"I have a story."
Evan paused his movements. He had just begun to cut into the rabbit meat when Ezra suddenly spoke. He looked at her; she still appeared the same as before—cold and empty.
"What is it?" Evan responded, sounding eager—more for the sake of pleasing Ezra than anything else.
The girl's gaze swept over the flowing river. Though the current was swift, the world felt silent here. Evan could sense it, and he became more certain that this strange atmosphere had something to do with the Philosopher's Stone.
"Do you still remember my father's purpose and honor as a wanderer?" Ezra asked suddenly.
"Yes, of course," Evan replied quickly. He recalled their conversation a few days earlier when they had spoken about wanderers under the setting sun. "A stone, right? Am I correct?"
Ezra nodded. Her right hand slowly pointed toward the river where a large ulin tree stood over the water, its leaves covering part of the stream. As she pointed, her hand trembled again.
Evan watched but didn't understand.
"At the time, we thought the stone my father was searching for was there."
The young man was surprised. "Wait, you mean—"
"Right under that tree, there's a cave. And I'm sure that cave is the one you're looking for."
Evan set the rabbit aside and moved closer just as Ezra suddenly swayed from where she was sitting. Her body trembled again.
"I'm fine," she said, gently pushing Evan back as he caught her. "It's just an old memory."
"Could it be that the stone you're talking about is…?"
"The Philosopher's Stone," she replied. "And if you plan on going to that cave, I'm sure your goal is the same."
***
Ezra Tyr—that was how she had introduced herself to Evan. She had a younger brother named Robin Tyr. But within less than ten years, her brother's cheerfulness and agility disappeared, replaced by a mysterious illness with no known cure.
Ezra's mother had died because of it. She was found in the woods near their home. Some suspected she had taken her own life due to the depression caused by her son's condition. Others believed she had been killed while returning home after searching for medicinal herbs in the forest. But whatever the reason, the tragedy only worsened the suffering for Ezra and her father.
"The Philosopher's Stone is a legend whose origin is uncertain. But from that time until then, the one thing we didn't believe in was the Philosopher's Stone. Until Robin's condition worsened, and we had no choice."
Ezra and her father left their village in search of the stone. They heard rumors that it had appeared at the base of a mountain. Some said it appeared unpredictably, sometimes in the south, other times in the north.
"But of all the rumors, one was the most reasonable," Ezra shook her head, correcting herself. "I mean, it was the easiest for us to pursue."
"Under this river?" Evan guessed.
Ezra nodded. "Under this river."
Silence fell. Both were lost in thought.
Evan glanced at Ezra's left leg. "Is that wound of yours…?"
"You're right," Ezra interrupted, even before Evan could finish his sentence. "That's where those cursed lizards nest. My father got trapped inside, sacrificing himself for me. When I managed to escape, one of the lizards chased me, and this wound was the result." Ezra stroked her left leg. "Sorry for lying earlier."
"That must have been terrifying." Evan's sympathy was sincere.
"We failed to find the stone. Before we even reached the end of the tunnel, we were ambushed by a pack of six-legged lizards." Ezra's gaze met Evan's with a pleading look. "That's why you must never repeat our mistake. Forget about the Philosopher's Stone. Whoever you're trying to save, forget the stone. The Philosopher's Stone is nothing but a lie."
The silence returned. Only the sound of the wind and the rushing river filled the void between them. Ezra continued to stare into Evan's eyes, making him feel uncomfortable. He averted his gaze, looking instead at the thick grass swaying gently in the breeze. He watched ants marching in line toward their nest. All the while, Ezra never took her eyes off him.
"Do you remember what you said earlier? No, I mean, some time ago?" Evan asked.
"What was that?"
"About wanderers," Evan said confidently. He plucked a blade of grass and held it in front of his face. "You said that wanderers are willing to risk their lives, even for a purpose that isn't noble, and that's a matter of honor."
Ezra looked at him skeptically. She wasn't foolish—perhaps only pretending to be—and she already understood the meaning behind Evan's words.
"You're willing to die, devoured by those lizards, just to obtain the Philosopher's Stone?" Ezra retorted. Her left hand quickly grabbed Evan's shoulder, forcing him to face her. "I won't let you!"
Still holding the blade of grass, Evan gazed calmly at Ezra. "If I die…" He crushed the grass in his hand, showing it to Ezra. "Then I die with honor. As a wanderer."
"And what about the person you're trying to save? Won't they end up like Robin, who only has a few months left to live?" Ezra's eyes filled with tears as she spoke the harsh truth. "All my life, I've been a thief, just to see my brother smile. Bringing him expensive bread or new clothes. I know he doesn't have much time left, and I want to see him smile before we're truly separated. Do you want to be like me?"
For a moment, Evan was taken aback. What if he died now? What would happen to his mother at home? What would Freya, who had made him promise to return, say? What would his father think if he learned his son had died in a cave, while he had pinned all his hopes on him, even if he wasn't too sure?
"I'm a knight academy graduate," Evan said.
Ezra snapped immediately. "I don't care!"
Evan didn't mind. "Knights fight for honor."
Ezra's small hand swung, striking Evan's right cheek hard. "Keep going! Accompany me to the village, Robin is waiting! Forget the Philosopher's Stone!" She continued hitting him.
Evan let her, not even blinking once. Amid the barrage of Ezra's blows, Evan shouted, finishing his earlier statement, "And this is my honor!"
***
"This is the entrance. You don't have to swim."
Evan parted the grass and thick bushes. After a moment, a hole appeared. It was about the size of an adult body, and he was certain it couldn't be entered by two people at the same time.
"How did you find this hole?" Evan scanned the area. It was so well hidden, protected by tall trees that formed a wall of sorts. Moreover, the hole was covered by grass and thick roots. It wouldn't trap anyone, even if stepped on. The roots were too strong and thick to break underfoot.
"I don't remember," Ezra replied. "My father found it."
His instincts as a knight kicked in. Evan tightened his coat and drew the dagger Nata had given him. He had already tied his white horse to a tree not far from there. Now, he was ready to enter.
"Are you sure you still want to go inside?" Ezra asked, trying once more to persuade him. "Please, I beg you…"
"Sorry, but that earlier commotion didn't change my resolve. You can stay here and watch the horse, or go home if you want. I'm going inside. See you later, you good thief." Evan smiled.
At that moment, old memories flooded Ezra's mind. Her body trembled, and she felt as if she was about to faint. She struggled hard to keep herself together.
As she watched Evan jump into the cave, her trembling worsened. Now she was alone. What if the lizards came out and attacked?
Suddenly, she remembered—wasn't she a thief? A good thief, as Evan had called her. Didn't that mean she was a skilled one? There was a horse here, a perfect choice for riding back home.
Yes, that was a good option, Ezra thought.
One second later, she sprinted toward the cave and leaped in after Evan.