Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Chapter 1601

Still, as I saw Cari nearly every day—either she would come to the Inferno Guild to visit me, or I would go to the Pathfinders Guild to find her—I naturally still ran into Isaac from time to time.

Each time, he gave me such a resentful look, as though I had wronged him terribly.

Once, I could bear it no longer and asked him outright why he always glared at me. He said it was because I had spread rumours, saying he visited courtesan houses and other such places to look for women.

I was furious. He had behaved poorly, yet instead of reflecting on himself, he had the nerve to blame others. I had not spread any rumours. I had simply told the truth to my close friends. How was that gossip?

In my anger, I punched him and declared our friendship over.

Not long after that, Cari returned home to the capital. I thought, as before, she would stay for a month or so and come back. But this time, she stayed away far longer.

I went to the Pathfinders Guild to ask about her, but everyone kept their mouths shut. Not a single person would tell me a thing. In desperation, I planned to take Thia, Bun, and the others to the capital to find her.

But just before we left, Isaac came to stop us. For the first time, I saw a solemn, serious look on his face. He told us something had happened to Cari's family. Her father and brothers had died in battle, while her mother was gravely ill. Cari had to remain at home to care for her.

He said we were just children-barely in our teens-and knew nothing of how to handle matters of such weight. We would only cause trouble. Once things at

were settled,

heartbroken at

saw him. I had also met Cari's second brother, who was just as handsome as Kyle,

brothers. So, even if I had only met them briefly-or not at all—I felt as though I knew them well. They had been brave and noble men,

they had

have been

not gone to her What help could we possibly offer? All we could do was remain at Meadow Ridge and wait for news, as well as

after month. But not a

Eventually, we asked Isaac again. He said he didn't know either, but was certain

as before. He said it was because of the "rumours"-Sage Everett had

moment, he said Cari had gotten married. Next he claimed the marriage

seemed unreliable, and there was no certainty in any of it. I decided then that I would go to the

Thia and Rod, and just as we were about to pack, Sage Conrad arrived. He didn't say a word. He

face. It wasn't that anything about him seemed overtly terrifying he had no more eyes, ears, or nose than any other- but something about his expression made one

on me and said, "You're old

martial arts world. If you go, you will

why martial artists like us couldn't have contact with