more than the risks of sending you to the capital?"
The man's low voice carried a weight that rippled through the group.
"Was it truly little brother's decision to take the Cavalry test, or did your parents suggest it? Did they tell you to return if you failed, or did they advise you to stay away for a while? If it were me, I'd have arranged for someone to look after you and told you to stay put."
"..."
Yuder watched as shock flickered across Jimmy's face, his mouth slightly open and his eyes trembling. The man's conjecture clearly hit close to home.
"I'm not lying. Ever since I arrived here, things have grown increasingly difficult for people like us. Many of my brethren have fled to these parts for that very reason."
Yuder pondered the man's earlier remark about the East, where the influence of the Diarca Ducal House surpassed that of the Emperor.
The Orr Empire's long history of rivalry and alliances between the Imperial House and the Four Ducal Houses was well known. When the imperial authority was strong, the ducal houses' power waned, and vice versa.
In Yuder's previous life, the Emperor he served had been raised by the Diarca Ducal House, so there had been no direct antagonism between the throne and the ducal families. But what about the current Emperor?
If Kishiar believed the newly formed Cavalry was beneficial to the Emperor, it stood to reason that the Four Ducal Houses would move to undermine it.
Could the sudden arrest of Devran, a member of the Cavalry, here in the East be tied to that? Yuder couldn't be certain until he met Devran himself, but the possibility seemed high.
'In my previous life, there was no widespread holiday at this time, and Devran didn't go missing. So I couldn't have known what was happening in the East back then.'
"I believe the person you're searching for is likely being held in the same place as my brother, or at the very least, knows something that could help."
The man finished his explanation, stating that this was why he had followed Yuder and the Cavalry members. Yuder sensed the man wasn't lying, but he remained cautious.
There was something unsettling in the man's cold gaze. Even as he referred to his "brethren," the lack of warmth in his eyes when speaking of his fellow Awakeners was disconcerting. Was his desire to join them truly driven by loyalty to his comrades, or was there something more?