Ayla stared up at the ceiling blankly. It was the first time she had been awake and cogent in who knows how long. Her time after falling asleep initially was spent waking up, drinking, eating and dizzily regarding whoever else was in the room with her until she eventually fell asleep again. Unlike previously she did not feel like she was going back to sleep immediately and she was incredibly thirsty.

`Water…` She reached down the side of the bed and caught the bucket awkwardly on its edge, knocking it over. Her fingers curled and her face turned at the sudden disaster that just took place. The contents spilled onto the wooden floor. She was silent and unmoving as she watched water drip between the floorboards. She laid back down, sprawled out on her back and continued to stare up at the ceiling blankly.

`What now? I'm thirsty, but I'm not supposed to move. But I'm also supposed to drink water. What would Miller get mad at me for the most?` She tried to imagine what he would say. The way it played out in her head was:

`Aren’t you taking not moving a little too literally? You obviously get up if it’s something you need. Just keep yourself warm, as well if you’re going to get up and move around.`

“Ooh.” Aylama intoned in delirious amazement.

“The imaginary Miller predicted what I was going to do and corrected it.” She sat up, sliding her feet into her fur-lined uniform boots. She wrapped her blanket all around her body and slowly moved out into the hall of the barracks. She looked left and right down the dark hall.

`Dark. It's late.`

She made her way out into the yard, empty bucket in hand beneath her blanket. With everything wrapped up tight she was a bubble of warmth, so there was nothing for anyone to complain about if they saw her. She slowly wandered towards the training grounds where she knew the well would be. As she got closer she began hearing clanging noises. The sound of targets being hit. It was so fast that it was like an alarm going off. She rushed up and hid near the well, staring into the darkened yard. She saw a tall, lithe figure dancing around the dummy in the moonlight. He struck one last target with his wooden sword before jumping back. She squinted.

`Why did he quit? It looked like he could keep going. What did he get?` As she thought that the figure turned around. She could not make out his face very well, not because she could not see easily in the dark but because her vision was a little foggy in general while she was still sick. What she did see was him holding up all five fingers on both hands. He then closed his hands and opened them again.

`Five, five, five… Five?` One eye twitched.

`Twenty? Are you kidding me? Did he just want to tell me that he broke my current record?` She could not help it. She wanted to approach the man. As she did, someone gently grabbed her from behind and turned her around.

“Dame?” A small, polite voice whispered beside her ear.

“Hey…” Ayla uttered in a low tone. She was about to say that whoever it was shouldn’t sneak up on a Knight, but she was dizzy enough to fall over in that moment.

`They wouldn’t be able to sneak up on me if I was well.` She told herself.

“Y-yes?” She was still a little spooked. Her senses were very dulled because she could not sense the maid at all. It was probably even less likely that she would not sense a maid, of all people, so she was made dejected by her current uselessness.

“You shouldn't be out here. The Doctor ordered it.” The woman had bluish-black hair tied up in a bun and was wearing the standard maid uniform with a few additions. She wore sleek heeled boots, like a mix between a maids and a Knight's apparel, and the way in which she carried herself was quite martial.

“Oooh.” She felt like she guessed something, but lost it as a dizzy spell hit her and she was again about to fall over. The maid caught her gently in her arms.

“Strong…” The maid smiled in response to that dazed comment.

“Uh-” Ayla looked down, fog making it hard for her to explain herself. She eventually just gave up and shut her mouth and bit lightly on her bottom lip.

The maid continued to smile politely, ignoring the state Ayla was in.. “Is it water you need, Dame?”

“That's it. My bucket tipped in my room.” Ayla admitted, bringing the bucket outside her blanket.

The woman cocked her head to one side. She sighed and touched her cheek as she said.

“I will send someone to clean that up, Dame. Let me help you back.” The woman took the bucket from her.

“I will get your water for you after you return to your room.” Ayla in her delirium could swear she sensed an Aura within the maid, as well.

