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Chapter 82: An Unresolved Curiosity (4)
After Berg departed to converse with Adam, Ner and Arwin made their way to Bergs house amidst a palpable tension.
They were left speechless at the sight of Berg, driven by rage, expelling members of the Hea Church.
Witnessing a side of him they had never seen before only deepened their confusion.
-Creak... Thump.
Without a word, the two stepped into Bergs tranquil home.
With one less presence, the house felt eerily empty.
Only now did they seem to truly sense the homes innate atmosphere.
The image of Berg charging towards the paladins was still vivid in Arwins mind.
She felt it during the Gallias incident... and now, the same questions resurfaced.
Was he not afraid of dying?
Why did he engage in such a reckless fight?
It seemed as if Arwin had inadvertently absorbed the fear Berg should have felt.
Her racing heart still hadnt subsided.
...What just happened?
She wasnt the only one stunned.
Ner cautiously inquired.
Arwin delicately took a seat nearby and shook her head.
...Im not sure.
...
What kind of relationship did he have with the Hea Church that this happened?
Why on earth did the Hea Church seek out Berg?
Why did Berg react so vehemently upon seeing them?
Could his disregard for religion be a reason?
How did the paladin recognize Berg?
She struggled to piece together the myriad puzzle of questions.
Could Berg have been in the midst of preparing to become a paladin?
Were his parents perhaps high-ranking members of the Hea Church?
Had the Hea Church ever tried to pursue Berg before?
Could Berg possibly be privy to the Hea Churchs confidential information that shouldnt be leaked outside?
...
Nothing could be ascertained.
There was an overwhelming amount of missing information.
...I think we need to talk to Berg to find out.
Arwin finally concluded.
Ner nodded in agreement to her words.
Thereafter, the two sat silently, waiting for the yet-to-return Berg.
Tension gradually eased in the quiet passing of time.
Come to think of it, it had been a long time since the two were left alone like this.
Friends who shared their true feelings with each other.
As Arwin quietly fiddled with her ring, questions directed at Ner surfaced in her mind.
There were things she couldnt ask when Berg was around.
Even the journey back to the village was a testament to that.
In a situation that didnt require any pretense, the sight of Ner wrapping her tail around Bergs waist was unforgettable.
Several other awkward moments also lingered in her memory.
Arwin silently wrestled with whether to ask those questions or to hold back.
Isnt the ring uncomfortable?
However, while she contemplated, Ner broached the subject first.
Arwin glanced at Ner once, then looked back down at her ring.
She pondered on how to answer such a simple question.
...It feels better than I expected.
Arwin responded to Ners inquiry with a light tone.
Ner nodded, replying, I see. Unlike me, you seem to adapt quickly.
...Perhaps our rings are a bit more comfortable?
...Ours? Ive only just gotten used to mine...
Arwin corrected herself, Ah, I meant mine and Bergs rings.
...
Ner gazed intently at Arwin, then settled down on her tail before asking, ...You havent already fallen for Berg, have you?
Arwin swallowed hard at that question. It was an abrupt and piercing query. Was it because a member of the werewolf tribe was asking? The question seemed tinged with a hint of scorn towards those who fall in love quickly.
Arwin maintained her composure. Given the tone and atmosphere with which Ner posed the question, there was no other way to respond.
...What do you mean? Why would you ask something like that all of a sudden?
The vibe you give off... it feels different from before.
Arwin replied calmly, ...Didnt I say I couldnt love a short-lived species?
At her response, Ner nodded firmly, Right, you did.
...
However, seeing Ner nodding like that, Arwin felt a peculiar unease. It felt as if Ner was subtly steering the conversation.
Silence lingered for a while.
Eventually, drawing in a slow breath, Ner whispered, Arwin-nim?
Yes?
...Should I continue to sleep together with Berg?
...
...Ive grown accustomed to it now.
Upon hearing Ners proposition, Arwin felt as if a weight had been added to her heart. She recalled the nights with Berg. Just a few days ago, he had awakened her from a nightmare and soothed her. She couldnt fathom the depth of the warmth she felt from him then.
Subsequently, their conversation that dawn led to her learning archery from him.
...For Arwin, those were moments turning into irreplaceable memories.
Thus, she wanted to decline Ners proposal.
Nights spent with Berg were no longer actions met with Arwins aversion.
...In fact, nights without Berg felt almost dull.
But maybe it was because she had just said she couldnt love a short-lived species?
Declining Ners proposal might make her seem hypocritical.
It would sound like she was lying earlier.
...
So instead of answering, Arwin posed a question.
How about you, Ner?
Huh?
...Have you fallen for Berg?
...
Did you give up on your destined partner who is a noble, from your grandmother, a fortune teller, prophecy?
...Why do you ask?
You mentioned wanting to sleep together earlier.
Its not that I want to sleep together... I just thought it might not be as hard for me as it is for you.
I can handle it.
Well, thats a relief then.
Arwin wasnt about to let Ner sidestep the questioning.
She was curious too, after all.
So, have your feelings about Berg changed?
Arwin recalled the sight of Ner snuggling into Bergs arms, giggling, You even wrapped your tail around Bergs waist earlier.
...He asked for some pretense.
But even after we left the village, you kept it wrapped.
...
If the person destined for you had such a past, wouldnt you dislike it?
Berg is my first friend. Its natural for me to feel a bit more special about him.
