As I left Colonel Morgan’s presence, I felt a mix of relief and anticipation. The promise of the High Tier Mana Essence was the final thing that I had needed: a chance to finally move beyond the endless grind of the battlefield.
After all, for the past three weeks, I had already reached the peak of the stage two. The mana cultivation was complete, and I had already formed the required meridians for the third stage.
Now, at this point, there was only one thing I needed to do.
Breakthrough to the third stage. But for this, the amount of mana I had accumulated was a little bit lacking. If not for the High Tier Mana Essence, it would have taken me at least more than five months of cultivation for me to reach the third grade.
And I could not afford to do so, as I already knew from the content of the novel that this battle would end just two months later.
Even now, the Lorian Empire is already getting pushed back, and it is a matter of time before the high-ranking executives give the order to abandon this battlefield.
At the end of the day, it is inevitable, as I already had witnessed the power of their magic units. At this point, it is nearly impossible for the Empire to deal with them with their current strength.
Even today, the strategy they had applied was smart.
‘It would work if not for me.’
I made my way back to the barracks, each step filled with happiness. Finally, I will be leaving this wretched place after all.
The camp was bustling with activity, with soldiers preparing for their next assignments and others tending to their equipment or resting.
I navigated through the maze of tents and makeshift structures, my mind focused on the path ahead.
Reaching my tent, I pushed the flap aside and stepped inside. The familiar sight of my simple bedroll and personal belongings greeted me. I sank down onto the bed, the weight of the day settling on my shoulders.
Taking a deep breath, I allowed myself a moment to reflect. The journey had been long and arduous, filled with challenges that had tested me to my core. But through it all, I had grown stronger and more resilient.
I looked in the mirror, checking my face. And just as how it was before, my face was still the same.
The same scar that was going through my right eye was still there, the proof of that moment.
‘Knight of the Wind.’
I had waited for him on the battlefield, hoping to see him make his appearance. But he didn’t. Not on my side, at least. As if fate were purposefully keeping us apart.
The memory of our brief encounter replayed in my mind. His speed, his precision—it had been overwhelming. I had felt completely outclassed, a mere insect before a giant. Objectively, I knew that facing him now, even with my increased strength, would be nearly impossible.
I had been letting my emotions get the best of me. The desire for revenge, the need to prove myself—it was clouding my judgment. Acting brave and strong when I wasn’t ready would be plain stupidity. If I truly wanted to face the Knight of the Wind again, I needed to prepare myself thoroughly.
There was no room for recklessness. I had to be smart and methodical. I had to grow stronger, not just in power but in skill and strategy.
Just at that moment, the flap of my tent rustled, and someone stepped inside. It was a girl, her bright eyes scanning the space before landing on me. Her face lit up with a radiant smile.
“Lucavion! You’ve returned!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.
She dashed towards me, her arms outstretched for an enthusiastic hug. But I sidestepped her attempt with a quick, practiced motion, avoiding her embrace.
She pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. “That’s rude, Lucavion! I was just happy to see you!”
I raised an eyebrow, my expression calm. “I think you’re the one being rude, barging into my tent without permission and trying to hug me without warning.”
She huffed, clearly annoyed. “Oh, come on! I thought we were friends. Can’t a friend show some affection?”
I sighed, shaking my head slightly. “We can, but maybe not in such a dramatic fashion. What are you doing here, anyway?”
Her pout softened into a more serious expression. “I heard you were back and wanted to check on you. I was worried after the last battle.”
I could see the genuine concern in her eyes, and it softened my stance a little. “I appreciate it, really. But you need to be more careful. You never know who might be watching.”
Who was this girl, you may ask?
She is Jesse Burns.
A noble like me who was sent to the battlefield. Well, at least she is not a fallen noble but a real one, though her circumstances are pretty similar to mine.
Jesse is the child of a maid, which is why she has been looked down upon and even hated by the other heirs. Her progress was constantly interrupted as she was a child of lowborn status, and that’s why she wasn’t able to cultivate properly. Despite her noble blood, her half-siblings had always viewed her as an outsider, someone unworthy of their family name.
She had been sent to the battlefield thanks to a scheme from her siblings. They saw her as a threat to their inheritance and status despite her lack of power. By manipulating their father and the family council, they managed to have her assigned to the front lines, hoping she would be killed in battle or at least forgotten.
Jesse had lost all hope when she was sent here. Being a Third-rate warrior, she knew she was just considered weak, a disposable asset in the grand scheme of things. Her dreams of proving herself and rising above her circumstances seemed impossible.
She was resigned to her fate, accepting that she would likely die on the battlefield, just another casualty in a war she had no stake in.
But around that time, I was also assigned to this unit, and somehow, we ended up like this.
“Jesse, you need to be more careful,” I said, my tone softening as I considered her situation. “We’ve both been through a lot, and the last thing we need is more trouble.”
She nodded, understanding what I meant. While some soldiers were warm, not everyone was as warm as others. There were many who would succumb to their greed.
“I know, Lucavion. But, you were sent to the field on your own once again, and I was worried.”
“Sigh….I get it. But how about you release me now?”
She had been hugging me for a long time already, and it was becoming a little bit suffocating, to be frank.
“Ah….Just a little bit more.” She replied, but from her words, it was not hard for me to understand.
“Did something happen?”
Jesse hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly, her grip tightening. “They called me useless again,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
I sighed, shaking my head. “Jesse, you need to understand and not listen to what other people say. Their words don’t define you.”
She looked up at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I know, Lucavion. But it still hurts. No matter how hard I try, they always find a way to put me down.”
I gently pried her arms from around me and held her by the shoulders, looking directly into her eyes. “You have to be stronger than their words, Jesse. I might not always be here to listen to. You need to find that strength within yourself.”
‘I will be leaving this place tonight.’
One way or another, that was something I needed to do. While this girl had become my companion in the recent year, this was inevitable.
‘I can’t take the risk.’
Whether or not there was a promise I needed to fulfill.
A promise that I had made to Master, his last wish. There was no way I could risk such a thing.
Jesse’s eyes widened, and she shook her head vehemently. “No, never! Why are you talking like that, Lucavion? Why does it sound like you’re expecting something bad to happen to you?”
I suppressed the turmoil inside me, maintaining a calm exterior. “One can never know what will happen, Jesse,” I said gently. “We must always be prepared for whatever comes our way. It’s just part of surviving in this world.”
She stepped back, her expression a mix of anger and concern. “But you’re talking as if you’re certain something is going to happen. What are you not telling me?”
I sighed, trying to find the right words. “Jesse, this is a battlefield. We face danger every day. It’s not about expecting the worst; it’s about being ready for it. I need you to understand that.”
Her eyes searched mine, looking for answers. “Are you leaving, Lucavion? Is that why you’re talking like this?”
‘Sigh….I knew it would come to this….’
I hated lying.
No, I loathed it.
Just because of a lie that I had ended up in this place.
This fate…..Everything was a result of just one lie.
But at the same time, I did not want to say what I was about to do.
And that was why I hated moments like these.
Trapped between one’s own principles and their logic.
But luckily, there was something that came to my help.
TAP! TAP! TAP!
The steps of a soldier echoed around the tent.
———————–
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