Chapter 20 – Night Shadow, First Traces

The warmth of the bonfire felt soothing, but for Alex, the surprise of the scene before him was far more burning than the embers. Lena was still patiently spoon-feeding the little girl, who now sat upright on a clean cloth mat.

Her short black hair was neatly arranged, gently framing her delicate face, which was now spotless. Her deep purple eyes, previously closed and dirty, now radiated a captivating amethyst glow, reflecting the bonfire's light and the stars peeking from beyond the tent. She was truly beautiful. Her beauty was natural, innocent, and enchanting.

Alex could feel a mysterious aura surrounding her, like a soft morning mist, yet he couldn't define it. However, all that vanished instantly when the girl opened her mouth wide, greedily accepting the last spoonful of soup from Lena, as if never satisfied. A contrast that truly brought a laugh to Alex's heart.

"Ah, that's enough, Little Lady," Lena said softly, pulling away the empty bowl. "Your stomach will hurt if you eat too much."

The girl merely pouted a little, batting her beautiful amethyst eyes at Lena, as if begging for more. However, as soon as her eyes caught sight of Alex standing at the tent's entrance, her tiny lips, previously full of soup remnants, pursed, and her face flushed red. She immediately looked down, hiding her face behind Lena's shoulder, her body trembling slightly.

"Young Master?" Lena turned, a little surprised by the girl's reaction. "It seems she's… a bit shy."

Alex stepped deeper into the tent, taking a spot near the bonfire. "It's alright, Lena. What's your name, Miss?" he asked gently, trying to make his voice as friendly as possible.

The girl didn't answer. She only clung closer to Lena, as if Lena was her protective shield. Mira, sitting in the corner, chuckled softly. Finn, who had been secretly peeking, now hid behind Roldan, timidly.

Lena rubbed the girl's back. "Don't be afraid, Nuan. Young Master Alex is a kind person." Then, she whispered in the girl's ear, "His name is Alex. He's the one who found you."

Slowly, the girl lifted her head slightly. Her deep purple eyes glanced at Alex, then quickly looked down again. A small voice, barely audible, came from her lips. "M-m-my name is… Sera."

Alex smiled. "Sera. A beautiful name. Do you have a family name, Sera?"

The girl shook her head gently. "No… I don't remember. I only remember my name… Sera." Her voice was now a little clearer, but still trembling.

Alex frowned. Amnesia? Or did she truly not have a family? A deepening mystery. Alex recalled his father's message about subtle, unseen darkness. Was this part of it? Or just a pure coincidence?

"How did you come to be in the flower field alone, Sera?" Alex tried again, keeping his voice as gentle as possible.

Sera shook her head again. "I… don't remember. Only… darkness… then I woke up… among those flowers."

Alex looked at Lena, who shrugged helplessly. The girl really didn't remember anything except her name. He felt a dilemma.

What should he do with this child?

Leaving her here was clearly not an option. Taking her back to the palace? That would raise many questions and might delay his mission. However, Alex couldn't leave a child this small alone in a dangerous place like Aethelbloom. His instinct, honed by Lugen's lessons on responsibility, told him he had to make a decision.

Alex sighed. "Alright, Sera. For now, you will come with us."

Sera's purple eyes widened, then she nodded quickly, a faint, yet sincere smile, curving her lips. That smile, though brief, changed the entire atmosphere in the tent, as if the Night Light Flowers outside shone brighter too.

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The next morning, the camp was dismantled, and they continued their journey. Sera's presence changed the group's dynamic. She remained very shy in front of Alex, Roldan, and Finn, often looking down or hiding behind Lena and Mira. However, between Lena and Mira, Sera began to show another side of herself. She would whisper and giggle with them, especially when offered food. Their food supply basket, which had been full, began to show noticeable signs of depletion, largely thanks to Sera's voracious appetite.

"Young Master," Lena whispered one afternoon, as they passed through a tall pine forest covered in thin snow, "Miss Sera eats… a lot."

Alex merely smiled faintly. "It's alright, Lena. She must have been very hungry before. Just let her be. Besides, we have plenty of supplies." Lena nodded, but still glanced anxiously at their food basket.

