Tears of Souls: Lament at Midnight

Chapter 8

The dejected boy was dragged away, this time without resistance.

Candace dusted off her hands and turned towards the inn.

Aber glanced around, then, touching his nose sheepishly, hurried after her.

"He's just a kid, why be so hard on him?" Aber avoided her gaze, focusing on the weeds growing by the roadside. "He probably didn't even understand what you were saying. Besides, the people in that prison aren't exactly role models. Sending a child there might only make things worse..."

Candace stopped in her tracks, finally looking at him directly.

"Don't underestimate children, they're young, not stupid." Her gaze was unwavering, her tone firm. "Just because they haven't experienced something doesn't mean they can't understand it."

Aber, taken aback by her sharp gaze, raised his hands in surrender. "You're right, I apologize."

Candace didn't press the issue, muttering under her breath, "I did tell them to keep him separate from the adults..."

Her gaze fell on the suitcase in Aber's hand.

She pointed at it. "That's mine."

Aber chuckled, handing it to her. "That little rascal almost got away with it, I had to wrestle it back from him."

Candace seemed to finally recognize him, her eyes widening in surprise. "Ah, it's you! The one who... winked at me during the attack." That ridiculous wink.

Fortunately, Aber couldn't hear her thoughts. He flipped his hair back dramatically. "It took you long enough to recognize me."

Candace eyed him suspiciously. "Why are you still with the caravan?"

It was obvious to anyone with eyes that something was off about this caravan. This man had not only intervened to help them, but he had also stayed with them for days...

He was either incredibly naive or had ulterior motives.

Aber stammered, unable to come up with a convincing answer.

Darkness had fallen, the only light coming from the moon.

The night air was chilly, and Candace sneezed again.

The sound seemed to snap Aber out of his stupor. He cleared his throat, regaining his composure. "In exchange for saving your life twice, may I have the honor of buying you a drink?"

Candace sniffled, finding the idea appealing. They headed back to the inn together.

The inn's ground floor doubled as a tavern.

It was early evening, prime time for rowdy patrons.

Aber led her through the boisterous crowd to a quiet corner table.

He ordered a glass of wine for himself, gesturing for Candace to choose her own drink.

Candace scanned the menu. "Do you have ginger tea?"

The young man taking their order rolled his eyes. "Apple juice, honey mead, wine. If you want anything else, go find it yourself."

Candace sighed in disappointment. "Just bring me a glass of water then."

Aber stopped the waiter, turning to Candace. "The water here isn't very clean, you're better off with a drink."

Candace frowned. "What's wrong with the water? Isn't it safe to drink if you boil it?"

The waiter stared at her as if she had grown a second head. "Boil it? And who's going to pay for the firewood?"

He snatched Aber's empty glass and stormed off, returning a moment later with two fresh drinks.

Candace eyed the dubious-looking liquid in her glass, some of the floating particles still exhibiting signs of life. She politely but firmly pushed the glass back. "I'll have a glass of wine as well, thank you."

The waiter grumbled something about "crazy people" and took the glass away.

Candace, bewildered by the unprovoked rudeness, looked genuinely confused and a little hurt.

Finally, an expression befitting her age.

Aber watched her, amused.

They sat in silence for a moment.

"Is it customary here not to boil water?" Candace finally broke the silence, her brow furrowed in confusion. "But the water isn't clean, you'll get sick if you drink it directly."

Aber's curiosity was piqued. "You boil all your drinking water?"

As far as he knew, Candace and Vina's dorm room didn't have a fireplace or any other heating facilities.

Aruboum City was far from the Black Abyss, and while the land wasn't as fertile as West France, the climate was mild, rendering such amenities unnecessary.

Surely, she didn't have a stove set up in her room?

Candace opened her suitcase and carefully lifted out a small alchemy furnace.

Aber stared at it blankly. Then, as she began inserting magic crystals into the slots, his eyes widened in horror.

He lunged across the table, covering the furnace with his body.

The waiter, returning with their wine, jumped back in alarm, almost spilling the drinks.

Waiter: As I thought, crazy people attract other crazy people.

Fortunately, apart from the easily startled waiter, no one else had noticed their little drama.

Aber breathed a sigh of relief, maintaining his protective stance over the furnace. "Put that thing away!" he hissed through gritted teeth.

Candace had been sitting back, observing his reaction with amusement.

She shrugged and returned the furnace to her suitcase.

Only when the suitcase was securely locked did Aber relax back into his chair.

"You... you're..." He took a large gulp of wine, shaking his head in disbelief. "Don't you know the saying 'don't flaunt your wealth'?"

Candace tilted her head, genuinely puzzled. "This is the cheapest model, it's only worth five gold coins."

"Two gold coins is enough to feed a family for a month here." Aber massaged his temples, gesturing towards her suitcase. "If you don't want to get robbed, never open that thing in public again."

Candace let out a thoughtful "oh," folding her arms and leaning back, her gaze fixed on him.

Aber, about to take another sip of wine, froze under her scrutiny. He placed the glass back on the table, shifting uncomfortably. "...What?"

