I walked out of the room where I was keeping Tokei, leaving her in Genison’s care. Her steady breathing and the dim light of the room lingered in my mind as I made my way down the hall. The infirmary beds weren’t far, but each step felt heavier with the weight of uncertainty.

Reaching the infirmary, I stopped in my tracks at the sight of the two figures Genison had described. They weren’t who I expected.

The girl lay motionless, her navy blue hair matted and tangled, cascading over the edge of the cot. She was dressed in a black outfit, rugged and practical, the kind of attire worn by mercenaries or soldiers. There were rips along the fabric, exposing bruised and bloodied skin beneath. A faint tension lingered in her expression, even in unconsciousness.

My gaze shifted to the man in the other bed. His moderately long brown hair was damp, and his face was pale with exhaustion. He was clad in what must have once been a fine suit, but now it was torn and disheveled, its elegance marred by mud and dried blood. His left arm was slung at an awkward angle, clearly dislocated, and his leg was splinted crudely—likely Genison’s work to stabilize him.

I frowned, scanning their faces for familiarity, but none came to me. These were not people I knew, nor was the girl Tokei’s sister. So, who were they? And what had brought them to this state?

I approached the nearest bed, my instincts urging caution. Something about their appearance, their injuries, and the circumstances of their discovery whispered of a story far more complicated than mere bad luck.

The girl stirred faintly, her lips parting as though she was caught in the haze of a half-formed dream. My hand rested briefly on the edge of the bedframe as I studied her features.

“Who are you?” I murmured, more to myself than to her. My attention drifted to the man, who remained unnervingly still, save for the shallow rise and fall of his chest.

Genison appeared behind me, his expression still tight and worried. “I didn’t recognize them either,” he admitted softly. “Do you think they’re connected to what happened in the forest?”

I didn’t answer immediately. A faint chill settled in the room, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that these two weren’t ordinary wanderers who’d stumbled into misfortune. There was more to their presence—and their injuries—than met the eye.

“Maybe,” I replied at last, my voice low and measured. “But we won’t know until they wake up.”

When they did, I intended to get answers. However, I can only get answers from them if they’re still alive and can tell me. With those final thoughts, I got to work patching them up.

----------------------------------------

I woke up again, my senses gradually returning as the dim light of the room came into focus. The faint scent of herbs still lingered in the air, mingling with the soft creak of wood as I shifted slightly.

Turning my head, I noticed Elli slumped in the chair beside my bed. Her black was somewhat messy, and her arms were folded across her chest as she dozed off, her expression unguarded for once. It was strange to see her like this—without the sharpness that usually radiated from her gaze.

I shouldn’t wake her. She had done so much already, tending to my injuries and ensuring I had a safe place to recover.

Carefully, I shifted the blanket aside and unbuttoned the bottom few buttons of the shirt I had been switched into—probably by Elli. My hands trembled slightly as I pulled the fabric aside, exposing the area where the tree branch had impaled me.

A distinct scar marked the spot, a jagged reminder of the battle I had endured. The wound itself had closed, but the scar tissue stood out against my skin, stark and unyielding. It didn’t take a healer to know this was a scar that wouldn’t fade easily, if ever.

My fingers brushed over it lightly, the touch sending a strange sensation through me—part ache, part numbness. The memory of the fight, the fall, and the sheer desperation that followed flashed in my mind like fragments of a dream.

I leaned back against the pillow, exhaling slowly. The scar was a small price to pay for surviving, but it was also a reminder of how close I’d come to not making it out alive.

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Turning my head back toward Elli, I watched her for a moment, her steady breathing the only sound in the room. She’d gone out of her way to help me—a stranger. Why?

Then it came to me—there was no time to waste. I needed to find my sister.

As I began shifting in the bed, Elli stirred. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she sat up, stretching slightly before letting out a soft yawn. “You’re awake…” she said, her voice thick with sleep. “Stay still. Let me check your injuries first.”

I didn’t respond, my thoughts already drifting elsewhere.

