152. Side Story. In the Forest of Oblivion (1)
Knock.
Kenny was puzzled by the knock on his bedroom door late at night.
He didn't usually make friends with people, so no one would come at this hour.
He hesitated to answer, but a voice came from outside the door.
"Can I come in, Kenny?"
To his surprise, it was Leana. They were both wizards, but while Kenny was a "dark hermit," Leana was more like a "goddess of light. "
He quickly pulled up the hood attached to his robe. His burned face seemed even more ugly in front of the beautiful Leana.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Leana came in. Her face was slightly gaunt.
"What keeps you up at this hour?"
She answered, jumping up onto the windowsill.
"I have wild dreams and can't sleep."
Kenny didn't immediately understand what she meant.
Did she come to solve her nightmares, or did she want to spend time with him because she couldn't sleep?
If it was the former, there were plenty of ways for her to solve it herself, and if it was the latter...Why on earth?
Leana chuckled.
"Don't be so surprised. Anyone who saw you would think you came to eat me."
Kenny quickly cleared his throat.
"Ahem, it would be the opposite."
After all, it was Beauty and the Beast.
"Do you know about incubi?"
Leana asked.
"You mean nightmares?"
"I often have nightmares. I don't know if they're real or if they're illusions created by nightmares."
"Does it have anything to do with those three days?"
"Please keep it a secret from His Majesty."
Kenny looked closely at Leana.
Leana said she had no memory of what happened during those three days when she was said to have lost her way while chasing Maurice.
There was no way to confirm whether it was true or false, but something definitely happened then. And it was related to Maurice.
“They say nightmares delve into a person’s most vulnerable points. Whatever nightmare it was, it must have delved into Miss Leana’s weakest point.”
“I suppose so?”
Leana smiled bitterly.
“Do you need something called hypnosis? I think it could help us figure out if it really happened or if it was a nightmare’s work.”
Leana hesitated for a moment and shook her head.
“No, that’s not necessary. Sorry about the late night, Kenny.”
Kenny warned cautiously from behind Leana as she turned.
“Come find me before the nightmare consumes you. The incubus will slowly eat away at Miss Leana’s heart and take control of your mind.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
“It delved into my most vulnerable point... la...”
Leana, returning to her room after parting ways with Kenny, smiled bitterly.
“Leana, you’ve exerted too much power so far. No one knows you’re slowly dying, right?”
“You knew that?”
“Of course. Because I’m the one who understands you better than anyone in the world.”
“Maurice...”
"This is a gift for you. It's a consideration to control your power and save you. But if you disobey..."
Her nightmares always ended there.
No, the dreams seemed to continue even after that. But when she woke up, she couldn't remember anything else.
Only a vague sadness remained.
Leana was a genius sorcerer. She could manipulate and use an incredible amount of mana, beyond what ordinary people could imagine, into magic.
But she was also human, and the more power she exerted, the more her body deteriorated.
Just as even the largest and strongest sack will eventually tear and break if it's loaded with too many items.
For the past several years, she had pushed her powers beyond her body's capacity.
And now she realized her life as a sorcerer was running out.
That's why she had turned away when Adele asked her to use healing magic on Jade.
She couldn't tell anyone about this situation because she couldn't accept herself as a non-sorcerer.
But in her dreams, the man understood and pitied her as she was being torn apart.
In his arms, Leana felt like a woman, not a sorceress.
If it weren't for Maurice, it wouldn't have been such a nightmare.
His gaze, his voice, brought peace, and she wanted to be with him forever...
"You're crazy! Come to your senses, Leana!"
Leana slapped herself on the cheeks, making a "crack."
The next day was the final showdown with Maurice. Such a pathetic thought in that situation!
That's why she couldn't ask Kenny to use his hypnosis.
What if the dream wasn't just a fabrication of a nightmare, but something that actually happened?
She felt she couldn't forgive herself.
And she didn't have the confidence to remain unshaken when she faced Maurice.
That would endanger Christine and everyone he was trying to protect.
"Yes, the dream was definitely an illusion created by a nightmare."
Even if it had actually happened, it had to be that way.
"Maurice, I will kill you no matter what!"
Leana downed a large glass of rum and urged herself to go back to sleep.
Day 1.
"Where am I?"
Leana looked around. She felt lost.
The sky was obscured by dense foliage, and the path was obscured by tall ferns beneath her feet.
Moreover, the forest was filled with a thick, white fog, making it damp and blurry.
No, it wasn't just her vision that was blurry.
"Why am I here?"
Her mind was also foggy, and she couldn't remember anything.
