The Guardian Of The Multiverse

(Marvel, DC, images, manhuas, and every anime that will be mentioned and used in this story are not mine. They all belong to their respective owners. The main character "Karito/Adriel Josue Valdez" and the story are mine)

Days passed, and Tigre and Adriel were kept as "prisoners" in the Vanadis' castle. However, one of them seemed far too comfortable with the amount of freedom he was given.

Tigre could've sworn he would be executed multiple times due to the pranks Adriel pulled throughout the castle and how abnormally popular the two of them became in just a few days. There was even an archer whose hair had been completely shaved off, and when asked for an explanation, Adriel simply shrugged and said, "Because it was a canon event."

For the life of them, no one could ever understand what went through the Guardian's head.

That soldier, Rurik, eventually just accepted his fate of being permanently bald, deciding that it was better than being utterly destroyed by Adriel. Everyone shared his sentiment.

Tigre just wished Adriel would take things more seriously. He didn't mind his presence, but Adriel would often put him on the spot—on purpose.

And yet, despite everything, Tigre was surprised by how easy it was to talk to the Guardian—at least, when he wasn't causing havoc around the castle. He silently thanked the gods that Adriel wasn't a pervert, considering the questionable amount of self-restraint he had in every other aspect of life.

At one point, Tigre even asked him about his complete lack of reservation, and, once again, the Guardian's answer made no sense.

"Cyberpunk and its strip clubs ruined me."

Tigre blinked.

With no better explanation, he just assumed that Adriel frequented red-light districts and had fallen into bad company.

But that wasn't to say Tigre had never seen Adriel serious—though it happened very rarely.

In those fleeting moments, it felt like Adriel was deliberately making himself look stupid, a tactic to bait enemies into underestimating him. A kind of comical taunting—to either anger them or lower their guard.

Whichever it was, Tigre thought, he's too good at it.

He never would have noticed had Adriel not straight-up told him.

And, strangely enough, Tigre still didn't understand why Adriel was so open with him. He didn't immediately reveal his secrets, of course, but somehow, he always knew exactly when to tell Tigre something—as if reading his mind.

Or maybe... he just knew what kind of person Tigre was.

That was yet another unsettling thing.

Adriel just knew things. Things no one should know.

And the worst part?

No one could read him.

He was too good of an actor.

Tigre even recalled Elen's words from before:

"He's not wrong, though. I haven't forgotten your introduction—or lack thereof. You move like a seasoned warrior, think ahead like a strategist, and even my best soldiers can't decide whether to be impressed or wary of you."

That single sentence sent a shiver down Tigre's back.

"It's as if he's a master manipulator... and a combat genius," he thought.

What kind of experience had Adriel gone through to reach that level?

From the very first day, everyone knew he wasn't human.

Now, they were convinced that he was something even beyond that.

But Adriel wasn't budging on his identity.

And no one was foolish enough to pry.

The consensus? It was better not to ask.

After all, with what he had done on the battlefield in just a split second...

That was only a fraction of his true power.

No one wanted to push their luck in unraveling the enigma that was Adriel.

And so, a silent rule was made:

Anyone caught trying to bother him—on Elen's direct order—was to be executed in secret.

Not out of fear.

But simply to maintain the peace.

And that was when Eleonora came to a chilling realization.

He wasn't locked up in there with them.

They were locked up in there with him.

Tigre POV

Almost a week had passed since I arrived at this castle. And to be honest, all the anxiety I felt on the first day was completely gone.

And that was all thanks to one man.

Adriel.

For some reason, he stayed glued to me almost every single day, only leaving me alone when I was sleeping or using the bathroom.

At this point, he practically looked like my personal bodyguard.

I wish that was a joke—because that's exactly the feeling he gave off whenever we wandered around the castle.

He did say there was another reason for sticking to me like glue, but... I found it a bit questionable.

I had long reached the point where I stopped bothering to figure out what went on inside his head.

He was too unpredictable.

And half the time, his vocabulary was too foreign for me to understand.

One word he used far too often was "bruh."

Whatever that meant.

I just knew he drew way too much attention with those weird slangs of his.

Speaking of which, Rurik approached us.

Apparently, he was going to be watching over us again.

"Good morning, Lord Tigrevurmud and Lord Adriel!" He placed his right hand on his chest and bowed slightly.

I stared at him.

His head was glowing.

...Just what did Adriel do to him?

"Adriel really did a number on you, huh?" I asked, concerned.

"Not at all!"

Rurik exaggeratedly dropped to one knee.

"In fact, it is a blessing for someone of Adriel's caliber to do so! To be given a personal haircut by someone as skilled as Lord Adriel is a gift!"

I was utterly speechless.

Adriel, meanwhile, was barely containing his laughter.

"Masochist behavior, not gonna lie," Adriel muttered under his breath.

Rurik blinked, tilting his head.

"What was that, my lord?"

"Don't worry about it..." Adriel dodged the question way too quickly.

One day, I'm going to slap Adriel if he doesn't start restraining himself.

But at the same time...

I feel like my hand would shatter if I actually tried.

I'm never going to forget what he did to some of the practice swords the knights used.

I still question how he managed to turn swords into metallic bowties.

"Magnetism, duh," Adriel blurted suddenly.

I froze.

Wait. What?

And there it was. Again.

How the hell—

"Can you read minds or something?" I demanded.

"Nah," he replied casually, "but your expression just seemed like it."

Brother, how?!

Oh no...

Adriel, you're infectious...

I'm throwing slang just like you now—

And I don't even know what they mean.

No Pov

The archery range was buzzing with activity as soldiers halted their practice, their eyes turning toward Tigre and Adriel. The two had barely stepped into the area before they were swarmed by eager soldiers, their excitement palpable.

"Oh, Lord Tigrevurmud! Lord Adriel!" one of them called out. "Will you be joining our practice today too?"

"Please do! You both are excellent at teaching!"

Tigre hesitated, feeling the weight of their expectations. Adriel, standing beside him, leaned slightly toward Tigre with an amused smirk.

"Guess we're cooked, huh?" he muttered under his breath, clearly entertained by the attention.

Rurik, standing proudly at his side, nodded in agreement. "Indeed, my lords! Your guidance has been most enlightening to the men."

Tigre sighed. "Fine, I'll practice for a bit."

The soldiers cheered, but their excitement only intensified when Adriel nonchalantly picked up a bow from the rack.

"You sure you wanna do this?" Tigre asked, raising an eyebrow. "I haven't really seen you use a bow."

Adriel twirled the bow in his hands, inspecting it as if it were a foreign object. "Eh, it's been a while. But hey, how hard can it be?"

A soldier nearby stiffened. "With all due respect, Lord Adriel, archery is not something one simply picks up on a whim."

Adriel merely grinned. "Yeah, yeah. Let's see if muscle memory kicks in."

The gathered soldiers watched with a mix of skepticism and curiosity as Adriel pulled an arrow from the quiver, nocked it, and drew the string. There was an unexplainable shift in the air—something subtle, but unmistakably unnatural.

He released the arrow.

THWACK!

The arrow buried itself dead center in the target, splitting Tigre's own arrow that had landed there moments earlier. The range fell into stunned silence.

Rurik's eyes widened. "I am once again humbled by you, my lord..."

Adriel stretched his arms lazily. "Huh. Not bad. I was actually aiming for the other target, though."

Tigre nearly choked. "You—!"

The soldiers burst into laughter, but there was an undeniable awe behind their amusement. Even Tigre, despite his frustration, couldn't deny that Adriel was someone beyond understanding.

The rest of the practice session continued with the usual drills, but now with Adriel throwing in occasional comments, confusing half the soldiers with bizarre metaphors that made no sense.

"If you don't focus, you'll miss. Like an NPC trying to find the main quest in a glitched game."

"What?"

Tigre groaned. "Ignore him."

Despite his antics, Adriel somehow managed to make an impression—his presence undeniable, even among trained soldiers. By the end of the session, Tigre was almost relieved when the focus shifted to his bow.

"Would an expensive bow help, my lord?" Rurik asked, intrigued.

Tigre nodded. "It's not just about price. A well-made bow ensures that arrows fly straight and true."

Adriel, arms crossed, nodded sagely. "Right, like having a good GPU so your FPS doesn't tank mid-fight."

"A what?" Rurik blinked in confusion.

Tigre sighed. "Just ignore it."

Adriel cackled.

As their discussion went on, one of the soldiers brought up an odd request. "So, what about a bow made from dragon materials? Wouldn't that be the best?"

Rurik nodded. "To want something crafted from dragons means to want something that does not exist."

