Peaceful Night

"Be prepared to run should the mountain wake."

"Mhm."

Peo stands beside me with her backpack tightly fastened without her shields. Instead, I'm carrying them on my back with a black satchel in one hand and my weapon in the other.

"This could end in disaster, but the risk is worth taking."

"But…the village…"

Behind us is a pile of rope atop a pile of folded cloth. Beyond these resources is the village of Cadell many kilometres down. This experiment may cause an avalanche that crushes the settlement and all of its residence.

"As long as we survive. That's all that matters."

It would be a shame for the kind villagers to die, but that is a sacrifice that both I and Norwin itself are willing to take. Fighting a monstrous foe comes with collateral.

I point the barrel of my pistol down the pit.

"Get ready."

BANG

A pillar of red pierces the mountain and strikes the bottom of its tall cavern. The sound of shattering rock echoes upwards towards us, but that is all that arrives.

BANG

Once more, I test the patience of a Titan. At this point, we can conclude that noise or even destruction isn't enough to awaken the sleeping terror. Peo becomes less tense beside me as the results land in favour of the people living below.

I'm about to turn away from the pit, but the counter inside my head flashes with the number one. Peo tilts her head in confusion as I aim the gun back down the pit.

"Why…more?"

"This weapon of mine has a weakness."

Popping out the cylinder, I reveal the single bullet sitting within the crimson chamber. No matter how much I extend my will, no more bullets appear.

"I cannot reload whilst I still have ammunition. Unless I fire now, I will be left with only one bullet for the fight in a couple of days."

Replenishing the magazine is a quick process, taking no more than two seconds. However, that small window may very well be fatal.

BANG

With my gun now at max capacity, Peo and I begin unwinding rope and cloth. We spend the rest of the day making our last preparations for the fight ahead.

* * * * *

"Eat it while it's hot!"

"Thank you."

I take the bowl from Bailey as the smell of beef stew lingers around the small cabin. Peo and I sit at the table waiting for her to eventually join us.

"Apologies that we could not have returned earlier. I did not expect our labours to last so long."

"It's fine! My parents eat early, so it can't be helped."

We barely made it back down the mountain before night fell, where we found Bailey waiting patiently for us here. My muscles ache as I enjoy the warm dish alongside a loaf of plain bread. After a day of nothing but rations, this feels like a luxury dish.

"When do you two depart for Norwin?"

Having already eaten, Bailey only picks at a sweet pastry remaining from her trip to Melior.

"I wish to leave by tomorrow. Considering the walking distance, it will be another early start."

"You intend to walk!?"

The distance isn't something to be shocked about. Considering that knights patrol the route daily, it should be an easy trip.

"Of course. This business is of a private matter, so I must not involve those unrelated."

"I-I see…"

Bailey appears to have accepted this answer, sitting back in her chair. However, she soon changes her mind and stands up with a frown.

"You simply must allow me to take you!"

"There is no need, any debt you may have owed has been sufficiently paid."

"Perhaps, but I simply wish to go! I have only started performing shipments recently, so never once have I stepped foot in the Capital."

Completely out of excuses, Bailey enacts her will and demands what she desires. There is no need for pleasantries here, as we are all very well aware of her dreams.

I understand them, but I will not budge so easily. My identity cannot be known by the citizens here.

"Would that not trouble your people? They appear to rely on you greatly."

"They have been able to sustain themselves without me for days. Being absent for a single morning will not cause issues."

"Even if you do not bother them, it would be a bother for me. Ordinary folk are not to be privy to my business upon arrival."

"Then I will simply take you part of the way. I may at least visit the fields beyond city walls whilst you perform your duties."

This farm girl is insistent. Having her drive us to Norwin would be convenient and provide us much needed rest. The question is whether this benefit is worth the risk of being discovered as the Blessed Knight of Melior. Our reception has not been great so far, and I would rather not lose Cadell as a place safe from world politics. An assassination in a tiny village like this would be not only probable, but easy.

All of these risks may be present, yet not unavoidable.

"You will not accompany me past the point where the city becomes visible. Do as you wish once I am inside the walls."

"A-Are you certain!?"

"I would not make the proposal otherwise."

Bailey almost jumps in place at our compromise. Outright refusing her aid would have been an inefficient use of resources. Saving even a few hours of needless walking can make all the difference once our lives are on the line.

I begin collecting the empty bowls and prepare to take them outside for washing. Whilst I'm busy, the farm girl appears behind Peo and places her hands on the beast's shoulders.

"That does remind me, may I take Peo with me to our baths. She looks as if she has been caked in dirt for days!"

The mention of a bath seems to have put the girl in question on edge. Her thick tail seems to stick straight up and her eyes plead me to save her from whatever is going to happen. Even if she doesn't move, that face is shaking its head wildly.

"Sure, go ahead."

One girl brightens up with joy while the other cowers in fear.

"Alright! Don't worry, Peo! I'll get you nice and clean!"

"…C…"

Peo tries to cry for help, but I make no moves to stop the farm girl from dragging her away into the impromptu bath time. Try as she might to break free, Peo is unwilling to harm Bailey even if a bath is on the other side.

"A bath, huh…"

I'm aware of a place at Melior's castle where knights and castle staff can bathe, but we always avoided it. Removing my defenses for even a few minutes in a public location would be no different than swimming naked in a pool of sharks. Peo never asked for one and I'm also accustomed to being without a bath for days or even weeks.

"Ah, I can show you to the men's bath if you wish, Mr. Clark. It is quite late, so you will have the space to yourself."

"In that case, I will gladly accept your offer."

For the sake of our health, we should probably get cleaned up at least once in a while. This village has barely a warrior present, so a wild dog would likely be more dangerous than one of the residents.

Bailey doesn't release Peo for even a moment as we journey into the nearby forest. If she isn't holding the beast's hand, even I can't guarantee that she won't flee immediately. I'll have to ask later why she finds bathing to be unpleasant.

"Here we are. The men's bath is just further down."

Unsurprisingly, there are no tubs of water or shower faucets. Nothing but nature's natural spring sits at the side of a stone wall. From somewhere inside the mountain, water spills out and pools into a ring of stones.

"Then I will leave you two here."

"...Wait…"

I ignore Peo's final attempt to escape as Bailey begins tugging away at the rags covering the beast's body. Whatever happens on this side of the trees is no longer my concern.

Now alone, I locate the pool illuminated by the stars above. For the first time since donning this black leather, I remove my armour willingly and dip into the cold water.

"The hardest part is still to come…"

I allow the spring water to cut away at my fatigue as I plan out many possible scenarios in my head. The starry night continues, counting down the remaining time before we must face a calamity.