How did I get here? Who was I? Where should I go...?
Leana suddenly felt scared. It would soon get dark, and the beasts would appear.
But Leana didn't know what to do.
Knock.
Kenny was puzzled by the knock on his bedroom door late at night.
He didn't usually make friends with people, so no one would come at this hour.
He hesitated to answer, but a voice came from outside the door.
"Can I come in, Kenny?"
To his surprise, it was Leana. They were both wizards, but while Kenny was a "dark hermit," Leana was more like a "goddess of light. "
He quickly pulled up the hood attached to his robe. His burned face seemed even more ugly in front of the beautiful Leana.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Leana came in. Her face was slightly gaunt.
"What keeps you up at this hour?"
She answered, jumping up onto the windowsill.
"I have wild dreams and can't sleep."
Kenny didn't immediately understand what she meant.
Did she come to solve her nightmares, or did she want to spend time with him because she couldn't sleep?
If it was the former, there were plenty of ways for her to solve it herself, and if it was the latter...Why on earth?
Leana chuckled.
"Don't be so surprised. Anyone who saw you would think you came to eat me."
Kenny quickly cleared his throat.
"Ahem, it would be the opposite."
After all, it was Beauty and the Beast.
"Do you know about incubi?"
Leana asked.
"You mean nightmares?"
"I often have nightmares. I don't know if they're real or if they're illusions created by nightmares."
"Does it have anything to do with those three days?"
"Please keep it a secret from His Majesty."
Kenny looked closely at Leana.
Leana said she had no memory of what happened during those three days when she was said to have lost her way while chasing Maurice.
There was no way to confirm whether it was true or false, but something definitely happened then. And it was related to Maurice.
“They say nightmares delve into a person’s most vulnerable points. Whatever nightmare it was, it must have delved into Miss Leana’s weakest point.”
“I suppose so?”
Leana smiled bitterly.
“Do you need something called hypnosis? I think it could help us figure out if it really happened or if it was a nightmare’s work.”
Leana hesitated for a moment and shook her head.
“No, that’s not necessary. Sorry about the late night, Kenny.”
Kenny warned cautiously from behind Leana as she turned.
“Come find me before the nightmare consumes you. The incubus will slowly eat away at Miss Leana’s heart and take control of your mind.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
***
“It delved into my most vulnerable point... la...”
Leana, returning to her room after parting ways with Kenny, smiled bitterly.
“Leana, you’ve exerted too much power so far. No one knows you’re slowly dying, right?”
“You knew that?”
“Of course. Because I’m the one who understands you better than anyone in the world.”
“Maurice...”
"This is a gift for you. It's a consideration to control your power and save you. But if you disobey..."
Her nightmares always ended there.
No, the dreams seemed to continue even after that. But when she woke up, she couldn't remember anything else.
Only a vague sadness remained.
Leana was a genius sorcerer. She could manipulate and use an incredible amount of mana, beyond what ordinary people could imagine, into magic.
But she was also human, and the more power she exerted, the more her body deteriorated.
Just as even the largest and strongest sack will eventually tear and break if it's loaded with too many items.
For the past several years, she had pushed her powers beyond her body's capacity.
And now she realized her life as a sorcerer was running out.
That's why she had turned away when Adele asked her to use healing magic on Jade.
She couldn't tell anyone about this situation because she couldn't accept herself as a non-sorcerer.
But in her dreams, the man understood and pitied her as she was being torn apart.
In his arms, Leana felt like a woman, not a sorceress.
If it weren't for Maurice, it wouldn't have been such a nightmare.
His gaze, his voice, brought peace, and she wanted to be with him forever...
"You're crazy! Come to your senses, Leana!"
Leana slapped herself on the cheeks, making a "crack."
The next day was the final showdown with Maurice. Such a pathetic thought in that situation!
That's why she couldn't ask Kenny to use his hypnosis.
What if the dream wasn't just a fabrication of a nightmare, but something that actually happened?
She felt she couldn't forgive herself.
And she didn't have the confidence to remain unshaken when she faced Maurice.
That would endanger Christine and everyone he was trying to protect.
"Yes, the dream was definitely an illusion created by a nightmare."
Even if it had actually happened, it had to be that way.
"Maurice, I will kill you no matter what!"
Leana downed a large glass of rum and urged herself to go back to sleep.
***
Day 1.
"Where am I?"
Leana looked around. She felt lost.
The sky was obscured by dense foliage, and the path was obscured by tall ferns beneath her feet.
Moreover, the forest was filled with a thick, white fog, making it damp and blurry.
No, it wasn't just her vision that was blurry.