Hearing Ners words, Arwin decided to conclude her own justifications for her actions.
Same for me. Ive never had a friend as close as Berg... thats probably why, to you, I seem to have changed.
The two looked at each other, then looked away.
That topic came to an end.
Arwin quietly heaved a sigh without Ner noticing.
After a while, the sound of someone approaching the house could be heard.
It seems Berg has returned, Ner remarked.
Arwin nodded, It seems so.
****
Though Arwin had a plethora of questions for Berg, he expressed a desire for rest and headed to his room with Ner.
Arwin felt a growing sense of frustration she couldnt quite place.
She yearned to resolve her questions about the Hea Church swiftly.
She wanted to understand why such a perilous event had occurred.
...
Yet, the sight of Berg disappearing with Ner left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Was it due to her recent conversation with Ner?
Her frustration only intensified.
Wondering if Berg might come out of his room again, Arwin chose to remain seated in the living room.
It was still too early to retire for the night.
Involuntarily, Arwin found herself concentrating on any noise echoing through the silence of the house.
...
But there was an absolute stillness.
It didnt seem like Ner and Berg were engaged in conversation.
At least, she couldnt be certain.
But with the unseen came a heightened imagination.
Arwin slowly rose and approached the window in the living room.
She opened it, letting in the cool night air.
Before she realized it, she began casting a spell, and her eyes glowed blue.
After a short moment, with a flutter, a bird flew in.
It was magic she had learned from Sylphrien, the mage in the Hero party.
Arwin whispered a request to the bird, ...Could you briefly check what theyre doing in that room?
It was mere curiosity.
After waiting for Berg for such a long time, his abrupt retreat to his room made her uneasy.
If the two of them were having a private conversation, she felt it might upset her.
With that, the bird took off.
Suddenly, Arwin found herself pondering what she was doing.
Still, having made the request, Arwin quietly waited for her bird.
She looked down at her hand.
The ring on her left ring finger.
The fingertips scuffed while practicing archery with Berg.
His marks were already left on her.
Arwin thought of Berg.
...Would she be able to spend time with him tomorrow?
Come to think of it, she had to teach him how to read and write.
-Tap, tap, tap.
Lost in her thoughts, she was interrupted by the bird, tapping on the window frame.
Snapped from her reverie, Arwin tilted her head.
-Chirp! Chirp!
The message from the bird made Arwin involuntarily furrow her brows.
.........What?
Her throat tightened.
The bird conveyed that Berg was holding Ner tightly from behind.
Just like a real couple.
...
Hadnt Ner said Berg was just a friend?
Then why would they be in that position?
...Berg had never held her like that, not even once.
She was continually reminded of the image of Berg, putting a ring on her finger in a beautiful sunset.
Biting her lips slightly, Arwin let out a sigh and stood up.
...In reality, there was another way to know Ners true feelings.
Considering the circumstances, effective strategies filled her mind.
There wasnt a particular need to ask Ner directly.
Making sure neither Ner nor Berg could hear her, Arwin slowly headed towards Ners room.
A personal space she shouldnt invade.
Once inside, she lightly snapped her fingers.
-Snap!
Suddenly, the position of everything inside the room was revealed to her.
...
What Arwin was looking for was specific.
The item Ner had newly brought from the Celebrien estate.
Her diary.
Arwin lifted the diary she found amidst Ners belongings.
Her true feelings would surely be written here.
Why was it essential to know this?
Arwin didnt know.
But her curiosity about those feelings grew, and Arwin couldnt resist it.
Those new emotions she was experiencing drove her to extremes.
With her magic, Arwins eyes shone in the darkness.
She opened the book in a familiar manner.
When was the last time she read a book? She couldnt remember.
.............Huh?
But from the very first page, Arwin was thrown into confusion.
The information she expected to find was nowhere to be seen.
There was nothing written about Ners true feelings.
Instead, there was detailed information about the Stockpin, the base of the Red Flames.
This was information that others shouldnt know.
For example, the Hea Church intended to harm Berg.
Arwin blinked.
She couldnt even breathe.
She had come to understand Ners true feelings more clearly than if she had heard them directly.
And, unmistakably, she was reminded of what Ners race was.
Werewolves.
A race that deeply loves just one individual.
Did she write this hoping to meet her destined partner?
In the face of love, does even a first friend become meaningless?
Perhaps Ner had been quietly waiting for her moment all along.
.......
Arwin realized she had underestimated Ner.
Beneath her naive appearance lay a hidden blade.
Seeing her always smiling happily by Bergs side, Arwin never suspected this.
Arwin silently closed the book.
Her feelings were in turmoil.
...It seemed that everything Ner said about Berg was not a lie.
It appeared she didnt truly love him.
If that was true, then maybe, just maybe, Ner, who was currently nestled in Bergs embrace, might also be going through a tough time.
Ners earlier words about wanting to sleep with Berg might have been out of consideration for Arwin.
She felt foolish for doubting her.
Arwin restored everything to its original state and left the room.
She approached the living room window.
Trying to process the shocking revelation, she sat in a chair.
-Chirp! Chirp!
The bird chirped, capturing her attention.
Arwin gently petted the bird and then... looked back toward Ners room.
...Whatever the case, it seemed she couldnt leave Ner alone any longer.
Arwin bowed her head once more.
Then, she made another request to the bird.
...Could you keep an eye on Ner from now on?
The End of The Chapter
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