The dawn illuminated the walls of the Royal Palace of Acropolis.
Golden light covered the towers, the streets, and the enormous plaza in front of the palace.
That morning, more than four thousand men had gathered there to march toward the Empire.
A large royal carriage waited at the foot of the steps.
The banners of the Kingdom and the Duchy of Douglas fluttered above it, surrounded by soldiers from both forces.
Three hundred warriors.
Two hundred mages.
Three thousand Kingdom soldiers.
One thousand templars sent by the various holy orders.
Four thousand five hundred men in total.
It did not look like an expedition.
It looked like an army marching to war.
And, in a way, it was.
The palace doors opened.
Elizabeth appeared at the top of the steps.
She wore the ceremonial uniform of the expedition's commander, along with the royal family's cloak.
Her posture was impeccable.
Her head held high.
Her gaze firm.
She did not look like a princess about to accompany an army.
She looked like someone prepared to lead it.
The four heroes appeared behind her.
Alejandro.
Leonardo.
Kara.
Emily.
The soldiers began to form ranks.
Then, among them, Lusian appeared.
He was not wearing an escort's uniform.
He was dressed entirely in black.
His sword rested at his waist.
He wore no armor.
Nor did he seem to need it.
A young soldier watched him as he passed.
"Is that...?"
The man beside him did not even look at him.
"Yes."
"I thought he'd be more..."
The veteran finally turned his head.
"More what?"
The young man swallowed.
"More terrifying."
The veteran looked back at Lusian.
"Don't provoke him, and you won't have to find out."
The young soldier decided it was better to remain silent.
Lusian reached the carriage.
Elizabeth climbed in first.
Then she turned around.
"Are you coming?"
"Yes."
Lusian walked past her.
But instead of getting inside, he kept walking.
Elizabeth blinked.
She looked at the carriage.
Then at Lusian.
"What are you doing?"
"Walking."
"I can see that."
Lusian stopped.
"Then I don't understand the question."
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes.
"Are you going to walk the entire way?"
"Yes."
"You can get inside."
"I'm fine here."
Elizabeth stared at him.
"I didn't ask if you were fine."
Lusian raised an eyebrow.
"Then what did you ask?"
"I told you that you can get inside."
"Oh."
"Yes. Oh."
Lusian looked at the carriage.
Then he looked at the road.
"I'd rather walk."
Elizabeth took a deep breath.
"Lusian."
"Elizabeth."
"I am the commander of this expedition."
"I know."
"Then behave like one of my subordinates."
Lusian looked at her.
"I'm not one of your subordinates."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, you're not?"
"I'm your escort."
"That means you have to obey me."
"Not necessarily."
Elizabeth stared at him.
"Who taught you to argue with your commander?"
"You did."
She opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Then opened it again.
"That makes absolutely no sense."
"It makes perfect sense to me."
Elizabeth sighed.
"You're impossible."
"You've told me that before."
The princess crossed her arms.
"Get inside."
"…"
"Lusian."
He sighed.
"Fine."
He climbed into the carriage.
Elizabeth moved aside to make room for him.
"Happy?"
"Very."
"Don't make that face."
"What face?"
"That one."
Lusian smiled.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
"Idiot."
A few meters behind them, Emily had witnessed the entire exchange.
She could not hear what they were saying.
She could only see Lusian.
And she saw something she had rarely seen during the past year.
A smile.
Emily lowered her gaze slightly.
She did not feel jealous.
At least, not exactly.
She knew Lusian too well to mistake it for anything romantic.
Elizabeth simply managed to bring out a part of him that seemed to have disappeared during the past year.
"Is something bothering you?"
Emily turned her head.
Kara was standing beside her.
"No."
Kara followed her gaze.
She saw the carriage.
Then Lusian.
"Then you're staring at someone you're not worried about."
Emily sighed.
"Don't start."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were thinking it."
"That's worse."
Kara smiled.
"It just surprises me."
