My Wife Waited in the Wheat Fields

Chapter 35: Memories (3)

PR: Cursed

It had been that day.

The day when they had stepped out from the tent, hearing the busy voices of the servants searching for them.

And it was that day that she and Elric had headed to the back hills to avoid them.

Today, well go on a demon hunt! Any knight worth their salt should be able to capture a monster in the blink of an eye!

C-Captain My mom said that monsters are dangerous though

Idiot, being a knight is inherently perilous!

Thats true, but

Bart stammered, but Elric didnt budge.

So was the atmosphere around him.

Youre the boss! Of course you think differently than we do!

Thats so cool! I admire you!

Waaaaaah!!!

If she could go back to that day, Tyria would have sent Elric home after the very dry ride up the hill.

After all, Elrics encounter with the beast that day had left him with an unhealable scar.

But eight-year-old Tyria knew none of that.

The Wyvern Familys educational program hadnt taught her about the dangers of monsters.

It didnt teach her that she shouldnt go to the back mountains, and it certainly didnt teach her what to do if she did encounter a monster.

This was not part of aristocratic etiquette.

After all, how often was it that a nobleman would come face to face with a demon?

As such, Tyria was purely happy to be with Elric that day.

When are we going?

She had asked with a hint of impatience.

If they didnt get to the hills soon, people from their families would find them.

They needed to get to the mountains before this happened.

It could have been called a lovers escapade.

Well, Elric had said that he wouldnt marry her, but it didnt matter to Tyria.

What mattered was that she wanted to.

As her parents had said, a nobleman is one who has everything they want under their feet, and it hadnt occurred to her that Elrics wishes mattered.

Thus, Tyrias hand firmly held onto Elrics sleeve.

But, Elric hadnt really bothered with the mornings affairs.

Ugly boy, youre excited too, arent you?

Elric chuckled.

Tyria only smirked at the word ugly.

Good, then lets get going!

Waaaaaah! the children shouted, as Elric raised his wooden sword above his head.

And with that, Tyria started climbing the hills behind the town.

Split up here, and shout when you find a monster!

Elric said, as the children scattered from the mouth of the mountain.

But Tyria stayed with Elric.

Come on, lets go.

Yeah.

The mountain behind the town was not a gentle place.

The paths were unmaintained and unused by anyone other than herbalists, and as such, stones and tree roots often blocked their path.

As a result, Tyria had difficulty climbing.

With a swollen calf from being hit by corporal punishments, it was hard for her to walk up the rugged mountain.

Of course, she didnt show it.

She feared that Elric might abandon her if she interfered with the search for the demon.

But,

Ughhh!

Her body was more honest than her mind, and she groaned.

Whats wrong, Ugly?

Tyria shook her head at Elrics inquiring question.

However, Elric was more perceptive than she realized.

Sensing that something wasnt right, Elric closed the distance between them and lifted her ankle-length skirt to check her calves.

As soon as he saw the blue/yellow calves, he bristled.

What is this, are you hurt?

Tyria felt her heart drop.

Worry filled her, as she wondered if the angry Elric would tell her to go home.

No

No?!

Tyrias body shuddered.

It was at that moment.

If youre sick, you should have told me! You little shit, come here! Ill even treat that ugly face of yours!

In a flash, Elric scooped Tyria up and carried her on his back.

Tyria opened her eyes as wide as a rabbits in surprise.

Her mind couldnt process the situation, as the opposite of what she had expected was happening.

Tyria blurted out.

Arent you going to throw me away?

Why would I abandon you? A knight doesnt abandon his comrades.

Am I a comrade?

Then are you an enemy? I told you, youre our medic.

Though now she was the wounded soldier.

With that muttered, Elric snorted, and carried Tyria up the mountain.

Snow crunched under his foot.

Elric grumbled, and the wind was cold.

Still, Tyria felt a strange warmth that made her feel hotter than ever.

So she grinned like a fool again.

Hehe

Indeed, no matter how much she thought about it

I like you.

Well, I dont.

Im going to marry you.

But I dont want to?

Tyria threw her arms around Elrics neck.

Elric grumbled, but he didnt shake her off.

Despite her calves and face hurting, she felt warm, and so Tyria happily started swinging her legs.

Hold still! said Elric, and when she didnt stop, he just sighed heavily.

If you want to marry me, youre going to have to be pretty.

Okay.

You have to have good hair, and you have to be able to have lots of kids.

Huh?

Because Im going to create an Elric Knight Order. Im going to need ten of them, so I need you to be strong. Aldio says that strong women bear children well.

