The soldiers watched the scene unfold, breaking out in beads of cold sweat.
Their armor clanked coldly in the silent air as they fell to their knees, bowing their heads in fear.
“F-Field…
agent…
E-…” Hawen and the blonde girl stepped in front of the kneeling men, speaking in unison.
“Enmie.” The soldier froze, sweat dripping down his face in confusion.
“Huh?…” Everything faded into pitch black.
Darkness swallowed the room, leaving only the heavy, rhythmic thuds of a beating heart echoing in the void.
A tiny speck of light slowly flickered to life.
The hazy surroundings began to drift into focus as Ersak slowly blinked.
A dim, dull blue light filled his vision.
The blurry world swam before him.
Who is that?..
he wondered.
A shadowy figure gradually took shape ahead.
A voice broke the quiet.
“You’re finally awake.” Ersak snapped his eyes open, instantly on high alert as he tracked the sound.
In a flash, his eyes shook with utter disbelief.
His pupils dilated, his face freezing solid.
“A-Ava…??!” His voice cracked with sheer panic.
Sitting right before him was a girl with crimson hair and fiery red eyes.
Enmie tilted her head, looking at him with clear confusion.
“Huh?..” Ersak stuttered, staring at her as if he had seen a ghost.
Fragmented, unrecognizable memories flashed through his mind—broken, hazy images of a shadowy figure.
His entire body began to tremble.
Enmie shot up from her chair and rushed over.
“Hey, hey, are you alright?” Ersak threw his head back, his pupils shaking uncontrollably as she reached her hand out toward him.
He stared up at her.
Enmie’s face flickered and glitched repeatedly, like a distorted television screen.
“No…
It can’t be…” Ersak stammered.
Her features kept warping back and forth between two different faces.
There’s no way…
it’s her…
No, it isn’t…
Ersak hung his head, burying his face in his hands as he clutched his hair.
His body shook violently, entirely out of his control.
“IT’S NOT HER!
IT’S NOT HER!…” he shrieked in terror.
“CALM DOWN!” Enmie barked.
Her sharp shout snapped him out of it.
Ersak raised his head.
Enmie’s hands gripped his shoulders firmly, forcing him to look straight at her.
Their eyes locked.
“Can you just pull yourself together?!” she snapped angrily.
“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Ersak froze, his lips turning rigid.
The room fell into a dead, heavy silence.
Slowly, he lowered his hands from his head, his frantic gaze finally settling.
Enmie closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh, releasing her grip.
She walked back to her chair and sat down, looking down at the boy sitting on the floor.
Ersak rubbed his eyes with both hands, trying to compose himself.
He looked back up at her, drawing a deep, steady breath.
He scanned the room.
What is this dump?..
Where even am I?
He looked back at her.
Wait, didn’t I die?
Four stone walls enclosed them, forming a stifling, airless cell.
Iron bars lined a small window overhead, and a thin layer of simple straw covered the dirt floor.
Enmie tilted her head, studying him.
She looks way too much like Ava…
Enmie cleared her throat, stood up, and took a step forward.
“Hey, forgot to introduce myself.
I’m Enmie.” Ersak narrowed his eyes, staring silently at her.
She stepped even closer and crouched down directly in front of him.
Startled, the teenager jerked his head back.
She flashed a grin.
“I’m also the one who just saved your life back there, you know!” She pointed a finger at him.
“You would’ve been trampled to death otherwise.” Ersak averted his gaze, staying silent.
Enmie thrust her finger closer, stopping it right in front of his eyes.
Her gaze turned razor-sharp, staring straight into his soul.
“Aren’t you gonna say thank you?..” Ersak flinched, breaking out in beads of cold sweat.
“T-Thank you?…” Enmie laughed, jumping back to her feet.
She turned her back to him.
“Let’s go.
You’ve been out cold this whole time, so you’ve gotta be starving.” Ersak stood up.
Watching her walk out of the room, he let out a heavy sigh and followed.
Who on earth is this girl?
Leaving the stone cell behind, they walked through the wooden hallway of the house toward the main entrance.
That stone room back there must have been a holding cell in this concentration camp, Ersak thought.
He looked down at his hands, and the brutal scene from earlier flashed in his mind.
The massive foot coming down, followed by two blinding streaks of light.
Severed limbs, bodies sliced clean in half.
He stared ahead, his mind racing.
This girl is dangerous.
This world is seriously messed up…
and so is she…
…
The heavy door swung open, revealing Ersak and Enmie as they stepped outside.
Standing right behind her, Ersak glanced over to the left.
A group of bandits sat there, chewing on dry pieces of bread.
He glanced over to the right and saw the soldiers gathering around a campfire, roasting food.
