The morning sunlight shimmered across the training grounds—a clear, fresh radiance that felt almost too peaceful for what was coming. The air was cool, the kind of chill that settled into your lungs and reminded you that you were alive.
Thack.
Thack.
Thack.
The sound of wood striking wood was the only thing breaking the silence. Yuna moved through the grass with a grace that didn't belong to someone her age. A wooden practice sword spun through her hands, a blur of precise, mechanical movements. Step. Swing. Turn. Strike.
Nearby, Bliss watched with her arms folded. She looked calm, but internally, she was recalculating. The more she observed Yuna, the more the word "terrifying" came to mind. The child didn't just learn; she absorbed. Her instincts weren't those of a novice—they were the movements of a high-ranking Draco warrior.
*(At this rate, she'll surpass ordinary knights frighteningly early…)* Bliss thought, a silent warning echoing in her head.
Then, a shadow passed overhead.
Both of them looked up. A royal hawk was descending, a high-born messenger with a crest tied to its leg that practically screamed "Status." A Strauss Royal Messenger Hawk.
The bird landed near Yuna, puffing out its chest with an arrogance that only royal pets possessed. Yuna blinked, her training forgotten for a moment.
"Huh?"
The hawk extended its leg, showing off a sealed letter. Bliss looked at the bird, then at the royal seal, then back at Yuna. She didn't need a map to see where this was going.
Yuna carefully untied the parchment. The moment her eyes hit the handwriting, her expression shifted. It was elegant, careful, and instantly recognizable.
Princess Iyo.
Without realizing it, a small smile tugged at Yuna's lips. Bliss saw it immediately.
(Ah…)
Yuna opened the letter and began to read.
Dear Yuna,
I hope you, Lady Da-li and little Eunha are all doing well. Father and I are healthy as well, so please do not worry about us.
Yesterday I was unexpectedly called to attend an emergency matter in the royal court because Father was absent. I was very nervous at first… but somehow I remembered everyone I met during your journey. Especially you.
I managed to make my judgment successfully, and Father praised me greatly afterward. Because of this experience, I have decided to begin studying more seriously from today onward. Politics. History. The kingdom itself. I wish to become wiser and stronger little by little.
I also hope… that we can meet again as soon as possible. Until then, I wish you the very best of luck in your training and adventures.
— Iyo.
Silence followed the reading. The morning breeze moved softly around Yuna, but she didn't move. She just stared at the letter, reading it again. And then a third time.
A warmth spread through her chest—gentle, comforting, and utterly distracting. She held the paper a little closer, still smiling at nothing in particular.
Bliss watched, taking a long, slow sip of her tea. To an observer, the answer was already written in stone.
(Yep. She's completely gone.)
Meanwhile, the royal hawk remained on its perch, looking like an elite soldier who had just completed a sacred mission. It was waiting for a reply. It was waiting for greatness.
Then, a blur shot across the grass.
FWOOOSH!
The hawk's survival instincts exploded. It launched itself into the air just as Raijin, the tiger cub, flew beneath it with both paws extended. The cub landed dramatically on the exact spot where the bird's head had been a second ago.
Yuna jumped. "Raijin!?"
The hawk circled overhead, squawking in a frantic, undignified panic. Raijin just looked up, looking quite proud of his failed assassination attempt.
"What are you doing!?" Yuna hurried over.
Raijin looked at her and growled softly, pointing his nose toward the bird.
"Huh?"
The cub growled again, longer this time. Yuna tilted her head, completely lost. "What are you trying to tell me?"
Right on cue, Eunha appeared. She was carrying a haul of fruits in her shirt like a tiny, successful farmer. She gave a calm, matter-of-fact nod.
"He's saying he wants to eat the chicken."
The silence that followed was heavy. The royal hawk froze mid-air, slowly turning its head toward the tiger cub. It immediately regretted the decision. Raijin was staring upward, showing tiny, sharp teeth in a smile that was disturbingly creepy.
Inside Raijin's head, there was only one vision: a golden, roasted bird. Buttered skin. Steaming meat. The peak of culinary enlightenment.
The hawk's eyes widened in horror.
SCREEEEECH!!
It flew higher. Much, much higher.
"Raijin, you can't eat royal messenger birds!" Yuna cried, looking horrified.
Raijin sat on the grass, looking like a warrior who had been denied his destiny. Bliss, nearby, was fighting a losing battle against a fit of laughter.
Eunha walked over and scooped the devastated cub into her arms. "Raijin… there's no need to worry."
The cub looked up hopefully.
"Let's go to the inn," Eunha said with a confident nod. "Uncle Rui will definitely give you the chicken dish you want. Come on. Today we feast."
"Wa!"
Raijin's eyes sparkled. Emotional recovery: achieved. He forgot the hawk existed instantly.
The bird watched them leave with extreme caution before finally descending back to the fence, looking thoroughly traumatized.
Yuna went back to her spot beneath the tree, holding Iyo's letter one last time before taking out paper and ink. Bliss pretended not to watch. She was very bad at it.
Yuna began to write.
"Dear Princess Iyo,
I am very happy to hear that both you and His Majesty are doing well. Mother, Eunha and I are also healthy. We have two new family members: Raijin, a tiger cub Eunha took in, and mother's friend Miss Bliss, who is currently living with us.
I have fully recovered from my injuries and resumed my training today. Hearing about your first experience in court made me very proud of you. I believe your people will feel safe under someone as kind as you.
I also… miss you. I hope we can meet again soon someday. Until then, I hope we can continue exchanging letters with one another. I wish you the very best in your studies and growth.
— Yuna."
She reread it. Then she blinked.
The realization of what she'd written—specifically that one line—hit her all at once. Her cheeks turned a distinct shade of pink.
(Direct hit,) Bliss thought.
Yuna folded the letter before anyone could say a word and attached it to the hawk. The bird looked at her suspiciously, then glanced around for the "chicken-eater."
"Don't worry," Yuna smiled gently. "He's gone."
The hawk relaxed, flapped its wings once, and soared into the sky. Yuna watched it until it was nothing but a speck.
"You seem very happy," Bliss noted.
Yuna looked at her and nodded. "Yes… I don't really have many friends."
It wasn't a sad statement. It was just a fact.
"Neither do I," Bliss replied with a shrug. "Most people from my homeland are either too serious… or emotionally constipated."
Yuna tilted her head. "Emotionally… what?"
"Nevermind."
Bliss's tone shifted instantly. The relaxed, tea-drinking woman vanished. She crossed her arms, and the air around her suddenly felt heavy. Dangerous.
"Though… isn't it about time you started training properly?"
Yuna straightened up. "I am training seriously."
Bliss shook her head. "Not this kind of training."
A cold breeze swept through the grounds. Bliss didn't look like a guest anymore; she looked like a Captain. The temperature dropped. Thin frost began to form beneath her feet, turning the grass into a field of tiny, shimmering crystals.
Yuna's eyes widened. "You too…?"
"That's right," Bliss said, a confident smile appearing on her face. "So… what do you say? I'll give you real training. The kind useful in the deadliest situations. The kind that keeps you alive when nobody comes to save you."
She paused, letting the cold sink in.
"So you don't end up in a medical facility again."
Direct hit.
The memory of the Executioner flashed through Yuna's mind. The pain. The helplessness. The sight of Andrew's party bleeding out while she could do nothing.
Her expression hardened. The uncertainty was gone, replaced by a cold, sharp determination. She hated being weak.
"Please train me," Yuna said firmly.
Bliss's smile wasn't playful this time. It was proud.
The real training was finally beginning.