​Our journey remained peaceful. The road was quiet, the air cooling as the sun climbed. We successfully distanced ourselves from Hayem without incident, the tension finally bleeding out of my shoulders. By morning, we reached the town of Kitam. Much like Hayem, it was a prosperous place with a vibrant community, but being an open city, it felt lighter. The gates stayed wide for travelers of all races and origins. ​I let out a long sigh and stretched my aching muscles, my joints popping after the long trek. I wasn't sure if I was nervous or excited, but looking at the bustling market stalls, I knew I had to accept that my world had changed. I was no longer just an ordinary town guard walking a familiar beat. ​"This is the first time I’ve ever set foot in another town," I mused, watching a merchant haggle over a crate of spices. ​We headed inside to explore. Over a hot meal at a local tavern—the smell of roasted meat a welcome change from trail rations—we discussed our itinerary.

​On the fifth day of training, the morning air in the forest was crisp and smelled of damp earth. I spent the hours teaching the children how to forage, showing them how to spot the difference between edible roots and poisonous ones. We gathered dry branches and flint, and I sat them down to practice striking sparks until a small fire crackled between us. ​I knew they couldn't rely on the marketplace forever; they needed the forest to be their pantry. I pointed out tracks of small game, explaining the balance of hunting—take only what you need so the woods stay full. To round out their skills, I showed them the clusters of wild berries and hardy fruits hidden in the brush. ​Since it was Lavender’s turn to supervise their physical drills, I grabbed my coin pouch and headed back toward town to restock our cooking supplies. ​The atmosphere in the city streets was electric, but not with joy. I noticed squads of soldiers moving with a frantic, rhythmic pace toward the central plaza. Then

​As we racked our brains for a solution, Ora suddenly remembered something. "That’s it! I can get you inside without anyone seeing you." ​I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden spark of confidence in her voice. How on earth did she plan to smuggle a human into a high-security prison without alerting a single guard? ​"You can enter the space within the Time Sword," she explained. "Once you’re inside, I can place the sword into the magic ring." ​I was stunned. She went on to explain that because I had formed a pact and merged with the sword, I was now part of the Celestial Item itself. A master entering their own weapon was a process similar to how the weapon retreated into the crystal embedded in the master’s body. ​She mentioned that I could effectively possess the sword, just as the sword possessed me during battle. She then produced the Magic Ring—a storage item for spirit tools—from her mouth. Her plan was simple: once I was inside the sword and tucked away in the ring, Ora c

​ ​The minutes felt like hours as I clashed with Frexia. I was constantly being sent skidding across the dirt, my body vibrating from the sheer force of parrying her blows. The dry, churned-up earth kicked into my face, coating my tongue with grit. Even when my blocks were technically perfect, the raw kinetic energy behind her strikes was enough to launch me off my feet. My arms went numb, the vibration rattling my very bones. ​The battle raged on, drawing the attention of local soldiers, but even they were no match for the ferocity of a Dragonaire. With a casual wave of her hand, Frexia encased the approaching guards in pillars of frost, halting them instantly. The air temperature plummeted, frost crystals biting at my skin. ​I fell to my knees, gasping for air, my lungs burning. The sharp scent of ozone and cooling ice filled the space around me. My stamina was bottoming out just from the effort of self-preservation; I hadn't even managed to graze her. ​Frexia walked toward me wi

​​I tried once more to convince Frexia to trust us. This was her only chance to save her life and protect the survivors of her tribe. ​Frexia looked down at her hands, lost in thought. She whispered that she desperately wanted to help her people, but she feared it was already too late to run. She gazed into the distance, sensing a contingent of soldiers closing in—sent to arrest the instigators of the town’s chaos and, undoubtedly, to reclaim their escaped prisoner. ​She admitted that her body had reached its limit. Overusing her ice magic had dropped her internal temperature to dangerous levels, stiffening her limbs and making movement nearly impossible. She needed time for her body to thaw before she could travel on her own. ​"I can't run," she said grimly. "If I go with you now, I’ll only slow you down until they catch us all." ​I didn't hesitate. I stepped forward and swept her off her feet, carrying her in a bridal style. ​She gasped, startled, and began to struggle. "W-what