"We are all going to die," whispers Arlette.

Her voice is so subtle that if the wind had blown the other way, I wouldn't have heard a word. Her hands toy with the naked blade of her sword hung on her back. I also fidget with the little cubic device containing my swords.

"We have to try, but if you want to go back we won't hold you back," I respond peeking through the dry intertwined branches.

Standing behind the deep forest green leaves, we observe with attention the movements beneath us. We didn't catch any suspicious ones, but that doesn't mean they are not hiding next to us. My eyes start to burn, but I am scared to miss a sign if I blink. One moment of inattention would mark our end to all four.

"Are you kidding, I am not backing off now that we are almost there," she mouths.

Behind her the flapping noise of the wing of a falcon makes the dry branches rustle. At the same time, we jump towards it before staying still again.

Enhya is already ahead of us, scouting the way. I feel again this itching feeling on my neck.

"We are almost there," I whisper.

"How do you know that?" she signed. "He is certainly not at the same place where you left him. But we can't be certain he is in this specific area."

I raise my hand to respond but suddenly a real bird flows into the sky. Enhya found Vidarr.

I jump down to the floor ignoring the sensation echoing in my knees. Enhya is kneeling in front of a pond. She points to two trails going in opposite direction.

"We have to make to separate," she frowns.

Her hand wanders on the top of the sand without touching it.

"I don't notice any struggles. At least no fight occurred here."

"I can take the left one," I propose. "You two can follow the other one."

I can see the glow of relief in Arlette's eyes. It is obvious that those two will never want to part from each other.

"Do you think it is a trap?"

I hesitate before answering, "...I think it is the most situation."

Enhya's lips tighten before she nods slowly, "Good luck Raven."

I smile without any joy before raising my hand to bid them farewell.

I put delicately my feet in the sand paying attention to the noise I do not cause. Everything is silent, except for a gentle breeze that I wished blew when we were guarding the Southern wall.

I suddenly freeze, and the birds and the insects stop to fly or chirp. The only reason why they would stop would be because a predator is lurking around.

Suddenly I see him. Or I see what is left of him. A bloody ripped face and twisted members. I stumble across a round softball. I let out a cry of horror and fall on my back seeing the wondering eye rolling on the floor. A beautiful green shade.

Green eyes...

A small gush of air makes my hair stand on my neck. I grab knives as thin as paper and throw them around me. The man protects himself with his arm. Two knives lodge themselves in the metal protecting his flesh.

Tied in front of him, Vidarr serves him as a human shield. His head is motionless and is moved by the will of his assailant. His clothes are ripped revealing a bare chest marked by the arrow wound. Brown hard coagulated blood mixed with fresh one painted his tanned skin like an artist would violently throw paint on a wall.

My hand quivers when I take the cube out of my pocket.

Is he dead?

Is he alive?

If so, how much time do I have time to save him?

Can I kill the man without killing Vidarr?

I jump back several meters behind to avoid the sword. The sword is as big as Marianna's, maybe even longer. The tip of the blade cut the end of one of my locks, letting me notice the curious pattern cut into it. Cold sweat forms at the back of my neck.

I quickly grab a tree branch and tract myself to gain a few seconds of safety.

'I am screwed.'

I graze the palms of my hands from climbing the quickest away possible from the ground.

'Those types of blades are made to cause the most painful and mortal wound when getting off the flesh. But the strong acid scent belongs to a poison called wyren.

'And the effects are..'

I let out a gasp of surprise when a dagger brushes my chin and nose. I jump back on the floor as four weapons finish their race where I would have gone.

I get out my sword and aim for the top of his head. He doesn't move and simply punches me in the abdomen. I tighten my jaw and kick him under his chin. He took a step back and I applied the cube against my fresh wound.

The device set itself on and my swords materialized and I grab each one in my hands.
I swing towards his leg before raising them brutally. He jumps on them making me tilt toward him. I take an impulse, quickly put my hands on the floor, and kick him.

He already guessed my movements and it's the chest of Vidarr that I violently hit. He let out a grunt opening brutally his brown eyes behind.

"Ra...en?"

I freeze, my heart beating faster. He is alive. Adrenaline boils in my blood. I clench my fist and aim for his head with my first sword and protect myself with the second.

I swing my weapons without leaving any spots unprotected. The man starts to back down and I continue to jump from one technique to another, hearing the voice of Frederick yelling what I need to do.

I grit my teeth and let myself go against the floor, my two swords flashing towards his leg. I get up and get out another set of weapons before throwing them immediately.

His hand makes the knives flick and I realize too late, that they are coming back toward me. I pivot on the side, dodging one before jumping.

A sudden rush of pain travels through my shoulder. I fall to my knees. Above my right breast, a dagger is lodged in my flesh. I block his sword with mines. But my strength is far from matching his and the sharp side of the blade is only half an inch from my neck.

He puts his heavy foot on my bruised stomach and I violently knock my head against the ground. His hand tightens my exposed neck.

"A young mercenary like you shouldn't waste your time among them," says the Scorpion his eyes glinting. "Die or come with me."

I feel the burning pain making my eyes tear. Should I go with them? My heart beats widely as I react without any thoughts. I tighten my jaw and spit on his face.

He raises his sword. I close my eyes.

Something hot splashes my face. A golden flash passes before me. The head of the mercenary flies in the air before falling next to me. My stomach tightens crossing the eternal surprised eyes.

"DJOHRN! BRING THE KIDS BACK TO THE CASTLE!"

"But.."

"Do as I say!"

Keeping my eyes open become more and more difficult. I feel someone grabbing by my waist, lifting me off the floor.