Elli moved closer and carefully inspected the bandages around my torso, her touch gentle but methodical. After a moment, she straightened up, satisfied. “You should be fine now, just don’t go fighting bandits and the like for a while.”

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, ignoring the soreness that rippled through me. “Thank you for helping me, I should get going now.”

Elli frowned, her arms crossing as she stepped in front of me, blocking my path. “You’re still recovering. Where exactly do you think you’re going?”

“I don’t have time for this,” I said, my voice firm. “My sister is out there, and she needs me.”

Elli’s orange eyes narrowed, and her expression hardened. “You’re in no condition to go rushing into danger again. I don’t even know who you are or why you were out in those woods in the first place.”

“That doesn’t matter,” I snapped, trying to move past her, but she held her ground.

“It does if you collapse halfway through the forest or end up in worse shape than you already were,” she countered, her tone sharp. “You owe it to yourself—and to your sister—to approach this carefully.”

I clenched my fists, frustration boiling beneath the surface. “I can’t stay here while she’s out there. You don’t understand.”

Elli’s gaze softened slightly, and she took a step closer. “Then help me understand. Tell me what you require and I can help you more than you might think.”

I hesitated, torn between the urgency of my mission and her words. But before I could respond, Elli continued. “You’re strong, Tokei. Strong enough to take down those bandits on your own. But strength isn’t enough. You need a plan—and allies.”

She took a deep breath, her expression shifting to something more contemplative. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll help you find your sister, but in exchange, I need your help escaping my family.”

Her words caught me off guard, and I blinked, unsure of how to respond. “Escaping your family?”

Elli nodded, her orange eyes glinting with determination. “You’re not the only one who had problems. If you help me, I’ll make sure you have everything you need to find your sister. Information, resources, safe passage—you name it.”

I stared at her, weighing her offer. Trusting someone else wasn’t easy but maybe, this could work.

“If you can provide me with all of that why don’t you just escape yourself?”

Elli extended her hand, a small smile playing on her lips. “Well, because my family isn't just your average family. They are the overseers of this March, The Luminastra Family, and I am their daughter, Elysia Luminastra.”

I froze, the weight of her words sinking in. “The Luminastra family?” I repeated, my voice low with disbelief. The name was familiar even to me—one of the most influential noble houses in the region, known for their power, wealth, and far-reaching control.

Elysia nodded, her expression unreadable but her tone steady. “Yes. And as much as my family would like to pretend otherwise, I am not content to live my life as their puppet.”

I studied her face, trying to gauge her intentions. She had helped me, saved my life even, but now she was asking for something far more complicated than a simple exchange of favors.

“You could have kept that to yourself,” I said slowly, suspicion creeping into my voice. “Why tell me who you are?”

“Because if we’re going to work together, I need you to know what you’re walking into,” she replied calmly, her orange eyes meeting mine. “My family’s influence isn’t limited to this March. If I leave, it has to be permanent and without a trace. That’s not something I can do alone.”

“And you think I’m the right person to help you?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Elysia smiled faintly, the corners of her lips curving up just enough to suggest a mix of confidence and defiance. “You’re strong, resourceful, skilled, and clearly willing to go to any lengths for the people you care about. That’s the kind of ally I need.”

I glanced toward the window, the faint light of dawn creeping through the curtains. My sister was still out there, and every second I spent here felt like a wasted moment. But Elysia’s offer was tempting—information, resources, and safe passage would make finding my sister easier, especially if she had truly heard anything useful about Otome’s whereabouts.

Still, doubt lingered. “What if I say no?”

Elysia’s expression didn’t falter. “Then I won’t stop you. But if you leave now, you’ll be on your own. Also, I would quite appreciate it, after how I’ve healed your sister and you both~” she said with a faint trace of cheekiness in her voice.

“...Fine, I accept your proposal, tell me what you want me to do, So I can get to finding where my sister when as soon as possible.”

As we finished our conversation, the voice of a man from outside could be heard, “Where are we? Elizabeth?! Hey Elizabeth, wake up!”