TWBFHA 06

Chapter 6: Coin Tricks and Firelight

A single coin traced an elegant arc through the air, over the heads of the people standing before Alex.

He frowned as he watched it veer off its intended trajectory toward the back of the Mayor’s aide’s neck.

The aide flinched and turned his head, as if he had felt something touch his back.

The gold coin bounced off his shoulder and fell to the cobblestones with a faint, ringing clatter.

The couple standing behind him didn’t miss the scene.

Just as the aide turned, the wife’s hand shot out swiftly toward the coin.

“What is this?!”

The aide’s face flushed purple as he clutched his purse.

“Thief! Robber! Pickpocket!”

“No, you dropped it! I was going to give it back!”

Alex couldn’t know if her words were true. But the important thing was that the Mayor’s aide didn’t believe them.

He drew a club from his belt and shouted.

“Guards! Guards!”

“Hey!”

The burly husband stepped forward, clenching a fist the size of a ham.

“Lay one finger on my wife. I’ll grind every one of your teeth to dust with my bare knuckles!”

All eyes turned toward the commotion. The guards’ did too.

Seizing the opening, Alex secretly drew out more coins and began flicking them, one by one, toward the front of the line.

The Mark helped refine his aim with each throw, and Alex used his previous tosses as reference points to calculate the next trajectory with precision.

Several gold coins rolled to a stop at people’s feet.

Their gazes dropped down, then flicked furtively upward.

‘Is it raining gold from the sky?’

Desperate to buy passage on a boat to the pier, people set aside their suspicions and began snatching up the coins.

Someone muttered.

“Is it the grace of Uldar….”

“Hey! Hands off! That’s mine!”

“I saw it first!”

Amid the chaos, the Mayor’s aide brandished his club, screaming.

“Thieves! You’re all thieves! Those coins are all mine!”

He then struck down a person who was trying to pick up a gold piece that had fallen near his horse.

But that was a fatal mistake. Because the person he hit was the burly man’s wife.

The giant of a man roared and swung his fist toward the Mayor’s aide.

THWACK!

The aide was knocked clean off his horse, splayed out on the ground like a limp frog.

His whole body twitched faintly.

And in that moment, the front of the line descended into absolute pandemonium. Curses and punches flew as the queue completely disintegrated.

As Selina froze in panic, Alex quickly scooped his little sister into his arms.

“It’s going to be okay.”

Alex said, suppressing the urge to look back.

“Theresa, how are the priests?”

“They’re watching this.”

Theresa said through gritted teeth.

“Damn. Alright, stay behind me and act natural.”

Alex slipped out of the line, trying his hardest to maintain the most casual expression possible.

The Mark pulled up memories of himself walking calmly and composedly from his mind, and he surrendered to the flow.

Weaving past the guards running to break up the brawl, he quietly approached the remaining gate attendant.

Peter and Paul stood on either side of the city gate, shaking their heads as they watched the fight.

Alex stopped before them and sighed.

“A real shame. Neighbors all their lives, and the moment there’s trouble, they’re at each other’s throats.”

“At each other’s throats? Ah, this is downright civil compared to Bear Welcoming Festival night.”

Peter said, nodding as if recalling an old memory.

“A few punches thrown, a few teeth lost, and that’s the end of it.”

“If we can survive to see that ‘end,’ that is.”

Paul muttered lowly.

“Harder times are coming.”

A brief silence fell.

Alex ventured cautiously.

“So… is cutting in line okay now?”

Trusting the ‘composed expression’ the Mark had supplied, he acted accordingly.

But his anxiety about being noticed by the priests was growing.

Peter pulled out a ledger.

“There’s no line anymore. If anyone’s left in line, it’s you at the front. You showed good judgment by not starting that mess. Go on, we’ll get you on a boat.”

If he hadn’t been holding Selina, Alex might have hugged Peter right then.

Peter said.

“Alright. The three of you. Names?”

By the time the brawl was being sorted out, Alex and his party were already well down the road beyond the city gate.

A strange tension coursed through his body, and Alex quickened his pace, passing the line of people leaving Arik village.