Ayla paused, then looked back at the training grounds. “But, twenty…” She commented nonsensically.

“Come.” The maid insisted, fastening her blanket a little more snugly. She was sounding a bit more impatient, but remained professional through it all.

Ayla blushed and easily surrendered to the woman’s guiding hands. `She’s very nice.`

She thought as she allowed herself to be led back to her room. She plopped down and spaced out, waiting as the woman left. She was not sure how much time passed. She fell asleep again. When she turned it felt like she had only blinked. Ayla gratefully ladled luke-warm water into her mouth before laying back down and passing out cold yet again. The whole event might as well have been a fever dream because at whatever point she woke up after that, still in her haze the water was filled and any of the spilled water was cleaned up.

Days passed. Ayla fixed her uniform, making sure everything was immaculate. As she was getting better throughout the week she was aware of the fact that Miller was the one continuously visiting her and helping her out while she could not get up or think straight. However, the only thing on her mind before the beginning of her shift was how much of a burden she had been.

`It’s embarrassing that the first memorable thing I showed them was me falling to sickness. They wouldn't be wrong for disdaining me. There had to be a replacement while I was gone and Miller was affected, too.` She frowned, remembering his expression as he sat her down initially to confront her for her stupidity. As she was straightening out her tie she clutched her chest near the bottom of her rib cage. A strange, unfamiliar feeling like a lesser sickness passed over her. It worried her, but passed quickly once she took a few breaths.

`Maybe I’m annoyed at myself.` She decided, attaching her cuirass and other assorted pieces of armour to her inner uniform. Ayla dutifully collected her cowl helm and fastened her cloak a bit more tightly. She remembered the lessons.

`I remember a lesson if I’m taught it once. Stay warm. Avoid cold. Get it together, idiot…`

As she left her bunk Miller was waiting with her horse as if nothing had changed. Samson was also there, already mounted near the soldiers. The soldiers were all prepped. Ayla bit the inside of her lip briefly.

“Miller I-”

He stopped her quickly by raising a hand in a stopping motion towards her. “Relax. We've been waiting for you but it’s not a big deal for the first shift after you were sick.” He said in a far more easy-going way than she expected.

She was amazed that he was thinking about that, because she was not in that moment, but it was something that she would have considered normally.

`How clever is he with people?` She wondered before speaking up.

“Not that. I'm naturally going to have to pay you back. I want to pay you back for what you did while I was sick and…” She blushed a little.

“Before that.” It was how she understood good deeds: If something good was done for another person they should get or give a reward to encourage it to happen again. Otherwise there would be no reason to help her again.

“I already told you. You got better so we're even.” He remarked in a tone that seemed genuine.

“Huh? I can pay you-” Ayla tried to say.

“I decline.” Miller rebuked.

Ayla gulped. “No… Repayment?”

Miller sighed heavily. “Already told you! You getting better is repayment so just drop it, okay.”

Ayla made a face. “That doesn’t-” She shut her mouth and simply nodded, not needing to be told again. She had nothing to say as she took the reins. Except:

“Thank you Miller.”

He did accept that with a grateful smile, as if it was reward enough. It was strange to her. “You're welcome.”

Ayla tried to make sense of it. `Is he really just satisfied with the fact that I’m okay?` She looked over at him as he mounted his own horse.

`I’d get it if I had done something for him already, but I haven’t.`

They approached the group. Everything was quiet and a bit awkward, as she expected. Samson turned from his small talk with the soldiers..

“Welcome back.” Samson greeted with a small wave.

“Thank you. I apologise for being a burden.” She bowed her head.

Samson accepted the apology with just a quiet nod, then smirked. “I'd tell you to `chill` but... you might actually just do it.”

Ayla looked up, her jaw dropping. The man was holding it together well, but was on the cusp of laughing out loud. The soldiers couldn't help it at all. Hadley chimed in, holding his chest.

“Is- Is it true? Did you really take a COLD SHOWER at NIGHT in CASTEZIN!?” Ayla looked at them all in amazement.

