LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 36
036.
When Kalen opened his eyes, the first thing he saw were two familiar eyes that resembled Ruby’s.
In the corner of the cave, two figures sat side by side.
Kalen blankly stared ahead, looking at Serasie who was peacefully asleep next to him.
The soft breaths of the person beside him were the only sounds, and though much had transpired, the gentle rhythm of her breath was not unpleasant.
One was asleep, the other silently watched over them.
Kalen calmly assessed the situation, something he excelled at even in life-threatening moments. This was why people often remarked that Kalen didn’t act his age.
His calm demeanor explained why he never won any ordinary bets but had never lost a life-or-death gamble.
Kalen shifted his gaze from Ruby to the surrounding cave. The dark monster that had been there was now gone without a trace.
Kalen didn’t think it was just a beast. It felt more like a spirit to him, something he deduced by the markings on the cave entrance and its resemblance to the sigil of the Elemental Lord that Sinarat had summoned.
Its likeness to the creature they had encountered before confirmed this suspicion.
In the end, he had gambled on severing the connection to the spirit realm using the same concept as before.
It appeared the gamble paid off, since the altar in the center of the cavern lay broken.
Thus, yet another dangerous gamble had succeeded.
Kalen grinned faintly and turned his gaze again. His body felt more like a ragdoll, torn and battered with numerous large and small wounds, yet surprisingly, he didn’t feel any pain.
Though his external condition was grave, internally, he felt no different than usual — as if nothing was wrong.
Before losing consciousness briefly, Kalen had felt a chill at the back of his neck, followed by a sense of peace.
Whatever the reason, this outcome was certainly preferable to becoming a motionless half-corpse.
Though many questions remained, pushing himself further would be unwise right now. With Serasie carefully carried on his back, Kalen began to walk.
Outside the cave, the moon was setting, and dawn was just approaching.
Kalen’s gaze turned skyward. He found himself wondering about the summit of Hiart Mountain, unseen since the appearance of the monstrous entity. The view had become a mystery once again, and this sparked his curiosity.
A faint haze remained but was much clearer than before. Still, it seemed too risky to descend yet, and with their current location close to the summit, there was no reason not to continue.
Kalen knew that the sunrise viewed from anywhere was beautiful.
The sun, which usually seemed harsh, held only warmth twice daily—when it began to rise and when it was about to set.
He wondered if the crimson glow that colored the horizon was visible now from the Hiart Mountain summit, somewhere no one had seen in a while.
Resolute in his decision, Kalen, with Serasie on his back, silently began ascending toward the peak.
He recalled watching the sunset beyond the ridge behind the small cottage with Sinarat and experiencing the winter island’s breathtaking scenery with Eliana under a cold winter sun.
Would this view be as grand?
He doubted he’d have the chance to experience such a sight again. Nevertheless, Kalen once again placed a small wager—whether the view from the peak would be as captivating as those memories. Although this wasn’t a wager with his life, he usually lost these kinds of bets.
Kalen couldn’t help but doubt.
*
“…Kalen.”
“Ah. You’re awake.”
Serasie blinked her heavy eyes and struggled to rid herself of the blurry vision. Slowly, her eyes began to focus on something she’d never seen before.
A breathtaking panorama that took her breath away.
“Where… where are we?”
“It’s Hiart Mountain.”
“Mountain?”
“The summit.”
Her entire body was stiff. Fatigue had wracked her, and with her tension suddenly easing, this reaction was natural.
Serasie forced her reluctant neck to turn and asked Kalen:
“Why did you bring me here?”
“Curiosity.”
Kalen remained composed, even though his body was a mess covered in blood. It seemed as if he couldn’t feel the pain.
It was just like the first time she’d met him—she had thought he was cold and distant back then.
Now she understood: behind his cold front laid a touch of warmth.
In the Northern region, cold men weren’t popular. Judging by that logic, Kalen might not have been unpopular. The warmth hidden beneath the icy exterior often carried more depth than overt displays of kindness.
As Serasie felt that warmth as though it were on her cheeks, she quietly turned her head.
She attempted to adjust her mask but failed. She recalled fainting while caressing Kalen’s cheek in the cave. At that moment, she was certain her mask had fallen.
“I thought the sun might rise soon.”
“…Hmm?”
“I just… wanted to see something beautiful.”
