Chapter 03 ~ Sobata
The world fell silent. Fulan stood on his own two feet in a clearing of grass and snow, surrounded by the ancient trees of the forest, and watched the deer as it lay dying before him.
His breath was a visible cloud in the frigid air. His eyes, wide and unblinking, tried to process the scene. He looked down at his hands. One was clean, its fingers tinged with a pinkish hue from the biting cold. The other was clenched around the hilt of his dagger. The blade was slick with crimson, as was his hand. A smear of the deer's blood was drying on his face, near the fresh scratch on his cheek.
His breathing grew ragged and shallow as he stared at the spreading pool of red that stained the pristine snow.
A violent wave of nausea rose from his gut. He spun around, stumbled, and fell to his knees. He heaved, emptying the scant contents of his stomach onto the ground. His whole body trembled, and beads of sweat formed on his brow, defying the cold.
From a short distance away, he heard the crunch of footsteps on the snow, followed by a cheerful voice. "Well, well, what have we here?"
Fulan's eyes shot up. His hands were still planted in the snow, the bloody dagger lying beside him. He saw a man approaching, dressed in a simple brown robe that covered most of his body. He was bald, with warm brown skin and eyes the color of brilliant rubies. A wide smile was on his face as he added, "A pure-hearted young man, experiencing the taking of a life for the first time."
The man had a pack on his back, held shut by a series of dangling ropes. He casually pulled on one, and the pack fell open as he knelt. He retrieved a glass bottle of water. "Drink, drink," he offered. "You need a little water."
Fulan wiped his lips with the back of his clean hand. "I don't think I could take even a single sip right now."
The man, who appeared to be in his thirties, simply nodded and placed the bottle back in his pack. "Alright," he said, his voice understanding. "You're right. I can understand that."
Fulan scraped snow over his vomit with his hands, then sat back on his heels, turning his body to face away from the deer and toward the snowy forest. The man walked over quietly and sat a short distance away from Fulan, giving him space. He didn't say anything. For several minutes, they sat in companionable silence, watching the birds flit peacefully between the trees.
Finally, the bald man spoke, his voice calm, a light smile on his face as he stared ahead. "You remind me of the first day I had to go through something like this. But I was much younger than you. How old are you now?"
"Seventeen," Fulan replied, his gaze fixed on the woods.
"Yes, much younger," the man said softly. "My father asked me to slaughter a chicken for our meal. I was nine years old. I can still remember how badly my hands were shaking. But my father insisted I have the experience. We weren't a family of knights or warriors or anything like that, just simple farmers. But he wanted me to go through it. He said it wasn't women's work, and that I was the man of the house, his heir. So, I did as he commanded."
He looked up at the sky, his ruby-red eyes seeming to glow for a moment. He continued, still smiling. "After I did it, I was shocked to see the blood on my hands. I closed my eyes and opened them again and again, trying to convince myself it was just a dream, but it was real. It's an experience that gives a child a different perspective on life. Later, I realized how positive and useful that experience was. This is the first time you've killed an animal, isn't it?"
Fulan drew his knees to his chest, using his arms to rest his head for a moment. "No," he said. "I've killed a predator before. It was a tiger."
The man's red eyes widened in genuine shock. "You killed a tiger? You must be very strong, then."
"Just a little," Fulan said.
"Did you feel this way after you killed the tiger?" the man asked.
"No. I felt a great sense of relief because it deserved to die. This time… it felt different."
The man's smile returned, softer this time. "I see." He reached out and placed a hand on Fulan's head, ruffling his hair gently. "You truly are a good person. It's to meet people like you that I continue to cling to this life. If you'll allow me, I'd be honored to share this meal with you. And I'll be the one to cook. With all humility, I have years of experience."
"I don't mind," Fulan said, his voice quiet. "It's enough to feed a family for days, anyway."
"Then it's settled," the man beamed.
As the day wore on, Fulan sat leaning against a tree while the man, who had gathered firewood, expertly butchered a portion of the deer and began preparing the meat for roasting. Within hours, day had bled into night. The forest fell into a deep silence, and the sky above became a black velvet canvas studded with stars.
