CHAPTER 18: LINA

Kyrian left behind the smell of iron and blood in the forest, moving forward with Shadow in firm steps until the beaten road that led to the next city.

On the afternoon of the next day, Kyrian saw from afar the silhouette of six people. Soon he would pass by them.

As he got closer, he could make out who they were. Soldiers, between sixteen and eighteen years old.

They wore simple guard uniforms, but each held their spear with a certain confidence.

What caught Kyrian’s attention, in fact, was that among the six, there was a girl. The first female soldier Kyrian had ever seen.

The girl had brown hair tied in a ponytail, sharp eyes, slightly rosy cheeks, and a straight posture that showed years of training. Kyrian also noticed a small scar that cut across her lips.

When Kyrian approached, they turned toward him.

Just as Kyrian looked at the girl, her eyes fell on him.

She immediately noticed the uniform and the insignia on his chest. Her body reacted before her mind, and she bowed slightly out of respect.

"May I know who you are?" she asked, her voice firm but surprised and still with a slight respect.

Kyrian stopped Shadow just a few steps away from them.

"Kyrian. Vice-Captain of Falk." He answered calmly.

Silence fell over the group.

The five boys glanced at each other, as if they had just heard some absurd joke.

A child, so small, was saying he was a vice-captain?

If it weren’t for the girl bowing before him, they all would have already mocked him. But seeing her bow, they all followed, imitating her example. Even though their eyes were still full of doubt toward Kyrian.

She then lifted her head again and asked him.

"Are you also going to the tournament?"

"Yes." Kyrian replied simply and directly.

"My name is Lina. I am from Valtar City. I and the others are also going to take part in the tournament." She introduced herself with a small smile.

Before Kyrian could say anything, one of those behind her spoke up, excited and with a hint of arrogance.

"Lina is a genius! She managed to fight on equal footing with the vice-captain of our city. Even though she lost."

Hearing him, Kyrian turned his eyes to him. And then to Lina.

Lina cursed the boy in her mind while stomping on his foot, making him yelp in pain. But her face kept the same small smile.

She was furious at that idiot for talking about her being a genius in front of Kyrian, who was already a vice-captain at less than half her age.

Kyrian, slightly curious, suddenly asked.

"Why did you become a soldier? I’ve never seen a woman in the guard besides you."

Her small smile faded for a moment. Her eyes seemed to dive into old memories.

"When I was little... bandits ended up killing my family. My father, mother, and brother. All just because of money. And then they tried to sell me. But before that could happen, the captain of Valtar’s guard rescued me." Her voice wavered a bit as she remembered, but soon regained its firmness, and the faint smile returned to her lips.

"And then I promised myself that I would save anyone else in my situation. Just as I was saved. So, I tried to join the guard, and at twelve years old I was accepted by the captain. Since then, I’ve done nothing but train." Lina finished, clenching her fists.

Kyrian felt the pain in her memories, in her feelings. But as she spoke, a proud glow replaced the sadness.

A determined glow that he found interesting.

Kyrian said nothing but had Shadow walk slowly at her side, listening to her in silence.

In the end, Lina asked if he wanted to accompany her to the city.

He thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Get on." He said suddenly after the invitation, pulling on the reins to stop Shadow.

Lina hesitated for a moment, but Kyrian extended his hand, signaling her to sit behind him.

And then she accepted. She mounted Shadow, sitting behind Kyrian. The soldiers, seeing this, grumbled under their breath. Feeling a twinge of envy and jealousy, even if toward a child.

The journey continued peacefully, with light conversations. The young men chatted excitedly about the geniuses who would participate in the Dawn Tournament.

"There are two great geniuses this time," one of the soldiers said.

"I heard about that. There’s a boy in the Royal City, fourteen years old. And also one from Brum City, only twelve." Another commented excitedly while the others laughed.

Until they looked at Kyrian and realized.

Lina, who had been curious for a while, saw this as the moment to ask.

"And you? How old are you?" she asked with a firm voice.

"I’ll be six soon." Kyrian answered, without much emotion or concern.

And then silence.

So heavy that the only sound was Shadow’s hooves striking the ground, as if mocking them.

Lina was surprised but had imagined something like that. On Shadow’s back, she looked past Kyrian, who was guiding the horse in silence.

Kyrian ignored their silence and shock and asked.

"How does the Dawn Tournament work?"

"The Dawn Tournament takes place every five years. Only soldiers can participate, and under eighteen years old. But the ones guaranteed to participate are those recommended by a vice-captain or higher."

"Those who don’t have a recommendation will be lucky if they even get a spot in the tournament." Lina explained calmly to him with her firm voice.

She then smiled faintly.

"You’re already a vice-captain, so that doesn’t matter much."

Kyrian listened attentively, understanding more about the initial purpose of this trip.

Then, some days of travel passed.

And finally, they arrived at the next city. Kyrian once again didn’t need to pay a fee to enter. Lina and the others did.

Kyrian left Shadow again in the care of a soldier.

As soon as they entered the city, Lina dismissed the other five. And although they didn’t like it at all, they could only obey. If they insisted, they felt she would beat them up.

And she then followed Kyrian. Who didn’t push her away. In the last few days, the two had talked more.

For Kyrian, Lina was acceptable. She didn’t talk too much, didn’t irritate him, and wasn’t too arrogant. But what really made him give her a mental nod of approval was...

The voracious appetite she had.

During the trip, she only ate less than him. And just like him, she seemed to truly enjoy and savor the food.

Kyrian gave her his mental seal of approval at that moment.

The two walked through the city, their conversations simple and brief. But the two were comfortable and seemed to understand each other in some way.

They arrived in the city in the afternoon, and soon night began to fall. The two dined in a restaurant and silently competed over who could eat more.

Kyrian obviously won with ease, but it was a good fight. And she seemed to have enjoyed it greatly.

The two left, full, and quickly looked for an inn.

But the city seemed more crowded lately, and there was only one last room left.

Kyrian looked at Lina, and she looked at him. The two, with the same expression, seemed not to care, and Kyrian paid for the room.

Upon entering the room, he took a cold bath and lay down on the bed facing one side.

Lina did the same, bathed, and turned to the other side. Without ceremony.

And then the two slowly fell asleep.

But when they did, something strange happened as Kyrian slept deeply.

His body unconsciously drew closer to Lina as he slept. Perhaps drawn by the warmth. He then hugged her with his small arms.

Lina woke up at that moment and, feeling Kyrian embrace her, was startled at first, but then she remembered who he was. And instead of pushing him away, she turned to him.

She pulled him closer, hugging him back and bringing him against her chest.

On her face was a sincere and melancholic smile as she ran her hand through Kyrian’s hair.

"For you to become like this at your age, your life must not have been easy either. Sleep well! Kyrian." She whispered before falling back asleep.

Kyrian seemed to have the best night of sleep in a long time, waking up a little later than usual. He didn’t know what had happened, but he felt warm and comfortable.

He woke with messy hair and looked around. Lina was already ready, dressed in soldier clothes, sitting on the side of the bed.

"Good morning." Lina said.

"Good morning." Kyrian replied as he stood up and went to the bathroom, returning already prepared.

The two then left the room, descending the inn’s stairs. Only to come face-to-face with a young man of twenty years, handsome in appearance, and with a crooked smile on his face.

As soon as he saw Kyrian, he commented in a teasing tone.

"Heh, as expected of Rurik’s student. At this age, already winning over a beauty."