Adriel, who had been leaning lazily on a rack of arrows, suddenly straightened up. "Oh? Dragons?" His tone carried an unusual curiosity.

The soldiers exchanged glances. "Yes, my lord. Dragons do exist, but they are rare, and few have actually seen them."

Adriel grinned. "Nice. Haven't fought one in a while."

Tigre frowned. "...Adriel."

"Kidding."

Tigre wasn't convinced. And neither was anyone else.

Later that day, the discussion shifted to combat skills. As the sun began to dip, Eleonora invited Tigre for tea, her gaze contemplative as she took a sip.

"Tigre, what can you use aside from the bow?" she asked casually.

Tigre rubbed the back of his neck. "Not much. I'm not really good with other weapons."

Adriel, leaning against the wall, snorted. "Damn, bro. Even I know some CQC."

Understatement of the year.

Elen raised an eyebrow at Adriel. "And you? What do you fight with?"

Adriel shrugged. "Whatever works. Fists, swords, guns, magic—take your pick."

The room fell silent. Even Eleonora seemed momentarily taken aback.

"Guns?" she echoed, unfamiliar with the term.

Adriel smirked. "Forget I said anything."

Elen studied him for a moment before refocusing on Tigre. "Regardless, you'll need to learn more. Tomorrow, we'll see what else you're capable of."

Adriel chuckled. "Oh, this'll be fun."

Tigre had a bad feeling about this.

The following morning at the training field...

Eleonora twirled a wooden practice staff in her hand, standing confidently before Tigre. "Just do as you like," she said, offering him a weapon.

Tigre hesitated before gripping the staff. "I'll just do this for now."

Seated casually atop a stack of training crates, Adriel observed the scene with an amused smirk, resting his chin on his hand. Though appearing relaxed, his eyes analyzed every movement with an impossibly deep level of combat insight.

"Alright, bow-boy, let's see how fast you adapt," he murmured to himself.

The spar began.

Eleonora wasted no time pressing forward. Her movements were fluid, her strikes precise. Tigre, unaccustomed to close-quarters combat, barely managed to block her opening attack, stumbling back immediately.

Adriel sighed, loud enough for Tigre to hear. "Feet apart. Balance yourself. You're not standing on loose snow."

Tigre, already overwhelmed, barely registered the advice but adjusted his stance out of instinct.

Eleonora struck again—this time, a feint. Tigre reacted too late and took a clean hit to the ribs, forcing him to stagger.

Adriel clicked his tongue. "Telegraphed that from a mile away, bud. You need to react, not think. You're not solving a math problem."

Tigre groaned but gritted his teeth, pushing forward again.

Elen grinned. "You're slow. Predictable."

Adriel scoffed, his voice casual but sharp. "She's goading you, dumbass. Don't bite the bait."

Tigre hesitated mid-step, realizing Adriel was right. Instead of charging blindly, he adjusted, stepping at an angle instead of forward.

Elen raised an eyebrow, but her attack continued.

CRACK. Tigre blocked—barely.

Adriel smirked. "Better. Now, when she goes for a downward swing, don't just block—redirect. Twist her force against her."

Tigre frowned. "How am I supposed to do that?!"

"Figure it out in the next two seconds, or you're eating dirt," Adriel replied flatly.

Eleonora, now enjoying herself, switched up her approach. She feinted left, baiting Tigre into a misstep—and he almost fell for it.

Almost.

At the last moment, Tigre shifted his grip and, following Adriel's advice, instead of meeting her force directly, he twisted his staff at an angle.

The result?

THWACK. Eleonora's staff slid off course, and for the first time in the fight, she slightly lost her footing.

The watching soldiers murmured.

Adriel whistled. "Finally. I was getting secondhand embarrassment watching you trip over yourself."

Eleonora's smirk widened. "Not bad."

Tigre, breathing hard, grinned despite himself.

But Adriel wasn't done. "Alright, next lesson: control your breathing. You're panting like an old man already."

Tigre barely had time to adjust before Elen resumed the fight, but now he was actively thinking less and reacting more.

The battle became more of a rhythm—Tigre still struggled, but he was improving mid-fight under Adriel's subtle coaching.

At one point, Elen aimed a precise thrust at Tigre's chest.

"LEFT."

Tigre reacted on instinct—dodging at the last moment, forcing Eleonora to correct her stance.

"DUCK."

Tigre barely avoided a horizontal strike, his hair ruffled from the force of the swing.

Elen's expression shifted from amusement to slight surprise.

Adriel chuckled. "She's getting serious now. Better not slow down."

Tigre, now too focused to even argue, let his body move. His strikes still weren't refined—but they weren't completely ineffective anymore.

The fight continued for several more exchanges until, inevitably, Eleonora disarmed Tigre with a sharp motion, knocking his weapon from his grip.

Thud. Tigre dropped to one knee, completely spent.

Elen offered a hand. "That was fun."

Tigre blinked before weakly chuckling. "Fun? I feel like I just survived a storm..."

Adriel stretched, hopping down from his seat. "Eh, I'd give you a solid D plus."

Tigre groaned. "That bad?"

"Nah, you started at F minus."

The watching soldiers, who had been quiet during the fight, suddenly broke into chatter. They were more than aware that Tigre—someone who never trained in melee combat—had somehow adapted mid-fight against Eleonora Viltaria.

And the only thing that had changed?

Adriel.

One soldier muttered, "How the hell did he improve that fast?"

Another nodded. "Lord Tigre's instincts were always sharp, but... this was something else."

Elen, overhearing, crossed her arms and shot a look at Adriel. "You were holding back, weren't you?"

Adriel smirked. "What gave it away?"

She narrowed her eyes. "That wasn't normal 'coaching.' You knew exactly how to read my attacks before even I committed to them."

Adriel shrugged, acting nonchalant. "Let's just say I have a bit of experience watching people fight."

Tigre, still catching his breath, wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Well... whatever it was, thanks."

Adriel waved him off. "Don't thank me yet. You still suck at melee combat."

Tigre groaned. "Can I just have this one win...?"

Elen chuckled. "I'd say you earned it."

The soldiers nodded in agreement.

Adriel's smirk widened slightly. This was why he chose to hold back. It was far more amusing to watch how things played out when he simply nudged people in the right direction.

And with that, Tigre realized something—he wasn't alone anymore.

Whatever came next, at least he had Adriel watching his back.

Minutes later...

Tigre stretched his sore arms as he and Adriel made their way toward the water well. The sparring session with Elen had left him exhausted yet exhilarated. Under Adriel's coaching, he had pushed himself further than ever before, though he knew he still had a long way to go.

Beside him, Adriel walked with an easygoing stride, completely relaxed as if he hadn't just spent the last session pushing Tigre to his limits. He was pleased to see Tigre improving in hand-to-hand combat—even if just a little. Still, he couldn't help but sigh at their destination.

"Man, I hate showering like this," Adriel muttered, eyeing the water well with dismay. "Bucket showers remind me too much of Hurricane Maria back in Puerto Rico. No power, no running water... had to bathe in lakes. Not exactly my favorite memories."

Tigre glanced at him, surprised at the sudden personal revelation, but before he could respond, Adriel clapped him on the shoulder.

"You know, you did good today," Adriel said, a grin tugging at his lips.

Tigre raised a brow at the unexpected compliment. "Um... thanks?"

Adriel shrugged. "I mean it. You've got potential. If you want, I can keep helping you. You never know when you'll be forced into a fight where a sword won't cut it—literally. Hand-to-hand is a skill that can save your life."

Tigre considered the offer. In just a short time, Adriel's guidance had helped him advance far more than he ever had before. It was almost uncanny—like Adriel had some sort of knack for pulling out someone's hidden potential just by giving them the right pointers.

Tigre let the offer sit for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck as they continued toward the well. He wasn't sure how much he'd actually improve, but considering how quickly he'd advanced under Adriel's guidance, refusing would be foolish.

"I'd like that," Tigre admitted. "I'm still not used to fighting up close, but... if it's with you, I think I can manage."

Adriel smirked. "Good answer. Just don't start crying when I knock the wind out of you."

Tigre shot him an unimpressed look. "I don't cry."

"Right, right. You just breathe a little heavier and groan dramatically when you take a hit," Adriel teased, nudging him with his elbow.

Tigre sighed but didn't deny it. He knew Adriel was only messing with him, but that didn't make it any less annoying. Before he could think of a retort, they reached the quieter side of the camp, where the secondary water well stood.

Adriel glanced around. "Huh. No one's here."

"That's surprising," Tigre muttered, looking at the empty space. "I thought the others would be washing up too."