The crackle and hiss of the fire filled the clearing, sending sparks spiraling into the night. The scent of roasting meat was thick in the air. The fire's orange glow pushed back the darkness and danced on the surrounding snow. Fulan sat opposite the bald man, watching the flames.
"So," the bald man said, breaking the silence. "What's your name, and where are you headed?"
"How about you introduce yourself first?" Fulan countered.
The man let out a light laugh. "Fair enough. I am Sobata Kondu. I live a free life in this world. I have no specific goal other than to have a good time."
Fulan watched him quietly. "It must be nice to be free."
"Why do you say it with such a tone, boy, as if you aren't free yourself? Haha!" Sobata said with a grin. "And what about you? Who are you, and where are you going?"
Fulan stared into the fire, its orange light reflecting in his dark eyes, painting his face in flickering hues of light and shadow. "I am Fulan Nanimo," he said softly. "I'm looking for a kingdom called Saita. It's supposed to be somewhere in the west. That's all the information I have."
Sobata's smile widened as he pulled a piece of freshly roasted meat from the fire. He blew on it, waiting for it to cool. "Ah, Saita. That brings back memories."
Fulan looked up sharply. "You know the Kingdom of Saita?"
"I don't just know it," Sobata replied. "I've visited it many times. So many, in fact, that I have a son about your age that I left there some time ago. If you happen to meet him, be a good friend to him, alright?"
"But I don't even know how to get there," Fulan admitted.
"To be honest with you, the road is long," Sobata said. "It will take you another nine days of travel. But, if you like, I can travel with you for part of your journey, to set you on the right path."
Fulan was taken aback. "Are you sure?"
"Of course," Sobata said, taking a large bite of meat. "I told you, boy. I'm free to do as I please."
A feeling of relief washed over Fulan, settling his heart. He reached out and took his own piece of fresh, roasted meat from the bone. He watched the steam rise from it, his mind flashing through all that had happened to bring him to this moment, to this fire. And then, with a newfound appetite, he took a bite.
The morning sky was covered by a blanket of grey clouds. Though the sun was a hidden presence, its light diffused through the overcast heavens, making the morning bright and clear. The forest and its creatures breathed in the new day. The chirping of birds was a gentle chorus, distant deer moved like shadows between the trees, and squirrels chased each other up and down the trunks.
The river flowed with a cold, crisp sound. Fulan, dressed as usual, knelt at its edge, filling the glass bottle with water. When it was full, he sealed it with a wooden stopper, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet air. He stood, holding the bottle in his hands. His brown leather pack lay open on the snow-dusted ground, his blood-stained dagger beside it.
"Are you sure about giving me this bottle?" Fulan asked quietly. "Maybe you'll need it?"
Sobata, the bald man with the ruby-red eyes, was already standing, his own roped pack slung over his shoulder. "I have an extra, don't worry," he replied calmly. "In any case, hurry up. We have a long way to go, as I told you."
Fulan placed the water bottle in his pack, then picked up the dagger and began to wash it in the frigid river. As he did, Sobata spoke again. "By the way, Fulan. You didn't sleep last night, did you?"
Fulan's black eyes widened. His back was to Sobata, so the older man couldn't see the look of utter astonishment on his face. He saw his own shocked reflection in the flowing water of the river. How could he have known that? he thought frantically. There's no way he's just an ordinary traveler…
Sobata sighed, cleaning his ear with his little finger. "Listen, I have no problem with just giving you directions and going my own way. The last thing I want is for you to be so wary of me that you can't sleep for a whole night."
Fulan looked down at his dagger. It was clean now, shining so brightly that his own face was reflected on its surface. He turned, stood up holding the dagger, and said, "Then what about you? Your words imply you didn't sleep either. Why is that, Mister Sobata?"
Sobata took the hand he'd been using to clean his ear and slipped it into the pocket of his robe. "How could I sleep when my conscience knew a child like you was afraid of me, unable to rest because of my presence?"
