Zach leaned against the smooth marble of the balcony, his gaze sweeping across the sprawling city below.

The entire group had return to the city after the corpses of Melijuia parents were burnt into ashes.

He turned his head slightly to glance at Melijuia, who stood beside him, her expression unreadable.

“Do you have political ties that depend on your parents?” he asked, his tone measured. “Ties that would fall apart if they were gone?”

Her shoulders stiffened, and silence hung between them like a drawn blade. For a long moment, she simply stared at the horizon, her lips pressed into a thin line. Finally, she spoke, her voice low.

“Yes.”

Zach studied her carefully. She didn’t seem defeated, just... resigned. Her hands rested on the railing, fingers curling slightly as if to anchor herself.

She continued, “By working with the Third City for this upcoming war, Mapil can sell supplies, trade at levels we never could before. Our town’s economy could thrive—more than thrive. We could advance. And that’s what we need right now. What my people need right now. They need to not fear the First City.”

“I see...” Zach muttered.

"Of course one of the major reasons for helping is because if the First City gets the chance, we’ll be crushed. We have to do everything in our power to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“And your brother?” he asked after a pause. “What if... what if he was backed at that village and just burned into ashes?” The words tasted bitter on his tongue, but they had to be said.

Her reaction was immediate and visceral. Her jaw tightened, and a flicker of something—pain, anger—crossed her face. She inhaled slowly, steadying herself.

“I’d know,” she said firmly. “We would know. My knights and I, we’d recognize those ashes. But if I’m being honest, he’s likely been kidnapped. It doesn’t make sense otherwise. My parents were of far greater value to our enemies, and they were killed outright. I suppose they wish to use him as a bargaining chip.”

Zach frowned. “Do you have any idea who’s behind it?”

She hesitated, then nodded. “Most likely the First City or one of their allies. They’ve been working to destroy any alliance we have with the Third City.”

Zach studied her, weighing her words. “So, what will you do?”

“I'll have to handle it in secret, I guess. However if he is ever revealed by the enemy as a way to demoralize my soldiers, I'll have to deny it, saying its a fake.”

"That's pretty cruel."

She said nothing but Zach could see her tight her hands was clenched. "I'll be a couple days before I head to Mapill, so any knight training will not start for a while."

"I'm okay with that. I'm only really excited for the privileges I'll get."

"I find it so interesting how shameless you are."

"Being a knight sounds like having to fight often or look threatening 24/7. I don't want that. Might as well make it clear what I want."

"Yet you were about to become a soldier?"

"For as long as I need to get documents to operate in the city as a cityzen."

"Then what?"

"Take on a career that maximizes my freedom. Financially and literally. And look for something that's important to me."

"Hm... When you said you wanted to be a knight alone in name, that was why, huh."

"Yeah. I'll still help you out when you need me though. But for the most part, I'll be doing my own thing. I'm a bit selfish not ungrateful."

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"I appreciate that. You're very honest."

"Sometimes I'm a bit too honest from what my..." he was about to say friends.

His heart felt weird, tingled, but he ignored and continued, "My people, I guess."

"Really..." she said, before walking off. "I'll be off, having exciting business meetings."

"Good luck."

*And now... I'll enjoy this paradise.*

Zach wandered through the wide halls of the estate, his footsteps echoing faintly against polished stone floors. The luxury around him was understated but undeniable—tall windows let in streams of sunlight, highlighting the clean lines of furniture and the intricate carvings on doorframes. Servants moved quietly, always attentive but never intrusive. It was the kind of place where everything felt effortless.

As he passed a corner, he caught the attention of a nearby servant, a young woman balancing a tray of empty teacups. “Excuse me,” Zach said, trying to sound casual. “What’s the best part of this place? You know, the thing people around here don’t take for granted.”

She hesitated, clearly weighing her answer. Then she smiled, tilting her head toward a nearby archway. “If I may, sir, I think you’d enjoy the heated pool. It’s something special.”

