# Chapter 16
Until the previous day, I had been working to finalize the information I’d gathered so far. I visited Zendal’s room once more to make the final arrangements and received advance instructions from him. Instructions that would never go according to his wishes.
Choosing to come to the palace had been a good decision. I was now in a much more advantageous position than Zendal. If I couldn’t stop the temple’s movements to save Kadilen’s life, this was the best option. To ensure that news of their suspicious activities would reach Zendal as late as possible. To minimize the threats to Kadilen on his path.
All preparations were complete. I just needed to return to the temple. But Ludin’s body, with its worsening illness, wouldn’t cooperate with my decision.
My entire body burned as if melting with heat. I staggered up from my bed and was shocked to find the blanket soaked with sweat. In my terrible condition, I instinctively moved to seek help but quickly realized there was no suitable person to call. The body I had managed to raise with difficulty collapsed back into place. I gritted my teeth and curled up as the chest pain intensified. It was surprising that despite the burning pain, my mind could be so numb.
As I lay curled up for a long time, just waiting for the symptoms to pass, the door opened with a faint sound.
“You’re going to be late at this rate. Weren’t you leaving today?”
It was Devan’s voice. I wanted to say something, but no thoughts came to mind. My body was trembling uncontrollably. Finally, my breath caught, and a painful groan burst forth. I heard Devan striding over as he noticed something was wrong with me.
“What’s this, are you sleeping?”
“…Huk.”
“Hey, what’s wrong with you? Let me see your face.”
With urgent hands, he pulled back the blanket and grabbed my shoulders. Despite being soaked with heat, I was simultaneously freezing cold. After supporting my limp body and checking my unstable breathing and pulse, Devan repeatedly called my name as I was losing consciousness. It was a voice I’d never heard from him before.
“Ludin!! Don’t lose consciousness. Look at me.”
I raised my heavy eyes to look at him. He was wearing a deeply furrowed expression as he held my head, which was collapsing as I couldn’t keep my neck steady. My vision was spinning, making me dizzy. I could feel him trying again to use the magic that had previously subdued my pain. It had some effect, but it was minimal. Having briefly regained my labored breath, I closed my eyes again, my strength drained by the slightly diminished pain. Though Devan’s urgent voice continued to ring out, losing consciousness took only a moment.
“Don’t just call a doctor…”
“…What? Are you crazy?”
Even knowing it was nonsense, I had no other option. Gathering all my strength, I grabbed his arm. I could see him contemplating my desperate request. That was my last memory.
When I regained consciousness, it had grown dark outside.
My body, which hadn’t received necessary treatment, still felt heavily weighed down. I blinked my dry eyes several times to assess the situation. My body was still hot, and hot breath was being irregularly expelled from my nose and mouth. Seeing the ceiling spinning endlessly, I knew the dizziness hadn’t subsided either. This was pain that wouldn’t disappear on its own anyway. Still, thanks to having slept for a long time, it was easier to control my body than before.
Throughout my illness, I dreamed of the temple. Unlike usual, it was a beautiful dream.
There were no soldiers kicking me, no Kadilen looking at me with cold, contemptuous eyes. I was freely swinging my sword while looking directly into his eyes. Following Wimu’s brightly smiling movements in the wide courtyard. It was a clear night, and the moonlight was gently illuminating Kadilen’s silver hair. He noticed my gaze and looked back at me, and his mouth seemed to curve upward, but…
In the end, I woke up without seeing him smile. My entire body was soaked with sweat and trembling helplessly. As I blankly recalled the dream, I naturally remembered my plan to return to the temple.
I had certainly completed all preparations. I had perfectly organized all the necessary information, and last night I had even packed my luggage. Devan had promised to take me to the foot of the mountain. I slowly looked around. There was not a sign of anyone in the dark room where not even a light had been lit.
With sluggish movements, I raised myself and walked toward the clumsily packed luggage. Not far along, my legs gave out and I fell, but I steadied myself on the floor, shaking my dizzy head. Just get up again.
