Raven's Pass Fortress — Dawn
Kaito and Lilith were met with unexpected honors.
There was no hostility.
No weapons aimed at them.
Just Gorman, standing at the entrance, with a respectful bow.
—Lord Kaito. Lady Lilith. Welcome.
Kaito studied the man.
A veteran. Tired. But not dishonest.
—Lieutenant Gorman.
—Just Gorman now, sir. I no longer serve anyone but these men.
Kaito nodded.
—I understand.
Gorman gestured inside.
—I've prepared a meal. Nothing extravagant, but... I thought we should talk civilly.
Kaito exchanged a look with Lilith.
She nodded slightly.
—We accept.
---
Main Hall — Meal
The table was set simply.
Bread. Roasted meat. Wine.
Nothing luxurious, but honest.
Kaito and Lilith sat across from Gorman.
Several soldiers watched from the shadows, but not threateningly.
Gorman poured the wine personally.
—Forgive the modesty. We are not nobles.
Kaito took a piece of bread.
—I prefer honesty to ostentation.
Gorman smiled faintly.
—Then we'll start well.
They ate in silence for a few minutes.
Finally, Gorman spoke.
—Lord Kaito... I need to know your intentions.
Kaito set down his cup.
—My intentions?
Gorman nodded.
—You said you are building a kingdom. Where? How? And what role do we play in it?
Kaito leaned back in his chair.
—My kingdom will be established in mountainous territory. Nearby, but not here.
He pointed to the mental map.
—I seek allies, not subjects. Partners, not slaves.
Gorman frowned.
—And us?
—You can rule these fortresses as before. But under my protection. With fair trade. No extortion.
He paused.
—In return, when I need soldiers... you will answer.
Gorman processed the words.
—And Vargun?
Kaito looked at him directly.
—That is your decision. Not mine.
Gorman blinked.
—My decision?
Kaito nodded.
—You are the new leader. You decided to arrest him. You decide his fate.
He leaned forward.
—What good is his surrender to me? I do not rule this fortress. You do.
Gorman fell silent.
No one had ever given him that power before.
Not even Vargun.
—I... need to think about it.
—Take your time.
Lilith, who had been silent, stood up.
—Allow me to pour you more wine, Gorman.
She took the pitcher.
Gorman tensed immediately.
His hand moved toward his dagger.
—No... thank you. I'm fine.
Lilith tilted her head, smiling.
—You distrust me?
—I distrust everyone —Gorman replied honestly.
Kaito watched the scene... and smiled.
A dark smile, full of malice.
—Lilith.
She looked at him.
—Pour for me first.
Lilith blinked, surprised.
Then smiled back.
—As you command, my king.
She filled Kaito's cup.
He raised it, looking directly at Gorman.
—To your health.
And drank.
Completely.
Without hesitation.
Lilith filled her own cup.
—And to yours.
She drank too.
Gorman watched.
Then, slowly, extended his cup.
—Alright. Pour for me.
Lilith did so.
Gorman drank cautiously.
Nothing happened.
He relaxed his shoulders.
—Forgive my paranoia.
Kaito smiled.
—It's fine. Caution keeps you alive.
---
Scene Change — Kaito's Camp
Adelheid was sitting by the fire, reviewing maps.
The Voss brothers patrolled the perimeter.
Rolf and the others rested.
All was quiet.
Too quiet.
Adelheid looked up.
Something was wrong.
—Voss. Report.
One of the brothers approached.
—All clear, commander.
Adelheid frowned.
—Sure?
—Yes, comma—
An arrow pierced his throat.
He fell.
—AMBUSH!
From among the trees, dozens of men emerged.
Armed. Organized.
Vargun's soldiers.
The remaining loyalists.
Adelheid drew her sword.
—DEFENSIVE FORMATION!
But it was too late.
Outnumbered. Surrounded.
They fought fiercely.
But finally...
Adelheid was brought down.
Not killed.
Captured.
Along with the others.
The leader of the attackers, a brute with scars, smiled.
—Lord Vargun sends his regards, commander.
Adelheid spat blood.
—Damn you...
The man laughed.
—Save your strength. You'll need it.
---
Back at the Fortress
The conversation continued.
Kaito explained his plans for trade, infrastructure, alliances.