"What?"
"Lusian."
Emily looked forward again.
Kara followed her gaze.
"He's changed a lot."
"Has he?"
"Who else?"
Kara watched the young man walking beside the carriage.
"A year ago, he looked like he was going to faint every time he had to speak in front of too many people."
"That still happens."
Kara turned her head.
"Really?"
"Really."
Emily let out a small laugh.
"Put him in front of five hundred nobles and he'll probably want to hide under a table."
Kara looked ahead again.
"He's not the same man when he fights."
"No."
"Now he doesn't even hesitate."
Emily was silent for a moment.
"That has changed."
Kara narrowed her eyes.
"I want to fight him again."
Emily looked at her.
"Of course you do."
"What does that mean?"
"Nothing."
"You said that strangely."
"Because you've been saying that since the academy."
Kara frowned.
"Because I still haven't beaten him."
"It's been years."
"Exactly."
Emily shook her head.
"How many times have you challenged him?"
"I didn't count."
"I did."
Kara looked at her.
"How many?"
"Too many."
"Then you know he still owes me a rematch."
Emily raised an eyebrow.
"He defeated you once."
"It was a cheap shot."
"It was a tournament."
"He caught me off guard."
"He hit you head-on."
Kara fell silent.
"Besides," Emily added, "after that, you spent half a year following him around the academy."
"To defeat him."
"Of course."
"What other reason would there be?"
Emily smiled.
"None."
Kara narrowed her eyes.
"I don't like that smile."
"I'm not saying anything."
"You're thinking something."
"I just remember that every time Lusian disappeared from the academy, you asked where he was."
"Because I wanted to fight him."
"And when you found out where he was, you showed up there."
"Exactly."
"And when he trained alone..."
"I trained too."
"Two meters away from him."
Kara said nothing.
Emily smiled a little wider.
"And when he moved somewhere else..."
"I moved too."
"I see."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Kara snorted.
"I just want to beat him."
Emily looked back toward the carriage.
Lusian had just climbed inside. Elizabeth had said something to him, and he had ended up sitting across from her with a resigned expression.
Emily sighed.
The army began to move.
The enormous gates of Acropolis opened.
The troops left the plaza as citizens gathered along both sides of the road to bid them farewell.
Elizabeth raised a hand.
She smiled.
She waved.
She played her role perfectly.
But when the carriage passed through the city gates, she slowly lowered her hand.
She looked to the side.
Lusian was sitting across from her.
"You know," she said, "I think you just discovered that carriages exist."
"I already knew they existed."
"It didn't look like it."
"I just don't like them."
"Why?"
"They're uncomfortable."
Elizabeth looked at the cushioned seats.
Then she looked back at him.
"We're sitting on cushions."
"They're still uncomfortable."
"Lusian."
"Yes?"
"You're the first noble I've ever met who would rather walk beside an army for hours than sit in a carriage."
"It's easier to stay alert."
Elizabeth smiled.
"There it is."
"What?"
"The excuse."
"It's not an excuse."
"Of course."
Elizabeth settled into her seat.
"What are you looking for?"
Lusian looked out the window.
"Nothing."
"Liar."
"No."
"You've been looking at every tree, every side road, and every hill for the past ten minutes."
"I'm used to looking for enemies."
"After a year of hunting cultists, I suppose you don't know how to do anything else."
Lusian did not answer.
Elizabeth watched him for a few seconds.
Then she reached out and took his hand.
Lusian lowered his gaze.
"You don't have to stay alert every second," she said.
"Yes, I do."
"No."
Elizabeth intertwined her fingers with his.
"You're with me now."
Lusian looked at her.
"That's exactly why."
Elizabeth shook her head.
"Sometimes I don't know whether you're extremely protective or simply crazy."
Lusian thought for a few seconds.
"Probably both."
Elizabeth smiled.
"At least you're aware of it."
Lusian looked out the window again.
But he did not let go of her hand.
