บท 36: The Remaining Time
The talks proceeded smoothly. The Walt House didn't receive compensation because of Amy's arguments and the House of Luna didn't get any either because they initiated the search of their own free will.
Once the talks ended, the heads and successors of the four major houses departed. Amy had to go back with Markus for business while Sebastian rode with Jonathan and his elder brother.
"I must say, when did you get a knack for starting trouble?"
Sebastian's elder brother, Damian, stared at Sebastian like he was looking at a pebble by the roadside.
"I—"
Damian snorted and stopped Sebastian from talking, "do you think that by going into the forest, you'll be able to get power?"
Normally, this would be the moment that Sebastian cowered in front of his brother while giving a string of apologies but after being cut off once, Sebastian turned his attention elsewhere.
The wound is going to leave scars... will Amy hate it?
His thoughts went towards an entirely different direction.
Seeing that Sebastian didn't listen to him, a vein appeared on Damian's forehead and his expression became twisted in anger.
"You've grown some guts after being in that forest..."
Damian gathered his energy and the carriage was beginning to heat up. Sebastian's attention went back to Damian and in just an instant, he used the stigma to strengthen himself. A knife that was hidden behind Sebastian was thrust at Damian's throat and stopped him from gathering more energy.
"You...!"
Damian growled in anger. That feeble insect of a brother he had actually dared to point a knife at him?!
"Damian, Sebastian, enough."
Jonathan's calm voice brought the two back to their senses.
Although Damian still had a sea of anger churning inside him, he stopped the revolution of his energy. Sebastian erased the energy covering his body and hid the knife again.
He had actually brought a weapon in the Walt House. When and where did he get the courage from?
Sebastian acted strangely but it was only natural. His mind had been tempered in the forest and he had yet to snap out of his state that he had to use anything he could to live. It was akin to an actor or a jester, fooling themselves to fool others. Only a few would be able to successfully do such a feat.
It takes time for them to return to themselves. Some take days, weeks, and some even take months. But, among those few, there are some that completely fool themselves and never return to how they were before.
Unlike those people, however, Sebastian wasn't doing it by choice. His mind was in a constant state of alert and although he could force himself to regain his sense of self temporarily like when he coaxed Amy, he would return to his battle-ready state the moment he's exposed to danger or pain.
Although Jonathan stopped him, Sebastian continued to keep his hands ready to grasp the knife. He wasn't thinking straight. The moment he killed his brother, he would be branded as a criminal.
There was only a bit less than a month left to the date of the duel. He needed to get Balanos' trump card ready soon. Even if he were to spend the entire month training, his energy wouldn't go reach Apprentice. There wasn't anything he could do with his archery other than constant practice as he definitely wouldn't be able to go back to the forest anytime soon. This meant that he was as ready as he could be.
—Whether you win or lose the duel, you have to remember to find the black arrow.
Sebastian turned his head to the side to look out of the window and covered his mouth with his hand before speaking in a hushed voice, "you're expecting me to find a single arrow in a large forest filled with beasts? Are you a demon?"
Jonathan was reading a book and raised a brow at Sebastian when he heard him mutter. After a few seconds, he turned his eyes back at the book.
Nobody else in the carriage—not even Balanos had noticed his subtle movements.
—Once you become an Apprentice, it will be easier for you to search for the arrow.
"Why are you so fixated on finding the arrow anyway? I know that it's rare and all but you're making me search a forest filled with beasts, Adept-level beasts even."
—I have no attachment to the arrow itself. Though, it's true that it would be a pity if the arrow were to be lost because of its rarity.
"Then why?"
—Because that arrow is a loose end. One day, someone will find it and either that person or those who come into contact with them will know what the arrow is. And when that day comes, you will have to flee.
The arrow was made for the stigma users of the past. Using something like that can be counted as treachery towards the kingdom. There were many ways to find out the true owners of items, especially when the item has been used by them many times before.
"That seems like a baseless worry. But, if I have time to spare after the duel, I'll go and search for it."
Sebastian continued to converse with Balanos until the carriage reached his mother's estate. He stepped out of the carriage and said his goodbyes to Jonathan and Damian.
He waited for the carriage to leave before moving away from the estate. Baritos should already be waiting at the location. He had to get more arrows and make Balanos' trump card.