Adriel stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Not that I'm complaining. Means we don't have to wait in line. Let's get this over with—"

Before he could finish, a faint splash echoed from the well area. Both of them froze.

"...You hear that?" Tigre asked.

Adriel raised a brow. "Yup. Sounds like someone's still here."

Tigre peered around the corner cautiously, but Adriel, having significantly less concern for self-preservation, simply strode forward with confidence.

The sight that greeted them made Tigre's face heat up instantly.

There, kneeling by the well, was Eleonora, her silver hair damp and clinging to her skin, her thin undergarments soaked from the water. Sitting beside her was a small dragon, letting out a soft, curious chirp as it noticed the newcomers.

Elen blinked, looking up at them with mild surprise. "Oh. It's you two."

Tigre stiffened, his brain screaming at him to look away, but Adriel, in contrast, gave a low whistle.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" Adriel mused, a mischievous grin creeping onto his lips. "You know, if you wanted company, all you had to do was ask."

Tigre elbowed him hard in the ribs. "Shut up."

Elen, unfazed, tilted her head. "You two came to wash up too, didn't you?"

Tigre nodded stiffly, still trying to keep his gaze respectfully averted.

Adriel, however, placed a hand on his chin, looking thoughtful. "Yeah, but I gotta admit, this is way better than what I expected."

Elen arched a brow. "Oh? And what exactly were you expecting?"

Adriel smirked. "Not a beautiful war maiden and her adorable little dragon, that's for sure."

Elen chuckled, shaking her head. "You really are incorrigible."

Tigre sighed. He had a feeling this was going to be a long bath.

"Wait, a dragon?" Tigre registered what Adriel just said.

Tigre's eyes widened as he took in the sight of the small dragon beside Eleonora. His mind raced to process the information—he'd seen dragons before, but never one this small, and certainly not as a pet.

"A dragon...?!" he exclaimed.

Eleonora glanced at the stunned look on Tigre's face and smirked. "Luniet," she corrected, tilting her head toward the tiny creature.

The dragon let out a soft "kyuu," flapping its wings slightly before settling back down beside Elen.

"I'm taking care of it," she explained casually.

Tigre still struggled to wrap his head around the sight. "Is this your first time seeing a dragon?" Eleonora asked, amused by his reaction.

Adriel, on the other hand, had his arms crossed and was nodding approvingly. "Not gonna lie, I dig the whole 'hot warrior princess with a pet dragon' look. It's a nice touch."

Eleonora shot him an unimpressed glance. "I wasn't aiming for aesthetics."

Adriel shrugged. "Still works for you."

Tigre cleared his throat, ignoring Adriel's antics as he answered, "No, but it's my first time seeing a Vifl—a flying dragon. I've seen a Sroul, an earth dragon, when I went hunting in the mountains."

Elen nodded. "What good luck you have. I have yet to see a dragon apart from Luniet."

Adriel tapped his chin. "Well, now that I think about it, I did see a dragon once."

Tigre looked at him curiously. "You have?"

"Yeah," Adriel said with a grin. "Big, fire-breathing, massive wings...oh wait, that was a drunk guy in a lizard costume back in Night City."

Tigre sighed heavily, while Eleonora just rolled her eyes.

"Anyway," she said, rising to her feet, "you two can use the well now. I'll be off then. Sorry to keep you waiting."

She walked past them with a confident stride, Luniet trotting beside her.

Adriel, without missing a beat, turned toward Tigre. "So... wanna talk about how fine she looks soaking wet, or should we pretend we didn't notice?"

Tigre smacked him upside the head. "We're pretending we didn't notice."

Adriel grinned. "Fair enough."

Tigre let out a long sigh as he dumped a bucket of cold water over his head, the chill cutting through the heat from the intense sparring earlier. He glanced at Adriel, who was sitting nearby, lazily scrubbing his arms.

"Man, I forgot how much I hated this kind of shower," Adriel muttered, shaking his head. "A well, a bucket, and a dream. Feels like I'm back in the Stone Age."

Tigre smirked. "Not fond of it?"

Adriel rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah, nothing screams luxury like showering in a bucket while hoping no one walks in on you. The things I do for this timeline."

Tigre just chuckled, enjoying the rare complaints from his otherwise easygoing companion. He dumped another bucket over his head and let out a deep breath. "Still, I have to admit, that sparring helped me improve a lot."

"Of course," Adriel said, grinning. "You think I'd let my little disciple slack off? With me around, you'll be a one-man army in no time." He then stretched his arms, water dripping down his shoulders. "Although, I don't know if my incredible training methods can be shared freely. Maybe I should charge you."

Tigre raised an eyebrow. "Charge me with what? Gold? I don't have much of that."

Adriel waved him off. "Nah, I was thinking something more valuable. Like free meals. Or introductions to cute girls."

Tigre sighed. "Figures."

Adriel let out a dramatic sigh. "Hey, can you blame me? A man has needs, Tigre. And let's be real, you're the kind of guy who gets into situations with beautiful women all the time. It's honestly impressive."

Before Tigre could protest, a rustling sound caught their attention.

A figure approached, stepping through the trees.

Tigre tensed up instantly.

Adriel, on the other hand, looked up casually—until he saw who it was.

Limalisha.

And she was holding a bucket of water, clearly expecting to see someone else.

The three of them stared at each other in a frozen moment of realization.

"...Ah," Adriel finally said, raising a hand in greeting. "Didn't expect company."

Tigre, meanwhile, was already panicking, his mind screaming at him to turn around.

Limalisha blinked, her gaze shifting from Tigre to Adriel.

Her expression slowly morphed from surprise to sheer embarrassment.

Then, her gaze landed back on Adriel.

"You...!" she started, eyes narrowing.

Adriel, ever the fearless one, smirked. "Before you get mad, I'd like to remind you that this is an open area. You walked in on us."

Limalisha's face turned a shade of red. "That doesn't mean you should just stand there like—like—!"

Adriel put his hands on his hips, completely unbothered. "Like a man who's comfortable with his body? My bad."

Tigre groaned. "Adriel, please shut up."

Limalisha, her patience officially gone, grabbed the bucket in her hand and chucked it.

Adriel purposely let the bucket collied with his face.

BONK.

Tigre winced as Adriel staggered back, dazed, before dramatically falling over into the dirt.

"Ow..." he groaned, voice muffled.

Limalisha huffed. "Unbelievable."

Tigre, meanwhile, just buried his face in his hands, regretting everything.

Adriel, despite being momentarily unconscious, managed to give a thumbs-up from the ground.

"Totally worth it," he mumbled.

Next day, Eleonora's Castle

Eleonora Viltaria POV

The wind drifted lazily through the open window as I skimmed through the reports stacked on my table. Lim stood beside me, her usual composed demeanor wavering ever so slightly as she recounted what had happened with Adriel and Tigre.

Honestly, it was amusing. She was so flustered, she could barely speak straight, and now she was practically quivering from the memory.

I smirked, unable to resist the temptation. "You saw both of them? Naked?" I teased, resting my chin on my hand as I watched her reaction. "So... what do you think of their bodies?"

Lim's entire body stiffened, her face instantly turning a deep shade of red. "I have absolutely no comment regarding that incident!" she snapped, clearly mortified. "They both need to have fewer freedoms in this castle! Especially Adriel—he's absolutely shameless!"

I chuckled, leaning back in my chair. "Oh, come on, Lim. You make it sound like you were the victim of some great tragedy."

She grumbled something under her breath, avoiding my gaze as she clenched her fists.

Adorable. She really was too much fun to tease.

But playtime was over.

I shifted my attention back to the reports in front of me, my expression sobering as I ran my fingers over the parchment. The latest intelligence from Brune was far from encouraging.

Lim, still trying to shake off her embarrassment, took a deep breath and finally composed herself. "This is the latest report regarding Brune," she said, placing another document in front of me.

I scanned the words quickly, my smirk fading into something more thoughtful.

Brune was tearing itself apart.

King Faron had practically become a ghost, locked away and unresponsive to the growing chaos. The nobles had wasted no time sinking their claws into the kingdom, each one vying for power like hungry wolves.

But something about it didn't sit right with me.

The speed at which everything was crumbling—it was unnatural. Even for a kingdom riddled with political strife, things weren't supposed to unravel this quickly.

Lim folded her arms. "Like I've said before, Tigre won't have a future in Brune at this rate. If things continue like this, it's only a matter of time before he's caught in the collapse."

"He's someone who's bound to disappear from there anyway," I muttered, tapping the desk.

