On the other end of the line, now fully recharged with arcane energy, Glenn sat in stillness, listening to the faint sobs drifting through the magi-phone. Beside him stood not only Leila, but Tia as well. All three were gathered in the underground chamber beneath his home.

  “Tell me what’s happening on your side. This is no time for tears,” Glenn finally said, breaking the silence before it grew too heavy.

  There came the sound of someone wiping her nose and eyes, followed by a hoarse, trembling voice. “It’s all trees here… I don’t know where I am… and I can hear wolves howling in the distance. I’m terrified…”

  “Don’t be afraid. I’ll make sure nothing happens to you. First, breathe,” Glenn replied, calm and steady as ever.

  She obeyed, and the sounds of slow inhaling and exhaling were clearly audible.

  “Good. It’s already very late. You’ll need to find somewhere to spend the night. Describe your surroundings as clearly as you can.”

  Hearing that, Pernas looked around the near-pitch-black forest, dread twisting together with anxiety in her chest.

  “It’s all trees. Nothing else…” Her voice still quivered.

  “Is the ground level or steep beneath your feet?”

  “Steep… I’ve been running uphill this whole time…”

  Glenn sifted through the map of the Kingdom of Zehn that he’d studied at the ruins of Camber Ridge, recalling the detailed terrain around Barthey’s main city. He asked her several more questions about the nearby vegetation, and after hearing her answers, a few possibilities formed in his mind.

  “Pernas, did you take everything I asked you to bring?” he asked suddenly.

  “I have everything.” The golden-haired girl immediately picked up the small bundle at her side.

  “Good. Spread those spices over your body. They’ll keep mosquitoes away—and wolves as well.”

  Glenn had once smelled the spices Meiko used in the magic workshop; they contained a scent that many beasts found repulsive, wolves included. When he’d later taken the little ones out to play, he’d examined similar spices and noticed they all had that same odor. He suspected their original purpose had been to repel wild beasts and insects.

  Hearing that the spices could keep wolves at bay, Pernas hurriedly smeared them over herself in a clumsy rush.

  “What comes next will be a little more troublesome. I’m going to teach you how to build a simple shelter. We’ll take it step by step.”

  He guided her with the patient tone of a father teaching his child. To Glenn’s relief, the noble girl—accustomed to a life of luxury—did not complain as so many lost and frightened people often did. She followed his instructions faithfully, though occasional sniffles still slipped through the line.

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  Leila, choosing not to return home, remained with him. She knew Pernas must be terrified being all alone in the wilderness. Staying here meant she could at least speak to her, offering some comfort. It was destined to be a sleepless night for all of them.

  The next morning, with the magi-phone fully charged again, Glenn contacted Pernas. She answered almost the instant the call connected. “I just saw a road—but no carriages have passed by. What should I do?”

  “Don’t panic. How much food do you have left?”

  “I ate a small piece of bread… I knew I had to save it, so I didn’t dare take more.”

  “That was wise,” Glenn praised. “Now, go up onto that road. Check for hoofprints or carriage tracks.”

  Pernas was about to obey when she spotted a figure slowly approaching in the distance.

  “I see someone! Someone’s coming!” she cried, joy bursting into her voice.

  Just as she was about to run toward the figure, Glenn barked, “Wait!”

  The sudden shout startled her; Glenn had never raised his voice like that before.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked nervously.

  “You don’t know whether that person is harmless or dangerous. You can’t simply rush over.”

  His words snapped her back to her senses. After being tense and alone for so long, the thrill of seeing another living person had made her forget caution.

  “Then what should I do?”

  “How is your eyesight? Can you see the person clearly?”

  As he spoke, Leila—just awakened by his shout—opened her mouth to ask something, but Glenn silenced her with a gesture. She understood at once. After staying up until nearly dawn, only falling asleep after Pernas finally did, she was still exhausted.

  Pernas, confused as to why Glenn wanted to know about her vision, still answered obediently:

  “My eyesight is very good. I can see things clearly even from far away.”

  “Then describe that person for me. As detailed as possible. Don’t omit his clothing or any ornaments.”

  Glenn picked up a pen, ready to write.

  “He’s a swarthy man… maybe forty or fifty… wearing a brown cloth hat wrapped like a bundle. His clothes look like typical commoner garments. I can’t see his eyes—they’re hidden under the hat—but he seems to be smiling all the time… He gives me a sly feeling. There’s a horse following behind him…”

  After hearing her account, Glenn paused. Her eyesight was truly exceptional—according to his estimation, she must be nearly a hundred meters away from the man.

  Shaking his head slightly, he studied the figure he’d sketched and began to analyze. Judging someone’s nature solely from appearance was notoriously unreliable—he had learned that in his previous life—but he had to admit it was often surprisingly accurate. Unless someone hid themselves very well, a great deal of their disposition—or even their past—could be read from their face.

  Comparing the sketch to the many kinds of people he’d encountered in both lives, Glenn concluded that the man was simply an ordinary commoner, worn down by half a lifetime of hard labor.

  If she happened to run into some villainous mastermind pretending to be a peasant… well, that would simply be fate’s cruelty.

  With a silent sigh, he spoke into the magi-phone:

  “How much Zehn currency do you have on you?”

  “A lot of silver coins… and three gold coins.”

  “Good. Can you ride a horse?”

  “I learned when I was ten.”

  “Excellent. Then, Pernas… it’s time to put your acting skills to the test.”

  …

  Ancho was an ordinary farm laborer who had spent most of his life toiling in the fields. Only recently had his family finally managed to gather a modest bit of wealth. Each day he traveled along a small forest road to sell his goods in town. He was a shrewd man, and not above taking small advantages when he could.

  Times had been hard lately, and he planned to sell the only horse his family owned to get through the current difficulties.

  Suddenly, he spotted a figure crouching on the roadside ahead.

  Dirty, disheveled, clothed in rags—looking very much like a beggar.

  The sight gave Ancho quite a fright.