Chapter 15

Chapter 15: The Sleeping Prince

The storm had finally passed.

Morning light entered the forest through the wet branches, turning every leaf into a tiny mirror.

Inside the old cabin, Kyle opened his eyes.

For a moment, he forgot where he was.

Then he remembered the storm.

He sat up and looked toward the other side of the room.

Lyra was still asleep near the dying fire, wrapped in her cloak.

Kyle smiled faintly.

She had fallen asleep while watching the rain.

He quietly stood and stepped outside.

The forest smelled of wet earth and pine.

Birds had already returned to the branches, filling the morning with their songs.

Kyle looked toward the sky.

"It seems we survived."

A few minutes later, Lyra stepped out of the cabin.

"You're awake."

Kyle turned.

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

She looked around.

"The storm really stopped."

"Yes."

Kyle picked up the basket containing the Moon Cap mushrooms.

"We should return before the path becomes too muddy."

Lyra nodded.

They began walking back toward the village.

Neither mentioned the moment they had shared beside the fire.

But both remembered it.

Far away from the western forest...

Beyond several mountain ranges...

The royal palace of Seraphine stood beneath a pale morning sky.

The corridors were unusually quiet.

Queen Seraphine walked alone toward a chamber guarded by two royal soldiers.

The guards bowed as she approached.

She stopped before the enormous wooden doors.

"Leave us."

The guards exchanged a glance before stepping away.

Seraphine entered.

The room was dim.

Heavy curtains covered the windows, allowing only a thin line of sunlight to enter.

At the center of the chamber stood a large bed surrounded by delicate silver ornaments.

A young man lay motionless upon it.

His eyes were closed.

His breathing was slow and steady.

Seraphine approached the bed.

For several seconds, she simply looked at him.

Then she sat beside him.

"You are still sleeping..."

Her voice was softer than it had been in the throne room.

She reached out and gently adjusted the blanket covering him.

"I know you cannot hear me."

"But I'm going to keep talking anyway."

She paused.

"I haven't forgotten my promise."

Her gaze fell to his pale face.

"The jewels are not enough yet."

"I need more."

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the blanket.

"The priest says there is still a chance."

"So you must be patient."

She leaned closer.

"I have already sent someone to search for them."

"Your mother will bring them back."

The sleeping prince did not move.

Seraphine lowered her voice.

"Just hold on a little longer."

She remained beside him in silence.

Outside the chamber...

A royal servant hurried down the corridor carrying a sealed letter.

The search had already begun.

And somewhere far beyond the palace walls...

The hunter was following a trail that would eventually lead him toward a much greater secret.

The village came into view just before noon.

Thin trails of smoke curled from the chimneys, and the familiar sounds of daily life echoed through the quiet streets.

As Kyle and Lyra approached the clinic, Lumi spotted them from the doorway.

"There you are!"

She hurried toward them with a relieved smile.

"I was worried after the storm."

Kyle lifted the basket of mushrooms.

"We found shelter."

"And we brought back everything we needed."

Lumi peeked inside the basket.

"So many Moon Caps!"

Kyle nodded.

"They'll keep us supplied for quite some time."

The three entered the clinic together.

Kyle immediately spread the mushrooms across a wooden table.

"They need to dry before we can use them."

Lyra carefully arranged each one, leaving enough space between them for air to circulate.

"You've done this before."

Kyle watched her with curiosity.

Lyra smiled faintly.

"My grandmother always said..."

"'A healer who rushes will waste both medicine and hope.'"

Kyle paused for a moment.

"...She taught you well."

Before either of them could continue, another knock came at the clinic door.

An elderly shepherd stepped inside, removing his hat politely.

"Good afternoon, Kyle."

"My shoulder has been aching since yesterday."

Kyle invited him to sit.

"I'll take a look."

As Kyle examined the man's shoulder, Lyra quietly prepared warm water and clean cloths without needing to be asked.

The shepherd noticed.

"You make a fine team."

Kyle smiled.

"I've had more help lately."

The old man laughed.

"That's a good thing."

"Even the best healer shouldn't carry every burden alone."

Kyle glanced briefly toward Lyra.

"...You're right."

Outside...

The afternoon sun shone brightly, as though the previous night's storm had never happened.

Far beyond the western kingdom...

The hunter stopped at a busy crossroads where merchants from different regions crossed paths.

Instead of asking about magical jewels...

He asked ordinary questions.

"Have any strangers passed through recently?"

"Anyone unusual?"

Most people simply shook their heads.

One merchant, however, scratched his beard thoughtfully.

