The Warlord's Carnal System Chapter 45: Echoes of My Mother

Sera’s PoV:

"Huff. Huff."

I exhaled sharply, lowering my sword as the wooden dummy in front of split at the middle, its top half hanging by a splinter before thudding to the floor.

Sweat ran down my face, tracing my jaw and dripping onto my shirt that was already damp and clinging to my skin.

My breath ca heavy, my muscles screaming for a break.

I had been at it for hours now. Tryng to adopt my mother’s footwork as my own. I could feel the improvent, yes, but it still wasn’t enough.

My timing faltered. My steps sotis landed too light, sotis too heavy. It was better than yesterday, but far from what it should be.

Rune’s words echoed in my head.

"This is a cheap imitation."

"You’re disrespecting your mother’s legacy."

I sighed, lowering my sword. I know he didn’t an it to sound cruel.. but he could’ve been less blunt...

He had even taken my generous hit later.. and I.. called him a burden too..

Guilt stung in my chest. I never thought I could get enough anger to say all that to Rune.. the things I never ant.

I wonder what’s he doing now.. knowng him he will be fine... but concern still filled my heart, making it heavy.

Sigh... I miss him already.. I should really foucs on my training.

As I got lost in my thoughts, a voice drifted from behind .

"Ohh... that was a beautiful footwork you got there."

I turned quickly, surprised. Commander Quinn stood there, arms folded, her usual calm smile resting on her lips.

"Ah, Commander Quinn," I said, straightening my posture and bowing slightly. "Thank you," I added, though the words ca out hesitant, polite but uncertain.

She smiled and walked closer. "I’m sorry for putting you and your friend in trouble," she said softly, her tone heavy with guilt. "We didn’t expect that kind of betrayal from within our own ranks."

I shook my head quickly. "No! Please don’t apologize. I’m the one who failed to capture them alive." I lowered my head.

I got really good at lying. Must be the habits I picked-up from Rune.

I killed those traitors on purpose, on Rune’s wish.

Quinn tilted her head, a gentle smile tugging her lips. "You’re apologizing for killing those who tried to kill you?" she asked, her voice kind, almost amused.

Her eyes, though soft, studied deeply, as if she was searching for soone in .

For a mont, she didn’t speak, as though sothing else was weighing on her mind. I waited, rubbing my neck with the towel slung over my shoulder.

Then, she finally spoke again, her voice quiet.

"So... umm..." she began, hesitant.

"Yes?" I looked up at her, curious.

Her gaze dropped to the ground. "Is... Lirien well?"

The towel slipped from my hand. My heart stopped.

My voice cracked when I spoke. "You... you know my mother?"

Quinn’s eyes widened slightly, but she nodded, her smile small and unsure. "Yes," she said softly. "I do."

Sothing in my chest twisted. I hadn’t heard that na, my mother’s na, from another’s lips in years.

"She... she died," I said, forcing the words out.

"Huh?" The shock on Quinn’s face was raw, unguarded.

"She’s.. dead?" she repeated, as if hoping she’d heard wrong.

I nodded slowly. "She died eight years ago."

Her eyes glistened, her lips parting but no words coming out. She looked down, her shoulders trembling ever so slightly.

"Were you... friends with her?" I asked carefully.

Quinn took a deep breath, her expression shifting into sothing between pain and nostalgia. "I don’t know if she would’ve called that," she said softly. "But she was my dearest friend."

Her voice cracked on that last word.

I didn’t know what to say. I stood there in silence, the air suddenly heavy with unspoken mories that didn’t belong to .

Finally, I managed, "How did you know my mother?"

At that, Quinn looked up, her eyes clearer now, like she had made peace with sothing inside her. Then she laughed lightly, though I could tell it was to hide her emotion.

"So she didn’t tell you who she and Torvald were?"

My head snapped up. "Torvald? You an my father? You know him too?"

Quinn sighed and placed a hand on her forehead, closing her eyes for a mont.

"Lirien," she muttered under her breath, "you should’ve at least told her about her father if you were going to keep his sword as a keepsake..."

My heart pounded in my chest.

"Please," I said, stepping closer. "Please tell , Commander. Do you know sothing about my parents?"

All the questions I had carried my entire life flooded to the surface. My mother had always avoided speaking of my father. Every ti I asked about his work, she only said he’s a busy man but loves you very much. That was it. Nothing more.

Quinn smiled faintly, sadness and warmth mixing in her expression. "If my husband and Rune haven’t told you," she said, "then it isn’t my place to speak. I’ve already said more than I should have."

Rune..? He knows my parents too?

"Your husband?" I asked, confused. "Who..?"

"My husband," she said simply, as if the world already knew. "Tugnier."

My jaw dropped. "WHAT? Commander Tugnier is your husband?!"

Quinn blinked at my reaction. "Yes. Why do you sound so surprised?"

What is happening here. I don’t know who is who anymore..

"Wait.. what’s happening right now?" I said, pressing my fingers to my temples. "Who is everyone? How do you all know each other?!"

Quinn chuckled, amused by my panic. "You’re smart, yet dumb in your own way," she teased, stepping closer.

I blinked at her. "That’s not fair."

"Besides..." she added with a smirk, "why don’t you ask your man when he returns?"

"M-my man?!" I stamred, heat rushing to my cheeks. "W-what do you an by that? Don’t change the subject!"

She only chuckled again, the sound soft and teasing. "Sorry for disturbing your practice," she said. Her tone shifted, turning serious. "You’re trying to adapt Lirien’s footwork, aren’t you?"

"Yeah," I said, rubbing my arm awkwardly. "Rune told not modifying it to suit myself would be disrespecting my mother’s legacy."

Quinn nodded slowly. "He’s not wrong," she said. Then, she paused, eyes glinting mischievously. "But seriously... he said that to your face?"

I nodded with a huff. "Right? Who says that out loud like that?"

Quinn chuckled, shaking her head. "Well, he’s straightforward. That’s a good trait."

"No way!" I pouted without aning to. "He lied to so many tis! And I nodded along like so fool!"

"Oh my," Quinn said dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest, "that’s not good at all!"

"Right?!" I said, realizing too late that she was teasing . "Wait.. you’re mocking , aren’t you?" I said, narrowing my eyes.

Quinn gave a half-smile. "I an... you’re just too cute not to."

I groaned. Ugh! She is mocking !

Then, her expression softened again, her teasing fading into sothing genuine. "Let help you," she said.

I blinked. "Help ?"

She nodded. "To adapt to Lirien’s footwork," she said, walking toward the weapon rack.

"You would...?" I asked, still surprised.

"Of course," she replied with a warm smile. "It’s the least I can do for her daughter."

She reached for a practice sword and turned to again, her eyes gleaming, not with pity, but sothing else entirely.

"Besides," she said, a playful smirk curling her lips, "I know her footwork better than your man does."

My face flushed instantly. "D-don’t tease !" I said, stomping my foot, but it only made her laugh again.

Her laughter was soft, like the sound of sothing I’d forgotten.

For a mont, as she looked at , her expression changed. There was warmth there... familiarity. The sa gentle eyes my mother used to have.

And for the first ti in years, I felt it again... that warmth, that quiet comfort that only a mother’s gaze could hold.