"What did they mean just now?"
Josselyn's voice was nearly swallowed by the rising noise of the crowd. People who had been passing by, minding their own business, were now forming a circle in front of her.
Kael did not answer immediately. He remained seated upright on his horse, his gaze sweeping over the approaching crowd.
"They do not like surprises," he said at last.
"This is more than just dislike," Josselyn replied quietly. "What if they really drive us out of the village? We have traveled so far, and Sebastian…"
"I will send help there immediately. But first…" Kael glanced back briefly, "…we need to meet someone and settle this."
"But that will take too long. What if something happens to Sebastian? What if those bandits come back?"
"Someone will vouch for you," Kael cut in. "He is coming."
Josselyn turned in the direction Kael indicated.
An elderly man with a long white beard pushed through the crowd. Two younger men followed behind him.
Kael dismounted his horse. Then he extended his hand to Josselyn, helping her down.
"Village Chief Halvern."
Kael bowed in respect. Josselyn, standing half a step behind him, lowered her head as well.
"Kael. I heard you drove off the Rootborn on your own," the village chief said.
'Rootborn?' Josselyn frowned slightly. 'Ah, the bandits who attacked us in the forest.'
"I was not alone, sir." Kael straightened, then turned toward Josselyn. "The group from the Palace of Valenroth engaged them first. I only cleared what remained."
"See, that girl is one of the palace people!" a voice from the crowd shouted again.
Josselyn instinctively stepped back, moving behind Kael.
Village Chief Halvern's gaze shifted to her.
"You…"
"I am Josselyn, Royal Alchemist of Valenroth," she answered quickly.
Even though she feared the villagers' reaction, she felt safer facing the village chief. His eyes did not burn with hostility the way the others' did.
"And where is the rest of your group?" he asked, scanning the area as if expecting to see more people with her.
"Village Chief, did we not agree to refuse the arrival of palace officials in this village?" another voice called out.
Cedric Halvern, the village chief of Frostmere, turned to face the crowd.
"At the village meeting, there was no agreement to refuse them," he replied calmly. "Besides, can we bear the consequences if Crown Prince Killian hears of it?"
"But King Aleric leads the kingdom—"
"King Aleric trusts the Crown Prince more than villagers like us," he said firmly, immediately silencing the crowd.
Cedric swept his gaze across them before turning back to Josselyn and Kael.
"What do you need right now, miss?" he asked.
"A nobleman is seriously injured. Many of our soldiers and horses need treatment. And our carriage wheel is broken," Josselyn answered smoothly.
Cedric nodded, then looked to one of the young men beside him.
"Prepare several carriages and men to retrieve the palace group."
~
"Are you sure you want to go with them? Would it not be better for you to rest here and wait?"
Kael opened the door to the room, allowing Josselyn to enter first.
Her eyes scanned the space. When Kael had brought her to what he called a place to stay, she had expected a simple house like the others in the village.
But this house was larger than she anticipated. It was not as grand as a palace, but the small garden, filled with colorful flowers surrounding the house, was beautiful and soothing.
"I will feel more at ease if I go by myself." Josselyn turned to face Kael, smiling. "Besides, my help will be needed there."
"There is a village healer and several people who understand herbal medicine. They will assist," Kael explained, folding his arms as he leaned against the doorway.
"It will not be the same if I—"
Josselyn stopped mid-sentence. Her breathing suddenly grew heavier. She frowned.
"…Wait."
Kael blinked, watching the change in silence.
"What is it?" he asked, his tone still flat.
Josselyn shook her head quickly. "It is nothing."
"Are you sure?"
"I said it is nothing."
She drew in a deeper breath, but it only made things worse. Her chest felt warm.
No. Not warm. More than that. Hot.
The sensation spread slowly from within, moving without direction. Josselyn straightened her back, trying to suppress it.
"Are you cold?" Kael stepped toward her.
But Josselyn raised her hand, signaling him to stop. Her body swayed, but she managed to grab the bedside table and steady herself against it.
"The window… may I open it? It feels hot," Josselyn asked between breaths that were beginning to quicken.
"But the night air will be colder," Kael said, trying to stop her, confusion evident.
Josselyn caught his confusion. She understood it. How could she feel hot in the middle of a cold season? But it truly felt as though heat was crawling beneath her skin.
She did not wait for his answer. She went straight to the window and opened it.
Cold air rushed in to meet her. Josselyn closed her eyes, savoring the cooling breeze against her face.
But it did not last long. A pulsing sensation stirred low in her body. Instinctively, her thighs tensed.
"Is it always like this?"
Josselyn's question broke her concentration. "Like what?"
"Your body reacting strangely. Not like usual. And only after using that healing power."
Josselyn turned quickly. "Healing power?"
She turned fully toward him, both hands still braced against the window behind her. Her face, just cooled by the night air, was flushed red.
Josselyn felt Kael's gaze travel over her body, as if searching for something. It only made the strange feeling in her stomach intensify.
"I did not use anything. I only…" Josselyn bit her lower lip. The man who had been with her all this time suddenly seemed far more attractive.
His face was sharply masculine, though streaked with strands of white at his temples. His slightly tanned skin accentuated the defined lines of his arms.
Her gaze drifted down, following the veins along his forearm to his fingers.
His fingers… long and strong.
Without realizing it, an inappropriate thought crossed her mind, and her breathing grew more uneven.
Josselyn reflexively scratched her neck, trying to snap herself out of it.
"I… I only followed your instructions."
Kael crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
"I lied about energy transfer. I did nothing. Everything that happened in the forest was your healing power," Kael said seriously. "And it seems the effect is showing now."
Josselyn looked away.
"That is impossible. I have never used it on anyone else."
"So you have already realized that this power exists within you?"
Josselyn looked at him. His face revealed nothing. Cold. It reminded her of Darius.
Darius… I remember now. That night he came to the herbal room while I was with Yorick.
Her eyes widened as another memory surfaced, nearly making her gasp.
'Yorick and I… in that herbal room, we almost…'
Josselyn covered her mouth, disbelief filling her expression.
"That cannot be… I would not have done that to Yorick, right?" she murmured, barely audible. Her hand rubbed her neck more roughly now, agitation growing.
"Josselyn. You have not answered my question."
Kael's voice snapped her back.
He was about to repeat himself when a knock sounded at the still-open door.
"Sir, the carriages to retrieve the palace group are ready," a man reported.
Kael nodded, then shifted his gaze back to Josselyn.
"You should stay here. We will bring them back."
"B-but…"
Kael looked at her sharply, as if issuing a warning.
"Are you sure you can control yourself?"