Chapter 207: Chapter 207: The Soul, and the Souls Part 7
– Woof!
I heard Argos's rough bark as he arrived ahead of me. He was driving away the dark shadows seeping from the crows. The shadows that had been creeping toward Louis quickly dispersed and disappeared the moment Argos bared his sharp teeth and began to snarl fiercely.
The corpses of the crows lay around Louis, each one impaled by the arrows I had shot. I scattered black ivy seeds on the crow corpses that littered the ground and then used [Breath of the Forest]. Immediately, black ivy vines sprouted, wrapped around the crows' bodies, and swallowed them whole. Since Black Ivy was a plant that thrived on the "magical power" of monsters, the crow corpses melted and disappeared into the thick vines in a matter of moments.
"Louis!"
I bent down to examine the fallen Louis. Blood was smeared around his mouth from where he coughed it up, and the gaping wound in his abdomen looked serious. This wound was beyond the capabilities of my [Wound Healing] or [Forest Healing]. Not even a potion would be effective here. Even if I took him to a temple right away, I couldn't be sure that he would survive.
…What matters is that he's still alive.
When I held my hand under his nose, I felt a faint breath. That he was still alive despite such severe injuries was remarkable in itself. I moved my hand from under his nose to his pierced abdomen.
Maybe because of the unexpected nature of the situation, my hand was trembling uncontrollably.
Stay calm, Theodore. What's done is done.
The fact that Louis had a wound the size of a fist through his abdomen was something that couldn't be undone. Panicking in shock wasn't going to help in this situation.
Let's do what we can.
First, I used [Wound Healing] and [Forest Healing] on Louis. Since [Forest Healing] maximized healing power by drawing energy from nearby life forms, it was particularly effective in a place like this, surrounded by the forest. While the energy of the sequoia trees seeped into Louis's body, I pulled gray clawgrass from my pouch, crushed it, and applied it to the wound. Then I wrapped it in Rouge leaves and cast a basic healing spell over the bandage.
Just as I finished the incantation, I heard the pounding of hooves and the rumble of a carriage barreling through the underbrush like a bulldozer. The carriage stopped in the clearing, and Lloyd and El leaped out and rushed over.
"Master!"
"Theodore!"
They called out to me urgently, especially El whose face was pale with alarm; she must have mistaken the blood on me for my own. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to reassure her. I yelled to her at once.
"Open the carriage door and prepare the bed!"
It was a relief that we had modified the carriage for sleeping. El hurried back and unfolded the seat into a bed while Lloyd and I lifted Louis into the carriage. Blood dripped steadily to the floor, but there was no getting around it. We laid Louis on the bed and secured his body with blankets to prevent him from moving. Then I pulled Beepy from my inside pocket and placed him on Louis' shoulder.
"Beepy. I don't know exactly when or how your powers will manifest. Maybe you can't even control them at will. But just this once, I need you to do whatever you can to help."
– Beep…
"Just keep him alive."
Whether Beepy understood my words or not, he didn't make as much noise as usual. I immediately shut the carriage door and shouted to El.
"Head to the temple, now!"
"B-But…!"
"I don't care what happens; just get Louis to the temple right away."
"Understood, Master."
El looked worried, as though fearing everything would go wrong, but now wasn't the time for hesitation. Of course, if Louis and El left here, several parts of the plan would need to change, but…
"Hurry, El!"
What mattered most now was whether Louis lived or died. As I shouted, El spurred the carriage forward. Thankfully, Storm showed no sign of fatigue. The horse started racing through the forest even faster than when we had first arrived.
"Ayla. Guard that carriage."
– Woof woof!
Ayla glanced back at me, gave two sharp barks, and then took off after the carriage. If anyone tried to follow, she would take care of it.
"Lloyd."
"...."
Lloyd said nothing. He seemed quite shocked as well.
"Though he went on ahead, it seems someone had been lying in wait. It looks like an ambush."
"If they could do that to Louis, they must be one of the strongest in the continent."
"…I disagree."
Rather than a powerful individual infiltrating Corin, it was much more likely that Louis had simply let his guard down.
If it was someone Louis would have felt safe around, then, naturally…
"Dawood. Louis must have met with Dawood here."
Unlike Louis, Dawood was not one to wield a sword. If Louis was all about fighting, Dawood was more of the intellectual type. He was a gentleman who was only educated in how to govern a territory. He didn't have calluses on his hands…
Of course, Louis wouldn't have let his guard down simply because Dawood was weak.
