Lord Azron, however, wasn't convinced I was mute. Determined to squeeze the truth from me, he brought me to the interrogation grounds. The pain from the whip was real—each sting telling me that none of this was a dream. I had truly traveled to another world.
The torture was excruciating, but I endured. My body had been trained since childhood, conditioned to withstand pain. I could not—would not—reveal who I was. To tell them my name was Sera, that I came from another world, would surely cost me my head.
Blood dripped down my back when Grand Ersi finally stopped the punishment. She was Lord Azron's grandmother, a woman who had lost her own mute daughter. When she learned a mute girl had been found in the woods, she took pity on me and brought me under her care. That was the last time I saw Lord Azron. I only heard that he had left for another war.
Grand Ersi assigned Shrin to watch over me and teach me the ways of the Grand's Chamber. At first, I had planned to escape, but as the days passed, Grand Ersi grew closer. She reminded me of my Master. She trusted me, even without knowing my origins. Gradually, I abandoned the plan to flee and stayed by her side, all while searching for a way back to my own world.
The Grand's Chamber housed ten female maids, as men were forbidden inside. Under Shrin's guidance, I adapted to life there. She gave me the name Yan, since I could not reveal my own.
Grand Ersi granted me access to her library, offering me freedom to study and learn about this world. Life in her chamber was not harsh. Thanks to her favor, I could rest when I wished and had everything I needed. She treated me like family, and I grew to care for her in return.
Inside Grand Ersi's chamber, I found peace for the first time in my life. Perhaps this was what my Master had meant—life without constant danger, moments of calm, and no enemies hunting me. Perhaps this was my chance to start anew… in this strange, new world.
….
Shrin and Yan arrived at Grand Ersi's room. Shrin stopped, feet precise, and bowed. Yan's gaze lifted, first to Grand Ersi—and then to the man standing before her.
It was Lord Azron.
Yan's eyes widened. Five months had passed since she last saw him. He had returned from the war; another land had fallen to the Morts.
He looked different. An elegant white robe with gold patterns adorned him, and his hair was tied back, revealing every sharp, commanding feature. Astonishing… no wonder every woman in the City admired him.
His gaze found Yan, curious and appraising. She looked different too. She wore men's clothing, having refused the women's garments Grand Ersi had provided—they were too restrictive for someone who might need to fight at a moment's notice.
Her brown, wavy hair was tied back in a ponytail. Women in Mort City adorned themselves with jewelry, following the customs of their world. Grand Ersi had gifted her ornaments and fine clothing, but Yan had left them untouched. Too cumbersome. Too binding. She could not afford distractions.
Her senses remained sharp, alert. Even in the presence of Lord Azron, an assassin's instinct never rested.
….
Azron
There she was. The strange woman I had found in the woods months ago. Her clothes had been odd then—thin, short, exposing too much skin. Lucky for her, I had been the one to find her. Otherwise, the other soldiers would have feasted on her. Even her belongings were unusual, and the way she had treated Dan was unlike any medical practice I had ever seen in this land. In all the months I had been away, I had learned nothing of her origins.
And now… she was still pretending to be mute. Does she really think she can deceive me? No. This woman is not who she appears to be. The first time she had pointed an arrow at my neck, I knew she was extraordinary. Fast, precise… she might even challenge me in combat. Even the torture had failed to break her. When she looked at me then, there was no pleading in her gaze. None. Only the calm, unwavering certainty of a warrior. Thin, slight, and seemingly fragile, yet her eyes burned with strength.
My scouts report that she has not spoken a single word. Obedient. Follows my grandmother's orders. Always wears men's clothing, despite Grand Ersi providing her with everything she could want. No suspicious movements, no irregularities. She eats, she sleeps. She has even grown closer to my grandmother. If she harbors ill intentions, they could have been carried out while I was away—but so far, she has given no reason to suspect her.
Who is she? Where did she come from? Why is she so… strange?
I must keep her close. This woman… she intrigues me.
….
Yan and Shrin stepped politely to the side as Lord Azron left the room. Grand Ersi remained seated, her hands wrapped around her morning tea. The steam curled lazily upward, masking nothing of the weight in her gaze.
"Yan, starting tomorrow, you will be serving His Lordship in the government office," Grand Ersi said, her eyes locking on Yan's.
Shock surged through Yan. Her throat nearly betrayed her, a sound she barely contained. She blinked at Grand Ersi, curiosity sharp in her wide eyes. She could not ask why, could not deny the command.
"It was His Lordship's request," Grand Ersi added quietly, almost as if sensing Yan's inner question.
Why? Did he already know my secret? Yan's mind raced.
"You have been with us for a while, and I'm certain you have learned the rules here. It's time for you to learn the rules outside. Don't worry—you will be like any other worker. You will be compensated for your efforts."
Compensated… a salary? Yan's heart skipped. Until now, she had relied entirely on Grand Ersi's provisions. The thought of earning her own way, of buying what she wanted, ignited a thrill deep inside her.