"A traveler mentioned seeing mysterious lights in a forest several weeks ago."

"Which forest?" the hunter asked calmly.

The merchant pointed east.

"Not here."

"Across the border."

The hunter thanked him and unfolded his map.

Another rumor.

Another direction.

He marked the location with a small charcoal line.

Whether it proved true or false...

Every clue brought him one step closer to the answer he was searching for.

The afternoon passed peacefully.

The clinic was quieter than usual.

Most of the villagers had remained home after the heavy rain, using the sunny weather to repair fences and tend their fields.

Kyle carefully turned the Moon Cap mushrooms on the drying rack.

"They should be ready in a few days."

Lyra stood beside him.

"I didn't realize so much work came after gathering them."

Kyle smiled.

"Collecting herbs is only half the job."

"If they're not dried correctly..."

"They lose their medicinal properties."

Lyra nodded thoughtfully.

"There is always something new to learn."

A gentle knock came at the door.

A young woman stepped inside carrying a little boy in her arms.

"He hasn't stopped coughing since last night."

Kyle immediately welcomed them inside.

"Let's have a look."

The boy hid his face against his mother's shoulder.

Lyra knelt in front of him and smiled warmly.

"Don't worry."

"Kyle is very gentle."

The child peeked at her with curious eyes.

"Really?"

She nodded.

"I've seen him help many people."

"He'll take good care of you."

The boy slowly relaxed.

Kyle examined him carefully before preparing a warm herbal drink.

"It's only a cold."

"He should recover with plenty of rest."

The young mother bowed gratefully.

"Thank you."

As they left the clinic, Kyle looked toward Lyra.

"You've become very good at calming children."

Lyra smiled softly.

"They're easier to treat once they're no longer afraid."

Kyle laughed.

"I should remember that."

For a brief moment, the clinic filled with comfortable silence.

Then Kyle reached for another bundle of herbs.

"Would you like me to teach you how to prepare winter medicine?"

Lyra looked surprised.

"You'd teach me?"

"Of course."

"You already know a great deal."

"And every healer has something new to learn."

A bright smile appeared on Lyra's face.

"I'd like that."

The two spent the rest of the afternoon working side by side.

Outside...

The peaceful rhythm of village life continued.

Far away, however...

The hunter folded another map and sighed quietly.

Three villages.

Two towns.

One abandoned shrine.

Days of searching...

Yet every trail had ended the same way.

With nothing.

For the first time since accepting the Queen's mission...

He began to wonder if someone—or something—was deliberately hiding the jewels from those who sought them.

The sun was setting beyond the western hills when Kyle closed the last medicine jar.

He stretched his arms with a quiet sigh.

"That should be everything."

Lyra carefully wiped the wooden table clean before placing the remaining herbs back onto their shelves.

"I never imagined preparing medicine required so much patience."

Kyle smiled.

"My grandfather used to tell me..."

"'A healer who rushes creates more patients than cures.'"

Lyra laughed softly.

"I think he and my grandmother would have gotten along."

Kyle smiled at the thought.

"I'm sure they would."

Just then, Lumi appeared at the clinic door.

"Mother says dinner is ready."

She looked between the two of them before grinning.

"And she also said you're both forbidden from working after sunset."

Kyle chuckled.

"I suppose we don't have much choice."

Lumi nodded proudly.

"Not if you want her special vegetable stew."

Kyle immediately picked up his coat.

"Then we shouldn't keep her waiting."

Lyra laughed quietly.

"I didn't know food could convince you so easily."

"It usually does."

The three left the clinic together, chatting as they walked through the peaceful village.

Children were still playing in the square while farmers returned home after a long day's work.

For a brief moment...

Everything felt ordinary.

Peaceful.

As if nothing could disturb the quiet life they had found.

Far away...

The hunter stopped at a small roadside inn before nightfall.

He rented a modest room and ordered a simple meal.

Several travelers sat nearby, exchanging stories from different kingdoms.

The hunter listened in silence.

"...They say a merchant discovered a glowing gem in the northern hills."

"Nonsense," another traveler replied.

"If it truly existed, soldiers would already be guarding the place."

Laughter spread through the room.

The hunter lowered his gaze to the map lying beside his bowl.

One rumor after another.

Most led nowhere.

He calmly drew another line across the parchment before rolling it closed.

"So many false trails..."

He whispered to himself.

"But eventually..."

"I'll find the real one."

Outside the inn, the night wind swept across the western road.

Somewhere ahead...

Fate was quietly guiding him toward a village whose name he did not yet know.