`None of them are... Mad? If they're mad they aren't showing it.`

Miller rested a hand on her shoulder. “Forgot to mention, you're gonna have to be patient living this one down. You're... A bit of `character` around the manor with what you did.” He patted her firmly.

Ayla looked down in horror, her lips still parted in shock. “Ev- Everyone knows?” She turned her head and looked to Miller, her eyes becoming dark. She felt tired again all of a sudden.

“Did you tell everyone?” Her face was bright red.

“I'm not the culprit. I wouldn’t do that to you. Apparently there was a maid that spread it around somehow.”

Ayla shook at the realisation. The clacking of heels walking away from the shower after passing her the towel. The woman who had guided her back to her room when she escaped to get water.

`That person was-` The visage of the reserved, gently smiling maid quickly turned to that of a grinning devil in her head.

Ayla completed her shift as if she were a ghost. Though she had a strong defence against any type of judgement due to shamelessness in some regards, embarrassment was very real and very effective somehow. It was fine being infamous but she was unfamiliar with being a laughingstock. As it was growing dark they were on their way to the Wintergreen, Ayla whispered to Miller after she thought she saw one of the townsfolk pointing to her while covering his grinning mouth.

“How long is this going to last?”

He looked mildly worried and amused in equal measure. “I think you're probably going to need to let all the jokes make their way around the Knights and soldiers for a while so... Just a couple weeks. “ He saw her expression and quickly tried to comfort her.

“Truthfully, when I was first starting out I had to use the bathroom and didn't want say that I had to stop for such an embarrassing reason. I thought it would hold up the patrol. Well, I held it in right up until we reached town. Before I could hit the outhouse I mucked all in my armour. That lived with me for just a couple weeks. Not too bad.” He shrugged.

Ayla stared at him “That sounds uncomfortable.” To her, it also sounded embarrassing. More than her own experience. She for once felt something akin to genuine sympathy after relating it to her own recent experience.

“Point is, we learn from our mistakes and even the ridicule helps. Now I always think before I'm gonna do something. 'Would this make everyone laugh at me?' And if it would, I'll try to convince Samson to take the blame for it instead.”

“Hey...” Samson grumbled.

“Stop whispering up there.”

“Sorry!” Miller smiled back at him and gave a short wave. He leaned in to whisper to Ayla again.

“That guy's got one, too. When his wife came to visit him one time during training their baby puked and it got all down the inside of his uniform. Rast wouldn't let him change until we were done. Oh and don't get me started on all those guys marching back there...”

Ayla was struck by his efforts. She laughed genuinely. She was feeling a bit more relaxed to hear all of that.

“Thanks. I feel a bit better.” She admitted. Miller beamed at her proudly, despite just explaining to her how he shit himself.

They arrived at the tavern. Ayla preempted Miller and dismounted her horse ahead of him. “I'll tie off the horses.” She insisted, since Miller refused to let her pay him back in a more solid sense.

Miller cocked his head to one side like a confused animal. “Go ahead. It's just around the side of the building.” Miller dismounted and handed his reins off, as did Samson.

“Thanks.” The man said bluntly before following Miller and the soldiers inside.

Ayla smiled. It was the least she could do, and it felt a little good to do anything at all. She guided the horses around the side of the building and found the place to tie them off. As she was about to walk back she noticed someone skulking around her and reached for her sword instinctively. Before she could draw, Hans left his hiding spot with his hands up.

“Sorry! I didn't mean to startle you, Dame.”

She relaxed once her sense of danger subsided, letting out a little huff. “It's no issue, Hans. Did you need something?”

He seemed a bit taken aback by her formality. The man remained at the same distance, moving his hands together in front of his lap nervously where he stood.

“I just wanted to say that I'm glad you're better.” He pulled the symbol she gave him out of his tunic, it was still wrapped around his neck. It looked polished when she viewed it again for the first time in a week.