He asked Theresa again. It was the thirtieth time.

“Are they following?”

“No.”

Theresa glanced briefly over her shoulder.

“Stop asking.”

“What are you looking at so much?”

Selina tried to turn her head to follow Theresa’s gaze.

“Just checking if that fight’s really over.”

Saying that, Alex quietly sent his thanks to his parents and the two guards in his heart.

If he ever became a real wizard, he vowed to give Peter and Paul the greatest rewards of their lives.

He didn’t care if it looked like a bribe. He planned to shove it into their hands himself. Even if he had to force it.

Once they were a safe distance from the gate, Alex said to Theresa.

“Alright, Phase One complete.”

Alex let out a short breath and carefully set Selina down on the ground.

Selina looked back worriedly.

“Those people… will they be okay, big brother?”

“Didn’t you hear the kind, just, and brave guard uncles? They’ll be fine.”

Theresa looked at Alex with skeptical eyes.

“How did you do that? Was it some kind of magic?”

“Sure, let’s call it that. A kind of magic.”

Alex shrugged.

‘This Mark… I might be starting to like it after all.’

A spark struck from flint landed on the tinder, creating a small ember.

Alex carefully leaned down and blew gently on it.

At that moment, the Mark recalled memories of building campfires, showing him how to feed air into the ember and bring it to life.

As if pouring mana into a magic circuit, the ember grew.

Soon, the dry twigs Alex and Theresa had gathered earlier caught fire.

The kindling crackled and popped as it was embraced by the flames, and Alex added another log.

The warm scent of wood smoke and burning wood spread through the night air.

Settling down with a deep sigh of accomplishment, Alex sat and rubbed his feet. They ached from walking all day, but they’d covered far more distance than expected.

As the campfire crackled brightly, pushing back the forest’s darkness, he could see other campfires dotting the fields beyond the southern edge of the Coil Woods, lit by other travelers.

Alex’s fire joined theirs, forming a warm cluster of light.

Alex called out to Selina, who was sitting on her bedroll placed well away from the fire.

“You okay, little goblin?”

“Hm…hm.”

Selina mumbled, not even looking his way, trying to avoid even a glimpse of the flames.

It had taken Alex two full years of coaxing himself and training to overcome his trauma before he could properly handle fire.

‘Selina is still young. There’s plenty of time.’

Just as the Lou couple had waited for him, Alex could wait for Selina.

Gritting his teeth, Alex stood up.

His soles screamed with each step, but he made his way to Selina’s side and plopped down in a spot where the fire wasn’t visible.

Selina lifted her gaze.

“…You didn’t have to come. If you want to sit by the fire, you can stay there.”

She took a deep breath, then glanced at the fire.

Remarkably, she held the gaze for several seconds before turning her head away and whispering.

“I want to be someone who can look at fire like you do someday. I want to not be afraid of it anymore.”

Her words held a firm resolve.

Alex smiled and patted Selina’s head.

“Have you been practicing?”

Selina closed her eyes and took another deep breath. Then she nodded.

“You’re doing great. But there’s no need to rush. It’s okay to stop when you’re scared. Take your own pace. Go slow.”

Leaning back, Alex unwrapped his cloak and breathed in the warm summer night air.

He’d been wearing layers on his shoulders all day, worried the Mark might glow again like it did when it first appeared.

It had drawn some strange looks in the heat of the day, but he was already taller than average and had Brutus with him, so he stood out anyway.

‘I can endure this much.’

Shaking off the thought, Alex looked at the ‘project’ Selina was holding in her hands.

In Selina’s small grasp was a figurine made of dried twigs.

Its body was bound together with cord woven from long grass, and its wooden ‘arms’ held a tiny twig sword.

Alex asked warmly.

“What’s your new friend’s name?”

“Forrest.”

Selina said, as if it were obvious.

“He’s almost done. When he’s finished, I’ll set him up next to his friends.”

Alex glanced over his shoulder. Three other figurines stood in a row on the ground next to Selina’s bedroll.

Their feet planted in the dirt, they were posed like figurines recreating a scene.

Materials for another figurine lay nearby.

