Sera stood calmly, looking at Orchid Village. The wind brushed gently against her skin, carrying the faint scent of trees and earth, but her expression remained unreadable.
She was in one of the mountains, the only place high enough for her to see the land below. Orchid Village looked so small in her view—fragile, almost insignificant—nestled quietly between the vastness of towering trees and unyielding mountains.
From up here, it almost felt like she could protect it with a single glance. She climbed up those mountains from time to time, not out of leisure, but out of habit—out of caution—checking movements surrounding the village, studying every corner and path. Even though it had been years, Sera was still as careful as before, her vigilance never once softening.
She sensed a movement behind her as she was still looking at the village.
"I know you're there, Runar," Sera said, her gaze still fixated on the village below, her tone calm and steady, as if his presence didn't stir even the slightest ripple of concern within her. It was not ignorance—it was control.
Runar smiled as he let himself be shown, stepping forward without hesitation. "I was trying not to disturb you." There was a softness in his voice, almost careful, as though he didn't want to shatter the stillness she carried with her.
"Well, you're gonna have to work on that." Sera turned to face him, her expression composed, her eyes sharp yet distant.
Runar smiled at her, but this time it lingered longer. His gaze was soft and filled with admiration toward Sera—an admiration that had only deepened with time, untouched by rejection.
Runar was the leader of the Stone Bandits that had been controlling Orchid Village. He was good-looking despite his rugged appearance, his features marked by both hardship and strength, the kind that told stories without words.
Four years ago, just when Sera and General Rin lived for a year in the village, Runar got into an accident and fell into the mountains. It had been sudden, brutal, and careless. Sera was there when it happened, watching as his body disappeared against the jagged rocks below.
She didn't know who he was, didn't know what he represented—but she saved him anyway. She took him to Mr. and Mrs. Soh and treated him with steady hands and quiet determination. Some of his bones were dislocated, twisted unnaturally, and Sera had managed to fix them with precision, enduring his pain and his resistance without hesitation.
That incident left something heavy in Runar's chest—something deeper than gratitude. It made him feel deeply owed, in a way he could never quite repay.
Runar had since admired Sera and promised to exempt her from their payment collections, offering it as both gratitude and something more. But Sera didn't receive his favor and chose to pay like the other villagers, her refusal firm and unyielding.
She avoided being in debt, avoided entanglement.
"Have you thought about my proposal yet?" he asked as he bit his lip, the question carrying a trace of hesitation that he tried—and failed—to hide.
"You're still on that?" There was a faint edge in her voice now, not anger, but a quiet exhaustion.
She had been rejecting his marriage proposal for four years. Even though she was a single mother, Runar wasn't bothered—not even for a moment. He waited for Arelus' father to show up as a sign of respect to her, convincing himself that the man might return someday.
But when he realized that he must be out of the picture, that no one was coming back for her, he didn't stop his courtship. If anything, it made him more persistent. He even visited Arelus sometimes, bringing him small gifts with awkward sincerity, trying to win the boy's favor as well, hoping that affection could be built slowly where acceptance had not yet been given.
He raised his shoulders, trying to appear casual, though the tension in his posture betrayed him. "Come on, Aila. I've been courting you for years. I promised not to force you or pressure you. And I did that…" He walked a little closer to her, careful but hopeful. "I have been very good… didn't even show myself at your place anymore just like you want… or had my men trouble you."
Sera slightly rolled her eyes, though the gesture carried more weight than it seemed. "Oh yeah? Well, your new recruits certainly didn't take heed of your command." Her voice remained calm, but there was a quiet irritation beneath it, a memory that hadn't faded. She turned her back to look at Orchid Village again, using the distance as a shield, trying to ignore Runar's presence and the persistence that came with him.
Runar's eyebrows furrowed instantly, his expression darkening. "Who?" His voice turned sharp, laced with anger, the thought of someone daring to trouble Sera igniting something dangerous within him.
Sera didn't answer him and just walked, ready to leave, her silence deliberate.
She paused as she reached closer to Runar, just enough for her words to land clearly.
"Don't get into an accident again. I won't save you the second time."
