Caroline didn't know the ways of deception. Even though she was part of the Blue Guard division.
But wait, wasn't the Blue Guard part of the Empire's security organization? They don't train in deception, do they?
And if we assume that this is true, then the spying methods she used were very naive! Extremely innocent! It was like a little sister trying to sneak up behind you "quietly"—though she's tripping over toys in her path and making all kinds of noise—believing you can't see her when, in reality, she's completely exposed. Like a cat trying to ambush you, not realizing she's wearing a jingling bell.
Caroline was undoubtedly talented. She was smart, strong, and honorable. And someone like that, when attempting to deceive you, her actions would reveal her quickly.
Yuri knew she had been spying on him for a long time, probably from the very first moment she tried to uncover his secrets...
Yuri had secrets, there was no doubt about that. Dangerous secrets, enough to focus the rest of his soul on hiding them.
These secrets somehow related to the High Council! The High Council?! That name sounded ordinary, but anyone who hears it, no matter their power, would have their hair stand on end in fear.
It was a dark, dangerous organization, and through his knowledge of Yuri's memories, he knew that if it was confirmed he was involved with them, his head wouldn't stay on his shoulders for more than a few breaths. He wouldn't see the light again; his connection to this life would be severed entirely.
Caroline had been Yuri's childhood friend. They grew up together, and their bond was strong.
But she was a strange person. He couldn't confirm whether she could cover for Yuri if the truth came out... the truth? He still didn't know what it was himself?!
The Blue Guard was tasked with tracking this organization. The division fell under the Emperor's army! That was something great.
No one could just join this division. You had to be from at least the middle class, and the reason lower-class individuals couldn't join the Blue Guard was because of the harsh conditions required for admission.
Simply put, if you were from the lower class, you couldn't bear the conditions. The tests applicants went through could kill you—though your life would be saved at the last moment by specialists, you wouldn't leave without some losses—and this put limits on any hopes or aspirations for a bright future.
Caroline had been born into the middle class, which is why she could join the Blue Guard. But Yuri believed that this wasn't the reason she was able to join. Rather, it was her serious nature and hard work that got her there.
Have you ever seen someone who could sleep with a sword in their hand? Or spend their day training and wielding massive pieces of wood in a vast field under the scorching sun and freezing winds? Caroline could do that.
He didn't yet know the reason for this immense effort. Maybe she desperately wanted to be in the Blue Guard, as if it had been her ambition since childhood. But this was something she could achieve with a fraction of that training; her talent could get her there.
But who knows? Maybe she wanted to rise in rank, perhaps aim for the second division! But that was nearly impossible, akin to a lower-class Grasha user joining the Blue Guard.
Nevertheless, the effort she put in was worthy of respect and admiration.
Now, can you imagine that someone like this, someone who completely despises evil, could overlook a criminal, no matter how insignificant that criminal might be? What about if that person might be from the High Council?!
I doubt it...
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A young man with dark brown hair, eyes the color of light green leaves, and a small scar on his left cheek, looked at a young woman resting under the shade of a tree near the courtyard.
She had her head tilted back against the tree behind her, her eyes half-closed, the cool shade and the gentle breeze soothing her tired body.
She was catching her breath after an exhausting training session. As usual, she was doing her routine training without fatigue or boredom.
The young man gazed at her with calm eyes. He noticed something small running around the tree. It was moving quickly, and you could only see its fleeting shadow. He focused his gaze and saw that it was Caroline's familiar, the white fox.
It ran around the tree, then jumped up and climbed the trunk, disappearing into the branches and leaves until it couldn't be seen.
Its movement caused the branches to stir, and some withered leaves fell, one landing on Caroline's forehead.
She shifted her gaze upward and furrowed her brow. "Shiroga! Get down here now," she called out loudly, and in an instant, the branches stopped moving.
Nothing happened after that. "Come on!" Some leaves fluttered hesitantly when Caroline's voice sounded, and after a few seconds, a white blur leaped into the air, twisting gracefully in the sky. Its fur was pure white, playing with the wind, with two long tails, the upper parts of which were a different light green color.
The fox, Shiroga, fell to the ground. Before hitting the ground, a gust of wind surrounded its legs, slowing its fall. But it deliberately lost its balance and landed awkwardly at Caroline's feet.
It flopped face down, and its eyes had a look of deep sympathy. "Come on, don't do that every time," Caroline said coldly, then added, "Didn't I tell you to stay with Nancy? Why did you follow me here?"
Shiroga made a sound full of emotion, lowering its head even more.
The young man watched this scene with unwavering eyes. His features were as stiff as stone, stiff enough that if a tank were to land on his face, it wouldn't flinch.
His green eyes, which should have been radiant, were dim, like fog. It was impossible to feel any emotion from them.
He looked at Caroline with these eyes. "Is this the childhood friend of the young man?" No sound came from his mouth, but if anyone were in the room with him, they would feel these words in their soul, without knowing their source or nature.
"From his memories, it seemed that the young man knew she was spying on him," he thought to himself, without moving his lips, as if he wasn't accustomed to doing that yet. "But why hasn't he taken any action yet?" he wondered, puzzled.
"She poses a serious threat to him. Wouldn't it be better to remove her?!" When he thought this, he felt something within him stir, something trembling violently in protest. "Be quiet, I'm doing this for you," he spoke internally, as if addressing someone.
At that moment, Caroline lifted her head and looked up, where Yuri's window was. She saw him standing there, and her face lit up. She waved a bright smile at him.
He looked at her with a cold gaze for a moment, then instinctively let his face break into a "smile," though its intentions couldn't truly be determined. Inside him, the trembling grew stronger, as though something was about to scream from his being.