Zain stood near the wooden pier, gazing at the calm waters, lost in thought. His moment of reflection was interrupted by the voices of two men calling him from a distance. They were dressed in uniforms similar to his, but with fewer stars on their shoulders—clearly experienced soldiers.

"Sir Zain!" one of them called.

Turning to look at them, Zain immediately recognized them and responded, "I apologize. I got lost in the land across the river and couldn't catch up with you sooner. More importantly, have you spoken with King Altair Nova regarding our requests?"

The taller soldier, Kargalan, nodded. "Yes, and he has agreed to provide us with the supplies we need to continue our journey. Especially after hearing that you were here, Sir Zain. He is eager to meet you."

"I see. I should thank him personally," Zain replied formally.

With that, they mounted their horses and set off toward the castle.

---

Meanwhile, in the dimly lit underground prison, another guard had arrived, shaking the two unconscious ones awake. After a few moments, they groggily regained consciousness.

"What happened?" one of them murmured.

The standing guard scoffed. "Sleeping on duty? As expected, I can’t rely on you two."

The dazed guards exchanged confused looks.

"What do you think happened to us?" one asked, rubbing his head. "I was just standing there when—bam!—it felt like I was struck by lightning."

"Yeah… same here," the other replied uneasily. "What was that?"

Their conversation was cut short as the third guard, who stood at the far end of the hallway, called out, "Hurry up! The Commander and his Deputy are on their way to take him to the king!"

Fear jolted the two guards to their feet.

"The Commander and his Deputy?!" one whispered anxiously. "Wake up the prisoner inside. I can't stop trembling… That man is terrifying, and his Deputy is just as scary. I can't imagine them on the same team."

The second guard gulped and nudged Rin awake, his hands shaking. "You're right. The Nova siblings are both incredibly strong. Even with the age gap between them, their power is nearly equal."

"Of course," the first guard muttered. "After all, they are the king’s ch—"

Before he could finish his sentence, the sound of slow, deliberate footsteps echoed through the corridor. A chill ran down their spines.

The third guard straightened up and greeted the approaching figure. "Welcome, Sir. Is Lady Nova not with you?"

The man passed by without answering.

The two anxious guards whispered among themselves, barely audible, "He's alone… That's slightly better."

Rin, now fully awake, stretched and spoke lazily, "Did you wake me up for breakfast?"

"Shut up, you fool!" one of the guards hissed. "He'll kill you—and us too—if you don't watch your mouth!"

Finally, the approaching figure emerged from the shadows, revealing himself as Karl Nova, the 27-year-old Commander of Elvard’s forces and the son of King Altair Nova.

"Open the cell," Karl ordered, his voice calm yet firm.

The guards obeyed instantly, the creaking of iron filling the air as the door swung open.

"Come on. We're leaving," Karl said simply.

Without protest, Rin stepped forward, silently observing Karl as they walked. He carries himself like a powerful man… His aura is solid.

As the two disappeared down the corridor, one of the guards let out a breath of relief.

"Did you see that? He didn't utter a word in front of Sir Karl Nova," he muttered.

The other nodded, still shaken. "But is he really dangerous enough to warrant the Commander himself escorting him? Or is it just because he killed someone important?"

---

A flashback—

A loud, arrogant voice rang through the air.

"What nonsense are you spouting, you lowly rat? You think I’d actually honor my promise to you? You're nothing but a stray dog! Get lost, or I’ll have you killed!"

A nobleman, Garel Crown, struck a desperate-looking man across the face before turning away.

Rin, who had witnessed the event, approached the trembling man and asked, "What was that about?"

The man hesitated, clearly reluctant to speak to a mere boy. But when Rin pulled out a handful of coins, he swallowed his pride.

"You want to talk now?" Rin asked with a smirk.

The man’s eyes glistened as he took the money and, with a bitter voice, began his story.

"He promised me… He said that if I snuck into the military camp and killed one of King Nova’s spies, it would help him uncover the rest. He swore that if I completed the task, he’d give me a prestigious position in the kingdom as a reward."

Rin clicked his tongue in disappointment. "You fool. It’s obvious he was using you. He could’ve done it himself, but he needed a scapegoat. Let me guess—you’re being hunted now?"

The man nodded miserably. "Yes… and when I went to him for help, you saw what happened."

"Well, good luck with that," Rin said, turning to leave.

Desperate, the man clung to Rin, begging him for aid, but Rin pulled away. He walked off, dismissing the man’s pleas.

Later that evening, Rin spotted Garel Crown speaking with a man clad in an ornate, sturdy suit of armor. Intrigued, Rin recalled the desperate man’s words and decided to eavesdrop. Why would the Vice Commander eliminate the King’s spy?

As Rin listened, his eyes narrowed. They’re plotting to overthrow the king…

However, before he could process it further, Garel Crown’s sharp gaze snapped in his direction.

He noticed me!

The armored man immediately fled, while Garel wasted no time in launching a furious attack at Rin. Rin dodged effortlessly, weaving past his aggressive strikes before countering with a swift blow to the neck. Garel collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Just as Rin turned to leave, a loud gunshot echoed behind him.

He spun around—

Garel lay motionless, blood pooling beneath him.

And standing there, gun in hand, was none other than the desperate man from earlier. His face was pale with shock, yet without hesitation, he dropped the gun and fled.

Rin stared at the scene for a moment before stepping forward. Just as he picked up the gun—

"Hey! You there!"

Two guards rushed in, having heard the gunshot. Their eyes widened at the sight before them.

A dead noble.

A young man holding the murder weapon.

"Intruder! Sound the alarm!"

Rin’s expression remained unreadable as he bolted, disappearing into the night.

---

Back in the present—

Rin and Karl Nova stepped outside the prison and into a waiting carriage.

---

Meanwhile, Zain arrived at the castle gates, where the guards immediately recognized him and let him in. As he approached the grand hall, the golden and crimson decorations gleamed under the sunlight, reflecting the kingdom's majesty.

Just as he reached the king’s chamber, the door swung open abruptly.

A young woman in a magnificent military uniform stormed out, her pace hurried and purposeful.

The palace guards instantly bowed in respect as she passed.

Zain and his companions watched in silence, a single thought crossing their minds.

"Who is she?"

And elsewhere, in a carriage bound for the royal court, Rin and Karl Nova continued their silent journey.