Moments after the bandit leader's lifeless body hit the wooden floor, the cart door creaked open, and Tridra stepped inside. Her cheerful demeanor from earlier vanished the instant her gaze fell on the corpse sprawled across the floor, its face twisted in frozen terror. Her attention snapped to Ophelia, who paced back and forth like a caged animal.
The tension in the air was utterly suffocating.
Tridra's body tensed, a shiver running through her as she caught a glimpse of Ophelia's darkened eyes receding back into their normal silver form, while the small hole in the center of her forehead filled back up with flesh. Then, they flicked towards her. Eerily, they seemingly peered into her soul.
For a fleeting moment, Tridra felt an unsettling sensation, like cold, invisible fingers crawling inside her chest. She clenched her fists to suppress the tremor and swallowed hard.
"M-My Lady," Tridra began cautiously, forcing her voice to steady, "we have prepared the next route."
Ophelia stopped mid-step, letting out a long, slow sigh. She glanced at the corpse on the floor, her expression one of cold indifference. "Very good," she said, her tone sharp and detached. "Bring the Caravan Leader here and take this bastard with you. Burn him until there is nothing left." A click of her tongue punctuated the command.
Tridra's gaze darted back to the body, her stomach churning at the sight. This person hadn't died so simply. Just as she entered, she caught a small glimpse of something silver seemingly seeping into his flesh. However, it wasn't her place to ask.
"As you wish, My Lady," she replied, bowing slightly before hurrying out.
A moment later, Tridra returned with Steven, the Caravan Leader in tow. The older man hesitated as his eyes fell on the corpse, but a stern glance from Tridra snapped him into action. Together, they hoisted the lifeless bandit leader out of the cart, careful not to drag him across the furniture. The door shut behind them, leaving Ophelia alone once more.
When they returned, Tridra carried a folded map under one arm. Steven stood at her side, his presence stiff and formal. Ophelia now sat on the couch, her legs crossed, the storm from earlier seemingly subdued but still lingering in her sharp gaze. Tridra unfolded the map, spreading it wide as Steven leaned over to point out the plotted route.
"This stretch through the lowlands will be the quickest," Steven explained, tracing his finger along the map. "We'll avoid the main roads here and stick to the tree line. Fewer chances of running into anyone and they are closer to some of the bandit hideouts we obtained information of."
Ophelia's expression softened slightly as she studied the map. "Good. No changes are needed. Let us get going now."
Tridra nodded, folding the map swiftly. "Of course, My Lady." Without another word, she and Steven exited the cart, and moments later, the caravan began to move, the steady creak of wooden wheels filling the air.
The days that followed were marked by a steady rhythm of travel and conflict. The caravan moved cautiously through the Steel Faction's lands, the weakest of the three bandit territories. True to the bandit leader's rough map, they encountered scattered ambushes, but these were quickly repelled. Each attack brought more captives, and each captive offered more information under interrogation. With every skirmish, Ophelia's plans became sharper, her strategies more precise.
Though she remained the mind behind every decision, Ophelia rarely stepped out of her cart, consumed by her work. Outside of each battle and meal, the once occasional breaks she allowed herself were now nonexistent. Alexandra tried more than once to coax her out, but Ophelia waved her off, her focus unshaken.
While Ophelia remained secluded, Alexandra and Tridra's bond grew. The two worked closely to maintain order within the caravan as there were some tensions between the servants and workers.
One clear night, as the caravan rested in a sheltered grove, most of the camp lay silent under the stars. The only sounds were the crackling of the firepit and the occasional shuffle of horses. Alexandra and Tridra sat side by side near the fire, their weapons close at hand. They had volunteered to take the watch together, ensuring no one snuck up on the camp.
Alexandra leaned back on her hands, staring into the flames. "This is the calmest it's been all day," she uttered softly, her voice carrying just enough to reach Tridra.
Tridra nodded, her gaze scanning the tree line. "Don't get too used to it. From what we have learned, the Steel Faction's weak, but they're still desperate enough to try something reckless."
Alexandra smirked faintly. "Desperate and reckless tend to go hand in hand." She glanced sideways at Tridra. "Not that you seem worried."
Tridra shrugged, her eyes still focused on the darkened paths of stone before them. "I've seen worse… and I'm sure you have as well. Besides, having you on watch makes it easier. You're sharper than most of the others."
Alexandra chuckled, her voice low. "Flattery? I didn't think you had it in you."
Tridra allowed herself a small grin. "Don't get used to it." She shifted slightly, leaning her elbows on her knees. "You're good at what you do, though. People notice that. Even her."
