The peak of the mountain pass was swept by endless wind. Cold air from the Eldar Range flowed ceaselessly through the cracks in the stone. Arnoir Sophia shrank back each time, but she never lifted her hand from Cross Rain's forehead. (Still burning.) She wrung out the damp cloth and pressed it to his forehead again. Rain lay slumped against the rock wall, eyes closed. Red streaks wove through his black hair, catching the lantern light with a dull gleam. The diagonal scar across his right cheek glistened with sweat. It was well past midnight. Milvaan Alru sat at the entrance to the mountain pass, his short blade resting on his knee as he kept watch. His golden hair swayed in the night breeze. His water-blue eyes turned toward Sophia and Rain from time to time—and then quickly looked away. (You're staying there the whole time, aren't you?) Sophia couldn't bring herself to speak to Alru. She was still dragging around the weight of yesterday, in the forest, when all she could say was "I'm sorry." The fact that she couldn't answer his confession—but there was no point thinking about that now. Right now, there was only one thing that mattered: keeping Rain alive. She dipped the cloth in water, wrung it out again. Pressed it to his forehead. That was all. Just that, over and over. She didn't know how much time had passed. When the lantern oil had dropped below half, Rain stirred faintly. His eyelids opened, just barely. Red eyes gazed vaguely at the dark ceiling above. Then, slowly, they searched for Sophia's face. Found it. "[whispers]...You're not crying anymore," His voice was hoarse. Half-dreaming, hazy. Sophia couldn't find words for a moment. (There's no time to cry—) "[serious]There's no time to cry," Her voice trembled. She continued, trembling still. "[serious]I won't let you die. Never," In that instant, heat bloomed behind her eyes, and tears fell. Not sadness. Not fear. Just the feeling of not wanting to lose this person—it had become unbearable. Rain's hand moved slowly. Trembling, it touched her cheek. It was light as bone and skin. Hot. Sophia gently cupped his hand in both of hers. Rain said nothing. He closed his eyes. But his hand pressed slightly against her palms, gathering what little strength remained. Wind blew across the peak. The lantern flame wavered. Alru looked up at the sky from the entrance to the pass. Stars were out. He quietly returned the short blade to its sheath. A bitter smile crossed his lips, but no one saw it. ────── Before dawn, the sound of scraping stone returned. Metal striking rock—rhythmic, relentless. Sophia lifted her hand from the cloth and stood. Alru stood as well. Light flickered up from below the mountain pass, drawing closer. "[cold]Gard broke through," The words came low. Sophia understood. He'd spent the entire night scraping away the collapsed rock face. When she tried to wake Rain, it was Vernard Lionel who moved first. The crown prince had been in the shadows deeper in the pass. His arm was bound with cloth, his coat stained with mud and blood. His silver hair hung loose, obscuring his refined features. His right eye—deep blue—and his left eye—silver—were fixed on Sophia and Rain. "[serious]I'll stand in front," Not his usual commanding tone. Just words. Gard appeared on the mountain pass. A few remaining soldiers followed behind him. Exhaustion marked Gard's face, but his eyes held no hesitation. "[cold]By order of the Crown Prince, I am to apprehend the fugitives. Surrender peacefully—" "[serious]Wait, Gard," Lionel stepped forward, pressing his wounded arm. Gard's movement halted. Lionel looked at Sophia. Just for a moment. Then he turned back to Gard and opened his mouth. "[serious]I ordered Sophia's execution. But—I gave that order because I was threatened by the mastermind. They said they'd kill your mother, Sophia," Silence fell. Sophia tried to process the meaning of those words. (Threatened by the mastermind. My mother—held hostage.) Anger should have come. But it didn't. Instead, a strange sensation spread through her chest. This man too had been afraid of something. Behind all that dignity, there had always been fear. "[surprised]...Surely not," That was all she could say. Rain pushed himself up from the rock wall. His body was a mass of wounds, his legs unsteady. Still, his hand went to the hilt of his sword. Gard laughed. Low, cold. "[sarcastic]A touching story. But my master is not you," With only that, he drew his blade. "[cold]I'll erase all of you—along with the evidence," ────── Gard lunged forward. In that instant, Rain stood. On unsteady legs, he raised his sword. His left arm wouldn't move properly. But still. "[cold]I'll cut down anyone who kills an innocent person," Low, short words. Gard's mouth twisted. "[sarcastic]A half-dead executioner playing hero," "[serious]You're not alone!" The moment Sophia cried out, Alru moved. His short blade found the gap in Gard's armor—his flank. A metallic clink. Gard's movement stuttered for just an instant. Lionel picked up a stone from the ground and threw it. It struck Gard's face directly. His vision blurred for a moment. Sophia kicked a stone at her feet with all her strength. It caught Gard's right ankle. His balance shifted. Rain didn't miss that opening. He stepped forward toward the off-balance Gard. Each step was heavy. But his blade was precise. He cut deep into Gard's shoulder. Gakiiiin—! The sound of metal splitting echoed across the peak. Gard dropped to one knee. Blood fell. Rain pressed his blade to Gard's