The high-ranking nobles—Thenardier and Ganelon in particular—were playing their games as expected, but it was as if they were being pushed. Their hunger for power wasn't anything new, but the sheer aggression of their movements felt... forced.

Something—or someone—was stirring the pot.

And I didn't like it.

Lim let out a small sigh. "The nobles are using the King's weakness as an excuse to act as they please. If this continues, Brune will be in full-blown civil war."

I drummed my fingers against the wood. "Thenardier and Ganelon were always waiting for the right moment, but this? It's too soon. Too... convenient."

Lim frowned. "Do you think someone else is behind it?"

I exhaled sharply. "I don't know. But this isn't just a simple power struggle—it feels like the foundation of Brune itself is rotting."

Lim didn't press further, but I could tell she was just as uneasy about it as I was.

Instead, she shifted the conversation back to Tigre. "On the other hand, we can't afford to let his situation slip away. If Brune collapses, he'll be caught in the crossfire. Worse, if the slave merchants start moving in—"

My jaw tightened. "That isn't an option."

I wouldn't allow it.

Tigre was my wildcard, and I wasn't about to let him be wasted on some backwater slave auction.

I met Lim's gaze. "So, you want to interfere with your underling instead?"

She sighed, rubbing her temple. "We need to act before Brune reaches the point of no return. Do we use this opportunity, or do we let things spiral completely out of control?"

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. "Just treat it the same as you have been," I said lightly.

Lim studied me before nodding. "Understood."

I allowed a small smirk. "If we train him well, he can be built up to fill the position as my close aide."

Lim crossed her arms. "That's assuming he wants to be."

"Oh, he will," I assured her, confident. "Those bow skills would go to waste otherwise."

She let out another sigh, clearly resigned to my decision. "I hope you know what you're doing, Elen."

I wasn't entirely sure that I did.

But one thing was certain.

Tigre was my wildcard.

And Adriel... Adriel was something else entirely.

I didn't know what his game was, but I would find out.

And as for Brune?

Something was eating away at that kingdom from the inside. And I had the distinct feeling that whatever it was—whoever it was—was just getting started.

Later that same day...

The warmth of the afternoon sun kissed my skin as I leaned back into the steaming bath, my limbs finally allowed some rest after yesterday's sparring. I let out a slow breath, sinking deeper into the water, listening to the distant sounds of camp life.

Despite the tranquility, my mind wasn't resting. It never did.

Across from me, Limlisha sat with her arms crossed, her sharp blue eyes locked onto me. She looked like she had something to say, and sure enough, after a few more moments of silence, she finally spoke.

"Eleonora-sama, are you serious about making Lord Tigre your underling?"

I blinked at her directness, then let out a soft chuckle. "Ye—ah? Something about that bothering you?" I teased, tilting my head.

Lim sighed, unimpressed as always. "It's not just Tigre. It's Adriel too."

At the mention of his name, I stopped toying with a stray strand of my silver hair and turned my attention fully to her.

"And what about him?"

"Do you really think it's a good idea having both of them under your command?"

I tilted my head back against the stone edge of the bath, rubbing my chin in thought. "Tigre, I understand your concern. He's still learning, still growing. But Adriel..." I smirked. "That's a different matter entirely."

Lim frowned. "That's exactly my point. Tigre's skills as an archer are excellent, but an archer alone doesn't win battles. And Adriel..." She hesitated. "That man is... something else. Strong, fast, intelligent—terrifyingly so. But he's reckless, flirty, and has no sense of self-preservation."

I couldn't help but laugh. "A very handsome rock, though."

Lim scowled. "That's part of the problem. You do realize half the women in camp are already swooning over him, right?"

I groaned. "Oh, trust me, I noticed. It's infuriating. He's good-looking, strong, and cocky—what's not to love?"

Lim shot me a deadpan look. "You sound like you're one of them."

"As if," I scoffed, though a tiny smirk tugged at my lips.

Truthfully, I wasn't blind to Adriel's appeal. His brown skin, chiseled features, and those impossibly sharp eyes—he looked like something out of a legend, a warrior crafted by the gods themselves. He carried himself with confidence, that infuriating smirk always at the ready. And he had this way of speaking, this tone that made it sound like he was always in control, even when he clearly wasn't.

A dangerous man. The kind of man I should be wary of.

And yet...

"I swear," Lim muttered, shaking her head. "You have a type."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what type would that be?"

Lim exhaled. "You like dangerous men. Tigre is a disaster magnet, and Adriel..." She rubbed her temples. "Adriel could probably lead armies just by winking at the enemy's wives."

I nearly choked on my laughter. "You're exaggerating."

Lim remained unimpressed. "Am I? Yesterday, three of the castle maids suddenly had 'urgent deliveries' to make near the training grounds just to see him. And last night, two knights nearly came to blows over who would spar with him next."

I blinked. "...Okay, fair point."

Lim pressed forward. "But back to the real issue. What exactly is your plan here? You're bringing in two unpredictable elements. Tigre is still technically a prisoner, and Adriel... Adriel doesn't take orders. He does what he wants."

I met her gaze, my voice softer but firm. "That's where you're wrong, Lim. Adriel does have a reason to stay."

She arched a brow. "And that reason is...?"

I leaned back, closing my eyes briefly. "He likes Tigre."

Silence.

"That's your reasoning?" Lim finally asked, sounding unconvinced.

I smirked. "He doesn't form attachments easily, but for some reason, he's taken an interest in Tigre. And while I don't know the full extent of his abilities, I do know this—when Adriel fights, it's terrifying."

Lim stiffened slightly. I knew she remembered. The way Adriel moved in training was unnatural, almost inhuman. He wasn't just strong—he was precise, reacting to attacks like he could see them before they even happened. It was unsettling. And exhilarating.

"And as for Tigre," I continued, shifting to lean forward slightly. "You want to know how I plan to use him?"

Lim didn't answer, but I could tell she was listening.

I lifted a finger. "First, we'll have him protected by a thousand-odd soldiers. The enemy will be forced to engage."

A second finger. "Second, while they're focused on that, Tigre will pick off enemy generals and commanders. You saw what he did in battle, Lim—he doesn't miss."

A third. "Third, while the enemy is in chaos, we strike from multiple angles."

Lim's brow furrowed. "...You're using Tigre as bait."

I grinned. "No, I'm using him as the key. If we repeat this strategy, we can dismantle enemy forces in minutes. And after that, all we need is the right momentum to finish them off."

Lim sighed, rubbing her forehead. "And Adriel? Where does he fit in?"

I tapped my chin. "That depends on him. You don't 'use' someone like Adriel in a plan. You just... set things up and watch him cause chaos."

Lim pinched the bridge of her nose. "That's what worries me."

I chuckled. "Relax, Lim. I have a good feeling about this."

She gave me a wary look. "...You're saying that half-jokingly, right?"

I smirked. "Of course. Half-jokingly."

Lim groaned, muttering something under her breath about reckless war princesses and dangerous men.

I leaned back into the warm water, letting my thoughts drift.

Tigre was my wildcard.

And I would try my damndest to make Adriel one too.

I wanted Adriel.

And I'd be damned if I let that opportunity slip away.

Castle rooftop - Zhcted

The wind swept lazily over the castle rooftop, rustling the edges of an ancient tome in Tigre's hands. Perched near the slanted tiles, Tigre furrowed his brow, flipping through the dense pages, struggling to decipher the historical text.

Nearby, Rurik stood in his usual composed stance, watching over him, though his attention occasionally flickered toward Adriel, who lounged effortlessly on the rooftop's edge. Adriel's brown skin caught the late afternoon light, his presence exuding a casual confidence. His expression remained neutral, but his eyes—piercing, sharp—held knowledge deeper than what was written in any book.

Because he already knew everything about what was in those pages.

Or at least, he should have.

Adriel's Passive Knowledge whispered fragments of the truth, but something was wrong. The clarity he usually possessed felt... dulled. Like staring through warped glass.

Dark Sentry.

That damn counter-hack had done more than just block Adriel's attempt at peering into his nature—it had weakened his Guardian abilities. Not the ones from the Gamer System, but the core Guardian skills, the ones that made him an unstoppable force against things like Sentry. The intuitive foresight, the near-limitless information recall, the omniscient-like awareness—they all still worked, but slower. Weaker.

And that pissed him off.

For the first time in a long time, he had to be careful. He had to pay attention, not just know.

"You're struggling with that text, huh?" Adriel finally spoke, his voice teasing but laced with an undertone of calculation.

Tigre exhaled sharply, rubbing his forehead. "It's not just the language. Something about this doesn't feel right."

