Chapter 20: The Weight of the Past

All four of them still sat around the large wooden table inside the inn.

The warm aroma of fresh bread and herbal tea lingered in the air.

Golden morning sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing the room in a gentle glow.

Lyra cradled her teacup in both hands and took a content sip.

She actually looked relaxed.

Meanwhile, Yun Yun still couldn't make sense of Rowan's words.

Slowly, she looked at him.

"W-What do you mean... you've never heard of Asterveil?"

Rowan leaned back in his chair.

"Well..."

He gave a small shrug.

"...because I haven't."

Yun Yun and Lyra exchanged another confused glance.

It didn't make sense.

Asterveil had been isolated...

...but completely unknown?

Rowan noticed their reaction.

His gaze drifted toward Kaien.

The boy sat quietly, staring into the steam rising from his tea.

"And what about you?"

Before Kaien could answer, Yun Yun spoke up.

"I'm sorry..."

"...but we can't tell a stranger everything."

A faint smile crossed Rowan's face.

"Fair enough."

He leaned back again.

"I guess I'm still just some guy you met yesterday."

A brief chuckle escaped him.

"But for what it's worth..."

"...I'm not trying to get anything out of you."

He gestured toward the table.

"I bought you breakfast."

Then toward the staircase.

"And a room for the night."

He shrugged once more.

"It just didn't feel right to leave three kids on the street."

For a moment...

...no one spoke.

Then Lyra calmly set down her teacup.

Her crimson eyes remained fixed on Rowan.

"Then why?"

Rowan blinked.

"Why help us?"

For the first time since they'd met him...

...Rowan looked genuinely surprised.

A quiet laugh escaped Rowan.

"You're awfully suspicious for someone your age."

Lyra met his gaze.

Completely serious.

No smile.

No hesitation.

Only caution.

For several long seconds, Rowan simply looked at her.

Then he gave a slow nod.

"...Fair enough."

He folded his arms.

"I can't even blame you."

For just a moment...

...something changed in his expression.

The warmth in his eyes faded.

As though an old memory had quietly surfaced.

When he spoke again, his voice was calmer.

"I used to serve in the Order of Knights of Valdris."

Yun Yun and Lyra immediately became more attentive.

"I was a lieutenant."

The moment the words left his mouth...

...Lyra reached for her diary.

Rowan noticed instantly.

He stared at the little black book for a second.

Then chuckled.

"You really do write down everything."

Without looking up, Lyra's pen was already gliding across the page.

"Important information shouldn't be forgotten."

A faint smile returned to Rowan's face.

"You remind me of someone I knew in the Order."

Lyra didn't respond.

The scratching of her pen continued.

Rowan Ashgard.
Former lieutenant of the Order of Knights of Valdris.

Rowan's eyes drifted toward the window.

The smile slowly disappeared.

"When I was younger..."

"...I truly believed knights existed to protect people."

His voice grew quieter.

"Heavier."

"Until the day..."

"...we arrived too late."

Even Kaien slowly lifted his gaze.

Rowan lowered his gaze to his hands.

For a while...

...he simply stared at them.

Then he spoke.

"There was a small village near the northern border."

"It was attacked by demons."

His fingers slowly tightened.

"Women."

"Children."

"No one survived."

His voice had changed.

The easygoing tone was gone.

Only exhaustion remained.

"The worst part..."

He let out a slow breath.

"...was that we already knew."

Lyra's pen came to a stop.

She looked up.

"Then why didn't you help?"

A hollow laugh escaped Rowan.

"Because my commander said..."

His jaw tightened.

"'We don't move until the king gives the order.'"

Silence.

Somewhere else in the inn...

...plates clinked together.

People laughed.

The ordinary sounds of life.

Rowan stared into nothing.

"When the order finally came..."

He closed his eyes.

"...there was no one left to save."

No one at the table spoke.

Even Yun Yun couldn't find the words.

After a while, Rowan opened his eyes again.