“If you need this to ward off sickness please take it back.”

“That's not necessary. Me getting sick was due to a stupid mistake I made. Sol rarely helps rectify those without good reason. It wont stop you from getting sick either, so I hope you stay healthy.”

“Thank you for saying that.” His expression warmed. She could see that his pale skin and hair were almost reflective in the moonlight. He could be mistaken for a ghost.

“Of course, aAnd please send notice to me if you ever see anything strange or dangerous happening around you.”

“I promise I will. I can’t handle shit like that.” He admitted bashfully as he stuffed the symbol back under his tunic, next to his heart.

“I have to get back. I can already hear people getting rowdy!” Before she could say anything else Hans retreated around the corner into the Tavern shouting.

“Coming! I said I'm coming!”

Ayla felt mildly satisfied. `Maybe I've already changed the future.` She was about to make her way in but before she could take even one step she felt another presence, this time behind her.

“What now?” Ayla turned. Surprisingly, she saw a robed feminine figure, about her height.. They wore a hood that covered their eyes and a bandanna that covered their mouth wisps of dark hair coiled into gentle curls escaped the hood and fell down below the mask. It was suspicious. Before the woman could say or do anything Ayla’s paranoid instincts kicked in and she forwardly asked.

“What are you doing with that mask on so late at night?”

“I am a criminal.” The figure happily volunteered. When they spoke, Ayla could tell that it was the voice of a more mature woman.

Ayla sighed. “I understand. Present your hands. I'll take you in somehow.”

The women held up both hands in a stopping motion. “I... I was not expecting you to take that seriously.” She sounded caught off-guard.

“It was a joke, Dame.”

Ayla made a face at the woman; Annoyance and weariness. “Don’t joke about that type of thing to a Knight. I would've really taken you to jail.”

“I can see that.” Ayla could tell from the voice that the woman was dumbfounded.

She stared at the woman curiously and closed the distance steadily until the two were standing face to face. “Is there something you need to be approaching a Knight so late at night?”

“Aura of the Moon.” The woman said giddily. Ayla could tell despite the mask. It was such a strange thing to say that she allowed the woman to reach up to her face without flinching.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“What?”

The woman touched Ayla's cheek gently. If her actions were even mildly threatening they would have been stopped, but Ayla somehow felt no danger. It was unusual for someone that was so close, and so suspicious.

“Your eyes. They are called Aura of the Moon. Silver. Wolves both fear and revere them.”

Ayla narrowed her eyes at the strange woman. “Is that so? I heard fear-” She rested a hand cautiously on her sword despite the lack of actual threat.

“But not that they’re revered.”

“They are.” The woman stated without explanation.

“What is your name?”

“Ayla.”

The woman stopped suddenly, pulling her hand back as if realising something. Her previously jovial tone became sullen as she spoke.

“It’s Selenite. An old word that not many know. It means the same. Your eyes and your name. That name would never be given to a child lightly. Not by any Selenite. It seems someone cared for you... Or wished to curse you. Which is it?” She cocked her head to one side quizzically.

Ayla furrowed her brow and took a step back. “Ask my Mother... I don't know which. They weren't easy things to have in this Empire.” She admitted.

“Indeed.” The woman looked up. Ayla felt floored to see the woman's silver eyes reflecting the moonlight and shining like a halo similar to hers. Ayla covered her mouth, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable and confused by the alien familiarity she felt when looking into those eyes. Her body reacted instinctively, tensing up like a snake about to strike.

“What are you-”

“Dame Ayla! Hey? You didn't try to take a shower, did you?” Grayson shouted before walking around the corner.

Her face became red. “NO!” She turned to regard him. The instant she turned back the suspicious woman was gone.

“I was just… Talking to a woman.”

Grayson stopped and looked around. “What woman? Are you still feeling symptoms? Miller would be pissed.”

“N-no. Don't say that to Miller.” Ayla stepped around the side of the building, opening her senses to the highest degree she could. Anticlimactically she felt the robed figure walking away at a leisurely pace. She was simply around the corner, heading towards the other side of the in.

