Rhianna Choice

Helen's expression softened. "Rhianna—"

"No more working at Blue Harbor. No more pretending to care about drunken nobles. No more struggling." Rhianna took a deep breath. "I met someone… strange. He trained me. He made me stronger. And now…" She turned, reaching under the bed. She dragged out a heavy pack, yanked it open, and flipped it over. A cascade of wealth spilled onto the bed. Gold coins. Silver ingots. Precious gemstones. Helen stared, momentarily stunned. Rhianna grinned. "We're rich."

Helen blinked, momentarily dazzled. She rubbed her eyes and then looked again, just to be sure. A fortune lay before her. She hesitated, then picked up one of the coins and bit down lightly. The metal was solid, heavy—real. "So much gold…" Helen murmured, unable to keep the disbelief from her voice. She turned to Rhianna, her brows knitting together in suspicion. "What did you do? I swear, if you robbed the treasury of Versegain—"

Rhianna laughed, waving her hands dismissively. "How is that even possible? You have such an imagination, Sister." She grinned. "I told you, I was on a mission in Versegain when I met a very strange man."

Helen's expression remained skeptical. Rhianna pressed on. "He claims to be a warrior of the God-Emperor, an envoy of His will. Apparently, he's gathering warriors for some grand war in the heavens."

Helen folded her arms. "So, you met a lunatic."

"That's what I thought at first," Rhianna admitted. "But he's not just some raving fanatic. This man—he's… different. Sister, you didn't see him. He has a brother, a giant, over three meters tall. I was right there, standing in the dark, watching, and I never even noticed him until he moved." Rhianna shook her head. "Even our team's captain—who isn't scared of anything—froze at the sight of him. And the man himself… he's the most beautiful person I've ever seen."

Helen arched an eyebrow. "A giant and a pretty boy? That's enough to shake you?"

Rhianna scoffed. "Of course not! If it were just that, I wouldn't have thought much of it. But he's rich. Filthy rich. Not just some noble flashing coin—he doesn't even carry gold or silver. No copper. No small change. Only gems." She gestured at the pile on the bed. "These gold coins? I exchanged them for the gems he gave me."

Helen frowned. "…He gave you gems?"

"Just handed them over like they were pebbles," Rhianna confirmed. "And that's not even the most terrifying part—he's powerful. Truly powerful. He trained me for a month—just one month—and then I went out and killed the Executioner."

Helen said nothing. Her eyes lingered on Rhianna, scanning her expression. Then, finally, she sighed. "You expect me to believe all this?"

Rhianna's grin faltered. "Sister, I know how ridiculous it sounds, but look—" She gestured to the severed head still tucked away in the box. "That's proof. The Executioner is dead. I did that. And this gold? That's real too. Do you still think I'm lying?"

Helen was silent for a long moment. Then, quietly, she said, "If this is true… then you may have walked into something far bigger than you realize."

Rhianna's expression sobered slightly. Helen exhaled, rubbing her temples. "A man who is rich, powerful, and secretive… You say he's searching for warriors?"

Rhianna nodded. Helen's jaw tightened. "Then he's no ordinary noble. He's a force—someone with resources, influence, and an agenda. He might be a lunatic. He might be something worse." She met Rhianna's gaze. "You can't afford to be reckless."

Rhianna's lips pressed into a thin line. "You're saying I should return the money."

Helen hesitated, then nodded. "It would be safer. You've already taken too much. You've learned from him, taken his wealth—he'll expect something in return. And if you refuse…" She trailed off.

Rhianna shook her head. "It's too late for that. Even if I could return the money, I can't return the skills he taught me. What's done is done."

Helen frowned. "So what now? Are you just going to work for him? Be his pawn?"

Rhianna's voice was quiet, but firm. "No, sister. I'm going to follow him."

Helen's eyes widened slightly. "Rhianna…"

Rhianna took a step forward. "Hiding won't make the world safer, Sister. It won't stop the dangers from coming. The Lane family never did anything wrong, yet disaster still found us." Her fists clenched at her sides. "If I'd been stronger back then, the Executioner wouldn't have been a threat. You wouldn't have had to suffer." She took a steadying breath. "I won't live in fear anymore. This world is full of monsters—corrupt nobles, warlords, killers. If you're weak, they devour you. But he isn't weak. He has everything—strength, knowledge, wealth. And when a man like that appears, you don't run from him." Rhianna's eyes burned with conviction.

"You follow him." Helen's expression was unreadable. "…You really believe in this?"

Rhianna nodded. Helen sighed again, this time heavier. "Then I suppose nothing I say will change your mind."

Rhianna smiled faintly. "You know me too well."

Helen exhaled, then glanced at the pile of gold once more. "…What do you plan to do with all this?"

Rhianna's smile widened. "That's the fun part."

By the next morning, they had a plan. Helen would handle real estate—securing properties in Kronborg and Versegain, ensuring they had stable footholds. Rhianna, meanwhile, took to the market, throwing coin around like a noble with no sense of restraint. She purchased camping equipment in bulk, stocking up on everything she could possibly need. By the second day, she had acquired so much that she needed a cart to haul it all.

When she finally returned to camp, Kayvaan was still absent. But she didn't wait idly. She trained. Alone in the clearing, she repeated the techniques he had drilled into her, refining her form, sharpening her instincts. Every movement, every strike, every feint—until she felt the exhaustion settle deep in her bones. Because if she was going to walk the path she had chosen…She would have to be ready.

A week passed, and when Kayvaan returned to camp, he found Rhianna deeply engrossed in her sword training. Her strikes were sharper, her movements more controlled—she was improving. "Not bad," Kayvaan remarked, arms crossed as he observed her form. "You've finally grasped the essence of hard training. No matter how good a technique is, it takes relentless practice to make it your own. A blade means nothing if you can't wield it instinctively."

Rhianna stopped, panting slightly, then straightened up. "Sir, I won't waste what you've taught me."

Kayvaan gave a satisfied nod. "Good. Since you've returned, I assume everything at home has been taken care of?"

"Yes, it's all settled."

"Then follow me." Kayvaan led her into one of the larger tents at the camp. Inside, a sturdy iron chest sat at the center, its surface reinforced with rivets and locking mechanisms. He gestured toward it. "Open it."