Chapter 127: How to Acquire Insulation (2)
There were people everywhere. And every one of them was ragged.
“…”
The sun was setting earlier than usual now, and Javier threw his gaze down below the hill. The plain lot that used to be empty and bare was now jam-packed with people. Countless tents stood close to one another, and people moved through the tents. They were the refugees that recently arrived at the Frontera fiefdom.
“Sir Asrahan, the food rations are ready.”
“…”
Javier turned and found a high-rank guard officer. He faintly nodded his head.
“Let us begin before the sun sets.”
“Yes, sir.”
Javier went down the hill with the soldier, dozens of large pots hanging here and there. The scent of food wafted out from there, and refugees queued up in a long line. Their eyes reflected their hunger and desperation.
“Start the distribution.”
“Yes, sir.”
The food trays were filled in order, and the long line started to shorten. One after another, every refugee was asked a question by Javier.
“Are you sick or feeling discomfort of any sort?” asked Javier.
Most of them said they were fine. At times, some said they were sick, and Javier ran a thorough check on their state, recording their name, symptom, and makeshift tent number.
“I see. A physician will be here later tonight to check up on you. Until then, make sure to eat and rest,” advised Javier.
“My… Thank you… You are an honored knight, and yet you take care of this old lady…”
“Not at all. I am just doing what is right.”
Javier counted the number of patients and oversaw the distribution, spending many sleepless hours at night.
“But, sir, are you not going to eat?” asked one of the soldiers.
“Later.”
There was the tidying-up left after the distribution. The soldiers said that they could take it from here, but Javier remained and worked with them. It was because Javier considered it his job as he was the supervisor. But when he was distributing dinner, something took place.
“…”
Among the refuge tents that lined up in strings, Javier spotted a kid wandering around. He appeared to be seven or eight. But something was off about his gait and movement. With a food tray in his hand, the boy peeked into the tents and glanced around without rest. He walked quickly around the area as if he was lost.
Did he forget the way to his tent?
It appeared so since there were dozens of large tents around. Minus the number marked on the tent door, every single one of them looked the same. Even an adult would be confused by it.
“Kid.”
Javier walked over to the kid and called him. The flustered boy looked up. Javier strove to put on a warm smile on his face.
“Are you lost?”
“…”
The boy nodded, his eyes brimming with tears. Javier carefully stroked the boy’s head.
“I think I can help you with that. Why don’t you let me help find your tent?” suggested Javier.
“…”
The boy nodded again.
“But why didn’t you eat the food? It’s going to get cold. Are you not hungry?”
“I am… hungry,” the boy finally said.
But what he said next caught Javier by surprise.
“But I won’t eat it,” said the boy.
“Why not?”
“My mother is hungrier.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Javier wondered why this kid came out to take the food when he had a mother. There must be a reason, he thought to himself. He held out his hand.
“I will hold the tray for you.”
“…”
“I won’t spill it. I promise.”
“Okay…”
Javier took the tray and wrapped the boy with his other hand. And then he called some of the soldiers cleaning the place and the representatives among the refugees. After some searching and asking, Javier finally managed to find the boy’s tent and discovered why he came out to collect the food ration all alone.
“Allen?”
When Javier stepped in, he heard a woman’s voice. Her voice rang clear and aloud among the many refugees in the tent. The same thing was the case for this boy, whose name seemed to be Allen.
“Mom!”
The boy sprinted into his mother’s embrace. But something about her gaze was off.
Her eyes aren’t focused. She can’t see.
She was visually impaired. But it appeared that she was not used to the discomfort she was experiencing. All of her body gestures and movements looked awkward. And Javier noticed why instantly.
She wasn’t born like this. She recently lost her vision.
Javier’s face turned wistful. He postulated that the monsters took her vision but managed to get here after exerting every bit of strength in saving her child. And now, the boy was the one taking care of his mother by receiving the food for her. Taking care of his mother was more important than filling up his stomach. Javier felt his throat tighten, and he got on one knee and carefully put the food tray down. The food was cold.
“Here.”
Javier’s voice and presence made the mother flinch, so he said, “Do not be afraid. I am Javier Asrahan, currently supervising the guards. I came here with the boy as he was lost.”
“I-is that really true?”
“Yes. And I brought your dinner with the boy,” assured Javier.
“How can I repay you for your kindness…”
“Please do not mention it. I will help you. Here, slowly.”
Javier lifted the spoon. But was it out of compassion? Perhaps so. Or maybe it was the blouse that was smudged with porridge. Or maybe, it was because he was suddenly reminded of his childhood.
“Now, open your mouth please,” cooed Javier.
“How can I dare…”
“It is fine. There is plenty of food. Even for the child.”
