The West Wind's Destination - Chapter 48
“I’m sorry for waking you from your deep sleep.”
When she got up and saw Aseph, he was dressed as if ready to leave immediately, wearing a black coat. Droplets of water from his coat, perhaps from being outside just moments ago, dripped onto the floor.
It was unusual for Aseph, who normally took great care to keep the study and bedroom tidy. His voice, which seemed to lift whenever he saw her, was unusually subdued today.
“I have an urgent matter to attend to. I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep our appointment today.”
Today was supposed to be the day they went to the mine together to collect materials for Bea’s research. For him to come at dawn not to prepare for the trip, but to cancel it, was unexpected.
“What happened?”
“It seems a major issue has arisen. A wildfire broke out near the mine, and I approved the use of magical devices to control it, but it appears to have caused some complications. As with most mine accidents, it’s not a pretty sight. I need to go there first…”
Bea got up as he spoke and put on her white coat and gloves, which she had prepared before going to bed.
“Bea?”
“We can’t delay our schedule just for that.”
“But it’s an accident site.”
She quietly looked up at him without directly contradicting his words.
Aseph swept his bangs back uneasily. Bea, who had spent more years on the battlefield than Aseph, had no reason to shy away from such a scene.
“Alright, Bea. But let’s leave the child behind.”
“Bringing it is part of the original plan.”
“But Bea, it’s really not a good sight for a child to see…”
Smack!
Bea harshly swatted away Aseph’s arms as he tried to reason with her.
“How many times do I have to tell you that it’s not a child?”
From the beginning to the end, Bea had never lied. The homunculus was a pure product of human effort—an artificially created life form.
Aseph’s behavior confused her and, over time, this confusion bred discomfort.
“That thing is not a child. It is not to be considered family. Why do you keep insisting that? What, a miracle? Are you saying these things because you refuse to acknowledge my research?”
“No, Bea. That’s not it.”
Facing a sharper-than-usual Bea, Aseph opened his arms to appease her, but she stepped back further.
Bea shrank back, shoulders flinching as if she was frightened.
She could not understand why she was reacting this way, but she tried to rationalize it with her knowledge.
Humans first feel fear, not curiosity, towards things outside their understanding. That seemed to be the case here.
With Aseph.
Yes, it was scary.
Scary because she felt she might never understand.
Noticing Bea’s rejection, Aseph quickly stepped back.
“…We’ll talk about this later.”
“Don’t postpone the schedule. I’m going too.”
“Alright.”
Aseph sighed deeply.
‘This wasn’t what I came here for.’
He thought he had gotten closer to Bea, but now she seemed more distant again. His usually smooth words wouldn’t come out, his unease being the problem.
❖
Aseph had originally planned this trip like a family outing. However, the carriage he had carefully selected couldn’t be used due to the sudden change in plans. Instead, two horses were prepared.
Aseph took care of Homun, while Bea rode separately.
Although faster than a carriage, it wasn’t a distance that could be covered overnight. Whenever they took short breaks, Aseph, while diligently taking care of Bea and the sleeping Homun, remained silent.
“…Ruslan has been a confidant of the Vilkanos since I was young.”
Stopping the horse for a break, Aseph, who had been silent the whole time, opened up about his troubles.
“He fought alongside me in the war as my advisor. He was also a friend who attended my father’s funeral with me. He’s one of the few people left in my life after the war.”
Aseph’s father, the previous Guardian of Vilkanos—or in imperial terms—the previous Archduke. He emphasized that Ruslan’s relationship with him was more than just a loyal subject by using the word ‘father’ instead of ‘archduke.’
“The accident… Ruslan was the first to go missing. I approved the use of the magical device, so it’s my responsibility.”
“How does that concern me?”
But Bea wasn’t the type of person to counsel on emotional issues. A non-emotional alchemist who saw things in terms of utility and futility.
As Aseph gave a bitter smile and prepared to mount his horse again, Bea spoke up.
“Missing, you said.”
“…Yes?”
Aseph turned around, surprised. It was Bea’s voice.
“Did you confirm the body with your own eyes?”
“…No.”
“Then you don’t know.”
“…”
“You have a habit of jumping to conclusions without confirming the results. You misjudged the cause of the phenomenon. It wasn’t because you approved the magical device. Didn’t you say it was because of the rain?”
Aseph’s eyes widened. His shoulders shuddered slightly as he looked down.
“…Thank you, Bea.”
He thanked her, though it was unclear for what. But if he said so, she assumed it must be so.
