Time passed.
Measured in strikes.
In bruises.
In silence.
Weeks became months.
The training grounds carved themselves into Alex's body.
Every fall.
Every failure.
Every breath.
"Again!"
Alex stepped forward, spear in hand.
His opponent moved.
Fast.
Alex reacted—
Better.
He shifted his stance—
CLANG.
The blade slid off his spear.
Not fully.
Not perfectly.
But different.
"…What was that?" the soldier muttered.
For a moment—
There was an opening.
Alex thrust.
Too slow.
CLANG.
Blocked.
Then—
THUD.
He hit the ground again.
Breathing hard.
That feeling…
It came—
And vanished again.
Unnoticed.
Unseen.
Even by him.
"You're lasting longer," Theo said, walking over.
"…Still losing."
Theo grinned.
"Yeah. But not like before."
Alex said nothing.
But his grip tightened on the spear.
From a distance—
Sir Vald watched.
"…He's close," he murmured.
A pause.
"…But doesn't know it yet
The camp changed overnight.
More patrols.
More tension.
More silence.
No one laughed anymore.
Even the air felt heavier.
Theo walked beside Alex, quieter than usual.
"…Something happened."
"…Yeah."
Theo exhaled.
"The Duke moved."
Alex's eyes sharpened.
The next morning—
All soldiers stood in formation.
Still.
Silent.
Waiting.
Sir Vald stood before them.
His presence alone demanded attention.
"Listen carefully."
No one moved.
"Duke Vale Le Noctra has broken through the Varkhane Empire's front line."
A ripple spread through the ranks.
"He has secured new territory."
Alex's grip tightened slightly.
Mithril…
Vald continued.
"That land is rich."
A pause.
"Rich enough to start another war."
Silence.
Vald's voice lowered.
"A royal order has been issued."
The weight of it pressed down on everyone.
"By His Majesty—King Aldric Velthorn."
Even the wind seemed to still.
"The Duke has been summoned back to the capital."
Confusion flickered through the soldiers.
"…Now?" someone whispered.
Vald didn't react.
"The order is absolute."
A pause.
"The Duke will obey."
Of course he would.
Even the Hound of Night bowed to the throne.
Theo's jaw tightened slightly.
"…That's bad," he muttered.
Alex glanced at him.
"…Why?"
Theo didn't answer immediately.
Vald did.
"Because the moment the Duke leaves…"
A pause.
"…the enemy will return."
Silence.
Heavy.
Cold.
Vald stepped forward.
His voice sharpened.
"Before departing, the Duke issued his own command."
Every soldier stood straighter.
"His knights will remain."
A pause.
"We will hold that land."
The weight of it hit instantly.
"With our lives."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Just truth.
"That territory contains mithril," Vald continued.
"If it falls—Velkris weakens."
Alex's mind raced.
So this is it…
Not just war.
Responsibility.
Theo let out a quiet breath.
"…We're bait."
Vald didn't deny it.
"They will come," he said calmly.
A pause.
"And we will be waiting."
Silence.
Then—
"We march immediately."
The formation broke.
Soldiers moved quickly.
Weapons.
Armor.
Preparation.
Alex remained still for a moment.
Spear in hand.
Unrecognized.
Unproven.
Yet standing in a place that mattered.
A battlefield that would decide more than survival.
His grip tightened.
If this land falls…
A slow breath.
"…Then we stop it here."
Theo smirked slightly.
"…Now you sound like a soldier."
From the front—
Sir Vald watched.
Silent.
"…No," he murmured.
A pause.
"…Something else."