Chapter 23– Indecision

As the first light of dawn crept through the tent's fabric, Seraphina stirred, her body still sensitive from the night before. She turned her head slightly, her gaze landing on Caius, who was already awake, watching her with an unreadable expression. His amber eyes, usually sharp and unyielding, carried a quiet intensity, as if he were memorizing her every detail.

She took a breath, knowing what needed to be said. "Caius… I have to leave today."

His jaw tightened, the muscles tensing beneath his skin. "Leave?" His voice was steady, but there was an underlying edge, something raw just beneath the surface.

Seraphina sat up, clutching the blanket around her bare body. "I came here for a reason. The ore—I need it for the kingdom, and I can't get it alone. I need magic, and Valen Astraeus is the only one who can help."

For a moment, silence hung between them. Then, Caius pushed himself up, the sheets falling away to reveal his toned chest. His amber eyes darkened, frustration flickering through them. "So that's it? You used me, and now you're running off to him?"

[System Alert: Commander Caius Draven's Affection -10]

Seraphina winced at the notification, but she held her ground. "You know that's not true." She reached for his hand, but he pulled away. "Caius, listen to me. This isn't about him—it's about the kingdom, about survival. The entity guarding the ore can't be defeated with brute strength alone."

He scoffed, running a hand through his wild red hair. "And what? You think I'm not enough?" His voice carried the weight of his pride, of his failure. "I swore to protect you, Seraphina. And yet you're telling me I can't?"

Her heart clenched at the vulnerability beneath his frustration. She cupped his face, forcing him to meet her gaze. "You have protected me, Caius. More than you know. But this isn't a fight you can win alone. And I—" She hesitated before whispering, "I don't want to see you hurt."

Something shifted in his eyes. The hardness cracked just slightly, revealing something deeper. A battle between his pride and his feelings for her.

[System Alert: Commander Caius Draven's Affection +5]

He exhaled sharply, tilting his head away from her touch. "Damn it, Seraphina." He closed his eyes, as if trying to find the words he needed. When he looked at her again, the fire in his gaze had softened, replaced with something heavier. "Promise me one thing."

She swallowed. "What?"

He reached for her hand this time, gripping it tightly. "Promise you will only be mine."

[System Alert: Hidden Event Triggered – "The Crimson General's Vow"]

Commander Caius Draven's Affection +10

Current Affection Level: 95/100

Seraphina's heart pounded. There was something about the way he said it—so absolute, so raw—that made her chest ache. She wanted to tell him she had no intention of belonging to anyone else. That his love felt too real, too consuming to ever forget.

Instead, she whispered, "I promise."

He studied her, his grip tightening for a moment before he finally exhaled. "Then go. But don't think for a second I'll make it easy for you to forget me."

She let out a soft laugh, though it was tinged with emotion. "I could never."

---

The sun had risen fully by the time they reached the carriage. Caius walked beside her in silence, his large frame a protective presence even now.

As they neared the waiting horses, he suddenly reached out, grasping her wrist and pulling her back to him. Before she could react, his lips crashed onto hers—fierce, unrelenting, leaving no space for doubt.

[System Alert: Commander Caius Draven's Affection +5]

Affection Level Maxed: 100/100

Achievement Unlocked: "The Crimson General's Devotion"

When he pulled away, his amber eyes burned with a silent promise. "If you need me, I'll be there. No matter what."

Seraphina nodded, unable to trust her voice. Then, with one last glance, she stepped into the carriage, the wheels beginning to turn as her next journey awaited.

---

[System Update]

Route Completed: The Crimson General

New Route Unlocked: The Arcane Prodigy – Valen Astraeus

New Quest: "The Mage's Assistance" – Retrieve the Ore with Valen Astraeus

As the carriage carried her away, Seraphina exhaled, steadying herself. Another path closed, another opened. And now, she had to face the next challenge—one that would test not only her strategy, but her own heart.

As Seraphina relaxed in the carriage, ready to click on [Valen Astraeus – The Arcane Prodigy], she hesitated for just a moment. The knight's warmth still lingered on her skin, and Caius's last words echoed in her mind.

"Promise you will only be mine."

She swallowed, pushing those emotions aside. She had a mission to complete. Her finger hovered over the glowing system screen—

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

New Event Unlocked!

Crown Ball – A Royal Gathering of Fate

All key figures are required to attend.

Teleportation Initiated…

Seraphina's eyes widened as the world twisted violently around her. Before she could even react, her surroundings blurred, magic enveloping her in a flash of golden light.

In an instant, the barren battlefield was gone. The scent of steel and blood was replaced with the cold night breeze.