neck. His legs were shaking. The heat made his vision waver—you could see it from the side. And yet the blade point never wavered. "[cold]I am—Sophia's knight," His voice was quiet. The voice of a man despised by society as an executioner. The voice of a man who had lived as someone else's tool, speaking his own pride in his own words for the first time. Gard looked at his remaining soldiers. Then he sheathed his sword. "[cold]...I withdraw," He spoke with barely suppressed rage, then turned on his heel. His soldiers followed. The sound of hoofbeats faded into the distance. Silence returned to the peak. Rain collapsed. Sophia caught him. His body was heavy. But she didn't let go. ────── The national border marker stood a short walk down from the peak. A stone pillar carved with the crest of Vernard Kingdom on one side and the council crest of Miltia on the other. That very line marked the boundary between the two nations. Four people walked side by side. Rain was supported by Sophia and Alru. Lionel walked alone, a little behind. Sophia took one step forward. She stepped onto Miltian soil. Her legs gave out. She hadn't expected it. Her knees buckled, and she didn't know whether to cry or laugh, so both came out at once. A voiceless sound escaped her. From the scaffold, from the river, from the village, from the forest—she'd been running the whole time. Finally, she'd made it here. Rain stumbled down beside Sophia. Alru gave a small laugh and said "[gentle]We did it," . Only Lionel remained standing before the border. His mismatched eyes looked toward Sophia. Right eye deep blue, left eye silver. "[serious]I can't cross yet. I'll stay in the kingdom—protect my mother, and search for the truth," Sophia watched his back. The anger was still there. Still there. But it was different from hatred. This man too had been cornered by something. Just like Sophia. "[serious]...I can't forgive you until I understand everything. But—I don't hate you either," Lionel closed his eyes for just a moment. Then he nodded. He turned and left. His silver hair disappeared into the mist. In that retreating back, fear and resolve existed side by side—Sophia could see it. In her chest, resentment and sympathy mixed together as the mist swallowed him whole. ────── The medicinal herb settlement along Miltia's border lay a little off the mountain road. It was a small village that smelled of sweet herbs. Sophia had heard that Miltia prospered through herb trade, but she hadn't expected a settlement this deep in the mountains. Alru had said he "knew the route"—this must have been what he meant. The village's elderly physician examined Rain, applied a poultice to his forehead, cleaned his wounds, and wrapped them in bandages. He left behind only the words "[serious]Rest until the fever breaks," , then quietly departed. Sophia sat in a chair beside Rain's bed and fell asleep right there. When she woke, morning light was streaming through the window. Alru was leaning against the wall, watching the two of them. His golden hair was disheveled. He'd been awake all night. When their eyes met, Alru gave a small shrug. "[gentle]Guess I'm not needed after all," It was almost a rueful smile. But his gaze returned to Sophia's face once more. Then it looked away. She could tell—he still hadn't given up. Rain opened his eyes past midday. The fever had broken. His complexion was still poor, but his mind was clear. He looked at Sophia, then at Alru, then at the ceiling. "[cold]...Miltia," "[gentle]Yes. Miltia," Rain was silent for a while. Then, slowly, he pushed himself up and reached for the leather bag placed at his pillow. He pulled out a folded piece of paper. "[serious]Found it in the royal palace basement. A document proving the curse catalyst was fabricated—but," Rain unfolded the paper. Sophia's eyes followed the text. The contents certainly looked like evidence. It showed how the physical evidence supposedly proving Sophia used sorcery had been created. Except. One section of the document was completely blacked out. Covered over repeatedly in ink. Whatever lay beneath was completely illegible. "[serious]The mastermind's name. Can't read it," Sophia stared at that black section. (This can't be. Not here—) "[serious]But. It's a first step," Rain said it. Short, quiet. Sophia lifted her eyes from the document and looked at him. Then she held out her hand. "[serious]Let's find the truth together," There was a pause. Rain nodded, awkwardly. He reached out. His hand touched hers. Their fingers intertwined. Rain's hand was still slightly warm. But much better than last night. Alru stood up. "[surprised]Um—I'm here too, you know?" He wedged himself between them, deadpan. Sophia couldn't help but laugh. Rain gave a small, rare snort of amusement. "[sarcastic]I know," "[gentle]If you know, then maybe be a little more aware of it?" Alru dropped his shoulders dramatically. His face was somehow smiling. His water-blue eyes looked at their joined hands, then deliberately turned toward the window. Small laughter spread through the room. Beyond the window lay Miltia's sky. Softer than Vernard's, warmer in its light. They'd made it here. Finally, they'd made it. The mastermind's name was still unknown. Alru's true identity remained a mystery. What Lionel would do in the kingdom, what would happen in Miltia—none of it was clear. But in this moment, Rain's fingers were in Sophia's hand, Alru was muttering beside them, and wind drifted through the window. That was enough, she thought.