"Remember, this is still your home. You can return after the day." Grand Ersi held Yan's hand, the gesture gentle yet firm, like she was speaking to her own daughter. "My grandson may seem ruthless, but deep down he is a good man. He allowed you to stay with me despite knowing nothing of your origins. He is usually not like this. Do your job well, okay?"
Yan nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. Grand Ersi's warmth reminded her of her Master.
…
The government office was vast, a testament to centuries of Mort family power. Paintings of warriors lined the walls, their names etched beneath the family emblem. Ancestors, Yan realized, the legacy of a bloodline steeped in battle.
She scanned the enormous table before her. A detailed map of Mort City and the surrounding territories lay spread across its surface. Certain cities bore the Mort flag—signs of lands now under Lord Azron's control.
Azron Mort was the last living male descendant; his father and three brothers murdered in his childhood. The city, its people, and its surrounding lands had long been his responsibility. From an early age, survival had meant ruthlessness. With four trusted generals, his power had grown, his reach expanded.
This man… he was not so different from Yan herself. From a young age, killing had been a means of survival.
I need to be careful, she thought, each muscle tensing. If he discovers who I truly am, I will be in serious danger.
A shift behind her caught her attention—subtle, almost imperceptible. Someone had entered her space.
Azron Mort was there. Just inches away.
Her pulse hammered. Protective reflexes surged, but she forced them down. If he sensed her strength, her skill, he would know she was no ordinary girl. She needed to appear weak, fragile, compliant.
She turned slowly, forcing shock onto her face, and bowed.
Azron's gaze settled on her, sharp and calculating, as if weighing her reaction like a blade. He leaned forward, the space between them shrinking, his presence pressing in. Yan instinctively leaned back, but the edge of the table stopped her. Their faces were inches apart. Her breath hitched. His eyes burned—green, piercing, impossible to look away from. The weight of his presence pinned her in place.
"Yan, is it?" His voice was deep, masculine, carrying across the small space between them, brushing her senses like a live wire.
Yan nodded slowly, careful to maintain composure.
He straightened, towering over her once more. She looked tiny beside him. His body was larger now than when she had last seen him—muscles honed, shoulders broad, the result of countless battles fought day and night. Every line spoke of lives taken, of relentless discipline. He was danger made human, impossible to ignore, and yet… fascinating.
Azron strode toward a seat that resembled a throne. Across from it, a table stretched wide, covered with scrolls of every size and color, their edges curling with age.
"Follow me," he ordered, his voice low but commanding.
He sank into the chair, his presence immediately filling the room, while Yan remained standing before him. The scene made her mind flash to movies she had seen in her world—she, a pheasant, and he, a king.
Azron's gaze swept over her again, recalling the physician's report delivered after Grand Ersi's order to treat her. The man had confirmed that she was likely mute, her head injuries severe enough to have erased much of her memory. If true, placing her in the government office made sense—she could speak of nothing outside, and he could watch her closely, ensuring she posed no threat.
"Your task will be to follow me wherever I go, and to wait for my orders. Unless instructed, you will not move or touch anything. Just sit there…" He pointed to a chair beside the wooden shelves. "Sit there, and do nothing."
Yan obeyed immediately, sliding into the chair.
Hours passed. Azron's eyes never left the scrolls, scanning line after line of records. Yan observed him silently. What could he be reading? These scrolls must hold vital secrets about this world.
Drowsiness threatened to pull her under, but it was interrupted by the sudden entrance of four male warriors. Instantly, Yan stood. Shrin had drilled her to rise when soldiers in red approached.
"Greetings, Lord Azron!" Their voices boomed, bouncing off the corners of the vast room. Their size alone announced they were not ordinary men; they were as imposing as their Lord.
The warriors' eyes fell on Yan. She bowed politely, Shrin's lessons guiding her—the proper etiquette of this place demanded respect to all.
"You?" a warrior asked, pointing at her.
Recognition sparked. Dan—the injured general she had treated months ago.
These must be the famous generals Shrin had described: General Dan, the charming one with curly hair; General Rin, grumpy but gentle; General Jidu, whose face could rival a woman's; and General Wang, the talkative one with a love for gossip. Shrin had warned her that one of them occasionally inspects Grand Ersi's chamber.
"Why is she here?" General Rin asked, tilting his head toward her.
"Don't mind her. How's the border?" Azron's voice cut in, calm and commanding, as he rose and approached the map.
The five warriors followed, their eyes tracking him like shadows in motion.
"It's… uhmm… is it safe for her to hear us? We usually speak freely amongst ourselves," General Jidu whispered.
"She's fine. I heard she's mute, injured her head. They say she's strange, always looking at the sky," General Wang replied, a faint smirk in his tone.
The four generals glanced at Yan again, who remained seated, feigning disinterest, though her ears and mind absorbed every word.
Azron cleared his throat, drawing their attention fully back to the map. Strategy and war plans were laid bare before them, each movement, each decision calculated with precision. Yan's eyebrows slightly furrowed as she listened, her mind racing to understand. It was exactly like the war movies she had watched in her world—but this was different. Real. Immediate. Dangerous. And she was here, witnessing it firsthand.