Savage Forest - Chapter 122.2

Even with her limited medical knowledge, she knew this. Even if Old Lady Piache were here, the outcome would be the same.

Enya trembled in despair.

As she quietly bowed her head in front of Senu, his faint voice reached her ears. She lifted her gaze, startled. Then, after bracing herself, she hurriedly leaned in closer to hear what he was saying.

“Enya…”

Senu called her name again.

Enya was at a loss for words. Seeing his trembling fingers, she grasped his hand tightly. If it had been the usual Senu, he would’ve pushed her away for touching his bare skin, but now he seemed too weak to do so. His eyes blinked slowly in the dim light.

Finally, Enya spoke first. Unsure of what else to say, she started by apologizing.

“Senu, it should have been Silanda instead of me… I’m so sorry.”

Her voice trembled as it came out.

Senu replied immediately.

“No, Enya.”

His raspy voice echoed softly in the cave.

“…I was actually relieved it was you.”

Enya buried her face in Senu’s hand.

At that moment, she didn’t care about his illness. As Senu opened his mouth again, he began to speak without much coherence, his breathing irregular and shaky.

“…I knew it wouldn’t work. Convincing my mother, hooh… that was the challenge.”

He was referring to Servia.

Outside, the rain continued to pour.

“Still, I’m glad I got to see you in the end…”

Enya couldn’t find the words to respond to that.

Senu closed his eyes and muttered.

“I did my best, Enya.”

Those words made Enya struggle to control her emotions, her breathing becoming slightly labored. An overwhelming feeling surged through her yet she quickly nodded, gripping his hand tighter.

“Yes, yes. I know, Senu. You did your best.”

Senu fell silent again.

After a brief moment, he finally spoke up.

“Don’t worry about the lepers… Enya. I know what you’re thinking. But please, huh… trust me. The people there are all strong-willed individuals. You don’t need to take on all the responsibility. Just help them a little, please. It’s my last… request.”

Enya nodded without hesitation.

She barely managed to reply.

“Yes, I will. Senu. I promise.”

“…Thank you.”

Silence fell again.

Feeling anxious, she leaned in closer to Senu’s mouth.

He was still breathing slowly.

Enya continued to wipe his lips and chest with the damp fabric of his clothes. The clothes were already soaked, so it was useless, but there was nothing else she could do for him in this situation.

After a little while, Senu muttered.

His voice was hoarse.

“What worries me is… if I leave like this, Silanda will be very angry.”

Enya winced at the mention of Silanda’s name. She couldn’t speak, thinking of Silanda, who must be searching for Senu somewhere near the vast rock.

Senu struggled to continue speaking.

“….and Silanda. Bringing those two young people out was, ugh, quite a reckless decision, though I went ahead with it. I wanted to show them, the two of them who are completely healed, what life is like outside. It was my selfish desire.”

Senu smiled. His voice had become so faint that it was hard to hear without focusing.

He exhaled with difficulty.

“…Silanda is a very smart person. She’ll be very worried about me, but… in the end, everything will be okay. If anyone can overcome this, it’s her. Ugh, please be sure to tell her that.”

Hearing his words, which felt like a last will, made Enya’s heart sink.

“Senu, it’s not over yet. Don’t give up hope. You can do this.”

She felt Senu faintly smile at her words.

“I understand, Enya.”

Knowing that he had responded to reassure her, Enya couldn’t continue speaking.

“Enya, I have one last favor to ask. Will you listen…?”

Suddenly, Senu spoke very politely.

Enya nodded quickly.

Senu gestured toward his leg, where he had been injured.

“There should be an anklet, ugh… on my right foot. I’m sorry, but could you give it to Silanda?”

Enya’s eyes widened as she spotted the anklet on his right foot, which he had pointed out, and she carefully removed it.

It was an incredibly luxurious piece of jewelry.

As she pondered why he had such a thing, he muttered.

“It belongs to my mother. When she pushed me into the leper cave, ugh, she left this behind.”

Senu spoke in a dreamy tone.

“It’s an anklet she received from Kahanti when she gave birth to my younger sibling. She treasured it like her life, ugh. I thought about it a lot. Why did she leave this behind? Was it a mistake? She’s not the kind of person who would do that. So, why…?”

Senu’s voice trembled as he continued.

“Did she abandon her heart… when she discarded this anklet along with me? Every time I saw the anklet, I felt so angry. Angry at my mother, angry at my life. I couldn’t control it. Once, I even tried to get rid of it. I thought about melting it down so there would be no trace left, but I couldn’t do it. So, I left the anklet untouched for a long time. Deep down, in a place only I knew… I hid it away and never looked at it.”

Enya couldn’t fully understand Senu but nodded vigorously.