Gorman listened attentively, asking questions.
Lilith remained silent, observing.
—So... you truly don't plan to conquer us? —asked Gorman.
Kaito shook his head.
—Conquering is easy. Maintaining... that's difficult.
He paused.
—I prefer loyal partners to resentful subjects.
Gorman nodded slowly.
—That's... surprisingly sensible.
—I learned from the best —Kaito replied, glancing briefly at Lilith.
She smiled.
Suddenly—
CRASH!
The hall doors exploded.
Splinters of wood flew everywhere.
Gorman's soldiers drew their weapons.
But they froze.
Because from the smoke...
Vargun appeared.
No longer chained.
Filthy. Bloodied. But free.
And behind him... a dozen soldiers.
Dragging prisoners.
Adelheid.
The Voss brothers.
Rolf.
Others from Kaito's camp.
All chained. Beaten.
Kaito stood up slowly.
Lilith remained seated, but her eyes sharpened.
Vargun laughed. A broken, demented laugh.
—SURPRISE, BRAT!
He threw Adelheid to the floor in front of Kaito.
She looked up, blood running down her face.
—Commander... I'm sorry...
Kaito did not respond.
He only looked at Vargun.
Vargun smiled with bloodied teeth.
—You thought you had won, right? That you had broken me.
He drew his axe.
—But I always have a plan B.
He placed the axe's edge against Adelheid's neck.
—Here's the deal, brat. You kneel. You surrender. And maybe... maybe... I let your precious commander live.
Kaito slowly raised his hands.
Lilith did the same.
Vargun laughed.
—THAT'S MORE LIKE IT! ON YOUR KNEES!
Kaito began to kneel.
But then... he spoke.
In a calm voice.
—Adelheid.
She looked up.
—Commander?
Kaito smiled.
—Now you can do whatever you want.
Adelheid's eyes widened.
Then... she smiled.
A terrifying smile.
Full of contained malice.
—Finally.
She activated her Iron Will.
BOOM!
An invisible pressure exploded from her body.
The soldiers holding her froze.
Their eyes clouded over.
—Release me.
They obeyed.
Without hesitation.
Adelheid stood up, breaking the chains as if they were paper.
Vargun stepped back.
—What the hell...?
Adelheid moved.
Too fast.
She grabbed Vargun's axe with her bare hand.
—Your mistake... was touching me.
She twisted the axe.
Vargun screamed in pain, letting go.
Adelheid kicked him.
The enormous man flew against the wall.
Vargun's soldiers attacked.
Adelheid destroyed them.
One by one.
Not with magic.
With pure brutal skill.
She broke arms. Legs. Jaws.
In less than a minute...
Everyone was on the ground.
Moaning.
Broken.
Adelheid walked towards Vargun.
He tried to get up.
She stepped on him.
—Stay down.
Gorman and his men watched with fascinated horror.
But then—
Gorman stepped forward.
—Enough!
His men surrounded Kaito, Lilith, and Adelheid.
Weapons aimed at them.
Kaito didn't flinch.
Gorman spoke with a firm voice.
—This ends now. There will be no more violence in my...
He stopped.
His throat closed up.
He began to choke.
He fell to his knees, gasping.
—W-what...?
Kaito walked slowly towards him.
Knelt before the dying man.
—The wine, Gorman.
Gorman looked at him with desperate eyes.
—B-but... you... you drank too...
Kaito smiled.
—Yes. I drank.
He pointed at Lilith.
—But Lilith doesn't need to pour poison into your drink.
Lilith stood up, walking towards them.
—I myself... am the poison.
Her eyes glowed golden.
Gorman coughed up blood.
Around the hall, other soldiers began to choke too.
Falling one by one.
Lilith raised her hand.
—All who drank from my hand... are now infected.
She looked at Kaito.
—Except you, my king. You are immune to my poison.
Kaito stood up.
Looked at Gorman, who was still breathing with difficulty.
—Now, Gorman. I'll ask you a simple question.
He leaned in.
—Will you join me? Or shall I let what you worked so hard to build... end right now?
Gorman gasped.
—I-if you cure them... will they serve me?
Kaito nodded.
—Under my terms. But yes.
Gorman looked around.
His men dying.
Vargun broken on the floor.
