“Something others can’t see?”
“I want to know what you do, what abilities you have. For example, if you might be a shaman or something like that.”
“Pfft.”
“My lady!”
The woman burst into laughter, and Nile’s face turned incredulous.
“Ah, I’m sorry. It was just such an unexpected question.”
The woman covered her mouth with her hand and quickly added.
“There are a few items said to be imbued with a shaman’s spirit, but as is often the case with such things, none have been verified. Would you like me to show you?”
Ashika had never seen a shaman. They were beings that only appeared in the fairy tales her father read to her as a child. She didn’t even know if they actually existed. But whether it was shamanism or whatever else, she hoped to find clues about the strange things she had experienced.
“I don’t know how to explain this. Someone told me to come to you. They said you have abilities.”
“Of course I have various abilities. They’re not shamanism, though.”
A peculiar smile played across the woman’s face. She seemed to find the current situation quite amusing.
“For example?”
Instead of answering, the woman brought the teacup to her lips. The momentary pause in her gesture heightened the tension and anticipation of her companion. One sip, two sips. After drinking her tea, the woman put down her cup and spoke.
“Things like how this young lord here has run away from home and is having quite a hard time? Young lord, you know? That someone at home is waiting anxiously for you.”
Nile’s mouth fell open.
“You’ve been through a lot until now, haven’t you? If you don’t return soon, it’ll get worse.”
Unlike when she spoke to Ashika, the woman’s voice was merciless. Ashika turned to look at Nile with suspicious eyes. His inability to deny it while opening and closing his mouth suggested it wasn’t a lie.
“And you still say you’re not a shaman?”
“That’s a bit different.”
“Perhaps you’re from Rantal? I’ve heard people there have mysterious powers.”
“Pfft, what am I going to do with you.”
The woman burst into laughter again. Her eyes, looking at Ashika as if watching a child spouting random questions, were filled with amusement.
“Those are all just rumors. The people there are just like the people here. There are people who seem ordinary but aren’t ordinary everywhere.”
When the answer came back different from what she expected, Ashika’s expression hardened. The woman met her gaze with a face still tinged with laughter.
“So what is it you’re really curious about? The real reason you came to find me.”
Ashika’s heart grew heavy. For the past month, she had been carrying all her worries alone, with nowhere to ask and no one to discuss them with. But somehow, she had a strange feeling that this woman would understand her concerns.
Taking a deep breath and hesitating, her lips finally parted.
“I have dreams…, nightmares.”
The woman’s expression, which had been filled with laughter, hardened in an instant.
“Dreams where everything looks similar but different things happen in subtly different situations. They repeat so often that they remain as vivid as reality in my memory.”
“Why is that a problem? Repeating similar dreams is a common occurrence. It might mean nothing, or it might be a prophetic dream.”
“A prophetic… dream?”
Could it be described so simply? Ashika’s experience was closer to hallucinations experienced while awake rather than dreams.
“What is the problem that the Lady feels? Enough to worry so much?”
The woman relaxed her hardened face and asked again in a soothing voice.
Ashika’s body tensed. Though she maintained an elegant posture with her back straight, her delicate fingers were clutching the hem of her dress.
“Each time, I feel forcibly pulled somewhere. Regardless of my will.”
“So you’re afraid of losing control. Seeing things you don’t want to see, hearing things you don’t want to hear. And feeling anxious that this might mean something.”
Even though Ashika had explained indirectly, the woman had pinpointed exactly what she was feeling.
“I said it might be a prophetic dream, but the form varies from person to person. Some people read the past, some experience the future. Or it could be something else entirely.”
Something else entirely. Ashika’s fingertips twitched.
“How long has it been? Since you started having these dreams?”
“…A month, now.”
Ah, the woman let out a small exclamation.
“Perhaps, just perhaps.”
The woman continued speaking, running her fingertips over the teacup she had placed on the table.
“Someone might have something they want to tell you. Dreams are defenseless, making them an easy weakness to penetrate.”
“That’s rather vague.”
“In such cases, there should be some consistency. You just haven’t realized it yet.”
