* * *
"Then, now wash up and get so proper rest. You both must’ve been really shaken by everything that happened today," I said, my voice gentle, though my brows were slightly drawn together in concern.
Amira and Emir both nodded.
"Yeah. Thank you. You too, Miss Sonia," Emir said with a tired but sincere smile, his face showing both exhaustion and relief.
"And Amira," I added, pointing my index finger like a schoolteacher giving her final instruction, "once you’ve cleaned up, the doctor will co to treat your wounds and check your condition. But don’t open the door for just anyone, okay? Only open it if it’s , the doctor, or soone you know really well."
Amira nodded firmly. Her voice was soft, but her eyes burned with determination.
"Yes. Thank you, Miss. I promise I’ll be useful to you once I’ve fully recovered."
I couldn’t help but chuckle. My lips curved warmly as I reached out and gently ruffled both of their heads.
"Alright then. I’ll head to my room and wash up too. If anything cos up, knock on my door, okay?"
I turned and started walking back to my room. Behind , I could still feel their eyes on my back. Bright, wide-eyed stares full of awe. If they’d had sparkles dancing in their pupils, I wouldn’t have been surprised. The kind of look you’d give a hero stepping away after saving the day. Like sohow, my presence alone was enough to leave them amazed.
At that mont, both siblings silently thought the sa thing:
’I want to be like her one day...’
* * *
The mont I stepped into my room and closed the door, I stretched my arms upward with a long sigh. My joints popped in protest, cracking as if my body had finally rembered it was exhausted.
’Huu... that was really tough.’
I walked to the bathroom, turned on the tap, and filled the bathtub with warm water. While waiting, I undressed and tossed my sweat-, dust-, and bloodstained clothes and cloak into the laundry basket. Then, without much ceremony, I lowered myself into the tub and let the heat soak into my aching muscles.
The warmth was bliss.
I sank deeper, letting myself relax. As my body eased into comfort, the events of the day drifted back to , unbidden. I found myself pondering it all in quiet disbelief.
’Who would’ve thought I could take down fourteen ard n? And it hasn’t even been that long since I started training under Alessio...’
A small smile tugged at my lips. Slowly, I let myself sink further into the water until half my face was subrged, only my nose and eyes above the surface.
In my past life, that would’ve been impossible.
Even with talent, it would’ve taken at least a year, maybe more, to gain the strength and technique needed to go up against even a few adult n. But here I was. I had fought and beaten not just a few, but fourteen. And with nothing more than a dagger in my hand.
’Is it because this world is a fantasy novel? Or was Sonia actually this strong all along...?’
"I knew you’d been training under him... but I didn’t expect you to start fighting like him, too."
Khan’s voice echoed in my mind, uninvited.
I hadn’t paid much attention when he first said it. But now, the words lingered like steam rising from the water.
There was sothing between him and Alessio, maybe a shared past or a story I didn’t know. Sothing that made Khan so confident in Alessio’s strength, so certain of what kind of monster he truly was.
I had only seen his strength during training. He taught not just with words, but through action. The casual ease with which he landed a dagger exactly where he ant to. The intensity of his warm-ups. Sotis, I’d catch glimpses of him practicing with a sword before my own lessons began. Just brief hints of what he was truly capable of.
The first and only ti I saw him fight for real was back at the market, when we first t Emir and Amira. He took down those thugs like it was nothing, without the slightest effort.
But Khan... Khan must’ve seen the full picture. He must’ve witnessed Alessio in the heart of real chaos to speak of him like that. Like soone not entirely human.
’Alessio, that guy... it’s true he’s like a demon lord when it cos to training .’
He pushed harder than anyone ever had. He scolded , corrected every single movent, and rarely offered praise. But sohow, every bruise and every aching muscle made stronger. I didn’t even notice it at first, but there was a strange satisfaction in it. My body felt lighter. That heavy, stuffy feeling I used to carry inside was gone. Training with him changed sothing in .
Maybe it wasn’t so strange after all.
’And let’s not forget, this is a fantasy world.’
So perhaps it wasn’t all that strange that I’d grown this fast.
Bubbling the water with a soft breath from my mouth, I let my lips sink under before exhaling. The surface rippled around as my mind quieted for a few seconds.
Then, with a soft splash, I raised my face from the water.
"Puha..."
My breath left in a soft puff as I slowly sat upright. It was ti to finish cleaning up. I washed myself thoroughly, and once I was done, I dried off and slipped into a clean, soft nightgown that clung lightly to my skin.
I had just slipped it on when—
Knock knock knock knock!
A frantic knock exploded at my door. Not a polite knock. Not just once or twice, but rapid and urgent, repeating over and over again.
I shouted toward the door.
"Yes, just a sec!"
When I opened it, Alessio stood there. No. He staggered, chest heaving like he’d run the whole way.
His face was pale. Beads of sweat clung to his brow, and his breath ca in uneven pants. I wasn’t sure why.
"You..." he muttered, stepping forward in a haze. Before I could say a word, he was already inside.
His hands grabbed my shoulders firmly. Almost too firmly.
"Are you hurt anywhere?" he asked, his voice tight. His eyes scanned in a flurry, darting like they were searching for blood.
"Wa-wait, what are you doing—?"
He didn’t wait. He circled around like a storm, lifting my arms one by one, checking my back, then crouching slightly to examine down my legs. His touch was gentle but frantic, like he was trying to convince himself I wasn’t shattered.
And then he looked up, straight into my eyes.
That was when I realized my face was burning. Completely flushed.
"Your face is red. I’ll go get the doctor—"
"W-wait! I-I’m fine!" I said quickly, grabbing his hand before he could bolt.
He stopped. Exhaled sharply. His other hand rose to his forehead as if to swipe away all the fear that had gripped him this whole ti.
"You sure you’re okay?" he said again, softer this ti. His gaze t mine and didn’t waver.
"Khan told . He said you fought off fourteen ard n to save Amira."
"Y-yeah... But let’s sit down first."
I gestured toward the chair, but he missed the cue entirely and sat down on my bed instead, still clearly too shaken to think properly. I didn’t push it. I simply sat beside him.
He didn’t waste any more ti.
"What were you thinking?" His voice was low, but it held a sharp edge. "Chasing down a kidnapper into so dangerous hideout all on your own? You didn’t even call ."
I winced slightly and rubbed the side of my cheek with a finger.
"S-sorry... My body just moved before I could think. I was focused on the mont. And, um..." I peeked at him. My voice dropped. "I didn’t want to bother you."
He blinked.
"Bother ?" His tone rose in disbelief as he suddenly sprang up from the bed.
"There’s no way! You’re more important to !"
"...Huh?"
We both froze.
Staring at each other like two deer who’d stumbled into the sa headlight.
Then—
As if on cue, we both turned our heads away, looking down slightly.
Our faces were red.
Very, very red.
As red as overripe tomatoes left out in the sun.
Or maybe even as red as the glowing ember of my own embarrassnt.
"S-so... What I’m trying to say is," Alessio mumbled, "if anything like that ever happens again, just call . I don’t care what ti it is or where I am. Just call , alright?"
He was stuttering.
"Y-you got it?"
"Y-yeah..." I whispered back, my eyes still on the floor.
We still couldn’t look at each other. My heart was pounding so loud it might’ve echoed down the hallway.
’Oh no, don’t you start fluttering now, heart! We are not doing this!’
I gripped my nightgown tightly in both hands, trying to squeeze the feeling out.
My face was hot. My ears even hotter.
And the worst part?
He was still sitting next to .
Not too close, but close enough that I was acutely aware of him, and it made thinking harder.
...Just what kind of situation is this?!
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