“Oh…” If she had disappeared, Ayla would have had to assume something was going on. Since the woman was literally just walking away as if nothing was happening she felt like letting it go as just being a weird encounter.

“What’s up? What woman?” Grayson walked up beside her, helping her look for whatever it was.

“Nothing.” She waved her hand at him.

“Let's just go inside. Is Miller already drunk?”

“No. He only gets drunk when he's anxious about something.”

“I see.” She exhaled a little through her nose, remembering that night when she was speaking to Hans for the first time.

“What's up with him?” She asked.

“You really don't know?” He lifted a bushy brow at her.

“No?”

“Hah. Well, figure it out with him. I don't wanna get involved.”

“Why? I am asking about why he is very touchy concerning my getting sick and not telling him.” It was worthy of anger, certainly, but to Miller it seemed personal.

“Oh! Shit.” He covered his mouth with his fist, his cheeks flushing.

“That's what you were asking.”

“What did you think I was asking about, Grayson?”

“Nothing. Haha... Nothing. Anyway…” He glanced away, avoiding her gaze.

“Ask Samson. I'm pretty sure we all feel the same about protecting our own, but Miller especially. Since I'm not a Knight I still don't wanna get involved and say something I shouldn't. Sorry.”

“I understand, Grayson. I respect that.” She patted him on the shoulder.

He looked up at her as if she was an Angel. “Dame! That's so considerate. I was worried you were gonna grill me.”

“If I did that would you tell me?” She narrowed her eyes at the man.

He coughed. “G-gotta get back in! It's cold!” He ran back around the corner to make a smooth escape.

Ayla smiled. `These are ‘fun’ people, I guess? I didn't have this feeling in my previous life.` She walked back in to join in on the drinking and socialising. She actually wanted to, which was unusual for her.

Ayla walked around tables on the busy pub floor and sat down at the table that they had taken up all to themselves. She set herself down next to Samson. As soon as she sat down Hans placed a mug in front of her without her even needing to ask.

“Wait, who pays for all this?” Ayla questioned.

“Your turn.” Samson offered casually. Aylanoticed the whole table was grinning at her like jackals.

“Don't mean to spring it on you. If you can't pay, just say so. It's not a set-in-stone rule but Miller and I decided when we first started doing this that ithe Knights should foot the bill since we're more well-off. That means we rotate.”

She was surprised. It made sense to her, she just was not expecting it from a Knight. The Knights she knew in her life did not care much for the soldiers around them. She was one of them.

“I'll pay. I have lots of money.” She reached behind her cloak to pull out her purse and check.

`I do have some with me just in case. I think it's enough.` She eyed the number of empty mugs and tried to count in her head, getting a bit distracted.

“Sorry. Meant no disrespect. Of course the Dame can pay. You mentioned you were a commoner so I misjudged.” Samson bowed his head in apology.

“No problem... Since I was a Commoner I did work throughout my stay at the Academy to pay the tuition and bills but I actually ended up with a bit of a surplus.”

Hadley faltered. “You had a rough go of it, huh? What kind of shitty job did you have to do while you were also training to be a Knight?”

She exhaled with relief. `I have enough on me right now even if everyone has two more rounds.` Ayla barely looked up to answer the question.

“I was doubling as a bodyguard for the Crown Prince, so the pay was fine and it also counted as training.” She put her purse away and asked.

“Where do I pay once we leave? The bar?” She looked up fully to see everyone was staring at her without drinking. She took a second to think, then realised.

`Oh. I just said that, huh?`

Samson leaned forward to look her in the eye. “You were buddy buddy with the Crown Prince?” He seemed intrigued.

Miller chimed in. “Jeeze, Dame, what are you doing here if you could've stayed with the crown prince? Probably would've been able to score a title and some land if you joined up with him.”

