I felt more chills than when I saw the basilisk.
“Ahhh!”
I ran with everything I had. I didn’t even look back.
I just ran, thinking only about surviving.
Then—
“Ugh!”
My foot caught on a tree root. The steep slope threw me off balance, and I started tumbling downhill.
The world spun. Trees and sky switched places in my vision. Dirt covered my face.
After rolling for a while, I finally stopped.
I quickly looked around.
The centipede was gone. Thankfully, it hadn’t followed me this far.
But there was another problem.
“…Where am I?”
I was lost.
This was worse.
“Forget the cave for now…”
I needed to get back to the imperial knights. If I wandered any longer, I’d really be in trouble.
As I tried to stand and brush off the dirt, a sharp pain shot through my leg.
“Ugh…”
I dropped back down. I couldn’t put weight on my foot.
My ankle was swelling. It felt warm. If I left it like this, it would only get worse.
“Seriously…”
Lost and injured. At least there were no monsters nearby.
How was I supposed to get back like this?
Just as I felt like crying—
“What are you doing here?”
A familiar voice came from above.
I looked up.
Standing on a rock ledge, sunlight shining behind him, was Theodore.
His red hair glowed in the light, and his bright green eyes looked down at me clearly.
At that moment, he looked like a savior.
“You’re Chiprian’s student, right? Why are you sitting here?”
Embarrassed, I avoided his eyes.
“…I got lost.”
He snorted.
“Does the imperial family have a tradition of getting rescued?”
He said it with a cheerful smile.
I wanted to flick him on the forehead, but he was too far.
He lightly jumped down the slope and came over to me.
“Looks like a fracture. Let me see.”
He gently held my ankle. My thin ankle fit easily into his large hand.
I winced from the pain. Theodore closed his eyes and muttered,
“Sanare lux.”
Warm golden light flowed from his palm. The swelling slowly went down, and the pain faded.
“Try moving it.”
I did.
It didn’t hurt at all.
“Wow… it doesn’t hurt!”
So this is a holy knight’s healing ability.
Doctors in this world must be unemployed.
As I stared at my healed ankle in amazement, Theodore spoke again.
“Have we met before?”
He looked serious now.
Is that an old pickup line?
A holy knight flirting like this? You’ll get burned at the stake.
“For your own safety,” I said calmly, “No. This is our first time meeting.”
“Your name?”
“Aisha Amervia.”
He stared at me silently, then stood up.
“Yeah… no way.”
“What?”
He smirked.
“You planning to live here? Want me to start a campfire?”
I glared at him and tried to stand.
But the moment I stood, my legs gave out and I collapsed again.
“The thing is… my legs feel weak…”
“…”
Don’t look at me like that.
Anyone would run out of strength after being chased by a giant centipede!
Theodore put his hands on his hips and started lecturing.
“You mages neglect physical strength too much. Healthy body, healthy mind.”
My stamina is level 1, okay? All I have is charm.
He kept going.
“When we get back, start exercising. You’re so skinny you can’t even support yourself.”
He held out his hand.
I grabbed it and stood up. His calloused hand was warm.
I took one step—
And lost balance again.
I fell forward—
He quickly stepped aside.
I crashed to the ground.
“Ah!”
That hurt!
My knees hit the dirt. I glared at him.
“That’s too much! You could’ve at least caught me!”
Am I a bug or something?
Theodore shrugged.
“I’m a holy knight. If rumors start that I’m touching women, I’ll be in trouble.”
Fine. That’s true.
But still.
He knelt in front of me again and healed my scraped knee just like before.
Then he smiled brightly and held out his hand.
“If you fall again, just tell me. I’ll heal you.”
Is smiling enough to make up for it?
I grabbed his hand and stood up, still glaring.
“You seem to have plenty of holy power to waste.”
“That’s why I’m the youngest commander in history.”
He grinned and helped me up.
Then he picked up a long, sturdy branch, trimmed it with his knife, and handed it to me.
“Use this as a walking stick. Don’t touch the bottom part. It’s rough.”
I took it.
A hiking stick, basically.
It would definitely help.
First he hurts me, then he helps me.
“Come on. I’ll take you back to the knights.”
He started walking ahead. As I followed, I asked casually,
“Why are the holy knights here?”
“Same reason as you. Monster numbers have been increasing. Villages are getting attacked.”
I nodded automatically.
“As knights entrusted with divine power, we protect the people and eliminate monsters. We also have to find and seal the source.”
“You said you’re a bad believer, but you sound pretty devoted.”
“Even if I wasn’t, I made a promise to myself.”
He pushed aside thick branches as we walked.
“If someone needs help, I’ll always help.”
He moved the big branches out of the way so I could pass easily.
“Power should protect the weak. And to protect them, you need strength.”
His voice carried weight. His broad back looked solid and reliable.
Okay. He talks teasingly, but he’s a good person.
After walking for a while, I heard water.
“Do you hear that?”
“There’s probably a stream nearby. Thirsty?”
Instead of answering, I turned toward the sound.
“Hey! That’s not the way!”
Yes it is. I can hear it.
And I had a feeling.
I ignored him and walked.
Soon, a waterfall appeared.
It wasn’t huge, but it felt ancient and hidden among moss-covered rocks and deep green forest.
I lifted my skirt and stepped into the falling water.
“Wait! Where are you going?”
The strong water hit my shoulders. I held my breath and stepped forward.
Behind the waterfall—
There was a hidden space.
Theodore followed, shaking water from his hair.
“Did you lose your mind? What’s even—”
He stopped.
Inside the dark, damp cave, a massive magic circle covered one wall.
Intricate patterns and ancient runes glowed faintly, pulsing as if alive.
Theodore stared.
“…What is this?”
Behind the waterfall.
The place I had been looking for.