“Oh…”
His assurance that there was enough food for the child brought relief to her face. Javier slowly began to feed her. The first spoon full of food. The second spoon full of nostalgia. Once he was done, Javier spoke to the child.
“Kid. Do you see the mark at the entrance?” asked Javier.
“Yes, I see it.”
“This is A-3.”
“A-3…”
“Remember that, and you can come into that tent starting tomorrow. Do you think you can do it?”
“Yes! I can.”
“Good boy.”
As Javier stroked the child’s head, he wished that Master Lloyd would come up with something to solve the insulation issue since this was as far as he could help the people out. If Master Lloyd succeeded, this mother and child and so many others could live more comfortably. And perhaps because of that sentimentality, that night, Javier committed the mistake of nodding his head when Lloyd, who finally found the solution, asked for his help.
“So, you are telling me that you will go into the Everglow Woods where the elves live and acquire the sap of the Elensia Tree?”
“Yeah,” answered Lloyd.
“But that is just outrageous…”
Javier shook his head. He threw a determined gaze at Lloyd, who came to the former’s room to sing a lullaby.
“I can’t help you with that,” defied Javier.
“Wow. Why?”
“What do you mean why? Simply because it is impossible.”
“But you just nodded that you will help me out a second ago,” objected Lloyd.
“You did not mention then that you are planning to go to the Everglow Woods.”
“Aha. You said you’d help out when you thought it was easy, but now that it’s not, you’re taking back what you said and backing out?”
“That is not what I mean-”
“Cut the crap. You know I’m right,” said Lloyd.
“…”
“Since when did you like to break your promise?”
“…”
“Why? Am I wrong?”
“…”
Javier pressed his lips together, saying not a word. He knew that Master Lloyd was right.
“But, Master Lloyd…”
“Yeah, go defend yourself.”
“What you’re trying is impossible.”
“What? Extracting Elensia sap from wood?”
“Yes.”
“Do you really think that way?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Elves cannot be negotiated with in the first place. You will only waste your time and efforts since it is the same as reaching for the stars. I think it would be more constructive to focus on taking care of the refugees and looking for other solutions.”
It was the truth. For at least 500 years, not a single human engaged with the elves. It was a fact that was commonly believed throughout the Lorasian Continent.
“They are stubborn and refuse to engage with humans. There was only one place that said it was possible. Fairy tales. That is, children’s fairy tales.”
“…”
“In the case that someone believes its possibility, I would think that the man has a mental age of about six years old,” said Javier.
“Six-years-old? Where’s your proof?”
“Me. I believed that I could befriend an elf until I was six years old.”
“Hmm… So what you are doing is skillfully reaming me out for being immature?” asked Lloyd.
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I am not pulling back any punches.”
“Dang. You aren’t even trying to sugarcoat it.”
“Because it is the truth.”
“But look at you. And where did you learn that expression from just now?”
“You. Since you used it several times, I came to get a grasp of its meaning.”
“Tsk… But too bad though. It looks like you’ve got it wrong this time.”
“Wrong? What do you mean?”
“What do you mean, my ass. I’m saying there is a way to acquire Elensia sap from the woods of the elves.”
“…”
“What. What. What. Why are you narrowing your eyes and glaring at me like that?”
“It’s nothing. I was just thinking if I should pay a visit to the lord tomorrow morning,” Javier said sternly.
“Why not?”
“To discuss with him whether we should put you in therapy or send you to the capital for recuperation.”
“…”
Lloyd clicked his tongue because it seemed that Javier was hell-bent on distrusting him. But Lloyd knew why Javier was acting that way.
The comment about putting me in therapy was harsh, but that’s understandable.
It really was understandable because the elves in the Everglow Woods had zero contact or engagement with humans. So it went without saying that they never ever conversed with the latter. And if anybody dared to step foot in the woods, the intruder was instantly put to death. Therefore, the suggestion to strike a deal with the elves in Lorasia was as foolish as tap dancing naked in the middle of the savannah in Africa.
After all, no one succeeded in talking with the elves for the past hundreds of years. No mighty lord, king, emperor, or swordsman.
Everyone had failed. The power of the sword master was useless. Sword masters were slowly moving creatures in the face of the elves who seemed to be able to transport through the air.
But the first one to shatter that absolute notion was Javier.
The pioneer of the Everglow Woods. Javier Asrahan. Although he said that sitting at the negotiating table with the elves was reaching for the stars, in the novel, he later shared friendship with the elves in the Everglow Woods. After more adventures, he and one of the elves start to develop feelings for each other.
Thinking about that part is making me hate him.
The Knight of Blood and Iron. As Lloyd recalled the story of the book, he glanced daggers at Javier.
