Whimper.
With the sensation of a small and sturdy front paw tapping his chest and a thin whimper-like sound, Rensley slowly opened his eyes. Just awakened from sleep, the refreshing yet foggy state of his mind momentarily made him forget where he was and why.
As he gazed lazily at the changing view of the forest, the night that seemed unlikely was approaching, and the sky was dimming. Thanks to the paw tapping on his face, Rensley was soon brought back to reality.
“I’m awake. I’m awake!” Rensley, who had awakened earlier, picked up the young wolf that was urging him and hugged it again. Stretching his legs and sitting, he slowly looked around.
Still half-dazed from waking up, his head clear and muddled simultaneously, Rensley momentarily forgot where he was and why. The evening sky over the peaceful forest was different from the bustling city.
The high roofs of the Celestine Square building, the castle walls, and the sunset from Cornia’s beach were fiery red and covered in golden flames. As the sun emitted its last light, the intense golden color beautifully dyed the sea, but as the sun finally set, the deep crimson, almost ominous, swallowed the world. In that red light, the people of Cornia clinked their first glasses of the evening, played musical instruments, and danced.
The sunset in Aldrant was different. As the sun set quickly, the sunset also came early in the evening, showing brief colors and quickly disappearing.
However, it didn’t mean that the sunset in the north was less beautiful than in Cornia. The quiet, fiery light that came in the evening in Aldrant, with a hint of cold and ice in the colors, always fascinated Rensley.
In the castle window, in the greenhouse, and standing against the sunset, the man who spoke to him in a low and quiet voice was beautiful enough to be considered inappropriate. Sometimes, he would miss what he was saying.
The evening sky in the forest was different for both of them. The sky, mingling with southern light, crimson, and yellow, was more dazzling and confusing compared to the peaceful green land. Watching the scene of stars blooming before the sunset, Rensley once again realized that this was not the human world.
[Have you woken up?]
“Did I sleep for a long time?”
[Whether it’s long or not depends on how you see it.]
It was too early to argue about such things. While Rensley was captivated by the mysterious sky, the wolf spoke nonsense.
[How about living here?]
“What?”
Rensley, suddenly waking up, turned his gaze to the wolf’s face. However, it was difficult to read the wolf’s expression.
“Living here? What are you talking about?”
[As you can see, this forest is peaceful and beautiful. Although there are no other humans, there is no shortage of living alone. Some humans have lived here for years before leaving.]
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Why are you suddenly saying this? Earlier, you said that pairing with humans is forbidden. Are you suddenly interested in me?”
Upon hearing this, the wolf stared at Rensley for a moment without saying anything, then opened its mouth and growled. When large and sharp fangs were revealed, even a creature that had been kind to him until now, like the wolf, instinctively induced fear. Rensley quickly knelt and looked at the wolf carefully.
“Did I do something wrong? Please don’t get angry; tell me.”
Instead of an answer, the wolf looked at Rensley for a while, then opened its mouth and growled. The big, sharp fangs were exposed, making it impossible to read the wolf’s expression.
[Do you feel anything?]
“What? What…”
[Have you ever learned magic?]
“No.”
Rensley shook his head. The Cornia royal family, who hesitated to make him study like others, would not have taught him magic. But, like other princes and princesses, Rensley had taken a test in front of the royal magical guild at the age of about ten.
If there was any talent as a magician, they would have tried to nurture it properly. In any country, an excellent magician is valuable, and even if the current king forbids magic, the story changes if the king can make that magician his subject.
“I don’t have any talent. I’ve hardly seen magic before coming to Aldrant.”
The white wolf approached Rensley. The cub cuddled against Rensley’s chest, and when the cub moved, the white wolf sat down next to Rensley, encircling him as if to confine him.
Still slightly frightened, Rensley blinked his eyes quietly, but… the large and soft embrace of the white wolf undeniably felt pleasant.
[You’re a cute one. Why go out into the outside world when you can just live here with us?]
“…Did I perhaps get kidnapped or imprisoned due to the cuteness?”
[Who said that? I’m not like other humans. I can foresee a bit of the future. What was your name again?]
The white wolf, who had never asked for a name yet spoke as if he had already heard it, said. Rensley squinted his eyes and answered distinctly.
“I’m Rensley. Rensley Maelrosen.”
[Alright, Rensley, son of Maelrosen. You seem to be a bit different from other children. Ahead of you lies nothing but hardships and difficulties. Even on days when you might think it’s better to die, do you still want to go back to human society?]
Rensley’s eyes widened like lanterns. Despite the elegant voice and kind tone, the wolf was pouring out a curse of pure suffering.
His life hadn’t been particularly smooth so far, but suddenly, a storm was announced. Rensley became uneasy and asked, “What are you suddenly talking about?”
[Literally. Your future holds unparalleled hardships compared to what you’ve experienced so far. Is it necessary to live laboriously among humans? Here is peaceful and beautiful.]
