Chapter 2

Lisa came running into the training ground, barefoot, her thin nightgown fluttering in the night breeze.

The moment she spotted Leo, tears rolled down her cheeks. "Leo, you got back together with her…" Before she could finish, she collapsed.

Leo instinctively dashed forward and caught her. "Lisa, wake up! Get the doctor!" He didn't even spare me a glance as he sped toward the infirmary with Lisa cradled in his arms.

I stayed where I was, watching his figure disappear. The wind felt a little chilly.

I walked back to the training post and picked up my short blade. Moonlight slid along its edge, pale and cold.

I drew a breath and swung.

The blade bit deep, scoring the wood.

In the past, I would've rushed to the infirmary and questioned Leo instantly.

Yet now, all I wanted was to practice with my blade.

Swinging my blade was far more satisfying than watching a farce unfold.

After I trained for around 20 minutes, footsteps sounded behind me. I retracted my blade and turned around.

Lisa stood a short distance away, draped in Leo's cloak. Her face was still pale, but her eyes shone clear and bright.

"The elders summoned Leo for a meeting," she said, her voice soft. "He told me to come back and get some rest."

I glanced at the bits of grass stuck to her bare feet. She'd been to the infirmary but quickly "woke up" and came back.

"Do you know?" She stepped forward, lowering her voice. "When he was carrying me to the infirmary, I 'woke up.' He whispered to me, 'Don't be afraid. I'll always be here for you.'"

The night wind lifted a corner of her cloak.

"Raina." Her eyes curve into a smile, icy and cold. "You'll never beat me, ever."

Those words used to feel like a knife twisting in my chest. Now, I just nodded.

"That's it?"

She froze.

"If you're done, go back and lie down." I turned around and continued swinging my blade. "If you're sick, at least act like it."

Another deep gap appeared on the wooden post.

A few seconds of silence followed. Then I heard her footsteps fading away, and the soft thud of her cloak hitting the sand.

See? She could toss his stuff away anytime she wanted.

As for me, he wouldn't even touch me.

I bent down to pick up the cloak. After brushing off the sand, I hung it back onto the rack.

My movements were natural, my mind completely calm.

What was I even fighting for before?

As I sheathed my blade, the training ground bell struck nine. Leo returned from a meeting, the furrows from discussion still etched between his brows.

"Raina." He came to a stop before me, his tone cautious. "I'll be gone for the next few days. I'm leaving tomorrow morning."

"Mm." I wiped my blade.

"Three days." He paused. "Lisa's health has been a little unstable lately. The doctor said there should be someone taking care of her." He met my gaze. "Why don't we let her stay at our house for a few days? That way, if anything happens, she can be taken care of."

"I can hire a caregiver for her," I replied.

"Outsiders aren't careful enough." Leo's voice softened. "Raina, you know her body's delicate. If anything were to happen…"

He didn't finish his words, but the meaning was obvious enough.

In the past, I would feel hurt by how worried he sounded, but now, all I felt was utter exhaustion.

At some point, Lisa had come up beside us. Her voice was weak. "Raina, you don't need to worry about me. I can manage myself..."

Leo quickly turned to her and said affectionately, "Don't be ridiculous. I've already made the arrangements."

In the end, I still agreed, not because I gave in, but because I was too lazy to argue.