"You are making a mistake," Kaizen said, trying to steady his voice though fear already gripped his chest. "You're attacking a Legate's Knight. Are you trying to break the alliance between the two empires?"

He raised his katana with both hands, his aura flaring as if that would somehow stop the chill crawling down his spine.

Vaenyra didn't even blink. Her emerald eyes stayed cold, her voice calm yet sharp.

"The alliance means nothing to us. The Mage Emperor's affairs aren't mine to follow."

She began walking toward him, step by step. Each movement was soundless and graceful, yet terrifying.

Kaizen could finally feel it clearly now, the pressure, the mana, the unbearable weight that crushed the air around her.

'Magic Circle… Seven?!' His mind screamed. That was equal to a Knight Four. Someone who could easily crush him.

In panic, he turned toward Lumberling. "You're doing all this… for him? You'd risk the Legate's wrath for that man?"

Vaenyra's gaze flicked toward him, the faintest shimmer of light forming at her blade's tip.

"Your Legate, your men. Every one of you… will die," she said quietly. "Because the one you dared to touch…"

Her voice grew cold as frost.

"…is our man."

"You mean that weakling?" Kaizen sneered, trying to force out a laugh.

That was the last thing he managed to say.

In the next instant, his world flipped.

The sound of air splitting echoed once.

'Huh? What happened?' was his final thought before everything turned black.

His headless body fell to the dirt with a dull thud, his katana still clutched in his lifeless hands.

Vaenyra stood behind him, sword drawn, the air still trembling where she had moved. No one even saw her step. It was as if she had vanished and reappeared behind him in the blink of an eye.

With a soft motion, she flicked her sword to the side, scattering a faint trail of blood before sheathing it.

Lumberling, still struggling to stand, watched in disbelief.

'What in the world…? She's gotten even stronger,' he thought, eyes widening in awe.

"Lady Vaenyra," Aurelya sighed, clicking her tongue as her eyes drifted to the headless corpse on the ground. "Why'd you kill him so fast? We could've at least made him scream a little first."

Her tone was playful, but the faint edge in her voice made it clear she wasn't joking entirely. Thessalia stayed quiet, though the small frown on her face said she agreed.

Vaenyra kept her calm expression, her blade still faintly glowing from mana. "I couldn't stand the way he spoke… or the way he looked at him," she said coldly, her eyes flicking toward Lumberling. "My blade just moved on its own. I didn't think he'd fall apart that easily."

Aurelya let out a long sigh and crossed her arms. "You really need to work on that temper of yours," she muttered.

Thessalia stepped closer, her tone quiet but firm. "Next time, let us handle it, Lady Vaenyra. You always lose your cool when it comes to him."

Vaenyra didn't argue. She simply turned her gaze aside, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"Oh, right, Lumberling!" Aurelya suddenly exclaimed, realizing his state. She rushed to his side, dropping to her knees. "You're bleeding all over! Healers, now!"

Four elves appeared from behind her, their robes fluttering as they knelt beside him. Soft light began to glow from their palms, golden and warm.

Aurelya reached out, taking Lumberling's hand carefully. Her golden eyes shimmered with worry. "Hey… are you okay?"

Lumberling forced a small smile, his voice hoarse. "Still alive," he muttered, only to cough up a bit of blood right after.

"Don't joke like that!" Aurelya snapped, her usual teasing tone replaced with panic. "Hurry up! Heal him faster!" she barked at the healers.

They nodded quickly, pressing their glowing hands closer. The golden light brightened, washing over his wounds. The warmth seeped deep into his skin, easing the pain little by little as the gashes along his chest and side began to close.

Thessalia and Vaenyra stepped closer, their eyes softening as they watched him breathe easier.

After a few moments, Lumberling let out a tired laugh. "This isn't too bad," he said with a faint grin. "Being surrounded by three beauties while healing… I could get used to this."

"Behave!" Aurelya snapped, her cheeks puffing as she glared at him. "You almost died, and that's what you're thinking about?"

Thessalia let out a quiet sigh, shaking her head. Even Vaenyra's lips curved slightly, a faint, almost hidden smile that softened her usual cold expression.

…..

The warm light around Lumberling began to fade as the healers finished their work. His breathing steadied, the pain dulling into something bearable. Slowly, he lifted a hand to his chest, feeling the smooth skin where deep wounds had been just moments ago.

"Looks like they did a good job," he murmured, giving Aurelya a small nod of thanks before bracing his arms against the ground. With a low grunt, he pushed himself upright. His muscles protested, stiff and heavy, but he managed to stand.

The elves moved to help, but he waved them off with a faint smile. He rolled his shoulders, testing his strength. The worst of it had passed yet the ache remained.

As he exhaled, his eyes drifted past the three women and settled on Kaizen's body lying a few steps away.

'So he died just like that? Shame… I was hoping to absorb his essence,' he thought with a hint of regret.

He exhaled, brushing dirt from his armor before turning to the three women watching him. Despite the pain, he managed a grin. "Thanks for saving me," he said, his tone light but sincere.

Vaenyra met his eyes, her usual coldness melting into something softer. "You've grown stronger," she said quietly, her voice carrying both pride and relief.

"Not strong enough to match you," Lumberling replied, chuckling under his breath.

Vaenyra's lips curved slightly, the faintest trace of a smile tugging at them. It wasn't much, but for her, it said everything. Thessalia and Aurelya exchanged a look, one calm and knowing, the other bright and warm, both understanding more than words could say.

For a moment, the world around them seemed to pause. The clash of steel and the stench of blood felt far away. In their place was a calm warmth, the kind that only came when familiar souls reunited after too long apart.

Then Thessalia stepped forward first. Her expression stayed composed, but the way she reached out told another story. She wrapped her arms around him, resting her forehead lightly against his chest.

"You scared us," she murmured.

Before Lumberling could respond, Vaenyra moved closer too, silent as ever, resting her head on his shoulder. Her touch was gentle but steady, a quiet promise more than a gesture.

Aurelya, of course, refused to be left out. With a playful grin that barely hid her relief, She threw her arms around his other side, pulling him close. "Don't think this gets you off the hook," she said with a small huff. "You're still getting an earful later."

Lumberling blinked, caught between surprise and warmth. For a heartbeat, he simply stood there, then he smiled. Slowly, he lifted his arms and drew them all in, holding the three of them close.

Their warmth pressed against him, soft and comforting. For someone who had lived too long in blood, it almost felt unreal.

'This really isn't so bad,' he thought, a quiet laugh slipping past his lips as he pulled them even closer.

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