Lavi placed the firewood in the center of the makeshift hut and started a fire. Once the flames were burning brightly, he finally looked up at Sel. For a moment, Lavi’s gaze wavered, but Sel did not notice. Sitting with her knees drawn up, she had tucked her legs into Lavi’s oversized T-shirt and was reaching her hands out towards the fire.

“Wrap yourself in the blanket,” Lavi said, handing the blanket to Sel.

Sel waved it off. “You should use it, commander. This is enough for me.”

“I don’t feel the cold. I even go around in short sleeves during winter.”

“But you caught a cold, didn’t you? You’re the one who always had campfires going even back at the manor. Why are you trying to act tough now?” Sel chuckled, pushing the blanket back towards Lavi.

Admitting defeat, Lavi took the blanket with a small smile. “You’re tougher than I thought. Not that I’m saying it suits you.”

“I’m just quick to accept reality. Whether it’s facing a horrible situation or dealing with the fact that a wretched man like me has become a walking corpse.”

“………”

“Don’t look at me like that. I’ve lived like this for a long time.”

Sel took off her wet shoes and placed them near the fire. Her small white feet, peeking out from under the large T-shirt, wiggled slightly. Lavi’s eyes instinctively followed them. His gaze slowly trailed over Sel, finding it almost amusing how she managed to fit her whole body into that T-shirt, like a hermit crab hiding in its shell.

“…You should eat more and build some muscle. You’re way too skinny for a man.”

Sighing as if exasperated with himself, Lavi ran a hand through his hair. For a while, he stared off into the distance, furrowing his brows in thought before finally getting up.

“Where are you going, commander?”

“To chop more firewood.”

“It looks like we have enough already.”

“Just get some rest.” Leaving those short words behind, Lavi stepped out of the hut. He began splitting logs with such intensity it seemed he might turn the entire forest into firewood. It took him longer than expected to clear his head of his thoughts.

Inside, the hut quickly warmed up. Sel watched the crackling flames, her tense expression easing. It felt as though the horrific events of the day were being swallowed up by the red embers, as if the flickering fire was burning away the bad memories, bringing a sense of calm.

Lavi had applied some medicinal herbs to the wounds on Sel’s face and thighs for first aid. He ground the herbs into a fine powder and sprinkled them on the wounds before bandaging them, turning his back to Sel the entire time. Despite thingking that they are of the same gender, Lavi showed a surprising amount of consideration.

“Your lips must be sore too,” Lavi noted, handing over the remaining herbal powder to Sel. “It tastes bitter, but it helps. If your mouth is ulcerated, even eating will be difficult. It’s unpleasant, but use it.”

Sel took a pinch of the powder on her fingertip and tasted it. The bitterness was overwhelming, causing her to gag.

‘It’s still better than being in pain,’ she thought, diligently applying the bitter herbs inside her mouth despite the retching.

Perhaps finding the sight unpleasant, Lavi sighed and left the hut. He returned just as Sel finished applying the medicine. His boots were caked in mud.

“Feeling a bit better?” Lavi asked as he dropped down next to her.

Though Sel briefly felt the urge to complain playfully, she simply nodded instead.

“Open your mouth,” Lavi instructed plainly. Sel obeyed without a second thought. Lavi’s expression hardened as he looked at her. Swallowing slowly, he unfolded a leaf he was holding. It was coated in a golden, sticky liquid.

Lavi dipped his finger into the honey-like substance and gently smeared it inside Sel’s mouth. The sweet taste spread, neutralizing the bitterness of the herbs.

“Is this… honey?” Sel asked, surprised as the sweetness melted in her mouth.

Lavi placed the leaf in Sel’s hand. “For a child who can’t handle bitterness, I went out to steal honey from a hive in the middle of the night. Use it whenever your mouth feels dry.”

“Thank you, commander.” Sel bowed her head low, feeling a mix of gratitude and guilt. It felt as if she was only accumulating more debts towards him, yet the gesture made her smile. She had thought earlier that Lavi, who usually lazed around back at camp, resembled a busy bee during their missions. And now, seeing him bring honey, the comparison seemed even more fitting.

“Why are you smiling?” Lavi asked, puzzled.

“You remind me of a bee, commander.”

“I hate bees. I hate all bugs.”

“I meant because you’re so diligent.”

“Well, that’s not a bad thing to hear.”

“But won’t the other members be worried if you stay here too long?”

“I already sent a message to Eric.”

“How did you manage that?”

“I can send a long-range sword aura to the camp as a signal. Eric will understand it as a sign that everything’s fine or not.”

So sword masters can even use their sword aura like a message. Sel was amazed by this superhuman ability, as well as by Eric’s ability to decipher it. Her smile faltered, though, when she noticed the dagger in Lavi’s hand.

The dagger, with its black horse emblem, was one issued by the mercenary group. It was identical to the one Dwayne had used. The memory of its blade slashing her thigh was still vivid. The mercenary group itself felt alien to her.

Noticing her reaction immediately, Lavi swiftly tossed the dagger out of the hut. After a brief hesitation, he spoke up, “Dwayne…”

“…What kind of punishment do you think Dwayne deserves?”

“He should die. In the most gruesome way possible.”

Her response was without hesitation.

She had learned just how hard it was to take a life, even if it was a monstrous criminal or a noble. So, she wished for someone else to kill him in her stead.

