Henwell has no idea that Kavize is still alive.
The intense battle and the low visibility on a snowy night have made him overlook many things.
For instance, Kavize is an exceptionally skilled ranger; it's unlikely he'd skip finishing off an enemy just to chat with Henwell.
Moreover, Kavize knows precisely where each of his arrows hit the enemies, and he wouldn't forget that one rider wasn't struck in a vital spot.
Most importantly, the surviving cavalryman had only one chance to attack.
It's improbable he'd aim at Henwell when Kavize was the more significant threat.
Killing Kavize would have been his only chance to survive.
So, Kavize intentionally intercepted the arrow before colliding with Henwell.
Everything was part of Kavize's plan to fake his death and leave Henwell behind.
As for why he chose this path, partly because he sees potential in Henwell, but more importantly, he has a mission. Henwell might just be the right choice for it.
Back to Henwell, he stumbles over a small hill in the dark and uses the wind direction to find his bearings again. He avoids the main road, opting for a side path.
Thankfully, he's not walking against the wind, which saves him quite a bit of effort. However, Henwell knows he must pick up the pace; otherwise, the increasing snowfall will make traveling even harder.
There is a silver lining, though. Nature is fair to all, and the cavalry pursuing him will also have to contend with the worsening weather.
As Henwell pushes forward swiftly, he spots someone lying by the roadside about a kilometer from Kavize's hideout. The person is still alive but is in the process of removing their clothing.
Henwell recognizes this as paradoxical undressing—a sign of hypothermia where the body's temperature regulation is failing, and hallucinations set in.
Without intervention, this person will soon freeze to death.
Though Henwell isn't keen on getting involved, as he passes by, he catches a glimpse of the person's face.
After a moment's hesitation, he decides to stop and restrain the delirious Knight Fabio.
Henwell's own protective talisman is gone, and in this weather, he needs to find a city to take refuge in, or he'll freeze to death in the wilderness.
Fabio, being somewhat familiar to him, might just be his ticket to a new talisman if he saves him.
With this in mind, Henwell uses his dagger to pierce Fabio's shoulder, targeting a nerve cluster that causes intense pain.
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The pain snaps Fabio back to consciousness, and Henwell quickly whispers, "Knight Fabio, put your clothes back on. Let's go. Just two hundred meters and we'll be safe."
In reality, they are nearly a kilometer away from the hideout.
But given Fabio's dire condition, Henwell knows that revealing the true distance might crush his will to continue.
The exhaustion and numbness from the cold are wearing down Fabio's resolve.
Hearing Henwell's words, Fabio's survival instincts kick in, and he instinctively follows the instructions.
"How much further? Are we there yet?"
"Almost there. We've covered half the distance."
"...I feel like we've gone more than two hundred meters. What kind of rescue are you talking about?"
"Trust me, Knight Fabio. This is a hideout prepared by Mr. Kavize. As a scouting ranger, he always has hideouts for when he's on a mission."
"Damn... I can't feel my legs. Are they broken?"
"They're fine. They can still carry you. See that big rock ahead? We're almost there, hang in there."
"Now we're at the rock. Where's the hideout?!"
"Right under that big tree behind the rock..."
Finally, when they are about three hundred meters from the hideout, Fabio can no longer hold on. Despite Henwell's encouragement, Fabio collapses and can't get back up.
With no other choice, Henwell places Fabio on his cloak, threading his sheathed longsword through the cloak's shoulder area to drag him along.
In the heavy snow, hauling a fully armored man for three hundred meters is a daunting task for Henwell, who is not yet eight years old. Despite his strength, honed by Kavize's training, he's still just a child.
Fortunately, the latter part of the path is a gentle slope, allowing them to slide down.
By the time Henwell clears away the debris to reveal the entrance to the cave, his inner layers are soaked through.
He can't afford to catch his breath outside, so he rushes in to light the pre-prepared campfire, then dashes back out.
He strips Fabio of his clothes and vigorously rubs snow over his body until it turns slightly red, then drags him into the cave.
After wrapping Fabio tightly in blankets, Henwell removes his own clothes and uses the warmed water to wipe away his sweat before changing into dry clothes he had stored there.
Once everything is done, Henwell sits by the fire, sipping hot soup, finally feeling alive again. After hastily eating some food, Henwell doesn't rest.
He steps out of the cave once more to ensure the debris won't let the firelight escape, then returns inside, satisfied.
The cave is well-prepared by Kavize, with two hidden vents for smoke ventilation, so there's no risk of suffocation here.
Watching the sparks dance in the campfire, Henwell frowns in thought. Should he kill Fabio now and offer his head to the allied forces as a gesture of allegiance?
No, that's not an option. The allies have likely captured several officers and nobles who might have seen him with Kavize.
If that happens, his new identity, crafted for survival, would be compromised, leaving him with no way to explain himself.
He can't afford to be caught between both the allied and enemy forces.
But if he doesn't seize this chance to defect to the allies, who knows when another opportunity will arise? He can't stay in enemy territory indefinitely.
Yet, Henwell is also worried—can the allies truly win this war?
If they lose, wouldn't he be making a choice as risky as electing the Trump in a presidential election?
Why isn't there a foolproof plan?
Henwell feels like one of those sparks, drifting helplessly with the air currents, destined to quietly extinguish.
Or could he land somewhere and ignite a new blaze?
His thoughts wander from his uncertain future to the well-being of his mother, brother, and sister, and whether his father is still alive.
Gradually, Henwell leans against the cave wall and falls into a deep sleep.
A few hours later, Henwell jolts awake, instinctively grasping the dagger by his side and immediately checking on Fabio across from him.
Fabio is still unconscious. Henwell checks to ensure he isn't feverish, then cautiously peeks outside. The snow has piled up a foot deep. It's still dark, likely around four in the morning.
Henwell adds more wood to the fire, stretches his stiff body, and finds a comfortable position to sleep again.