A thick white smoke had completely engulfed District 3 Harbor in RiverHold.
For a moment, nothing could be seen within a ten-meter radius.
The noise drew the attention of merchants peering out from their homes to see what was happening, but the darkness of the night and the smoke prevented them from seeing clearly.
The strong smell of gunpowder mixed with the sea breeze made it difficult even to breathe.
Between the docked ships, cargo crates, and ropes scattered across the ground, everything had turned into complete chaos.
Yashina was trapped in the middle of that smoke.
Her breathing was shallow, her heart racing, unable to understand what had happened.
Her shoulder was bleeding heavily after being torn by the bandit’s short sword.
The pain was so intense that it seemed to run through her entire arm whenever she tried to move.
Her fingers trembled, and the metallic taste of blood still lingered in her mouth from the impact she had taken.
Blood was also running from the corner of her lips.
Meanwhile, Hitori, Kamero, and Aysa desperately pushed into that black curtain, trying to find her.
But it was impossible.
They couldn’t see.
They couldn’t hear.
They didn’t even know where the attacks might come from.
The muffled sound of the harbor waves echoed in the distance while footsteps and voices disappeared into the dark mist.
Then—
WHOOSH!
A powerful gust of wind exploded violently in the center of the harbor.
The smoke began to be forcibly dispersed.
Crates slid across the ground.
Ropes were torn away.
The sails of the ships fluttered violently.
The silhouettes of the thieves finally began to reappear among the ships.
And with them…
A figure appeared in the middle of that gale.
Hitori’s eyes widened.
Hitori: “What…?”
The person spun the two fans in her hands, creating currents of wind around her body.
???: “Leave it to me now.”
Her dark green hair swayed violently beneath the cloak as she charged toward the thieves.
It was her.
The girl from the fountain.
The same girl from the garrison.
But now…
She seemed completely different.
Her elegant movements resembled a refined dance.
Every step was light.
Every turn seemed calculated.
The fans sliced through the air, producing invisible blades of compressed wind.
Yashina watched silently.
Even wounded…
Her eyes remained fixed on that girl.
Kamero immediately ran toward her, along with Aysa, who had already started moving right after the initial explosion.
Kamero: “Yashina!”
Aysa quickly knelt beside her when she saw her blood-soaked clothes.
Aysa: “She’s bleeding badly…”
Kamero: “Yashina!”
Kamero: “Can you stand?”
But Yashina didn’t answer.
She could only watch that girl fighting.
Her attacks were swift.
Precise.
Light.
Like a cat playing with its prey before the final blow.
???: “Who are you?”
The girl standing before her wore green clothes, had tan skin, amber-green eyes, and her hair tied in twin tails.
She wore short shorts and a cropped top.
In each hand she held a green fan decorated with wind patterns.
On her left shoulder was a birthmark.
???: “You…” she said, twirling her knives.
???: “You’re the so-called ‘Noble Thief,’ aren’t you?” she said between heavy breaths.
“I thought you were just a myth made up to scare people like us.”
One of the thieves stepped back in fear.
The girl gave an arrogant smile.
???: “People call me many things.”
She slowly spun her fans.
???: “But to you…”
???: “I’m the one who’s going to ruin your plans.”
The leader of the thieves clicked his tongue in irritation.
???: “Don’t underestimate me like that other girl!”
He violently spread his arms.
???: “Smoke Pressure!”
Another wave of white smoke advanced across the harbor.
But the girl merely sighed.
???: “Don’t compare me to her.”
Her eyes sharpened.
???: “I’m far better.”
She then spun her fans violently.
???: “Cutting Gale!”
WHOOSH!!
Streams of compressed wind exploded forward, completely tearing through the smoke.
The attack struck the thief head-on.
BOOOOM!
The man was violently thrown into several wooden crates and lost consciousness from the impact.
The girl slowly closed her fans.
???: “I warned you.”
???: “I’m much better.”
Hitori: “Damn…” he said, having watched the girl the entire time.
He slowly began approaching her.
Still unable to believe it.
Hitori: “I knew it…”
Hitori: “It really was you.”
He pointed directly at her.
The girl immediately turned her head.
???: “Hm?”
???: “You again?”
She narrowed her eyes.
???: “Are you stalking me, worm?”
Hitori: “WORM IS—”
Aysa held Yashina by the shoulder as she watched the scene.