The journey continued, delving deeper into territory that should have been safer from monsters, but sometimes still served as a bandit lair. The sun shone brightly, reflecting off the snow on the tree branches, creating a sparkling view. Alex sat inside the carriage, sometimes reading, sometimes observing Sera who was silent, her large eyes often stealing glances at him, as if she was trying to remember or understand something.

That afternoon, as they crossed a more open area, surrounded by a dense snowy forest, Roldan suddenly pulled the reins hard. The horses neighed.

"Stop the carriage!" Roldan's voice boomed, full of tension. "Something's wrong!"

Alex immediately jumped out. In front, about twenty meters down their path, stood eight rough figures carrying makeshift weapons—rusty swords, axes, and bludgeons. Bandits. Their faces were covered by tattered cloth masks, but their eyes were full of greed and cruelty.

"Look what we have here, friends!" one bandit shouted, his voice hoarse. "A noble's carriage! Must be full of treasure!"

Alex immediately took position. He knew he couldn't let the bandits approach the carriage. Sera and the servants were inside. These weren't monsters; these were humans. His first fight against humans, not just a tactical puzzle or a training ground test.

"Get back in the carriage!" Alex ordered Lena and Mira firmly. "Protect Sera and Finn! Roldan, be ready to move if I give the signal!"

Lena and Mira immediately pulled Sera and Finn inside. Sera, who had been shy, now looked pale, her eyes wide with fear.

Alex drew his sword. A cold sensation spread through his hand, but his mind was clear. Orvin had taught him precision. Lugen had taught him strategy. He faced eight bandits. A number not too many, but dangerous.

The bandits attacked. Eight dark shadows moving swiftly on the snow. Alex was not deterred. He moved first. Utilizing his speed, he lunged at the two foremost bandits, aiming his sword with deadly precision at their knees and wrists—not to kill, but to incapacitate.

"It's not strength that kills your enemy, but precision," he muttered, recalling Orvin's words.

He succeeded in incapacitating the first, then the second. However, the third bandit, a large man with an axe, swung his weapon wildly. Alex dodged, rolling under the axe's arm, and as he got up, he saw another bandit brandishing a knife at Roldan.

Alex's blood boiled. This was no longer about training. This was about lives.

Alex unleashed magic. Not complex combined magic like in his test, but a series of precise small wind blasts, aimed at the bandits' faces. They staggered. In that brief chaos, Alex moved like a shadow. One by one, he incapacitated them. His punches were harder, his kicks faster. He felt adrenaline pumping through his veins.

"Stop!" yelled one of the bandits still standing, his hand clutching a dislocated shoulder. Alex stopped. Seven bandits lay in the snow, groaning in pain, their weapons scattered on the ground. The last bandit, who had yelled, looked terrified. "We... we won't bother you again!" he promised, raising both hands.

Alex looked at him. His eyes were sharp, like an eagle's. He knew, as a soldier and a leader, killing was sometimes a necessity. This was the first time he had faced a situation where human lives were in his hands. Not monsters, but humans. The sensation was different. There was a strange tremor within him, not regret, but an acknowledgment of a brutal reality. His father had once said, "Leadership isn't about kindness. But about responsibility for decisions that can kill."

Alex sighed. He didn't kill them. But he knew, if they weren't afraid, they would return.

"Leave everything you have," Alex ordered, his voice low and menacing. "And never approach this road again. If I see you, I will not hesitate to kill." The bandit nodded quickly, his face pale.

He immediately threw a small pouch filled with coins and some shabby jewelry onto the snow, then scurried into the forest, abandoning his injured comrades. Alex kicked some weapons that lay out of the bandits' reach. "Roldan, tie them up," he ordered. "Leave them here. Make sure they can't bother anyone again." Roldan nodded, his face serious. He jumped from the carriage, aided by Finn, to tie up the groaning bandits. Alex returned to the carriage, taking his seat. His face was calm, but his hands trembled slightly. This was reality.

This world was indeed not peaceful.

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