Chapter 4

Slayn and Ghim took the injured Parn back to his house and laid him to sleep on his bed. Upon examination, Parn’s wounds were deeper than they had appeared. Eto had no visible injuries, but Parn had injuries on his shoulder and leg as well as a head wound of unknown origin, the wound on his shoulder being the most dangerous. As soon as Eto had recovered from his fatigue, he demonstrated his priestly power by closing Parn’s wounds. But the poison coating the goblins’ blades had already spread throughout Parn’s body.

Though his wounds had closed, it seemed he would not yet recover from his injuries. He tossed and turned in a fevered sleep. Eto and Slayn tried every remedy they could think of, but in the end, all they could do was trust in Parn’s strength.

Three days after the battle, Parn’s fever peaked. It seemed as though his whole body was burning, and no matter how often Eto went to get water from the stream, it was never enough to cool Parn off.

Whether Eto’s efforts finally paid off, or Parn’s inner strength was enough to purge the poisons, on the following morning his fever broke and he slipped into a quiet sleep. That evening, he awoke at long last.

Once he had awoken, Parn’s recovery was rapid. Even so, it took him another three days before he was able to get out of bed.

So it was that one evening, Parn and Eto called on Slayn while he was wrestling with yet another arcane text.

“Oh, it’s you lot.”

Ghim’s brusque voice came from the entryway. While seeking news of Leylia, he was staying with Slayn.

Slayn had spread ancient texts across his desk and was chanting unintelligible words.

When he reached the entrance, Parn and Eto were waiting respectfully. Whether Ghim was vigorously cheering him on or insulting him, Parn consistently leaned down to listen to Ghim.

“Well, it would seem you’ve recovered.” Seeing the improvement in Parn’s complexion, Slayn nodded as if in approval. He still looked a little tired, but color had returned to his cheeks, and his eyes shone with a youthful radiance.

“I’ve been a bother to you.” Parn bowed his head deeply.

“If you want to thank anyone, you should thank your friend over there. If he hadn’t nursed you that faithfully, you might have died, no matter how strong your life force.”

As he spoke, Slayn realized that something was bothering Parn.

“I doubt you came here just to thank us. Please come in. It’s small, so please pardon the mess.”

“Thanks.” Parn bowed as he entered.

As Slayn had said, the room was small and crammed full of odds and ends. With four men inside, it was positively claustrophobic. What’s more, since there weren’t enough chairs, Eto and Ghim had to sit on the bed.

“It is as you say.” Though he was itching to get the words out, Parn was having trouble, but on Slayn’s urging he spoke. “I think I want to set out on a journey. I never intended to spend my whole life in this village, and we were made a laughingstock by those goblins. But for some reason everyone’s treating me like a hero. It pains me to get called a hero when I cannot claim the credit for our victory. You understand, right?”

“You know, whatever the result, your actions could truly be called heroic. There’s no need to be humble.”

But Parn was not the kind of man who could be satisfied with such words.

“There are many equally… no, even more wicked creatures than those goblins in the world. But I don’t have the power to face down such evil. All the more reason to leave. And Eto agrees with me as well. Not only would companions hearten me on my journey, we would be able to confidently face the dangers in our path.”

Slayn listened intently to Parn’s speech.

“So, you want to travel and get stronger. I understand that. What I do not understand is how you want me to help.”

“In short… in short, I would like you to accompany me in my travels. You’re a mage. Your magical powers would serve us well against the dangers we would face. And rumor has it that here in Lodoss there are any number of monsters that can only be defeated with magic. What do you think, Slayn? Would you oblige us by joining us in our travels?”

“Hmm.” Slayn pondered this, nodding to himself.

“That’s a good idea. I second it. I plan to leave this town to wander soon. If this mage comes too, he can earn our bread with his craft.” Ghim let out a deep belly laugh.

Slayn met the gaze of the young man who was staring him in the eye. He’d seen that look before.

His friend had proposed that they defeat the thieves’ Guild of Alan. Even with Slayn’s magical powers, the task was too great.

Slayn had refused his request. He had tried to stop his overenthusiastic friend. But he hadn’t been able to change his mind. Slayn had even given him his own invisibility ring. But three days later, in the night, Slayn’s friend was stabbed with a poisoned blade and was never seen again. After that, Slayn heard that the widely feared Guildmaster had been killed and replaced by one who forbade the use of force. Even so, Slayn believed he had made a mistake. Shouldn’t be have stopped his friend on that last night when he had seen him alive? Slayn had never forgotten the sincerity in his friend’s gaze. And now another youth turned that same gaze on him. He was about to set out on a journey he did not understand, fighting something unknown. Those eyes were saying, “follow me.”

Slayn simply said, “That’s a dangerous idea.”

“What do you mean?” asked Parn, his expression perplexed.

Are the G.o.ds giving me a chance to make a different choice this time? Slayn wondered if the G.o.d of knowledge, Rahda, that he wors.h.i.+pped, might be at work.

Slayn closed his eyes for a moment, maintaining his silence, but at length he spoke in a quiet, hoa.r.s.e voice.

“I understand. I will accompany you. Ghim has his own reasons to want to travel as well.”

Opening his eyes, Slayn caught a glimpse of Parn exchanging a look with Ghim.

“Mmm,” grunted Ghim, and turned away from Slayn.

“But let’s hope there’s no danger. I’m a bit of a wimp, you see.”

Ghim was unable to hold back any longer, and roared with laughter. Eto and Parn merely looked at each other, surprised to have convinced Slayn so easily.