Yashina finally managed to stand.
But as soon as she heard that it really was that girl…
Her expression changed.
Yashina: “Why did you help me…?”
The girl slightly turned her head.
For a few seconds…
Her expression seemed serious.
But soon, her usual arrogant smile returned.
???: “Let me correct you.”
She snapped her fans shut.
???: “I didn’t save you.”
???: “You were just in my way.”
???: “After all…”
???: “How was I supposed to fight properly with you getting in the way?”
Yashina remained silent.
The girl then pointed her fan at her.
???: “Those men are bandits.”
???: “Dangerous criminals.”
???: “You don’t rush into their line of attack without setting a trap first.”
She arrogantly raised her nose.
???: “You fool.”
???: “You acted without thinking.”
???: “If I hadn’t arrived…”
???: “You’d already be dead.”
Those words pierced Yashina like a blade.
Because she knew.
She knew the girl was right.
The girl then crossed her arms.
???: “So I think it’s only fair that I get at least a ‘thank you.'”
Yashina slowly lowered her gaze.
Yashina: “…”
The girl sighed.
???: “Hm.”
???: “That’s about what I expected.”
She then turned around.
???: “I’ll leave the mission credit to you.”
???: “Enjoy the reward.”
And then—
WHOOSH!
She quickly jumped onto the crates.
Moving between the ships with incredible agility.
Hitori’s eyes widened.
Hitori: “HEY! WAIT!”
He immediately climbed onto one of the crates, trying to catch up to her.
But she had already disappeared among the harbor structures.
Meanwhile—
Aysa looked at Yashina with concern.
Aysa: “Yashina…”
The girl was writhing in pain.
Her shoulder was bleeding heavily.
The marks left by the pressure on her feet were also visible.
Kamero immediately approached.
Kamero: “Stay calm.”
Kamero: “Aysa, do we still have any potions?”
Aysa took a small bottle out of her bag.
Aysa: “Only this…”
Kamero carefully took the remaining potion and applied it to the wound.
A faint blue smoke appeared.
Even so…
The wound was still serious.
Aysa immediately grew worried.
Aysa: “We need to take her to the hospital.”
Kamero nodded.
Kamero: “Hitori!”
Kamero: “Help me here!”
Hitori was still looking in the direction where the girl had disappeared.
But then he slowly climbed down from the crate.
Hitori: “…Right.”
A short while later…
Yashina was already being treated at a hospital in RiverHold.
The room was quiet.
Only the distant sound of the waters of the great river could be heard through the partially open window.
Aysa remained seated beside the bed while Yashina silently stared at the ceiling.
Aysa: “What got into you?”
Yashina slowly closed her eyes.
Yashina: “I…”
Her voice came out softly.
Yashina: “I don’t know…”
She clearly remembered what the girl had said.
“You acted without thinking.”
And worse…
She was right.
At that moment, the door to the room opened.
Kamero entered first, holding a small pouch full of coins.
Hitori came in right behind him.
Kamero: “At least we got the reward.”
Hitori remained standing near the door, discreetly looking at Yashina.
Hitori: “Yashina…”
He seemed strange.
Almost hesitant.
Hitori: “How are you feeling…?”
Yashina noticed immediately.
He was worried.
She then slightly averted her gaze.
Yashina: “I’m fine…”
Kamero and Aysa exchanged a brief silent glance.
Then…
Yashina slowly lowered her head.
Yashina: “I…”
Yashina: “I think I owe everyone an apology.”
The room fell silent.
Yashina lightly gripped the bedsheets.
Yashina: “For the way I acted…”
Yashina: “I’m sorry.”
Her voice trembled.
Yashina: “I don’t even know what got into me…”
Kamero answered first.
Kamero: “It’s alright.”
Aysa smiled gently.
Aysa: “No problem, girl.”
But Hitori…
Clenched his fist.
Hitori: “You fool.”
Yashina slowly raised her eyes.
Hitori: “Never rush in like that by yourself again.”
His voice was serious.
Very serious.
Hitori: “Understood?”
Yashina’s eyes began to tremble.
Then a tear silently rolled down her face.
Yashina: “I really am a fool… aren’t I?”
Kamero immediately tried to lighten the mood.
Kamero: “Let’s forget about it.”
Kamero: “Tomorrow is a new day.”