Rurik nodded. "Zhcted's history is written to favor its rulers. There's embellishment everywhere."

Tigre's fingers traced the aged parchment.

"Three hundred years ago..." the book began.

A century-long war had divided more than thirty tribes, each locked in endless conflict. Then, out of nowhere, a man appeared, claiming to be the incarnation of the Black Dragon. He declared that only he could unite the tribes and bring them victory.

The warlords mocked him, but seven tribes submitted, believing his words. They were granted victory in a way that the book made sound... divine. Almost too divine.

Tigre turned the page.

"As a symbol of their loyalty, the seven tribes offered their strongest daughters—warriors, commanders, strategists—to serve him. These women would later be known as the Vanadis."

The illustration depicted seven fierce, regal women standing before their supposed king. He granted them Vraldyr—Dragon Tools, weapons of immense power. With their newfound strength, they conquered the land and established the Kingdom of Zhcted.

Adriel's smirk twitched slightly.

A lie.

Or rather, a rewritten truth.

He knew how this story actually went. But the knowledge was obscured, muddled by the backlash of Sentry's interference.

This was dangerous.

His instincts screamed at him that something was off—not just in the book, but in Brune itself.

Adriel clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "You can almost taste the propaganda."

Tigre glanced at him. "What do you mean?"

Adriel kept his gaze fixed on the text, his mind threading through the broken fragments of knowledge he could still access.

"The only person above the Vanadis is Zhcted's king."

That line. It wasn't just history—it was reinforcement. A message. A control mechanism.

"This isn't just a history lesson," Adriel mused, keeping his tone neutral. "It's a reminder. The Vanadis are powerful, but never truly free. They exist to serve the throne."

Tigre frowned. "That does feel... off."

Rurik folded his arms. "The kingdom's origins are old, and much of its history is myth. But yes, it does seem designed to reinforce their submission."

Tigre tapped his fingers against the book's spine, looking contemplative. "Does something feel... wrong to either of you?"

Rurik considered for a moment before shaking his head. "It's just the way rulers frame history."

Adriel didn't respond.

Because he knew better.

Something wasn't just wrong with the book. It was Brune.

Something unseen was twisting it. Corrupting it.

Dark Sentry's influence was spreading.

And Adriel was the only one who could feel it. But with his Guardian skills nerfed, he was forced to play the long game.

For the first time in ages, he didn't have the upper hand.

So he simply smirked at Tigre and leaned back. "You'll figure it out, eventually."

And for now, that was all he could say.

Adriel sighed internally, his expression unreadable as he stood at the edge of the rooftop, watching his surroundings with mild boredom. The afternoon sun bathed the castle walls in golden light, and the distant sounds of the bustling city carried through the wind.

Tigre, seated nearby with his book, was still mulling over Adriel's previous words. He wanted to press the Guardian further, to unravel whatever cryptic meaning he had left hanging in the air, but he knew better. Adriel's perspective was... different. Seeing things from his eyes was like trying to look at the stars while standing in a fog.

So Tigre gave up.

Before Adriel could drift into his own thoughts, a faint movement in the bushes below caught his eye. His senses remained calm—no danger, no hostility. Still, curiosity flickered in his gaze as he activated his enhanced vision, his sharp eyes cutting through the foliage.

Ellen.

She was dressed in plain, modest attire, blending in far too well with the castle servants. Her movements were precise, almost stealthy, as she carefully navigated the area.

A smirk tugged at Adriel's lips. "Hmmm," he mused aloud, amusement lacing his tone. "Looks like someone got tired of paperwork and decided to sneak off."

Tigre, having caught his muttering, frowned. "What did you say, Adriel?"

Adriel didn't answer right away. Instead, he turned slightly. "Rurik," he called.

The bald knight immediately straightened. "Yes, my lord?"

"You're off for the day," Adriel stated casually. "We're going to talk to Ellen."

Rurik, ever disciplined, merely nodded. "As you command." Without another word, he turned and made his way back inside, not questioning the sudden change of plans.

Adriel turned back to the scene below, his smirk lingering.

...................

He barely paid attention as Tigre adjusted his grip on the book in his hand, still mulling over their previous conversation. He hadn't noticed Ellen yet, unlike Adriel, who kept his eyes on the faint movement in the bushes below.

Tigre, still trying to make sense of Adriel's cryptic words, frowned. "Why did you dismiss Rurik?" he asked. "You didn't even explain before sending him off."

Adriel smirked, not bothering to turn as his gaze remained locked on a subtle movement in the distance. "Because," he said, tilting his head, "I spotted something more interesting than standing around."

Tigre followed his line of sight, squinting at the bushes below but seeing nothing out of the ordinary. "What are you talking about?"

Adriel chuckled, stepping forward casually. "You'll see soon enough."

With that, he simply stepped off the rooftop. Tigre tensed, watching as Adriel landed lightly on the ground, absorbing the impact effortlessly, as if gravity was a mere suggestion.

Clicking his tongue, Tigre muttered, "Show-off," before leaping after him. Unlike Adriel, he chose a more measured approach, grabbing a tree branch mid-fall before swinging himself down. As he straightened, Adriel was already walking ahead, his usual self-assured gait making it seem as if he knew exactly what was coming next.

Then, a rustle in the bushes.

"Tigre!"

Ellen's voice rang out, her expression shifting between surprise and embarrassment. She looked completely different from her usual commanding presence—her attire was far more modest, far more casual.

Tigre blinked, caught off guard by her reaction. "Why are you here?!" she demanded.

"I was going to ask you the same thing," Tigre admitted, still confused.

Adriel, standing slightly off to the side with his arms crossed, smirked. His brown eyes flickered with amusement. "So, sneaking off for a little adventure, are we?"

Ellen shot him a quick glare, her flustered expression quickly smoothing out. "Tch. If you're just going to stand there smirking, at least be useful and pretend you didn't see anything."

Adriel's smirk widened. "Now, where would be the fun in that?"

Ellen clicked her tongue in annoyance but didn't push the topic. Instead, she turned her attention back to Tigre. "It can't be helped now. Come with me," she said, grabbing his wrist and pulling him along.

Tigre barely had time to glance back at Adriel, who merely shrugged before following them. His presence lingered at Ellen's side more than Tigre's, a quiet but noticeable shadow.

As they reached the outskirts of the castle, the sounds of a bustling market filled the air. The streets of the town bustled with life, vendors calling out their wares while the scent of roasted meats and fresh bread filled the air. The lively energy seemed to put Ellen at ease, a rare sight for someone so often burdened by duty.

Adriel, walking slightly behind, studied her with quiet amusement. She carried herself differently here, less like a war maiden and more like someone savoring a stolen moment of peace.

Ellen caught his gaze and smirked. "What? Surprised to see me blending in?"

Adriel chuckled. "Not at all. I figured someone as restless as you would find an excuse to escape."

Ellen huffed, crossing her arms. "Well, you're not wrong."

Tigre, who had been lagging behind, finally let out a sigh. "You two sure talk like you're plotting something."

Ellen barely spared him a glance before turning back to Adriel. "Relax, Tigre," she said smoothly. "This is just a rare moment where I get to enjoy myself."

Adriel tilted his head, his eyes glinting with curiosity. "Just walking around town in the guise of a normal girl, huh?"

Ellen's smirk softened into something almost wistful. "One of the few things I enjoy."

Tigre, now exasperated, muttered, "I feel like I'm just here for decoration."

Adriel clapped him on the shoulder with a smirk. "Don't worry, Tigre. You're the distraction."

Tigre blinked. "...Wait, what?"

Ellen simply laughed, shaking her head as she pulled him forward into the lively market.

Adriel followed at a relaxed pace, watching the exchange between them with mild amusement. He could see the way Ellen's attention naturally gravitated toward him, though she never let it linger too obviously. A game, then.

That suited him just fine.

They made their way through the rows of bustling stalls, Ellen effortlessly navigating the crowd. Tigre, meanwhile, looked mildly overwhelmed by the sheer energy of the place.

"You don't have to be so sneaky if you're just checking out the town," Ellen teased as they passed a street performer playing a lute.

Adriel smirked. "You mean like you did?"

She shot him a knowing glance but didn't refute him.

Tigre, trying to keep up, cleared his throat. "So, did you actually need something from me, Ellen?"

Ellen tilted her head, pretending to think. "There is something I want to know, but I'll save it for another day."

Adriel raised an eyebrow at that but said nothing.

The trio soon stopped at a bustling food stall. Ellen pointed at a steaming dish, excitement lighting up her expression. "Ah, here's something worth trying—steam-baked mushrooms and potatoes. And these—pickled cucumbers."

