It was maddening how she was so close to Riftan and yet she couldn't talk to him.
She considered approaching him and telling him the truth, but just imagining his reaction sent shivers down her spine.
"You there.
What are you doing?"
Maxi was hesitating behind a tree when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
Startled, she turned to find a burly man as large as Hebaron staring at her.
The man gave him a mischievous smile and brought his furry face closer.
"Aren't you cute?
Looking for some company?"
Terrified, Maxi began to back away.
“N-No, I’m… n-no.”
"Be honest.
I'd be happy to help," the man said with a sarcastic smile.
He took a step closer, and Maxi looked around frantically.
Although there were soldiers everywhere, none seemed inclined to help her.
Desperately trying to hide her discomfort, Maxi responded in the coldest voice she could muster: "Thank you...
but I don't need your assistance.
Now...
if you'll excuse me."
She was about to turn around when the man grabbed her arm.
Maxi suppressed a scream.
He pulled Maxi close to him and growled angrily, "No need to be so elusive.
If it's money you want..."
“What’s going on here?”
Maxi turned towards the familiar voice.
Kuahel Leon stared at the man with his icy gaze.
“Have you not been warned that anyone who causes a disturbance within the camp will be punished in accordance with military law?”
The man seemed undeterred.
"Why are you exaggerating?
The woman looked lost.
I was just trying to help."
“She is not a woman,” Kuahel Leon growled coldly at the man without even looking at Maxi.
"Do you not see her attire?
She is a cleric sent by the basilica.
I am sure I do not need to explain to you the punishment that awaits those who attempt to harm someone under the church's protection."
“Damn, you’re a badass, aren’t you?” the man mumbled shamelessly without a hint of remorse.
“How should I know if she is a clergywoman or a woman here to comfort weary men just by her appearance?”
Maxi's lips trembled.
Finally she realized that the man had mistaken her for a prostitute.
Seemingly tired of the man's audacity, Kuahel Leon's lips curled with contempt.
"I'm tired of this argument.
Go back to your post before I punish you for mocking a church cleric with your foul mouth."
The man grimaced and almost threw Maxi's arm away.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.”
Maxi hid behind Sir Kuahel.
The man shrugged nonchalantly before walking away calmly.
Maxi watched him warily before feeling a hot gaze boring into his head.
She looked up shyly.
Kuahel Leon stared at her, his eyebrows drawn into deep wrinkles.
“Follow me,” he ordered curtly.
“I will escort you back to the women’s tent.”
She was so shocked that she timidly obeyed, relieved to move away.
As they walked through the busy camp, she stayed close to him.
Sir Kuahel remained silent until they reached a secluded spot.
“Please avoid moving around the camp alone as much as possible.” His words were polite, but loaded with reproach.
"The armies of Livadon, Wedon, Osiriya, and Balto are currently gathered here at Eth Lene Castle, and a third of them are hired mercenaries.
Please refrain from wandering around the army quarters alone if you do not wish to encounter such a disgusting situation again."
“I’ll…keep that in mind.”
The knight sighed and turned around.
"You should go in now.
I'll post a guard at the tent."
“T-Thank you.”
Maxi entered as if he was running away.
The tension left his body, draining the strength from his legs.
When she staggered to her bed and sat on it, Idsilla and Selina rushed over to her.
"You surprised us when you rushed out.
Did you… find him?"
Maxi shook his head.
"No.
I-I just… watched him from afar."
"Wouldn't it be better to tell him the truth?
After all, you came all this way to see him," whispered Selina.
Her furrowed brow suggested that all this tension was too much for her.
Maxi blushed.
He felt like a child desperately trying to postpone his punishment.
"I don't want to bother him...
while we're at war.
And frankly...
I'm scared of how he might react.""I understand.
Elba would certainly scream like crazy if he found me here."
Idsilla shrugged with an elaborate shudder.
Maxi barely managed to smile.
“D-Did you hear from your brother?”
"Not yet.
I'm waiting for the right time to visit the Livadonian quarters."
Their conversation was interrupted by a cleric entering the tent.
Maxi wiped his cold hands on his cassock and tried to forget the previous events.
This would not happen again if she followed Kuahel Leon's instructions and refrained from wandering around the camp alone.
She tried to calm her racing heart as she left with the other clerics.
It was evening when Ruth came to see her again.
The forced journey had worsened the patients' conditions, and Ruth had to care for them first.
He nodded for Maxi to follow him.
After looking around, Maxi took a small lamp and left.
Ruth led them through the dark woods in silence for a long time.
After verifying that they were alone, he promptly collapsed onto a tree stump, exhausted.
“All this tension is going to kill me.”
“Do you think… he felt something?”
There would be an uproar if he had felt something.
I think he's too worried about Sir Hebaron's injury to notice anything else.
Although I’m not sure if that’s a good thing…”
Maxi's expression turned worried.