She said it coldly, her tone stripped of warmth, trying to cut through whatever admiration he held for her, trying to make it disappear. But Runar just smiled more as she left him, his determination unshaken, his feelings only tightening their hold.
…
STONE BANDITS STRONGHOLD
Runar had learned about what Kai and his group did at Sera's restaurant. The moment the words reached him, something inside him snapped—his chest tightening with a surge of anger that burned hotter the more he thought about it. He was filled with rage when he knew that Kai dared to touch Sera and threaten her, the image alone enough to make his hands curl into fists.
He punished the men by beating them until they were completely weak and bloodied, his strikes relentless, fueled not just by authority but by something far more personal. His men witnessed the execution in silence, none daring to intervene, none daring to speak.
"I was sure that I was very clear with my instructions never to trouble Aila. Just why… why did you do it?!"
His voice was loud, echoing through the stronghold, heavy with fury and disbelief, each word striking as hard as his fists.
"His brother… he kept on… pestering our operations…" Kai weakly reasoned, his voice trembling, barely holding together as pain overtook him.
"And you took it on her? You even touched her?" Runar's voice dropped, more dangerous now than before. "Didn't you know that I even had to take ten steps back, just for her to like me?" He held Kai's hair tightly while lifting him, forcing him to face him, making him groan in pain. "And you just touched her casually like that?!"
"I'm… sorry, Runar. It… won't happen… again." Kai spoke as blood gushed out from his mouth, his strength fading with every word.
Runar hit Kai's head with his knee, the impact sharp and merciless, and Kai dropped unconscious, his body collapsing lifelessly onto the ground.
He wiped the blood from his hands, his breathing heavy but controlled, as if forcing himself back into composure.
"Let me say it again…" Runar said as he lifted his gaze to his men, his expression hard and unyielding. "Aila's gonna be my wife. You will give her the same respect as me. If this incident happens again, you will face the same judgment… or worse. Am I clear?!"
His men were silent, but their silence spoke louder than words—a sign of obedience, or perhaps fear.
Kai was taken by his group and tended to his wounds. As he woke up, anger filled him, burning deeper than the pain in his body. He didn't like Runar being soft to the villagers because of Sera, didn't like how his leader had changed, how emotion had begun to dictate decisions. And in that bitterness, he began to think—carefully, dangerously—of a way to gain the men's favor and overthrow him.
He talked to the men, laying out his plans for the prosperity of the Stone Bandits, speaking of strength, expansion, and power. He painted Runar as weak, as someone who had been holding them back, all because of his affection toward Sera. His words were persuasive, feeding into the ambitions and frustrations of the others. And slowly, quietly, most of the men sided with him.
Runar didn't have any idea what was coming to him.
…
Arelus was sitting on the countertop of Mr. and Mrs. Soh's shop while chewing on some chestnuts, his small legs swinging lightly as if the world around him was safe and simple.
The warm, familiar space of the shop wrapped around him like comfort. Mr. Soh signed to him, asking if the chestnuts were good. Arelus smiled brightly and nodded without hesitation, making Mr. Soh smile in return as he gently patted the boy's head, a quiet moment of peace passing between them.
Then Kai and his group came.
The atmosphere shifted instantly, the warmth in the room turning cold. Mr. Soh immediately pulled Arelus down from the counter and hid him behind his body, his movements quick and protective.
He signed to the group, trying to communicate, his hands moving urgently, but they didn't understand him, making Arelus peek out from Mr. Soh's side, unaware of the danger tightening around them.
"He said they've already paid the fee this month," Arelus said innocently, his voice small and unguarded as he placed another chestnut into his mouth, not yet grasping the tension in the air.
"We're here for something else." Kai signaled his men, his expression cold, his intent clear.
They stepped inside the shop and forcefully took Arelus from Mr. Soh, who struggled to shield the boy from them, his body trembling but unyielding.
A thug punched and kicked Mr. Soh, each hit landing hard as he fell to the ground, while Mrs. Soh ran to aid her husband, panic and fear overtaking her as she saw the blood on his face.
"Put me down!" Arelus squirmed and cried, his voice breaking as he tried to free himself from the man holding him, his small hands pushing helplessly against an unmovable grip.
