After the retreat to the forest's edge, tents were erected and rations distributed.
Though their wounds had already been treated, many soldiers and mages still bore the lingering pain of battle. They sat scattered around the camp, resting and chatting in high spirits.
Even though the mission had been aborted midway, simply surviving was victory enough for them. Laughter and relaxed voices filled the air.
In stark contrast, both Divine officers were seething with frustration over Dorian's sheer, unfiltered stupidity—charging into battle alone and getting himself killed, forcing the entire operation to be canceled.
Worse still, his death was bound to bring trouble for them as well.
Sebastian von Galatier—Dorian's father—would not let this go.
Their irritation only deepened as they watched the soldiers and mages laughing carefree, as if nothing of consequence had happened.
Under the darkness of night, lit by the flicker of campfires, laughter continued to echo.
Most of the stories being told were about Dorian—how he had suddenly rushed into the front lines, flailing about with awkward, almost comical bravado.
As for Ryn…
His actions were never mentioned.
After all, what he had done technically defied orders.
Yet in truth, he had saved every single person on the front line.
Had he not cast the barrier spell—had he not stepped forward first—panic would have consumed them, and they would have died waiting for a command that never came.
Goran wandered through the camp in search of Ryn until he ran into Alize.
"Hey. Have you seen Ryn?" he asked.
Alize replied flatly,
"Hmph. I'm looking for him too."
Goran hesitated for a moment before continuing,
"Then… how about we search for him together?"
Alize shot him an exasperated look, then walked off without another word.
Goran stood there for a brief second before setting out to search on his own.
Meanwhile—
Ryn had already returned to the Calami cave alone.
Even though the mission had been called off, he couldn't leave things unfinished.
Under the cover of night, he ventured deep inside—into the Womb Chamber.
When he opened the chamber door, he found countless containment vessels.
Inside them were humans, deer, and bears.
Some were pregnant.
Ryn closed his eyes, recalling the method of release Richard had taught him during his days as his master's assistant.
He raised his hand, shut his eyes tightly, and imagined the faint light that still lingered within the vessels.
Before long, soft white radiance began to seep from their bodies.
Threads of light intertwined gently, re-forming their original shapes.
Ryn lowered his hand, staring at the scene with sorrowful eyes.
The souls turned to face him and bowed slowly in silent gratitude.
Then, their luminous forms drifted past him, out of the cave—rising higher and higher until they dissolved into the sky.
The cave returned to darkness, leaving only the faint glow of Auroral Tear behind…
And the quiet grief that settled in Ryn's heart.
As Goran continued his search, he suddenly spotted Ryn walking by.
"Hey, Ryn!"
Goran called out loudly.
Ryn turned at the sound, and Goran hurried over to him.
"Where have you been? I've been looking for you forever."
Ryn replied calmly,
"I was just walking around nearby."
Then he asked,
"Did you need something from me?"
Goran hesitated for a moment before speaking with a serious expression.
"Well… I wanted to thank you. And also… apologize."
Ryn gave a faint smile.
"It's fine. I don't hold it against you."
Goran let out a relieved breath, then continued,
"Hey, so… you really are Sir Richard's student, right?"
Ryn nodded.
Goran immediately followed up,
"And is it true what they say? That Sir Richard's training is brutal?"
Ryn looked at him in silence for a moment before answering,
"Whether it is or not, why don't you try asking to train with him yourself?"
Goran quickly shook his head.
"No thanks."
Ryn chuckled softly.
As they walked back into the camp—
The moment the soldiers and mages noticed him, the chatter and laughter gradually faded.
Every pair of eyes turned toward Ryn.
He slowed his steps, feeling their gazes, and was about to walk past without paying them any mind—
But they surrounded him instead.
Not to accuse him.
To thank him.
To praise him.
Laughter and voices rose once more, warm and genuine.
And all of it was watched in silence by Bernard.
—
When the army finally returned to Central, the soldiers and mages dispersed to return the badges they had received on the first day—
proof that they had passed the trial.
The officials marked the badge, etching a line to indicate the number of trials the bearer had passed, and kept it on record until the next application for a new test.
Once everything was finished, everyone went their separate ways, returning to their own quarters.
When Ryn arrived back at Richard's house, he told him everything that had happened during the trial.
"Heh… That's hardly surprising,"
Richard said with a faint, knowing chuckle.
"But from now on, you are the one who should be worried."
Ryn fell silent, listening without protest—
because he thought the same.
After facing his first real mission, he was not afraid of being watched, judged, or singled out.
What troubled him instead was this—
That his own actions might bring harm to others,
just as they had this time.