…Still, it was his brother. He must have wanted to trust him.
That feeling of trust was what made Louis vulnerable. Instead of seeking to punish Dawood, Louis would have wanted to persuade him, to save their father. The emotions he let slip at times felt closer to sorrow than hatred.
The one who struck down the unsuspecting Louis was probably someone who came with Dawood.
Fabio, that crow bastard.
Damn it. I should've kept Callisto by Dawood's side all along. Even knowing it was impossible, the thought kept gnawing at me.
"..."
But now wasn't the time to let frustration boil over.
It couldn't have been long since they took down Louis. It would take time before they returned to the center of the Sequoia Forest. Even though El and Louis were gone, Lloyd and I had to press into the forest as quickly as possible.
From there, Callisto will join us…
I could only hope things would go well. El would return to Sequoia Forest right after she entrusted Louis to the temple.
"Argos."
– Woof!
I pointed to the trampled spot on the ground.
"Follow this scent. They're definitely in the forest."
– Woof woof!
Argos sniffed the scent on the crushed grass and then shot off into the forest.
"Lloyd, we need to move quickly too."
Lloyd, who had been silent all this time, nodded and gave a long whistle. Moments later, his horse came galloping from a distance. As he mounted his horse, Lloyd looked at me briefly.
"I'll travel through the trees. It'll be faster, and it'll help me stay prepared for anything unexpected."
"Understood."
Leaving the sound of Lloyd spurring his horse behind me, I climbed up a Sequoia tree and used [Call of the Forest]. Almost immediately, the spirit of the Sequoia Forest appeared; it was moving with far greater speed than before.
– Shasha.
"I hadn't planned on calling you just yet, but I'm in a bit of a hurry."
– Shashasha.
The spirit of the Sequoia Forest circled me briefly before settling on my shoulder. With the spirit here, this forest was practically the palm of my hand. I leaped toward the next tree, and as if expecting me, a branch bent gracefully to catch me.
– Shasha?
"Perfect, thanks."
I moved from branch to branch, followed the breeze that flowed between the trees, and crossed the forest much faster than Lloyd on horseback. Like a creature born to live in this forest, I could feel every branch, every blade of grass responding to me. It was as if the forest accepted me as one of its own.
– Pheeeewwwt!
Once again, the sound of a whistle echoed through the trees. It was Lloyd; he must have seen something. I climbed to the top of the tallest tree and scanned the area ahead. Just as Callisto had described, soldiers were stationed along the path leading to the center of the forest. And the tall, lightly armed man standing in the middle must be Callisto.
– Pheeewwt!
I whistled back in acknowledgment, exchanged a look with Lloyd, and jumped back through the trees.
***
"Halt!"
Lloyd obediently reined in his horse and looked at the soldier who had called out to him. The soldier wore armor marked with Corin's emblem, the Bull, displayed on his chest. In a stern voice, the soldier shouted at him again.
"You're not permitted to go any further!"
"….…"
"Turn your horse around and get out of here, now!"
Though Lloyd hadn't moved a muscle, the soldiers had already drawn their swords and spears, then pointed their weapons directly at him. The only one not in a defensive posture was an elf who was standing slightly back from the center and was idly playing with a leaf; his expression betrayed a thinly veiled boredom.
…That must be him.
The elf Theodore had mentioned.
Corin's soldiers were among the best-trained in the Empire, thanks to the lord's high standards. Even for Lloyd, they would not be easy to deal with; not only were they highly skilled, but there were many of them….. Not surprisingly, they were very proud.
"..."
But Lloyd urged his horse forward, even as the swords and spears were aimed at him. The horse moved forward slowly, step by step. The soldier who had first shouted at Lloyd lowered his helmet visor and drew his sword.
– Shing!
The well-honed blade scraped against the sheath with a chilling sound. No amateur, Lloyd noted before he drew his own sword in response. His heavy blade slipped free, releasing a similarly ominous ring.
Up to that very moment, the elf continued to play idly with a leaf. He seemed to be crafting a grass whistle, occasionally bringing it to his lips to blow.
"…Kill him!"
With a fierce shout, the soldiers charged at Lloyd. The gleam of their raised swords flashed like lightning. Lloyd plunged straight toward that flash.
– Swish!
At the same instant, an arrow sliced through the air and crossed directly in front of that flash.