“Is it not cold?”

Here? Ru looked around at the surroundings that had changed in an instant and then glanced at Hayden.

Just a while ago, the two of them were at the newly opened eastern border with other sages, but now they were in a completely different place.

“…The South?”

“Yes. The South, Caletta.”

Hayden nodded. He had teleported Ru from Caletta to a place corresponding to the South.

“Even though it’s the South, is it cold?”

Ru laughed aloud. She, who hadn’t taken off her dress, seemed very delighted. Holding his hand tightly, she looked around endlessly, from the wide plains to the distant view of the sea.

“It’s much warmer here. But is it okay for us to be here like this?”

As he nodded, Ru, holding his hand, moved around excitedly.

The warm climate and cool breeze peculiar to the South felt pleasant. The wide plains were beautiful and fertile. As Ru was also from the South, she was simply happy to be here after a long time.

“But why did we come here?”

“The Southern sage coming to the South is a natural thing.”

Hayden, now confidently answering Ru’s questions without hesitation, suddenly wiped his face. Ah, it hurt. Every time he saw her, he couldn’t hold back his laughter, and it hurt because he couldn’t control the rising cheekbones.

Facing Carlos would be the worst for Ru, but despite that, it was fortunate to see her holding Hayden’s hand tightly and enjoying herself.

“Are you tired?”

Ru shook her head. Every time she did, pearls clashed, making a rattling sound.

“It’s quite late, but let’s stay here for a while.”

Hayden wrapped his long arms around Ru. With large hands sweeping over her back and arms, he checked if she was okay once again. Being in his arms was reassuring. The sharp nerves, tightly held together, relaxed a bit.

“Sleepy?”

She said she wasn’t tired, but her green eyes slightly softened.

“No.”

“No? Your eyes closed.”

Instead of answering, Ru opened her eyes. Hayden looked at her and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“If you’re sleepy, it’s okay to sleep.”

He lifted her up entirely. Despite being in a dress, he skillfully held Ru.

“How long will we be here?”

“About 30 minutes?”

Hmm. Ru pulled him closer. For 30 minutes, Hayden could probably stand there holding her without a single breath out of place.

“What are we going to do during that time?”

“Nothing, just stay still.”

Baffled, Ru looked at Hayden.

“Why?”

Why? Instead of answering, Hayden raised his eyebrows and then lowered them.

Is he expecting her to understand without saying it? She raised her head and surveyed the surroundings once again. The wide plains and the distant night sea, viewed at the eye level of the tall Hayden, looked different. Everything was very peaceful and quiet.

“…Feels a bit cramped.”
“Can everything be this strangely peaceful? Ru closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The heavy, literally oppressive air, filled with someone’s domination, filled her lungs and then escaped.

“Is that so?”

“If the Southern Sage says so, that’s how it is.”

“What? I still don’t really understand.”

“No, it’s just as you said. If you feel that way, then that’s the answer, so don’t doubt yourself.”

As he spoke, Hayden gently kissed Ru’s cheek, letting her feel this land more purely.

The fresh air, fertile land, the sea breeze blowing from afar, and the salty sea – everything here was a place cherished by the Southern Sage. Ru widened her green eyes and looked into the distance.

“Hayden.”

“Yeah, I’m listening.”

“It’s different from what I knew.”

Certainly, she was born and raised here, and at that time, she felt mana while learning magic. However, the mana in the air was different from her memories. The powers that gently embraced Ru were all suppressed. Just like her.

“Am I cursed to be like this?”

“Not exactly. It’s just that the way the Caletta Emperor does things is always the same. There’s no creativity. Whether he’s cultivating craftsmanship for no reason or just sticking to the same methods, there’s no progress.”

He murmured while hugging Ru.

“The way the previous Southern Sage ruled the South was like this. The Matopju was the same, and it was the same for you. He’s a guy who only knows how to suppress, trample, and seize.”

The silent land had been ruled like that for hundreds of years.

“If they don’t crush it like that, they’re afraid something might happen.”

When a powerful person is a coward, it becomes even more cruel and ruthless. They only know how to oppress, exploit, and kill. Looking at the green eyes that absorbed the air she belonged to like a curse, Ru shivered and muttered.

“I’ve eased it a bit.”

“You did well. Are you tired?”

“No, I’m okay. Don’t push yourself.”

Hayden laughed at those words.

“There’s no sound more welcome than that. Keep doing that in the future.”

“Why do you talk as if I’m always getting into trouble?”

“Trouble… I caused the trouble. And you don’t take care of yourself at all.”

He suddenly remembered Ru’s listless face as she sat expressionless in the dark and small cabin.