The square smelled of smoke and blood. Bodies of goblins and men lay tangled in the mud, their cries fading to a grim silence. Torches flickered against broken walls, their light casting jagged shadows across the ruined barricades.
Loid pushed through the carnage, his boots splashing in the filth. His eyes searched, darting past the wounded and the dead, until he saw Selvara collapsed beside the hulking corpse of the goblin leader. Roderick knelt nearby, clutching his knuckles, his chest heaving like a bellows.
"Selvara!" Loid's voice cracked as he rushed to her side, crouching low. His hands hovered, afraid to touch her at first. "Are you... are you hurt? Tell me if you're hurt. You took blows, you're bleeding, maybe inside…"
Selvara lifted her eyes to him. Her silver hair clung to her cheek with sweat and grime, her lips pale but curved faintly. She drew in a ragged breath, then gave a soft chuckle, so quiet it nearly vanished under the noise of the dying battlefield.
"I'm alive," she whispered. "Bruises. Sore. That's all."
Loid let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, sagging with relief. "Thank the gods. I thought..." He stopped himself, shaking his head. "No. Doesn't matter. You're alive. That's enough."
His gaze flicked to Roderick, who was forcing himself back onto unsteady legs. The commander looked half-dead, his armor dented and painted red.
Loid spoke quickly, firm. "She needs rest. I'll take her to the inn."
Roderick's jaw tightened, but he gave a weary nod. "Go. She's earned it. We'll tend to what's left here." He turned away, limping toward the collapsed wall to bark hoarse orders at the guards.
Loid slid an arm under Selvara, lifting her as though she weighed nothing. She startled faintly at first, then let her head rest against his shoulder, too drained to protest.
"You're stronger than you look," she murmured, voice dry.
Loid managed a chuckle despite the heaviness in his chest. "Don't let the robe fool you. Bread hauling builds muscle."
He carried her through the muddy streets, past villagers who stared with wide, grateful eyes. Doors cracked open, whispers trailed behind him, but Loid kept his focus ahead until at last they reached the inn. He nudged the door open with his shoulder, brought her upstairs, and laid her gently on the bed.
Her breathing steadied, slow and deep. Before long, Selvara had slipped into sleep, her blade still resting by her side. Loid sat at the edge of the bed, watching her chest rise and fall, until exhaustion finally claimed him too.
---
Morning light crept through the shutters. Selvara stirred, blinking groggily. The ache in her muscles announced itself at once, sharp in her legs, dull in her ribs, heavy across her shoulders. She shifted carefully, testing her body. Nothing broken. Just pain.
She turned her head. The bed beside her was empty.
But on the table near her pillow lay half a loaf of bread, coarse and thick, its crust still faintly warm. Her stomach twisted with hunger. She pulled herself upright slowly, biting into it with quiet resolve.
The door creaked open.
Loid stepped in, carrying a steaming bowl of soup in one hand and another full loaf tucked under his arm. His eyes lit when he saw her awake.
"Morning," he said, voice softer than usual. "You scared the life out of me last night." He set the food down beside her. "Eat. You'll need it."
Selvara swallowed, then nodded once. "Thanks."
"Don't thank me," he said with a crooked smile. "Thank the baker who sold me his last bread after I nearly begged him."
He sat on the chair, leaning forward, eyes scanning her like a physician. "How do you feel? Be honest. Don't give me that stoic glare, you look like every muscle in your body is screaming."
Selvara let out a low breath. "Sore. All over. Legs worst."
Loid rubbed the back of his neck, hesitant. "I… could help with that. Massage, I mean. It'll ease the strain. My grandmother used to make me do it when she got cramps, so I'm not completely clueless."
She raised an eyebrow at him, unreadable.
Before he could backpedal, she spoke, voice flat but amused: "Please do it."
Loid's eyes widened. "Wait, really? I mean... I thought you'd refuse, or..."
But Selvara was already shifting, her hands moving to untie her leather straps and loosen her clothing. Loid froze, heat rushing to his face.
"Selvara... I didn't mean..."
"Please," she said calmly, almost lazily. She lay back, stretching her legs across the bed. "Start with legs."