Suddenly, Hawen appeared from the camp entrance, walking toward them alongside the blonde girl.
Enmie called out, “Hawen, Lusia, did you wait long?” Hawen smiled.
“We’ve been here quite a while, actually.
How about we eat and talk at the same time?” Lusia, the blonde girl, shot a serious look behind Ersak.
“I really don’t get why…” She paused as Hawen narrowed his eyes and leaned past her.
“…why we had to waste our time sitting in a holding cell waiting for this guy to wake up.” Enmie burst out laughing and headed toward the campfire, Hawen and Lusia following close behind.
Ersak closed his eyes and turned back toward the bandits.
Seeing him approach, the gang quickly cleared a space for him, caught completely off guard by their compliance.
He stared at their faces one by one.
The bandits broke out in beads of cold sweat, terrified and intimidated, not daring to meet his gaze.
As Ersak sat down, a soldier handed him a piece of bread.
He accepted it and began to eat without a single word.
Another soldier stepped forward, offering him a cup of water.
Ersak froze, looking around to see that no one else had any water.
Noticing his hesitation, the soldier said, “Take it.” Ersak accepted the wooden cup, brought it to his lips, and drank.
Behind him, the bandits whispered among themselves.
“Isn’t that guy just a prisoner like us?” “Yeah…” “Why is he getting special treatment from the field agents?..” Standing right in front of them, the soldier glare at the group, snapping in irritation, “There’s no special treatment here.
All of you are getting executed in the end anyway.” The words cut through the air, silencing the bandits instantly.
They looked up at the guard, while Ersak merely glanced up, closed his eyes, and kept eating.
The soldier turned on his heel and walked away.
At that moment, the campfire roared to life, crackling loudly and dancing in the wind.
Enmie, Hawen, and Lusia sat together at a table.
Below them, near the campfire, soldiers approached with fresh firewood and raw meat.
A log rolled into the burning pile, making the flames flare up suddenly and forcing the men to step back.
As the fire settled, they threw more wood into the hearth, placing meat skewers close to the flames.
The meat sizzled loudly, the light reflecting off the thick cuts.
The flickering firelight danced across the faces of the trio at the table.
Out of nowhere, the cloaked soldier appeared, bowing his head with his eyes squeezed shut.
Sweat poured down his face as he slowly opened his eyes, letting out an awkward, strained sound.
“Ah…
um…” The smile faded from Enmie’s face.
Her sharp, crimson eyes locked onto the cloaked man.
That single, piercing glare made the guard flinch in terror.
He stumbled backward, sweat dripping as he clenched his fists, forcing himself to stand firm.
Enmie’s eyes widened slightly, her intense gaze boring into him.
“I want to know exactly what happened here.” An armored guard wearing an iron helmet walked over, setting down drinks for Hawen and Lusia while keeping his eyes fixed on Enmie.
The camp fell dead silent in an instant, the atmosphere suffocatingly cold.
Hawen picked up his cup, breaking the heavy silence with a long sigh.
He swirled the drink, his tired eyes looking up at the guard.
“He was with me, so he doesn’t know a thing about this.
Why bother asking him?” Hearing Hawen’s defense, the cloaked soldier stepped forward, stammering anxiously, “T-That’s right…
I wasn’t even here when it happened…
How could I…” Enmie narrowed her eyes slightly.
The guard looked between Hawen and Enmie, then pounded his fist against his chest, making his armor clank loudly.
“I-If I had been here, this definitely wouldn’t have happened!
It’s just that I was away with Sir Hawen at the time, so…” Lusia held her cup to her lips, slowly opening her eyes to look at the two of them.
“Forget it.
Why blame him?
Blame the idiot who actually started this mess.” The three turned their attention to Lusia.
The cloaked soldier jumped at the chance, blurting out, “I’ll call the ringleader out here right now!” He spun around and hurried off.
The trio at the table watched him leave, while Hawen and Lusia closed their eyes, threw their heads back, and sighed in unison.
While Enmie watched her companions, a girl approached the head of the table near the fire, carrying a plate piled high with meat skewers.
The girl smiled, setting the dish down with a bow.
“Please enjoy your meal,” she said, before stepping back.
“GET OVER HERE!” The cloaked soldier’s voice rang out, drawing three pairs of eyes in his direction.
He marched back into the light, dragging the hulking guard and the other troublemakers along.
They all fell to their knees, trembling in fear, not daring to lift their heads.
The cloaked soldier looked at Enmie.
“These are the ones who started the incident, ma’am…” Before he could finish, Enmie rose from her chair.
She stepped past him and stared down at the shivering, hulking guard kneeling on the ground.
Hawen closed his eyes, reaching out to grab a skewer and taking a bite.
What a bunch of idiots…
he thought, opening his eyes to look back at them.
