Shan, who had passed out from blood loss and exhaustion, awoke in the middle of the night, with a great moon high in the sky. Something soft supported the back of his head, and the hand stroking his forehead carried a strangely sweet scent.

"Oh, you're awake!"

Only then did Shan realize that he was lying with his head on the thighs of Debbie, the Alto circus's butterfly fairy.

With help, he sat up and discovered they were on the bank of what looked like a fairly broad river. Some of the circus members were putting up a tent nearby, while the others prepared dinner. Roden, who had been brushing a horse's mane beside them, noticed and came over.

"Good timing. We've just arrived and were about to rest. How do you feel?"

"Fine."

Looking down at his chest, Shan found his wounded torso securely wrapped in bandages. For someone who had always simply carried on living with whatever injuries he received, it was an entirely unfamiliar treatment.

"I used expensive medicine, so you should heal quickly, but don't move around too much, just in case. The wound could open up."

"All right. But where are we?"

"After you collapsed, we walked without stopping until nightfall. We're somewhere east of the city of Vito. I doubt that army will follow us this far, but..."

Apparently, the circus members had laid the unconscious Shan in their baggage wagon and set off. When Roden looked west with an anxious expression, Shan told him exactly what he and Feonil had said to each other. After hearing the story, Roden let out a sigh.

"So he does have the magnanimity to match his reputation. If he'd been the sort who didn't care about keeping up appearances, we could have been in real danger."

"But why were you fighting with those people, Roden?"

When Shan returned from the battle, he had distinctly seen Roden facing off against the people staying outside the city. At the mention of it, Roden's already fierce face twisted into a scowl.

"Those bastards wanted to seize the Altoans and hand them over to the count's army! So I was stopping them. They're your people, after all."

"Oh..."

Shan whipped his head around toward the place they had left behind, now too far away to see. If those people who had persecuted the Altoans had been beside him, he would have cut down every last one of them, man or woman, adult or child.

"Well, luckily my face came in handy. I planted myself in their way, and they didn't dare come at me."

"Thank you so much, Roden."

It must have taken tremendous courage for Roden to do that when the army's presence was already weighing on him. Besides, travelers would all have carried at least a short blade.

"No need to thank me for doing what anyone ought to do. Let's fill our bellies first. Looks like the food's about ready."

Dinner was soup made with flour and butter, along with grilled fish caught in the river beside them. Once they were all seated together to eat, Roxy, the circus leader, formally offered his thanks again.

"Let me say it again on behalf of our family. Thank you, Shan. And thank you as well, Mr. Roden."

"I told you, you can just call me Roden."

"Haha..."

At nineteen, Roden was the same age as Debbie and a full two years younger than Fen. With his imposing, mature appearance, however, it was impossible to treat him like a young man of their nephew's generation. Even Fen, despite having spoken with him several times along the way, kept calling the man two years his junior "Mr. Roden."

As the two chatted amiably, Voldot, the dwarf who had been quietly eating with a gloomy face, suddenly spoke up.

"If we'd resisted them and things had gone wrong, we would all have died. Even now, we're running away from the place where we meant to earn our living, as though we're being chased."

"Father, why would you suddenly say..."

It sounded for all the world like he was demanding to know why Shan had stirred up trouble under the pretense of helping them. Voldot raised a short, ungainly arm and pushed away Fen, who was trying to stop him.

"That's what I told myself as I sat there doing nothing. My daughter was being dragged away, and her own father just cowered in a corner, shaking. Then, once it was over, I comforted myself by saying I would have stepped in too if I could fight that well. The more I think about it... the more pathetic I feel. I'm truly sorry."

Voldot's apology was not directed at just one person. It was for his daughter, who had nearly suffered a terrible fate; his son, who had been beaten trying to stop it; and the righteous boy who had stood up for people who had nothing to do with him. The other circus members, who had secretly harbored similar thoughts, bowed their heads, at a loss for words. Watching them, Shan nodded.

"I know how you feel. I was always like that too, before I knew I could do any of this."

Before learning that he had the power to overcome the villagers' persecution, Shan had always suppressed himself to suit them and accepted every unreasonable demand. All that had changed him was being driven to a point where he could no longer run and finally trying to use his strength. He had no right to condemn these people as cowards.

As soon as Shan finished speaking, the members of the Alto circus began to sob, all at once. These were the tears of the weak, who lacked the strength to resist injustice.

* * *

The following morning, they laughed and chatted over breakfast as though nothing had happened. Afterward, they discussed what to do next. Hosue, the fire-breather, was the first to offer an opinion, puffing out his shell-covered cheeks as he grumbled.

"I think staying in Libert any longer would be dangerous."

"Right. From what I've heard, Their Lordships seem intent on turning the whole country upside down. Things will only get worse from here, not better."

Duke Morayen, the king's paternal uncle, and Count Valik, his maternal grandfather. The two powerful nobles had started a war to secure the regency over the current king of Libert, who was only five years old. The battle Shan had witnessed just the day before had been no more than a tiny fragment of it.