Candace blinked. "You have beautiful eyes."

Aber, flustered, averted his gaze. "...Thank you?"

His hair was the purest gold, rich and vibrant, shimmering like molten metal in the flickering candlelight.

His emerald green eyes, framed by unruly bangs, held a hint of mischief.

He held his wine glass with casual grace, but there was an undeniable charm about him, drawing shy glances from the innkeeper's granddaughter peeking from behind a doorway.

Candace continued to study him for a moment before a smile spread across her face. "You remind me of someone I know."

A flicker of panic crossed his emerald eyes, quickly masked. Candace's smile widened.

Aber groaned, burying his face in his hands. "How did I give myself away?" He had to know.

"Your eyes are similar, but it's mainly your accent." Candace's shoulders finally relaxed. "I didn't have any real evidence, I was just taking a chance..."

She hadn't expected it to work so easily.

Aber moaned, his voice muffled by his hands. "No wonder you two are friends... I should have known!"

Candace leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "So, how are you related to Vina? I've never heard her mention having a brother who's an adventurer."

Aber's eyes darted around before he shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "A black sheep like me wouldn't exactly be a source of pride for the family."

Candace understood. He was probably an illegitimate child.

She decided to be tactful for once, not pressing him further. She simply nodded, taking a sip of her wine.

Aber breathed a sigh of relief.

Candace was Vina's friend, and Vina was his aunt.

Technically, he should address Candace as "aunt" as well...

But he was older than both of them.

Calling Vina, his childhood friend, "aunt" was one thing, but addressing a girl he barely knew as such...

It was too embarrassing.

He would let the misunderstanding continue for now.

Aber cleared his throat, waiting for Candace to look at him before speaking. "Vina hired me to protect you on this journey. However..."

He hesitated, his gaze troubled. "The closer we get to the North, the closer we get to the Black Abyss... It's far more dangerous than you can imagine."

"So far, you've only encountered danger from humans. But human threats pale in comparison to the dangers of nature."

Nature didn't negotiate.

It was the embodiment of the phrase "I'll kill you when I damn well please."

"It's not too late to turn back, I can guarantee your safe return." Aber met her gaze, his expression serious. "But if we continue north, even I can't guarantee your safety. Surely, your life is worth more than a few credit points..."

Candace lowered her head, lost in thought.

Aber knew this was a difficult decision for her, so he didn't pressure her.

Suddenly, a cheer erupted from the crowd, someone being hoisted onto a table in the center of the tavern.

The sound of a lute filled the air, accompanied by a cheerful flute melody.

Patrons rose to their feet, clapping their hands and singing along to a familiar tune.

Aber remembered that it was the harvest festival in East France.

"Praise be to Dera, who blesses us with fertile lands—"

"Praise be to Dera, who provides us with bountiful harvests—"

"Praise be to Dera, who grants us sweet wine—"

"Great Dera, Earth Mother, we are eternally grateful for your generosity—"

The lyrics were a mix of different dialects, almost impossible to decipher.

But it didn't matter.

The infectious energy spread throughout the tavern, everyone joining in the celebration.

Even the knights, who couldn't understand the words, tapped their feet and smiled.

Aber, caught up in the festive atmosphere, watched the merrymakers with amusement, his fingers drumming along to the beat.

Then, he remembered he was supposed to be having a serious conversation with Candace. He turned to face her.

Candace was also watching the singers, her expression unreadable, her eyes distant.

"Did you know that Aruboum City has a curfew? All shops have to close at this hour." She spoke abruptly, her gaze still fixed on the crowd. "Bards don't like to come to Aruboum because they can only perform in the square during the day... It's too quiet, no one stops to listen."

Aber didn't interrupt, watching her profile, illuminated by the candlelight.

"If I hadn't come here, I might have... never seen anything like this."

Strangers, their arms linked, singing together. Joy and laughter filled the air, chasing away the darkness.

She didn't turn to face him, her voice barely a whisper as she spoke words that surprised even herself. "I don't hate this feeling... No, I love it."

Aber could have sworn he saw a spark of fire in her dark eyes.

Small, but intensely bright.

The cheerful melody of the flute filled the air as Candace touched her chest, feeling a surge of joy, something breaking free within her.

Different people, different customs, different landscapes...

The familiar brought comfort, the unknown brought fear.

But humans were drawn to the unknown, seeking the thrill of venturing beyond their comfort zones.

"I don't think I'll ever be an adventurer. I prefer a stable life, a life of excitement and danger doesn't fit into my plans. But..."

She looked up at him, her face lit up with a joy she hadn't realized she possessed. "Before I return to that life, I want to see more."

"Whether it's for my graduation or for my own selfish desires... I'll be in your care for the rest of this journey."

If he had initially accepted this assignment out of obligation to Vina, Aber now found himself genuinely liking this girl.

"Selfish? This is what being young is all about!" He laughed heartily, straightening his collar and raising his glass. "Aberien Rothsworth, call me Aber."

"Candace Nymeros." She clinked her glass against his, a smile gracing her lips. "Call me Candace."