Even while walking all day, Selina had crafted her figures at a surprising speed.

But thinking about it, it wasn’t surprising at all.

Selina’s room back at the inn was filled with small forts, castles, and houses made from wooden blocks carved by Uncle Lou.

Inside them, the little figures Selina made lived their own little lives.

Selina’s view of the world was being recreated through her small hands.

“Who are those friends?”

“Heroes, of course!”

Alex chuckled.

He was starting to understand what scene those figures were recreating.

The fountain in Arik.

Though of course, Selina would have made the heroes.

“So, which heroes have you made so far?”

With an excited face, Selina pointed to a figure with a twig sticking out of its ‘head’ like a horned helmet.

“This one’s the Champion!”

Selina said proudly.

She then pointed to a figure holding a long, slender twig like a staff.

“This one’s the Sage!”

Next was a figure with its hand raised, made from twisted grass—the symbol of Ulter, the ‘uplifted hand.’

“This one’s the Saint!”

Finally, she held up the figure she’d been working on.

“And this is the Chosen!”

“Ah, so that’s the sword and the Mark.”

Alex studied the figure.

Selina was scratching the end of a twig to carve the tiny ‘Mark of the Chosen’ on the figure’s chest.

A scale, like merchants used to weigh gold or goods, symbolizing the balance of combat, divinity, and magic.

And the symbol of the Order that needed to be restored to Theme land.

Alex found himself idly wondering.

What if a glowing scale-shaped Mark had appeared on his shoulder?

He wouldn’t be on the run like this.

He’d probably be at the head of a column marching toward the capital to face Ravener right now.

He wouldn’t have been happy about being Chosen, but if he had a home to return to, it would have been his duty.

A hero party could manage without a Fool, but not without a Chosen.

“You’re making the Fool next?”

“Yeah.”

Selina nodded as she finished tying the tiny sword to the figure’s hand with a final knot.

“I’ll make the Fool funny. Maybe he’ll be standing on one leg, or his weapon might be a frying pan or something.”

“The enemies won’t know what hit them. Fighting with a frying pan… wouldn’t that make him more of a fan than a foe?”

“Ugh, seriously.”

Selina scowled up at Alex.

“Stop making weird jokes, big brother.”

“Not as weird as your face, little goblin.”

He shot back. Selina scrunched up her face and stuck out her tongue. Alex pushed up the tip of his nose with a finger and snorted like a pig in retaliation.

“That… really doesn’t suit you.”

Theresa’s voice came from behind.

Alex startled, stopping his antics.

Theresa stepped quietly into the circle of firelight, her bow slung over her shoulder.

The massive Brutus followed silently beside her.

She held up four rabbits, tied together in two pairs. Brutus licked all three sets of lips.

Theresa said proudly.

“Got supper. And it’s all thanks to Brutus, so maybe be nicer to him, Alex?”

“What!”

Alex cried out in protest.

“He looks at me like he wants to eat my face! I’m trying to be nice!”

“No, you’re just desperate to get on his good side. Brutus knows it too. He can smell your ulterior motives.”

Theresa sat by the fire and drew a knife.

“Ulterior motives! I’ve never had a bad intention in my life!”

“Oh really? So what was your plan then? Train him to fetch, sit, shake, that sort of thing?”

Theresa narrowed her eyes.

Alex turned his head, trying to look as nonchalant as possible.

“Ah, no… not at all.”

“Right. Come on, help me skin these.”

“Yes… old lady.”

Theresa shot a glare at Alex over her shoulder.

“What did you just say? You’re not hungry for rabbit tonight?”

“Oh, Great Huntress, Queen of Beauty and Valor. I’m coming right now.”

Theresa stared at him for a moment, then snorted and turned away.

Between Theresa, Alex, and the Mark’s assistance, the skinning and gutting were done in no time.

When it came time to cook, Alex shooed Theresa back from the fire.

Having spent four years assisting in the kitchen under Mr. and Mrs. McHarris, cooking was a matter of pride for him.

Alex recalled his greatest achievements before the oven and fire, focusing once more on the Fool’s Mark.