I feel underneath me the familiar touch of a horse. I slightly open my eyes and as we ride away, to observe a knight. His movements are fluid, powerful, and flawless. The mercenaries around him fall as he fights like a lion.

Something heavy falls on my shoulder, the sleeping head of Vidarr is lying against my wounded neck, his warm breath tingling my skin.

My eyelids become heavier and my cheek rests against his chest as I fall into unconsciousness.

⚔️⚔️⚔️

'It hurts.'

When I wake up, every part of my body hurts. I groan turning slightly to the side, my hand stretches against my chest where I received my dagger. A clean smooth bandage is wrapped around.

I blink and try to get up off the bed, but my legs don't follow my will and I tumble on the floor. A woman in a white uniform comes running towards me scolding me. She gently helps me and puts me back to bed before trotting away.

I turn around my head to the bed on my left. A young man is lying completely covered with a bandage except for a few spots. But the dark unique mid-long hair makes Vidarr easily recognizable.

Heavy footsteps echo behind the infirmary door. The large frame of my mentor appears at the entrance.

"Are you feeling better?" he asks walking towards my bed.

"As good as you can feel after being beaten up by a mercenary," I grin weakly.

My voice breaks down as I start to cough. My small attempt at a joke doesn't seem to work well. Lord Eiran lift a chair and place it at my side.

"What the hell you three were thinking?" he sighs putting one of his scarred hands on his forehead.

My eyes shift towards the unconscious Vidarr, "I couldn't let him die."

"Both of you would be dead if I hadn't stumble across Arlette and Enhya," he replies.

His voice is calm but I can sense the hints of anger lying underneath it.

"You left your duties to go save an apprentice."

I bite my tongue and speak before my courage abandons me, "Wouldn't you have done the same thing if it was your wife?"

His shoulders flinch and for a moment I regret saying that. But he only rises from his chair and walks back into the corridor.

"You should go back to sleep. You are still in a bad shape."

"You are not going to punish us?" I ask as the nurse comes back with a tray filled with small vials.

He smiles sadly, "I think that you already suffered enough for quite some time."

⚔️⚔️⚔️

It takes me two weeks before I can go back to training. Lord Eiran's training occupies me the whole day, and I do not have the time to do chores or properly rest. Vidarr is still unable to participate in any exercise. I don't know if this results in the strong intensity of my lessons or if it is his usual teaching speed.

I sit next to the pond, my knees dipping into the fresh mud and wet sand. I pass my hand into the water and wet my sweaty face and neck.

In the reflection, I see the distorted image of the second student of Lord Eiran a few meters behind me.

"Do you perhaps have a hobby in stalking people?" I ask turning towards him.

His left arm is held by a metal crutch envelope with a soft red cushion at the top. His face is still bruised but is slowly getting back to its original state. But his injuries don't stop him from following me around.

"I would like to talk to you," he starts limping in my direction.

"Well, I have fifteen minutes before my training starts," I finally say rising.

"C-Can you... you know what never mind," he rambles scratching his neck.

I jump to catch his sleeves, but his strength is superior to mine so I end up almost falling.

"Sorry," he excuses.

'Sorry? Did something happen to his head while I left him during the attack?'

"Just spit it out already!" I yell frustrated. "What do you want so badly from me that you decided to follow me like a duckling all day?"

His eyes grow cold and he opens his mouth to reply before backing off. He sighs putting his hand over his forehead.

"I can't believe I am actually going to ask that."

I stay in front of him while he finishes dealing with his internal battle.

"Could you," he starts slowly pronouncing each word carefully, "Teach me how to fight like you?"

My mouth falls open and I let go of his sleeve—which I didn't notice I was still holding.

"What?"

"I don't think it is a wise idea."

Vidarr and I turn around to watch our mentor coming out of the bushes.

"L-Lord Eiran!" exclaims my companion.

He blushes remembering what he just said moments ago.

"It is not that I-I believe you are a bad teacher! You are the best knight in Esmeray! No in the entire continent! And..."

"No need to explain yourself," interrupts the Duke of Aldraril.

He doesn't seem trouble or mad. In fact, his eyes are glowing with contempt.

"I am very pleased by the fact you took the initiative to ask her such a request. But instead, I would like that you will both become Ivelles."

I gasp, "But isn't it too soon."

"We are only apprentices and besides there is only a slim chance of making it happen."

"I see that none of you mentioned the connection necessary," he points out pleased.

We say nothing and I look away embarrassed. I recall the lesson I had back in Svenja. Ivelles are a pair of knights who share an intense link. Through a formal ceremony, their strength will unite to make them even stronger. On the battlefield, they always stay together and protect each other's life before their own. Their power and efficiency are multiplied by no less than ten times.

This connection helps them in doing so. They sense if the other is in danger, and can share memories if they think of the same thing at the same time.

"To be honest, I have been thinking about this since I chose you to be my student," he starts. "I couldn't help but notice the similar traits both of you share."

"But what if the ceremony fails!" I protest.

The reason why the numbers of Ivelles are so rare is because for them to become one, they need a strong emotional link that binds them. And my relationship with Vidarr isn't what can be called a close one.

"You are wrong, it won't fail."

He takes a pause to observe us more properly, "But what decided me was what Arlette and Vidarr told me."

"What do you mean?" he frowns beside me.

"Arlette shared that it was you Raven who took the initiative to go save Vidarr. In addition, you sensed where he was and felt a great discomfort as you approached his location."

I avoid the piercing gaze of the student and focus on Lord Eiran.

"Vidarr, didn't you tell me you sensed the arrival of Raven when she got...lost."

This time it is him that avoids my eyes.

"So do you want to give it a try?" asks a smiling Duke.