Lynn stepped out of her room, humming to herself, freshly showered and dressed in comfy clothes. She was in a great mood, likely because she was getting the hang of sword training and had even gotten some praise earlier. Still, her right shoulder felt sore probably from using muscles she hadn't worked in ages.
Ow, my muscles are aching… It's been so long since I've felt this way.
As she walked down the hallway, lightly rubbing her sore shoulder, she happened to run into Sahan as he was coming out of his room.
"Oh! Sahan!"
Since their earlier meetings, Lynn had started feeling a sense of connection with Sahan and Hwan. It was a strange mix of familiarity, built from shared experiences and a growing sense of camaraderie.
At first, it felt awkward, but now she thought, We must have been close before, to feel so comfortable now. She found herself truly enjoying their friendship or at least trying to embrace it.
They were, after all, her only companions here.
Sahan, now dressed in loose pants and a relaxed shirt, looked mildly surprised to see her.
"Oh, Lynn."
He wasn't around all day… Where was he?
Sahan's brown hair, still damp from his recent shower, caught Lynn's attention.
Did he just bathe? How is his skin so clear and smooth?
He's a warrior, right? Shouldn't he look more… rugged and sun-kissed?
Lynn felt a slight pang of envy at Sahan's fair, almost flawless skin, which seemed even paler than her own reflection in the bronze framed mirror. She realized she was staring and caught herself grumbling inwardly.
Noticing her narrowed gaze, Sahan looked a bit flustered and stammered, "What… Why are you staring at me like that?"
"So, where'd you disappear to today?" she asked.
"Huh? Oh, just… out on a mission," he replied, feeling a bit uneasy under her curious look.
With a thoughtful "Hmm," Lynn glanced down, then looked back at him. Her narrowed gaze made him swallow.
"Come on, be honest with me."
"What? …About what?"
"You don't secretly use anything on your skin, do you?"
"Huh?" Sahan sighed, rubbing his temples.
"No, I don't use anything."
"For real? Wow. But how is your skin so…"
"I was just born with it. Even I wonder why it's like this."
Geez, talk about confidence.
Lynn shook her head, deciding to go easier on the compliments from now on.
As they started walking, Sahan quickly changed the subject.
"So, where are you headed?"
"Oh, I'm off to get some food. You?"
"Same here. Ah, today's your first day eating at Carpe Deia, right?"
"Carpe Deia?"
"It's the dining hall for Bliderin warriors."
"Oh, got it!"
Lynn's eyes drifted to Sahan's shoulder, noticing the bandages were gone.
"Is your shoulder all healed?"
She didn't remember exactly how it happened, but she felt guilty about it, often thinking of it before she fell asleep.
Sahan looked down at her small, worried expression.
What a silly girl. Without her noticing, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"It's fine now, all healed up."
To prove it, he gave his shoulder a few light taps, making a "pat pat" sound. Lynn's eyes widened in alarm.
"Oh no! Don't hit your injured shoulder!"
"I told you, I'm completely fine. Perfectly healed."
"Oh… well, that's good. So you're really okay now…"
"Actually… it does feel a little sore. I think I hit it too hard."
"What?"
Seeing Lynn's worried expression, Sahan couldn't hold back a playful laugh. A cool autumn breeze swept past as they walked outside toward Carpe Deia. Lynn took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh scent of greenery in the air.
"Wow, it's so refreshing! The weather's amazing today!"
"Yeah, it's been a while since we've had weather like this."
"Really?"
Sahan nodded slightly, inhaling deeply as he glanced up at the clear sky. His words from the previous day came to mind. Unable to suppress her curiosity, Lynn turned to him with a question.
"By the way, Sahan, what was it you told me yesterday?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know, about staying vigilant."
"…Ah."
Sahan paused for a moment, leaving Lynn puzzled, though she had asked casually.
Huh?
"You know… the part about never letting your guard down as a warrior."
His vague response seemed to satisfy Lynn, and she nodded, her curiosity fading. Of course, that's how it should be! she thought, feeling more determined. Sahan, watching her, spoke slowly, as if choosing his words carefully.
"Though, it's a bit of a problem."
"Why?"
"I keep letting my guard down, too."
Lynn looked at him in surprise, noticing the faint, amused smile on his lips.
For a moment, I thought his smile was… actually quite nice.
They climbed a set of low, gracefully curved stone steps and entered the blue building, stopping in front of a grand hall entrance trimmed in marble. Above the doorway, a large golden plaque hung with the name "Carpe Deia" etched in fancy lettering.
"This is it."
"…"
"Come on, let's go in. I'm starving."
Following Sahan into the hall, Lynn's breath caught at the sight before her.
The large space could easily fit two combat arenas with room left over. The ceiling, decorated with crystal accents spaced throughout, gave the hall an antique, elegant feel.
Below, long stone tables stretched across the floor, each seating about thirty warriors strong men and women who ate and talked together.
One wall, made of white marble, had colorful stained glass windows spaced evenly along it. Afternoon sunlight poured through the central window, casting a golden glow on the floor.
Lynn's gaze swept across the room, noticing not only the strong men but also a surprising number of female warriors. She'd seen a few here and there, but seeing so many gathered together made her realize their presence was greater than she'd thought.
"What are you waiting for? Let's go."
Noticing Lynn's amazed expression as she stood at the entrance, Sahan called her over.
"Oh! Right, let's go!"
I wonder what they're serving for lunch today? Everything Father brought me was delicious I guess it all came from here.
As Sahan walked by, the Sahal warriors eating their meals greeted him with brief salutes. Some even paused, setting down their spoons to straighten up and bow their heads.
Though it wasn't openly discussed, many curious glances turned toward Lynn as she awkwardly followed Sahan into the hall, the air thick with unspoken questions.
Without exception, every warrior, male and female, greeted Sahan as he passed, making Lynn feel a little awkward beside him. Sahan, used to the attention, nodded back to each greeting with ease as he moved toward the food preparation area.
"Um, so… what exactly is your role in Bliderin?"
What's the deal with these people? The rest of her thoughts trailed off, unspoken, as she followed him. She'd noticed that he and Hwan wore different uniforms during training, which had quietly sparked her curiosity for a while.
"Oh, you want to know our rank?" Sahan smirked, picking up a few pieces of buttered toast and placing them on a bronze dish.
"Mm hmm. I mean, everyone's saluting you, and your outfits are different."
Lynn added buttered bread and raspberry jam to her plate while Sahan piled toasted rye bread and an egg omelet onto his. A thoughtful look crossed his face as he tried to figure out how to explain.
"Hm, my rank here is Elite Commander."
"Elite Commander?"
"Yeah. In simple terms, it's kind of like being a deputy commander in an imperial army."
"Deputy commander?"
Lynn poured milk into her cup and followed Sahan to a side table.
"Deputy commander…" she murmured, considering the title, while Sahan added, "Just an example this isn't the Empire. Basically, I oversee and manage the Sahal Warriors."
"Ah, got it."
So, that's why all the Sahals were greeting him like that.
"There are others in similar positions, like Hwan, and… see that woman over there?"
Lynn looked up, following his gaze, and found herself meeting the eyes of Hwan and an unfamiliar woman who were seated nearby, about to start their meal.
"Garnet."
Garnet?
"The three of us are Bliderin's senior officers."
The woman, Garnet, was strikingly beautiful, her presence captivating. Her large, bright eyes sparkled with interest as she looked at Lynn, and her ruby-red lips curved into a playful smile.
"Pfft, hey, Lynn."
"…"
"It's been a while. Why don't you come over and join us for a meal?"
And with that, Garnet's charm was on full display.