Alexandra's smile faded as her gaze returned to the fire. "She's so focused. I wish I could help her," She paused for a moment, letting out a short sigh. "She's the most incredible girlfriend I could have ever asked for, but at times like this, it feels like we are no more than strangers."
"She definitely is incredible," Tridra replied simply. "But she definitely loves you. When we're eating and she comes to get her food, she's always looking at you. When she comes out for each battle, she's always making sure you're within sight."
For a moment, they sat in silence, the fire casting flickering shadows across their faces.
"You… pay a lot of attention to her, huh?" Alexandra meagerly smiled.
Tridra raised an eyebrow, meeting Alexandra's gaze.
"Nevermind…" Alexandra muttered.
Tridra shifted slightly where she sat. "Alexandra," she began, her tone cautious, "can I ask you something?"
Alexandra tilted her head, curious but wary. "Of course. What's on your mind?"
Tridra glanced at the fire, her fingers tracing idle patterns in the dirt. "After our first battle… Ophelia seemingly tried to seduce me. She didn't outright say it, but the way she looked at me, the things she implied… it was hard to miss." Her voice trailed off before she looked back at Alexandra, her expression serious. "What are her intentions, really? Why would she do that? Is there something more she wants from me?"
Alexandra's brows furrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line. "I've been wondering the same thing," she admitted, her voice tinged with frustration. "I asked her about it not long after as I honestly thought she was just teasing you, but… that's not her style. She said she was just riding the adrenaline from the battle, that it didn't mean anything." Alexandra sighed heavily, the weight of her thoughts pressing on her shoulders. "But I know she's lying."
"She was lying?" Tridra's eyes widened ever so slightly.
The firelight reflected in Alexandra's eyes as she stared into the flames, her tone softening. "She's always lying. To me, to herself… it's like she doesn't know how to stop." She paused, the sadness in her voice growing. "It's clear she plans on building a harem. I'm not stupid. She's already taken a liking to you."
Tridra's breath hitched slightly at the admission, but she stayed silent, letting Alexandra continue.
"I can see it," Alexandra said, her voice quieter now, almost a whisper. "And I can't help but feel jealous. I know it's already an honor to stand next to her, to banter with her, to fight by her side. But… I still feel jealous." Her fists clenched at her sides as her voice wavered.
"To be honest, I'm scared, Tridra," Alexandra admitted, finally meeting her gaze. "I'm scared you'll take her from me, even if she does plan to build a harem, and that thought makes me mad. At myself, at her, and… at you."
The silence between them grew heavy, the crackling of the fire filling the space where words failed. Tridra blinked, her mind racing to process Alexandra's confession. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words almost felt disrespectful coming out of her mouth.
"I don't…" She paused. "Ophelia to me…" and paused again. "I don't like her like that, Alexandra."
Alexandra gave a faint, bitter laugh, shaking her head. "I shouldn't have said that. It's not fair to you—or anyone." She ran a hand through her hair, her frustration palpable. "But I can't keep pretending I don't feel it. I'm terrified I'm losing her, and I don't know how to stop it… no, I just don't have the courage to stop it. I respect and love her too much."
Tridra sat back, her expression unreadable as she watched Alexandra wrestle with her emotions. For the first time, the usually confident Holy Knight looked vulnerable, her walls momentarily lowered.
Suddenly, Alexandra's eyes flicked toward the treeline, her uneasiness fading as she straightened up.
"Did you hear that?" she asked, her voice low.
Tridra's awkwardly pursed lips vanished, her hand instinctively reaching for her weapon. She scanned the darkness, her body taut like a drawn bowstring. "Where?"
"Over there." Alexandra nodded toward the eastern edge of the grove tucked between a few cliff faces, her tone calm but firm.
Tridra rose slowly, keeping her movements deliberate. "I'll circle left. You take the right."
Alexandra nodded, her grip tightening on her sword as she melted into the shadows, her steps silent against the forest floor.
Tridra moved with equal caution, her eyes darting between the trees, her breathing steady. The fire behind them dimmed as they ventured further from the camp's heart.
A low rustle sounded nearby, followed by the faint snap of a twig. Tridra signaled to Alexandra with a subtle gesture, and the two closed in from opposite sides.
As they neared the source of the noise, a figure came into view—crouched low, its back to the firelight. It wasn't one of their own.
Tridra tightened her grip on her blade, her voice cutting through the stillness like a knife. She would have normally dashed in and immediately restrained him, but for some reason, her intuition was telling her to stay careful, so she instead handled the situation from afar.