"Why am I here?"
Her mind was also foggy, and she couldn't remember anything.
How did I get here? Who was I? Where should I go...?
Leana suddenly felt scared. It would soon get dark, and the beasts would appear.
But Leana didn't know what to do.
Rustle!
She heard a small sound and quickly turned around.
Two figures appeared in the dark forest.
Both were covered from head to toe in hooded robes, but at first glance, they looked like a man and a woman.
"Leana?"
A woman's voice came a moment later.
Leana. That must have been her name.
Leana approached, delighted.
"Do you know me?"
A soft laugh came from the two hooded figures.
The sound was a little uncomfortable, but Leana didn't care. This forest was even more uncomfortable. She wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.
“Well then. My name is Seira, and you’re my maid, Leana. Poor thing, you recently suffered a serious head injury and lost all your memories.”
Leana finally understood and nodded.
“Ahh... so that’s why I don’t remember anything.”
“Right. Let’s go, Leana.”
Seira walked ahead, and Leana followed.
The large man next to Seira followed closely behind.
Something about him made Leana feel uneasy, so she whispered to Seira,
“Who is that man? It’s like he’s following me, watching over me.”
Seira glanced at the man and said, as if to demand he listen.
“Leana, he’s your husband. He’s protecting you from getting lost again.”
“Husband? My husband?”
Leana looked back at the man following her in disbelief.
Half-hidden by the hood, she couldn’t see his face clearly, but his purple lips, his smiling mouth... she disliked him deeply.
Something sinister and vulgar, almost.
‘That man is really my husband?’
As Leana and her party reached the entrance to the small village, the fog cleared completely.
It was early evening, and the village's lights were slowly coming on, and people could be seen bustling about preparing dinner. Only then did Seira and the man remove their hoods.
With her hood removed, Seira was a beautiful woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. Her beautiful, pale skin truly befitted a noblewoman.
However, it was unclear why a noblewoman would live in a mountain village like this.
As if reading Leana's thoughts, Seira said,
"We're on a pilgrimage to a holy place. That's why there are so many priests around."
True to her words, most of them were wearing white priestly robes. However, to Leana's dismay, they all stopped what they were doing and stared at her.
Seira explained,
"We were all worried when you suddenly disappeared. I think they're just happy."
But they didn't look happy at all.
"Is that the man you call my husband a priest?"
Leana asked, glancing sideways at the man with his hood removed.
With his face fully exposed, he was, as expected, a man with a fierce and vulgar appearance. Moreover, he smelled of blood.
There was no way such a man could be a priest.
He certainly didn't seem like her husband.
Even though she'd lost her memories, it didn't seem to suit her tastes at all.
Then, Seira whispered softly,
"That man saved your life. That incident led to a deep love, and he even gave up becoming a priest for you."
"That's ridiculous!"
Leana cried out involuntarily.
To think I fell in love with someone like that...
It would have been better if he hadn't saved my life.
While Leana stared at the man with mixed emotions, Seira turned to leave.
"Where are you going?"
She quickly grabbed the hem of her dress. In this situation, she was the only one she could trust.
But Seira gently pulled Leana's hand away and whispered,
"I think your husband wants to be alone with you. He searched the entire forest for you, and it was quite a struggle. So be nice to him, Leana."
Seira turned coldly and disappeared into the village.
Now, Leana was alone in an unfamiliar village with a strange man.
Even though he was her husband, she felt she couldn't even look at him.
The people around her snickered as they passed by, as if they were some kind of spectacle.
“Shall we go to bed now, Leana?”
Leana was startled by the man who claimed to be her husband.
“It’s only early evening?”
The man gently grabbed Leana’s shoulder.
“Leana, we’re newlyweds. So, stop talking and come with me.”
Leana shook her shoulder and shook his hand away.
“Are you really my husband? I married such a rude man?”
The man’s expression quickly turned grim, and he grabbed Leana’s chin.
“Yes, you’re Seira’s servant, and I saved your life. That’s why you married me to repay that debt! Now, you’ll pay it back without a word! Even a servant is no better than an animal if you don’t show gratitude.”
Then he roughly grabbed Leana’s wrist.
Swish, swish...
In the library of an old monastery.
Maurice, who was turning the pages at his desk, heard footsteps approaching. Judging by the faint scent of roses, it must have been Seira.
“I think someone entered the forest’s border.”
He asked, his eyes still fixed on the book.
The “fog of oblivion” surrounding the entrance to the village from the forest was a barrier Maurice had placed. Therefore, if something happened to that barrier, Maurice would naturally sense it.
