Charles nimbly followed behind Lucas and looked everywhere with curiosity and tension. He was taking light steps so that he can avoid the crisp sound of breaking dried twigs and leaves if he stepped on it.
This was the first time, he had been out of his comfort zone and is all alone. So following Lucas gave him a sense of tranquillity and security.
He didn't know why he was feeling like this but Lucas's strength of slaying an E rank beast has already set an example of how strong Lucas is currently.
He guessed that he would at early or mid-level of 3-Star rank.
Lucas stopped in his tracks and placed his hands on the hilt of the sword and lowered his body and closed his eyes to know the direction of the disturbance.
Charles immediately halted seeing Lucas stopping and raised his guard scanning the sound.
Lucas clenched his sword and slashed it right in the direction. A blade of wind emitted from the sword followed by a shrill cry of a beast.
Lucas didn't look in the direction to know the result after slashing the sword and marched ahead.
...
The darkness had already swallowed the forest. Everything looked pitch dark without a ray of light followed by blowing of chill breeze emitting whistling sound of leaves giving one a dreary feeling.
In the darkness, in a small underground cave, a gentle fire was lit over which a rabbit was being grilled.
Lucas and Charles sat facing each other without saying a word.
Charles wanted to start a conversation but he couldn't find any words. He was grateful for Lucas saving him but since he had never shown anyone gratitude before, he was finding it difficult to thank Lucas.
The atmosphere was quite awkward. Lucas didn't speak anything fearing Charles acting haughtily and if his words may offend him and somehow this may lead a duke house on his tail. So it was better to stay quiet than be sorry.
After contemplating for some time, Charles finally opened his mouth and spoke.
"..Thanks for saving me," Charles spoke. He was getting a cringe feeling all over his body as he muttered the words.
Lucas widened his eyes hearing the words and just gave a brief nod without speaking anything.
"Did you flee alone?" Charles asked with curiosity. He wanted to know if others fled.
Lucas didn't want to say anything but finally sighed as he said"No, I stayed back to buy time for others to escape."
Charles was stunned for a moment listening to the boy before him staying behind to buy time for others.
'How can one be so generous to sacrifice his life for strangers.'Charles thought. If he was given the choice, he would choose to keep himself alive first.
But before he could ask anything Lucas spoke"Why are you here? When you are the first one to flee."
Charles clenched his fist and bit his lips thinking about his situation.
After a slight realisation, he spoke"I was following the instructor as he took the road at the back of the village but found that road has been blocked by a goblin, so I ran into the forest protect myself and thought if I was able to another side of the forest, I can reach the fortress."
'The goblins have cut the retreat route and were waiting, to ambush who tried to flee. Just how did they come up with a high-level strategy?'Lucas thought rubbing his chin and a sudden thought flashed his eyes.
'Wait, the instructor told us to follow the river instead of the road. How did they know?'Lucas muttered inwardly and sighed. The situation was quite complicated.
There was still some goblin keeping track of Lucas, so he thought they may follow him if he went along the river. He looked at the map and inferred that going through the forest will decrease the distance only if he was able to get out of here safely. Still, he decided to go through it.
"Did you hide your power before? I have seen you around with Fredrick and what I knew you are just 1-Star when you entered." Charles asked curiously, Lucas had picked his interest. He also thought that he will check his background after returning.
"Yeah, I was 1-Star at the opening and now I am a 2-Star. Why? By the way, did you observe him before and thought to use me to trouble Fredrick." Lucas spoke coldly as he stared straight into Charles's eyes.
Although he had thought not to get in trouble or instigate Charles but hearing Charles noticing him with Fredrick, he cannot overlook the matter.
He doesn't want to leave any potential trouble for the future like Brock.
Brock was just messing around but if Charles makes a move, it will surely be a deadly move. So, it's best to know his intention here and have a friendly chat with him.
"No...No that's not what I mean," Charles spoke hurriedly waving his hand and shrank back a little as he looked at Lucas's eyes.
He felt fear as he looked at Lucas's silhouette. The silhouette boy of the same age before him looked quite big that can crush him any time now.
"Haaaa!!"
Taking a deep breath, Lucas asked"Charles, I don't know you personally nor I am your friend but since I save your life you owe me so I will also ask you a question, Try to answer truthfully."
Gulp
Charles swallowed his saliva, wondering what Lucas will ask.
The seeming arrogant young master of the Duke's house is now behaving like a simp.
His sudden behaviour change was quite amusing for Lucas.
'Facing death can break the hard nuts.' Lucas muttered inwardly.
Lucas rested his chin on his hand and spoke"Charles, why the hell you are always looking for trouble with Fredrick? As far as I know, he hadn't done anything to offend you. It was you who started the matter first. Also, since there are only two dukes there is no strain in the relationship between your houses."
"So, why are you wasting time on bringing him down instead of doing your work. If you want to blame someone for your degradation rank, it should be you not working hard and wasting your time to find trouble with someone."
Charles stammered as no words came out from his throat. If someone had said these words to him before, he would have already slapped him and beat him a few times but now he thought about it carefully, Lucas's words made some sense.
It was he who have been harassing Fredrick. When he knew Fredrick had surpassed even with his lowly bloodline, he was unable to take in and tried every means possible to take him down but even after all schemes Fredrick was still at the top and the gap between them had been widening since then.
Lucas's noticed Charles inner turmoil and spoke"It's okay to be jealous.No matter how mature you are, there are times you behave childless Sometimes you get angry even at some small matter, sometimes you get frustrated. It's okay to feel this and commit mistakes. After all, that's what makes one alive. You just have to try not to act rashly and commit mistakes. Mistakes which may cost you dearly one day."
Lucas spoke wanting to put sense in Charles. If his words can change a future villain. Then he wouldn't mind wasting some time, trying to speak these things.
Charles took note of Lucas's word and decided to think about it carefully but even if feel Lucas was condemning him he couldn't find any words to refute him.
"You don't need to mind my words if you don't like it. I just wanted to say one thing. What happens between you and Fredrick, should stay in between the two of you. Don't you dare to drag me into it or target me for causing trouble? If you are annoyed by Fredrick, why don't you confront and beat him head-on? Why waste time in scheming."Lucas didn't speak anything after that.
He knew if words have an impact, what he had said was enough. If not, then no matter how much time he wastes on speaking there is no use.
Lucas looked at the grilled rabbit and took it out. The food he had in storage were all frozen food and he doesn't like it.
As he took a bit and chewed it with a satisfied expression. He looked at Charles who was giving him a weird expression.
" What, "Lucas asked.
"No, it's just, how can you eat these things? Don't find it..." Charles was unable to speak further as he looked at the meat with disgust as his stomach made a growling sound.
Charles had lost his storage ring while escaping. That was also one of the reasons for falling into a pathetic state.
"How did you know it is bad? Have you ever tried it before? Don't just conclude things by seeing the outer appearance." Lucas spoke.
Pondering for a moment, Lucas tore the fleshy grilled leg and handed it to Charles.
"Try it yourselves. If you don't like it, you can just throw it outside."
Charles took the piece unwittingly and hesitatingly took a small nibble.
As he chewed it, his eyes widened with surprise and he started at the grilled meat with shock.
The meat was quite juicy and tender. He forget the etiquette that was followed strictly by the nobles and being hungry he pounced on it.
Lucas chucked seeing Charles finishing the meat and gave him another piece.
Charles took off the other meat and as he bit it, he muttered in a soft voice.
"Hmmm.. Don't just conclude things just by seeing the outer appearance."
