"I win," I muttered calmly, standing over the unconscious Alex. Winning this duel was nothing short of a miracle, but it came at a painful price.

[Can't I take a break?] I thought, the exhaustion weighing heavily on me. Since arriving in this world, I haven't had a moment's rest. Even in my sleep, I found no peace of mind. Not only that, but my peaceful place of supposed rest was invaded by these guys.

Despite everything, I had no regrets. I knew I had brought this upon myself when I emerged from the lake. This duel had been a rare opportunity to employ some of the knowledge I had gleaned from the crown. But now, I could barely move a muscle. The damn knight had broken most of my ribs and shattered several bones. My body was already in a dire state, torn and battered by thorns. And it was a painful price indeed.

Signaling for the robe to disappear from the upper half of my body, I prepared to fully examine my condition. The sight that greeted me was worse than I had anticipated. One of my ribs protruded grotesquely from my flesh, tearing through the skin, and my body was covered in bruises, blood continued to pour heavily from multiple wounds. "Damn it, I hope Alex is in the same state."

Channeling my will once more, I commanded the thorns to embrace my body. They responded, wrapping gently around me as the crown on my head glowed with a faint light. The thorns began to devour my blood, healing me at an astonishing rate. Within moments, all my injuries vanished, leaving no trace of the brutal damage that had been there.

I gave my body a final check. Aside from the length of my hair and its return to its original silver color, there were no major differences from my previous state in my world. [Should I dye it again?] I had at least hoped to gain more muscle, but my body is still as lean as ever."

As I started walking towards Alex, one of the knights, her voice dripping with resentment, demanded, "What are you going to do to him?" Before I could respond, Mirai interjected sharply.

"Sarah, it's up to him to do whatever he wants. I hope you won't interfere with any decision he makes." His tone grew even sharper as he shifted his gaze to the others, including Edward. "Alex fought like a true warrior until the end, and I won't allow any of you to tarnish his honor. So, Ed, you'd better order your spirits to back down, or we will be the ones fighting next."

The air crackled with energy, the atmosphere charged with impending conflict. Neither Mirai nor Edward showed any intention of backing down, their determination to fight for what they believed in was undeniable.

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The murderous intent in Mirai's eyes was clear as his hand moved towards the hilt of his katana. Edward's previously indifferent expression softened slightly as he spoke in calm voice. "I understand that honor is precious to warriors, especially to the nobles of the kingdom. I truly wished for him to win this duel. I also have my own pride, but I am more than willing to set it aside for the sake of the young ones."

Just as the tension threatened to erupt into a full-blown clash, I stepped forward, my voice cutting through the charged silence.

"I have no wish to slay such an honorable knight, nor the heart to make a love-stricken maiden weep." As I pointed towards Sarah, both Mirai and Edward were left dumbfounded, exchanging bewildered glances. They began to whisper to each other in hushed tones, a stark contrast to their murderous intent just moments before. Their voices, however, weren't as low as they assumed.

"Indeed, he has good eyes," Mirai murmured amusingly, and Edward replied with a soft voice, "Even a blind man can see that Sarah is in love with Alex. Only love could drive someone to foolishly stand against an ancient in his own forest."

As if the situation couldn't get any stranger, Gracefell joined the conversation, whispering alongside them. "Human life is fleeting, and it may end at any moment. Love, being a battle against time, bids her make haste and seize her chance swiftly."

Mirai and Edward nodded in agreement to his words, their shared understanding was akin to three old comrades.

While the knights were engrossed in watching the three individuals converse like chattering grandmothers, Sarah struggled to process the unfolding scene. Not only had the wretched Gracefell openly exposed her feelings, but her two leaders had shown support for his words. To make matters worse, her fellow knights seemed unsurprised by this revelation.

Blushing deeply with embarrassment, tears welled up in her eyes. She felt utterly humiliated, as if she could die from the sheer embarrassment. Every whispered word and exchanged glance only heightened her sense of shame, making her wish she could vanish from this hall.

Unbeknownst to the knights, one of Gracefell's blood-soaked thorns silently slithered across the ground, inching its way toward Alex's unconscious body.

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"So, what are you planning to do with these thorns?" Edward asked nonchalantly.

"Thy spirits are indeed useful, rendering one's presence nigh undetectable to the very one they shall protect. Yet, every knight remains blind to this subtle intrusion."

"Oho, so you've noticed, but I shouldn't be surprised since we're in your domain. Such a cool crown, by the way," replied Edward calmly.

[Such a clever guy, though my senses warn me to look into both his and Mirai's souls, I see no deception or ill intentions in Edward but there is a sense of gratitude.]

"Fret not for Alex. Within the embrace of my blood, he shall be healed also," I reassured, then curiously asked Edward, "Pray tell, dost thou know why some of the knights do cover their eyes, or wherefore they behave so strangely?"

Edward scanned my body with an obvious look. "You really should wear something on top," he remarked dryly.

"Oh, this explains a lot," I thought.

As the knights left the hall behind Mirai, I noticed Alex being carried by Sarah. After everyone had departed, Edward lingered. Just before he left, he paused and quietly said, "Thanks."

I couldn't help but reflect, [For a haughty elf, he certainly knows how to show gratitude—no, wait a minute…]

"Hast thou not forgotten something here?"

As Edward responded with a perplexed expression, his words rang hollow to me, clearly masking the truth.

"Your spirits," I prompted gently.

He sighed, conceding, "That was worth a try at least. See you later."

With Edward's departure, the hall fell silent, leaving me alone once again