The sun had barely begun its descent when Lukas finally found a moment to breathe. The battlefield had quieted, though the remnants of the skirmish lingered like a heavy fog. Blood-soaked ground and the occasional moan of the wounded painted the grim aftermath. Lukas sat on a fallen log, his body aching, his mind racing as he processed everything that had just happened.
Aurelia.
The name echoed in his mind, stirring up memories he had long buried—memories of his childhood and the betrothal arranged by his grandfather. He hadn't seen her in years, not since they were children, and yet she had appeared on the battlefield, a vision of both grace and lethality.
Lukas wiped the blood from his blade, his hands trembling slightly from the exhaustion that had settled into his bones. But his thoughts were not on the battle; they were on her. On how easily she had saved his life, on how quickly she had taken command of the situation.
And on the weight of their shared past, a past that now felt like a distant dream in the face of this new reality.
Zane walked over, his face still streaked with sweat and grime. "You alright, Lukas?" he asked, dropping down next to him on the log.
"Yeah," Lukas replied, though he wasn't entirely sure if he believed it. "Just... processing."
Zane chuckled, his tone light despite the bloodshed they had just witnessed. "Processing what? That you almost got your head taken off?"
Lukas shot him a tired smirk. "That too. But mostly her."
Zane raised an eyebrow, his expression curious. "You mean the girl? She's... something else, huh?"
"Her name is Aurelia," Lukas said, his voice softer now. "She's my betrothed."
Zane's eyes widened. "Betrothed? That warrior is your *fiancée*?"
Lukas nodded, a half-smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah. We were promised to each other when we were kids. I haven't seen her in years, though."
"Betrothed," Zane repeated, shaking his head in disbelief. "That explains why she looked so pissed when you almost got yourself killed."
Lukas snorted. "She always had a temper. Even as a kid. But... she's different now. Stronger. Fiercer."
"Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you," Zane said with a grin, nudging Lukas with his elbow. "Not that you weren't already struggling with everything else."
Lukas sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, no kidding. But it's more than that. She's not just any warrior—she's at level 7 of Ether Awakening. A prodigy."
Zane let out a low whistle. "Level 7? At her age? That's impressive. No wonder she saved your ass."
Lukas nodded, his expression serious. "It's more than just the levels, though. She's... different from the other nobles. She's not like me. I spent years wasting my life, while she's been training, becoming stronger."
Zane clapped a hand on Lukas's shoulder. "That's in the past, Lukas. You're not that guy anymore. You've got the system, you're stronger now, and you're going to get even stronger. Besides, you've got that *look*."
Lukas raised an eyebrow. "What look?"
"The look of a guy who just realized his fiancée is gorgeous," Zane teased. "Don't deny it. You noticed."
Lukas couldn't help the flush that crept up his neck. "Alright, alright. I noticed. But it's complicated. I'm not even the same person she was betrothed to. Not really."
Zane shrugged. "Complicated doesn't mean impossible. If anything, it just makes the challenge more interesting. And if there's one thing I know about you, it's that you don't back down from a challenge."
Lukas smiled, appreciating Zane's words even as the doubts gnawed at him. He wasn't sure how he felt about Aurelia—not just yet. But one thing was clear: she had saved him, and for better or worse, they were bound together by a promise made long ago.
---
The camp was bustling as the soldiers tended to the wounded and reinforced their defenses. Despite the victory, there was no time to relax. Everyone knew the Drevyn rebels would return, and next time, they might not be so lucky.
Aurelia's brother, Kalen, stood near the command tent, speaking with Captain Thorn. The two men exchanged words, but it was clear that the command structure had shifted. Kalen, though polite, had an air of authority that couldn't be ignored.
Lukas approached cautiously, his body still aching from the battle but his mind sharp. He had questions—about the battle, about the Drevyn forces, and most importantly, about what was coming next.
As he neared the tent, Kalen glanced up, his gaze cool and calculating. "Lukas Veridan," he said, his voice even but commanding. "You fought well today."
"Thanks," Lukas replied, his tone careful. He could tell Kalen was assessing him, weighing him against whatever expectations he had for the betrothed of his sister. "But I had help."
Kalen nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Yes. My sister has a way of... intervening."
Lukas swallowed, unsure of how to respond. "She's impressive."
Kalen's expression softened slightly, though his posture remained rigid. "Aurelia is... special. She has trained harder than anyone I've known, and she's earned her place on the battlefield. But don't mistake her skill for softness. She won't hesitate to remind you of your shortcomings."
Lukas chuckled softly, though there was an edge to his laughter. "I noticed."
Kalen didn't smile. "She's a warrior, Lukas. A prodigy. But she's also my sister. And though I respect the bond our families share, I won't let anyone hold her back. Not even her betrothed."
Lukas's stomach tightened at the subtle warning in Kalen's words, but he held his ground. "I have no intention of holding her back. I'm here to become stronger—to prove myself."
Kalen studied him for a long moment, then nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Good. Prove yourself, then. Show her that you're not the same man who wasted his life in brothels and taverns."
Lukas felt the weight of Kalen's words settle heavily on his shoulders. He had already decided that he wasn't going to be the man he once was. Now, he had to prove it—to himself, to Aurelia, and to everyone else.
"Prepare yourself," Kalen continued, his gaze shifting toward the horizon. "The Drevyns aren't done. They'll be back, and when they come, it'll be worse. They were testing our defenses today. Next time, they'll come in full force."
Lukas nodded, his jaw set in determination. "We'll be ready."
Kalen glanced at him, then walked off to join Aurelia and the rest of his elite troops. As Lukas watched him go, a sense of resolve settled over him.
The battlefield had shown him how far he still had to go. But with the system, with his newfound Ether abilities, and with allies like Zane and even Aurelia, he knew he could face whatever came next.
---
Later that night, as the camp settled into an uneasy quiet, Lukas found himself staring at the stars. The Ether pulsed faintly in his veins, a reminder of the power he was beginning to harness. But it wasn't just the Ether that filled his thoughts.
Aurelia.
She had saved him today, and though she had been sharp and cold, there had been something in her eyes—a flicker of something softer. He could see it, even if she refused to show it.
Lukas smiled to himself, his mind racing with thoughts of the battles to come, of the challenges that lay ahead.
And of her.