The thugs followed Kai as they left the area, their footsteps heavy and unhurried, carrying the boy away despite his cries. The shop was left in disarray, silence settling in their wake.
Mrs. Soh immediately ran to find Sera after making sure her husband was okay, her heart pounding with urgency and fear, knowing that every second mattered.
...
Kai and his men took Arelus to the Stone Bandits Stronghold to use him to subdue Runar, convinced that the boy held importance to him.
To them, Arelus was nothing more than leverage—a simple, effective way to bend their leader to their will. The child's cries echoed along the path, but none of them slowed, their resolve hardened by ambition and defiance.
When they arrived at the Stronghold, Runar immediately stood from his seat the moment he saw them, his movements abrupt and sharp. His eyes locked onto the small figure in their grasp—Arelus, crying, struggling—and something in his chest tightened. The sight struck him harder than any blade could.
His gaze fell on Kai, filled with anger as understanding dawned upon him. There was no confusion, no hesitation—only clarity. Kai wasn't just acting out. He was challenging him.
"Put the boy down and let's talk," Runar said as he put his sword down, his voice controlled, though tension coiled beneath every word.
Kai grinned, slow and mocking, as most of the bandits stood by his side, their presence forming a silent declaration. "It's time to make some changes here, and it starts with you."
Runar was amused at the sight of the men turning against him, though the amusement didn't quite reach his eyes. He placed his hands on his waist and laughed, the sound low but edged with disbelief. "Wow… you really got some nerve."
The men who were left loyal to Runar stood behind him, their stance firm despite the uncertainty, their loyalty unshaken.
Their numbers were fewer than those on Kai's side, the imbalance clear and undeniable, the tension between the two groups thick enough to suffocate.
"Surrender now and we'll spare you," Kai said as he unsheathed his sword, the blade catching the light.
Runar's men unsheathed their swords as well, steel ringing in unison, ready to fight back despite the disadvantage.
But Kai suddenly pulled Arelus closer, grabbing his arm tightly. The boy winced, his cries rising in pain and fear.
The sight rooted Runar in place, his feet frozen as if the ground itself held him still. He signaled his men to stand down, the command silent but absolute.
Kai laughed at Runar's restraint, his expression twisted with satisfaction. "Look at him, everyone…" He pointed his sword at Runar as he turned around, addressing all the men of the Stronghold, his voice loud and taunting. "The almighty Runar… weak and soft… just because of that woman… and her bastard!" He pulled the crying Arelus even closer to him, using the boy like a display. "Who would want such a weak leader?!"
Runar groaned, a low, restrained sound escaping him as he watched Kai's grip tighten on Arelus' arm. Though the child wasn't his son, his affection for Sera ran deep enough to make the boy untouchable in his eyes. That alone was enough to make his chest burn with helpless anger.
Runar slowly raised his arms, surrendering, the movement heavy with reluctance but firm in its intent. "You got me. Do what you will with me. Don't hurt the child and anyone else." His voice carried no fear for himself—only a quiet, desperate resolve to protect.
Kai signaled his men to capture Runar and his loyal followers as he laughed, victorious and unrestrained. Taking Arelus as bait had been a good idea—better than he expected. It had worked perfectly. It made Runar surrender without a fight.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Soh arrived at Sera's restaurant, her steps hurried and uneven as panic drove her forward. She dashed through the doors, startling Sera, Rin, and all the customers inside, her sudden presence breaking the calm atmosphere.
She sobbed as she approached Sera, her breathing ragged, her hands trembling. Sera caught her, confusion flashing across her face, her heart already beginning to pound at the sight.
Mrs. Soh signed to her, her movements frantic and desperate, telling her that the Stone Bandits had kidnapped Arelus.
Sera's vision blurred instantly, the world around her dimming as the information sank in. Her deepest fear stood right in front of her—her son in danger, despite everything she had done to prevent it, despite all the careful distance she had kept from trouble.
She had chosen to leave her past life behind, to build something quiet, something safe. But fate had no intention of letting her go. It kept pulling her back, dragging chaos into her path no matter how far she tried to run.