He had no choice.
—I... accept...
Kaito signaled.
Lilith closed her eyes.
—I release the poison.
The pressure dissipated.
The men gasped, breathing again.
They didn't die.
But now they knew.
They knew how close they had been.
And they knew who held the power.
Gorman got to his feet with difficulty.
Looked at Kaito.
No longer with distrust.
But with fear.
And respect.
—You... are more dangerous than I thought.
Kaito did not smile.
—I am not dangerous, Gorman. I am necessary.
He looked at the soldiers.
—Does anyone else have doubts?
Silence.
Then, one by one...
They knelt.
Kaito looked at Vargun, lying on the floor.
—And him?
Gorman approached.
Looked at the man who was once his leader.
—Public execution. Tomorrow.
Kaito nodded.
—As you wish.
---
That Night — Kaito's Tent
The camp was silent.
The wounded had been treated. The guards, relieved. The day's tension... finally dissipated.
Kaito was alone in his tent, removing his dust-stained coat.
His hands trembled slightly.
Today I threatened to let all those men die.
Without blinking.
What am I becoming?
The tent entrance opened.
Adelheid entered.
Without announcing herself.
Without asking permission.
Kaito turned, surprised.
—Adelheid, I...
She closed the entrance behind her.
Her gray eyes shone with something intense.
Dangerous.
—Commander.
Her voice was low. Hoarse.
Kaito instinctively stepped back.
—What's wrong? Is something wrong?
Adelheid walked towards him.
Slowly.
Every step measured. Precise.
Like a predator stalking.
—Nothing is wrong.
She stopped in front of him.
Too close.
Kaito could smell her scent. Steel. Leather. Something else... human.
—Adelheid...
She raised a hand.
Touched his chest.
Kaito froze.
—What you did today, commander...
Her fingers traced slowly over Kaito's chest.
—Was perfect.
Kaito blinked.
—P-perfect?
Adelheid leaned closer.
Her lips almost brushing his ear.
—Seeing how you looked at Gorman. Without fear. Without doubt.
Her voice became a dangerous whisper.
—Seeing how you would have let all those men die... without blinking... for your kingdom.
Kaito felt a shiver run down his back.
—I... I only did what was necessary...
Adelheid laughed softly.
A sound Kaito had never heard from her.
Low. Heavy.
—Exactly.
Her other hand came up, touching Kaito's face.
—You did what was necessary. Not what was easy. Not what was kind.
Her gray eyes locked onto Kaito's.
—You acted like a true king.
Kaito swallowed.
—Adelheid... you're acting strange...
She smiled.
Not her usual military smile.
But something more... feminine. Dangerous.
—Strange?
She moved even closer.
Their bodies almost touching.
—No, commander. I'm acting... honest.
Her hand slid from his face to his neck.
—Do you know what I felt when I saw you there? Cold. Calculating. Willing to sacrifice anything...
She paused.
—It excited me.
Kaito blushed.
—W-what?
Adelheid laughed.
—It excited me to see that part of you. That coldness. That absolute determination.
She leaned until their foreheads almost touched.
—Because it shows me you would do anything to build your kingdom.
Her fingers traced Kaito's neck.
—And I... would do anything to follow you on that path.
Kaito stepped back, bumping into the table.
—A-Adelheid, this is...
—Inappropriate? —she finished, advancing—. Unprofessional?
She cornered Kaito against the table.
Her hands planted on either side, trapping him.
—I don't care.
Kaito felt his heart beating out of control.
—I-I don't know... I don't know how to act when you're like this...
Adelheid smiled.
—Then don't act.
She leaned in.
Her lips centimeters from Kaito's.
—Just... accept it.
Kaito closed his eyes, not knowing what to do.
His mind was in chaos.
What's happening?
Why is Adelheid...?
Should I...?
And then—
—My, my, my... Am I interrupting something?
Both froze.
Kaito opened his eyes.
Adelheid tensed, turning slowly.
Lilith was at the tent entrance.
Smiling.
But her golden eyes... shone with something cold.
Dangerous.
—Lilith —said Adelheid, straightening up—. This isn't...
—My business? —Lilith finished, walking inside—. Oh, but I think it is.
She approached, studying the scene.
Adelheid blocking Kaito against the table.
