Dex sat at the edge of the cliff, letting the mountain wind play with the hem of his robe. His sharp eyes gazed far toward the horizon, toward where a village appeared clearly visible even if only as tiny specks. There was a dissatisfied feeling etched on his face, But somehow he was actually quite enjoying it, yet instead of putting on a smile, he preferred a flat expression, perhaps because he was too embarrassed to show it.
"You're really disappointed we weren't eaten by the Creons earlier, aren't you?" Liana approached, still wiping her calloused palms from gripping her sword hilt for too long. She took a sitting position on a large rock, releasing the fatigue that had accumulated in her calves.
"Come on, you make me sound like a terrible person if you say that"
"Aren't you though?"
"Heh, of course not" Dex didn't immediately continue. He let the silence hang between them, filled only by the whistling of wind passing through the crevices of the cliff rock. His eyes remained fixed on the expanse of the valley below, where night Creons began to creep out from the mountain foothills as the sun began to slip toward its resting place. "Only around two hundred to three hundred years. And one day, we will all be gone" He paused for a moment. "If I have to go, I want to go with a story worthy of being remembered. Not just a name on a gravestone slowly swallowed by moss"
Liana exhaled a long breath, gazing at the side of Dex's face illuminated by the remaining sunlight.
"I don't know, you speak like that because you are strong" Liana recalled Dex's control of his power at the shop and in the forest, it was a power that even in all the kingdoms would certainly be highly valued. "But many humans are born with limitations they did not choose. With weaknesses that bind their steps even before they have a chance to run. They don't have the luxury of dreaming the way you dream, Dex. They can only await one opportunity or push that could shift their perspective from spectator to having a role on the stage of life"
Silence fell between them again, Dex didn't answer immediately. The wind blew again, colder this time, and he lowered his voice. "You're right, perhaps... I can't put my glasses on every person" Dex closed his eyes and let the wind brush him slowly.
"May I ask?" Liana continued after a while, her voice now heavier, "is the power you have a blessing, or rather a burden that makes you feel estranged from this world. You see monsters as entertainment, while for us, they are the end of everything. That difference in perspective alone is enough to build a tall wall between you and the people around you. You will never truly be able to feel afraid, and without fear, can you truly feel alive?"
"Hahaha, what kind of question is that, you sound like an elder interviewing me" Dex chuckled softly.
Liana was caught off guard by the jab thrown by Dex. Perhaps this was the first time in seven months of her escape, she could speak with calm, so she was enjoying it a little too much. "Noisy, if you don't want to answer it that's fine"
Dex opened his eyes slowly, letting his pupils adjust to the fading twilight. "Fear is relative, Liana. If you say I'm not afraid, of course I'm afraid, I don't do things also because I'm afraid of failing and causing problems, but a person won't be able to grow if they don't face it isn't that so, besides fear depends on how you face it, and about building walls for the people around..." Dex raised his hand toward the sky. "Isn't it true that everyone who wants to see beyond the horizon must be willing to stand a little further from the crowd?"
"Is that so" said Liana
Dex couldn't see what expression Liana had on her face when she said that.
From the direction of the makeshift tent being constructed, Van's grumbling voice could be heard because the branches he had collected were too damp to burn. Anna tried to help by using a small fire starter, but the mountain wind repeatedly extinguished its sparks, Which made her laugh. That simple sight made Liana smile faintly.
"It has been a long time since I've seen the princess smile like that"
"Hey you two, Stop being so proud of yourselves and help us over here!" Van shouted from a distance, his hands waving with frustration in front of the pile of wood that still hadn't produced any smoke. "Use just a little of your magic to protect this fire from the wind, or we'll all be eating cold dried meat again tonight!"
Liana stood up, brushed dust from her trousers and looked at Dex one last time before moving away. "Your stage may be vast, Dex, but don't forget someone holding the lamp at the edge of the stage so you remain visible. Without it, this adventure of yours will only become a lonely selfish journey. Think about that while you ponder that gravestone of yours that won't be covered in moss"
Liana said that while chuckling softly, a smile attached to her lips.
Slowly, Dex raised his hand into the air. With extremely subtle finger movements, he directed the flow of air around their camp, creating a transparent dome that deflected the strong wind so that the fire Van had just lit no longer went out. The fire grew quickly, spreading warmth and orange light that reflected off the faces of his companions who cheered happily. "Perhaps this is the second time I've been wrong" Dex murmured to himself.
Night began to wrap that hillside with a thick cloak of darkness, but the campfire guarded by Dex's magic danced gallantly, creating a circle of light that became their only shelter from the solitude of the mountains.
The Aroma of roasted dried meat began to fill the air, overpowering the smell of wet earth that had gripped their senses throughout the forest earlier.
Van appeared busy turning food over the embers, while Anna sat hugging her knees, staring at the fire with eyes that reflected both longing and relief.
"You know, Van" Anna who had been busy skewering pieces of dried meat on a branch, opened her voice, breaking the silence that had crept in between the crackling of burning wood. "Long ago, in the palace library, I often imagined what it would feel like to sleep under the open sky. I thought it would feel very poetic and peaceful. But now after experiencing it myself, it turns out it feels far more... exhausting than I imagined"
Van laughed softly, the sound of his laughter genuine and unburdened. "That's because those two self-important people were too busy talking, instead of helping" Van sneered at Dex and Liana "But don't worry You just crossed the territory of ancient predators that could swallow us whole. Your body might be resting, but your head is still back among those misty trees. Give it a little more time, later when your stomach is full, that exhaustion will turn into satisfaction"
"I suppose you're right" Although it wasn't visible it seemed Anna was smiling behind her knees.
Under the protection of the air dome created by Dex, the campfire burned calmly undisturbed even slightly by the raging mountain wind. Its orange light reflected on all four of their faces, creating long shadows that danced on the surface of the rocky ground.
Dex finally rose from the cliff edge. He walked approaching the circle of fire with steps deliberately made heavy, He took a seat beside Van, just as the aroma of slightly charred grilled meat began to sting his nose.
"Here he is, our laziest hero has finally joined" Van remarked without turning his head, his hands busy turning pieces of dried meat over the fire. "Please tell me, Dex. Were you brooding at the cliff edge earlier because you were searching for the meaning of life, or were you just waiting until the tent-setting task was finished?"
Dex snorted, he picked up a small piece of wood and threw it into the middle of the fire. "I was making sure there were no monsters trying to peek at the royal princess eating your tough meat. That is a very noble task, Van. Far more difficult than simply turning over meat that would actually be dead if not for my wind dome"
"Nonsense, I was quite a capable cook in my village you know?"
Anna laughed, a small laugh that sounded genuine. "Don't say that Dex, Even though the meat is indeed tough, but at least this is the most delicious food I've ever tasted after walking for hours through those misty swamps. Thank you, Van. And thank you as well to you, Dex"
"You're welcome, Your Highness" Dex answered while leaning his back against a pile of bags. "Besides, if you fell ill from the cold, Liana would certainly use her sword to skin me instead of skinning the prey. I was merely performing an act of self-preservation"
Liana, who had just finished inspecting the condition of her boots, joined them sitting near the campfire, she hadn't heard what Dex had just said. "Hey you all didn't forget to leave some for me did you?"
"Another one of our lazy heroes arrives for their stomach" Van remarked at Liana.
Hearing Van's words, Liana quickly positioned herself right behind him, gently strangling both sides of his neck.
"I was fixing equipment you know"
"Ouch, Let go of me the meat will burn" Van shouted trying to get out of Liana's chokehold.