Trembling hands.

Van and Kai, startled by Elen’s sobbing, rushed to her side without hesitation.

Van, who had just safely transferred all the guards, was panting heavily from exhaustion, but still hurried forward—just as Kai did. When they finally reached Elen, they both ran.

“Your Highness!”

“Elen-sama!”

Van and Kai called out, but Elen was too overwhelmed to respond.

She wept, calling out for Gadiel, begging him to wake up, over and over.

“Elen-sama, please calm down.”

“Kai-kun… what do we do… Gadiel… he’s…”

Elen sobbed uncontrollably, clinging to Kai like a lifeline. Though she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of jealousy, Kai immediately checked Gadiel’s pulse.

Kai had been trained as a knight in the Vanklyft Family. That training included emergency treatments, among other things.

Normally, knights were drilled only in combat. Healing was supposed to be the healer’s job.

This was one of the reforms Elen had spearheaded. Maybe fighting was important, she’d argued—but surviving was far more crucial.

There was no way healers could treat every wounded person. So while easing the burden on the scarce healers, they’d searched for ways everyone could stay alive. Those who’d survived the Monster Tempest nodded in agreement.

“Lady Elen, please calm down.”

Kai rubbed her back, then told her Gadiel still had a pulse.

“He’s alive, Your Highness. It’s going to be fine.”

“But…!”

Elen was sobbing uncontrollably, convinced there was no way he’d survive. Kai felt a strange tug at something in his chest as he heard her certainty, but he still did his best to soothe her. All the while, he kept checking Gadiel for any other injuries.

"Can a spirit heal him?" he asked, circling around the question. Van gave him a look like he’d just asked if a spirit would want to heal a cursed being—deeply unimpressed.

The forest had fallen quiet again. Amiel was inside a sphere of metal unlike anything he’d ever seen.

But they couldn’t just leave Gadiel like this. As Kai was about to suggest transferring him—just like they’d moved the guard—the air shifted abruptly.

Van’s sharp gaze locked onto a single point. His anger was plain, his caution on full display. In an instant, the atmosphere changed.

Kai too tensed up, drawing his sword. Stepping forward with Van to shield Elen and Gadiel, he braced himself.

"Who’s there! Come out!!"

With Van’s shout, a sudden gust tore through the area.

Van’s whirlwind slashed through the surrounding trees in an instant. It wasn’t natural—like a perfect, hollow ring carved into the forest. Only a few trees and a dense thicket remained untouched in the center, like a missing doughnut.

Kai blinked. He’d seen Van do this before—clever, precise. The thicket in the middle? That was where the hidden one was.

Without a word, Kai pulled a knife from his waist, spun it once in a flick, and launched it straight at the thicket.

Clack! The blade bounced off instantly. Kai’s eyes narrowed. He recognized the cut—the skill was too sharp, too practiced. His guard tightened immediately.

"Wow, wow... feels like I’ve been stripped bare."

A young man’s voice giggled. It was too cheerful, almost inappropriate.

From the thicket, a man in his early twenties emerged—jet-black hair, sharp-cut. Right beside him, a burly male stepped forward, shielding the youth.

A few yards away, I could make out several others watching us warily.

"Please, step back."

"What are you saying? The Great Spirit has commanded us to come forth. It’s our duty to obey."

The youth looked at Van. Then his eyes settled on Elen. And with genuine delight, he smiled brightly.

The sudden appearance of these strangers left Elen so stunned she forgot she’d been crying for a moment.

That’s when I finally realize just how much I’ve lost control. Keep it together, I tell myself over and over in my head. But my hands won’t stop shaking.

Gadiel was breathing, but something was missing—felt it right away.

The thing Elen was drawn to... it was painfully clear it wasn’t here.

Just thinking about it makes my chest feel like it’s about to裂, tears welling up. But then I remember my duty.

Right, I’m a goddess, that’s why I’m here.

I took another slow look around. Clenching my trembling hand into a fist, as if scolding myself.

And I look at the young men before me. In an instant, I sift through this situation and figure out who these youths really are.

It's what I always do. Don't even need to be asked—just leap ahead, guessing, reading between the lines. Pull out the answer, then check it off like a damn checklist. Wasn't that drilled into me long before I was even alive?

I almost blurted out, Why are you here?

You’d think that’d be obvious without asking, wouldn’t you?

The young man bowed, hand pressed to his chest, giving a respectful salute to Elen, who remained silent.

“Thank you for saving me. It’s like a dream—having the Great Spirit herself appear before me.”

Elen listened in silence. Just stared, expressionless, at the young man.

He didn’t even glance at Van or Kai standing before him. Only Elen. That alone was enough to make anyone feel uneasy.

Elen looked like nothing more than a beautiful girl. In any other situation, it would’ve been a scene of a wary adult shielding a child. Yet here he was, staring straight at Elen—ignoring Van, who’d declared himself the Great Spirit—like he knew full well she was the one standing above him.

“By the way, is the one lying there injured? Let me tend to them.”

Smiling sweetly—spitting out kindness like poison.

Elen stared at him, expressionless, as he continued laughing without a care in the world, not even flinching at the obvious wounds.

“Not needed. If I gave it to you, that’s the last thing it’d be—safe.”

The youth’s mouth twisted into a sharp arc.

“First time meeting you. Spirit Princess.”

“Indeed. Your Highness, King of Helgner.”

Like a noble at a ball, King Duran of Helgner bowed with exaggerated grace before Elen.