#133

“…What do you mean?”

Cullen asked again at the unexpected question, and Ulli continued her explanation.

“I wasn’t with Kiyen for long, but thinking back to when we fought together… I don’t remember seeing him injured. But Kia’s scratch remained for quite a while.”

That was certainly strange.

“How long did it remain?”

“About 5 minutes…? Isn’t that longer than Lasano? Even Ruena, whom I saw in prison, healed immediately after getting injured, though slowly. And that was a stabbed by a knife wound.”

What Ulli saw was suspicious enough. Kiyen’s wounds healed at a speed incomparable to the High Priest. It was as if time was reversed, returning to white skin without even showing the process of healing.

By human standards, it was an impossible amount of time, but it was strange that wounds healed slower than the High Priest’s.

“But it’s hard to say he’s not a Dragon. First of all, Kiyen himself confirmed it, and looking at his wings and eyes, he’s exactly like the Dragons I’ve heard about.”

“It is suspicious.”

It had felt off from the moment they first met. The problem was that this was merely intuition. Moreover, Cullen had already suspected him and confirmed it.

“But he denied all my questions. Dragons cannot lie, so perhaps there’s no ill intent…”

Cullen trailed off as he met Ulli’s gaze. A realization struck him. Ulli seemed to have the same thought, nodding her head.

“But if he’s not a Dragon, he can lie, right?”

If one premise changes, all assumptions change. Cullen agreed.

“That’s right. Beings with intelligence, other than Dragons, can lie.”

Ulli’s expression turned serious. She rubbed her cheek, looking troubled.

“What do we do?”

“For now, there is nothing more to do than observe a little longer. Even if Kia is not a Dragon and has ulterior motives, the damage would be great if we were to fight. Depending on the circumstances later, I will speak to Kiyen.”

“Yes. Kiyen listens to you, at least.”

To Ulli, who agreed, Cullen added one more request.

“Still, just in case, I would like you to continue observing.”

Cullen thought of Kia’s face. Hesitation flickered for a moment. He wondered if he was deliberately creating an excuse to drive Kia away.

But he didn’t add any more words. Kia was clearly suspicious. There was no harm in being cautious.

“I will. The best outcome is that nothing happens, but……”

Ulli looked around the forest and added,

“I always feel uneasy when things are too peaceful.”

That was something Cullen also agreed with. He realized anew that he and Ulli had many things in common. He slightly relaxed the tension that had been stiff all day and smiled.

“I feel the same way.”

“We’re both problematic, aren’t we? That’s why I think someone like Arne is needed. When we’re together, it feels like things become somewhat normal.”

“Yes.”

Ulli’s expression seemed to lift a burden from her heart. Then she extended her hand to Cullen. As he looked down at her questioningly, she nudged her water flask.

“We need to get water. Give me one.”

Watching Ulli speak more nonchalantly than usual, Cullen handed her the water flask. The emotional chasm he had been trying to bear alone felt a little better after talking with Ulli.

Perhaps because it was fully autumn, the sun set quickly. In the direction Kia had pointed, there was indeed a river. As they drew water there, the sky soon grew dark.

By the time Ulli and Cullen returned to the campsite, the moon had begun to show itself. A round moon, forming a perfect circle, filled the sky. In response, a faint light gradually began to emanate from the compass he held in his arms.

“Oh, it’s glowing!”

Ulli, who spotted it first, said with wonder. Cullen lowered his gaze to his chest. A soft yellow light was flowing.

“It’s reacting faster than I expected. It doesn’t seem to only work late at night, so it’s better to go show it to them quickly.”

“Amazing. I’m the only one seeing this for the first time? Let’s go.”

As if eager to see the compass move, Ulli tugged at Cullen’s clothes, urging him on. At times like this, she reminded him of Sasha, his younger sister, so Cullen chuckled and resumed walking, matching her pace. As they entered the campsite, everyone greeted them as if they had been waiting.

“You’ve returned safely!”

Arne, who had been worried, rushed over. Lasano followed him, walking slowly, and said,

“You were gone so long, I thought you might have fallen into the water.”

When Cullen shook his water flask, Arne quickly took it. As Arne ran towards the campfire, Kiyen and Kia approached them. Their eyes met Kiyen’s. He had a strangely uncomfortable expression. Unconsciously, Cullen avoided his gaze.

“Ah, speaking of which, I forgot to wash! I meant to wash yesterday or today.”