"You've got about two seconds to explain what you're doing here before I make you regret it," She threatened.
The figure froze, then slowly raised their hands. "Easy, easy," a gravelly voice muttered. "Didn't mean no harm."
Alexandra stepped out of the shadows, her blade pointed at the intruder. "Start talking. Who sent you?"
The man turned his head slightly, his face partially illuminated by the moonlight. A faded Steel Faction emblem, an iron lance, was sewn onto his ragged cloak.
Tridra exchanged a glance with Alexandra, her expression hardening. "Steel's getting bold."
"Or desperate," Alexandra added, her tone cold.
"Either way," Tridra said, stepping closer, "you all should've stayed in your little lairs."
The man opened his mouth to speak, but Tridra cut him off. "Save it. You're coming with us. Let's see what Ophelia thinks of your story."
The man's eyes widened in panic, but he didn't resist as Alexandra grabbed his arm and yanked him to his feet. His head sporadically turned in various directions and in an instant…
VWOOM
The air suddenly erupted with a radiant burst of Holy Power, blinding and intense. Alexandra stood at its center, her energy rippling outward. Shadows darted back to the edges of the grove—assassins, fast and silent, retreating after feeling the intense heat of Alexandra's Holy Power.
Tridra reacted instinctively, pulling her head to the side, causing her to fall backward, a single blade slicing just over her nose. As she hit the ground, a shadow loomed over her, a blade glinting in the faint firelight. She barely managed to twist her body, the dagger slicing through the air instead of her neck.
"Don't underestimate these guys," Alexandra said, a bead of sweat rolling down the back of her neck. "These ones are different… I couldn't even sense them until I felt their bloodlust."
Tridra's eyes darted to the camp. Alexandra's burst of power had woken everyone. Figures stirred and scrambled to their posts. Holy Knights grabbed their weapons while the workers checked up on the supplies and then joined the Holy Knights, weapons in hand.
However, despite the difference in numbers, the assassins didn't retreat. Instead, they surged forward, their focus locked on Alexandra and Tridra. Clearly, they intended to take at least one of them before escaping.
Alexandra dodged the first attacker effortlessly, her sword slicing through him in one clean motion. Another assassin, however, anticipated her follow-through. He lunged forward, and just as Alexandra cut him down, he twisted his body and drove a blade into Alexandra's right hand. Her sword clattered to the ground, blood dripping from her fingers.
Tridra, still on the ground, rolled to avoid the next strike, but this time her evasion failed. She braced herself, heart pounding, for the dagger to bite into her skin.
Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Still nothing.
Opening her eyes, she saw Alexandra's bloodied left hand outstretched, the dagger buried deep in her palm. Alexandra had slid her hand in front of Tridra's neck at the last second, taking the strike meant for her.
The assassin clicked his tongue in frustration. His narrowed eyes widened as Alexandra's Holy Power surged, creeping up the blade embedded in her hand. His grip loosened as the energy coursed toward him, but it was too late.
With a sudden, violent burst, the Holy Power formed a glowing lance that shot through the assassin's head. The radiant spear pierced cleanly, the tip emerging from the back of his skull. His body collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
The remaining assassins hesitated as the duo's reinforcements arrived. Holy Knights and workers armed themselves, closing in, so, the attackers melted into the shadows, vanishing as quickly as they had come. The captured scout was gone as well, his escape unnoticed in the chaos.
As the camp settled, those nearby rushed to check on Alexandra and Tridra. Tridra sat frozen on the ground, her gaze locked on Alexandra. Blood streaked Alexandra's face and hands, her sweat-soaked hair clinging to her skin as she extended a hand toward Tridra, wanting to help her up.
"A-Ah, sorry," Alexandra stammered, realizing her palm was covered in blood. "Both of my hands are bloody." She started to pull her hand back, but Tridra grabbed it before she could.
"I should be the one to apologize… but, thank you for protecting me. I-It seems I'm still too inexperienced..." Tridra muttered, her heart still racing from the battle… right? Her body was still hot from the battle… right?
"Don't sweat it." Alexandra helped her up, steady despite the wound in her hand. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice softer now, concern lacing her words.
Tridra hesitated, her cheeks flushed. "Y-Yeah..." she mumbled. She couldn't understand why her face felt hot, why her chest felt so tight all of a sudden.
From a distance, a pair of silver eyes watched the scene unfold. Ophelia stood just outside her cart, her servants surrounding her, while her expression softened as she observed Alexandra and Tridra.
A small, warm smile crept across her face before she turned back toward her cart, reassured that everybody was safe… and… well… that something else was blooming.