Tigre hesitated. "Pickled... cucumbers?"

Ellen nudged him. "You won't know if you don't try."

Adriel watched as Tigre relented, grabbing a skewer. He, however, remained unimpressed. "I'll pass."

Ellen turned to him, a glint of challenge in her eyes. "What, afraid of a little pickling?"

Adriel smirked. "I prefer my food not soaked in vinegar."

Ellen chuckled but didn't press the issue. Instead, she reached for another stall, picking up a small cup of rye whiskey. "And this? It isn't too strong, so it's easy to drink."

She offered it to him first.

Adriel took it without hesitation, swirling the liquid in the cup before taking a slow sip. His expression didn't change, but he let out a small hum of approval.

Ellen's eyes glinted. "See? I knew you'd handle it."

Tigre, meanwhile, eyed the food warily. "I feel like you're just using me as a food tester."

Adriel smirked. "You catch on quick."

As they continued walking, Ellen happily sampled more of the local fare. She bit into a piece of fried fish before holding out another piece to Adriel.

"Try this."

Adriel arched an eyebrow but indulged her, taking the offered piece from her fingers instead of grabbing it himself. He chewed thoughtfully before nodding. "Not bad."

Tigre, watching the exchange, narrowed his eyes. "Seriously, you're only interested in food."

Ellen, undeterred, licked a bit of honey off her thumb before flashing a grin. "It's delicious. And it helps me understand my citizens."

Tigre sighed. "That's not how governing works."

Adriel leaned in slightly, eyeing the smudge of jam at the corner of her lips. "You missed a spot."

Before Ellen could react, he brushed his thumb lightly over her lips, removing the stray bit of sweetness.

Ellen stiffened, eyes widening slightly. For a split second, the usual confidence flickered, replaced by something unreadable.

Tigre, oblivious, continued, "Do you really think you can convince people of your leadership skills with jam on your mouth?"

Ellen, still staring at Adriel, barely registered his words.

Adriel pulled back, completely unbothered, his smirk firmly in place. "I'd say she's doing just fine."

Ellen finally snapped out of it, scowling as she quickly turned away. "Geez, why'd you do that? Just when I let my guard down..."

Adriel merely chuckled, amused by her flustered reaction.

Tigre, looking between them, frowned. "Did I miss something?"

Ellen cleared her throat. "Nothing! Nothing at all."

Adriel hummed, pleased.

If she wanted to play games, he was more than happy to oblige.

As the trio strolled further into the bustling market, Ellen's eyes sparkled with excitement when she spotted a game stall.

"Welcome, welcome!" the vendor called, waving them over. "This is a hit-the-target game! Step right up and test your skill! Knock down the dolls, and win a wonderful prize!"

Ellen immediately perked up. "Alright! Next up is that!" she announced, pointing at the game with enthusiasm.

Adriel raised an eyebrow, amused by her excitement. "Didn't peg you for the type to enjoy carnival games."

Ellen crossed her arms with a playful smirk. "I happen to enjoy proving my strength in every setting."

Tigre chuckled. "I think you just want an excuse to show off."

Ellen ignored him and turned to the vendor. "Explain the rules."

The vendor gestured to the shelves stacked with various dolls of different sizes. "It's simple! Using a toy arbalest, you knock off the dolls on the stands. The larger ones are worth more but harder to knock down. You get four shots per round!"

Ellen nodded in approval before glancing at Tigre. "This should be easy for you."

Tigre scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed. "I mean, it's just a game..."

Adriel smirked. "Oh? Feeling the pressure already?"

Tigre exhaled before rolling his shoulders. "Alright, shall I give it a go?"

He stepped forward, picking up the small toy arbalest. He tested its weight before taking aim at the stand. His sharp eyes scanned the setup, evaluating his best possible shot.

Adriel, standing off to the side, watched with mild interest. "If you miss even one, I'll make sure Ellen hears about it for the rest of the day."

Tigre sighed. "No pressure, huh?"

With a swift flick of his wrist, he fired the first shot. The bolt struck a mid-sized knight doll, knocking it clean off the shelf.

"I see, so it's like this?" Tigre mused, adjusting his grip before swiftly firing his second shot.

CLUNK.

The next target fell, followed quickly by the third.

Ellen watched with growing amusement as Tigre methodically knocked each one down. "Not bad, Tigre. You're actually competent when it comes to shooting."

Tigre ignored the teasing and took his final shot, sending the last target toppling over.

"Impressive," Adriel admitted, arms crossed. "I expected you to struggle more."

Tigre gave him a deadpan look. "You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"

Adriel smirked. "A little."

Ellen clapped her hands together. "Alright! I'm next!"

She grabbed the toy arbalest with a confident grin, loading it with ease. As she aimed, Tigre muttered, "This should be interesting..."

Adriel tilted his head, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "I'll be watching closely."

Ellen took the shot. The bolt flew straight but barely missed its mark, scraping past the edge of the target.

"So close," she mumbled, tapping her lip in frustration.

Adriel, watching from the side, smirked. "Was that your best shot? I was expecting something a little more impressive."

Ellen shot him a glare. "I wasn't ready yet."

Tigre, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. "You literally aimed for five seconds before firing."

Ellen huffed, ignoring him. She squared her shoulders and raised the arbalest again, determination flashing in her eyes.

Adriel leaned in slightly, his voice low and teasing. "Maybe you just need better motivation."

Ellen spared him a glance before focusing on her next shot. The bolt flew, this time hitting the target, but just barely.

"Ah—got it!" she cheered.

Tigre sighed. "You make it sound like you won a battle."

Adriel chuckled. "Well, for her, this might be the real challenge."

Ellen ignored them both and lined up her third shot. She adjusted her stance, taking a moment to steady herself. This time, she aimed for a more difficult target—one of the smaller ones at the top.

She fired.

The bolt connected, knocking it down.

The booth owner's eyes widened. "Oh! You did it!"

Ellen grinned triumphantly, spinning on her heel to face Adriel. "See? I told you I could do it."

Adriel chuckled, tilting his head. "Not bad. You're not entirely hopeless."

Ellen narrowed her eyes. "Care to say that again?"

Adriel smirked but held his hands up innocently. "I meant it as a compliment."

Tigre just sighed in exasperation.

Meanwhile, the booth owner, still rattled, inspected the knocked-over targets. He frowned, shaking his head. "Wait a second. That last one fell a little too easily..."

Adriel glanced at him, expression unreadable. "Something wrong?"

The owner hesitated before quickly waving it off. "No, no! Just talking to myself."

Adriel's smirk widened slightly, but he said nothing.

Ellen, oblivious, was already admiring the selection of prizes.

The owner begrudgingly handed over a stuffed bear and a small velvet box containing a hairpin.

Tigre examined the owner's expression and then turned to Adriel. "You knew, didn't you?"

Adriel simply shrugged, clearly enjoying himself. "Let's just say some places have... convenient modifications."

Ellen held up the hairpin, admiring the delicate design. "This is cute."

She turned to Adriel, a slight smile on her lips. "How does it look?"

She tucked it into her hair, waiting for his reaction.

Adriel took a step closer, his brown eyes scanning her face thoughtfully. Then, with a teasing grin, he nodded. "It suits you."

Ellen blinked at him, her usual confidence flickering just slightly.

Tigre, standing between them, exhaled loudly. "Why do I feel like I'm third-wheeling again?"

Adriel patted his shoulder. "Because you are."

Ellen quickly turned away, flustered, adjusting the hairpin. "Geez, let's just keep going."

Adriel chuckled, falling in step beside her, hands casually in his pockets.

Tigre just shook his head, resigned to whatever this was.

.............

Ellen kept walking forward, her face still flushed but happy nonetheless. Adriel smirked smugly as he held the bear in his arms. Tigre just sighed—he would forever be on the receiving end of Adriel's teasing.

With a cheerful tone, the Vanadis spoke again, "You know, I'm not too interested in these types of things."

Adriel couldn't help but snort at her attempt at being a tsundere. He wasn't buying her act at all and continued his teasing. "Sure you don't. It's not like you wanted to show off how cute you can actually be, right?" He waved her off dismissively. "Nah, that couldn't be it."

Ellen immediately realized her mistake—she had just given Adriel even more chances to tease her. Her blush deepened as she turned away, crossing her arms in an attempt to regain her composure. "I-It's just that I usually come by myself, so I don't get the chance to show anybody anything," she muttered.

