"If I go back now, I might not get another chance," he muttered, then steeled himself with determination. "It's alright, there's no real use for it anyway." He paused, then added, "But I'm still low on other herbs. The first thing I do when I reach my destination is to refill my stock."

His gaze returned to the herb in his hand. "This one's my top priority." He stared at it for a moment, then sighed. "I have no other choice. I have to do this."

After a short while, he had completely consumed the herb. His face contorted in a grimace, clearly reflecting the unpleasant taste. "That's why I prefer medicine," he grumbled. "Their taste is awful, especially this one."

His skin began to shimmer and ripple, a subtle transformation taking place. He reached out, manipulating the changes with practiced ease. Soon, his long black hair had darkened to a rich brown. His dark brown eyes lightened to a striking grey, sparkling with an unfamiliar mischievous glint. His face softened, morphing into the features of a woman in her mid-thirties. Finally, his body subtly shifted, his muscles shrinking slightly and his frame becoming more slender. Even his voice seemed to alter, taking on a softer, more feminine quality.

With a final flourish, his transformation was complete. He looked himself over, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "I need to check if everything's perfect." He spent a moment meticulously examining his new appearance, ensuring no telltale signs remained. "Everything seems fine," he finally declared.

A mischievous glint returned to his eyes. "It's been a long time since I used this disguise," he mused. "Now that things are settled, let's move."

He started walking again, his steps lighter and quicker than before. Suddenly, a voice called out from behind. "Miss, can I have a moment of your time?"

He turned, his heart skipping a beat. Soldiers stood before him, their expressions alert. He took a deep breath, composing himself. "Yes, what can I do for you? If I can help, I certainly will," he replied, his voice perfectly modulated in his feminine guise. 

Amertio, disguised as a woman in her mid-thirties, forced a warm smile at the soldiers. He knew he couldn't stay long; the longer he interacted with them, the higher the chances of a slip-up.

"We're searching for a man matching your description, ma'am," one of the soldiers explained, his tone respectful. "He left the Acronian camp alone a while back. Have you seen anyone like him?"

Amertio's mind raced. He couldn't reveal himself, but he also didn't want to mislead them. "Oh, a man you say?" he feigned concern, tilting his head as if genuinely trying to recall. "I apologize, but I haven't seen anyone recently. I just arrived here myself, seeking refuge from the beast attacks plaguing the outskirts."

The soldiers exchanged glances, a hint of doubt lingering in their eyes. Another soldier, older and seemingly more seasoned, stepped forward. "Are you sure, ma'am? We received reports of a man matching your description leaving the camp in a hurry. He might have been heading in the same direction as you."

Amertio internally cursed his bad luck. He'd hoped his disguise would be enough, but these soldiers seemed more perceptive than the camp guards. He needed to be more convincing.

"Well, now that you mention it," he said, feigning a sudden memory, "I did see someone leaving the camp earlier. But it was quite a distance away, and honestly, I wasn't paying much attention. These times are so stressful, you understand." He patted his chest dramatically, a touch of theatricality creeping into his voice. "Perhaps it was the man you're looking for, but I couldn't say for sure. He seemed to be in a great hurry though."

The soldiers seemed partially convinced. The first soldier spoke again, "If you recall anything else, ma'am, even the slightest detail, it would be a great help to our search."

Amertio knew he was pushing his luck. He couldn't risk staying any longer or fabricating more details. "I understand your urgency," he said sincerely. "Unfortunately, that's all I can remember. But please, if I do recall anything more, I'll inform the nearest camp immediately."

The older soldier studied him for a moment longer, then finally nodded. "Very well, ma'am. Thank you for your cooperation. Please be careful traveling alone during these dangerous times."

"I will, thank you for your concern," Amertio replied, offering a grateful smile.

As the soldiers turned to leave, a pang of guilt stabbed at him. He hated deceiving them, especially those who were simply trying to do their duty. But he had no choice. He had to reach the Royal Library and find a cure for Neil's condition.

