Snow Witch'S Journey
Warm Chat

After that, the night became very quiet. Only the sound of fire from the gritty fireplace enlivened tonight. Silence is like a grave and we are the bodies.

“By the way, I don't know much about you at all?" While lying inside the blanket, I turned to Vestia and asked.

He looked at me for a long time like he was suspicious, but he finally let out a sigh of surrender. “Tell me your name first."

“My name is Nivalis,” I replied with a smile. “You can call me Niva.”

Vestia doesn't reply anymore. His eyes sank back into the warm flames. He seemed uninterested in continuing the conversation.

“How about you?” ask me to continue the conversation. “Where are you from? You're definitely not the guy here, are you?”

“I live in the central continent, in a city called Eiden or any other name Edina. There, I set up my investigative office.”

“I wonder how you became an investigator. You can also magic and sword.” I was getting excited to keep hearing stories from him.

Vestia looked at me coldly, then continued back. “Nothing special. I studied magic at Evernia Academy, but not until graduation. In the third year, I went out and applied at the Guardian Knight Bureau to gain experience. That's where I got my sword science. At first I was just an apprentice knight, not working in the field. Then, slowly I got promoted and joined the investigation section. I realized that I'm not the type of person who likes to work arranged by others. I'm getting myself out again.”

“Then, how did you end up setting up your own investigation office?”

“After I resigned, the bureau couldn't completely let me go because of my incredible potential, they said. They gave me a contract. Where I was allowed to set up my own office but I remained registered as an official member of the bureau. Of course I accept it. I'm free to work alone and they'll call me if they need help. They promised they wouldn't rule me and I was given the right to investigate cases even because under the bureau's name I had access to a variety of things, including getting resources. It was then that I worked as their new unit that was the Special Investigation Unit for Magic Phenomenon.”

He looks very professional. He's not an abal-abal investigator. The badge is real and real. In fact, he knows very well what he is doing. Merely, my slightly different way of thinking with her caused a fatal misunderstanding.

“And what about your progress on the new unit?” I gave him a barrage of questions like I was interrogating someone.

“Very rarely. Once there, certainly not far from around looking for lost items, lost pets, help solve romance problems. Cases related to magic are very rare, can even be counted with fingers.”

“So, your reason for being an investigator is to uphold justice?”

For a moment we were silent, the fire arbitrarily interrupted our moment with the sound of her clutter continuing to wander as if intentionally doing so.

“Not only that.” Finally Vestia extinguished the disturbing sound of fire by answering my question. “I became an investigator to create justice and peace for the whole world. I want a truly peaceful world until the word evil is erased in the world.”

His dream is noble, but .... “Isn't that a too heavy dream? Peace is impossible. I've never seen the world, but I realize that. Many people say and believe that now is a time of peace. But, in fact, peace never really happened at any time, even now there are still those who commit crimes even though it is a small crime.”

“Because that's why it's so worth fighting for, right?”

It sounds selfish. But that's who I am. I'm not a guy like Vestia who lives for other people. Out here, I have nothing but myself. I can't put others first when I can't support myself. I don't have a soul like that. The dream that continues to stick in me is just my journey around the world. That's enough for me.

“True peace will never last long. When I die, I will not give up. I believe there will be someone like me who inherits the same determination to rebuild peace. That determination continues to be passed down every generation, so that peace will still return no matter how much peace often goes,” the girl replied.

At first glance, either because of the heat of the fire that obscured the light, or insects passing by, but I could see he was smiling. His smile was as gentle as the blanket covering my body at the moment. The sound of the blaze in my ears because of his smile.

His desire to create a peaceful world was so pure, just like my pure desire to explore the rest of the world. It makes me look at myself. The man who had the pure dream somehow shone brighter. It was as if the gods were giving their blessings directly.

“You're a very good person, yes. I envy you. You can even use a sword. My mother never taught me to ride a sword. If only then, you had used your sword against me, you would have caught me."

“Not really. You're also great at using magic without a wand. Moreover, the scale of magic that you put out is also so large. Your healing magic is at an unreasonable level. In the field of magic, I lost far away from you. I acknowledge your strength.”

“So, yes. Thank you, I guess."

Unknowingly, we chatted normally like friends. We have also forgotten the debate and awkward atmosphere before. Although he does look difficult to approach but being able to chat like this with him may be one of the reasons I am grateful to travel.

“You are actually an amazing girl, Niva. I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable before. As an older and experienced person, I should be wiser and respect you.”

“More old and experienced? You talk like an old man.” I chuckled at the last sentence from him.

“You're sixteen, right? Then, I'm three years older than you.”

“You are older than me but your height is the same as mine,”.

“While our height is the same but still I am ranked one in the academy, you know. You should also treat me with respect and honesty, and call me senior,” he replied smiling arrogantly.

“If you're number one, then my rank is higher than yours.” I don't want to give up.

“No higher rating than one, stupid bottom.” Vestia threw her pillow in my face. I threw back his pillow.

We know we're arguing again. We argued, but not long ago we praised each other. But, instead of arguing to take down the opponent and defend each other's arguments. We argue more fun. We were debating who was the strongest among us. It was not far from the previous debate, but somehow now it feels warmer and more exciting. We didn't give each other competitive gazes, we stared with joking eyes.

We laughed with satisfaction as the night grew and the moon rose at its peak. The fire shrunk to hear our happiness. And even though the compass doesn't laugh with us, I know he's enjoying this warm night.

The next day, we separated because Vestia had to go back to her town and I still had to continue my journey.