Please Answer Me - Chapter 119

They released all the horses that could escape on their own and headed towards the river. Even if they miraculously escaped, extinguishing the fire seemed nearly impossible. It was uncertain how long it would take. The flames could very well reach Edirne.

What a gift you’ve left us, Iselle Scallion.

Rashid smirked bitterly, thinking of the man’s whereabouts and of Rosetta, who was likely with him by now.

Is she safe? Rashid’s brow furrowed in concern.

Maybe sending her off with that man was a mistake after all…

Rashid quickly deduced that Iselle was not the good person Rosetta believed him to be. He wasn’t just bad—he was far worse. Rashid had encountered many malicious people, but those like Iselle were the most dangerous. Such people hide behind polite behavior and good reputations, rarely revealing their true nature. They strike when least expected, with a well-honed blade at their opponent’s throat.

For the first time, Rashid was relieved Rosetta was a princess. At least Iselle wouldn’t easily reveal his true nature to her. And with Allen by her side, Rashid felt somewhat reassured. He truly believed Allen would protect Rosetta this time.

“Riga!”

The sudden shout made Rashid turn his head. The fire had spread quickly, even to the swamp area. Worse, the sparks had spread to the trees in the swamp, catching fire.

“Hold the fire off until everyone crosses the swamp!”

At those words, Rashid slashed at the burning branches with his sword. He quickly stamped out the fallen branches with his foot. While Rashid and the soldiers battled the flames, the villagers crossed the swamp. As expected, traversing the swamp with feet sinking into the mud in the dark of night was not easy. Just when it seemed impossible to hold back the fire any longer, the last man managed to get out of the swamp.

Whoosh!

At the same time, the flames rapidly spread, engulfing the surroundings in fire. The soldiers quickly crossed the swamp. However, just as Rashid and Nell, who were at the very end, were about to escape, fierce flames blocked their path.

“Over there!”

Seeing a less intense part of the fire, Rashid led them towards it. The flames roared, spiraling upwards as if trying to consume the sky. The air was thick with smoke, making it hard to breathe. Rashid covered his nose with his sleeve, but the smoke and heat still made his vision blur. A strong wind blew, reigniting the flames and blocking their escape route.

“We’re trapped…” Nell coughed, shaking his head in despair. Rashid realized this could be his final moment.

Normally, he wouldn’t regret dying like this. He had always lived with the thought of dying for his tribe. Dying while doing his duty would be an honorable death. He had saved the villagers, making it a meaningful death. Yes, normally, he would have accepted it calmly.

But now, he didn’t want to die. No, he had to live. He had never felt such a strong desire to live. He had to survive to see Rosetta again. He couldn’t let their last meeting end without seeing her properly one last time.

She might even be carrying their child. He didn’t want their child to grow up fatherless, missing out on all a father could provide.

Rashid tightened his grip on his sword. No matter what blocked his path, he had no intention of dying here. He would live and hold Rosetta in his arms again.

Just then, something black leapt through the flames. Recognizing it, Rashid’s voice trembled.

“Akal!”

Akal’s black fur was soaked, likely from immersing himself in water to lessen the burns. But his body was still scorched, with red burn marks showing through his fur.

“How did you get here…?”

Originally, horses are very skittish animals. They get startled and jump at the sight of their own shadow. Yet, this horse had leapt into the flames to save its master.

Akal snorted and stamped its feet anxiously. Pushing aside his emotions, Rashid leaped onto Akal. With Nell mounted behind him, they began to race through the flames. The spot they had been moments ago was soon engulfed in fire, leaving no trace. Akal picked its steps carefully, avoiding soft ground as it ran. But those places were often ablaze. The horse’s hooves were likely already burned badly, yet Akal carried the two riders swiftly.

The flames pursued them relentlessly, threatening to engulf them. Just as they were about to be consumed by the inferno, a golden line slashed across the black sky.

At first, no one understood what it was. Only when the faint streak of light intensified into a blinding brilliance did they realize it wasn’t a natural phenomenon caused by the fire.

The beam of light spread out, covering the sky like a curtain. It moved as if it were alive.

“What… what is that?” Nell’s voice trembled. Rashid, too, had no idea what this sudden apparition was. The next moment was even more astonishing. Shimmering golden particles began to fall from the sky, like thousands upon thousands of stars descending at once.

Nell was paralyzed with shock, unable to utter a word. Rashid was not much different.

There are times when beauty crosses a line and becomes terrifying. This was one of those times. Every nerve in his body was on edge, his hair standing on end.

If humans felt this way, animals, guided by instinct, would be even more affected. Akal, which had charged into the flames without hesitation, now abruptly halted. The horse, unafraid of the fire, collapsed to the ground and began to tremble uncontrollably.

This time, Nell pointed with a trembling finger and whimpered, “Ri… Riga, the fire…”

The fire, which had been leaping into the sky moments ago, was rapidly dying down. The golden particles from the sky had caused it.

“What on earth is this…” Nell was on the verge of a breakdown. Rashid, however, managed to keep his composure somewhat because this wasn’t his first encounter with such an inexplicable phenomenon.

He had experienced something similar in the forest of monsters. The creatures, which would usually attack humans ferociously, had retreated when he offered his arm. The monsters had clearly feared and revered something. That source of power had been Rosetta.

It didn’t take long for the fire to be completely extinguished. The flames that had seemed ready to consume the world vanished in an instant. What remained were only ashes and the charred remnants of trees.

“Aah…” Nell dropped to his knees and bowed his head to the ground, shouting, “El… Elheim!”

There was no way for his mind to accept this logically. Thinking of it as a divine miracle felt more natural. What else could this be if not a gift from the gods?

Rashid lifted his head to look at the sky again. The golden presence, which had spread out across the heavens, began to gather into one spot. Soon, it formed the shape of a large bird. Its golden eyes seemed to meet Rashid’s for a fleeting moment before it flew away into the distance.

“Ataraxia… no, Maiastra…” A trembling voice escaped him. If that being truly was the one from the legends, then this was another miracle caused by Rosetta. Last time, she had saved his life; this time, she had saved countless lives from the fire.

What is a god? Do gods exist?

Rashid had always pondered these existential questions. Thus, he never believed in or feared gods. He had never witnessed a miracle.

But today, he realized the truth. Whether it was Ataraxia or Maiastra, that being was no myth.

10. Capital of Lysa, Terra

The once-quiet palace was now bustling with activity.

The maids had been busy since early morning, preparing to welcome the princess who was returning to the palace after a month-long journey. Normally, the princess was known for her quiet demeanor and wasn’t particularly demanding. However, brides-to-be often became sensitive, and the princess had previously gone on a hunger strike to persuade the king and queen to allow her to travel. Everyone vividly remembered how tense the palace had been during that time.

With the journey now over, the only thing left was her marriage to the next Grand Duke of Hezen. They all sincerely hoped the princess had found this trip satisfactory. If she were to express any reluctance about the marriage now, it would cause another uproar.