Taking a deep breath, he continued on his way, his steps brisker now. He had managed to evade the soldiers' suspicion for now, but he knew he couldn't afford any more close calls. He needed to reach his destination as quickly as possible. 

Neil finally stirred after a long sleep. He stretched for a moment, then his gaze fell on Rentio standing guard at the entrance of his camp.

"Where's Amertio?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Rentio remained silent. Neil's worry deepened. He approached her and gently shook her arm. "Did you find him? Is he safe? Rentio, why aren't you answering?"

"Stop!" Rentio snapped. Neil froze in surprise. She took a deep breath to compose herself. "Let me catch my breath first."

After a moment, she calmed down enough to speak. "What were you thinking, shaking me like that? I could barely breathe!"

Neil realized his mistake. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, his voice filled with regret. "I was worried about him. You know, there's nowhere safe anymore, and he's alone."

Rentio sighed. "I'm well aware of that. He's safe. We found him, but he insisted on going to a specific location. Some soldiers took him there, and he requested them not to tell anyone about it."

"Who were those soldiers? I'll ask them myself and bring him back," Neil declared, already moving towards the camp exit.

Rentio grabbed his arm. "We did our best, but it seems like the Teacher used some kind of memory-altering medication on them. They don't remember where they took him."

Disbelief colored Neil's voice. "Seriously? That kind of stuff actually exists?"

Rentio's eyes flashed with anger. "Don't tell me you think I'm lying. If you want, I can use the same medicine on you." She reached into her bag, but Neil quickly interjected.

"Okay, okay, I believe you! Don't even open it," he pleaded.

Just then, a guard entered the tent. He nodded to Neil, then greeted Rentio. "Commander, Commander Julicous is here and waiting for you in the main camp."

"Tell him I'll be there in a few minutes," Neil replied. "Ask him to wait."

The guard nodded and left to deliver the message. Neil turned towards his armor and began putting it on. Rentio rushed to help him, her earlier tension easing slightly.

After a few minutes, Neil headed for the main camp. Rentio, visibly relieved, slumped down after his departure. "Commander Julicous came at the perfect time," she muttered. "Otherwise, Commander Neil would have discovered my lie. Humans are incredibly perceptive when it comes to emotions. Given enough time, he could have seen through it."

She glanced towards the corner and added with a hint of annoyance, "And what was the need to bring his sword into the camp? He can't help it; he's a warrior after all. To them, their weapons are like partners, an extension of themselves."

Meanwhile, in the main camp, Julicous greeted Neil with a warm nod. "Greetings, Commander. How's your health? Feeling better?"

"Cut the formalities," Neil said, pulling his friend into a hug.

"Alright, alright," Julicous chuckled. "Are you fine, though? It's been a while since I last saw you, and you were stuck in bed."

Neil started to reply, then stopped abruptly. "How did you know I was sick?"

Julicous hesitated. "The soldiers told me when I asked about you."

Neil raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Okay," he said, then pressed another question. "Why are you here? And don't even think about lying. You know I can tell the difference between truth and deception."

Julicous sighed. "Fine. The king was worried about you. He has a man keeping him updated on your condition. Since I was the closest one to you, I received the message and took it as a mission."

"So step back and rest," Julicous continued, his voice growing serious. "I'll lead us to victory."

He noticed Neil was about to speak and quickly added, "The king wants you at the Royal Castle as soon as possible. They sent another message while I was on my way here."

Neil left the camp shortly after, packing his belongings as he went. "I'm going to the Royal Castle," he informed Rentio. "I'll be back soon."

Rentio insisted on accompanying him, but Neil refused. As he was leaving, a thought struck him. He grabbed a piece of cloth and scribbled something onto it.

"Give this only to the Commander, no one else," he instructed, handing the cloth to Rentio before disappearing into the distance.



Julicous entered the battlefield, and Neil was on his way back to the Royal Castle. What happened to Neil and what awaits them? Around five and a half hours had passed since Neil scouted the enemy base. What will happen next?

—Next time, the sound of weapons clash will cover the area. Chapter 6: Commander vs Commander.