As Ashika closed her mouth, the woman spoke in a slightly kinder voice.
“Think about it carefully. And Rine.”
At her gesture, an elderly woman who had been waiting approached. She was the person who had guided Ashika and Nile here.
“Bring the blue medicine bottle from my bedroom.”
Rine, who had been standing like a ghost the whole time, quietly left the room and disappeared somewhere.
Ashika was lost in thought, and the woman remained silent as she watched her. An awkward silence descended upon the room until Rine returned.
“My lady.”
It was Nile who roused her from her deep thoughts. And somehow Rine had returned, and the woman was handing her a small medicine bottle.
“If you have trouble sleeping, mix a drop or two of this in your tea.”
She mentioned nightmares, so was the woman giving her a sleeping potion?
‘That’s not my problem.’
She also doubted whether this medicine would be of any use to her. The woman added, seeing Ashika hesitate.
“It’s not a dangerous drug, so you can take it home, experiment with it, and use it. But the medicine is a bit expensive.”
“I don’t have much money with me.”
“You can send it later through someone.”
“Why would you give me something like this? What do you trust?”
The woman quietly smiled at Ashika’s questioning expression.
“Do you think you won’t see me again?”
Her tone was certain that this relationship wouldn’t end with just one meeting.
“My name is Iben Siclaire. Although my family is now ruined, I was once a noble. Is that trustworthy enough?”
“Iben Siclaire….”
“I’d like you to call me Iben. By the way, I’ve been wondering, why is there such a strong smell of medicine coming from that young lord?”
“Ah.”
Iben gestured to Nile, who had been on edge the whole time. It was so natural, like calling a subordinate or a child.
“He was recently burned and is under treatment, so that must be why.”
“Burn ointment? No, that’s not it. It’s a stronger, more ingrained smell.”
Nile could be seen flinching. Despite his explanation, Iben tilted her head.
‘First she recited his personal history just by looking at his face, and now she can detect illness just from smell?’
Ashika turned to look at Nile, who was wearing an uncomfortable expression.
“Don’t be afraid and come here. What could I do to you when you’re the one with the strength to do something?”
“Who says I’m afraid?”
“Then tell me. Do you have a chronic illness?”
Iben laughed at Nile’s sullen response. She exuded an unusual aura, but the atmosphere had lightened from before and somehow seemed enjoyable.
“It might help if you tell me. But suit yourself.”
“Have you heard of keratinization disease?”
Nile blurted out, as if it wasn’t particularly a secret.
Contrary to expectations that she wouldn’t know, Iben’s eyes widened.
“I’m guessing you take medicine once a month? And extremely expensive medicine at that.”
“You know a lot about a rare disease.”
Nile frowned at the tone, which was notably different from how she addressed Ashika.
“But that’s not a cure.”
“I’m aware there’s no cure for this disease.”
“That’s not necessarily true. If I gave you that, what could you give me in return?”
“Are you saying there’s a cure?”
Nile’s voice rose involuntarily.
“Not a complete cure, but to some extent. When scabs form on your skin, the pain gradually worsens until it becomes unbearable. This medicine prevents that. Of course, you still need to keep taking the medicine you’re currently on.”
“Ha. I’ve heard that even the Empire’s best pharmacists couldn’t create a cure. How can I believe you?”
Nile’s gaze grew sharper than ever before. It wasn’t a simple matter, but Iben was speaking about it too casually. However, even as Nile bristled like a hedgehog, Iben’s attitude remained relaxed.
“Why do you think only pharmacists can make medicine?”
“You….”
Nile asked with a half-doubting face.
“Are you an alchemist?”
“Ah….”
Ashika let out a small exclamation.
People who could freely handle poisons, medicines, and all sorts of substances. However, alchemists were rare in the Empire. This was due to the fixed idea that while an alchemist’s medicines were powerful, they were also dangerous. Due to the tendency to particularly look down on alchemists, they had almost died out in the Empire.
“I don’t have the ability to pay right now.”
Even as he said this, Nile’s eyes sparkled. Iben thought for a moment and then curled up the corners of her mouth.
