Just as one of the barbarian warriors asked if Illgorn had seen anything strange, a voice called out from behind them.
"Old man, are you okay?" Caelen shouted. "What's going on here?"
Two of the warriors at the rear quickly drew their swords and pointed them at Caelen.
Caelen stopped where he was, raising his hands.
"Now, now. Calm down," Illgorn said, stepping in. "He's not dangerous. He just came because he was worried about me."
"Sir, do you know him?" the warrior at the front asked.
"Hm. He's just a farmer. Lives around here. We talk now and then. You don't need to worry—his crest didn't even activate at fifteen."
All the warriors turned to look at Caelen's left hand, their expressions softening into pity.
Caelen, confused and annoyed, clenched his right hand over his left, anger flickering across his face.
"I'm sorry, but I won't be much help," Illgorn said. "I haven't seen anything unusual. And you know as well as anyone, nothing slips past these old eyes."
"Yes, sir! But we still need to search every house," the lead warrior replied.
Caelen's eyes flickered for a moment.
"Of course, that's your duty," Illgorn nodded. "But at least wait until morning. People are asleep by now."
The warrior at the front hesitated. Normally, he wouldn't care about the people in this backwater village—they were the lowest of the low.
But Illgorn wasn't just anyone. He was a legend. The warrior had been looking forward to meeting him ever since they were dispatched.
And besides, they didn't have solid proof that the magus was here. They were here only to meet Illgorn.
The village would be searched if nothing else turned up in other places, but it didn't have to be tonight.
"Set up camp. We continue at first light!" the leader barked.
After offering another salute to Illgorn, the group departed.
"Old man, are you really okay?" Caelen asked again once they were gone.
"Brat, you're in no position to worry about me. You haven't even come by to check on me this past week."
Of course, Illgorn was teasing. Caelen knew better than anyone the old man didn't need checking on.
"You didn't come to check on me this time either, did you?" he added.
Caelen looked away, guilt creeping across his face.
"Sigh... Come inside. Let's hear what you've got."
---
"Chief, are you sure it's okay to wait until morning? What if they hide the magus by then?" one of the barbarians asked at their campsite.
"Don't worry," the chief replied. "Chief Illgorn gave everything for the barbarians. He'd never lie. And he can see everything happening in that village."
"I see... but that's only if he's still using his observation ability all the time. He's retired. Do you really think he is?"
"He said he was. And we don't question Illgorn. Anyway, stop worrying. Instead, send someone to tail the boy who visited him."
"Yes, sir!"
---
"So, tell me. What couldn't wait until morning?" Illgorn asked.
"Old man, I had to come now. I have an important question," Caelen said.
Illgorn sat up straighter, his tone shifting with the mood. Whatever the question was, it mattered.
Is this about his barbarian path? he wondered.
"Do you remember the time before the war?"
Illgorn's expression tightened. He understood immediately what Caelen was asking—and why.
"Of course I do. I'm almost eighty."
Caelen frowned at the old man's casual tone. If Idel had told the truth, then this man, too, had played a part in the barbarians' plans.
"Old man, can you tell me? What really changed before the war—and why did it happen at all?"
"Sigh... This isn't the first war the world's seen, you know. As long as people live, there will be war."
"You know that's not what I meant," Caelen said, raising his voice—then checked himself. Illgorn wasn't someone he wanted to shout at.
"It happened fifty years ago. Why ask now? You're eighteen, right? Did someone tell you something this week?"
"Please, just answer. Were the barbarians really the victims, like we were taught? Or…"
"If you already know, then why ask me? What difference does it make if I confirm it or not?"
"Because I'll believe you."
"I see. And what if I lied?"
"I'd still believe you."
Illgorn fell silent. After a pause, he stood and left the room. When he returned, he held a worn notebook in one hand.
"Take it," he said.
"What is it?" Caelen asked.
"Just take it. Go home."
Then he turned and walked away, leaving Caelen standing alone.
But Caelen didn't leave.
He opened the notebook—and saw that it was a diary.
---
When Caelen returned home, Idel was already awake.
"You were right," Caelen said quietly.
"I know. I lived through it."
"And now what? You want me to help you get revenge on the barbarians? Spread the truth? Join the magi or something?"
Idel laughed. "No. Nothing like that. We don't want revenge. We just want the war to end. One of the five nations is already extinct."
"Which one?"
"Does it matter?" Idel replied. "What matters is stopping the rest from falling. If you really want to help, just hide me. I'll find a way to slip out of here."
"Yeah, about that... you're too late."
Idel narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
"Some barbarians are camped outside the village. Sounds like they're looking for you."
"What? They shouldn't be here yet. I covered my tracks."
Idel sat up straighter. He moved better now, as if the pain had dulled.
He closed his eyes. A moment passed, then the crest on his right hand started to glow faintly.
Caelen felt something brush past him, like a ripple of pressure—but nothing happened.
"What did you just do?" he asked.
"Don't worry. Just a concealment field. They won't be able to detect me from outside now."
"But they're coming in tomorrow."
"I know," Idel muttered. He looked down at his missing leg. "Doesn't really matter now."
"What do you mean? It's just a leg. I know people who'd fight with worse."
"Don't lump me in with barbarians," Idel said sharply. "And you clearly don't know this, but for a magus, losing a limb is a huge blow."
"What? Why?"
"A barbarian gets stronger through injuries. For a magus, it's the opposite. I've already lost about ten percent of my power with my leg."
Caelen frowned. "That makes no sense. Why would being cut make you weaker?"
"You want a lesson about magi's anatomy right now?" Idel snapped. "It doesn't matter why. That's just how it works."
He was clearly on edge. Caelen let it go. With everything going on, a little agitation was understandable.
Idel sighed heavily. "Doesn't look like I'm making it out of this one."
"I know someone who can help," Caelen said.
The old man turned to him. "Look, I don't know why you're helping me, but no one else around here will.
The moment they see me, they'll either report me or kill me. Not that they could... People in this village are weak. But the ones hunting me now? Yeah, they could."
Caelen stayed quiet. He didn't say it out loud, but he knew he'd be in danger too if they found out he'd helped a magus. Even if he claimed ignorance, it wouldn't matter.
"I don't care about dying," Idel muttered. "But my research... it needs to survive. Someone has to continue it. Or at least understand it."
Caelen thought for a moment.
He didn't know what was happening, but his mind was working fast, like the time he had fought Illgorn one week ago.
But his heart wasn't fast like that time. It felt strangely still.
After a long pause, he said, "Want me to help?"