Chapter 64

Teleporting multiple people wasn’t easy—even for a 7th-class mage.
Moving four people over a long distance was especially difficult.

Teleportation was a 6th-class spell, but even that needed practice.
Laila said she never learned it because she didn’t need it.
Keith said maybe he could teleport two people, but not four.

Since I didn’t know how to ride a horse, I had to take turns sitting in front of Enoch, Keith, or Laila.
Just staying on a horse for long hours was physically exhausting.

By day three, my hips and butt were aching, and my head felt like it was vibrating.
But somehow, I managed.
Laila stood proud, saying I was becoming more human.
Enoch, though, still had plenty to complain about.

“Why are you so grumpy? Can’t we just enjoy things?”
“Sorry I’m sensitive.”
“Aw, come on, big bro. Don’t be mad.”
“Don’t touch me.”

Keith always knew how to push Enoch’s buttons.
I worried Keith might really get punched one day.
Enoch glared at him like he wanted to murder him.
Keith just smiled and winked.

“I’ll kill you, Keith Hayden Brien.”
“Wow. Saying that to your one and only cousin.”
“Think I won’t?”
“Yeah yeah, love you too.”
“…”
“You just wanted to hear that, didn’t you? You little fox.”
“Florence, let go.”

I put my hand on Enoch’s arm, holding the reins.

“Let it go… just ignore him.”

This wasn’t the first time Keith had said nonsense.
Laila chuckled.

“You guys are ridiculous.”
“Was that a compliment?”
“Hmm, well… it wasn’t an insult.”

At least it wasn’t boring traveling with these cousins who bickered constantly.

“You’re all laughing like this situation isn’t serious.”
“It’s not that hopeless either.”
“You sure you know how to do math?”
“I’m a mage, remember…”

“Then it’s even stranger. Magic is based on calculations.”

Laila gave me a sideways glance.

“You can’t even use magic, but you studied enough theory to cast up to 3rd-class spells. That’s weird too.”
“That sounds like an insult…”
“Nope, that was a compliment.”

Laila had become much more tolerant toward me.
That alone made the past month of training feel worth it.

Keith smiled.

“Too much seriousness wears you out.”
“Guess no one’s being dramatic now.”
“Pretending to be serious doesn’t change anything. Better to laugh when you can.”

Above me, Enoch let out a quiet sigh.
I knew that was his way of admitting defeat in the argument.

Keith had something neither Enoch nor I had.
Not just magic—his personality.
If it were just me and Enoch, we’d have already fought several times.
Even if he was five years older, Enoch had limits to his patience.
Both of us were stubborn and blunt, but Keith always stepped in and lightened the mood.

Turns out Keith was actually three years older than Enoch.
Guess being the oldest really did show.

It took exactly five days to reach Dagreba—and we arrived in the middle of the night.
Enoch insisted on avoiding camping outside, which delayed us a day beyond Laila’s plans.

“What is this, a picnic?”
“Consider the weaker ones, Laila.”
“I didn’t raise Florence to be weak.”
“When did you raise her, exactly…?”
“What, camping’s a crime now?”
“It’s dirty.”
“…”
“If I can avoid it, I’d really rather sleep somewhere clean.”

Enoch Haynes, clean freak extraordinaire.
Laila’s rare speechlessness made me burst out laughing.

“My little brother’s cute, right?”
“…Yeah, cute enough to punch in the face.”

Enoch ignored their teasing with a snort.
Thanks to him, I got a proper bed and good rest, so I thanked him quietly.
He just gave me a crooked little smile.

Dagreba really was a tiny countryside village.
There weren’t even decent inns.
We went to Keith’s old family home.
He said he still visited every few months to take care of the place.

“You two pick your rooms first.”
“Then I’m taking the biggest one.”

Laila shamelessly grabbed the master bedroom.
She was not someone who knew how to yield.
Keith just shrugged.

“Want something to eat?”
“If I eat now, I’ll get indigestion.”
“I need to wash up.”
“Keith, where are the clean blankets?”

That was me, Laila, and Enoch in order—each focused on ourselves.
No one offered help.
Keith sighed, rubbing his nose in frustration.

Laila asked where the bathroom was and left immediately.
Enoch said he’d get clean sheets and went off too.
Left alone with Keith, I lowered my voice.

“Should we go now?”
“I was gonna wait until Enoch’s asleep. You want to come?”
“Were you planning to leave me behind?”
“Not leave—just didn’t think it’d be something you’d want to see.”

Keith frowned.

“If Enoch catches us, we’re screwed.”
“You’re scared of him?”
“Have you heard his lectures? They go on for hours…”

Keith stopped mid-sentence and stared at me, then laughed.

“Then again, he goes easy on you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. He was so cold to me when we were younger. He only ever said harsh things and got mad all the time.”
“He probably felt wronged. Being hated for no reason sucks.”
“…”
“You know that best, don’t you?”

I had nothing to say.
Enoch had been wronged.
He was just there—and I hated him for it.
Even when he was kind to me, all I gave him was blame and anger.

If it were me, I would’ve left long ago in disgust.

“Still, take me with you.”

But Enoch was Enoch.
And Keith was Keith.
I grabbed his wrist and insisted.

“You’re my partner in crime.”
“This is my problem.”
“And yet here you are, dragged into my mess.”
“You’re persistent…”

Keith clicked his tongue like I was being annoying.
But I wasn’t letting go.
Since I’d pulled him into this, I wanted to support him too.

No one should be alone when someone they love is dying.
Just like how Keith and Marie had been there for me.

Keith’s tone turned colder.

“You always act guilty, like I got dragged into your problems.”
“Well, I do feel guilty.”
“I’ve known the Seymour family for a long time. I knew you. It’s not like I got pulled into this by accident.”
“So?”
“I was chasing Laila when I saw you. When I realized you were the youngest Seymour daughter, I stepped in because of Enoch. If you two had met anyway, I would’ve gotten involved eventually.”

“Even if it wasn’t a coincidence… that doesn’t make it okay. You risked your life for me. Of course I feel sorry.”

But still—I couldn’t tell him to walk away.
I had pride, sure, but I wasn’t stupid.
We already lacked firepower.
Defeating Linus without Keith was impossible.

So if I was going to selfishly keep him here, I wanted to do everything I could in return.

Keith smiled bitterly.

“You’re really the most stubborn person I’ve ever met.”
“Took you long enough to figure that out. You’re slow.”
“…”
“See you later.”

He let out a deep sigh.
I knocked dirt from my shoes, grabbed my coat, and headed into the room Laila had claimed.