“Tear him apart… and make him suffer greatly.”

The memory of a few hours ago resurfaced, and tears welled up in Sel’s eyes.

It wasn’t because she was afraid of Dwayne, but because she was filled with rage. She hated herself for having to become a victim.

“Execution is certain.”

“…That’s a relief.”

Tears mixed with rage and self-loathing trickled down her face. Sel held back her burning tears, swallowing them down instead of letting them flow.

“As the Commander, I failed to protect you. I’m sorry.”

Both last time and this time. Lavi swallowed his words.

He always apologized to her. Sel hated it.

Each time he apologized, she inexplicably felt anger boiling up inside her. It was like a cold piece of ice was spinning in her chest.

Sel had lived her life like walking a tightrope, surviving moment by moment.

She relied on nothing, only looking forward. And whenever the rope swayed with the wind, she would fall to the ground repeatedly.

Each time, she would climb back up, gritting her teeth to regain her balance. She had to endure.

Whether it was guilt or a sense of responsibility that Lavi felt for her, Sel couldn’t accept it.

She couldn’t accept it. The moment she reached out for that kind, warm hand, she feared she would lose her own balance.

If that hand was taken away, she was afraid she would fall again.

“It wasn’t a situation you could have prevented, Commander. It was just… bad luck. I should’ve been more cautious, but joining the mercenary group made me drop my guard since I was well-fed and warm.”

Sel deliberately spoke in a calm, nonchalant tone, as if it didn’t matter.

But maybe it showed. A deep furrow formed on Lavi’s brow.

He could tell from Sel’s words. The fact that she had faced such dangers many times while living alone. Her words were those of someone who had survived many such ordeals.

“Telling you to forget would be an irresponsible comfort,” Lavi said, bowing his head and biting his lip.

He picked up the sturdiest piece of firewood scattered on the ground.

“…I just hope it becomes dull. Today’s events, for you,” he added calmly, throwing the firewood into the bonfire.

For a moment, the expression Sel had kept in a façade of indifference cracked.

Her eyes grew wide, tears welling up like a rising tide.

Hugging her knees, Sel lowered her head, pressing her forehead against her knees.

Like a hermit crab retreating into its shell, she curled up tightly, refusing to show her vulnerable side.

Lavi quietly took off the gray blanket he had draped over his own shoulders and gently covered Sel with it.

The blanket, which Sel had reluctantly accepted earlier, now returned as Lavi’s gesture of kindness, wrapping around her shoulders.

“Get some sleep,” Lavi said briefly, then lay down with his back to her on the opposite side.

He remained silent with his eyes closed, waiting until Sel’s soft sobs gave way to deep, steady breathing.

Time passed, though it was unclear how long.

Thud. Sel’s body collapsed onto the ground, deeply asleep.

Lavi got up and approached her.

Her legs stretched out long beneath the disheveled blanket, revealing the bandages dusted with green herbal powder underneath the oversized shirt.

Lavi’s gaze lingered on Sel.

Squatting down in front of her, Lavi shook out the blanket, spreading it wide before gently covering her again.

The blanket, far too small for him, snugly enveloped Sel’s entire body.

Lavi placed his hand on her forehead and gently stroked it.

Her brow, briefly furrowing at his touch, soon relaxed again.

Her messy blonde hair slipped through his fingers, falling back into place.

Beneath it, her swollen eyes were visible.

The cheek that Dwayne had struck was puffed up like she was holding a piece of candy in her mouth.

Seeing her swollen eyes and cheek felt like a heavy weight pressing against Lavi’s chest.

“I didn’t know. I had no idea what kind of pain you were enduring,” Lavi murmured softly.

Indeed, he didn’t know. He was born into a family of wealth and power.

His large physique was something he took for granted.

He hadn’t considered how someone smaller than him, with no family or power to protect themselves, might experience the world.

He thought she was smart enough to be okay despite her small size.

He thought her pretty appearance was a blessing.

He was sorry. He hadn’t realized why she had to wear a mask to protect herself, why she didn’t wash to maintain an unpleasant odor, why she had to live alone in an isolated cabin near the Black Forest that everyone feared.

He didn’t know. No, he hadn’t tried to know.

That was why he could so easily tell her to take off her mask, to clean up and show herself proudly.

This was already the second incident.

None of it was Sel’s fault.

It was the fault of those despicable people who preyed on the weak for their own gain.

But Sel had to bear all the wounds.

Even until their last breath, they shifted the blame onto her.

Even after they were gone, she would have to wrestle with their ghosts.

She would question herself a hundred, a thousand times, wondering if she was somehow at fault, blaming herself.

Lavi’s heart ached for her.

He stood up, listening to her ragged breathing.

As he turned to leave the hut, he noticed a dark, wispy smoke rising around Sel, only to dissipate moments later.

It was a type of nightmare spirit that fed on weakened human minds.

Lavi’s deep green eyes began to glow with a faint blue hue.

Almost as if in a trance, he picked up a piece of firewood and infused it with his energy.

He swung the wood at the dark smoke gathering around Sel. The smoke thinned like a mist before fading away.

Tonight, those spirits wouldn’t torment her.

Lavi’s eyes remained tinged with blue.

With a face as cold as a different person, Lavi stared at the deeply sleeping Sel for a long moment before stepping out of the hut.

His figure, cutting through the darkness, soon vanished into the night.