Ayla blushed. She did not want to come up with an explanation. There were multiple reasons, none of which she wanted to say outright. The first and foremost was: She already saw that life. It was not good. Not in the end.

“It's a private reason. I think I want to keep it that way.” That answer had them staring at Ayla thoughtfully. They seemed to respect her desire and piped down concerning her service to the prince.”

“Oh! Something I wanted to ask.” Miller mentioned.

Hm?” Ayla looked over.

“So long as it isn't related to the Crown Prince.”

“You joined as a Personal Knight without taking the test to become a Castezin Knight. What kind of scores do you get to be able to walk in like that?”

Ayla continued to look down into her drink. “I don't know if I should say.” As she was staring into the booze she remembered something and lifted her head.

“Oh, can I ask a question, Samson?”

“Yeah, go ahead.” He smiled warmly and leaned closer to her..

“Why does Miller care so much about all of us?”

“Uh...” Samson was speechless.

Miller offered awkwardly, waving his hand in front of her. “You know I'm sitting right next to you.”

“Grayson told me to ask Samson.”

Grayson cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted from across the table. “I thought it was implied that if you're gonna ask Samson about Miller, Miller shouldn't be around!”

“Pfft... Haha.” Miller shuddered while trying to hold back the majority of his laughter..

“You can answer, Samson. I don't mind.”

The Knight sighed. “It's not some grand tale or anything. Just a bit sad. When he was just starting out he was with another unit. They had another Knight that joined around the same time and he was from where we were from and Zach is Zach, so they hit it off. The thing is... The Kid didn't ever talk about anything. Always had to drag it out of him. Kind of like you, Ayla.” Ayla was unsure if that was true. But she did not interject.

“If he was having trouble he wouldn't say anything. If he was wounded he wouldn't say anything. Expedition comes around and I guess the Kid misjudged what we were doing so his clothes underneath weren't fit for the weather. But he didn't say anything to anyone about it, obviously.” Samson slowed his way of speaking near the end and grew quiet.

“Fragile as people are, even as a Knight when he was late to get up Miller went to wake him and he was dead in his tent. Fell asleep freezing because he was too embarrassed to talk.”

Ayla had a memory. She looked to Miller. `This happened to me. I remember waking up during the Castezin campaign in my time. But it wasn't one body, it was several. All young Knights I was raising up in my Order. I think at the time I cursed them out for dying so stupidly. Had an enemy to fight.` Ayla patted him, feeling it was the perceived right thing to do.

“Miller, I'm sorry.”

He scratched his cheek. “Rast said it wasn't on me... Said it wasn't my fault in the least and cursed the kid out saying ‘we got an enemy to fight and die to.’ I had already decided I never wanted something like that to happen to the people around me again.” He took a steadying breath before adding in a joking tone.

“So, that's why I'll occasionally ask all the guys if I can look to make sure they're wearing the right underwear.”

“It's true!” Tallow claimed while mockingly guarding his chest and groin. The other soldiers laughed but the laughing was drowned out in Ayla's head by her thoughts racing.

`Miller has been dealing with guilt. I actually know what that’s like now, I think... Not everyone gets second chances like me. Most people only get one life, like Miller, and he's already doing what he can to make things right with the life he has.` She felt contemplative. These men seemed weaker than here, but each of them was more of an ideal sort of Knight than she was. Both of them were the types she was trying to be.

`Should I ask how I should care about people the same way? No… That would be strange, wouldn’t it? I think it comes naturally to normal people, doesn’t it? Miller and Samson seem like a good compass to follow. If I do what they do I may end up a better person.` Along those lines Ayla offered.

“Me too.”

“What?” Samson asked while Miller was finishing his drink

“Miller, you can look to check that I'm wearing the right kind whenever, too.” She said earnestly. The man looked at her with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. He held his mouth tightly to avoid spitting what was in his mouth. She noticed everyone was looking at her again. Samson pulled her mug away from her.

“You're cut off, Dame.”

“I didn't even drink any.” She mumbled while looking down at it.

