Chapter 9: An Old Meeting
Lumin threw the young man to the ground, and his body struck the damp earth. He quickly ignored him and turned his head toward Christy, saying, "I'll speak with Lomet tomorrow. I'm sure he had nothing to do with assigning the roles. He'll solve this in the best way possible."
Christy looked at Lumin for a few seconds while smiling before saying, "Why did you get so worked up? I don't think you'd have any problem if you were placed at the front. You didn't need to react that way toward that young man. He might tell his companions."
Lumin understood that she was referring to the axe at his waist, and he replied at once in a calm, decisive tone: "I'll be safe even if I'm at the front. But he ignored my question and spoke with obvious contempt. That's what made me want to know his name... Besides, if you're put at the front in that outfit, something might happen to you... and I'd lose my chance to search the house."
A few seconds of silence passed before Lumin continued, "It's better that we split up now. The trip will be completed tomorrow."
Christy replied with slight surprise, "Won't we continue after an hour has passed?"
Lumin shook his head and said, "No. Lomet always stopped to rest when forming small teams."
Christy gave a faint smile and said, "The calm before the storm?"
Lumin nodded. "Yes."
He was silent for a moment before continuing in a confident tone, "We'll find a few tents up ahead, tents designated for the leaders. Normally, each leader has to choose his own subordinates in the meeting, but I think they also chose subordinates for us in addition to assigning our roles."
He continued, glancing at the crowd around him, "If we search for the tents together, it might raise unnecessary suspicion. As you know... it's better that we split up and each of us searches for his own tent alone."
"And as for that young man... I'll deal with him in my own way."
Christy nodded and said in a calm voice as she moved away from Lumin, "All right... thank you."
Lumin turned back to the spot where he had thrown the young man, but he could not find him.
He glanced at the crowd around him and sighed before saying in a low voice, "Ah, if you're going to run, hide yourself well."
Lumin moved lightly through the crowd, slipping behind a few people until he drew close to the young man.
He placed a hand on the young man's shoulder without gripping hard and said in a calm tone that carried a hidden threat, "Where were you trying to run?"
"L..." The young man tried to speak, but he was stunned when Lumin's other hand caught his jaw and kept him from talking.
Lumin held him in place for a few seconds, then said in a low, sharp voice, "Yes, that's right. You weren't trying to run... and I wasn't trying to hit you either."
Lumin loosened his grip and added, "It was nothing more than a misunderstanding between us."
He removed his hand from the young man's jaw and tightened his grip on his shoulder, continuing in a firmer tone, "I apologize for the misunderstanding... How about we work together, and you join me as an apology gift?"
The young man felt pain in his shoulder and said hesitantly, "But I may have already joined another team..."
Lumin raised both hands and lightly struck the young man's shoulder. The blow seemed friendly on the surface, but the young man understood it carried a clear warning.
Lumin said, "That's fine. It's not a real problem."
He was silent for a brief moment before continuing in a calm tone, "What's your name? Let's get to know each other while we search for the tent."
The young man's eyes widened and he said, hesitantly, "Tent?.."
The young man wanted to say more, but fear of Lumin held him back, so he only asked about the tent.
Lumin nodded. "Yes. Haven't you gotten used to Lomet's style? I already met Leth before. It's impossible for this to be your first trip."
The young man replied with obvious hesitation, "I didn't... I thought this was your first trip..."
Lumin ignored what the young man said and walked forward while saying, "Follow me."
Lumin moved ahead without looking back.
The young man stayed where he was, watching Lumin's back. He hesitated for a few seconds before following him, but after a moment he sighed and thought to himself, Why was I standing near them... I need to take off my shoes right now.
Lumin did not hear any footsteps behind him, but from the corner of his eye he noticed that the young man had started running after him, which made him think to himself, Well... I only wanted to scare him, but it might be better to make him my subordinate. I still lack information about the leaders.
When the young man got close, Lumin spoke first in a calm voice. "You still haven't told me your name."
The young man replied in a tense, faint voice, "L... Lart... Lart Tral."
Lumin was silent for a few seconds, watching Lart's facial expressions before asking, "Which team were you with? Under which leader?"
Lart answered without delay and with obvious fear, "Lewis Lund... I was with him until today."
As soon as Lumin heard Lewis's name, he thought, Lewis... good. I can tell him I needed Lart's help. He'll understand quickly.
Lumin turned toward Lart and asked calmly, "Do you know where my tent is?"
Lart remained silent for a while before stammering, "I... I don't know..."
Lumin ignored the answer, turned his gaze forward again, and continued walking with calm, confident steps while noticing how the number of people around him had thinned.
After a while of walking, the two reached the first tent area. There were three tents there: two small tents and one larger tent between them.
Lumin ignored the two smaller tents reserved for assistants and headed toward the large tent.
At the top of the tent, he found a small wooden plaque engraved in the Foden language: George Wilms.
Lumin stared at the plaque for a moment before turning his head toward Lart and thinking quickly, Should I ask him? He may know something...
Lart noticed Lumin's gaze directed at him and asked in a tense voice, "Is there something?.."
Lomet used to separate the leaders into certain areas. It was rare for two leaders to gather in one place except at the front... In the past I used to hear rumors about people with extraordinary powers, but I never believed them. I never believed in the existence of people with supernatural abilities except the Blessed Rulers... and Lomet... but now I know about Walkers thanks to the Castle Man...
I think Lomet deliberately separated the leaders so that no one would know about the Walkers except his core teams... But why didn't he tell me about the Walkers before? Didn't he trust me? Lumin remained silent for a few seconds, thinking while staring at Lart, until he finally said in a clear voice, "Are you a Walker?"
Lart glanced around before speaking in a low voice, "Sir... I don't know anything about the peo— I... I don't know."