A faint, weary smile appeared on his face.

"I resigned from the Order the very next day."

He reached beneath his coat and placed a small metal card onto the table.

Lyra immediately picked it up.

Her eyes scanned every line.

Rowan Ashgard
Adventurer Rank: Gold
Class: Frontliner
Main Weapon: Sword & Shield

Even Yun Yun leaned in for a closer look.

Rowan chuckled softly.

"Since then..."

"...I've been making a living as an adventurer."

He leaned back in his chair once more.

This time...

...there was no mask left.

Only honesty.

"And the reason I help people..."

Rowan paused for a moment.

Then he gave a small shrug.

"...is because I've lost too many."

Yun Yun quietly looked at him.

"Since then..."

"...I've made it a habit to help whenever I can."

"I donate to churches."

"I help fund orphanages."

"And I do what I can for people who've lost their homes..."

"...or their families."

His gaze slowly settled on the three children.

"People like you."

Silence.

Yun Yun and Lyra both lowered their heads.

"...I'm sorry," Yun Yun murmured.

Lyra gave a small nod.

"We misjudged you."

Rowan let out a quiet chuckle.

Then he reached out and gently rested a hand on each of their heads.

"Don't apologize."

"Being cautious isn't a bad thing."

Yun Yun blinked in surprise.

She wasn't used to kindness like this.

After a moment, Rowan's expression grew serious once more.

"Now..."

"...tell me what happened."

His eyes shifted toward Kaien.

"What exactly happened to him?"

Yun Yun and Lyra exchanged another uneasy glance.

They couldn't tell him the truth.

Not about Asterveil.

Not about Kaien.

And certainly not that people were hunting him.

After a brief silence, Lyra began speaking.

"Kaien's parents were killed by demon wolves."

Kaien didn't say a word.

But beneath the table...

...his hands slowly curled into fists.

Yun Yun noticed immediately.

Without a word, she reached beneath the table and gently took one of his hands.

Lyra continued in the same calm voice.

"He was forced to watch it happen."

Rowan's expression softened immediately.

There was no doubt in his eyes.

Only sympathy.

"...Damn."

Kaien lowered his gaze.

The memories returned at once.

Blood staining the snow.

The screams.

His mother.

His father.

For several long moments, Rowan remained silent.

Then he spoke quietly.

"If you want..."

"...you can stay here in Lunaris for a few more days."

Yun Yun looked up in surprise.

A faint smile touched Rowan's face.

"After that..."

"...I can take you to the nearest city."

Lyra blinked.

Even Yun Yun seemed at a loss for words.

Then...

Kaien slowly stood.

The chair scraped softly across the wooden floor.

Every pair of eyes turned toward him.

He lifted his head and met Rowan's gaze.

The sadness was still there.

It hadn't disappeared.

But something else had joined it.

Resolve.

"So..."

"You're an adventurer."

Rowan gave a small nod.

"I am."

Kaien's hands slowly curled into fists.

"Then..."

"...I'm asking you."

His voice trembled.

"Please."

"Teach me how to become stronger."

Silence.

Kaien never looked away.

"I never want to lose someone I love again."

No one spoke.

Several long seconds passed.

Then...

...a broad smile slowly spread across Rowan's face.

A heartbeat later...

...he burst into laughter.

A warm, genuine laugh.

Not mocking.

Not amused.

Relieved.

He slapped his knee with a grin.

"Hahaha...!"

Yun Yun and Lyra stared at him in confusion.

Even Kaien blinked in surprise.

Still grinning, Rowan brushed a tear from the corner of his eye.

Then he looked Kaien straight in the eyes.

He wasn't just looking at a frightened child.

He was looking at someone who had taken the first step forward.

A proud smile spread across his face.

"There you are."

Kaien blinked.

"That's the first thing you've said since we met..."

"...that sounds like a man who's decided to keep living."

Silence.

Then Rowan crossed his arms with a grin.

"And that's exactly where every adventurer begins."