The next day, after being discharged, the group headed to District 15 of RiverHold. This story is hosted at g.com.
The entire area was bustling.
Colorful lanterns hung from the streets.
Stalls were being set up.
Musicians performed near the river.
The city’s great annual festival was beginning.
Kamero read a nearby sign.
Kamero: “‘Festival of the Saint of Winds’…”
Aysa made a disappointed face.
Aysa: “What a lame name.”
Hitori immediately replied.
Hitori: “Finding something lamer than you would be hard.”
Aysa turned around furiously.
Aysa: “Listen here—”
Yashina immediately interrupted.
Yashina: “Over there!”
She pointed to a magic potion shop.
Kamero took out some coins.
Kamero: “Alright.”
Kamero: “Yashina and I are going to buy some potions.”
Kamero: “So try to behave like civilized people.”
Aysa crossed her arms.
Aysa: “I’m not an animal.”
Hitori started laughing.
Hitori: “He’s not wrong.”
Kamero immediately pointed at him.
Kamero: “I was talking about you too.”
Hitori: “What?!”
Shortly afterward, Kamero and Yashina disappeared into the crowd.
Hitori then slowly walked to the railing near the river.
The waters of the Lovrelis reflected the golden lights of the festival.
Illuminated boats slowly crossed the river while artificial petals were scattered across the water.
Families laughed.
Children played.
Couples walked near the stalls.
And yet…
Hitori’s thoughts were far away.
The image of that girl fighting at the harbor remained stuck in his mind.
The fans.
The movements.
The way she smiled.
Hitori rested his arms on the railing.
Hitori: “Aaaah! Why can’t I stop thinking about her?!”
Then—???: “That’s simple.”
The voice came from beside him.
???: “You’re a worm.”
???: “And worms admire beautiful things…”
Hitori immediately turned his head.
And there she was.
The green-haired girl.
With her irritating smile, her twin tails, and the same luxurious green dress as before.
Hitori: “This is starting to feel like stalking.”
She raised an eyebrow.
???: “Funny.”
???: “I was already here before you arrived.”
She smiled provocatively.
???: “You were just too distracted to notice, worm.”
Hitori let out a deep sigh.
Hitori: “That habit of calling me a worm…”
She shrugged.
???: “I don’t know your name.”
???: “So I’ll call you whatever I want.”
Hitori: “That’s the lamest excuse I’ve ever heard.”
She began to laugh.
Hitori: “What are you laughing at, you lunatic?”
She rested her face on her hand while looking at the river.
???: “You.”
???: “It’s amusing how easily you get irritated.”
The wind blew gently, like a calming breeze, slowly swaying her hair.
Then…
Her expression changed.
It became distant.
???: “You know…”
???: “I envy someone like you. Worms that wander around freely, without being bothered or having someone constantly watching them.”
Hitori frowned.
Hitori: “Huh?”
???: “You can go wherever you want.”
???: “Go on adventures.”
???: “See new places.”
She silently gazed at the river.
???: “I can’t.”
???: “I never will…”
Hitori blinked in confusion.
Hitori: “What are you talking about?” He didn’t understand what she was complaining about.
After all, he had already run into her three times since arriving here, which looked like freedom to him.
The girl looked at him and suddenly grabbed his arm.
???: “Come with me.”
Hitori: “Hey?!”
She began running, pulling him through the streets of the city.
After a while, they reached the upper district.
And for the first time…
Hitori realized it.
She was smiling genuinely.
It wasn’t the mocking smile from before.
It was different.
That girl was being sincere with him.
Shortly after reaching the upper district, she led him to a huge mansion surrounded by perfectly arranged gardens and dozens of guards patrolling the area.
Everything there was high-class, part of the city’s noble district.
Hitori’s eyes widened.
Hitori: “Wow…”
Hitori: “Who lives here?” He thought everything there was beautiful to look at.
She crossed her arms.
???: “The Governor of RiverHold.”
???: “Barsel Aimada.”
She then looked directly at him.
???: “And his beloved daughter.”
Hitori remained silent for a few seconds.
Then his eyes slowly widened.
Hitori: “…Wait.”
She sighed irritably.
???: “You’re so slow…”
Then she finally spoke.
???: “My name is Sarina Aimada.”
Sarina Aimada, daughter of the Governor of RiverHold, a thief in her spare time, and heir to the winds.
Hitori: “WHAT?!”