Chapter 8 — To Cardinal, Part 1

 

Clip-clop, clip-clop—the horse swayed beneath me as we moved between the trees. Come to think of it, this was my very first time riding a horse. Ever since arriving in this world, everything had been new, and my heart was constantly racing. Even now, I was wide-eyed, curiously observing unfamiliar trees, flowers, and insects.

“Yuuki, are you enjoying yourself?”

The vice-captain, who was holding me steady, answered each of my questions with patient explanations.

“Yes! It’s so much fun!”

“There are even more things to see in the town.”

“More things?”

“Yes. Cardinal is a place where many people gather. Because of that, there are countless shops, selling rare and unusual items. Even I, who live there, still find things I don’t recognize.”

Wow… even the vice-captain doesn’t know everything. Cardinal must be a really big town. Where I lived before, there weren’t many shops—just lots of apartment buildings.

Would I get lost? And in the shops, everything would be unfamiliar. Even now, I only understand things because Oliver explains them to me. But still… it sounded exciting.

“I want to see them too!”

“Then I’ll guide you.”

“Really? Yay!”

The vice-captain promised to show me around. I was thrilled.

“Of course. With you, Yuuki, it will be fun.”

The captain tried to join in—“Then I’ll…”—but was immediately silenced.

“Quiet. You’re still supposed to be reflecting.”

“Yes… sorry…”

The captain fell silent under the vice-captain’s glare. Mashiro quietly slipped to the back, avoiding notice.

“What else is in the town?”

“Well… ah, yes. Many magical beasts.”

“Many? Isn’t that scary?”

I remembered the Big Air Bird. If such beasts were in town, wouldn’t everyone get hurt? At the time, I didn’t realize Mashiro himself was far more dangerous than that bird.

“It’s fine. Yuuki, Mashiro is your friend, right?”

“Yes! He’s my friend!”

“In town, most magical beasts are someone’s friend.”

So everyone had friends like me. That meant it was safe. Maybe I could make more friends too. Mashiro was my best friend, but before, I had none. Having many friends would make me happy.

“I love Mashiro. He’s precious to me. But I want more friends too. Do you think I can?”

“Of course. You’ll make many. But remember—you mustn’t force friendship. Only when the other agrees to be with you, then you can be friends.”

“Yes!”

The vice-captain explained that magical beasts in town also help with work—carrying heavy loads, transporting people between towns, just like Mashiro was doing now. That’s why there were so many of them.

Then he added something important he had forgotten earlier:

“Even after becoming friends, never do things that upset them. Don’t make them sad. Don’t force your own will without considering their feelings. That’s the most important rule. You want to stay friends forever, right? Treasure your friends.”

“Yes! I’ll treasure my friends!”

He praised me and patted my head. He also warned me not to become like “those two fools”—meaning the captain and Mashiro. Both of them drooped even more at being called fools.

Matthew rode up beside us. “You really don’t hold back, do you? I’d never want you as an enemy.”

The vice-captain replied calmly, “Then make sure you don’t. As long as you act reasonably, I won’t.”

Matthew chuckled nervously and rode off.

The vice-captain kept telling me stories, pausing whenever I pointed at something in the forest to explain it. He even reassured me that if I grew tired or sleepy, I could rest in his arms. He was truly kind.

But I noticed we weren’t leaving the forest. When I asked, he explained: we’d reach the edge soon, but by then it would be midnight. So we’d camp at the forest’s exit, where there was a good spot to stay overnight.

Listening to his voice, I drifted off to sleep.

“…Yuuki, wake up. We’ve arrived.”

“Unyu… good mornin’… is it morning?”

He chuckled. “No, Yuuki. It’s evening.”

I looked up—the sky glowed a beautiful orange. Around us was a small but suitable place to camp.

“Yuuki, Mashiro and the captain have something to say.”

“Hm?”

They stepped forward and bowed their heads.

“Yuuki, forgive me. I thought only of myself and nearly made you cry. I’m truly sorry.”

“I too apologize. I am meant to protect you, yet I upset you. I beg forgiveness.”

Both apologized together.

“You won’t fight anymore? You’ll be friends?”

“Of course!” they said in unison.

“Then I won’t be mad anymore. We’re all friends!”

“Yuuki! My master!”

They rushed to hug me, patting my head and nuzzling me. They wouldn’t let go until the vice-captain scolded them again.

While Noah prepared dinner, everyone else went to their tasks. They asked if I could play alone, but I said Mashiro would stay with me, so they agreed.

I wondered happily: what would be for dinner tonight?