The security officers removed the children’s shackles and carefully lifted them one by one. Taniel and Rain moved in to help.

The moment Rain crouched down to pick up one of the children, the child flinched violently and bowed their head low.

“I… I’m sorry…”

The child whimpered. Rain paused at the blind apology. He knew what made a person say something like that. Not because they actually did anything wrong, but out of pure fear, words spilling out without thought.

Rain remembered that just moments ago, in full view of the children, he used his sacred power to crush someone’s throat. He quietly withdrew the hand he stretched out.

Taniel, already holding a child in her arms, glanced at Rain and offered gently, “Rain, would you mind restraining the fallen thugs? Leave looking after the children to me and the others.”

“…Yes, Senior.”

Rain accepted her consideration. He turned away without protest. Then a small fern-like hand reached toward him and tugged at his trousers.

“Sir knight, sir knight.”

A thin voice. Rain turned toward it. It was the young child who told him to run earlier because it was dangerous. The child looked up at Rain with rabbit-like eyes and whispered.

“Thank you for saving us.”

Rain’s expression went blank for a moment. Then he smiled, the kind of smile that looked close to crying, and knelt on one knee to bring himself level with the child.

“Thank you for trusting me and waiting. You can relax now.”

Rain murmured warmly and, without thinking, reached out to stroke the child’s head.

Then he remembered what he just did with that hand, and drew it back with an awkward smile.

“May the blessing of God be with you from now on.”

Rain whispered. The child smiled shyly. A security officer came over and led the child away, and Rain stayed kneeling on the floor for a moment, watching quietly.

After that, Rain slowly rose from the floor and helped the other officers collect the thugs scattered unconscious throughout the ship.

Another operation ended in success.

* * *

It all began eleven years ago.

Eleven-year-old Taniel Zinion had been pacing the airfield of the Moonlight Night Palace for hours.

The night was deep by now, long past the hour when a child like Taniel should have gone to bed, but sleep was nowhere near.

“Taniel, you should head inside soon. We’ll be here to greet Mirha when she returns.”

“Yes, there’s no need for you to stand out here suffering like this too.”

The others present urged her, unable to watch any longer. They were all full knights bearing the Elapha name, while Taniel was still a trainee knight called by her family name.

Taniel shook her head stubbornly and answered with crisp certainty.

“I’m all right, seniors. I want to see my teacher return safely with my own eyes.”

Someone swallowed a sigh at the girl’s firm reply. It was a sigh with a trace of irritation, and Taniel caught it and couldn’t help flinching.

“All right, then stay.”

Someone else said, more kindly. Taniel nodded, her expression slightly more subdued than before.

“Thank you, senior.”

Most of the knights waiting with Taniel for Mirha Elapha found Taniel’s presence uncomfortable. Not simply because she was a young trainee in their care.

Taniel’s parents belonged to one of the most powerful groups in the Holy Nation of Alphernia. The Zinion family was one of the seven families that governed the holy nation alongside the Church. Their influence was, naturally, immense.

Since Taniel chose the path of a knight from a young age, her wellbeing fell under the order’s jurisdiction rather than her family’s. But the Zinion family’s reach still lingered throughout the order.

‘The precious daughter of a sacred family, if you collapse from exhaustion after insisting on standing out here this late, do you think your parents will stay quiet about it?’

‘We’re the ones who’ll get an earful for failing to look after the trainee knight properly.’

A few disgruntled looks seemed to say exactly that. Taniel noticed and shrank into herself.

Fortunately, she didn’t have to endure it much longer. Right then the air shifted, and the knights and Taniel all snapped their heads toward the sky.

A road eagle, its body as large as a decent-sized horse, was descending slowly with a rider on its back. A young woman wrapped in a cloak. Mirha.

“She’s finally here.”

“She’s not alone.”

The knights murmured. Taniel, brightening at the news that her long-awaited teacher finally returned, stopped short in confusion. Not alone?