Miller laboriously swallowed the last of what was in his mouth and gasped for air. “You trying to kill me!?” He shouted.

“No.” Ayla furrowed her brow at him.

“Ugh.” Miller avoided looking at her as he spoke.

“Dame, so long as you talk to me and tell me know when you’re sick or when something's wrong, we're fine. Tell me or Ryan before it becomes a problem. I really don't want Rast to hear weird rumours about me asking you to see your underwear.”

“Oh.” The implication hit her, finally. Her cheeks flushed like a drunk.

“Sorry.”

“Was it mostly physical tests at that Academy?” Grayson questioned to move the subject along.

“Yeah?” Ayla nodded.

“Ah.” Grayson and Mayson smiled and nodded.

“That was lucky...”

“It was.” She nodded. Ayla did not get that she was being made fun of. The soldiers snickered, but Miller tapped Grayson lightly to tell him to cut it out.

As the night wound down Samson preempted Miller and offered. “Me and Dame are gonna put all the horses away. Miller you can go up right away.”

“Are you seriously trying to take my job, Ryan?” Miller leered, but dismounted and stumbled towards the bunkhouse drunkenly. He had picked up drinking later in the night.

Samson smirked, grabbing two reigns. Ayla took her own and walked with him. “Hope you don't think we're picking on you. I guess they decided we were gonna rib you a bit over…” He trailed off, thinking of a nice way to say it.

“Well, you got a very unique way about you.”

She shook her head. “Don't worry. I think if everyday was exactly like today until I retire I would call my time as a Knight here the happiest point in my life. It's fun, and that’s not something I’m used to so I don't mind too much if you guys make fun of me. I probably wont even notice half the time.” She admitted frankly.

Samson's weary face brightened, then the meaning behind her words darkened his expression.

“The happiest in your life? Today? The day we just had?”

Ayla stared up at the sky with all the stars shining, and the moon close to being full. “Waking up. Running the same route with the same people. Making conversation and making jokes. I'm not good at them but listening to you all make them is interesting, even when they're about me. Then ending the night at the Tavern and carrying Miller home sometimes. I don't want things to change from that. I'd like them to stay exactly like that.” Her smile faded as she noticed the state the moon was in. How close it really was to being full. How close the end could be if she wasn’t careful. Miller and Samson lived through the werewolf plague, but who knows who could die.

“Thanks for letting me know, Dame.” His eyes had an odd shape about them as he looked at her. It was sympathy and something else.

“Anything else, feel free to let either of us know. Miller would be happy.”

“You can just call me Ayla if you want. I know you’re being professional. If it’s alright with you, I would prefer you both be more comfortable around me.”

“Alright. Thanks for telling me all that, Ayla. I dunno what you went through for these ugly faces greeting you every morning to be your ideal day, but I'm flattered. I know everyone in the squad likes you. I know Miller likes you. You're a good Knight, is what I'm saying.”

Ayla nodded. She liked hearing it, but she was not sure if she could agree with him just yet. “Thanks.” she offered hollowly, since she did not believe it.

“Ah!” He slapped his forehead.

“It's a bad time since you were talking about wanting every day to be the same but our squad is rotated into training tomorrow. It's prep for the full moon in a week. Every month it's a huge operation to keep the territory under control, just in case there's an outbreak.”

“That's…” Ayla considered the actions that were being taken. She was dumbfounded, since she had no idea about this in her past life, though The Duke’s forces were always unusually well-trained. “That's a great idea. This is excellent!” She said excitedly.

`Castezin is already doing so much right. If I can simply help it along then things may actually change for the better.`

“Yeah?” Samson was amused by her reaction.

“So remember, report to the training grounds tomorrow brighter and earlier than usual. Rast runs the training with Knight-Lieutenant Eldrich and His Grace is usually there as well so put on your best face.” He smirked.

“Understood?”

Ayla smiled back gratefully. She appreciated the advice and the tone a lot. “Understood.”