A Bug In Fate

An hour had already passed since Alden and his new companion started travelling together.

If the hundreds of meters between them could even be called travelling together.

No matter how many times Alden sped up to close the distance, Vish would somehow end up farther ahead again a few moments later.

"It’s beautiful."

Alden’s voice carried a hint of amazement as he looked around. The road was wide enough for carriages, with old wheel tracks still visible in places. Stone barriers lined the edge of the mountain path, as if someone had carved the road directly into the mountainside. Compared to the forest, the trees here were much smaller.

Above them, two moons hung in the sky alongside the sun. One glowed crimson, while the other shone with a deep blue light, giving the sky an almost mystical appearance.

"You sound like a countryside bumpkin."

Vish glanced back at him for a brief moment before looking ahead again. Her voice remained as flat as ever.

"Well, it’d be a lie if I said this wasn’t my first time seeing something like this. Besides, beautiful things don’t lose their beauty just because you’ve seen them more than once."

Alden quickened his pace, trying to catch up.

"Even your favourite food becomes boring if you eat it every day."

"It depends," Alden replied immediately. "Memories matter. If something has enough value to you—"

"Shut up before I leave you behind."

Alden closed his mouth.

Sometimes, knowing when to stop talking was the wiser choice.

"Okay."

He picked up his pace again, only to watch Vish increase hers as well.

After a while, she finally spoke.

"So, what were you doing in the forest?"

"I was training there and lost my way back."

Alden lied without the slightest hesitation.

Vish remained silent for a few seconds.

"It’s rare for anyone to train in that forest. Very few people willingly enter it."

"Why? Is it really that dangerous?"

"Yes and no."

Alden looked at her.

"How?"

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

"You really are clueless, aren’t you?"

It wasn’t the first time she’d noticed how little Alden knew about the world around him. Still, she had no intention of asking questions. It wasn’t her business.

"The forest isn’t dangerous for those with enough strength and knowledge. To them, it’s little more than a walk in the park."

She paused before continuing.

"But for newly awakened cultivators and weaker people, it’s practically a death zone. Poisonous plants grow everywhere. If your senses aren’t sharp enough, you’ll die before you even realise you’ve been poisoned."

Alden winced.

"Right... there really were poisonous mushrooms everywhere."

He suddenly remembered eating one without thinking, only to realise later that it was poisonous.

"Even so, you’re only at the Advanced Awakened Realm, yet you can kill monsters a rank above you."

Vish glanced at him before looking ahead again.

"Is that unusual?" Alden asked, unable to hide the expectation in his voice. "Does that mean I’m a genius?"

"Yes and no."

His smile froze.

"What does that mean?"

The road stretched on in silence.

They passed a quiet pond beside the mountain road. The remains of an old campfire rested near the shore, likely left behind by travelers. Birds occasionally flew overhead, their chirping the only sound besides their footsteps.

Vish turned onto another path without slowing down. Alden followed a few steps behind.

"You’re asking a lot of questions."

"We’ve got nothing better to do," Alden replied. "Besides, I’m not forcing you to answer."

Vish didn’t respond immediately.

"So?" Alden asked. "What did you mean?"

After a few moments, she finally spoke.

"Yes, you’re a genius."

Alden’s eyes lit up.

"But you’re not the only one."

His smile faded slightly.

"You can fight monsters at the Peak Awakened Realm despite only being in the Advanced Awakened Realm. I’ve watched you fight for the past hour. Your battle sense is good. You don’t panic when surrounded, and your swordsmanship..."

She paused for a moment.

"It’s basic, but you’ve mastered those basics well."

Alden slowed to a stop.

She figured all of that out just by watching him fight?

For a moment, he wondered whether all powerful people could judge someone so accurately. Then again, Vish was clearly far stronger than him. Maybe this wasn’t unusual for someone at her level.

After thinking it over, Alden reached the conclusion he cared about most.

"So... in other words, I’m a genius."

"You really only heard that part?"

Alden ignored the question.

"Then why did you say no?"

He hurried forward again until the distance between them shrank once more.

"I said no because you’re not the only one capable of doing it."

"...Ah."

Realisation dawned on him.

He had been comparing himself only to the people he’d met so far, and that wasn’t exactly a large sample.

"For ordinary people, you can be considered a genius," Vish continued. "But among the true elites of this world, there are countless people who can fight opponents stronger than themselves."

She didn’t even look back as she spoke.

"In the grand scheme of things, it isn’t that special."

"But I’m still a genius, aren’t I?"

Vish fell silent for a second before answering.

"Yes."

Alden grinned.

"But there are countless geniuses. Being one doesn’t guarantee anything."

"I don’t see that as a bad thing."

That finally made Vish glance back.

"In my opinion, a person who saves a lost dog and a warrior who saves an entire village are both heroes. The only difference is how many people they save. Their worth shouldn’t be decided by numbers."

For the first time in a while, Vish didn’t answer immediately.

"You can think whatever you want," she said at last. "I won’t say your logic is wrong."

She looked ahead again.

"But you’re strangely positive."

A small smile appeared on Alden’s face.

"Isn’t being positive supposed to be a good thing?"

"Not in the way you are."

"What does that mean?"

"It means..." Vish searched for the right words before giving up.

"You’re not a normal person."

Alden chuckled.

"What defines normal? Everyone’s different. If every person is unique, then doesn’t that make being unique normal?"

Vish stared at him for a brief moment.

"...You’re exhausting."

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

"You shouldn’t."

After another minute of walking, Alden spoke again.

"By the way..."

"What?"

"Why do you always speed up whenever I get close to you?"

"I prefer it this way."

"But I don’t."

He muttered the words under his breath.

Unfortunately, Vish heard them anyway.

"Beggars can’t be choosers."

"...Fair enough."

Alden scratched his cheek.

"But for someone as strong as you, isn’t that a little childish? Are you sure—"

"You have guests."

Her voice cut him off.

Alden frowned.

"Guests?"

His eyes swept across the quiet road.

There was no one in sight.

"I advise you to quiet, remain quiet " Vish said calmly. "And prepare to welcome them."

Alden’s steps came to an abrupt halt.

Guests...?

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