Lumin drew a faint smile on his face and said in a sharp tone, "Why are you so nervous? I asked you about the Walkers... the people with extraordinary abilities."
Damn it... I need to remove it now before... Lart cursed himself internally before speaking. "Sir... may I take off my shoes?"
Lumin glanced at Lart's shoes before speaking clearly, "No."
Lumin moved closer to Lart, raised his hand to his shoulder without clenching his fist, and said with a hidden threat, "My friend, are you a Walker?"
Lart looked at Lumin's fist with his eyes wide open before speaking in a low, strained voice, "Yes... yes, I am a Walker... I beg you, please don't do anything..."
Lumin looked at Lart's face and thought with amusement, A guy like you is a Walker? And I only learned about them yesterday.
After Lumin lowered his hand from Lart's shoulder, Lart continued, "George is also a Walker... I don't know what his pathway is..."
Lumin interrupted him and said confidently, "And what is your pathway?"
Lart answered immediately, as if he had expected that question. "My pathway is called the Soldier..."
Lumin noticed the hesitation in his voice and warned him in a calm tone, "Explain it clearly."
With a quick glance around, Lart said, "I can... Sir, can I not speak inside the tent?"
You're afraid to say it in front of the crowd? Lumin looked at Lart's face and thought before speaking calmly, "Very well, that's fine."
Lumin continued walking with Lart behind him. The two reached the tent after passing seven tents. To Lumin's bad luck, Lart did not know whether any of the leaders were Walkers or not.
The moment he saw a plaque engraved with the name, Lumin thought, Christy at the front? Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find her location.
Lumin entered the tent and found a simple wooden table in the center. Behind it was a single wooden chair, and in front of it were two chairs placed side by side. Near the tent wall stood a modest bed, nothing more than a wooden frame covered with a thin mattress.
Lart was stunned by the presence of furniture in the forest. He had not expected to find furniture in such a place. This was the first time he had ever stepped into one of the leaders' tents.
Two men were seated in the chairs in front of the table: a young middle-aged man with black hair falling to the end of his neck, calm facial features, and steady eyes; and beside him sat a man with a graying beard, a slightly plump body, and eyes that carried the experience of many long years.
The two men stood respectfully when they saw Lumin enter the tent with Lart behind him.
The man with the graying beard stepped toward Lumin and hugged him before speaking loudly, "Lumin! It's been so long since we last met."
Lumin looked the bearded man over from top to bottom and said with clear excitement, "Old man Valjan!! You've gotten much fatter."
Old man Valjan let out a loud, clear laugh. He had not expected Lumin to focus on his weight gain like that. He laughed for a long time, loudly, before speaking, "And you..."
The old man patted Lumin's arms in a friendly way and continued, "And you've become stronger."
Lumin turned to look at Lart behind him and said in a sharp tone, "Close the tent and guard it. Do not let anyone in until I give you permission."
Lart nodded quickly, then left without speaking.
Lumin and Valjan walked to the table. Lumin sat at the back, while Valjan and the other young man sat in front.
Lumin opened the conversation by asking the young man beside Valjan his name.
The black-haired young man replied in a calm voice, "Jan. I am Mr. Valjan's eldest son..."
Lumin raised his eyebrows in surprise, then turned to the old man Valjan and said admiringly, "You never told me you had sons. That's a huge shock."
Old man Valjan laughed and said, "Hahaha, I forgot to mention that... I was the one who was shocked yesterday when Jan came to me and said that a former member named Lumin would be returning!! I retired two trips ago, and now here I am, hahaha!"
The old man fell silent for a moment as though organizing his thoughts, then continued confidently, "I didn't believe Lomet two years ago when he said you would withdraw, and now here you are today!! That's a surprise worth celebrating."
Lumin drew a faint smile on his face and said, "Don't exaggerate like that... I'll get embarrassed by your words."
Lumin continued immediately without giving the old man time to reply, "Are you my assistants? That's quite a coincidence."
Jan replied in a calm voice while looking at his father Valjan, "In truth, it wasn't a coincidence... He insisted to Lomet that we be placed under your command."
Lumin turned to old man Valjan and said in surprise, "Really?"
Old man Valjan scratched the back of his neck and said honestly, "Well... in truth, I didn't want to come back and be under another leader or alongside someone else... Even though I don't mind being under Lewis, I came back to meet you, not him."
The three of them continued talking for more than an hour. Lumin and Valjan agreed on a day for him to visit—two weeks from today, at old man Virgal's house.
Lumin spoke seriously before the old man stood up to take a nap in his tent. "Mr. Valjan, do you know about the Walkers?.."
Old man Valjan looked at Lumin for a while before speaking happily, "So Lomet finally told you?!"
Lumin looked confused and said, "Lomet?"
Old man Valjan stared at Lumin's face for a moment before speaking, "Didn't Lomet tell you about the Walkers?"
Lumin shook his head, which made the old man Valjan continue speaking. "Hmm, then I think I have to tell you everything... A short while before you withdrew, we were discussing whether to tell you about the Walkers."
"Lewis, Lomet, and I discussed whether you were ready to become a Walker, which pathway you deserved, and what your new role in the club should be. In the end, we decided to tell you everything on the next trip, but you withdrew before that..."
Lewis? Is he a Walker too? That's useful information... He didn't tell Jan to leave—does that mean Jan is a Walker too? Lumin thought quickly while listening to old man Valjan.
"We did not tell you about the Walkers for the past two years because of a rule Lomet put in place. Anyone who joins the club does not deserve to be made a Walker until after two years have passed, and until we are certain of their loyalty to Lomet and whether they are worthy. But unfortunately, you left before we could tell you, which prevented us from informing you."
The old man Valjan paused to sigh, then continued in a heavy tone, "How did you learn about the Walkers if Lomet didn't tell you?"