Chapter Text
"...When you reach a dead oak tree with a cross carved into its trunk, turn left exactly ninety degrees, ... and walk straight for about fifteen meters, or about twenty paces, if that's any help, until you reach a raging river.." the white-faced man muttered to himself, adjusting the sword slung over his shoulder as he tried to read the handwriting in the letter that was supposed to guide him to his new place of work. "By God, that handwriting! Oh, and this attention to detail. Measuring the length of the path.. in steps? How kind.."
"As soon as you reach the river, Most Honorable Knight, turn right again and walk straight-straight-straight along the river. Usually this means that you should follow its current, but I can't be sure that at the moment you read it ...
...in about an hour and fifty-six minutes, or, if that's how you're better at orienting yourself, in ... you should see a rather modest and inconspicuous house, that is, mine! I wish you the safest journey, my esteemed knight, and I look forward to your arrival!!! I hope we will work together wonderfully!
With the greatest care, Kamishiro Rui," The blond finally finished reading while standing by the said reservoir, in the right direction, as he hoped. The man stood there for a while, pondering something in his head, before he exhaled heavily and folded the letter, carefully hiding it in his trouser pocket and, finally, starting to walk.
The man who is now doomed to walk a two-kilometer path under the scorching summer sun is called Tsukasa. Until recently, this man was a highly respected knight, the right-hand man of the commander of an elite detachment of royal knights. He had a wonderful life, lived in glory and wealth, until one not-so-wonderful moment, he—
Tsukasa felt a familiar nausea rise in his throat, so he quickly shook his head, driving away unpleasant thoughts. Let's not talk about that. The main thing to know is that the knight, of his own free will, left his post. But he still needed work, who wants to have an idle idler under his roof?
❦
"Is that... is it?" Tsukasa asks himself, looking at the hut that was located near the river not so far from him. "No, well, are there supposed to be many other huts near a pond here? Of course not, God, what kind of question is that?"
The hut, by the way, looked quite nice and cozy. Large, old, yes, but well-kept, which Tsukasa hadn't really expected when he heard that he was supposed to work in the dwelling of a hermit wizard. It was surrounded by green bushes and wildflowers, and from the porch there was a well-trodden path into a dense forest. Cute. Tsukasa's gaze ran around the building, drawing attention to the open windows and, most importantly for him, the smoke slowly rising from the chimney. Someone was there. That was good. The knight didn't really want to go into the house when his master was who knew where. Slowly he reached the porch of the hut, looking at the windows in an attempt to see some movement inside, but before he could even raise his hand to the door, it swung wide open, frightening him, revealing a tall, thin and slightly disheveled man behind it.
"Oh, Mr. Knight Tenma! How glad I am to see you," the sorcerer, Rui, immediately greets him, stepping back from the passage, "please come in!"
Tsukasa nodded awkwardly, following the sorcerer. What an... energetic man.
Although the exterior of the hut was much cleaner than the blond had imagined, the interior of the building exactly matched his expectations. A complete mess and chaos: scattered grass, mountains of books, and empty and not very jars with various liquids, oh... oh, what is this, someone's eyes in a jar?
"Those are not human," the knight hears behind him. Rui was standing almost at the other end of the room, his hands tightly clasped in a lock, and his eyes were running around the living room. Is he worried? The knight probably shouldn't have such a gloomy face.
"Yes, sure.." Tsukasa answers, looking away from the jar, "your hut is very beautiful." For some reason the knight felt that the sorcerer needed to hear this, "And I would like to thank you for an opportunity to work here. It's an honor for me."
"Oh-.. Oh, no-no no need!" It seems that Rui perked up from his words, "I'm the only one who should thank you. You're simply my savior! My past Guardian very unexpectedly decided to.. leave me, and finding someone who would want to work with me was such a hassle! The Guard didn't let me breathe freely, they kept demanding that I have someone to monitor my actions. I couldn't even go out into the forest freely, can you imagine? What sorcerer can do without forest herbs!"
He snorted indignantly and waved his hand before quickly approaching Tsukasa, close but at the same time keeping a respectful distance: "But now, with you I can go to the ends of the earth again and finally they won't bother me with all this paperwork and threats, magical, right? Well.. I've probably already told you all the stories, and you're tired after your journey. Plus it's so hot outside.. Let's go! I'll help you unpack."
❦
The room was... surprisingly tidy, almost untouched, especially compared to the living room. Spacious and met all needs. A bed, a desk, a bunch of drawers with various books, and even a sword stand.
"I hope it will satisfy you," says Rui, stepping back so that the knight can enter, "maybe you need anything else? I was just preparing dinner."
"No, it's fine," mutters Tsukasa, taking off his sword, "I would like to collect my thoughts first."
"As you wish. Rest well, honorable knight, if you need help with anything, I will be in the room opposite."
With these words, Rui left, leaving Tsukasa alone. The man approached the stand, placed his sword there, and paused, examining it for a while. Strong. The wood is expensive and good, but at the same time already worn. Obviously, this room was the previous Guardian's. I wonder what happened to him? Why did he leave? Tsukasa sighed and shook his head. It's not his concern for now. Now he needs to... rest? Yes. It would be good to sleep, the scorching sun, although the knight didn't want to admit it, had tired him out.
But instead of going to the bed, Tsukasa moved to the table, placing his travel bag on it next to him on the floor. Rummaging through the drawers, he found a clean sheet of paper and a quill with ink, what luck. Having cleared the place of unnecessary items, the blond sat down on a chair, dipped the quill in ink and began to write concentratedly.
"Dear Saki,"