“Guess who fell into it?”
Seira’s voice was so vivid that Maurice looked up with suspicion.
“Could it be?”
She heard a small sound and quickly turned around.
Two figures appeared in the dark forest.
Both were covered from head to toe in hooded robes, but at first glance, they looked like a man and a woman.
"Leana?"
A woman's voice came a moment later.
Leana. That must have been her name.
Leana approached, delighted.
"Do you know me?"
A soft laugh came from the two hooded figures.
The sound was a little uncomfortable, but Leana didn't care. This forest was even more uncomfortable. She wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.
“Well then. My name is Seira, and you’re my maid, Leana. Poor thing, you recently suffered a serious head injury and lost all your memories.”
Leana finally understood and nodded.
“Ahh... so that’s why I don’t remember anything.”
“Right. Let’s go, Leana.”
Seira walked ahead, and Leana followed.
The large man next to Seira followed closely behind.
Something about him made Leana feel uneasy, so she whispered to Seira,
“Who is that man? It’s like he’s following me, watching over me.”
Seira glanced at the man and said, as if to demand he listen.
“Leana, he’s your husband. He’s protecting you from getting lost again.”
“Husband? My husband?”
Leana looked back at the man following her in disbelief.
Half-hidden by the hood, she couldn’t see his face clearly, but his purple lips, his smiling mouth... she disliked him deeply.
Something sinister and vulgar, almost.
‘That man is really my husband?’
As Leana and her party reached the entrance to the small village, the fog cleared completely.
It was early evening, and the village's lights were slowly coming on, and people could be seen bustling about preparing dinner. Only then did Seira and the man remove their hoods.
With her hood removed, Seira was a beautiful woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. Her beautiful, pale skin truly befitted a noblewoman.
However, it was unclear why a noblewoman would live in a mountain village like this.
As if reading Leana's thoughts, Seira said,
"We're on a pilgrimage to a holy place. That's why there are so many priests around."
True to her words, most of them were wearing white priestly robes. However, to Leana's dismay, they all stopped what they were doing and stared at her.
Seira explained,
"We were all worried when you suddenly disappeared. I think they're just happy."
But they didn't look happy at all.
"Is that the man you call my husband a priest?"
Leana asked, glancing sideways at the man with his hood removed.
With his face fully exposed, he was, as expected, a man with a fierce and vulgar appearance. Moreover, he smelled of blood.
There was no way such a man could be a priest.
He certainly didn't seem like her husband.
Even though she'd lost her memories, it didn't seem to suit her tastes at all.
Then, Seira whispered softly,
"That man saved your life. That incident led to a deep love, and he even gave up becoming a priest for you."
"That's ridiculous!"
Leana cried out involuntarily.
To think I fell in love with someone like that...
It would have been better if he hadn't saved my life.
While Leana stared at the man with mixed emotions, Seira turned to leave.
"Where are you going?"
She quickly grabbed the hem of her dress. In this situation, she was the only one she could trust.
But Seira gently pulled Leana's hand away and whispered,
"I think your husband wants to be alone with you. He searched the entire forest for you, and it was quite a struggle. So be nice to him, Leana."
Seira turned coldly and disappeared into the village.
Now, Leana was alone in an unfamiliar village with a strange man.
Even though he was her husband, she felt she couldn't even look at him.
The people around her snickered as they passed by, as if they were some kind of spectacle.
“Shall we go to bed now, Leana?”
Leana was startled by the man who claimed to be her husband.
“It’s only early evening?”
The man gently grabbed Leana’s shoulder.
“Leana, we’re newlyweds. So, stop talking and come with me.”
Leana shook her shoulder and shook his hand away.
“Are you really my husband? I married such a rude man?”
The man’s expression quickly turned grim, and he grabbed Leana’s chin.
“Yes, you’re Seira’s servant, and I saved your life. That’s why you married me to repay that debt! Now, you’ll pay it back without a word! Even a servant is no better than an animal if you don’t show gratitude.”
Then he roughly grabbed Leana’s wrist.
***
Swish, swish...
In the library of an old monastery.
Maurice, who was turning the pages at his desk, heard footsteps approaching. Judging by the faint scent of roses, it must have been Seira.
“I think someone entered the forest’s border.”
He asked, his eyes still fixed on the book.
The “fog of oblivion” surrounding the entrance to the village from the forest was a barrier Maurice had placed. Therefore, if something happened to that barrier, Maurice would naturally sense it.
“Guess who fell into it?”
Seira’s voice was so vivid that Maurice looked up with suspicion.
“Could it be?”
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