Elric only added color to Tyrias dreamy future.

A sunny, picturesque house, a grown-up Elric and herself, children huddled all around them.

It was so nice.

Tyria felt her heart swell with excitement for a future that seemed like a dream.

Im not going to hit the kids.

Isnt that obvious?

Ill hug them every day.

Silly, you cant hug them every day.

Ill still hug them, and I wont criticize them if they eat badly.

Thats nice.

In the midst of their conversation, Elric had stopped.

Theyd arrived at a place with tall grass that covered an area only as big as a palm.

Sit here.

With that, Elric sat Tyria down on a rock and began plucking and gathering blades of grass.

What are you doing?

These are all herbs, and are good for wounds.

Elric replied nonchalantly, tearing the gathered herbs apart with a rock and dabbing them on Tyrias calf.

Ouch

Suck it up, you fool.

It stung too much for her to bear.

Still, Tyria endured.

It was a good thing that Elric was doing it himself.

Soon enough, her calf was green with leaves, and Elric tore off the sleeve of his shirt and wrapped it around her calf.

There!

He said with pride, and Tyria looked at him curiously.

How do you know all this stuff?

Ive been studying. Youre a medic and you dont know this stuff?

Or course I wouldnt know.

If you dont know, then study!

Elric grinned.

If you want to marry me, you should at least know how to grow your own herbs!

Tyria smiled back at him dismissively.

Yeah.

Then lets go. Geez, youre too much of an ugly person anyway.

Elric picked Tyria up again.

And their walk continued.

He would not know.

That, because of their conversation on this day

she had begun to study plants.

And how eventually, this initial studying had turned into a hobby called gardening.

That it was still something Tyria thought about.

Gaaah!!!

If only she hadnt followed him to the back mountains that day,

Grrrr

His earlobe would have been left unscathed.

She wasnt sure exactly at what point it happened.

What she did remember was that she had been riding on Elrics back, babbling dreamily, when suddenly, everything around them had turned eerie.

At one point, even the sounds of the mountain birds had faded. As silence swept through the space, it was then that it appeared.

Grrrr

Its jet-black body was tense.

Its jet-black eyes stirred an instinctive fear, and its gaping, drooling mouth was filled with fangs.

It reeked of rancidity, and it had an unpleasant, disgusting, fetid odor.

Grrrr!

Tyria had screamed the moment they met.

Gahhhhh!!!

She flailed around in a daze and had fallen off of Elrics back.

The moment her butt landed with a thud, the beasts front paws twitched slightly.

Whoosh!

It was an unbelievable sight.

Barely being able to raise her head, Tyria could see blood gushing from the nape of Elrics neck.

The sight of the crimson liquid dripping onto the white, snowy mountain was unreal.

The contrast of colors was stark, and the foul scent was sickening.

Uhm.

Tyrias mind had blanked.

It was at that moment.

Run.

Elric had said.

His head jerked back, his urgency apparent in his eyes.

You run first!

He raised his wooden sword.

Whilst his other hand was pressed firmly to the nape of his neck.

Run away?

To where?

To whom?

You?

As the questions swirled through her mind, Elric shouted again.

Go!!!

Her legs shook.

Tyria couldnt stand up.

Tears filled her eyes and her teeth clattered together.

Elric bit his lip.

Ugh!

Steadying himself, Elric faced the beast head-on.

The beasts eyes widened as it let out a space shattering cry.

Only then did Tyria see.

Elrics legs had been shaking.

He was just as frightened as she was.

But he wasnt running away.

Its all because of me.

Tyria felt her insides burning.

Come at me!!!

Elric ran at the beast.

The last thing Tyria could vividly remember was a burst of crimson smoke coming out of him.

Crash!

Elric had bounced off the beasts front foot and collided with Tyria.

Their bodies had started tumbling down the mountain.

Even in the midst of it all, Tyria held onto Elric tightly

Whilst the demon followed, stalking towards them at a leisurely pace.

Finally, with a thud, they slammed into a tree stump, pain shooting through their bodies.

It was at that moment that she realized that Elric had passed out.

It was at the same time that the demons shadow had fallen over Tyrias body.

But it was one step too late.

Found you.

A low voice had said.

Shlick!

The beast had split in half lengthwise.

In her fading vision, Tyria had seen only a blur.

A grown man, dressed in a leather robe made of haphazardly woven animal skins, walking away with a knocked out Elric slung over his shoulder.

Crunch, Crunch

The sound of crunching snow faded into the distance, as Tyria blacked out.