Chapter 34: A Coincidental Breeze, The Call of the Dragonvein Stone

An Unexpected Reunion

“Vick?” Anna hadn’t expected to see him here. “It’s been a while.” “Mm, over twenty years.” Vick glanced at Wenger while answering, not anticipating such a coincidence. After traveling full circle, he hadn’t expected her to emerge from the village too. “Come by sometime.” “Sure.” Even though he’d just come from Seyang City, he agreed.

The small talk seemed to brush against topics none wished to face. Many questions went unasked, a mutual understanding among them. Parting suddenly with friends of many years, unsure when they might meet again, felt to Wenger like a final farewell. As the three passed by, Wenger turned back and asked, “Where are you headed?” “The royal city’s Church.” Rella’s gentle voice carried softly, fading into the breeze like a playful feather brushing her face. It was barely felt. Farewells were always like this. There would be plenty of time for emotions to ferment in the days to come.

Vick could see her mood but had no intention of offering comfort. For one, he thought letting it out might help. For another, he wasn’t good at consoling. “Mind if I stay a few days?” Wenger snapped back, giving a wry smile, her lips not quite lifting. “Did you find them?” She remembered he’d left to look for someone.

“Not yet, but I brought what you wanted.” “It’s not that urgent.” Wenger nodded, then shook her head. The dragonvein stone was here, but she was still missing something. She looked at him, hesitating to speak. She didn’t know why he appeared that way in her dream. Could keeping Vick in Maple Whisper Village prevent it? They’d only met a few times; logically, she shouldn’t care this much. But seeing him here, she couldn’t remain indifferent.

Wenger weighed whether to ask him to stay, wondering if it might plant hidden risks for the future. She shook her head inwardly. It was a simple matter—he owed her, and she owed him. Even if it was a stretch to call it mutual aid, it was a fact. There was no reason to refuse.

Vick’s request to stay was straightforward. A few more days—what could it change? But with her status, it didn’t seem appropriate to ask him not to leave. How long were “a few days,” anyway? “As promised.” Vick pulled a stunning gem from behind, its cyan-blue glow striking even in daylight.

Wenger caught the tossed gem, examining it in her hand. “This is the dragonvein stone?” Vick, about to head into the mountains, paused at her question. “This crystal, inscribed with a magic array, can store things.” A storage space. Holding it, her face felt hot, like a clueless post-millennial. Her player inventory was sufficient; she hadn’t known about this.

Probing it with her mental energy, her confusion grew. Inside, she saw several large sacks. Were dragonvein stones this common? The two rode slowly toward the village. Wenger stole glances at Vick, whose aura was hard to conceal. He pretended not to notice, ignoring her. “The Kingmaker…” With such strength, he surely wasn’t short on wealth. Compared to him, her own coffers seemed rather modest. She muttered to herself inwardly.

The journey back was quiet. The valley was dim, and their silence added an unusual weight to the air. Wenger had planned to patrol the north, but with Vick here, leaving matters to the squad wasn’t out of the question. At this pace, it might take a full day to reach the exit. The light overhead couldn’t reach the valley’s depths, only faint scattered rays preventing total darkness. Vick didn’t suggest speeding up, and Wenger didn’t speak. They rode side by side in silence.

Return to Maple Whisper Village

They reached Maple Whisper Village late at night. A transcendent’s stamina far surpassed that of ordinary people, unbound by sunrise or sunset. Wenger invited him to the treehouse for hot tea. From afar, the giant tree loomed, hazy in the night’s mist, yet undeniably blocking the valley’s entrance. It seemed to tower past the mountainside—whether by illusion or reality. The treehouse appeared lit. She’d locked up before leaving; perhaps Viyi had brought Peach back and forgotten to turn it off.

The girl in question leaned against the treehouse platform’s railing, hands propping her face, eyes barely open. Her teacher had left days ago without saying when she’d return. Viyi still had to tend the herb garden and manage the village kids. Did she not want to sleep? She’d just brought back some herbs, and with Sister Rella gone, the orphanage’s duties fell to her alone. She was now following her teacher’s notes to mix potions. Exhausted, she felt like she was hallucinating. She thought she saw a man and a woman riding horses toward the tree’s base.

Wenger hadn’t expected Viyi to be awake at this hour, her eyes so heavy she didn’t want to call out. She flew up to the platform, patted Viyi’s shoulder, and told her to go sleep. Half-asleep, Viyi gathered her things and shuffled back to the alchemy room. Vick tied his horse below and leapt up lightly.

There wasn’t much food. Wenger took out some dried provisions and started boiling water. A day could feel long or short. As they sat, the sky began to shift. Vick mentioned wanting to build a house and asked if she minded. It wasn’t something he needed her permission for. “Do as you like.”

The tea had cooled. Gentle magical energy sparked a flame to warm it carefully. Wenger didn’t truly understand him. The more she knew, the less she grasped. With his strength and background, how was he so approachable? Time warped one’s thinking—not just shaped by past environments, but maintaining sensitivity to the world was hard. Eventually, you’d grow numb, standing at a height not meant for you.

Wenger felt empty, not even counting the long time she’d spent in slumber. She wasn’t surprised he could be this way, but curious why. Was it really just because she’d saved him? There was a simple solution—ask Vick directly. But when she spoke, it was a different question. “You know Anna?” “How do you know her?”

Vick was curious about the question. Considering this reclusive girl and Anna coming from Maple Whisper Village, they must have met. “We only spoke a sentence or two.” If asking for directions counted. He nodded. “Anna is the acting lord of Greenmbark. I was friends with her husband.” “I see…” “After Bell died, I didn’t visit much,” Vick paused, as if recalling. “Her husband, Bell Green, was the former lord of Greenmbark, the fifth Marquis Green.” “Sorry…”

In a medieval setting, such a position was heavy for a woman unless she had absolute strength. Yet, meeting Anna, Wenger sensed no power at all. “Did they have no children?” “Anna can’t bear children.” Vick smiled briefly, then it faded. “That’s another story, one I don’t know much about.” After all, he’d never been in love and had no interest in lingering around their sweet moments.