19. If It's for Survival, It Can Be Forgiven

"Shhh..."

Shills ran down Yumino's spine.

"It hurts me to see you like that, my cute elf. What's got you so pent up?"

Fortunately, the fear he felt slowly vanished as he recognized the voice speaking from behind him.

"Velmira... Please don't sneak up on me like that..." he told her, the strength in his legs running out as the shock made him lose his balance. 

Were it not for the sorceress holding him, he would have tit the ground.

After calming him down, Velmira returned to her bedroll. The scare she gave the elf seemed to had put her in a good mood.

"So, what do you think?" she continued, asking for a respinse to her previous question.

Remembering her question about the forest around them, Yumino once again glanced at the shining forest.

"It is beautiful. I could fall in love with it..."

"Aw... You fall in love with everything but this pretty lady~"

The elf stared at her unimpressed. Having been subjected to her flirtatious words too many times, he wasn't bothered by them anymore.

"Fine... You don't have to stare like that! I'll get back to the point," she said.

"This beauty, you only get to see it because you're alive right now. You know that, right?" Velmira continued.

"Yeah..."

"And you're alive right now because you've overcome so many hardships."

"That's true..."

"And to not lose this beauty, you have to keep struggling to survive."

Unlike her usual coy tone, Velmira now spoke in a calm, motherlike voice, which caressed Yumino. To the man who had died once, these words resounded deeply. To see the beauty you need eyes, but you can only use those eyes as long as you are alive. Survival comes first; he knew that.

"But so is the case for everyone else..." said Yumino.

"We've got a sharp one~. You're right, survival comes first for everyone. Be it beast, human, or god, none can do anything if they're dead."

"So then—"

"So then, you do your best to survive. Right? 

"Listen, Yumino. Each one of us is like an arrow, trying our best to fly as far as possible until we hit our target. Some arrows only focus on said target, while others enjoy cutting the air as they go, but one thing is clear: all arrows want to keep flying."

"But an arrow follows its own path. It doesn't break others as it goes."

"That only happens if no other arrow crosses their path, but, just like your little trick, each arrow is also lit by a flame. Some flames are as large as the sun, while others barely have a spark. What happens when two such arrows get too close?"

"One of them burns."

"Exactly! The brighter flame will consume the smaller one, leaving only one arrow to continue its journey."

As she spoke, Velmira's gaze pierced Yumino's eyes. He was surprised to see this side of her—this side that calmed him down.

"That's survival, Yumino. Your flame just burned brighter. No need to be ashamed of that."

"My flame of survival..."

"Only, I think you should learn how to control that flame. You don't want it burning the arrows you hold dear," she completed with a wink.

As silence fell over the two, Velmira yawned.

"Staying up so late is not for me. You'll have to excuse me, but I'll go back to my dream."

"Sure. Good night!" Yumino answered spontaneously, still posed on what she told him.

"Oh, also, excuse our little knight! I know she's dense, but her heart is where it should be. Her upbringing has just been peculiar."

"Mhm! I'll keep that in mind," Yumino answered in a low voice. "Also, thank you, Velmira!"

He faced the lady, ready to bow his head, but she was already sound asleep.

"Witches, huh?" Yumino said to himself, admiring the white, shining trees.

"What's up with them and hiding things?"

*****

"Nothing beats sleeping outside. Right, guys?" Gavin said in a refreshed tone.

"Ah!"

But when he looked at Yumino, all he saw was a shadow of what was once a proud elf—now shriveled up next to Averin, with dark circles under his eyes. Life seemed to have left his body, yet he was still breathing.

"Did something happen while we were asleep?"

"Absolutely nothing," Averin answered. "It seems that this guy sucks at dealing with sleepless nights."

"Ah, so that's what it was!" Gavin laughed. "Well, it takes time getting used to it. Some never do, actually. You should see Velmira when she—"

"That's enough, Great Hero of Humanity. It would be a pity if we had to go back because you couldn't hold your mouth~" the voice of an angered sorceress cut in.

"Then how about you don't do anything rash?" said the trembling hero.

As the two were going on with their usual taunts, Yumino slowly got up on his trembling feet.

"Ok, time to make our way to the castle," he said, barely able to keep himself straight.

"Well, look who's back! Partly... Are you sure you're up to it?" said a worried Garron. "The three of us can go ahead while you and Little Averin search around some more."

"No need for that. A single night is not enough to knock me down! Besides, Velmira can just make me a potion or something, right?"

Except for the sorceress, the others seemed troubled by Yumino's words.

"Yumino... You really don't need to go that far? A potion for a sleepless night is a bit—"

"I'll do it!" Velmira quickly intervened.

In vain did everyone try talking sense into the elf; the fatigue had already overtaken his mind. All he could think about was the coffee he used to drink at home and the bitter taste that woke him up even after the toughest nights.

With his mind set, he grabbed the glass handed to him by the excited witch and gulped it down in one go under her concerned gaze.

"Yumino..."

"I thought it would be more bitter, but that was good! Thanks! "... Why are you giving me that look?"

"You're not supposed to gulp potions down like that..." the troubled witch continued.

*****

Three hours had passed since Yumino took Velmira's potion. Out of those three hours, he spent two hours and fifty minutes running around the forest, clapping hands with his friends now and then when he passed them.

"I told him a potion was overkill," Gavin sighed.

"And who would have thought he'd gulp it all down? He's really messed up in the head, that guy!" a fuming Averin continued.

"Well, Velmira seems to be having a lot of fun."

As the others complained, the sorceress was busy acting like a curious child, her gaze running after the hyperactive elf as he ran from one corner of the forest to the other. Now and then, she muttered names of complex substances and how those may have contributed to the effects, but nobody around was knowledgeable enough to engage with her.

"Here, Yumino! Come and tell Big Sis what you're feeling!"

With his steps roaring like thunder, Yumino ran towards Velmira, but failed to stop in time and smashed into the red-haired lady, almost taking her with him, were it not for Garron to stop their momentum with an "easy there!"

"Hm? I thought he was coming in much faster..." the man said, surprised at how easy it felt to stop the two.

"He was," answered Velmira, holding tight to the elf who'd ceased moving. "The potion just ran out midway."

It took Yumino an hour to open his eyes, but when he did, he felt as rested as after a full night's sleep.

"Guys, I had the weirdest dream. Everyone was looking down at me for doing something stupid and... Ah!"

In a more literal sense, the other four members of the search party were all looking down at the elf lying on the ground.

"Well, at least we've had every corner of this forest checked out now!" Gavin joked, accompanied by lighthearted laughter coming from everyone else.

Yumino raised his head. He found himself once again at the entrance of a large, white castle—the castle of Alenrius.

After taking a moment to juggle his memory, he also found the whole situation comical, so he laughed together with the others for a hefty minute. They laughed as if nothing could ever bring down their spirit.

Still, the minute passed, and trouble came knocking once again. From the castle, two angered vampires came out hissing, breaking down the relaxed mood of the adventurers.

"Yumino, do you think you're up for it now?" Velmira asked him.

The elf scoffed.

"If it's about arrows, mine always reach their targets!"