Pale morning sunlight was finding it hard to penetrate the thick canopy of the Great Desolate Forest, warm rays entombed under gigantic trees and constant mist.
Su Vaen stood outside his small hut, leaning forward at an angle while he listened for sounds of the forest.
The rhythm of nature never changed—calm, rhythmic, reassuring. Yet something was not quite right.
Then it came. The faint noise of hastened footsteps, light but determined, bearing down on his outpost from a distance. A guest.
Su Vaen sighed. Three months had gone by since he had last left this place, three months of loneliness with no break.
He did not expect anyone, and yet, the reason for the visitor was clear.
A shout broke the usual silence.
"Young Master Vaen! The Clan Leader has summoned you!"
---
The Su Clan seldom called him. His voluntary exile had pushed him to the back of everyone's mind. So why now?
Su Vaen lagged behind the messenger, by memory and by sense rather than sight. It was not very far, yet strange to walk again the familiar streets of Su Clan town.
He could hear the whispers, the murmurs of people who still recalled his name.
He ignored them, though.
When he arrived at the clan leader's hall, he entered feeling the alteration in the atmosphere immediately. Two unknown presences stood in the center of the grand hall, their presence itself exercising a pressure that few could ignore.
"Su Vaen," the voice of the Clan Leader, his grandfather, came from the elevated chair. "You have been chosen for a mission of importance."
He remained silent, looking for further elucidation.
"This is His Highness, Prince Xinyue Xian, and Her Highness, Princess Xinyue Mei."
The sole prince and princess of the Imperial Family.
Though he was blind, Su Vaen could sense their presence. The young prince's aura was calm but authoritative, while that of the princess was gentle in beauty, yet beneath it he could feel a contained sharpness.
"They will be in the Great Desolate Forest for weeks—for fresh air and monster hunting," the Clan Leader continued. "You will be their personal bodyguard."
Su Vaen's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
It was an unconventional selection. The Su Clan had more powerful, more capable warriors. Why send him?
The Clan Leader anticipated his bewilderment. "You have been isolated for three years. You do not concern yourself with the business of the clan. Do what you are ordered to do?"
The clan leader then faced the royals and said,
"Your Highness, this is Su Vaen, blinded by an unfortunate accident. But, he is the sharpest forest guard we have. He resides in the deepest forest outpost alone. Guarding the people of our region for more than one and half a year. A perfect man as you requested. Though young but he resides in the deepest point of the forest where a human should ever reach."
That is, they needed someone who would not question. Someone removed enough to not be a threat to the seclusion of the Imperial Family.
A soft chuckle came from the princess. "I guess I'm going to have a fun guard."
Su Vaen didn't alter his expression, merely bowing in agreement.
And so, with no other choice, his new path was set.
The journey back was unusual. Though he walked along the same paths, this time he was not alone.
The presence of royalty and servants rendered the once familiar forest alien.
None of them talked with him. He was merely guiding the path. Although, he could sense that the princess wanted to talk to him. But, it seems that she was hesitating because of the prince.
When they arrived, Su Vaen halted in astonishment.
Two more camps had been erected near his outpost, far more extravagant than the simple shelter he called home.
The contrast was almost laughable—his worn-down hut beside the finely constructed lodgings meant for the prince and princess.
"You're surprised?" Prince Xian's voice was neutral, with a hint of amusement.
"No," Su Vaen replied evenly. "Just realizing how out of place my hut might look now, Your Highness."
The princess smiled gently. "You must take it as an improvement on your quarters."
Su Vaen said nothing. He was a humble guard, nothing more. Their time here was temporary, and he had no desire to become involved any further than he needed to.
The servants started making dinner for the prince and princess.
Su Vaen also started making his own dinner further away from the outpost.
Roasted Green Rabbit made from green rabbit which is common in the outskirts of the forest.
He bought it while the imperial prince and princess were having their little chat at the corner of the bazaar with someone.
More appropriately, someone gave him. A follower of his mother. Once.
While he was having his dinner, he heard a rustle in the quiet forest. He smelled the scent of the imperial prince, unique to his own.
"Your Highness, where are you here?"
Su Vaen stood up.
The Imperial prince definitely stunned by the fact that Su Vaen was able to recognize him. But, then recovered.
"Oh! That's a surprise. How did you do that? It seemed I underestimated you."
Prince Xia'n expressed his wonder.
"Instinct of a blind man, Your Highness." Su Vaen replied.
"I came to see where our guide went. Come to us after we have our dinner. My sister wants to listen to some stories about and from your locality. Tomorrow, give us a guide to the area. Hope you won't disappoint me."
Saying this the Imperial Prince vanished. Su Vaen could feel. The cultivation of the Prince Xian is at the Foundation Establishment Realm. Definitely, near stage 5.