...
"Sir, you really returned!"
Pine approached him with somewhat teary eyes.
"Didn't I say so? I'm going to pick up the rest of the arrows today. And, can you make arrows with bones?" Sebastian spoke while reaching for his pocket.
"Pardon? Bones?" Pine asked to look for confirmation. He wasn't asking for arrows made from different metals but instead with bones?
Sebastian placed the few bones he had gotten from the beasts in the forest. They were all extremely hard and required the black arrow to pierce through them. If the bones really were made into arrows, then they would be devastating weapons—or so Sebastian's line of thought went.
"It's possible... Even if I don't have the tools to do it but... are you really sure that you want to turn them into arrows?"
Pine looked at him with a weird expression.
"Is it bad?" Sebastian asked.
"No, it's just that bone arrows are very... inefficient. Even if the bones are of this quality, it would still be difficult to match iron's sharpness. These are from beasts in the forest, but I've only heard of two or three species there that have bones fit for making arrowheads. With these bones... I'd recommend a knife or a spearhead instead because you could supplement the lack of piercing with strength."
Pine picked up the bones and inspected them. They were all from different beasts but the hardness of the bones was about the same.
"If you don't mind it not being a weapon, then I have another suggestion."
"What is it?"
"Plates. Since Sir is an archer then plates to guard the back of your hands or have it become a vambrace."
"..."
Sebastian thought for a moment. It was true that he lacked firepower but it was evidently clear because of the hawk that he severely lacked defensive gear more.
"Then, make me some plates for the back of my hands. If I bring back more, will you be able to create armor to cover more of my body?"
Pine scratched his cheek, "it'd have to be from a tough beast to be able to match steel armor though."
Sebastian grinned, "I already have an idea about where I can find it. I'll get it back to you within a month. How long do you think it will take for you to finish the plates?"
"So I can guarantee the quality, Sir can come back in three days," Pine said while sticking out his chest.
"Then, I'll be back in three days."
...
"...It was here, wasn't it?"
Sebastian arrived at an old decrepit building that just yelled out 'suspicious' no matter how he looked at it.
—There's no mistake.
"How did I manage to walk into this place without even thinking twice before?"
Sebastian sighed and walked through the doors. Like before, he was greeted by the pale woman by the desk.
"Welcome back, customer. What are you looking for today?"
Sebastian raised a brow in surprise.
"You remember me?"
"How could I not? You were just one of my few customers but then the entire capital was thrown into chaos when a person went missing. You could just imagine the surprise on my face when I saw that it was the odd customer I had."
Although she spoke like that, the expression on her face didn't change at all.
"I'd like to have a potion created."
It wasn't an uncommon request. The pale woman asked again, "do you want to rent out the equipment or for an extra fee, have me make the potion for you? Provided that you have the ingredients of course."
Sebastian untied the pouch hanging on his left waist and placed it on the counter. Then, he took out a cloth and unwrapped it to reveal the two vials he had bought before.
"I know the process but I'd like you to mix it."
The pale woman raised a brow but didn't ask. She didn't know what kind of potion would be made if she mixed these but as she wasn't an apothecary working for the kingdom, she didn't need to check if the potions were going to be used for harm. People who came to this shop were those sorts after all.
"Then, give me a few minutes to get ready. You can read the books over there on the shelf while waiting."
The pale woman walked through the doorway hidden only by a curtain and disappeared from Sebastian's view.
—You only have one set of these ingredients, you better make sure you follow my instructions well.
Sebastian laughed in nervousness. If he failed here, then he would have to go back into the forest or give up a huge chance of winning against Gilbert.
Sebastian picked a random book about apothecary and began reading through it in earnest. After ten odd minutes passed, the pale woman stepped back out of the doorway while wiping her hands with a dark cloth.
She changed clothes to ones didn't have any loose cloth. Most likely to prevent the loose clothes from hitting anything or be soaked in the cauldron later.
"Everything is ready, please follow me."
Sebastian nodded and put the book back on the shelf. He tried to make himself look calm but he was very nervous inside.
Whether he succeeded or failed here would decide his fate for the coming month. And, if he were to fail at getting this potion twice, then he would be at Gilbert's mercy.
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