Serasie tried to put her mask back on but to no avail. She could only dart her eyes around.
Kalen, however, remained calm, gazing far beyond the horizon, where a noble sunrise began to emerge.
It was undoubtedly beautiful. Even now, before the light fully emerged, the view had already left her breathless.
As dawn painted the summit in crimson hues, a sight beyond imagination unfolded.
If she had to compare it…
Yes, to the winter island.
Even though she hadn’t visited, Serasie unconsciously thought the view might rival the winter island in beauty.
Comparing something she had never seen was impossible. Yet, as she recalled an image of Lady of Lacatus from her subconscious, mingled with envy and admiration, she realized she was comforting herself.
No, if that was all, it would have been better.
Since Serasie’s attention wasn’t exclusively on the scenery.
In the vision of the Lady of Lacatus appeared not just the winter island but also a certain boy next to her.
The boy standing right beside Kalen.
She hoped that the panorama shared with Kalen would match the winter island’s beauty.
She didn’t understand why she felt this way.
Was she lost in sentimentality? Her next words were not drastically different.
“Kalen.”
“Yes?”
“I have a favor to ask.”
Serasie furtively gauged where Kalen was looking and silently aligned her gaze.
It wasn’t the strange fog but a serene horizon covered with thick clouds.
“If we return safely.”
Her finger, previously tapping her chin, also stopped.
She didn’t need her mask anymore, nor did she want to wear it.
“If we return safely.”
She instead covered her face.
Not with the mask, as no other way came to mind to hide her expression.
With her hands, she covered her nose and mouth.
Her eyes remained uncovered, still fixed on Kalen.
Without the mask, she felt fragile and powerless, realizing that she was just a young girl.
“Can you… bring Makbel to me when we’re back?”
Thump, thump.
Could hearts beat in your cheeks and head?
Her whole body felt like it was pulsating.
Her cheeks were hot, her head felt bloated, and her heartbeat thudded loudly.
Makbel had betrayed her. She had been in no state of mind to accept it at the time.
But now, she was fine.
There was someone who wouldn’t change, who kept his promises by her side.
She would detach from someone she trusted the longest but betrayed and sever ties with the one she spent the least time with but could always count on.
This would be a shackle for herself, a self-imposed restraint.
It was also, simultaneously, a promise.
A promise that would never change.
A shackle that said she could only trust Kalen, and a promise that Kalen would never abandon her.
Serasie quietly awaited an answer but regretted not covering her eyes as well.
Because she lacked the courage to meet Kalen’s gaze.
“I understand.”
In what felt like an endless moment to Serasie alone, after hearing Kalen’s answer, she let out a small sigh into her covered face.
As always, Kalen had not betrayed her trust.
“Ah…”
A low murmur of awe came from Serasie.
The two stood in silence for a while, staring beyond the horizon, watching the rising sun.
Though Kalen didn’t let out a sound, his thoughts were not different from Serasie’s.
As the horizon began to glow faintly in crimson, it was as if the world was painting itself in color.
The clouds hanging slightly below the summit and the vast expanse below were becoming gradually bathed in red, an indescribable thrill.
Kalen thought of the winter island.
The warmer side of Lacatus, where Lord Eliana, from the Lacatus family, had shown him a world of pale blue.
On the contrary, he was facing a world of crimson with Serasie, the eldest daughter of the Northern Hiart family.
Ultimately, this gamble had paid off. The delight from the successful bet was immeasurable, but encountering such a grand spectacle again added even more joy.
The two contrasting lights of the worlds could not be ranked, as beauty held no hierarchy.
Kalen nodded quietly to himself, satisfied, before turning his gaze to the side.
“Similar.”
“…Hmm?”
“The color of your eyes.”
Before she had time to look back, Kalen had been watching. He added, while gazing into Serasie’s crimson-tinged ruby eyes:
“…Thank you.”
Simultaneously, as Serasie turned in mild surprise, she spoke with a sudden gratitude that left Kalen confused upon hearing it:
“Pardon?”
“Thank you.”
With a gentle smile, Serasie chuckled softly. The ruby set between her curved eyes held Kalen again, much warmer than the first meeting.
The delicate breaths, the softly smiling face—was it red from the rising sun?
Only her smile,
and the tear gathering at the corner of her jaw, bore witness to the fact that it wasn’t sadness.