{{Veridale – The Infirmary}}
Jin's words lingered in the air, and for a moment, silence held them like a fragile thread.
But it was warm, not awkward. A quiet understanding passed between them.
Tristan smiled once more, a bit softer this time. "Thank you, Jin."
He nodded.
A few minutes later, Jin slowly stood, his legs a bit unsteady at first.
Tristan reached out instinctively, but he raised a hand. "I'm fine."
They both made their way to the door, passing the small table where the healer's tools were neatly arranged.
One of the older healers approached them.
"You're awake, young man," she said with a kind smile. "Thank the spirits. We feared you wouldn't."
"Thank you… for taking care of me," Jin replied, bowing his head.
"And me as well," Tristan added, doing the same.
The healer chuckled. "You two are quite the pair."
As they exchanged a few more words, Jin moved toward the door.
"I'll just get some fresh air," he said over his shoulder.
He placed his hand on the wooden handle.
Then, he pulled it open.
What greeted him wasn't the morning breeze or the quiet courtyard.
It was a sea of people.
Hundreds.
Townsfolk filled the street, their eyes instantly locking onto him.
Gasps spread like ripples.
And then—
"That's him!" a voice shouted from the crowd. "The one who rode the Verdant Fang over the wall!"
"The guardian listened to him!" another cried.
"He tamed it!"
"He's the master of our guardian!"
"And the master of our guardian… is our master too!"
A thunderous cheer erupted, people raising their hands, some kneeling, others simply staring in awe.
Jin stood frozen, his hand still on the door.
Then his eyes drifted upward.
Perched on a tiled roof above the crowd, a small green cat sat with its tail swaying lazily behind it. Its golden eyes gleamed, and it grinned.
Grinned, in embarrassment… or pride?
"Jin!" Tristan shouted, yanking him back inside and slamming the door shut behind them.
Her cheeks were flushed. "We're going through the back."
"But—"
"No time! The healers said if we don't leave now, we'll never shake the town off our trail. We'll be followed all the way to the next kingdom."
Jin blinked. "Wait… what about Vaelin?"
Tristan exhaled. "He left two days ago. He went back to the Kingdom of Duskban."
Jin's brows furrowed. "Alone?"
"No. He was accompanied by Alden and his party," she explained quickly as they moved. "They insisted on escorting him."
They reached the back of the infirmary, slipping through a narrow passage lit by the soft glow of lanterns.
Once outside, Jin reached into his infinite storage pocket and pulled out two long, dark cloaks.
He handed one to Tristan. "Put this on."
She took it, slipping it over her head. He did the same.
Together, they stepped onto the quiet, dew-slicked street behind the infirmary.
Their footsteps were silent.
No cheers.
No crowd.
Just the sound of distant birdsong and the rustle of trees as the wind brushed past them.
They walked in silence toward the town's gate, hidden beneath their hoods.
And somewhere behind them, atop a high rooftop, a small cat watched… its tail flicking once before it vanished from sight.