Escape - Chapter 48.1

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“….”

Rune, who had been staring blankly at Adeline for a long time, had half his head bathed in the crimson glow of the forge. He finally lowered his head, and after a moment, a small confession slipped out. “Actually, I had chances to leave before.”

“Before? You mean before the humans came?”

“Yes. Back then, and even after. But no matter when, I was too afraid to leave. Even when unintended freedom was gifted to me like a present. I wasn’t capable of handling my own freedom, so I walked back into the cage myself.”

Judging by their reactions, her companions seemed unaware of this story. Rune stared intently at the unadorned floor as he continued. “I lacked the will. Unlike you, I cut off my own legs, so to speak. And now, to ask to be carried on your backs is just shameless.”

“You seem to be mistaken about something.” Damian interrupted Rune’s pessimism. His low voice, though not loud, had the power to command attention. When Rune fell silent, Damian’s burning golden eyes fixed on him, devoid of emotion. Finally, he spoke. “I have no intention of carrying baggage. And Adeline never offered to carry you.”

It was true. She had suggested they go together, not that she would carry him. The phrases seemed similar at first glance, but they held entirely different meanings. Moving his own legs was Rune’s responsibility. Rune looked up, as if he’d been struck.

“Besides, freedom, in a way, is like inspiration. It’s not given; it’s seized. So, contrary to your misconception, you’ve never experienced freedom, not even once.”

Rune was despairing, believing he had thrown away the freedom he’d held in his hands, but he was wrong. From the moment he was born until this very instant, he had never once stepped outside the cage. Now was the moment to step out, by his own will.

A tremor ran through Rune. He blinked his wide eyes in disbelief, as if scales had fallen from them. A realization dawned upon him. He began to speak haltingly, forcing the words from his tightening throat. It sounded like a non sequitur, but it was also the conclusion of this philosophical conversation. “Then… I want to go. I want to stand on my own two feet and see the sky. Without stopping, no matter what.”

The way he sniffled, yet managed to finish his sentence, was both endearing and heart-wrenchingly sweet. Adeline smiled, pleased that Rune had quoted her words back to her. Damian lowered his hand from his chin. “That settles it. Now I can ask if there’s any more of this.”

His gaze fell upon the oak barrel that had held the honey mead. It was empty; not a drop remained. Somehow, he had finished it all.

“More! More!”

“Ah, is there? How much?”

“As much as you have! He’s Rune’s friend!”

The excited fairies, before even hearing the full request, swarmed off with a clatter to fetch more barrels. Watching them, Damian’s handsome lips curved into a smile. “Excellent.”

Adeline looked at the man beside her with renewed interest. It wasn’t that he, who usually didn’t touch alcohol, had been reborn as a heavy drinker; she was surprised by how naturally he had grasped the heart of the matter.

Freedom without struggle wasn’t freedom. It was the same principle as freedom only existing because of confinement.

In the blink of an eye, the fairies returned with several barrels of mead, their high-pitched chatter filling the air. Laughter easily transcended language barriers; even the incomprehensible sounds of some of the fairies clearly conveyed their joy. The lightened mood finally brought a faint smile to Rune’s face.

With Rune’s journey to the surface decided, the conversation shifted to the sky. The sun that rose in the east and set in the west, the wandering clouds that drifted with the wind, the pale moon that changed its face every day.

“Unbelievable!” Honglu flapped her wings, denying the existence of a moon that changed daily. Rune proudly declared he would confirm it himself and report back. Talk turned to the vast ocean, and when Adeline mentioned she had seen it, Rune, in his excitement, forgot the state of his wings and tried to fly, only to land in his mug. Once again, the fairies erupted in peals of laughter.

This time, even Adeline had to clutch Damian’s arm, laughing along. It felt like the first time she had truly enjoyed herself since coming “outside.” Sitting on the hard stone floor, with no proper chair or backrest, surrounded by not-quite-humans. Come to think of it, what did it even mean to be human? These small beings even possessed the power of creation.