"Valter Ascension...?"
Marina spoke quietly, a hint of confusion in her voice.
"Quiet, Marina. Pack a bundle of my clothes. Quickly now, don't waste time."
Lira's tone sharpened instantly, leaving no room for hesitation.
What the hell is happening?
The man stepped back outside.
"Lira... I'll wait for you out here. Is there any way you can get him to help us?"
Lira exhaled softly, her expression tightening.
"He's not in a state where he can even support himself. His name has already been forgotten... it won't be long before he forgets all of us as well."
"What!? And you're just going to let that happen?"
Marina hurried off to gather clothes, but she could still hear their voices as Lira stepped onto the porch.
"I don't have a choice. All I can do is trust that my husband can endure... that he can hold on to what remains of his memories. There are forces at play far beyond my control."
"Then how are we supposed to defend ourselves?" the man pressed. "We won't be able to protect the boy forever. Eventually, Valter will break through... and when they do, they'll slaughter everyone with the King's blood. After that, everything collapses."
"Don't you think I know that!?" Lira snapped, a rare edge in her voice.
"Then where do we go?"
"The only path left is to leave the continent. The elves once supported Reymund... but now that Cecilus is missing and Reymund is dead, there may still be a chance to reach an agreement."
"That journey will take over a month... can we even survive that long?"
"We don't have a choice. As long as Thalen lives, we still have a future."
The man fell silent for a moment.
"You should see him. Thalen's outside."
Without another word, he disappeared into the forest. The trees themselves seemed to part for him, branches shifting aside as though alive.
***
A small, pale boy sat upon a worn log, surrounded by a cluster of soldiers.
In his hands, he clutched a stuffed bunny. One of its eyes was covered with a crude patch.
Suddenly, he leapt off the log and ran forward, lifting the toy high into the air.
"Woosh!"
He made soft sounds as he ran, pretending the bunny soared through the sky.
As he darted past a group of men, he collided with a bulky soldier.
"Watch where you're going!"
The soldier barely glanced down at him, irritation clear in his voice.
"I-I'm sorry..."
The boy lowered his head and stepped away.
"That brat just plays around all day. We're breaking our backs out here to keep him alive, and he acts like nothing's wrong."
"Take that ugly doll away and put a sword in his hand. Might toughen him up. When I was his age, I was already fighting for my family. What are they raising these kids to be? Royal blood makes them soft."
"His parents are already dead. You'd think he'd understand the situation by now."
The boy, Thalen, began running again... faster this time, pushing past others until he reached a quiet clearing.
Then he stopped.
His body trembled as tears began to fall.
He dropped to the ground, curling in on himself, clutching his knees tightly.
The grass crinkled beneath him as distant voices faded into nothing.
"...Mother... Father... why did you leave me...?"
His voice broke as he cried.
***
Marina had already packed the clothes.
What just happened...?
We were eating peacefully... and now we have to leave?
She stepped outside and saw Lira waiting near the forest's edge.
A large bag already sat at her side.
When did she pack that?
Lira gestured silently, then stepped into the forest.
Marina followed, her eyes widening as the trees shifted, branches bending and parting to create a path.
So I really couldn't leave... even if I wanted to...
The movement stopped abruptly.
A boy came into view... curled on the ground, crying.
Thalen.
Soldiers lingered in the distance.
Marina walked past him without hesitation.
Better to avoid unnecessary trouble...
But Lira stopped.
She crouched down beside the boy, lowering herself to his level.
"Would you like to see a magic trick?"
Thalen wiped his eyes, blinking away tears as he looked up.
Lira smiled warmly.
A soft green glow shimmered in her hands... and a yellow flower bloomed into existence.
Thalen stared in wonder as she placed the sunflower into his hands.
"You need to stay strong... alright?" she said gently. "For your mother and father. If you can endure, if you keep moving forward... you'll save many people. Can you do that for me, Thalen?"
He sniffled... then nodded.
Marina watched the scene unfold and clicked her tongue quietly.
Thalen stood, still clutching the flower, as Lira guided him back toward the others. They passed Marina without a word.
He was crying... and she comforted him...
But that wasn't kindness... was it?
Marina's gaze lingered on the boy.
His clothes were finely made. His posture... even in grief... carried discipline. His speech had been polite.
He was important.
That kindness... it was to keep him in line.
Lira left the boy behind, returning him to the log.
Her kindness is control.
What did Lira even solve?
She didn't even try to understand why the boy was crying.
People are selfish by nature.
Efrain... he was likely kind because of my appearance. Cecilus... he had his own motives. Anything good that happened was just a side effect.
Trey... he spared me at times, but in the end, he killed everyone. How can someone like that be trusted?
When people show kindness to those they care about, they're just maintaining relationships... sustaining something for their own sake.
And kindness to strangers...?
If it benefits them, it's still selfish. If it doesn't... then it's foolish.
Society has already realized this. That's why no act of kindness is without reason.
The safest way to live is to assume the worst in everyone.
Marina's eyes shifted toward Lira.
She must have a reason for keeping me alive. That man treated her like a leader... there are hundreds of soldiers here.
She isn't just some old woman in the woods.
She's even wanted by a noble household.
So her kindness must be fake.
That boy is young... a few gentle words are enough to guide him. She used kindness to shape him into what she needs.
She exhaled quietly.
But in the end it doesn't matter.
I don't need to interfere. It's better to stay uninvolved.
A peaceful life... that's all I want... isn't it?
Her gaze drifted back to Thalen, now playing again with his stuffed bunny.
Then she turned away.
A memory surfaced.
Marina as a child... clutching her knee as blood trickled down her leg.
It hurt. She had cried.
But instead of tending to the wound, a maid had smiled at her.
"It's alright, Marina... I know it hurts. But you'll see your mother today, won't you? So be strong and finish your chores... okay?"
Marina had nodded.
She finished her work.
Then she collapsed.
The wound worsened, the pain unbearable.
She never saw her mother that day.
Instead, she was punished.
Back then she hadn't blamed the maid.
The maid had been kind.
The maid had been understanding.
But now...
That wasn't kindness. It was manipulation.
Why would a child question someone who spoke gently?
Later... when Marina saw that same maid lying dead, her stomach torn open across the manor floor...
She had felt relief.
In a strange way, Trey had removed many of her problems.
Even now, she didn't feel hatred toward him.
He had his own reasons... but at least now she understood.
Back then, she had been naive enough to believe everything he did was for her.
Looking back, she could only see her own ignorance.
Now she stood among strangers, surrounded by soldiers in the middle of the forest.
Yet she felt calm.
She would wait... observe... and act when necessary.
"Everyone!"
Lira's voice rang out clearly.
"I know you are all exhausted... and frustrated from the journey."
"But this... this is the final stretch!"
"We will march to the border and seek out the nearest elven tribe!"
"With Thalen's help, we will gain their support, and strike back against Valter Ascension!"
"The journey will be difficult... but we will endure!"
"We have some of the finest fighters on this continent... and I will fight alongside you!"
Lira continued outlining their route.
Marina, however, drifted into her own thoughts.
We're heading to the border?
Back to my home region?
Maybe... I can escape before we get there...
Why was I even brought along?
And what does she mean 'defend'? Since when was I part of an army...?
"Who's the girl?"
A rough voice cut through her thoughts.
One of the soldiers pointed toward her.
The man beside him shrugged.
"Entertainment?"
Before she could react, Lira approached and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Everyone," Lira said with a smile, "before I forget... allow me to introduce my very first disciple... Marina."
Marina blinked, then pointed at herself.
"Me...?"
Since when did I become a disciple...?