A few meters from the carriage, Alejandro watched the scene.
Kara approached him.
"What are you looking at?"
"Nothing."
Kara followed his gaze.
"Oh."
Leonardo, who was walking behind them, looked as well.
"He's changed."
Alejandro nodded.
"A lot."
Kara crossed her arms.
"You mean he's stronger now?"
Alejandro shook his head.
"That too."
"Then what?"
The hero looked at Lusian again.
"A year ago, he had to push himself just to keep up with us."
Kara raised an eyebrow.
"And now?"
"Now he doesn't even seem to be trying."
Leonardo remained silent for a few seconds.
"Level ninety."
Kara grimaced.
"Don't remind me."
"Are you worried?"
"I'm annoyed."
Alejandro laughed.
"Why?"
"Because I trained for years to reach this level."
She looked toward the carriage.
"He did it in one year."
Leonardo corrected her.
"No."
Kara looked at him.
"No?"
"He did it while hunting cultists every night."
Kara fell silent.
"That doesn't make me feel any better."
Alejandro smiled.
"It definitely doesn't."
Farther ahead, Lusian slightly raised his head.
"I can hear you."
The three of them fell silent.
Kara looked away.
"I didn't say anything."
"You did."
"I wasn't talking about you."
"You were looking at me."
"I can look wherever I want."
Lusian sighed.
Elizabeth burst out laughing.
"See?" she said. "You're not the only one who can listen to other people's conversations."
Lusian looked at her.
"That was unnecessary."
"A little."
The carriage continued forward.
For a while, everything seemed peaceful.
The sound of the wheels.
The footsteps of thousands of soldiers.
The clatter of armor.
The conversations of the knights.
It was strange.
After a year of silent nights and lonely roads, Lusian had almost forgotten what it sounded like to travel with other people.
Elizabeth rested her elbow against the window.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing."
"Another lie."
Lusian looked at her.
"Are you always like this?"
"Like what?"
"Persistent."
"Yes."
"I see."
Elizabeth smiled.
"So?"
Lusian turned his gaze toward the horizon.
"I'm thinking that I don't like this journey."
"We haven't even arrived yet."
"Exactly."
Elizabeth let out a small laugh.
"You're terrible."
"I'm trying to be realistic."
"No."
She gently squeezed his hand.
"You're worried."
Lusian did not answer.
Elizabeth watched him for a few seconds.
"About me."
"Yes."
This time, he did not try to deny it.
Elizabeth smiled.
"You don't have to worry so much."
"That's what you say."
"I can defend myself."
"I know."
"I'm the Hero of Light."
"I know."
"And I'm traveling with four thousand five hundred men."
"I know."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow.
"Then why are you still making that face?"
Lusian looked at her.
"Because none of them are me."
Elizabeth fell silent.
Then she smiled.
"That sounded pretty arrogant."
"I didn't mean it that way."
"Sure."
She leaned slightly toward him.
"But I liked it."
Lusian smiled.
Elizabeth leaned back against her seat.
"Just try to enjoy the journey."
"I'll try."
"And stop staring at the trees."
"I can't promise that."
"Lusian."
"Fine."
Elizabeth smiled with satisfaction.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Lusian looked toward the road.
The Empire was still a long way away.
The barriers were collapsing.
The monsters were growing stronger.
The temples had specifically demanded Elizabeth's presence.
And something about all of it felt far too familiar.
He did not yet know what was happening.
But he knew one thing.
He would not let Elizabeth face whatever was waiting on the other side of the border alone.
Then he heard Elizabeth's voice.
"Lusian."
"Yes?"
"You're making that face again."
He frowned.
"What face?"
"The 'something terrible is going to happen' face."
Lusian remained silent.
"I didn't know I had that face."
Elizabeth smiled.
"You've had it since I met you."
Lusian sighed.
"That's starting to worry me."
"It should."
She took his hand again.
And the carriage continued toward the Empire.