Rumor put the number of mercenaries pouring in across Libert in the thousands. For the foreseeable future, this land would become a battlefield of utter carnage. With two great nobles of considerable resources at war, a swift end seemed unlikely. In peaceful times it might have been different, but at a time like this, a traveling troupe of Altoans was an ideal target for abuse.

"Why don't you come to Pendia with us? I hear they don't discriminate against Altoans so much there because of something called the New Faith..."

Though a little embarrassed to voice his opinion before everyone, Shan repeated what Roden had told him. Secretly, he also wanted to keep traveling with them.

For some reason, however, the circus members smiled as though proud of him while looking somewhat uncomfortable. Scratching his feathered horn, Fen explained why.

"The problem is, that's why Pendia has the most Altoans of any country. We couldn't make a living there."

"Why not?"

"People won't pay to look at someone they can see just walking down the street."

Only then did Shan truly remember what these people were: an Altoan circus that drew audiences by making full use of their unusual appearances and abilities to perform all manner of acrobatics. Naturally, where Altoans were common, the novelty would wear off and business would suffer. Nor would taking up another trade be easy, with the established locals guarding their turf.

"Besides, they say Pendia has a lot of monsters. Ordinary beasts are one thing, but wandering around where those creatures roam would be far too dangerous."

Even here in Libert, encounters with bandits, wild beasts, and relatively small, weak monsters were common. Whenever that happened, the troupe drove them off with the brawny Fen swinging a long staff or hurling stones with a sling, and Hosue blowing over a torch to send flames billowing out. Neither method would stand a chance against a powerful monster.

"There really is nowhere like Libert for us. Ajun is the most hard-line Old Faith country, and half the people on its roads are robbers and raiders. Luman follows the New Faith, but there's bad history there."

"Bad history?"

At Shan's question, Roxy gave a somewhat shadowed smile.

"There was a rebellion long ago. Every last one of them was either killed or driven out."

A little over a hundred years ago, people on an island in the Kingdom of Luman had proclaimed a new Alto Empire. It had been a massive rebellion, gathering at least tens of thousands—perhaps more than half of all the Altoans in the world. In response, Luman's royal family had sent an army, waged war, and slaughtered them all, then expelled every other Altoan living in the kingdom.

Since it had continued to bar Altoans from entering ever since, Altoans were harder to find in Luman today than in most Old Faith countries. The circus members knew the details because they too were descendants of those who had been driven out. These were old stories their parents had heard from their own parents.

"Honestly, if only the Savior would be born..."

Fen, who had been listening beside them, murmured the words in lament, then caught himself and clapped a hand over his mouth. Of course, that could not take back what he had already said.

As Shan tilted his head, wondering why the mood had suddenly changed, Roden's expression hardened, and he spoke as though interrogating them.

"Don't tell me you're Restorationists?"

"No... not at all. We're merely talking idly about stories passed down from our ancestors. We all praise the Goddess's benevolence. Naturally. Isn't that right, Fen?"

"What? Oh, o-of course!"

Fen nodded hastily at Roxy's defensive explanation.

Shan watched quietly, wondering what this Savior could possibly be to make them act like this. After glaring at them for a long while, Roden sighed and shook his head.

"All right. But be careful. There are already plenty of people looking for an excuse to go after you."

"We don't normally talk about these things. It's just..."

Seeing how fondly Roden treated Shan, an Altoan, had made them unconsciously feel that both were their own kind. At that explanation, Roden nodded without pressing the matter further.

After much more discussion, the circus finally settled on a course of action: they would continue wandering within the Kingdom of Libert, doing their best to avoid the shadow of war. Shan looked at Roden, wondering if there was some way to help, but he too shook his head. However wealthy Roden's father might be, they could hardly ask him to support more than ten Altoans for nothing. Besides, surviving on someone else's goodwill rather than making a living through their own talents would not necessarily be good for them.

It was late afternoon when the two companions' path diverged from the circus's. The river they had been following had grown narrow and shallow enough to ford. Roden took out his compass, checked it, and spoke.

"We should part ways around here. Cross this river and keep going east, and we'll reach Pendia."

The circus planned to continue south. Southern Libert had a fair number of lords who were not involved with either of the warring great nobles, and the troupe intended to wander around their relatively safe domains.

Before they parted, Roxy patted Shan's shoulder.

"I'll pray that your future is filled with shining glory, Shan. Grow up strong and become a hope for us Altoans. I'm sorry to lay such a heavy burden on a child, but we desperately need someone to take the lead and show us the way."

Shan could not bring himself to confidently promise that he would. He did aspire to become the strongest knight one day, but he had no confidence that even then he could guide his people. Perhaps he could do it if, in the distant future, he became a lord, acquired a decent domain, and accepted only Altoans as his subjects?

As he considered that, Debbie stepped over from beside him and hugged him tightly. The softness and warmth were unlike anything he had ever felt. Shan, who did not even remember being held by his mother, stiffened involuntarily.