“Lady, how about leaving this man with me for a while?”
“M-me?”
Nile jumped in surprise, his shoulders twitching.
“I’m not an object. And there’s nothing much I can do anyway.”
Nile spat out words completely different from what he would say to Ashika with a serious face.
“Think of it as payment for the medicine. My lady, what do you think?”
“I… don’t think I have the right to decide that.”
As the decision shifted to her, Ashika glanced sideways at Nile.
“That’s right. My lady shouldn’t be selling me just anywhere. And we don’t even know if it’s a real cure or not.”
“Then you’re willing to give up this medicine?”
Iben spoke in a sweet tone, with her eyes narrowed. Like a witch tempting a child with candy. Even knowing this, Nile couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
“I’ll have a coachman called to take you safely home, my lady. Don’t worry.”
“Are you saying to send the Lady home alone?”
Unlike Nile, who jumped up in protest, Ashika’s expression remained calm.
‘If what the woman says is true, this is an opportunity for Nile.’
An alchemist, nearly impossible to find within the Empire. For a man who would willingly entrust his life to her because of his disease, she couldn’t ask him to throw away a possible opportunity.
“I’ll send payment for the medicine you gave me without delay tomorrow. If you could send Nile back then, that would be fine.”
As Ashika rose from her seat, Nile’s face grew even more flustered.
“You said you had abilities. Surely you’re not afraid of being with just two women?”
“My lady.”
Ashika ignored Nile’s call and asked Iben, “Where can I find a carriage?”
Iben was smiling with a satisfied look on her face.
“Rine, please guide the Lady.”
“I can go alone, so don’t follow me.”
Ashika spoke firmly and turned away. While Nile was unable to do anything, she quickly left the room alone. Perhaps because she felt that her connection with Iben would not be a light one, she didn’t feel afraid.
When she went outside, all the shops on the street had already closed. It was a night when thick clouds obscured even the moon.
****
The jostling carriage stopped in the middle of a quiet street. Seeing Ashika getting out of the carriage, the coachman worriedly spoke up.
“Are you sure this is your destination? Madam told me to take you safely home. The sky also looks heavy, like it’s about to pour rain.”
“It’s fine. I can use another rental carriage.”
Ashika hadn’t revealed her identity to Iben. So she couldn’t take Iben’s carriage all the way to the Duke’s residence.
“If you’re going to take another carriage, you should move quickly. In a little while, all the carriages on the street will be gone for the night.”
“I’ll do that.”
The coachman urged her once more and then left. After confirming that the carriage had disappeared from view, Ashika walked along the poorhouse wall.
“Ah.”
Suddenly, she felt a cool sensation on her skin along with the chilly night air and looked up. Drip, drip. Raindrops were falling. Ashika wiped away the moisture on her face with her fingertips and pulled the hood of her cloak down deeply.
Despite the late hour, there were quite a few people coming and going around the poorhouse. These were people seeking shelter outside because there was no space inside the poorhouse. As raindrops began to fall, people hurriedly got up and moved towards the building entrance and areas covered with awnings.
Beyond that, she could see the remnants of a building that had been burned completely black. Ropes had been placed around it to prevent people from approaching.
Wooden frameworks that had turned into lumps of charcoal, mud walls that had collapsed and blackened, and interiors that had been crushed beyond recognition. The old and shabby building was black and ominous, like a monster with its insides torn out.
As she got closer, the smell of charcoal was so strong that she covered her nose with her sleeve.
“You’re not allowed to go inside the rope.”
As Ashika tried to enter through the back door, a restraining voice was heard.
‘So someone was here.’
The man was tall with an unusually strong build.
“This isn’t a place for sightseeing. You should just leave—”
Suddenly, the approaching man stopped in his tracks. When his eyes met Ashika’s, his face crumpled.
“Damn Igraine.”
It was barely a whisper, but Ashika heard it clearly.
After a momentary surprise, Ashika recognized him too. The man with dark brown hair, about thirty years old, was someone she had seen about a month ago. And that was inside the security force’s detention cell.
“Why is a knight of Talion here?”