He skewered the rabbits, remembered a recipe from McHarris, and prepared an apple-honey glaze to brush on.

A sprinkle of salt, rosemary, and thyme followed, which he rubbed into the meat with his hands.

Normally, he’d let them marinate, but Selina’s stomach had already begun to rumble, and his wasn’t far behind. There was no time.

Sizzle.

Rabbit fat dripped into the fire, causing flames to leap up.

The savory smoke and aroma of roasting meat filled the air.

As the rabbit skin crisped to a golden brown, Alex smiled with satisfaction.

The Mark highlighted moments from his memory of perfectly cooked meat, one after another.

Judging by the way Theresa and Selina were practically lunging for the food, and the look of pure drooling focus on Brutus’s face, the meal was a resounding success.

Selina said, juice dripping down her chin.

“Big brother, this is really good!”

“Did better than usual.”

Theresa nodded, wiping Selina’s face.

Brutus’s three sets of eyes gleamed as he savored the scent.

Alex took a bite of his own portion and smiled. It really was delicious.

Finally unable to bear it, Brutus let out a pitiful whimper. As Theresa began to turn her head at the sound, Alex quickly preempted her.

He grabbed the fourth rabbit and tossed it in front of the Cerberus’s three faces.

“Enjoy.”

Three pairs of eyes shot him a suspicious look, but then all three heads ducked down simultaneously and dove into the meat.

Alex smiled slightly from behind his food.

It was all going according to plan.

On the third try, a single red force ball materialized, shimmering above his palm.

Memories of previous failures faded slowly, and he floated the glowing red sphere a few meters higher into the air.

Alex was now sitting at the edge of the clearing, looking out over the southern fields.

As the night deepened, the other travelers’ campfires were winking out one by one.

The steady sound of Selina’s breathing from behind him and the low growls of Brutus shifting in his sleep filled the quiet night.

“Here.”

Theresa whispered, handing him a steaming cup of pine needle tea.

The woody scent tickled his nose as Alex took the cup, blew on it gently, and took a slow sip.

Watching Theresa plop down beside him, Alex said.

“Thanks. You can get some sleep now. I’ve got first watch.”

Theresa leaned back against an oak trunk, sipping from her own cup.

“Not sleepy yet.”

She let out a small sigh.

“This is nice as it is.”

For a while, the two sat together in silence at the forest’s edge, watching the scattered lights in the fields below and the stars spread above.

The breeze was gentle, the forest rustled peacefully.

From somewhere, a flute began to play. Crickets chirped a rhythmic accompaniment to the night sky.

Alex took a deep breath. For this moment, the whole world was quiet.

He wondered, suddenly, if he’d see sights like this in Genera.

And the thought that he would find out in two months—perhaps a little longer, but he would—caused a peculiar sense of anticipation to bloom in his chest.

If not for the deep-seated warning in his mind that an ancient evil was descending upon this land, the people scattered across this field would look like festival-bound campers.

Not people fleeing the end of the world.

When the age of destruction comes, people sometimes seek out the most peaceful comforts.

That, too, was one of the ways of life Alex had to learn. And he had learned it very well.

Theresa spoke quietly from the darkness.

“Have you ever seriously thought… about just staying here?”

The red light from Alex’s magic traced the lines of her face softly.

For a moment, he realized he’d almost stared right through her.

It was dangerous. Alex already knew.

That he harbored feelings for his oldest friend. He just hadn’t had the time to examine them properly.

Perhaps this journey would provide the opportunity to finally confront those feelings.

“Honestly, I thought about it today. If I’d gotten a different Mark, I might have considered it.”

Alex felt the sensation of mana flowing through the force ball’s magic circuit with his fingertips.

“If that had happened, I’d have been dragged along without a choice anyway. Don’t know if that’s good or bad, but what I said at the gate… I meant it. I’ll miss Arik. I’ll miss Tameland a lot.”

He glanced at Theresa involuntarily and nearly stopped breathing.

Theresa was watching him quietly with her sharp brown eyes.

“…And you? You said you wanted to come with me, but you didn’t really have to. Why did you?”