Fulan remained silent. Sobata stepped closer and patted his black hair. His red eyes met Fulan's dark ones with a disarming warmth, and his words were just as kind. "Don't worry. I pledge to protect you on this journey, even though I doubt any danger awaits us on the road to the kingdom. This is to put your heart at ease, so you know I am on your side. Fulan, you are two years younger than my own son. I consider you a son to me. So, if my boy is ever in trouble one day, support him with all your strength!"
He clenched his fist on the last word, his smile unwavering. A genuine smile finally touched Fulan's lips. He bent down and placed the clean dagger into his pack with his clothes and the water. "Do you think I should have cooked some more meat to take with us?"
"No need for that," Sobata said as they began to walk through the snow. "There are plenty of villages on our way where you can buy what you need. You have some coin?"
"Yes."
"Then that's good. It will serve you well as a traveler."
In that moment, their true journey together began. The last of Fulan's suspicions melted away, and he began to enjoy his time with Sobata instead of letting his own internal thoughts consume him. Deep down, Fulan hoped that the world beyond his kingdom's walls held some kind of tranquility and safety, and without realizing it, he was searching for it on this journey.
On their first day, they left the forest behind. They walked through vast, unclaimed green spaces, free lands that belonged to no one. It was a wide, rustic countryside, and their path, strangely, felt safe. They followed country roads that were little more than dirt paths, passing by wild meadows and fields untouched by human hands.
That night, sleep finally claimed Fulan. After nearly two days without rest, he was exhausted. Lying under a large tree, his soft snores filled the quiet air. Hearing them, Sobata smiled with warmth and relief. "Finally," he whispered to himself. "Now that he is comfortable with me, I can sleep too."
They both fell into a deep, peaceful slumber. The next day, they continued their journey along the long country road, passing by rivers and streams. The temperature had risen slightly from the previous days, and the snow had begun a slow, steady melt, though the air was still cool.
Four days of travel passed, filled with conversation and shared silence. Fulan became more open, feeling a greater sense of security than he had in a long time, though he still did not reveal his personal reasons for his journey to Sobata.
On the fourth day, under a clear morning sky, Fulan found himself walking through a field of brilliant blue flowers. He was smiling. "I can't believe the snow was hiding all this beauty underneath it," he said, bending down to admire one of the flowers. "It's so wonderful I wish I could take it with me."
Sobata placed a hand on his shoulder. "These flowers glow at night, because of something called Menma cells. Why don't you take some with you?"
"Oh!" Fulan's face lit up. "They glow at night?! I'd love to see that." He carefully plucked one of the blue flowers, looking at it with a smile.
As he watched, Sobata saw Fulan's reflection in his own ruby-red eyes. He's as cautious as a cat that grew up in a forest full of predators, he thought, but he wasn't there for long. Only a short time. It's as if he was enjoying a quiet life, and then suddenly, everything was taken from him. Despite that, an innocence still shines in his eyes when he gets distracted by the world around him and forgets his past for a moment. What happened to this boy? And why is he wandering this dangerous world alone? The lands behind kingdom walls are safe, or at least in the villages under a kingdom's protection. But for a child like him to travel the world like an adventurer… that's reckless. What is driving him?
Fulan stood up, carefully placing the blue flower in the cloth pouch with his coins, then tied it securely back to his waist.
After walking for a few more minutes, Fulan's eyes widened at the sight of a distant village. A broad smile broke out on his face. "It's a village! It's a village!!"
Sobata chuckled. "Why do you say it with such a happy tone? Haha."
"This is a first for me," Fulan beamed. "The first time I've traveled on my own and reached a destination. Well, I'm not completely alone, since you're with me."
"Well, for a traveler, it's quite an achievement," Sobata replied. "We've arrived just as the sun is setting. It's a good time to spend the night here. This is the village of Nahida. And unfortunately, it is where we must part ways."
A look of disappointment washed over Fulan's face.
"What's with that look?" Sobata said gently. "We will surely meet again one day. Just keep traveling, and I'm sure fate will have me meet you again."
Fulan's black eyes fell to the ground as they walked. He alone knew that no bright future awaited him, that he was not free to travel this world. This farewell with Sobata, like any he might have with people he met on his journey, would be final. On this mission, Fulan knew, all of his relationships were temporary. And this was the first, painful proof.