Ulli exclaimed, remembering as she heard Lasano’s words. Then she asked Cullen for a favor.

“After checking the compass, will you come with me to the river? Keep watch!”

As she said this, Ulli winked one eye. Unsure of what she meant, Cullen replied straightforwardly.

“Understood.”

At his compliant answer, Kiyen stepped forward.

“Understood what?”

With that, he pulled Cullen. Then, creating distance between himself and Ulli, he said with displeasure. His action, as if shielding him, made his mood, which had been low all day, improve. Just from such a small gesture. Cullen found it absurd.

“It’s something you can do alone. There’s no need to take Cullen.”

“Pantel isn’t listening to me well right now, so I need someone to help!”

To Ulli’s retort, Kia, who had been observing everyone, raised a hand and said,

“I’ll go with you!”

Seeing Kia excitedly wanting to do everything together, Kiyen’s demeanor softened. Seeing the expression of approval, his insides boiled. He found his own fluctuating state unfamiliar. He hated it terribly, yet he couldn’t control it.

Not only that, but it seemed to have shown on his face. Seeing Cullen’s expression change, Ulli said with a troubled look,

“Uh… it’s okay. Then, I’ll just go alone.”

“Why? You don’t want to go together?”

At Ulli’s refusal, Kia’s face visibly fell. Seeing his noticeable disappointment, Kiyen also reacted.

“Why are you refusing?”

The gentle air froze instantly.

“If you need someone to watch your back, isn’t Kia better? Kia is a Dragon. Regardless of Cullen’s strength, Dragons possess power incomparable to humans, so it would be safer.”

“That may be so… but we’re still awkward.”

At Ulli’s words, Kia lowered the hand he had raised. Then, with a dejected look, he approached Kiyen. Standing between Cullen and Kiyen, he said softly,

“Sorry……”

Kiyen seemed very displeased with Kia’s apology. A chill settled on his face. Arne, who was extremely anxious in the tense atmosphere, looked for something to change the subject and pointed to Cullen’s chest.

“Cullen, the compass is glowing!”

All eyes turned to Cullen. Wanting to change the mood somehow, Cullen also took out the compass. Reaching into his chest, he placed the glowing compass on his palm. In response, clouds of a perfect purple hue swept over the campsite. The moon was revealed.

“I will open it.”

Cullen said cautiously to Kiyen. Kiyen, whose expression had hardened, slightly relaxed his face and nodded.

“Yes.”

Kia, who had looked dejected, also changed his expression the moment Cullen took out the compass. With a face filled with curiosity once more, Kia grabbed Kiyen’s arm. Cullen, about to open the compass lid, paused at the sight. Kiyen did not push Kia away and let him be. As if they had grown accustomed to it.

Cullen forced his gaze onto the compass, trying not to show his turbulent emotions. He moved his paused hand and opened the lid. A soft yellow light poured out, and then he saw stars gathering towards one side. The needle changed direction towards where the small stars were clustered like a group.

Following the direction the needle had turned, the group’s gazes shifted. The needle pointed to the deep center of the East. The light was very clear. It pointed forward, as if they had to walk directly into the center of the East.

“It seems we were going in the right direction.”

Lasano spoke his thoughts first.

“The light is strong, similar to when it shone from the temple. Does it have something to do with the distance?”

Arne also offered his opinion. Cullen agreed.

“There’s a high possibility.”

Just then, Kia, who had been watching them discuss, moved. He looked at the compass with wonder and reached out his hand.

“The red stone here is pretty. Look, Kiyen.”

As he said this, the moment Kia was about to touch the compass, Cullen moved unconsciously. Stepping back with caution, he reflexively slapped Kia’s hand away.

Slap!

The sound of skin friction echoed unusually loudly. Ulli’s eyes widened in surprise, as did Arne’s. Lasano stared at Cullen with surprise.

Kia, whose hand had been slapped away, cried out “Ouch!” and clutched the back of his hand. With a tearful face, he rubbed his rapidly reddening skin. He must have put force into it, so it would hurt. Even a Dragon wouldn’t be immune to pain.

Still flustered, Cullen looked at Kiyen. Not knowing what he expected. Perhaps he had imagined a situation where Kiyen would say it was okay, or even scold Kia.

However, Kiyen’s reaction was not that.

“What are you doing?”

Kiyen did not get angry, but looked down at Cullen with an expression of incomprehension.