Skanner bared his yellowed teeth in a grin, and Sarah’s brow tightened.

Walter—he must have been referring to the northern rebel leader who had used abilities during battle.

“So you didn’t die crushed under the ruins after all.”

Only then did Sarah realize that the explosion had been his trap.

Grinding her teeth, she quickly scanned her surroundings.

She and Kay had plunged deep into enemy lines; soldiers kept pouring in without pause. Kay was holding them off alone.

They needed to take down the commander in front of her—fast—if either of them wanted a chance to survive.

Sarah deflected Skanner’s blade and spun her body, striking again. But his sword met hers head-on.

Clang—!!

“For a woman, you handle a sword passably well.”

Skanner said that with a twisted grin, then suddenly released one hand and grabbed Sarah’s injured arm.

“Kh—!”

As his grip clamped down on her wound, a groan escaped her before she could stop it.

Watching her, Skanner’s lips curled.

“Sorry to say this, but I don’t fight with just one sword.”

The moment he spoke, a blade extended from the hand gripping her arm.

Crunch—!!

“Ah—!!”

The sword that shot out from his palm pierced straight through her arm. Blood dripped down her skin, and Skanner smiled in satisfaction.

But then he froze.

Because she was smiling too.

His expression stiffened as Sarah’s lips moved.

“Sorry, but I don’t fight with just one sword either.”

In an instant, the blood streaming down her arm formed the shape of a blade and it plunged straight into Skanner’s chest.

“Guh—!!”

Skanner’s eyes bulged, shock widening them.

He had never imagined she might be an Irregular.

Of course he hadn’t.

Any rebels who had seen her ability had died by her hand.

“A—an ability…!”

Skanner clutched his chest with a look of disbelief and collapsed.

Sarah’s blood-blade oxidized into the air the moment it pierced his heart.

“Serena!”

Kay rushed in and caught Sarah just as she swayed. Without their commander, the rebels were in chaos, and the Third Order used that opening to drive them out.

“Sister!”

Lucian ran over, supporting her free arm. When he saw the blood pouring down her injury, he tried to use his healing ability but Sarah grabbed his arm and shook her head.

There were too many eyes watching.

Just then, a horn sounded through the chaotic battlefield.

Across the horizon, hundreds of soldiers carrying the banner of the Asperian Empire appeared.

Deputy Commander Leonik let out a breath of relief.

“Finally.”

During the long night inside the fortress, he had seen a bird circling overhead. He had immediately noticed it was trained by human hands.

Assuming it was likely a carrier bird kept by the fortress, Leonik had tied a request for reinforcements to its leg—choosing to risk it on a desperate chance.

And that bird had flown straight toward the nearest city, Elbaren.

With the Elbaren city forces arriving—and with the rebels’ leader dead—the already panicked rebel army began scattering in all directions.

Seeing reliable reinforcement, the exhausted knights’ faces brightened with relief.

“It’s over!”

“We survived! We actually held out!”

Amid the rising shouts of joy, Hugo murmured in surprise.

“Unexpected. The Elbaren city guard rarely moves.”

Which was exactly why the imperial knights had come themselves.

Hearing this, Leonik’s lips curled into a sly smile.

“I expected that. So I… exaggerated a bit in the message.”

“What did you say?”

“That the rebels who captured Skadia Fortress would soon march on Elbaren.”

It had been speculation, but not entirely untrue. Skadia Fortress was practically the gateway to the city.

While the city forces and knights cleared out the remaining rebels, the man who appeared to be their commander approached.

Recognizing Kay at once, he bowed his head.

“I am Eric Tarenpol, commander of the Elbaren guard. Are you injured, sir…?”

Kay’s expression darkened as he looked at Sarah instead.

“See to the knights’ wounds before mine.”

Eric nodded immediately.

“I brought military physicians. I’ll order them to treat the most urgent injuries first.”

Soon after, the physicians who had come with the city guard began tending to the wounded knights—and to Sarah.

Only then did Kay allow himself to exhale, finally looking relieved. His face tightened again when he saw her receiving treatment for her arm.

Maybe he should have stopped her. But he soon shook his head.

She wasn’t the type to listen even if he had tried.

If she had been the type to retreat, she would have stepped back at his initial warning not to get involved in the first place.

While Kay continued staring at her for a long moment, the military physician treating Sarah finally spoke, almost reluctantly.

“Fortunately, the blade missed any major vessels. The injury isn’t severe.”

Whether that was something to be relieved about… Sarah wasn’t sure.

As Kay looked at her with a conflicted expression, Eric—the representative of the city guard—approached.

“Let’s return to Elbaren first. You should rest and receive proper treatment there.”

Kay nodded at the suggestion. They couldn’t linger in a collapsing fortress forever.

His gaze moved back to Sarah.

Thankfully, it seemed no one had noticed the ability she had used when taking down the enemy commander.

They had been deep inside enemy lines, and it had happened so quickly that no one else would have recognized it.

The thought eased him a little. Neither he nor anyone else could ever reveal her ability. Even if the emperor decided to blow up his mind, he would protect that secret.

** ❋❋❋ ❋❋❋**

When they arrived in the city of Elbaren, they were escorted to a luxurious inn.

As the city lord was away, they were accommodated there instead of at a manor, but no one complained.

They had no wish for another grand, ceremonial reception.

The lord’s absence also seemed to explain why the city guard had struggled to send reinforcements quickly.

At last, they were able to rest on soft beds and enjoy hearty inn food, which they hadn’t experienced in a long time.

Having made significant contributions once again, Sarah was given one of the inn’s special suites.

Only a day had passed since the battle, but the medicine was working well and her injury was healing quickly.

Even so, she still needed to keep it bandaged.

She tried to handle the bandage herself, but the wound was too high up her arm for her to reach it properly.

‘I should just ask Lucian.’

With that thought, she stood up and opened the door, only to find Kay standing right outside.

“Captain…?”

Kay froze, looking startled, as if he had been just about to knock.

“I… I came to ask if your arm was doing alright…”

He came… just for that?

The thought puzzled her for a moment. But she needed someone to rewrap her bandage anyway, so she hesitated before speaking.

“I was about to change the bandage… could you help me?”

The moment she said it, regret hit her like a wave.

‘Why did I ask him? I could’ve asked Lucian.’

But once spoken, the words couldn’t be taken back.

She hoped he might refuse, saying he was busy—but the reply she received was the complete opposite.

“Of course.”

And just like that, she had let him into her room.

An awkward silence fell between them as Sarah sat by the bed, with Kay beside her.

Unlike Sarah, who was stiff with tension, Kay quickly regained his composure and began wrapping the bandage with surprising skill.

The problem was how careful and slow his hands were.

Almost too gentle.

Just as she was about to break the awkward silence, she froze.

Their eyes met in the air.

For some reason, she couldn’t tear herself away from his gaze.

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