“…The king of the forest is not a prophet, though.”
[That’s what I said. I can foresee a bit.]
Rensley looked up at the sky. The sunset color gradually deepened, and for a moment, it became dark. However, instead of completely darkening, the night sky stopped there, gently spreading a deep hue over the grassy field. Perhaps there was no pitch-black night-like darkness here.
The scenery was constantly beautiful, with neither cold nor heat. There were no monsters, enemies, or natural disasters attacking, and there were no emotions like hatred, envy, or jealousy tormenting people. Maybe there were no diseases or injuries here either. A life without pain and tranquility that everyone admired. Rensley silently lowered his eyes.
‘…Sometimes, it’s good to have that. Just being quiet and peaceful every day, alone without others, how do I live…’
“When I met a prophet when I was young, he said prophecies are not absolute and that a person’s fate can be changed.”
[But only that fate knows how to avoid misfortune.]
There was only suffering and hardship left. He would probably come to think that it would be better to die.
At first glance, it might look like a severe joke, but the one who made that statement was not a human but a being like the guardian spirit of the mysterious forest. To the eyes of the large white wolf, all human lives might seem foolish and painful, mere mites.
It might seem like groundless arrogance, but he didn’t think that he couldn’t endure the hardships foretold. Starting a new life would certainly not be easy. If he was lucky, he wouldn’t have been born as an illegitimate prince in the first place.
But next to great misfortune, there were always small fortunes scattered like pebbles, and Rensley had the skill to quickly pick them up instead of being submerged in sorrow or despair.
He was born as an illegitimate prince, and although there were times when he felt sad, he lived relatively freely. And now, he considered it fortunate that he didn’t grow up as a despicable human like some of the king’s other offspring.
When he learned that he had been abandoned in Aldrant instead of Ivet, he thought he had finally faced the disaster of his lilifetime buteing thrown into that great misfortune led him to meet Duke Gezell. Although the meeting ended with him unilaterally breaking up, the encounter with him was undoubtedly a fortune and happiness in Rensley Maelrosen’s life.
“It’s okay. Even like this, I’m confident that I can endure anything. I have a strong will and quick recovery.”
[So, you still want to go out?]
“Yes. Since I’ve had a nap, it’s time to leave.”
[So soon? My child will be disappointed.]
“Now that I’ve decided where to go, I really want to get there quickly. I have people to meet and things to talk about.”
Rensley picked up a map that was spread out haphazardly and presented it in front of the wolf, pointing to a specific location with his finger.
“I want to go here, Molbessa, the desert of Pheraira. But you can’t send me there, can you?”
[There’s nothing I can’t do, but if you want to go there, I have to accompany you, making things complicated. We, like others, have our own territories.]
“Then… could you send me to the border of Aldrant? Near the border, there are many others leaving for different places, and there are many inns. It shouldn’t be difficult to find a group heading to Pheraira.”
The wolf nodded as if understanding, lowering its head. The softly growling voice seemed genuinely reluctant, and Rensley smiled as he leaned his face against the wolf’s cheek.
“I mentioned that day that all I did for the your highness was healing your wounds… Thank you so much.”
As if aware of the posture of parting, the young wolf occasionally whimpered near Rensley’s knees. Rensley hugged the wolf and kissed its forehead.
“It was really nice to meet you. Take care. Thank you.”
After bidding farewell, fortunately, the young wolf descended beneath Rensley without causing any trouble. Then, it nuzzled its face against Rensley’s legs, as if saying farewell, before turning away.
Except for a few members of the Cornia royal family, everyone had treated Rensley respect and love. It was an extraordinary talent to gain the favor of such precious beings. It was a terrifying talent that even he didn’t know about. Since they said there was no power as great as authority in the world, this should be fine no matter what hardships awaited, right?
“I might be able to succeed even if I enter a big organization.”
[What are you talking about? Now, get ready and stand here. It won’t take long.]
A magic circle glowing in bright gold appeared on the grass. Although it reminded him of the teleportation device he had seen in the castle, it was clearly different.
Having prepared his belongings, including a map and provisions, Rensley stood on the magic circle with a donkey. The donkey might have been more comfortable if it sat down here, but Rensley needed a travel companion anyway.
The wolf did not memorize spells like magicians. It just looked at Rensley with its eyes, like Rensley looking at it. Nevertheless, the wind changed. The night breeze, which had settled in as it became night, suddenly whooshed and blew, creating a brighter light and lifting petals from the magic circle drawn below. The surrounding light enveloped Rensley like a wall, preventing the wolf from being visible anymore. He couldn’t endure the dazzling light and covered his eyes with his hand.
“Your Majesty…!”
Although he had climbed onto the magic circle, Rensley, who had not yet thought that he was in the middle of a sending-off ceremony, urgently called him.
But there was no response. When the surrounding light blurred, and he opened his eyes, the place where Rensley stood was no longer the wolf’s forest.
Thank you!
😁💛