The sky was slowly darkening, and the rain continued to fall. The wind swept in through the stone windows, bringing a cool breeze. The coals in front of him were getting a little weak, so Jared took a branch and pummeled it again to make the flame strong again. Besides him and Caroline, the rest of the wizards seemed to have some means of fighting the cold. Kylie summoned a few small fireballs around herself, Serenity seemed to be completely unafraid of the cold wind, according to her, due to her specialization in the water element, her body's resistance to water is very high, so even in such a cold and rainy night, there will not be any problem at all. Wendy's body was covered with white light, and she didn't seem to care about the raging cold wind. Even the lowliest Tawana could use a small spell to keep her body temperature up. After that, the crowd had a nice dragon barbecue, which was not bad, but not great either. But it seemed as if the dragon meat did help the wizards, and after one bite, every wizard had a look on their face that said they felt something. Unfortunately for Jared and Caroline, it didn't work at all, the meat was still meat, it didn't turn into anything else strange.
"I wish there was a soundproof room in here somewhere."
Jared grumbled and pulled out his ears, although he did not know what was going on with the chanting magic of these magicians, but practicing singing in the middle of the night like this ... still doesn't let people sleep?
Caroline hadn't stayed with him, and Tawana had acted very strangely after that, eating several pieces of dragon meat at dinner until Kylie couldn't even look away to stop her. Jared could vaguely guess what she was thinking, so he left it up to Caroline to talk to Tawana. If things got bad, she could use "hints" to calm her down, which Jared couldn't do. Besides, he was in charge of the watch tonight.
"Jared, you still up?"
"Are you finally done with your side of the haunting?"
Jared stretched as he looked toward Kylie. Kylie, on the other hand, was frowning, clearly displeased.
"Ghostly wailing? What a strange description ... Is my singing voice that bad?"
"I'm on watch now."
Jared pointed to his ear.
"So to me, your singing sounds like noise."
The implication was clear, it was interfering with his ability to focus on his surroundings. Kylie was stumped, after all, Jared was keeping them safe, and she was in no position to complain.
The atmosphere became silent for a while, and only after some time had passed did Kelly ask, somewhat weakly.
"You ... and Ms. Caroline ...."
"We're engaged, you can't be unaware of that."
"... I know of course, just a little curious to ask ... how many are you going to want?"
"How many what?"
Jared found Kelly's question inexplicable.
"Wife, of course? A young and capable man like you is sure to catch the eye of many women. I'm just curious to ask ... nothing special."
"Is it possible to have many wives?"
Jared was taken aback, but Maria seemed even more surprised.
"Do you intend to marry only Miss Caroline?"
"..."
"..."
The two men looked at each other speechless, and at the end Jared shrugged his shoulders helplessly. Obviously, the two for a certain aspect of common sense obviously has a considerable degree of gap. And from what Kelly said, is this world's men are so happy that they can open a harem? Marry as many as you want?
"Of course not."
Jared's suspicions were mercilessly dismissed by Kelly, who stared in amazement as if she were looking at a monster.
"I really doubt you're from this world, and you don't even have the common sense to do this. Not everyone has the right to do this, only those who have accepted the reward have the right to do so. The Celestial Lord has promised you a reward, and the status will surely come with it, so you'll be a member of the nobility by then. Don't you know anything about this?"
"... turned out to be the case..."
Jared nodded his head in the affirmative, but he was quick to answer in the negative.
"But I still think that Caroline is the only one for me."
"This way ..."
Kelly wasn't sure if she was sighing in disappointment or helplessness. But she quickly shook her head, and turned away.
"Well, I'm off to rest, Jared, be careful."
Jared didn't say anything, just whistled in understanding. The truth was, he had nothing to be careful about. Unless the rats they'd been harboring were willing to come to their door, they'd have to sleep out in the middle of nowhere and drink the wind on a rainy day like this. But he can eat barbecue and drink hot tea here, that's the difference. It made people happy, and Jared never minded building his own happiness on top of other people's pain. Jared looked out the window once more, and in the darkness of the night, he couldn't see a thing.
Tavana curled up in Caroline's arms, squinting her eyes and enjoying Caroline's gentle embrace, while Caroline just quietly stroked her head and said nothing.
"Sister ... will you also leave me one day?"
Then, suddenly, Tawana asked.
(Will...)
Caroline replied naturally, stroking Tawana's hair gently, completely unperturbed.
"..."
Tavana was silent, but her grip on Caroline's hand gained a little more strength.
(Everything has to go as it should, Tawana. We have our ideas and goals too ...)
"... I know, Sister Caroline."
Tawana shook her head.
"I know that you and brother Jared shouldn't even be around children like me, I'm really scared, and Lord Cthulhu is right, wizards and guardians need each other. I can't give you anything, but I just want to be protected by you. This is not at all in line with the contract between magician and guardian, I know, I am very bad ... I also know, I am very weak. But ..."
(Weakness is normal, don't run away from it.)
Caroline suddenly changed the subject, which surprised Tawana a little.
"Weak?"
（Everyone wants to be free, I know. Tawana, what are you blaming yourself for? You must be thinking that your wish to have us stay by your side when you're clearly not strong enough is very capricious and annoying.)
"... hmmm."
Tawana admitted in a low voice as she hugged Caroline tightly.
"I know I'm a pain in the ass, Sister Caroline. I know I can't rely on you all the time, but I want you to stay and be by my side. I'm too willful ... and too annoying. I have nothing to give, but I want to get everything,...".
（We're the same. You're not the only one who's wrong, Tawana.)
"Eh?"
Upon hearing this, Tawana looked up in surprise and eyed Caroline suspiciously.
"Sister Caroline, you haven't done anything wrong at all, have you?"
(No, we're doing it wrong.)
Caroline shook her head slightly, clearly not agreeing with Tawana.
（It's like you said, Tawana. We are so strong that we have no problem guarding you, but that would turn you into a hothouse flower. Our strength is a burden to you, and it's confusing. At this rate, you'll only choose between stagnation and an extreme search for power equal to ours. This is not what we want, too much fertilizer and water will not make a sapling grow into a tree, but will destroy it.)
"... I don't know ..."
After all, Tawana was still young enough to only vaguely understand what Caroline was trying to say. But she didn't have to think about it any further, sleep had already swept over her, and Tawana couldn't help but fall into a deep, deep sleep.
Caroline sighed as she gently stroked Tawana's hair.
Just as she said, she and Jared were too powerful, and in their shadows, Tawana had no way to grow. It was impossible to rise to their level of power, and Tawana's pursuit of it would only lead her down the path of destruction.
So, they have to go.
It's for Tawana's sake as much as their own.