Idsilla cocked her head at Maxi. “What is it? Is something wrong with the remedy?”
Maxi hastily tried to lighten her expression. “N-No. I was just…thinking about something.”
“Your husband will be going to the battlefront again. You must be worried,” Idsilla said sympathetically.
Maxi did not confirm or deny the girl’s assumption and merely gave her an ambiguous look. Idsilla regarded Maxi knowingly, as though she understood everything.
“They say that there won’t be an all-out battle anytime soon, so don’t worry too much,” she said, her tone consoling.
“I’m sorry,” Maxi replied after a pause. “You must be…more anxious than I am….”
“We are both worried for our families. It wouldn’t be right to say that one is more anxious than the other. For now, it is enough that I know he’s well,” Idsilla said, her tone optimistic.
Maxi had found out from Elliot that Idsilla’s brother, Elbarto Calima, was safe. The girl’s face had visibly brightened when Maxi had told her the news.
“The division…g-guarding the front should be returning soon,” Maxi said. “I am sure you will see your brother then.”
“I don’t want him to know that I’m here.” Idsilla adamantly shook her head as she shoved dry twigs into the fire. “Elba might be an outstanding knight, but he is not invincible like your husband. I have no doubt that he is already pushing himself too hard because of his bad arm. I don’t want to add to his worries. I will see him once the war is over.”
Maxi felt a blush creep over her cheeks at the girl’s rationality. She felt ashamed for stewing over not seeing her husband for a few days. At the same time, she grew worried that her presence might become a burden to Riftan. Had she not given him one more thing to worry about when the war was already weighing down on him?
“There you are, my lady.”
An unexpected voice snapped Maxi out of her thoughts. She turned to find Ruth trudging out of the thick forest.
“Ruth…wh-what brings you here?” she asked.
The mage sighed. “The rune I spent an entire night formulating for Sir Hebaron’s injury failed to work. He seems to be in much pain, so I’m here to collect a remedy to help ease it.” Rubbing the back of his neck, Ruth gave an undignified yawn and plopped down onto a tree stump.
Maxi’s face tensed with concern. “H-His condition is not grave, is it?”
“His life is not in danger,” Ruth said flatly. Then he sighed again as he added, “But the wound is worsening from infection, and it seems the pain is only growing greater.”
Maxi worriedly bit her lip. “Th-Then shouldn’t we treat the wound properly…instead of only relying on magic?”
“I’ve been applying salve regularly, but it’s not much help.” Ruth roughly ran a hand through his hair. “The bigger problem is that the curse is lowering the morale of the allied forces. Everyone is afraid they might end up like Sir Hebaron. Duke Aren has also proposed postponing a full-scale war until we can find a way to break the curse.”
“I…a-agree with him…on that. If…the monsters are a-able to freely cast such a curse, even the Remdragon Knights…w-won’t be safe,” Maxi fretted.
“I understand your concern, but dragging this war on would only put us at a disadvantage,” Ruth said gravely. “Our enemy is capable of limitless regeneration, while we are not. Not to mention the rift growing within the coalition army. It would be best for us to strike first before the solidarity of the forces weakens further.” He heaved a sigh and shrugged. “But you need not worry, since my opinion is being utterly ignored. It’s likely that small skirmishes will continue for the foreseeable future. At this rate, I fear that we will have to spend winter here.”
Maxi’s face was not the only one that darkened at Ruth’s words. Idsilla, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, looked worried as well. Sensing the heaviness in the air, Ruth quickly changed the subject.
“I’m afraid I’ve stayed too long. Sir Hebaron will rip out all the hair on my head if I don’t hurry back with the remedy,” he said hastily. “I heard that you have an efficient concoction. Would you be able to spare me some of it?”
Maxi nodded. “Of course. But first…would you mind if I also take a look at S-Sir Hebaron’s wound?”
“You, my lady?”
He regarded her with a look of surprise that Maxi found slightly irksome.
“I-I studied a lot while you were gone, you know! Things even you wouldn’t know, u-under a new mage staying in Anatol,” she said indignantly. “Who knows, Melric’s remedy might work better than magic….”
Ruth raised an eyebrow and shrugged. “Well, it never hurts to try.”
After scowling at his apathetic response, Maxi asked Idsilla to take over watching the cauldron and went to gatherher remedies and tools. As she was leaving the camp, Ulyseon leaped up from the small wood carving he was workingon.
“My lady! Where are you going?” he asked.