They brought this stupidity on themselves.
Lusia glanced at Hawen.
“I know exactly what you’re thinking.” Caught off guard, Hawen turned to her.
In a flash, he shoved the skewer directly into Lusia’s mouth!
“Eh?!” Startled, Lusia gaped as Hawen closed his eyes, saying nonchalantly, “Just eat.
You talk way too much.” Lusia’s eyes went blank with annoyance.
She pulled the skewer out and glared at him.
“This guy is unbelievable…” Enmie kept her cold gaze fixed on the large soldier below her.
Her voice cut through the air, dropping the temperature of the camp to a suffocating freeze.
“Do you have anything to say for yourself regarding this incident?” The guard kept his head pressed low, his face completely pale and devoid of blood.
Breaking into a cold sweat, he squeezed his eyes shut.
“I…
It’s my fault!…” “I just figured they were nothing but a pack of thieving murderers, and they’re gonna be executed anyway, so…” Before the hulking guard could finish his sentence, Enmie’s voice cut him off sharp.
“And since when was that any of your business?
Who gave you the authority to do something like that?” Enmie narrowed her eyes in pure irritation.
The soldier went mute, his eyes wide and his pupils shaking uncontrollably.
Seeing this, the guards kneeling behind him suddenly chimed in.
“I didn’t do anything!” “Yeah, he’s the one who started the whole thing!” “It wasn’t our fault!” Shocked by the betrayal, the large guard snapped his head back, roaring at them, “YOU BASTARDS!!?.” As the men bickered, tossing the blame back and forth, Enmie’s jaw clenched, her teeth grinding together.
Suddenly— A sudden roar from Enmie shattered the bickering, forcing everyone into a dead silence.
“I DON’T CARE WHO STARTED IT!” “ALL OF YOU WERE INVOLVED, AND THAT’S PLENTY FOR ME.
AM I CLEAR?!” Enmie turned her back on the soldiers, who kept their heads buried low, too terrified to flinch.
Her blazing crimson eyes gradually faded back to their normal shade as she spoke.
“Tomorrow morning, when we enter the city, I’ll report this to your logistics commander for disciplinary action.” She brushed past the cloaked soldier.
His eyes squeezed shut in terror as he stood frozen at attention, sweat dripping down his face.
Enmie sank back into her chair, picked up a meat skewer, and blew on it to cool it down.
Preparing to eat, she looked across the table at Hawen and Lusia, her expression shifting to one of confusion.
“Why are you two staring at me like that?…” The pair gaped at her in total surprise.
Over by the fire, Ersak’s eyes widened in astonishment.
S-She’s…
terrifying, he thought, his chest tightening.
Is that what she’s like when she loses her temper?..
Behind him, the bandits began murmuring under their breath.
“She’s out of her mind…” “No kidding.
That look in her eyes felt like she wanted to tear someone to pieces…” Ersak glanced back over his shoulder.
“Hey, isn’t she the same one who slaughtered the boss while he was trying to escape with that brat from Warnar Village?” …
The moment the bandits noticed Ersak looking, they cut their chatter short.
Ersak stared blankly ahead, his pupils trembling.
No…
he thought, a nagging feeling tugging at his mind.
I think…
I’m forgetting something…
He clenched his jaw, squeezing his eyes shut as an unbearable frustration washed over him.
The nearby bandits watched him, completely baffled by his sudden reaction, while a guard stepped directly in front of him.
“Hey, what’s wrong with you?” Suddenly, Ersak’s eyes snapped wide open.
That’s it…
Tenzin!!
He threw his head back.
“Tenzin!…” The soldier stepped closer.
“You—” Before the man could finish his sentence, Ersak roared, “WHERE is Tenzin?!” The guard blinked, tilting his head in utter confusion as he looked down at him.
“Who the hell are you talking about?” Panic took over, and Ersak shouted, “DID ANY OF YOU FIND THE BOY THE CHIEF DRAGGED ONTO THE CARRIAGE TO ESCAPE WITH?!” The soldier gave a clueless shrug.
“Didn’t see him, and I don’t know.” The sudden outburst drew everyone’s attention across the camp.
Enmie locked her gaze onto Ersak.
Hawen perked up, breaking the brief silence.
“Hey,” he muttered, prompting Enmie to turn toward him.
“Is he talking about that kid?” Enmie paused to think, looking down before glancing back up and tapping her hands together on the table.
“Oh, I think he means the boy I rescued from the chief’s carriage.” Lusia held out her hands.
“Must be.
Where is the kid now, anyway?” Enmie went silent.
She turned her head to look back at Ersak, leaving Lusia’s question completely unanswered.
