‘Lucilius!!’ 

Luna was reliant on the adrenaline pumping through her veins as she yelled and ran at the same time. She was excited to spot Lucilius’ figure from far—she had done her best keeping Leonhardt away for as long as three nights. He ought to be proud of her! 

Lucilius was standing by the wooden fence with Archer by his side. The Alshain forces seemed to have left, including Leonhardt. She hoped he didn’t catch sight of her through the thick smoke.

‘Lucilius!’ She called out again and it got his attention. The emperor turned his head and watched as she ran to him. 

Archer shifted uncomfortably when he heard her call the emperor by his name.

She halted close enough to the two. ‘Is everything okay?’ Luna asked between pants, feigning ignorance. ‘The explosion was really loud.’

Lucilius didn’t reply; he only stared at her with eyes full of emotions she couldn’t identify. Was he mad? Was he touched? Was he sad? Was he happy?

Seeing that there were no reactions from either man, Luna glanced at the base camps of the patrol officers. ‘Elias called me over to help the injured soldiers,’ she lied flawlessly. ‘I’ll go have a look.’

But as she spun to leave, an arrow shot past the thick smoke and headed for Lucilius’ chest. She saw Archer holding out his hand and swiftly caught the flying arrow. It came from the Lorcan Forest, which indicated it was the Alshain that had shot. Luna widened her eyes at the knight’s superhuman reaction speed—and also at the attack.

Whoever was shooting the arrow predicted his action, as another arrow came right after—Luna squatted and held her head in her hands out of fear, unaware that the arrow was directed at her and that it was Lucilius who reached out and stopped the assault, as he was next to her.

Luna’s heart hammered against her chest. Wasn’t that straighout an assassination attempt? 

‘I’ll go after them,’ Archer suddenly spoke.

Luna raised her head, realising that the arrow neither hit her or anyone else. She saw Lucilius casually breaking the arrow he had caught with his bare hand into two, completely unharmed. Archer, too, had disposed of the weapon and requested to go after the culprit.

‘Don’t bother,’ said Lucilius. ‘It’s just a dog’s prank.’

The emperor took out a candy and threw it in his mouth before discussing some other matters to Archer. Luna, however, couldn’t apprehend words anymore as she stood there in consternation at how the two men never panicked or batted an eye. 

Elias suddenly materialised in front of her, nearly giving her a heart attack as she flinched. Luna was about to chide him but the redhead had turned his attention to Lucilius, kneeling on one knee with a bowed head.

‘Your Majesty,’ he greeted, then nodded at Archer. ‘Sir Archer.’

Archer responded with a smile. The redhead turned to Luna. ‘Someone’s dying,’ he said and held out his hand. ‘Can you help?’

Luna nodded, a spark of confidence glittered her heart. She took his hand and waited for Elias to teleport her, but he was staring at her as if he was waiting for her. Luna tilted her head quizzically and Elias gestured at Lucilius with his eyes.

‘Oh!’ Luna tittered in realisation that she needed to address Lucilius before she were to leave. Luna turned to the emperor, waving her hand. ‘Bye-bye Lucilius!’

Elias stiffened. The silver-haired knight pursed his lips into a thin line to suppress his laughter, and Lucilius on the other hand returned her smile and waved back. But why was it that his smile gave her the chills?

The redhead knew he had to break the murderous aura building up from Lucilius. ‘By our leave, Your Majesty!’ he said hastily and disappeared with Luna.

***

Leonhardt glanced at his aide. ‘Why did you do that?’ he asked. 

‘His magician wasn’t there,’ said Ciaran quietly. He never spoke much anyway.

‘And the two arrows?’ Leonhardt raised a brow. ‘You know your aim is perfect.’

‘His aide is quick. The other one is for another person, which I know he would try to save.’

Leonhardt chuckled. ‘In normal events, that could be a serious offence.’

Ciaran didn’t say anything. 

***

It took Luna several hours to heal all the injured soldiers and confirmed that everyone had been tended to. They all cheered and praised her skills, and swore an oath to keep their mouths shut about her being a Healer. Luna also made friends with some of them. 

The rest of the clean-up was handed over to the soldiers while Elias teleported Luna and Lucilius back to the palace, and Luna assured him that he didn’t have to send her back home—that she could walk back to Ophiuchus.

‘I have something to investigate,’ said Elias after dropping them off. ‘By my leave, Your Majesty.’

