Chapter 24 — Toward Gosen
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Kael Grenfort:
I returned to the inn.
Inside, everything was quiet. The innkeeper bowed to me and smiled — I did the same.
"Back already, son?" Father's voice came from upstairs. He was still in his robe, holding a cup of hot tea.
"Yes, Father. The room next to mine is yours — you can go in and rest whenever you like."
"Alright, son. Goodnight."
I went to my room, closed the door, and stretched out on the bed. For a few minutes, I just lay there staring at the ceiling. Velmora's face floated before my eyes — her black hair, her dirty clothes, the view from the hilltop at sunset.
A village, poverty, but in her eyes… there was hope.
At that age, in those circumstances… how?
My eyes closed.
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Morning.
We were leaving the inn.
As I stepped outside — there she was. Standing with Father. Her hands behind her back, posture straight, expression serious.
"Hey, Kael, is this your friend?" Father said, pointing at her, then looking at me. That teasing glint was in his eyes — I knew that look too well.
"Yes… yes, Father. Sorry."
"Why are you apologizing? She has something to tell you. Hurry up, we're leaving," he said and climbed into the carriage. He shot me another glance — a "curious" one.
What am I supposed to do?
"Hmm… big brother, what's your name? You left without telling me yesterday," she said. Hands on her hips, head tilted, demanding tone. Like a little boss.
"Hey, hey, little girl, don't be so forward!" I said, waving my hand.
"Fine, whatever — what's your name?"
"My name is Kael. You heard Father — I know you know that. You want my full name."
"Fine… Kael Sedric Grenfort. That's it. Hmm… satisfied?"
"Yes, good," she said, nodding.
But before she could finish, Father stuck his head out the window.
"What are you doing, Kael?" he said, scrunching up his face. His grin — like a man who'd just discovered the greatest joke in the world. "Hehehe… what's this? Found your first love? Hehehe…"
Honestly, right now he looks like some sleazy old pervert. I really want to kill him.
"Yes, yes, Kael. What's this girl's name? Are you going to introduce yourself without even asking hers?"
Velmora looked at him, then at me. A moment of hesitation — then determination.
"My name is Velmora, Mr. Sedric. Pleased to meet you," she said.
"Yes, yes, me too. Vel… Moo… Ra…" Father deliberately dragged it out, then looked at me and laughed like an idiot.
I just stood there.
I wiped my eyes. Sometimes he's out of his mind. Am I sick or something?
"Alright, little sister, I'm leaving. Goodbye," I said, walking forward.
"Hmm… 'little sister'?" Father chimed in again. "I thought you two were the same age. Or she might be older."
Ugh, this old fool. Argh… Smirking at me like an idiot.
"Hehehe… no, she's two years younger, Father," I said with an innocent face.
"Hmm… are you sure? She told me she was eight."
Before I came out, he'd asked her age. That sneaky old woman. Eee, pfft, that sneaky old man.
Then he looked at Velmora. That familiar slyness flickered in his eyes.
"She's seven," he said in a strange tone.
Velmora slowly approached me. Her face was serious — like a judge passing a sentence. She raised her hand — and pinched my cheek. Pulled it this way, that way.
"Why are you lying to me, little brother?" she said, puffing out her cheeks. Her eyes — green. Strange. Deep, dark, like a lake in a forest.
"Haha, fine. So what if I lied?" I said, taking her hand — soft, warm. "Alright, goodbye, Velmora. Until we meet again. That thing I gave you… don't show it to anyone, use it only for yourself. Okay?"
She stood silent for a moment. Then nodded. "Okay. Goodbye."
I climbed into the carriage.
"Silvan, move on!"
We started rolling.
Through the window, I watched her — she was watching me leave. Didn't wave, didn't speak. Just stood there.
We moved further. Then further. Even from a distance — she kept staring at me. Her eyes — glowing green.
And she whispered:
"Goodbye, big brother. We'll meet again. I'm sure of it…"
I got scared. Honestly. Time stood still, but her words seemed to freeze in the air and reach my ear. As if time had stopped completely.
How?
She's just a village girl.
Is she?
I shuddered.
We left.
---
And finally — the city of Gosen.
The walls weren't very high — similar to our town of Dester, but newer and stronger. But one thing was clear — security here was tight. Guards lined the gate, their armor gleaming in the sun. Every carriage, every person was being scrutinized.
Ahhh… we've been stuck in traffic for half an hour. People, carriages, donkeys, merchants with their livestock — everyone trying to get into the city. Wherever you look, wherever you are — lines everywhere.
"How much longer do we have to wait to get in?" I sighed.
"I don't know. Be patient, son," Father said, flipping through his book.
"Ahhhh… Father, isn't there another way?"
"No. Using magic here is forbidden. If I use it — I'll be thrown in jail immediately."
He looked up from his book and gave me a sideways glance.
"Welllll… is that what you want?"
"No, no! Carry on!" I said, also giving him a sideways glance.
He returned to his book.
I stared out the window, counting the queue.
One carriage, two carriages, one merchant, one old man, two children, one donkey…
Will this day ever end?
"Father, I'm bored."
"You're always bored."
"That's not true."
"It is true."
"Fine, it's true. But I'm still bored."
He didn't answer. Only that mocking smile at the corner of his lips. I know him — he's laughing inside. Always like that.
Foolish old man.
Joker.
Crazy.
But still — I love him.
---
The line crept forward slowly. The sun also climbed slowly across the sky. I stuck my head out the window and looked around — children in other carriages pointed at me. Some laughed, some looked scared.
"Father, they're staring at me."
"Because they're as bored as you are. They're passing the time by looking."
"Hmm… that makes sense."
"I know."
"Don't be arrogant."
"It's not arrogance, it's truth."
Ahhh… arguing with him is like banging your head against a wall. By now, I've gotten used to it.
Finally, the line reached us. A guard approached our carriage, checked the documents, glanced at Father, then at me, then at Silvan.
"Purpose of your visit?"
"Transit. I have some business for a few days, then we'll leave," Father said.
The guard nodded. "You may enter."
We passed through the city gates.
Ahead of us — Gosen. Wide streets, tall buildings, people, merchants, movement.
"Well, here we are again, son," Father said.
"Yes, Father. Here we are again."
I looked back — the gate was closing. Behind it remained the village, Velmora, and those green eyes.
"We'll meet again," she said.
Will we?
I didn't know.
But one thing I did know: this time — things would be different.
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