Come to think of it, that really is the case. The man in the novel had a fling in every place he went. Goodness, what is he? An actual heart-stopper?
But the really funny thing was that Javier always blocked the women coming on to him with a wall as high as Arctic sea ice. And when Lloyd thought that far, his hatred increased.
“That’s why you’re no good, man,” Lloyd said suddenly.
“I am no good…? What do you mean?”
“You’re an enemy to the army of single men… I mean, come on. Use your imagination.”
“My imagination?”
“Yeah,” answered Lloyd.
Lloyd pushed back his trivial thoughts and focused on the Everglow Woods, which was the main topic of the conversation.
“The elves in the woods are not a problem. The Elensia sap can be attained. I mean it.”
If things went according to his plan, and if he could really get his hands on the Elensia sap, the pipes could be perfectly insulated. Lloyd was confident about this because the Elensia Tree’s sap, according to the novel, boasted an incredible ability to store heat.
Of course. Javier made his armor and helmet using the sap. And he fought against the dragon in it.
Even though the fire dragon breathed hellish fire out of its mouth, it failed to melt the armor made out of the Elensia sap as 99% of the heat was blocked from entering his body.
Javier was hit with the dragon’s breath three times in a row. But what he said to himself afterward really is comical. What did he say? Oh, how warm?
Javier even felt sleepy because the dragon breath reminded him of a warm blanket near the fire in winter. Just like that, Javier was completely safe from the fire dragon, and after three straight days of battle, he succeeded in slicing its horn. This story of a great expedition took a page in the novel.
“So we just have to go and get the tree sap from the woods. If we can get our hands on that and smear it around the insulation pipes, the heat can be transferred to every floor of the complex without losing any. I’m sure of it.”
And the remaining tree sap can be stashed to be used for a greater profit later on. Lloyd stared at Javier confidently with that scheme in mind. The same gaze was returned from Javier toward Lloyd.
“…”
“…”
After a lengthy exchange of gazes, Javier spoke first.
“Are you serious about that?”
“Yeah,” answered Lloyd.
“This isn’t a childish antic, whatsoever?”
“Of course not,” assured Lloyd.
“Okay. Then if we are really making for the Everglow Woods, how do you plan on persuading the elves and striking a deal with them to hand over the Elensia sap?” demanded Javier.
“I will talk if you promise me your cooperation.”
“Why do you need my promise for that?”
“Well, I have a secret I don’t want to share with anybody. So? Are you in or not?”
“…”
“Well, if you’re not up for it, then leave it. I’ll go there all by myself. But do know that acquiring the sap will be delayed just as much. People won’t be able to enter the apartment complex next year. Oh, how sad. If only cynical Sir Javier gave his helping hand. Then, the refugees’ lives would be much easier this coming year.”
“…”
“Once the apartment complex is finished, they will be able to cozily spend the first snow day of next year. Kids will be making snowmen and merrily have snow fights and ride sleighs. But that won’t be happening in real life. Just in their poor heads. Why? Because heartless Sir Asrahan is denying cooperation.”
“…”
“So one of the boys will take the full gust of biting wind and murmur to himself, ‘Oh, oh, Patrasche…’ and hang his head. Not just him. There will be a poor girl who begs the others to buy matches in tears until despair sweeps over her. She would close her eyes in the harsh winter with nothing but only a single ember of a match. What’s the reason for that tragedy? Simple. Because heartless Sir Asrahan is denying cooperation.”
“…”
“Oh, oh, but despite a host of tragedies, heartless and and cold-hearted Sir Asrahan is-”
“I’m going,” interrupted Javier. “I will go with you,” said Javier as he gritted his teeth.
To this, Lloyd’s eyes glimmered and grew alive.
“You will?” asked Lloyd.
“Yes.”
“With me?”
“Yes…”
“To the Evertglow Woods?”
“Haa. Yes, I will.”
Javier opened and closed his fist, thinking about punching him in the face. The corners of Lloyd’s lips pulled up in satisfaction.
“You should have said yes earlier,” said Lloyd.
“Then tell me.”
“What? How to extract sap from wood?” asked Lloyd.
“Yes.”
Javier was curious. He wondered what breathtaking and innovative method Master Lloyd came up with that he would brim with so much confidence in getting the Elensia Tree sap from the insolent and stubborn elves. Javier waited in anticipation. At the same time, he resolved to himself that he would try his best for the struggling people like the kid and his blind mother he had seen a while ago. As long as it didn’t involve defiling his honor as a knight by stealing or anything similar, he was ready to listen. The moment Javier made his resolution, the corners of Lloyd’s lips curved strangely.
“Simple,” Lloyd said at last, recalling the story of the novel. “We’re going to steal it.”