Kaito red as a tomato.
The palpable tension.
Lilith tilted her head.
—Commander Adelheid... how direct you are.
Adelheid clenched her fists.
—He is my commander. I have the right to...
—To what? —Lilith interrupted—. To claim him as yours?
She walked in a circle around Adelheid.
—Because if I recall correctly... he is also my king.
Adelheid turned, following her with her gaze.
—You only see him as a tool. I...
—You what? —asked Lilith, stopping—. You love him?
Silence.
Adelheid opened her mouth... but didn't answer.
Lilith smiled.
—Oh, dear. You can't even say it.
She approached Kaito.
Adelheid instinctively stepped between them.
Lilith looked at her with amusement.
—Relax. I'm not going to eat him.
She looked at Kaito over Adelheid's shoulder.
—Although it is tempting, isn't it, my king?
Kaito finally found his voice.
—BOTH OF YOU, STOP!
Both stopped.
Kaito moved away from the table, creating distance.
—I am not... not a property you can claim.
He looked at Adelheid.
—And you... can't just... do that without...
He blushed more.
—Without... warning.
Adelheid lowered her gaze, ashamed.
—I'm sorry, commander. I...
Kaito raised his hand.
—And you —he looked at Lilith—. Stop instigating.
Lilith smiled innocently.
—I only came to report that Gorman wants to talk tomorrow about Vargun's execution.
She paused.
—But I found this... much more interesting.
Kaito exhaled deeply.
—Both of you... out. Now.
Adelheid hesitated.
—Commander...
—Out.
His voice was firm.
Adelheid nodded and left quickly.
Lilith stayed a moment longer.
She looked at Kaito with something in her eyes.
Something soft. Almost... vulnerable.
—Commander... can I say something?
Kaito looked at her, tired.
—What?
Lilith walked towards him.
Slowly.
She stopped in front of him, but kept her distance.
—Adelheid is right about one thing.
She paused.
—Today... I saw a part of you that reminded me why I agreed to follow you.
Her eyes shone.
—Not because you are kind. Not because you are fair.
She smiled.
—But because you are capable of doing what is necessary. No matter the cost.
She touched his chest briefly.
—That... is what makes a true king.
She withdrew her hand.
—And that's why... I too would do anything to follow you.
She turned and walked towards the exit.
—Rest, my king. Tomorrow will be a long day.
And she disappeared.
Kaito was alone.
Finally.
He fell onto his bed.
Looking at the ceiling.
What just happened?
Why did Adelheid...?
And Lilith...?
He closed his eyes.
This is getting complicated.
Very complicated.
But deep down...
A part of him couldn't deny.
A small, selfish part...
Felt... flattered.
He shook his head.
—No. Focus.
He sat up.
—Tomorrow is Vargun's execution. Then, consolidating the fortresses. Then...
He looked at the cards in his glove.
There were still more.
Not summoned.
Naporia.
When will be the time?
He put the gloves away.
—One problem at a time.
He lay back down.
And slowly...
Fell asleep.
Dreaming of kingdoms.
And of two dangerous women.
Who somehow...
Had become indispensable.
---
Outside the Tent
Adelheid was sitting by the fire.
With her hands in her head.
What did I do?
Why did I act like that?
I'm not... I don't do those things...
But she remembered Kaito's gaze.
Cold. Determined.
And she felt that heat again.
Damn it.
Lilith approached.
Sat next to her without asking permission.
—First time feeling that, right?
Adelheid looked at her angrily.
—Shut up.
Lilith laughed.
—Relax. I'm not judging you.
She looked at the fire.
—I felt it too.
Adelheid blinked.
—You...?
Lilith nodded.
—Seeing a man with real power... not stolen power, not inherited power... but power earned...
Her eyes flashed.
—It's... intoxicating.
Both fell silent.
Looking at the fire.
Finally, Adelheid spoke.
—This can't go on like this.
Lilith smiled.
—Oh, but it will.
She looked at Adelheid.
—Because we both know... that he is the only man in this world worth following.
She stood up.
—The question is... which of us will be closer when he reaches the throne?
And she walked away.
Leaving Adelheid alone.
With her thoughts.
And with a question burning in her mind.
What do I really feel for him?
She had no answer.
Not yet.