Noel desperately cut through an army of invaders to help the one most important to him. But he was a step too late. The battle was over. His best friend won, but she could no longer be saved.

Noel rushed to his best friend’s dying body, tears forming on his ocean blue eyes. “Lacie!”

Hearing his voice, Lacie opened her eyes and looked at him with a grin. “Heh, I killed their leader.”

Noel knelt beside Lacie and placed his hands over her body.

“It’s no use, Noel. A curse was placed on me. I can no longer be healed.” - Lacie

Noel continued, but like Lacie said, his healing spell was rejected. He kept using the same spell, but the same thing happened over and over again. “Why!? Why won’t it work!?”

“I just told you why.” – Lacie

Seeing Lacie indifferent to her own condition, Noel fumed with rage. “Why are you so nonchalant about this!? Look at yourself! You’re dying you idiot!”

“You want me to cry or something?” – Lacie

“Damn it! I told you to stall for time! I told you to wait for me!”

“Sorry- *cough*” Lacie coughed out a mouthful of blood.

“Lacie!”

“Noel, I don’t have much time left so just listen to me.” – Lacie

“What are you saying!? You won’t-”

“Please” Lacie pleaded as blood flowed out of her mouth.

“Kuh!” Noel gritted his teeth and tried to hold back his tears.

“When I first entered the organization, all I cared about was getting revenge. I’m sure it was the same for everyone. After all, we lost people important to us during the invasion.” – Lacie

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That’s right, many died from the invasion fifteen years ago. Noel was three years old at that time and he saw with his own eyes how everyone he loved was killed.

He became a protector so he could kill invaders knowing full well that the new enemies might not have any connections to the past invaders. He just wanted to sate his thirst for vengeance.

“I didn’t care about those around me. I had zero intentions of using my power to protect people. I just wanted to cut anyone that was considered the same as those who killed my parents. But then I met an idiot like you.” – Lacie

“Hey!”

“You thought you had the worst experience. You rejected the idea that there are others who feel the same pain as you. I saw my idiotic self in you and I hated it.” – Lacie

“…”

“I wanted to show you that your pain is nothing compared to mine, and you wished for the same thing. We fought every time we could, but as time passed, we lost our initial reason for fighting. We started enjoying our little competitions and we slowly got over our past.” – Lacie

“Lacie…”

“I don't regret approaching you. I’m truly happy that you became my friend.” – Lacie

“I too, feel the same.”

Lacie’s lips curved into a smile. “Noel, can I ask you a favor?”

“Tell me, I’ll do everything I can to accomplish it.”

“We’ve been competing over who’ll be the fourth S-Class protector. I don’t want anyone aside from us to get that spot. Since I’m out of the picture, you definitely have to take it.” – Lacie

After a long pause, Noel replied: “I will”

Lacie forced her arm up, extending her pinky finger to Noel. “Promise?”

Linking his pinky finger with Lacie’s, he spoke with a resolute voice. “I promise”

**(Valsrath's Residence)**

Upon waking up, Noel found herself inside a cave.

Surprisingly, she was on a bed and there were many treasures around her. It was well decorated for a cave and there were lanterns hang on the wall for lighting.

A little shocked, she didn’t notice she was naked until she took off the blanket.

‘Oh, you’re awake.’ She heard a familiar voice.

Immediately covering herself, she looked around and saw a young man approaching her.

‘Valsrath?’

‘Yup’ – Valsrath

Instead of a monster, now Valsrath looks like a guy around his teens. He has spiky silver hair and golden eyes. He’s around six feet tall and a gray armor with yellow lines covers his body.

Noel squinted in suspicion. ‘Are you really Valsrath?’

‘I can return to my dragon form if you want, but I’ll have to strip here to avoid destroying my armor. I don’t mind showing my body, but I don’t think you would like to see me naked.’ Valsrath grinned. ‘Or would you?’

With soulless eyes, she replied ‘Couldn’t you just strip somewhere else?’

‘That works too, but where’s the fun in that?’ – Valsrath

‘Forget it, I believe you.’

‘Trusting a stranger so fast is bad, my dear partner.’ – Valsrath

'I can just kill you if you betray me.’

‘How ruthless, as expected of the girl who defeated me.’ – Valsrath

He was defeated, but Noel lost consciousness afterward while he was left with enough energy to keep going for days. Overall, his raw power is greater than Noel’s – he lost only in efficiency. Still, a victory is a victory. And during the last moment, Noel could’ve killed him regardless of his remaining strength.

That one clash made him more interested in her.

‘So, when are you planning to give me clothes?’ By the way, her things were destroyed during the battle.

‘Ah, sorry, I forgot. Wait here.’ Valsrath rushed out of the cave chamber.

When he returned, there was a white dress on his hands.

‘Don’t tell me you plan on giving me that…’

‘Why? You don't like dresses? But you’ll look good in one.’ – Valsrath

‘I don’t care. Throw that away and give me an armor.’

‘But-’ – Valsrath

‘Don't make me repeat myself.’

‘What a pity. You’re so cute yet you want to wear boyish clothes. You even keep your hair short. Were you raised as a boy or something?’ Valsrath went out, ignoring Noel’s murderous glare.

Valsrath was more talkative than expected. Noel was starting to regret her decision. “Haaaa…”