‘She’s carrying something.’

As the eagle drew closer, the woman’s outline came into sharper focus. Mirha Elapha held the road eagle’s reins with one hand while her other arm cradled something wrapped in a bundle.

Looking more closely, it was a small child swaddled in a blanket. A tangle of dark hair peeked out.

The road eagle finally landed completely. Mirha released the reins, held the child with both arms, and climbed down carefully. The other knights rushed over at once.

“Dame Mirha!”

“It’s been a while, everyone. There was no need to come out in a group like this to welcome me.”

“Welcome? After the trouble you caused, you have the nerve to say that?”

Someone raised their voice. A few stared openly at Mirha.

Mirha met all of their gazes with a cool look. Then she glanced down, spotted her student, and her expression immediately softened into a warm smile.

“Taniel, you were out here too. Isn’t it well past your bedtime?”

“I was worried about you, Teacher.”

The girl came scurrying over like a squirrel and spoke in a grave, grown-up tone. Mirha let out a small laugh. She reached out one hand and patted her student on the shoulder.

“I’m sorry for worrying you, Taniel.”

Mirha was now supporting the child in her arms with just one arm. Taniel craned her neck and peered at the bundle from every angle.

“Who is this child?”

“I haven’t heard a name yet. I hope I can soon.”

Taniel asked in a curious voice, and Mirha answered quietly. Someone nearby let out a loud groan. Someone else pressed a hand to their forehead.

“Mirha Elapha, you’ve caused quite the catastrophe. Abandoning your mission without authorization wasn’t enough, and now you’ve gone and brought a child back with you?”

“The child was being abused. As a knight, I couldn’t simply stand by and watch.”

Someone scolded her harshly, and Mirha replied with cold composure. The small child wrapped in the blanket seemed to sense the hostility around them and shrank inward. Mirha pulled the child closer.

“How unfortunate that you all came out not to welcome me but to interrogate me. But that is not your place. Stop playing at being the Senate. I’ll face all the questioning I could want at the hearing later, so I’d rather not get a preview from you.”

“Mirha Elapha, this is a separate matter from the hearing. You have damaged the credibility of our order. Are you even aware of that?”

“What I am or am not aware of is none of your concern. I’ll take my leave now. I need to stop by my quarters before reporting to the Senate.”

Mirha shot back like a shard of ice, then turned to her student again and let her expression soften.

“Let’s head back to the quarters, Taniel.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

Taniel answered promptly. She ignored the stares boring into her and her teacher and matched her pace to Mirha’s. Mirha spoke over her shoulder, indifferently.

“Someone please see to the eagle I rode in on. And you all must be tired. Go ahead and return to your quarters.”

Someone muttered a low curse. One knight took hold of the road eagle’s reins with a sour expression and turned away. Mirha ignored them all and walked straight ahead.

Taniel trotted along beside her teacher, repeatedly stealing glances at Mirha’s set expression and the child in her arms. Then she murmured solemnly.

“Teacher, I really did come out here to welcome you.”

Mirha let out a small laugh. Only then did the stiffness in her expression ease, and the familiar warmth Taniel knew returned to her eyes.

“I’m honored, Taniel. Have you been well while I was away?”

“Yes, Teacher.”

“You kept up your training while I was gone?”

“Of course.”

“My student really is diligent. Whatever path you take, you’ll go far.”

“Whatever path? I’m obviously going to become a fine knight of the holy nation, just like you, Teacher.”

“Ha, yes. Make sure you do.”

Mirha laughed and answered her student’s spirited reply. But a shadow passed briefly through her green eyes. The brown-eyed girl didn’t catch it.

Mirha and Taniel left the airfield and headed toward the building where the knights’ quarters were. Mirha gave a short nod of her head, and the door opened on its own without a key or a code. Envy flickered in Taniel’s eyes.

‘When will I ever reach that level?’