Today, I absolutely had to go to the temple. Not only would Jiman be worried, but I also had no medicine. Without taking medicine, I would inevitably maintain this wretched physical condition.
And Kadilen.
How far had the temple’s preparations progressed? It had been weeks since they learned I had come to the royal palace, so they would think news of the rebellion had reached Zendal by now. Since they weren’t the type to retreat at this point, they would likely have accelerated their preparations. Today I was really determined to go, no matter what happened.
“…What are you doing now?”
Devan was standing at the door without having made any sound. I ignored him and focused on regaining my balance. Yes, I wasn’t in my right mind. Only one thought appeared in my head. Though I vaguely knew there was no need to rush like this, my urgency matched my collapsed body, and I couldn’t let go of irrational thoughts. I heard Devan sigh as he silently watched me trying to stand up, supporting myself with trembling hands on the floor.
“If you’re going to be crazy, at least do it gracefully. You want to go looking like that?”
“We agreed I’d go today…”
Successfully grabbing my luggage while staggering, I slightly pushed aside Devan, who wore a complicated expression, and approached the door. But soon Devan’s hand lightly grabbed my shoulder.
“Rest for a few days before going. You’ve been sick all day.”
“I have to go…”
“Then at least let me call a doctor. Whatever accident you had, I’ll keep it secret, just get treatment.”
“It would be the same anyway.”
Unstable words and thoughts erupted from my head, burning with hot fever. I knew I was being absurdly stubborn. Maybe I didn’t need to go to the temple right away, and perhaps, as he said, since I had already stayed here for weeks, nothing would happen even if I stayed a few more days.
“I really need to go…”
But I couldn’t do that. Illogical pleas flowed from my mouth automatically. Devan’s face contorted.
“…”
“Please let me go, Devan. You can do it. You said yesterday you’d take me.”
Delirious with fever, I blurted out whatever came to mind like a madman. I shook my dizzy head and thought: I really must be crazy. But I couldn’t stop. Somehow I felt I had to. It felt like I absolutely had to go to the temple today.
I had hurriedly uncovered Zendal’s strategy to move up my return schedule. It took a full week just to receive all the contingencies he had prepared. While listening to the terrifying strategies pouring from Devan’s mouth, I thought of Kadilen. I knew he was extraordinary. Perhaps even without me, he would safely avoid most of the traps.
But what if something went wrong?
What if he died at Zendal’s hands, just like in the original story?
Kadilen was no longer just a character from a novel to me. Just as he had saved me in the past, now it was my turn to help him.
“…Alright. Wait.”
He sat me down, steadying my swaying body, and hurriedly went outside. Trying to regain my senses, I waited for him to return. After a few minutes, Devan came back, his face crumpled with irritation, and crouched down in front of me. Through my wavering vision, I saw the gemstone he held in his hand.
“Listen carefully. Place it on your hand and flip it twice.”
“What is this…?”
“It’s something that lets you talk with me. Since I can’t enter the temple.”
He grabbed my trembling hand and placed the gemstone on it. When we flipped it twice together, holding my hot hand, a faint light emanated from the gemstone.
“Devan…?”
“Yes. It’s me. This is how it works, Ludin.”
“…”
“You understand, right?”
I slowly nodded.
“You must have your reasons for doing this. I’ll let you go for now.”
He snapped his fingers, making my luggage float in the air. As I approached him with a tense face, Devan held me firmly to prevent me from falling. Supporting myself on him, I moved as he guided me. Placing his remaining hand on my shoulder, he closed his eyes with a complicated expression, and then the cool night air suddenly enveloped my body.
My body, which had been in Ludin’s room, was now standing with him on a dark forest path.
“I’ve known all along that you were hiding something.”
“…”
“Make the choice that’s best for you, Ludin. Whatever it is, I’ll help you.”
