NOVEL'S EXTRA: I Will Die at the Peak-Chapter 62: Toward the forest (2)

Ravien had stepped outside the castle.

The sky was ablaze with a blend of warm hues—orange, crimson-tinted, and pale white-yellow light woven together in a celestial tapestry.

One of the twin suns had already dipped toward the horizon, while the other still shimmered in the upper layers of the sky.

Beside them, two moons had begun to rise—one a faint green, the other nearly milky white.

As Ravien crossed the stone courtyard, Asogi and Juuhra silently followed behind him.

The three of them were together, yet it felt as if they had come from entirely different worlds.

On the side of the castle, Haldvir was cleaning the large ground-floor windows, carefully balanced on the top step of a ladder. Just below him, XZ was wiping the frame of the pane beneath.

Before leaving, Ravien had wanted to inform Jiho. When his gaze caught Haldvir, he called out directly:

"Hey, Haldvir! Come over here."

The call was sudden and unexpected. Haldvir flinched at the sharp voice. He recognized it—it was familiar, yet it still sent chills down his spine.

"That... That’s Master Ravien’s voice."

Dropping the cloth, he turned around quickly. But the moment he did, his heart skipped a beat. Standing just behind Ravien

was a creature that towered over any man. Nearly two and a half meters tall, it radiated an aura—crushing, indescribably heavy.

Haldvir’s first instinct was to step back. But he resisted. He tried not to look away, suppressing the flood of thoughts swirling in his head.

"Alright... Haldvir, stay calm. This is just another one of Master Ravien’s creations."

But that thought wasn’t enough to calm him.

A weight began to settle in his chest, as though a dark void had replaced his internal organs.

Juuhra’s presence seemed to drain not only the surrounding light but also any sense of hope. He didn’t move, didn’t speak—but even looking at him was difficult.

Slowly, a heavy thought crept into Haldvir’s mind:

"Why does this suffocating feeling grow stronger the closer I get? It’s like... nothing matters anymore."

This was Juuhra’s presence.

Not his capacity, not his aura.

This was something else entirely—a presence that couldn’t be put into words.

There were fewer than ten steps between Haldvir and Ravien now, yet he couldn’t move forward. His feet felt anchored to the ground.

He bowed his head slightly, eyes dropping to the stone beneath him. One hand rested on his waist, the other clutched tightly to the edge of the cloth he had been holding moments earlier.

His throat was dry. He swallowed before speaking, but his voice still didn’t fully open. When the words left his mouth, there was a faint tremor in his tone.

"M-Master... Did you need something?"

Ravien responded with a brief glance. His shoulders were relaxed, posture perfectly straight. Without taking his eyes off Haldvir, he spoke:

"If you see Jiho, tell him I’ll be out for a while."

As soon as the words left his lips, he turned his head and resumed walking—without the slightest change in his expression.

Asogi moved right after him, quickening his

small steps to walk beside Ravien once again.

Juuhra walked last, moving a few seconds later than the others.

Without turning his head, he avoided everyone’s gaze.

After the three of them walked away, Haldvir let out a deep breath.

Not through his nose, but straight from his mouth, a suppressed exhale of relief:

"Shhhhhaaaaaa..."

He stood still for a moment. Then, slowly, he crouched down, resting his arms on his knees. Tilting his head back, he looked up at the sky. His eyes narrowed.

There was no shock or anger on his face—only exhaustion.

He spoke in a murmur, his voice low enough that only he could hear it:

"Just like Master Jiho said... I don’t question strange things. But this place... it gets weirder by the day. And more... dangerous."

After a short pause, he rolled his eyes slightly, and his shoulders drooped.

"If I keep staying here, I might die someday. But there’s nothing I can do. This place... it’s kind of like home now."

Just then, he felt a touch on his shoulder. He turned his head on reflex.

It was XZ.

Standing silently beside him with that emotionless face.

Dressed in a dark suit.

His presence wasn’t unsettling.

Seeing him, Haldvir gave a faint smile.

"At least you... you understand me."

He sank down a little more, one hand resting on the ground. XZ had stepped in front of the sun, casting a clean, even shadow over Haldvir. Without lifting his head, he continued:

"Thanks. You know... maybe you really are the only friend I’ve got in this whole place."

XZ didn’t say anything, but nodded slightly. As if he understood.

Maybe he really did.

The two of them remained in that moment.

Their state, their place in the world...

—for now, it was enough.

Ravien walked over to the empty caravan outside the castle.

The horses, lined up in the shade of the wooden wheels, stood completely still.

A small portion of fresh greens had been placed in front of each one.

He realized it was Jiho who had arranged them so neatly.

As he approached the caravan, he gave the horses a brief look. His eyes lingered on their posture, the rhythm of their breathing, and their motionless muscles.

"The forest is far," he thought. "If we head out with one of these horses... it’ll take maybe half an hour, a little more. Walking there would be pointless."

One of them caught his attention.

It was slimmer than the others, but held its head high.

Its coat was a dark grey, almost black; its eyes subtly defined.

It made no sound—didn’t snort, didn’t twitch.

Ravien stepped forward, heading straight for it.

Tilting his head slightly, he observed the animal closely.

His gaze traced from the neck down to the ankles, then back up.

He reached out his hand—stopping just before his fingertips touched its neck. He stared for a few seconds longer, just short of contact.

"This one will do."