Loid swallowed hard. His hands trembled slightly as he placed them on her thigh, working carefully. The tension in her muscles was clear, knots hard as stone. He pressed gently at first, then firmer, until he felt some of the stiffness ease under his palms.
Selvara closed her eyes. A small sound escaped her lips, half a sigh, half a low moan. "Better," she muttered.
Loid's ears burned. He kept his eyes firmly on her leg, focusing on his work. "Y-you're like carved marble. Do you ever actually rest? Or is your body just… forged like this by constant battle?"
She didn't answer. Another faint sigh slipped instead, which said more than words.
Loid's hands worked their way upward. Selvara gave a small hum, almost teasing. "Higher."
Loid froze, his throat tightening. His hands hovered near her hip.
"Selvara..." he stammered. "If I… if I keep going, I might..."
She cracked one eye open, the corner of her lips curving slightly. "Scared?"
That single word nearly undid him. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to breathe. Instead of going further, he abruptly moved to her arm, kneading her shoulder with exaggerated focus.
Selvara chuckled softly, a rare sound from her.
"You're cruel," Loid muttered, though his smile betrayed him.
---
By afternoon, Selvara pushed herself up from the bed, stretching with slow, deliberate movements. Her joints popped, her muscles still aching but looser now.
"I'll go," she said simply.
"Go? Where?" Loid frowned.
"Just to west barrack."
He wanted to protest, to tell her she needed another day at least, but he saw the steel in her eyes and knew it was pointless. Instead, he only sighed. "Fine. Don't overdo it. And come back safe, alright?"
Selvara nodded. She strapped her blade to her hip and left the inn, her steps steady despite the soreness still clinging to her body.
---
The barracks smelled of oil and smoke. Guards moved about, tending wounds, repairing gear, gathering fallen comrades for burial.
Roderick sat at a table in the center, his arm bound in rough bandages, his face pale with fatigue. When Selvara entered, he looked up and gave a slow exhale.
"You came," he said. "Didn't think you'd be walking so soon."
Selvara remained standing, her silver eyes fixed on him. "The goblin named Gib---"
"I know," Roderick replied. His gaze dropped, his voice low. "And thank the gods we are able to kill the bastard. But… this won't be the last. That thing wasn't alone. Others like him will come."
He rubbed his temple, leaning forward. "We lost only two men. Two. A miracle, considering the swarm. But the village won't survive another attack. Not if it's worse than this."
Selvara's words came quiet but firm. "Evacuate?"
Roderick hesitated. His fist tightened on the table. "We could. But moving thousands of people… elderly, children, livestock… it's a nightmare. Vulnerable on the road. Raiders, beasts, worse."
Silence lingered. Selvara didn't fill it. She simply waited.
At last, Roderick sighed heavily. He reached under the table and set a heavy sack of coins before her. The sound of metal clinking filled the tense air.
"Thirty gold. The chief wanted to give you twenty, but I added ten from my own purse. You saved this village. If not for you, we'd all be ash and bones." His eyes met hers, raw with sincerity. "Take it. Rest tonight. Tomorrow… we'll plan. Together."
Selvara looked at the sack for a long moment, then nodded once. She reached out, pulling it toward her with steady hands.
"Thank you," she said simply.
Roderick gave a tired smile. "No, Selvara. Thank you."
She turned, heading for the door, her silver hair catching the dim torchlight as she walked into the dusk.
---
Selvara returned to the inn as night crept in, the weight of coin heavy at her hip. Loid sat at the table, poring over the faint glow of the system's menu. She set the sack down with a solid thunk.
"That is thirty gold," she said. "and ten silver."
Loid blinked, staring at the wealth. "Gods above… that's more money than I've seen in my entire life." He hesitated, then asked, "So… what do you want to spend it on? A spell, better weapons, armor, maybe even a mount or pets?"
Selvara met his gaze evenly, her silver eyes unblinking. "I'll trust your judgment. Decide for me."
Loid groaned softly, running a hand through his hair. "You just had to dump all the pressure on me, didn't you?"
With a resigned sigh, he pulled the shimmering menu closer and began scrolling through the shop.