Lynx didn't sleep.
He sat on the straw mat in his cell, using the moonlight coming in through the window to examine that refined steel short sword.
The blade gleamed with cold, hard silver light under the moonlight. The blood groove's shadow looked like a scar.
He remembered Lucretia's words.
"Calming Powder".
Bottom drawer of Batiatus's study.
Nodis's six-person formation.
And that guy Crixus… temporary cooperation?
Hah, who knows what that brute is really thinking.
Lynx put the sword back in the wooden box and closed it.
He needed points, needed toxin resistance, but he only had 500 points now, still half short.
Finding five more people… time is too tight.
He got up, pushed open the cell door, and walked into the courtyard.
The night wind was cool, blowing away the daytime heat.
The air had the smell of wine, sweat, and the scent of fodder from the distant stables.
The medical room light was still on.
Lynx hesitated for a moment and walked over.
The door was ajar, letting out dim yellow light.
He pushed the door open and saw Mira with her back to the door, organizing herbs in front of the shelf.
Her movements were very light, very slow. Her shoulders were slightly drooping. She looked extremely tired.
Marcus lay on the simple wooden bed in the corner, eyes closed, breathing even. He should be asleep.
"Mira."
Lynx spoke softly.
Mira was startled. The herb packet in her hand almost fell to the ground.
She turned around. Seeing it was Lynx, she breathed a sigh of relief and a faint smile appeared on her face.
"Why did you come?"
"To see Marcus."
Lynx said as he took a few steps closer. "And to see you."
Mira's face slightly reddened. She lowered her head and continued organizing the herbs: "He is much better. The toxin has been mostly cleared. He can get out of bed after resting for another day or two. But…"
She paused. "I didn't let him recover immediately. As you said, I made him continue pretending to be sick."
"Smart."
Lynx praised.
"If he recovers now, Batiatus will become suspicious."
Mira nodded, put the herb packet back on the shelf, and turned to look at him.
The oil lamp light danced on her face, making her eyes very bright.
"You… do you have something to tell me?"
Lynx was silent for a moment. He walked to the window and looked at the courtyard illuminated by moonlight outside.
"The performance match is only two days away."
"Mm."
"It might be very dangerous."
Lynx continued. "More dangerous than expected."
Mira walked to his side and also looked outside the window: "I know. When I went to buy medicine for Marcus today, I heard people in the pharmacy discussing that the Nodis training camp has been making big moves recently, as if preparing for something big."
Lynx turned to look at her: "Aren't you afraid?"
"I am."
Mira said honestly. "But what's the use of being afraid? In this place, people get injured every day, people die every day. You have to live even if you're afraid."
She spoke very calmly, but Lynx heard the helplessness and tenacity in her words.
This woman looked fragile, but her bones were harder than anyone's.
"Mira,"
Lynx suddenly spoke. "Do you remember the words I asked you before?"
Mira's body stiffened and she didn't speak.
"After the performance match, if I get my freedom, are you willing to leave this place?"
Moonlight came through the window and spilled on the two of them.
The courtyard was very quiet, only the rustling sound of wind blowing through leaves.
Mira lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting her skirt hem.
"I don't know."
She said in a small voice. "Lynx, I… I am just a slave, a female slave who knows a bit of medicine. If I leave this place, what can I do? Outside… outside is too chaotic. I am a woman with no family, no backing. I won't survive."
"You are not alone."
Lynx looked at her and said seriously. "If you are willing, I will take you away."
Mira raised her head. Tears welled up in her eyes: "Why?"
"Because…"
Lynx thought for a moment and smiled. "Because you are the cleanest person I have seen in this world, because even though you live a hard life yourself, you still think about saving others, because that night, you argued with the nobles for me."
He paused, his voice lowering. "And because… I want to take you away."
Mira stared blankly at him. Tears slid down silently.
"You… you don't mind me? I am not young anymore, not beautiful, and…"
"I don't mind."
Lynx interrupted her, reached out and wiped the tears from her face. "Mira, in this man-eating place, a clean heart is more precious than anything."
Mira cried even harder, her shoulders trembling slightly.
But she didn't make a sound. She only bit her lip and suppressed the crying.
Lynx looked at her, a complex emotion surging in his heart.
There was pity, a desire to protect, and… something else.
He didn't know exactly what he felt for this woman.
Maybe because she was kind, maybe because she stood up when he needed help the most, maybe just because in such a dirty place, she was like a clean medicinal herb, letting him see the light of humanity.
Whatever it was, he wanted to protect her.
"Don't cry."
He said softly and pulled her into his arms.
Mira's body stiffened, but she didn't struggle. She slowly relaxed and buried her face in his chest, sobbing quietly.
Lynx hugged her. He could feel her thin body and the faint herbal scent on her.
Very clean, very nice to smell.
The two stood like that for a long time.
Until Mira cried enough, gently pushed him away, wiped her eyes, and her face reddened again.
"I'm sorry… I lost control."
"It's fine."
"Crying makes it feel better."
Mira nodded, walked to the table, poured two cups of water, and handed him one.
The two sat at the table, facing each other across the dim lamp light.
"Lynx,"
Mira opened her mouth, her voice still a bit hoarse. "If… I mean if, you really win the performance match and get your freedom… where do you plan to go?"
"I haven't thought about it yet."
Lynx told the truth. "I might leave Capua first. Batiatus won't let me go easily. Even if I am free, he will find ways to control me. And those nobles… you saw them too."
Thinking of Livia's arrogant face, Mira frowned.
"Then… after leaving, what do you plan to do?"
"Start a small business."
"I have hands and feet, and I have saved some money. I can always survive. And…"
He looked at Mira. "Don't you know medicine? We can open a small clinic. You treat people, I help you."
Mira's eyes brightened, but quickly dimmed again: "But… opening a clinic requires a lot of money and connections. We have nothing."
"Take it slow."
Lynx paused and said with a bit of self-mockery: "It's better than waiting to die here."
Mira was silent for a while, then suddenly asked: "Lynx, you… are you serious? You really want to take me away?"
"Serious."
"Then…"
Mira bit her lip. "Then what about Lady Lucretia?"
Lynx was stunned.
Mira lowered her head, her voice even smaller: "I know, about you and her… the training ground knows about it. They just don't dare to say it. Master Batiatus seems to… also tacitly allow it."
Lynx didn't speak.
He didn't know how to explain his relationship with Lucretia.
That woman was complex and dangerous, but she had indeed helped him a lot.
And she was carrying his child — although Mira didn't know now, she would know sooner or later.
"Lady Lucretia has her own path."
Lynx finally said. "She can't leave Batiatus, at least not now."
"Then what about you?"
Mira raised her head and looked at him. "Can you really leave her?"
This question was very sharp.
Lynx looked at her clear eyes and suddenly didn't want to lie.
"Lucretia and I… it is a transaction."
He said honestly. "She gives me information, I give her hope, but that's all. But Mira, you are different from her. You are the one I chose myself, not a transaction."
Mira listened, her eyes turning red again.
But she didn't cry this time. She just nodded heavily and said softly: "I believe you."
Three words, very light, but very heavy.
Lynx's heart warmed. He reached out and held her hand.
Mira's hand was very cool, very small, with thin calluses on her palm — left from years of pounding herbs.
She didn't pull back her hand and let him hold it.
The oil lamp flame flickered. The light dimmed a bit, then brightened again.
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