Lusia shifted her gaze to Hawen, but his face remained completely unbothered as he casually bit into another grilled skewer.
Lusia scowled at his lack of concern.
Enmie kept her eyes fixed on Ersak, remaining tight-lipped.
Ersak fell silent as well, lowering his head, while the guard he had confronted stood there completely dazed.
The soldier slowly backed away.
Seizing the moment, one of the bandits leaned over, putting his mouth right to Ersak’s ear.
A vile, mocking smirk spread across his face.
“I bet the brat’s already dead.” The words hit Ersak like a physical blow.
His eyes stared straight ahead, the deep blue in his irises darkening like a shadow of pure hopelessness.
He slowly turned his head, locking his gaze directly with the bandit’s.
For a split second, the bandit froze, completely paralyzed as if under a spell.
He gasped and threw himself backward, scrambling back to his original spot.
Ersak didn’t say a single word.
Turning back, he quietly brooded.
The kid has to be fine…
He’s a local villager anyway, so these people shouldn’t have any reason to hurt him…
Damn it!..
He ground his teeth.
But if that chief managed to escape, what’s gonna happen to Tenzin now?..
High above, the full moon cast a brilliant, shimmering glow over the camp.
A few guards leaned against the watchtower walls, fast asleep.
The bandits lay quiet on the bare dirt, some tossing and turning uncomfortably, kicking up faint traces of dust into the night air.
The bright moonlight beamed down, tracing a faint silvery outline around Ersak’s figure, until a shadow suddenly blotted it out.
With weary eyes, he stared up at the night sky, remaining quiet as the stillness of the midnight hour enveloped the camp.
A sudden gust of wind swept through, carrying the biting chill of the night directly against Ersak’s skin, making his hair drift gently.
He let out a heavy breath, creating a faint plume of mist in the cold air.
Right then, the door to the camp barracks creaked open.
A figure emerged from the building, quiet footsteps clicking against the ground as they approached Ersak, who had already laid back down on the dirt.
The footsteps stopped right at his head.
Ersak’s muscles tensed, sweat beading on his forehead.
The person crouched down beside him.
A soft, quiet voice broke the silence.
“I know you’re awake.” Ersak slowly opened his eyes to see who it was.
This voice…
it’s…
He looked up.
Enmie’s face blocked out the moon behind her, the bright halo illuminating her crimson hair as it fluttered gently in the breeze.
Enmie stood up, crossing her arms.
“I know you’re not sleeping.” Ersak sat up, tilting his head back to meet her gaze.
“What do you want?” Enmie turned on her heel, walking toward the smoldering campfire, which had died down to nothing but gray ash.
“Come sit at the table.
We need to talk.” Ersak hesitated for a brief moment.
He stood up, dusting off his clothes as he followed her, his tense gaze locked firmly onto her back.
Enmie sat down at the table, and Ersak took a seat across from her.
The moment he sat down, he demanded, “What do you want?
If you have something to say, say it.” Enmie frowned, glaring at him with irritation written all over her face.
“You’ve got some nerve!” she snapped.
“I haven’t even opened my mouth yet!
Who do you think you are, giving me orders?!” She crossed her arms and continued, “I can see you’ve actually got some talent.
Besides, I don’t think someone like you would ever willingly join a pack of bandits.” Ersak raised an eyebrow.
“What’s your point?” Enmie shrugged nonchalantly.
“If you want, I can ask the King to temporarily delay your execution.
That way, you get to live a bit longer and earn your freedom.” She locked her gaze onto him, leaning across the table with a cheerful grin.
“That’ll give you plenty of time to secure an official pardon!” The camp fell dead silent.
No reply came, and the air grew freezing cold, as if all the oxygen had been sucked out of the space.
Ersak turned his face away, his voice dropping low.
“I don’t need it.
Besides, you have absolutely no reason to help me.” Enmie gasped in utter shock.
“HUH?!
Are you kidding me right now?” Ersak stood up.
She watched as he walked away, muttering, “I don’t have a reason to accept a death sentence, and I don’t have a reason to evade one either.” Enmie bolted upright, staring after him.
Her voice rang out, firm and unwavering.
“What about that Tenzin kid?
Don’t you wanna see him again?” Ersak flinched, his heart hammering violently against his chest as he froze in his tracks.
Enmie kept talking, closing the distance between them.
“If you wanna see that little guy again, it’s never gonna happen.
Not as long as you’re a prisoner.” She stepped right up to the motionless teenager, raising her slender arm and reaching out toward him.
Everything seemed to slow down.
Ersak’s face remained frozen as her hand slowly materialized in his peripheral vision, inching closer until—thud.
Her hand came down in a gentle pat, resting softly on his shoulder.
The full moon beamed down, bathing both of their faces in its bright, silvery light.