The One and Only Guide - Chapter 35
“Duke, thank you for your concern. But comparisons like that don’t sit well with me. Did I compare the Duke’s strength to a monster?”
Jian’s pointed comment startled Axion. He had blurted out thoughtless words in his impatience. Fearing that Jian’s foot condition was due to overexertion during Guiding, he rushed his words. Instead, it had backfired. The subdued Axion admitted:
“I acknowledge it. My words were inappropriate. Next time…… I’ll have a horse ready.”
“Horse? I don’t even know how to ride a horse.”
“Are you saying you never learned to ride?”
“Well, I’ve lived a life where I didn’t have to learn to ride to get around.”
“Then let’s look for reindeer.”
“Reindeer?”
“This is Mandalen. If we look around, we might find reindeer trained for riding. They’re smaller than horses, so you might be able to ride them without training.”
If it was something like that, Jian thought she might be able to give it a try one way or another.
Mandalen’s reindeer had left an impression on Jian, even from a distance. They had beautiful gray fur and impressive antlers. Watching these gentle herbivores nibbling on moss buried beneath the snow had left quite an impression on her.
“You should wash up. I’ll go look for some medicinal herbs for your burns.”
With those words, Axion left Jian behind without giving her a chance to hold him back. Jian hesitated to shout that it wasn’t a burn but decided against it. She just didn’t have the energy to raise her voice right now.
And if it was herbs for burns, they might have soothing and disinfecting properties. In reality, it was just the result of her overworking her feet, but maybe it would help somewhat.
Jian didn’t think much of the Duke’s reaction. If he had thought that her foot condition was the result of overexertion during Guiding, she believed he would have cleared up the misunderstanding without delay. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
Unaware of the misunderstanding that had taken root, Jian bathed and changed her clothes. She felt lighter in her lightweight woolen robes than she had in heavy furs.
The warmth of the hot water that had been poured over her was a luxury that couldn’t be dared in the North. Furthermore, a warm heat was greeting Jian. While she had been bathing, it seemed someone had been here. The once-chilled fireplace was now blazing with fire, and a pile of firewood was stacked next to it.
Was it the Duke? Or perhaps the village chief’s son? Jian was too tired to think about it and just threw herself onto the bed. Her body had been through so much in the past few days, and it was aching all over. She felt like she could no longer stand.
It felt like her body had declared a strike, a rebellion against all that had been demanded of it. It was a matter concerning Jian’s pitiful stamina, something that not even Axion’s earnest efforts could overcome.
Jian lay down and drifted into sleep before she realized it.
And when she woke up again, Jian saw the Duke placing firewood into the fireplace. Her mouth felt uncomfortably dry, and her whole body was burning up. A damp towel was laid across her forehead. She felt sick. No, she was sick.
Her body, which had managed to endure so far, had declared a strike. It was an issue related to Jian’s terrible physical condition, something that Axion’s utmost efforts couldn’t overcome. With blurry eyes, Jian reached out her hand towards the bedside table. She saw what appeared to be a water jug there. A sip of water might help her sleep again.
However, no matter how hard she reached, she could only manage to reach for it in vain. It was the futile rustling sound that she made that caused Axion to stop rummaging through the firewood and turn around to look at her.
“You don’t need to get up. Just keep resting.”
With that, Axion held a cup of water to Jian’s mouth. Satisfied, Jian quenched her thirst and passed out.
With that done, Axion gazed down at Jian with a grim look in his eyes. The Guide falling ill was entirely his fault.
