Lady Encounter: 'You are not supposed to be here.'

The bushes trembled as the voice cut through the silence, sending a chill of terror down Alex's spine.

"Alex???" Mery's voice shook, barely above a whisper.

"Mom... stay calm," Alex muttered, his hand moving to steady her as he turned toward the shadow in the darkness.

"Who... who are you, lady?" The voice was unmistakably feminine, but it was laced with an eerie familiarity that Alex couldn't place. The chill in his bones deepened, tightening his grip on the sword at his side.

The shadow began to dissipate, revealing a figure stepping forward—tall, silver-haired, and clad in gleaming knight's armor. She rode upon one of two horses, both adorned with a regal crest. The woman's presence was commanding, almost otherworldly.

Alex's eyes flicked to the crest on her armor, his stomach sinking as recognition struck him. "The Empire..."

The woman's piercing gaze met his, and a faint, knowing smile tugged at her lips. "The evacuation is happening southward, towards the northern gate where the bandits breached the walls. You'll get lost in this forest, boy."

The heavy, oppressive presence that had loomed over them moments before seemed to lift with her words. The air grew lighter, the tension evaporating like mist under the morning sun.

Alex exhaled slowly, feeling his heartbeat steady once more. "Agh… finally..." he breathed, the fear that had gripped him beginning to fade.

Mery's hands were still trembling, but she too seemed to find a semblance of peace in the woman's presence. "What... who is she?" she whispered.

Alex's voice remained calm, though there was an underlying wariness. "Thank you, my lady, but I know this forest better than anyone. We'll make our way to Akios ourselves." His posture straightened as he bowed respectfully. Despite his humble origins, Alex had always been well-versed in etiquette. The woman's noble bearing was undeniable, and he recognized her as one of the Empire's knights.

The woman's gaze softened, though the weight of her words remained. "I cannot allow that. I've been ordered to assist survivors. Come, take this." She reached into a pouch on her saddle and pulled out a small map, handing it to Alex.

"Go to the city of Zagirad," she instructed. "We've set up camp there. Once we've cleared this mess, you'll be relocated to a safer territory." Her eyes lingered on him for a moment longer than necessary, as though there was something she wanted to say but couldn't.

"Thank yo—" Alex started, but the woman was already gone. The air shifted once more, and the rustling leaves were the only sign that she had ever been there.

Alex blinked, his mind racing. He glanced at Mery, who was still clutching her trembling hands to her chest.

"That... that was fast," Alex murmured, feeling a strange sense of disbelief. He had barely processed the interaction when she vanished without a trace.

"Mom, are you alright?" Alex's voice softened, turning to her with concern.

Mery gave a small nod, though her face was pale. "I'm fine, but... who was she, Alex?"

Alex shook his head slowly, his thoughts too jumbled to make sense of it. "I don't know. But we don't have time to figure it out. The bandits are still out there, and we need to keep moving."

He looked toward the horizon, the distant sounds of battle echoing from the village below. The urgency in his chest flared again, reminding him of the danger still lurking.

Without another word, he pulled Mery along, leading her deeper into the forest. They would head to Zagirad, as the woman had instructed, but Alex couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter, fleeting as it was, had set something in motion—something he wasn't ready for.

--

The walls of the village lay in ruin, blood and debris scattered across the ground.

"Lady Rose, this is… terrible. We estimate 500 casualties…" A knight at the wall reported, his voice heavy with dread. Lady Rose, the same woman Alex had seen before, stood silently, her eyes fixed on the destruction below.

Rose's thoughts, however, were elsewhere. The memory of the boy lingered in her mind—a boy whose presence had unsettled her, stirred a sense of unease she couldn't quite place. When she had detected the living souls in the forest, Alex's aura had been absent, as though he had no right to exist. That was why she had revealed her pressure, to see how he would react.

But now was not the time for such distractions. The problem before her was far more immediate.

"Terrible indeed," she said coldly, her voice unwavering. "Our knights did well. Out of 2,500 villagers, we've lost only 500. Now, it's time."

She raised her sword, and with a commanding motion, her magic crackled through the air.

Bzzzzstttt…

Everything went white.

"Alex, who was that?" Mery asked, breaking the silence as they stopped to rest.

They had been walking for over three hours, with no sign of stopping. Alex looks like was terrible with maps, they discovered this fact already 2 hours in, but Mery had taken over after they realized they were walking in circles. Now, they were on the right path.

"I think she was an Imperial Knight, Mom," Alex replied between bites of bread, his voice distant.

"WHAT?!" Mery's eyes went wide with shock. The mention of an Imperial Knight left her shaken. She had heard stories—every boy at 17 had to become a knight, but there were different ranks. Most became Silver Knights, while a few rose to the ranks of Aetheric or Imperial Knights, the highest honor. Imperial Knights, they were the Emperor's personal protectors, deployed only in times of war or extreme crisis.

"I'm not sure, Mom. I don't know why she's here, and honestly, I don't care. Looks like the villagers are saved. If she's really an Imperial Knight, she'll handle it. All we need to focus on is surviving." Alex's tone was flat, his grip tightening on the bread in his hand.

Mery didn't respond, too stunned to speak. The silence between them grew, the only sound the rustling of the forest around them as they prepared to continue their journey.

End Of Chapter.