"You don't have to do anything more. You're already my hope, my pretty-eyed knight. Even if we never meet again, I'll remember you for the rest of my life."

She planted a light kiss on his forehead, then smiled sweetly and stepped back with quick little steps. Her butterfly wings, one still bent and unable to fully spread, quivered and scattered glittering dust.

* * *

"A little brat, and already such a rogue."

Those were the first words out of Roden's mouth after they crossed the river with their two horses. Shan tilted his head, uncomprehending.

"Who's a rogue?"

"You... Never mind. I suppose you're not that age yet. Anyway, don't let what they said weigh on you too much. Nobody in this world has a duty to shoulder an entire people's burdens alone."

Savior of the Altoan people—that was no weight to place on the shoulders of a boy barely thirteen or fourteen. Roden worried that Shan might collapse under the pressure. Contrary to his fears, however, Shan had already made a certain peace with it. It would be good if the chance came, but if he lacked the ability, there was nothing to be done. He had learned from an early age how to resign himself easily.

"More importantly, what are Restorationists? You looked really serious when you were talking about them."

Roden's face then had not been that of the young man he was among friends. If anything, it had been the face of the "solemn knight" he presented to strangers. At Shan's question, he stroked his beard with an uncomfortable expression.

"Oh, that..."

He tilted his head a few times, seemingly debating whether to explain, then spoke as though giving in.

"Simply put, it's a heretical belief that one day a Savior, a great mage who will restore the old Alto Empire, will be born among the Altoans. Along with those scum who practice human sacrifice, they're the people the Church loathes most."

"Why?"

"Because the conclusion is that this Savior will overthrow the faith of the Goddess. Even without that, the Church has always hated anything to do with the old Alto Empire and magic. Before the New Faith arose, simply being a mage was reason enough to be killed."

The faith of the Goddess's wariness toward magic bordered on the hypersensitive. One needed only to look at how it had excommunicated the Magic Society and declared it heretical for claiming that knights' spirit was a form of magic.

"It isn't that bad now, though. Pendia even got its first royal mage not long ago."

"Really? Who?"

Shan's eyes widened in surprise at this news. He already knew that mages enjoyed relatively high standing in Pendia, but he had never imagined that even royalty would study magic.

"Princess Sherin, was it? She's probably a couple of years older than you. They call her a genius, but who knows whether it's true or they're just promoting her because she's royalty."

In an uncharacteristically scathing tirade, Roden said that the Magic Society was so desperate for royal support that even if the princess went mad studying magic and smeared shit on the walls, they would insist it was art.

"That's amazing..."

"Well, people still don't have much good to say about it. Don't go taking an interest in anything strange. Let's just focus on fighting skills. An Altoan knight might get somewhere, but an Altoan mage really has no chance of rising in the world."

Rising in the world. Shan repeated the words aloud, words that had always felt vague. When Roden had spoken of wealth, fame, and power a short while ago, he had merely accepted that such things existed and thought no more of them. Recently, though, their meaning had struck home. Hadn't he seen the mercenaries he could only fight by loosing arrow after arrow and thrusting his spear move at a single knight's gesture?

Perhaps one day Shan too would command an army of his own. Then he would be able to determine his destiny entirely for himself, rather than depending on someone's kindness as he did now. Perhaps even the destinies of others, Altoans included.

"I want to rise in the world. Soon."

"I'd like to see that happen soon too, but you'll have to grow taller first. Still, you're already eating until you nearly burst, so I suppose I don't need to tell you to eat well."

"Honestly, breakfast wasn't quite enough."

"Eat any more and you'll have to roll around."

Despite Roden's words, Shan remained slender and slight, though no longer as scrawny as before. From what Roden had seen him eat over the past few days, his belly ought to have been bulging. It was enough to make him wonder whether Shan was raising a monster in his stomach that stole all his food.

'Well, I suppose eating that much is how he gets the strength to swing a sword like that with such a small body.'

As they traveled along chatting, they were fortunate enough to find a small village around sunset and rent a house for the night. The next day, and the day after that, they again found villages to stay in before nightfall. Riding had made their progress faster, of course, but Roden's navigation and careful planning also helped. Even he failed to calculate Shan's appetite correctly, however, and they went without a meal.

They encountered few others on their journey east. Apparently, they would normally have met a fair number of peddlers and pilgrims, but the ominous atmosphere brought on by the war had kept people away. Of course, even the occasional travelers they did meet took one look at the huge, armored Roden on horseback and hurried out of their way in alarm.

On the fourth day after parting with the circus, just as it was about time to remove the bandages from Shan's chest, Roden pointed ahead as they made their way across green fields and cried out.

"We're finally here! See that castle up ahead?"

"Yes. I see it."

An old fortress stood amid the rugged mountains. Its walls, some six meters high, blocked a road that looked as though it had been carved between the mountains with a knife.

"It's called Solrod Castle. You can think of it as the border, more or less. Once we're past it, we're in Pendia."

The country ahead was the home Roden was returning to after a long absence, and the land of opportunity that awaited Shan.