Pilgrims Of The Dying World - Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Stage Set (3)

Xin woke up to a gentle, soft tremble: an overly familiar sensation. Stretching on his back and yawning the boy was trying his best to fight the morning drowsiness. His life was busy, after all. Can’t waste it like that. However, today his resolve was shaken, so hard it was to part with that soft pillow under his head.

How pleasant it was, just like back there, in the mountain mansion; since that time, he forgot that pillows even exist!

Wait. Why do they, or rather this one, exist? Slowly the border between dream and reality started to distinct itself, logical thinking infiltrated Xin’s mind.

What exactly is this pillow?

“”

Sneakily, slightly, he opened his right eye and saw a red cloth. Then he immediately shut it.

Yes, just what he was afraid of; somehow, during the sleep, his head crawled on the Maha’s knees. The room was terribly small; it wasn’t his fault but so awkward.

Burning numbness covered his face, yawning and stretching with twice the effort the boy slowly rolled his head to the ground, then a bit farther, then into a corner.

Maha was looking at him with her head tilted and eyes shining. Barely, she shook her head and closed them, also pretending to sleep.

It took an hour for Xin to be completely sure that Maha won’t suspect anything anymore. Need to be said, his patience really was getting better and better these days. Someday he will be the most patient man in the world, thought the boy while lifting his head and fighting the numbness in his body.

“Good morning.” He said and crossed his legs.

“Good.” Said Maha and opened her eyes.

Then their eyes connected and silence followed. For a second, Xin was afraid she would say something about today’s morning, but that fear soon vanished.

“After thinking, I have my opinion to share about the person you have been meeting with.”

Oh yes, a topic even more painful.

“You probably had your reasons not to tell about it earlier, however, I thought that our sharing of information was mutual.”

“I sorry I just forgot.”

He himself could not think of a reason he wasn’t willing to say anything, so “forgot” wasn’t so bad of an answer.

“I see, these days were eventful.”

“No, actually I’m not sure why I haven’t told, sorry.”

It wasn’t a bad answer, but it also wasn’t truthful. He really tired of lying, and hearing her agree with him made the boy feel another burden; enough of them.

Maha looked straight at him.

“I understand, maybe.”

Her voice was somehow more hurried now, but at the same time strangely less resolute.

“I wish to state my opinion of the whole situation first. Let’s start with that I do not think you are being monitored while meeting with that human.”

Wait, these wolves are actually spying on them, right.

“The reason is, from your descriptions that person is fairly strong, and by his words, he once was on the side of Mo State. I cannot think of a reason he would follow them as a subject, therefore, they are probably allies. You do not spy on your alliances. I am not sure what the customs of this land are, but in the Empire, it is a bad tone.”

“But they know I am meeting him, right? Just not what we talk about.”

“Yes, also, you have said that this person openly admits he isn’t sure what side to fight on. That takes confidence to say.”

“I understand.”

“Then, in my opinion, he is sincere in his desire to teach you. You sabre seems to be important to him, but not to the point when he is unwilling to give it to you. Rather than an object or a memorial, it has some other meaning I am not sure about.” For a second Xin felt that her gaze changed.

“As for that object.” Maha gave the silver box back to him.

“You need strength to unlock it, Warrior Level; currently, I am incapable of that.”

“Warrior Level?” Xin accepted the box.

“I will tell you about it some other time.”

“I am not against you meeting with him, on the contrary, often meetings may look like you are in a good relationship. In that case, the Mo Emperor will be more hesitant about using violent means in case I refuse his proposal.”

“You will refuse?”

“I Won’t tell.”

“”

“”

Xin closed the door behind himself and breathed in fresh air. The elephant under his legs was steadily walking forward; the army was advancing toward its goal.

“G-good morning, Young Master!”

Suddenly rang in his ears. Xin went out of his complicated thought process and looked at Dung Jin who was sitting and hugging his legs just in the middle of the beast.

“Are you okay?” Asked Xin somehow concerned about that new “servant” of his,

“Yes, yes, just the height.” He gulped.

“Height is scary. And you know, young master, come closer.”

Xin leaned to him.

“This animal” His voice became a whisper.

“I think it is trying to shake me off. Really, it hates me.”

Xin shook his head and ignored him. He took his twig out and started practicing the best way to get rid of useless thoughts.

And so a month went by. Xin was daily cultivating his soul light, just cultivating, training the sabre with the old man. Busy life, and uneventfu. Dong Jin actually turned out to be a good servant; just as Xin was afraid, the beasts were feeding that poor self-proclaimed slave of his low-quality wastes, so the boy could not eat them. However, not only Dong Jin was satisfied with that kind of food, (however crying almost every portion) he also was hunting at nights to provide some normal food to Xin. Well, actual meat was rare but his talent in finding eatable vegetation was quite good.

Maha was deep in thoughts most of the time. Xin could understand it, she was facing a hard decision after all: to help or not to help Mo Pu. He knew that the consequences of both ways were heavy, but it wasn’t a concern of his so he preferred not to bother her of that. Well, rather than not his concern, it was rather not something he dared to have a voice on. He knew that she was good enough to listen to him, but he himself wasn’t that shameless, especially concerning how many lives were at stake.

Time was running fast.

The vegetation around was slowly changing back to how he remembered it; no more thick leaves and trees, it was quite refreshing to see a familiar scenario, but at the same time worrying.

Soon they will reach the New Lands.