A heated pool? Zach’s curiosity piqued immediately. “Please show me.”

The servant led him through a series of paths winding through the estate gardens. Zach marveled at how meticulously everything was maintained—the bushes trimmed to perfect symmetry, the trees casting just the right amount of shade, and the stone paths gleaming as if they were freshly cleaned. A gentle stream snaked through the grounds, the sound of its trickling water adding to the calm atmosphere.

Finally, they arrived at the pool, nestled among smooth, dark stones and surrounded by low, polished benches. Steam rose faintly from the water, curling upward into the warm air. Zach crouched by the edge, running a hand through the surface. The heat surprised him, soothing and consistent.

“This is... incredible,” he said, glancing at the servant. “You’re telling me people just relax here?”

“Yes, sir,” she replied with a small smile. “Would you like me to prepare the area for you? Perhaps some tea?”

“Uh, yeah. Tea sounds great.” He stood and looked around, still taking in the space. “Is this something anyone can use, or...?”

“Yes."

Zach shook his head, grinning. “Can I get food too? Like a lot of food. I'll appreicate that a lot.”

She smiled.

As he settled onto one of the benches, a small tray of tea and a plate of pork chicken and a yellow cabbage. was brought to him. The servant bowed lightly before stepping away, leaving him alone to soak in the experience.

He was surprised. Having nothing but mostly meat for a meal used to be childhood dream of his. An unbalance meal? He didn't a damn.

Zach leaned back, letting the heat from the pool seep into the air around him. The aches in his body seemed to lessen as he sipped the tea.

“And to think,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I was going to become a soldier, sleeping on hard ground and having to see people getting blown up on the weekly. Even for a year that's ass. The things desperate people would do…”

Of course, this wasn't for free. He was going to technically become a knight and who know what conflicts that woman would want to throw him at. But it didn't matter at the moment. Nothing did.

The tranquility of the moment was unlike anything he’d known. The estate’s quiet safety, the constant hum of activity in the distance, and the attentiveness of the staff all worked together to create a space that felt almost unreal. For the first time in what felt like years, he allowed himself to simply enjoy the moment.

No studying, no surviving. Just enjoying life.

Later that evening, Zach returned to his quarters, feeling lighter than he had in weeks. The room was more than he ever expected—spacious, clean, and private. The bed, draped in soft linens, was a luxury he still hadn’t gotten used to. Sitting at the desk by the window, he looked out at the gardens below, the glow of floating lanterns lighting the pathways.

He spent the first few days mostly enjoying the estate. Of course, his body aches will come and go, but it was getting better for the most part.

Zach wandered the grounds, drinking in the sheer luxury of the Third City’s estate. The kitchens always had something fresh to offer—breads baked to golden perfection, delicate pastries filled with fruit and cream, and steaming cups of tea infused with exotic herbs. He had never eaten this well in his entire life. Even the simplest dishes were prepared with care, each bite a reminder of just how far he’d come from scrounging for scraps.

Sometimes, he would sit by the stream, letting the sound of water lull his mind into a peaceful haze. Other times, he would recline on one of the benches near the heated pool, feeling the warmth seep into his bones as he sipped tea served by attentive attendants.

As he stretched out under the shade of a tree one afternoon, his thoughts wandered.

One memory kept surfacing: the iron spears incident. The attack had been vicious, but he was almost relieved it hadn’t come directly from the head of the military. If it had, the implications would have been far worse.

Still, the question lingered: who had ordered it? He replayed the possibilities in his mind, ruling out and reconsidering suspects.

The bandits/assassins from the forest? Unlikely. He’d dealt with them decisively, and they lacked the resources for something so coordinated.

Glory? That seemed more plausible.

Geroi seemed intelligent. If he’d wanted Zach dealt with, it would have been an ultimatum to join them or die. So who...

Ren. He hated him and thought he was an enemy spy. And if he could work for a research lab that develops weapon for the military, he most likely had deep connections within, or the money to make bribes.