Lucilius nodded and Elias disappeared promptly.

Luna waved her hand but Elias didn’t see her and she just stood there awkwardly before dropping her hand. She turned to leave, but remembered that she needed to address the emperor. 

‘Good work today, Healer,’ Lucilius spoke, before she got the chance to say anything first. Luna swivelled to face him at the sudden praise, and found that he was unwrapping yet another candy.

‘Thank you,’ she said shyly. In her head, she was already yelling like a madman at the recognition her employer had given. 

‘You have tremendously increased the rate of the soldiers’ productivity because they were healed,’ he said. ‘And because you have finally showcased your healing ability, make up your mind on anything.’

Luna raised her brows questioningly.

‘A reward. I’m rewarding you.’

‘Ohhhh.’

She hummed, thinking. Well... I’ve only eaten bland food for the last three days because I was “sick” so I’m kind of starving… 

‘Then…’ Her lips arched into a sneaky grin. ‘I want a meal.’

He frowned. ‘A meal?’

Luna nodded. ‘Yes, a meal.’ 

How about that, Your Majesty? She cheered in her head. I did my best and all I ever ask in return is something as simple as food! Am I not your best employee now?!

But to her surprise, Lucilius looked troubled. His usual foxy smile-slash-smirk was gone, replaced with perplexity. 

Stingy ass, she thought. You can’t even spare some food for your starving citizens??

‘I-If it’s too much—’

‘Alright,’ Lucilius finally said. ‘We’ll be having dinner tomorrow.’

Hmm??? We?????

‘I’m leaving,’ he said and began walking away.

Wait—we!?

***

When she got back to her room, it was nearing dawn and she thought she would make up for the sleep she had lost later in the afternoon. Helena had readied her bath and she had a nice, long shower after almost four days outside. 

Sitting cross-legged on her bed, Luna wondered hard about Lucilius’ words. Why did he misunderstand that she wished to eat together? She just wanted a meal sent to her bed, like a room service or some sort.

‘Luna.’

‘Ack!’ She gasped in surprise and turned to look. Right by the window, Elias had appeared. 

‘Elias!’ she hissed. ‘Don’t scare me like that! And what if I was changing?’

He blinked. ‘Oh, pardon me. Are you occupied?’

‘No, come on,’ she said and went to light up a candle before sitting on the sofa in the middle of her room. Elias sat across from her.

‘Is it about that?’ she asked. Elias nodded. 

The explosion of the mine. It was originally her idea; she had discussed with Elias that after transporting the magic stones out and distracting Leonhardt, they would head to the mine together and Elias would explode it with his magic.

But earlier, after he had taken her from Leonhardt’s camp, Elias teleported outside of the mine, noting that there were traces of other people’s magic inside the mine. They didn’t have time to investigate—the mine suddenly burst off like it had been bombed, shaking the grounds beneath and staggered them both. There was no time to be puzzled as Elias needed to save the hostage. Thus, they left the mine and settled other pressing matters.

Now that they have calmed down, they needed to talk it through.

‘Who do you think helped with our plan?’ Luna began. ‘What about the bandits that attacked me? But it made no sense that they would help.’

‘No one else knows about it except the soldiers,’ Elias said. ‘And we didn’t convey our plans to anybody else.’

‘Could it be another magician, then? Perhaps one of my friends.’

Elias almost laughed. ‘Are you joking?’

Luna bit the inside of her cheek in embarrassment. The original Luna must have been such a snob to not have friends. ‘Then… anyone else in mind?’ she asked.

‘I’ll go back to the mine and find more clues,’ he said.

‘Update me if something comes up.’

‘I will.’

When Elias left, Luna stared at the rising sun out of the window. Guess a little nap would do.

***

‘Your magic. It will be safe with me.’

‘You’re a devil. Only fools trust devils.’

‘Oh, don’t say that, Luna.’

She was standing on a cliff; below her was a vast town filled with colourful houses. People were bustling here and there doing business, kids were playing around, and birds chirped happily in the bright morning.

As always, Luna was in a dream but was merely a participant.

‘But who knows—you might be my last resort,’ the body she was in, spoke.

The male voice accompanying her giggled. ‘Then I’ll be of service to you, my Lady.’

‘I must be losing my mind…’

‘Luna, the world is cruel. I agree with you on that. We’re both suffering, so if only you would–’

‘Stop talking, I might change my mind.’