Devan’s deep eyes looked straight at me. For a moment, time seemed to stop, with only the night breeze passing by. Composing my mind, foggy with fever, I thought about what the best choice for me would be. Standing on this dark forest path, dragging my heavy body, making unreasonable demands. In the end, it is a choice for myself. Since coming here, nothing has had meaning except saving Kadilen. After all, this isn’t my world but his. The kingdom of Zendal from the book I had cherished for so long. A world where Kadilen exists and meets a fatal end. What I wanted was to save him.
“Thank you.”
Devan’s brow furrowed. It was an annoyed expression unsuited for someone who had just been thanked.
The mountain we returned to in a daze was excessively dark. There wasn’t even time to gauge my feelings about returning to the temple. My head throbbed as I tried to ignore the pain that kept coming back whenever I thought I’d forgotten it, and the darkness before my eyes made it even harder to stay focused.
But there was a debt I had to repay. I easily remembered Yunlin. The woman who had helped me when I had nowhere to stay on my first day out of the temple, unwillingly betraying the person she respected.
“There’s a place I need to visit before going.”
At my resolute words, Devan sighed deeply but asked for the exact location. Searching my memory, I described the village where her house was located. He held onto me and moved again, and we arrived at the doorway of Yunlin’s house, whom I hadn’t properly said goodbye to when I fled in a hurry. Though it was late at night, light was seeping through the window. After hesitating, I carefully knocked on the door.
“Who is it?”
A voice full of caution was heard. Unable to answer, I stood there while Devan watched me. I heard her walking to the door to check the identity of the visitor who wouldn’t reveal themselves. After a moment of hesitation, Yunlin carefully opened the door just enough to show a small gap.
“…It’s been a while.”
Our eyes met. Though I knew I couldn’t be a welcome guest, my heart sank when I saw her face freeze coldly. She’s heard everything.
Her cold gaze was a huge shock to me, who only remembered her kind tone and goodwill. Though I knew I wouldn’t be welcomed, the reason I sought her out was to repay her past kindness. No, perhaps it was because I thought she might understand me. I blamed my physical state for such thoughts.
“I’m sorry. I just—”
Thud.
Before I could finish speaking, the door closed. She disappeared somewhere with angry footsteps but soon approached the door again. Along with rough footsteps, the door opened wide again. In her hand, as she stood facing me, was a bucket. Only after my body was suddenly soaked did I realize that Yunlin had thrown water at me.
“How dare you come here? Does Kadilen know you’re here?”
Devan caught my swaying body as I faced her anger-filled gaze. He silently looked at my trembling body and then pulled me away from her, who made no effort to hide her disgust. With Yunlin still shouting with all her might behind us, I was led by his hand to another location.
The scene before my eyes twisted and disappeared, and a new place unfolded. It was deep in the mountains, far from her house. When I raised my head in a daze, I saw a familiar landscape. The temple was not far from here.
Devan slowly examined me as I stood there blankly.
“You’re not going to tell me, are you?”
“…”
I had no response to his question mixed with a sigh. When he reached out and stroked my back, my wet clothes began to dry warmly. Though the temple was right in front of us, Devan couldn’t bring himself to send me off and kept drying my clothes repeatedly. I tried not to think about the previous situation, but even at the sound of my now-dry clothes rustling, her angry face came to mind.
It was unfair. It was unfair, but…
“…I understand.”
Even though he couldn’t have known what my words meant, Devan sighed deeply once more. Seeing him suddenly exhausted, I felt sorry. I had insisted he bring me here, but I knew it wasn’t an easy task from his perspective. My condition was at its worst, and from his viewpoint, the situation made no sense. But he had helped me. Even though I had chosen Kadilen.
I turned away from him, gritting my teeth. Though my heart ached, I had no regrets about my choice. Sensing something strange about my overly resolute back, he lightly grabbed my arm one last time, but I gave him a small goodbye and entered the temple.
Quiet air, night fog calmly settled.
I was in his temple.
And as if he had been watching my every step, Kadilen stood in the middle of the courtyard with impassive eyes, waiting for me to enter.
“You’re late.”
The cold sword in his hand flashed as it caught the moonlight.