Adriel chuckled, clearly enjoying her struggle. "Mhm. And this little adventure had nothing to do with you wanting to enjoy yourself with company for once?" He leaned in slightly, smirking. "How rare. Are you getting soft, Ellen?"

She shot him a glare, cheeks still slightly pink. "Shut up."

Tigre, watching the exchange, sighed. "You two sure have a strange way of talking to each other."

Adriel grinned. "It's called chemistry, Tigre."

Ellen groaned, rubbing her temples. "I swear, you're insufferable."

"And yet, you keep me around," Adriel countered smoothly.

Ellen opened her mouth to argue but thought better of it, choosing instead to focus on the small bear in Adriel's hands. She raised an eyebrow. "That's an... unexpected choice for you."

Adriel glanced down at the stuffed bear, giving it a thoughtful look. "Oh, this?" He smirked. "It's not for me."

Ellen blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Then...?"

Tigre, also confused, asked, "You mean it's for someone else?"

Adriel shrugged casually. "Yeah, it's for Lim. She'll probably get mad at me for something eventually, so I have to humor her a little."

Ellen stared at him before breaking into a quiet laugh. "You're actually thinking ahead for once."

Adriel grinned. "Hey, I like to keep my allies happy." He then shot her a playful look. "Well, most of them, at least."

Ellen narrowed her eyes at him, but there was a hint of amusement behind her faux glare. "I will get back at you for all of this."

Adriel smirked, tilting his head. "Oh? I'm looking forward to it."

Tigre shook his head, walking ahead. "I feel like I'm witnessing some sort of battle I don't understand."

Ellen sighed dramatically. "You and me both, Tigre."

Adriel just chuckled, twirling the stuffed bear once in his hands before casually placing it under his arm. "Alright, alright. Let's move before Ellen finds another excuse to blush."

Ellen gasped. "I—You—!!"

She took a deep breath and quickly stomped ahead, refusing to entertain him further.

Tigre sighed again. "Do you ever stop provoking her?"

Adriel smirked. "No fun in that, is there?"

As Ellen stormed ahead, Adriel walked beside Tigre at a leisurely pace, completely unbothered by her frustration. The stuffed bear rested casually under his arm, an amused smirk still tugging at his lips.

Before they could take another step forward, an ominous presence made itself known.

Glint.

Tigre stiffened immediately. "Oh no."

Adriel raised an eyebrow, then followed Tigre's gaze—straight to Lim, who stood in the castle entrance with her arms crossed. The sheer aura of impending doom radiated from her, her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

"Did you sneak out again...?" she asked, her voice eerily calm.

Ellen immediately stiffened, beads of sweat forming at her temple. "I, uh—"

Before she could dig herself into a deeper hole, Adriel smoothly stepped forward.

"It was all my fault," he said, without a hint of hesitation.

Lim's eyes shifted to him, her expression unreadable. "Oh? Is that so?"

Ellen shot him a confused glance, and Tigre just sighed, already expecting some kind of ridiculous twist.

Adriel, completely in control, held up the bear plushie and dramatically presented it to Lim.

"Behold!" he declared. "The entire reason for this secret mission."

Lim blinked. "...A bear."

Ellen groaned. "Adriel."

He ignored her and continued, speaking as if unveiling the most sacred of treasures. "Not just any bear, Limlisha. This—" he held it up higher, "—is a symbol of appreciation. A rare find, meticulously acquired for a dear and devoted knight such as yourself."

Lim's eye twitched, and Tigre, barely holding back a laugh, covered his mouth.

Ellen, recovering from her initial embarrassment, rolled with it. "Yes, that's right. That's why I left the castle—to get this."

Lim stared at the two of them with the flattest expression possible.

Adriel, meanwhile, stepped closer, still holding the bear out. "Go on. Take it."

Lim hesitated for a fraction of a second, then grabbed the plushie without a word. She held it stiffly in her arms, her expression unreadable.

"...T-This is...?" she muttered, eyes slightly wide, a faint blush creeping onto her face.

Ellen smirked. "Looks like she likes it."

Tigre exhaled in relief. "That actually worked..."

Lim quickly regained her composure, shooting Adriel a glare. "That doesn't change the fact that you left the castle without permission."

Adriel shrugged, utterly unfazed. "And yet, here we are. A mission accomplished, a knight happy, and no real harm done."

Lim pursed her lips, gripping the bear tighter, but ultimately sighed. "Next time, take someone else with you."

Ellen nodded quickly. "Right, right. Noted."

Lim gave them all one last warning glance before turning around, still clutching the plushie. She stomped off toward the castle, mumbling something about reckless leaders.

As soon as she disappeared, Ellen let out a breath. "You just barely got away with that."

Adriel grinned. "Please, I was never in danger."

Tigre gave him a dry look. "One day, you're going to push her too far."

Adriel shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Until then, I'll keep enjoying myself."

Ellen shook her head, but the small smile on her lips betrayed her amusement. "Let's just move on before she changes her mind."

As they walked, Adriel smirked to himself. A confident stance, the right words, and a bit of charm—he always found a way out.

And, more importantly, he always made things entertaining.

Speaking of entertainment...

"Actually, Ellen..." Adriel stopped, making both Tigre and the Vanadis halt.

"What is it, Adriel?" she asked.

He smirked mischievously. "You wanna see Lim's reaction to the bear?"

Ellen paused for a second, realizing her slip-up. Then, her expression shifted into one of equal mischief.

"That's true! Let's go, Tigre! You'll get to see something interesting," she said, grinning just as deviously as Adriel.

The trio crouched outside the castle, hidden just below the window to Lim's room. Ellen and Adriel exchanged mischievous glances, while Tigre sighed, already resigned to whatever nonsense they were about to pull.

Peering through the window, they saw Lim sitting on her bed, the plush bear cradled gently in her arms. She was completely unaware of their presence as she squeezed it slightly, her expression softening.

Then, to their utter delight, she did it.

A small, barely audible squeak escaped her lips as she admired her new plushie.

Ellen slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her giggle, while Adriel grinned like a devil who had just struck gold. Tigre, meanwhile, blinked in shock. Lim? Their no-bullshit, battle-hardened Lim—was cuddling a plush bear?

Adriel nudged Tigre. "Behold, my friend, the unbreakable knight, conquered by fluff."

Tigre shook his head, whispering, "We shouldn't be spying on her like this."

Adriel waved him off. "Oh, please. This is a scientific observation."

Ellen, still watching, raised an eyebrow. "Wait, is she...?"

They all leaned in closer.

Lim gently pressed her face against the plushie, closing her eyes for a brief moment. A tiny, content sigh slipped out, her arms wrapping just a bit tighter around the bear.

Adriel smirked knowingly. Oh, she's definitely noticed.

See, he'd been carrying that bear around for a while. Of course, it had picked up his scent. And given how often Lim was near him—usually threatening him—it was no surprise that the familiar scent lingering on the plushie had a calming effect.

Ellen's mouth fell open slightly. "She's... actually enjoying it."

Tigre, still struggling to process the situation, whispered, "Wait. Are you telling me she—"

"Smells it? Yes," Adriel said smugly.

Ellen gave him an incredulous look. "You did this on purpose."

Adriel shrugged, clearly pleased with himself. "What can I say? I have a gift."

Before Ellen could respond, Lim suddenly stiffened. Her sharp eyes darted to the window.

The trio froze.

Lim's expression darkened instantly.

"...I know you're there."

Adriel sighed, straightening up and stretching. "Well, that was fun while it lasted."

Ellen panicked. "Run."

But Adriel, being Adriel, had one last shot to take. He leaned casually against the wall, smirking as if he had already won.

"Y'know, Lim, I bet you didn't even see us," he drawled. "You smelled me, didn't you?"

Lim froze.

Tigre and Ellen both turned to her in shock, barely holding in their laughter.

Adriel pressed on, grinning like a devil. "That bear's been with me all day. Carried it around, held it close—bet it still smells just like me. And you were just burying your face in it."

Lim's entire body locked up as realization struck. Her face—normally calm and composed—flushed a deep crimson.

She quickly turned the plushie over in her hands as if it had suddenly betrayed her.

"I—I did NOT—!!"

Ellen choked back a laugh, whispering, "Oh, this is gold."

Adriel tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Really? Because it sure looked like you were—"

"ADRIEL!! I SWEAR TO THE GODS—!!"

Lim's scream of pure, unfiltered rage shook the entire castle.

The trio bolted as she lunged for them, a shoe flying past Adriel's head as they sprinted down the halls. Ellen cackled, Tigre groaned, and Adriel?

He was having the time of his life.

Absolutely worth it.

