Chapter 41: The Price of Fulfilling a Dream

It was the evil sacrificial rite of the barbarians.

Empowered by wicked forces, the wounds of the dead—cleaved in half—were sealed shut with mud and ash.

No blood flowed, only half-faces twisted in despair.

One half stared at the bonfire, the other at the deep night.

Brown was pinned down in the mire, his mouth tightly covered by his sister’s hand.

The two of them lay side by side in the swamp, their faces coated in thick mud, leaving only two small breathing holes—and the tiniest slit to watch the outside world.

They didn’t even dare shed tears for fear the salty drops would wash away the mud and reveal their presence.

That became Brown’s eternal nightmare.

He had never imagined he would one day witness such a scene again.

It had clearly been years.

He thought—truly believed—he had long forgotten it.

Brown trembled as he clutched his head, covering his ears, squeezing his eyes shut.

He didn’t dare look—to see whether those opposing feet belonged to cleaved bodies.

His right hand still clutched the black string tied to the scent bead, praying it could drive away these terrifying memories.

“Brown.”

Suddenly, a familiar voice whispered in his ear.

“It’s all right now, little brother.”

Brown’s trembling halted. Slowly, he lifted his head.

“Sis… sis…”

A plain-looking village girl smiled gently at her brother.

Seeing his pale face, she continued to softly comfort him.

“It’s all right, little brother. They’re all gone now.”

“Ke-ke-ke-ke…”

But Brown’s teeth began chattering violently, his lips losing all color, turning deathly pale.

“Sis…”

The village girl looked puzzled and took a step forward, stretching out a mud-covered hand.

“Brother, what are you afraid of?”

Brown dropped to the ground with a thud. He tried to retreat, but his limbs were stiff, unable to move an inch.

How could he not be afraid?

His sister had not survived that massacre.

No, his sister hadn’t died in that massacre.

She died at the hands of her very own younger brother.

…

The siblings hidden in the mud hadn’t escaped the barbarians’ keen senses. But before they could be discovered, a group of wizard apprentices happened to arrive, interrupting the impending slaughter.

They came by carriage from a distance.

At the sight of them, the barbarians panicked and fled in a hurry, not even taking all their sacrificial offerings.

Fortunately, those barbarians didn’t escape justice.

One apprentice suddenly flew after them.

With thunder and lightning, Brown watched in awe as the once-arrogant, cruelly grinning barbarians were reduced to heaps of blackened charcoal.

Brown’s eyes widened. Even with the muddy water stinging them, he refused to blink.

He bore the pain, watching as the apprentice returned to the carriage and slowly approached him and his sister.

The siblings crawled out of the mud and fell to their knees, thanking the wizard for saving their lives.

But beyond gratitude, a new and uncontrollable desire ignited in Brown’s heart.

A turning point in fate had come.

If he could follow this man, could he become a wizard too?

Brown saw himself soaring through the sky, effortlessly slaughtering his enemies.

Becoming a wizard—this was the life he deserved!

But the dream did not last long. It was cruelly shattered.

After his sister’s desperate pleas, the wizard agreed to take them back.

But only one.

The other would be left behind.

Because, they said, there was only room for one more on the carriage.

Brown couldn’t understand.

There were two carriages—one crammed with over a dozen children and the other more spacious, carrying only the two wizards.

And yet, the only carriage they were allowed to board was the crowded one.

Riding with the wizards was a form of blasphemy.

The lightning-wielding wizard turned to his companion and asked, “Take the boy, maybe? He looks like he’s got some potential.”

But the pale-faced wizard firmly pointed at Brown’s sister. “No. I want a maid.”

The lightning wizard frowned. “Maids aren’t much use.”

The pale wizard insisted, “You don’t understand. A maid represents justice.”

The lightning wizard shrugged, offering no further protest—surprisingly agreeing to the decision.

Brown’s face turned even paler than the wizard’s.

Was he going to be left behind?

He looked helplessly at his sister.

Say it! Hurry! Tell them to take me! Leave yourself behind!

Say it! You’ve always loved me. You always gave me the best things first!

Say it! Let them take me, and when I become a wizard, I’ll come back for you!

But the girl who had always protected him now only lowered her head, twisting the hem of her shirt with trembling hands.

She was hesitating.

Brown couldn’t believe it.

He silently crouched down, already feeling despair.

Catching sight of her brother shrinking into himself, the girl finally made her choice.

She opened her mouth, trembling, her voice full of love and sorrow.

“M-my lords, please… take my brother…”

Clang!

She didn’t get to finish.

A rock slammed into the back of her head, knocking her to the ground.

Brown stared in shock.

She clutched her bleeding wound and looked back at him, disbelief in her eyes.

That shock was quickly turning into fury.

She was angry.

But Brown had never felt more clear-headed.

So clear.

She was angry—so she wouldn’t give up the spot to him anymore.

He stepped forward without emotion.

How much strength could a poor boy have?

He straightened his back, breathing heavily, and looked up with hopeful eyes at the wizards who had calmly watched everything unfold.

“My lords, now I’m the only one left.”

The pale wizard pinched his nose as if Brown reeked of filth.

“Heh, came to recruit apprentices and found a beast instead.”

The lightning wizard said nothing.

They both turned and walked back to the carriage, not stopping Brown from climbing into the wagon of children on his own.

…

The memories surged.

His sister—whom he had once torn apart—was now standing before him again with a perfect face.

“This is an illusion,” Brown told himself. “She can’t still be alive. After all these years, even her ghost wouldn’t come for me.”

He believed he wasn’t that little boy anymore, clinging to his sister in terror.

Just an illusion—did it really think it could frighten him?

Brown lifted his head and glared at his sister’s face, raising his fist.

“I’m not afraid of you. What can you do now?”

His sister smiled.

Of course—her lips. Why were her lips so perfect?

Glaring at the red lips, Brown swung his fist again.

A hand caught it firmly.

Brown looked up to see Sid standing before him, watching coldly.

So it was an illusion!

It had to be a test from Master Sid. That’s why the scent bead had no effect.

“My lord!” Brown grinned. “Did I pass your test?”

(End of Chapter)

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