The knights' lounge buzzed with lively chatter and laughter as knights gathered, exchanging stories and plans. Lionel strolled in casually, greeting every person he passed with his usual carefree grin. Today felt surprisingly calm, and he couldn't help but feel refreshed.
Spotting the table where the other knight leaders sat, Lionel joined them, quickly diving into a discussion about the upcoming missions. The air was lighthearted, filled with teasing remarks and shared insights.
But the cheerful atmosphere came to an abrupt halt.
The room fell into an awkward silence, every head turning toward the door. Lionel, sensing the sudden shift, looked around to find the source of the tension.
There she was—Ramune.
Except this time, she wasn't her usual composed self. Her hair, usually tied neatly, was disheveled and uneven. Her armor, which often shone with precision, was now drenched in blood. Splashes and smears of red stained not only her steel plating but also half of her face, making her look like she had emerged from a gruesome battlefield.
In her hand, she dragged an unconscious figure, their body limply scraping along the floor. Blood trailed behind her, a vivid, horrifying streak that painted the pristine lounge with crimson.
Lionel's heart sank, his face shifting from confusion to concern. He exchanged worried glances with the other leaders before rushing over to her as she stopped in the middle of the room.
Without hesitation, Lionel stepped forward, his voice a mix of alarm and exasperation. "What the hell happened to you?!" His eyes darted between Ramune and the limp figure she carried. "There's more blood on you than usual—and now you're dragging someone hostage?!"
His tone held both disbelief and panic. He reached for the unconscious person, carefully prying them from Ramune's grasp to examine them. "Ramune, did you… take down an entire gang? Again?!"
The room buzzed with quiet murmurs, knights nervously speculating about the scene before them. It wasn't worry for Ramune, per se—they knew she could handle herself. No, their concern was for how many lives she might have ended this time. Judging by her appearance, it could have easily been an entire gang, maybe even more. And now she'd brought someone back alive? That was unheard of.
Ramune's piercing, cold gaze met Lionel's. "He's not a hostage," she said, her voice as calm and stoic as ever, though it carried an edge of exhaustion. "This one's important. He has information we need."
Lionel raised an eyebrow, half-relieved but still skeptical. "Information? Then why does he look like he went through a meat grinder first?"
Ramune's gaze didn't waver. "He resisted."
The bluntness of her reply left Lionel speechless for a moment. He shook his head, half in disbelief, half in resignation. "Ramune, I swear… If anyone outside the order saw this, they'd think we're the villains."
Ramune tilted her head slightly, unfazed by his scolding. "He's alive. That's all that matters."
Lionel let out a heavy sigh, turning to the other knights who were still frozen in place. "Well, don't just stand there! Someone get the medic team to check on this guy!"
As the knights scrambled into action, Lionel turned back to Ramune, his voice dropping to a softer tone. "Next time, maybe try to bring someone back without looking like you walked through a battlefield. You're terrifying enough as it is."
Ramune's lips twitched ever so slightly—perhaps the faintest hint of a smirk. "Noted," she replied curtly, brushing past him as she made her way toward the lounge's exit.
Lionel watched her go, shaking his head. She never changes…
---
The man who was dragged in as a "hostage" remained unconscious even after receiving treatment. His pale, battered form lay in the infirmary, heavily guarded by a couple of knights outside. Meanwhile, the knight leaders had convened in the council chamber to address the matter.
At the center of the room stood Ramune, freshly cleaned and composed, though the faint, lingering intensity in her expression remained. Her long, silver hair was left untied, a rare sight, cascading down her back as she maintained her usual knight's uniform. Despite being the only woman among the knight leaders, her presence commanded respect, her sharp eyes scanning the room.
Ramune cleared her throat, placing an object on the center table—a peculiar symbol etched into a metallic plate. It looked worn, like it had been buried or hidden for years, yet the engraving still carried a haunting elegance.
"I did some digging during my investigation in the forest," she began, her tone sharp and unwavering. "And I found more than I bargained for. The forest has its own keepers—territorial and well-hidden."
The room was filled with murmurs. One of the knights, Sir Bastian, a broad-shouldered man with streaks of gray in his hair, leaned forward and studied the item on the table. "Keepers? You mean a gang?"
Ramune nodded. "Not just any gang. They're organized, territorial, and they've existed longer than any of us realized. This symbol," she gestured to the plate, "is what they use to mark their territory. It's etched into trees, rocks, and even left on traps scattered across the forest."
Sir Edric, a younger knight leader with a sharp tongue, scoffed. "And we're only hearing about them now? If they're so organized, how have they stayed hidden for this long?"
Ramune shot him a glance. "Because they're careful. Their base is deep in the forest, well-camouflaged, and guarded by traps. But I suspect they've remained hidden because they don't usually attack knights—or the capital."
Sir Bastian crossed his arms. "Until now."
"Exactly," Ramune said. "The man I brought in—he's one of them. Or at least someone who has ties to them. He was armed with weapons bearing the same symbol, and his reaction to being captured suggests he knows more than he's letting on."
Sir Edric rolled his eyes. "So what do you suggest, Dame Ramune? A full-on assault into the forest? You can't seriously think that's wise, considering we barely know what we're up against."
Ramune ignored his tone, replying calmly, "I suggest we gather intelligence first. Interrogate the man. Learn about their numbers, their motivations. There's no need for reckless action."
Another knight, Sir Aldric, who often acted as the mediator among the leaders, spoke up. "Ramune's right. We can't act blindly. But the forest being a haven for this gang is a serious problem, especially if they've started expanding their operations beyond their usual boundaries."
As the discussion continued, Sir Edric couldn't help but mutter, "And here I thought forest patrols were supposed to be easy."
Ramune shot him a sharp look. "You'd rather I not patrol at all and let them ambush our borders unchecked?"
Edric raised his hands defensively. "I'm just saying, for someone who's so efficient, you tend to bring a lot of... collateral damage with you."
The other knights chuckled lightly, breaking some of the tension, but Ramune didn't join in. Instead, she crossed her arms, her gaze distant.
'Maybe I should try asking him again,' she thought, the image of Harris flashing in her mind.
Sir Bastian noticed her thoughtful silence and broke the moment. "Ramune, you said you found this on your way to the forest. Did you encounter anyone else? Any witnesses?"
Ramune shook her head. "None. But..." She hesitated for a moment, debating whether to share her thoughts. "..my acquaintance might know something. He has a way of finding out things that don't make it into the usual reports."
Edric raised an eyebrow. "Hm? Who is that? What could he possibly—"
"He knows things," Ramune interjected firmly. "I don't know how he does it, but he does. And I intend to find out what he knows about this."
The room fell quiet for a moment. Sir Aldric leaned back in his chair. "If you trust him to have useful information, then it's worth pursuing. But be careful, Ramune. If this gang is as dangerous as you say, then anyone who knows too much might already be a target."
Ramune nodded, already resolved. "I'll be careful."
As the meeting concluded and the knights began filing out, Sir Bastian placed a hand on Ramune's shoulder. "You've got good instincts, Dame Ramune. Trust them. And get some rest—you're no use to us if you collapse from exhaustion."
Ramune gave a curt nod, though rest was the furthest thing from her mind. As she left the council chamber, her thoughts lingered on Harris and the peculiar, inexplicable way he always seemed to know more than he let on.
'If anyone can give me a lead on this, it's him,' she thought, her steps already heading toward the direction of the city.