The Next morning.

The morning sun filtered through the castle windows, casting a golden hue over the study. Despite the absurdity of the previous night—particularly the Lim incident—Adriel appeared as relaxed as ever, lounging on the couch with a book in hand.

Tigre, however, was sitting upright across from Lim, clearly out of his depth. He was still recovering from what was supposed to be a simple market stroll turning into full-blown chaos. Now, he found himself under Lim's scrutiny, her sharp blue eyes locked onto him.

"Why do you want to learn about Eleonora-sama's governing all of a sudden?" she asked, her tone skeptical.

Tigre blinked at the question. "Uh…" He hesitated before answering, rubbing the back of his head. "I just thought… since I'm here for a while, there might be something I can do to help before returning to Alsace."

Adriel, from his seat, smirked without looking up from his book. Hmmm?

Lim narrowed her eyes. "...Do you really think you'll be able to return to Alsace?"

Tigre frowned slightly. "Why wouldn't I?"

Silence.

Lim didn't answer immediately, her expression unreadable.

Adriel, on the other hand, sighed dramatically and finally set his book down. "See, this is why I keep saying you need to think ahead, Tigre." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Let's say you do get back home. What then?"

Tigre frowned. "What do you mean?"

Adriel tilted his head, watching him carefully. "Nothing at all could be happening in Brune, right? Everything's definitely fine."

The way he said it made Tigre pause. His gut twisted slightly. What's that supposed to mean?

Lim's fingers tightened slightly around the book in her lap, but she didn't say anything.

Tigre glanced between them. "Wait. Do you two know something I don't?"

Silence.

Then—

"Nope," Adriel said smoothly, reclining again with a satisfied smirk.

Lim shot him a glare but remained silent.

Tigre sighed. "You're messing with me."

Adriel grinned. "Always."

Lim shook her head. "Regardless," she said, refocusing on Tigre, "I understand your intentions. Even if half of what I do is for show, there are responsibilities you could learn from."

Tigre straightened. "Then teach me."

Lim studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. Whether it be flood control, cultivating farmland, or highway maintenance, I don't mind. Choose where you'd like to start."

Tigre, despite the nagging feeling that something wasn't being said, nodded. "Let's begin then."

Adriel smirked. Poor Tigre.

After what felt like hours of grueling lessons, Lim finally dismissed Tigre.

"See you later," she said, stepping out of the room.

Tigre, exhausted, barely managed to nod. "T-thank you…"

As she walked down the hall, Lim hesitated for a moment, glancing over her shoulder. Her expression softened, though she quickly masked it.

She exhaled quietly, muttering to herself, "Does that guy even know...?"

She already knew the answer.

No, Tigre had no idea how bad things were in Brune. Even if she told him, it would only make things worse.

Adriel, still lounging on the couch, barely moved. But he did hear her.

His smirk faltered for a second, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling.

Just what the hell is Sentry doing?

He thought for a moment, until he felt Lim staring at him. Quirking a brow, he looked at her back.

"Staring at something you like?" Adriel smirked.

But Lim had other ideas. "Come with me," she said firmly.

"Huh?" Adriel blinked, confused.

"Now." She stood up and grabbed his wrist.

"Oh my~," Adriel teased, grinning.

Tigre, completely clueless about what was going on, could only watch. Guess he's finally gonna get an earful, he thought.

The castle corridors were quiet, save for the distant sound of guards making their rounds. The air was cool, thick with the scent of stone and torch smoke. It was late. Too late for most people to be up.

But Adriel had never been most people.

He let Lim drag him outside without protest. That, in itself, was unusual. Normally, he'd be cracking jokes, teasing her about how eager she was to get him alone. But this time? He remained silent. He already knew what this was about.

Lim didn't stop until they were under an archway, away from prying eyes and ears. The moment she let go of his wrist, she turned on him, eyes sharp, cutting straight to the chase.

"Talk."

Adriel raised a brow. "So direct. No foreplay?"

"Adriel," Lim's voice carried an edge of warning. "You knew about Brune. You knew about the chaos before any of us did."

There it was.

Adriel exhaled, tilting his head slightly. "And?"

Lim's glare hardened. "And how did you know?"

Adriel leaned against the stone wall, his arms crossing over his chest. He could feel the weight of her stare, the way she was analyzing him, searching for any sign of deception.

"…Lucky guess?" he tried.

Her silence was damning.

She wasn't playing his games tonight.

He sighed. "Fine. What do you think is happening, Lim?"

She frowned, caught off guard by the shift. "That's not—"

"No, really. Humor me." Adriel gestured for her to continue. "I want to hear your theory."

Lim narrowed her eyes. "I think someone is pulling the strings. It's too coordinated. Every movement, every rebellion—it's all happening too perfectly, like someone is guiding it from the shadows."

Adriel nodded. "Smart girl."

Lim ignored the half-hearted compliment. "And you knew that before I even put it together." She stepped closer. "How?"

Adriel's expression didn't change, but something in his stance shifted.

Subtle. Almost unnoticeable.

Almost.

"Does it matter?" he asked.

Lim's brows furrowed. "Of course it matters."

"No, I mean, does it change anything?" Adriel pushed off the wall, standing upright. "Think about it. If I tell you who's responsible, if I give you a name—what happens next?"

Lim crossed her arms. "Then we stop them."

Adriel let out a quiet, humorless laugh. "Do you really believe that?"

Lim's jaw clenched.

"You're a brilliant strategist, Lim," he said. "One of the best. So tell me—what would you do if you did know? March an army to their doorstep? Cut off their supply lines? Burn their resources? Tell me, what's your plan?"

Lim opened her mouth, then hesitated.

Because she didn't have one.

Not for this.

Adriel smiled, but it was hollow. "Exactly."

Lim took a breath. "Then what are we supposed to do?"

Adriel shrugged. "Survive."

Her hands curled into fists. "That's it? That's your answer?"

"It's the only answer," he said, his voice quieter now.

Lim gritted her teeth. "You're hiding something."

Adriel's eyes flickered with something unreadable. "I always am."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

The wind whispered through the archway, cool against their skin.

Then, softer, Lim said, "Why won't you tell me?"

Adriel exhaled, looking up at the sky. "Because I don't trust you."

Lim flinched.

Not because of the words—she knew he was provoking her. No, what unsettled her was the way he said it.

Like it wasn't about her.

Like it wasn't even a choice.

"You're lying."

Adriel chuckled. "Now that sounds like denial."

Her glare returned. "If you actually didn't trust me, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Adriel tilted his head slightly, conceding the point. "Alright, fine. I trust you." He met her gaze. "But I don't trust what you'd do with the truth."

Lim's eyes narrowed.

"I know you, Lim." His voice was softer now, but no less firm. "If I tell you what I know, you won't sit still. You won't ignore it. You'll take action. And that's exactly what they want."

Her stomach twisted. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that whoever's pulling the strings wants you to move," Adriel said. "They want you to act, to react. They want you predictable."

Lim swallowed, the weight of his words settling in.

Adriel sighed, rubbing his neck. "Look, Lim… I want to tell you. I really do. But if I do, then it stops being my problem. It becomes yours."

Lim inhaled sharply.

"And right now?" Adriel met her gaze, his brown eyes holding an uncharacteristic seriousness. "I need you to be safe."

Lim's breath caught.

He was holding something back. She knew it. But there was something… different about him.

He wasn't playing.

Not this time.

Adriel took a step back, giving her space. "So do me a favor, Lim." His voice was quiet, almost tired. "Don't ask again."

Lim clenched her fists.

She hated this.

She hated the way he was talking. The way he was treating her like she was fragile, like she was something that needed to be protected.

She wasn't weak.

She could handle the truth.

And yet…

The way he looked at her, the weight behind his words—

She hesitated.

Because what if he was right?

What if she wasn't ready?

What if, by knowing the truth, she made everything worse?

She hated that thought.

But she hated the possibility of being wrong even more.

After a long moment, she exhaled. "Fine."

Adriel blinked. "Wait, really?"

Lim scowled. "I hate that I don't have a choice."

Adriel chuckled. "Yeah, well. Welcome to my world."

Lim shook her head, stepping past him. "I'm not done with this conversation."

Adriel grinned. "Didn't think you were."

She paused. "But I will wait."

That surprised him.

She sighed. "For now."

Adriel's grin widened. "That's all I ask."

And just like that, the moment passed.

Lim walked away, her mind racing with everything he hadn't said.

And Adriel?

He leaned against the stone wall, watching her go.

Because as much as he hated keeping secrets—

Some things were better left unsaid.