In a luxurious room, Teresa slowly regained consciousness. She looked around, her head still dizzy as she struggled to recall what had happened before she lost consciousness.
"That's right… everyone… the battle…!"
She hurriedly got out of bed, intending to go outside and learn what had happened, but the moment she opened the door, she collided with someone, causing both of them to fall.
"Teresa, you're awake? Do you feel anything wrong with your body?"
"Meryl, is that you? Tell me what happened in that battle. Is everyone alright? How did we get out of there?"
Teresa's voice was filled with urgency as she grabbed Meryl and shook her repeatedly.
"Calm down. Everyone is safe. You were the only one who was seriously injured. But fortunately, you've fully recovered now."
Hearing that, Teresa's expression turned momentarily blank.
"Everyone's safe? How? And… how long was I unconscious?" She asked.
"It's been two days since we returned. The commander said that if you want to know what happened, you should go see him."
"I see…" Teresa froze for a few seconds, then quickly went to prepare. "Thank you for telling me."
Not long after, Teresa had put on her armor and headed to where the commander was working. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
"Commander Granthor, I'm here."
"Ah, take a seat. Let me finish this first."
Teresa sat down and waited in silence. After a while, Granthor finished his work and sat across from her.
"Seeing that you've fully recovered has put my worries completely to rest. That's truly good to see."
Teresa asked with some confusion, "Just how badly was I injured?"
"You don't remember?"
Teresa shook her head.
"I only remember that I had to protect everyone, and I used all of my strength. But… I failed and lost consciousness…"
Her voice carried deep frustration and self-blame.
"Don't blame yourself. No one could have predicted what happened back then. If not for you holding on until that unexpected appearance, we would all have lost our lives."
Granthor let out a sigh.
Hearing that, Teresa's eyes lit up. "That's right—what happened afterward? Was that monster defeated?"
Granthor nodded and began recounting the events.
"I look forward to your growth." He repeated the words, his tone carrying an indescribable weight. "That was the message that person left for you."
"Kalyse…" Teresa murmured the name faintly.
"And it seems your rapid recovery was also thanks to that person."
"Who exactly was that person? Have you found anything?" Teresa asked.
Granthor shook his head wearily.
"The current state of the war is extremely urgent, so I can't spare resources for this matter right now. However, I've sent people to investigate, so for now, all we can do is wait."
Teresa nodded, but then hesitated slightly.
"If you have questions, go ahead and ask." Granthor said.
"Um… in your opinion, what kind of person is she?"
Granthor was slightly surprised by the sudden question, but after thinking seriously, he replied:
"It's too early to draw conclusions. I didn't sense any hostility at the time. But given her immense power and the oppressive presence she carries, it would be unwise not to stay on guard."
"Oh…"
"Is there anything else you want to ask? If not, I have something else to tell you."
"No. What is it?" Teresa asked.
"Orders have come from above to assemble a unit to retrieve an artifact known as the 'Yincic Goblet,' located within a ruin more than twenty miles southwest of Nessel."
"Again…" Teresa's face paled slightly at the news.
"Sigh... Given the current state of the war, it's only natural to seek out new sources of power."
Teresa didn't respond to that remark. Instead, she asked quietly:
"Commander Granthor… do you think this war is truly the right thing to do? So many have already sacrificed their lives…"
Granthor didn't answer immediately. He stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder, his gaze stern.
"Teresa, this is how the world is. Things will never unfold according to our wishes, but we must accept them nonetheless."
"Is there… really no way to change it?"
Granthor fell silent for a few seconds.
"I believe you've heard this before—power must be accompanied by strength. This time, they're likely using this opportunity to temper you as well. So if you wish to change something, prove that you are strong enough."
Teresa seemed to grasp something. She smiled softly and thanked the commander.
"Alright. For this mission, you've been appointed as the commanding officer. So don't stay gloomy—it will affect everyone's morale."
"M-Me?" Teresa asked in shock.
"It can't be helped. All the other commanders are overwhelmed with work. Don't worry—once you reach Nessel, there will be additional support."
"I… I'm not sure I can do this…" Teresa clasped her hands together, clearly anxious.
Granthor glanced at her, then flicked her forehead.
"I told you not to be pessimistic. And you don't have much time anyway—you'll be departing tomorrow. The detailed information will be sent to you shortly."
"What!? That soon!?"
…
Three days passed, and at last, the Harvest Festival of Nessel arrived. From early morning, the atmosphere was already bustling. Everyone was busy preparing festival tools, and colorful ribbons decorated every corner of the city.
"Kalyse, look over here!"
Liora excitedly pulled Kalyse toward a food stall, her face glowing with enthusiasm.
"What's there to be excited about? It's just ordinary food." Kalyse replied.
"Maybe, but during a festival like this, it feels different."
"I don't see any difference."
Today, Kalyse wore a different outfit than before: a waist-length cloak in black with a violet sheen, the shoulders reinforced with thin, bright silver armor. Underneath, she wore a simple corset that fit her form snugly without being showy, paired with a long skirt slit at the front up to mid-calf. The skirt was made of a special lightweight material—soft, yet flexible enough not to hinder movement in battle.
In contrast, Liora wore a striking translucent white dress. Her hair was neatly tied up, and her light makeup made her look like a genuine noblewoman.
"Here." Liora said, handing over a skewer of meat. "If you don't eat this at the festival, you'll definitely regret it."
Kalyse took it. The aroma compelled her to take a bite—it wasn't bad.
"Mhm. You should've worn something more glamorous. This style suits you, but it doesn't really bring out much femininity." Liora commented.
"What do I need femininity for? I prefer comfort." Kalyse replied.
Knowing she couldn't change Kalyse's mind on that matter, Liora decided not to argue and instead dragged her around to explore.
As they moved deeper into the festival's central area, lively sounds filled the air—lute melodies, small drums, and the laughter of the townsfolk blending together, creating an energy that seemed to brighten the entire atmosphere.
Food stalls lined the streets, with the scents of grilled meat, honeyed pastries, and sweet fruit drifting everywhere. In the distance were game areas for ring toss and tug-of-war, while in the main square stood a stage for folk dances. Children dressed as autumn spirits ran about cheerfully, carrying small, colorful paper lanterns.
"This place is… far too lively." Kalyse sighed.
"That's what makes it fun! Come on, let's try some games!"
"I'm not interested."
"Whether you are or not doesn't matter—come with me!" Liora grabbed her hand and dragged her toward the ring toss area.
A crowd gathered around the game, cheering loudly. Liora eagerly stepped forward.
"Kalyse, try it! I bet you'll hit every single one!"
"I didn't come here to show off." Kalyse said, though her eyes briefly glanced at the rings on the table.
"Such a hassle…"
Muttering her complaint, she picked up a ring and casually tossed it. As expected, every throw hit its mark.
"So amazing!" Admiring voices rose from around them.
Kalyse paid no attention. She turned and walked away, leaving the prizes for Liora to deal with.
Just as she slipped out of the crowd, something suddenly shot toward her at incredible speed—but she caught it effortlessly. It was a thin, circular piece of metal, slightly larger than a coin. It was icy cold, its surface covered in symbols.
"Oh? So the information finally arrived." She sneered.
She silently recited a spell, splitting herself into two. The separated figure looked identical to her but possessed no power—it existed solely to deceive observers.
"Enjoy yourself." She left behind.
Her figure vanished.
When Kalyse reappeared, she was in a secluded place, completely cut off from the festival's noise. There, a figure dressed in black had already been waiting for some time.
"That took quite a while. I hope you brought back something worthwhile!" Kalyse said.