Seeing that the four students had a firm hold of the chest, Valessandria began to weave her way around the tables out of the dining area. Behind her was the sound of metal squeaking and scraping against wood as her party followed after her.

Walking down the hallway, she nodded at the maids who passed by on their way to their duties. Their steps were lighter compared to when she first entered the inn, and the information hadn't fully disseminated throughout the village of the Empire, no longer being a threat.

Valessandria could understand the feeling since she still had the sensation of being in a dream due to what she had seen. She dreaded the knowledge that she'd need to report to the council, mainly to deal with her insubordinate action to take trainees to defend Leaf Village and explain the horrors she had seen. A smirk emerged on her lips, knowing many would be soothed after seeing the wealth she carried to them.

Gritting her teeth, her eyes were fixated on the doors and the bright light of the sun pouring inside. Even with her exhaustion, there was a sense of comfort in seeing the sunlight. Her steps quicken as though desperate to be back in the light and safety.

Passing by the front desk in the lobby, Valessandria nodded at the clerk.

Her eyes narrowed, noticing a glint of metal between the fingers of the woman. The woman had her hand on something as though it were a religious item. Even with a casual glance, she could readily tell the woman held a necklace at home in a noblewoman's jewelry box.

"Thank you for your help, My Lady," The clerk bowed to Valessandria.

Waving a hand, Valessandria nodded, "Your food was wonderful. I will recommend your establishment if any head this way."

Turning away from the woman, Valessandria pushed open the door and breathed in the fresh morning air, still wet from the morning dew. A cool breeze passed through her blonde hair.

Valessandria took a brief moment to see the peaceful village as a few villagers walked around, doing their early morning tasks. Even nature had a festive air; the grass between the buildings glittered like jewels from the morning dew. Just like with the maids, there was a sense of catharsis; the fear and panic built up from the fear of the Empire were gone and replaced with relief.

Turning the corner, she made her way to the stable, where all their horses were taken care of.

The sounds of neighing could be heard in addition to the footsteps of the stable boy. As she reached the end of the inn, a long stable packed with the horses belonging to the guests was revealed. In front were their horses, several eating from buckets hanging from poles. There were also numerous hay bales that a few of the horses were eating from.

Valessandria couldn't help but grin, seeing how their horses happily ate the food, their coat freshly brushed. She could tell they were in a good mood, enjoying the break after such an arduous journey.

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Her eyes spotted one of her men that was keeping an eye on their belongings, currently hanging from poles to allow the horse some rest from the added weight.

"My Lady," A young boy approached them, removing the hat on his head and revealing his red head.

Smiling at the boy, "You did a good job with our horses, especially with the other chores you have, taking care of the others belonging to the guests." Valessandria reached for her purse, hanging from her waist. Her fingers quickly undid the latch, and she inserted her hand into the leather pocket that had many of her coins. The rest she had inside her saddlebags, along with the other gear they would need for a long journey. Pulling out six Illumin gold coins, Valessandria handed them to the stable boy. "Here is payment for the horses, wagon, and supplies. The rest is for you in appreciation of your hard work."

The six coins clinked against one another inside the small boy's cupped hands, his eyes wide, feeling the heft of the metal. "Thank you, My Lady!" The boy nodded. "I made sure to store plenty of canteens filled with our best water and enough dried food to last a while."

Hearing the boy's words, Valessandria chuckled as she playfully rubbed the top of his head.

Just from seeing the saddlebags, it was clear that they were filled to the brim with supplies. The inn had been generous, even if she had paid the total amount. There were plenty of times when people would try to cheat others out of what was settled, so she couldn't help but smile at how the inn had acted beyond appropriately. She reminded herself to inform the proper department to list the Slumbering Traveler as an approved location for staff from Illumin going on official travels.

Valessandria made her way toward the horse she had ridden, appreciating its smooth black coat that seemed to gleam under the rising sun.

Sniffing the air and catching her scent, the horse turned its head to see Valessandria. It nickered with delight, moving its head up and down as it waved its tail. The horse moved to where she was, nuzzling its head against hers.

"You miss me?" Valessandria laughed as she lovingly petted the horse.

While the horse pushed its head towards her, trying to get her attention, she quickly checked to ensure everything was alright. From what she could see, the stable boy had done a proper job.

"Stay there," Valessandria pointed at the ground next to her as she walked to the rack that stored her blanket, saddle, gear, and saddlebags.

As the Lady Knight, she had gained plenty of experience preparing a horse. On top of that, it didn't help that she enjoyed their company, finding them much better company than the nobles at Illumin. If it wasn't for the task she was provided by someone who shook how she'd see the world moving forward, she may have felt that the opportunity to be away from her duties at Illumin was pleasant.

Her hands, momentarily resting on her blanket, trembled slightly. In the back of her mind, a persistent thought kept growing since encountering the young lord. She couldn't help but wonder if what she saw was truly the real form and not just wearing the face of a young boy.

Making a fist with her hands, Valessandria attempted to regain control over her nerves. As the head of the Disciplinary Committee, it was vital for her to remain objective, not fall into foolish thoughts, and chase after apparitions inside her mind.

Lifting the blanket, she made her way back to her horse, patiently waiting for her to return. She positioned it on the horse, adjusting it slightly to ensure it would be beneath the saddle. The process of getting the horse ready for the long journey back to the city was therapeutic, especially with how she was haunted by dark thoughts. Moving her hands also helped to keep her moving forward.

Making sure that the reins and straps were on appropriately, Valessandria looked to the others to see how they were doing with their horses.