“Sir Hebaron’s condition… is that serious?”
Ruth ran a hand through her hair and sighed.
“The wound itself is not that big, but the pain seems to be excruciating because of the curse.
Even divine magic proved ineffective, just like mine.”
“S-So what should be done?”
“I need to find a way to break the curse.
You don't need to worry, my lady.
The man has endured worse without any problems.
He’s so tenacious that I’m sure he can get through this too.”
Despite her words, Ruth's face was marked with concern.
When Maxi's expression also became discouraged, Ruth forced a smile and changed the subject.
“Leave Sir Hebaron to me and focus on your own problems, my lady.
The White and Temple Dragons will leave tomorrow to stand guard on the battlefield for the next seven days.
We should be able to breathe easier during this time, but… the problem is when they return.
I’m not sure how long we can hide your presence from Sir Riftan…”
Maxi's eyes widened.
“I-Is he going to the battlefield?
Are you saying… t-that the battle is going to start soon?”
“It will not be a large-scale battle.
Not yet.
The monsters are currently camped beyond the gorge in Cabro Valley.
For a full-scale battle to begin, one of the armies needs to pass through the narrow gorge.
Whoever takes the first step will be at a clear disadvantage.
So for a while, both sides will likely be locked in a war of minds.”
“T-Does that mean… w-that it won’t be so dangerous then?”
Ruth looked at her as if she had asked a ridiculous question.
“My lady, we are at war.
Of course it will be dangerous.” Then he added more gently, “Personally, I don’t believe there will be a big battle for now.
We managed to secure enough provisions, so there is no reason for our side to take any risks.
Furthermore, the monsters probably won't attempt an attack anytime soon.
They suffered heavy casualties during their retreat from Eth Lene.
As long as the situation doesn't change unexpectedly, things should stay peaceful for a while.”
“I-I understand.”
Although she knew she shouldn't feel this way, Maxi felt very comforted with the knowledge that Riftan wouldn't be fighting the trolls right away.
Ruth let out a bitter laugh when she saw the relief on his face.
“The key to winning a protracted war is to save as many men as possible for a full-scale battle without letting your guard down.
I'm told the coalition army will be divided into three divisions that will take turns guarding the front lines.
Either way, I believe it will be safe for you to relax while the White Dragons are on the front lines.
We will deliberate on what to do when they return.”Maxi nodded.
After tending to the wounded in the infirmary tent, Ruth returned to her own quarters.
Maxi remained in the infirmary throughout the night, and it was almost dawn when she finally lay down on her bed to sleep.
The next day, the White Dragons set out for the battlefield in the dim light of dawn.
A strange feeling of emptiness and relief washed over Maxi as she watched them leave.
Ruth found her as the gates were being closed after the last knights left the castle grounds.
"I need to check on Sir Hebaron.
If anything happens, send someone to my tent.
I have instructed the soldiers to inform me immediately if a cleric calls for me."
"I-I understand.
Thank you...
for doing so much for me."
He shrugged his shoulders as if to say it was nothing, and then headed towards the knights' quarters.
Maxi spent his time tending to the injured just as he had at Serbin Castle.
As there were men assigned to prepare meals at Eth Lene, women's tasks were limited to caring for the wounded.
However, despite the decreased workload, they found themselves so tired at the end of the day due to the mercenaries' constant advances and flirting.
Although the soldiers sent by the basilica did their best to drive them away, the sexually frustrated men's gazes followed them wherever they went.
Some were blatant with their lewd comments.
The northern men were the worst.
According to Ruth, it was because there were no female clergy in Balto, and they did not understand that women there were consecrated to God.
Their depravity shocked Maxi.
They paid no attention to the doctrines of the church.
Was it normal to feel desire for a woman who wasn't your wife or lover?
With her chastity threatened, Maxi felt terrified.
Furthermore, there were also practical issues that could not be ignored.
Due to the constant staring, the women had not been able to wash properly for days.
Although Maxi and the clergywomen washed their hair in the fountain at least once every three days, bathing had become an impossible dream since arriving at Castle Eth Lene.
After a long day of work under the scorching summer sun, not being able to take a shower was excruciating.
Unable to bear it any longer, Idsilla cried out, "I can't take it anymore!
Why don't we ask the basilica soldiers to stand guard while we take turns showering?
I don't care how briefly, I just want to plunge myself into the cold water."
The others seemed uncertain, but, unable to resist the possibility, they agreed to ask the male clergy for help.
Fortunately, the high priest readily agreed to their request.
Two soldiers stood guard some distance away while the clergywomen took turns bathing in the fountain in groups of four.
Worried that someone might recognize them without their hoods, Maxi and Idsilla volunteered to go last.
It had been a while since Maxi had showered.
The mere thought of submerging his damp, dirty body in ice-cold water made his heart swell.
She was waiting her turn with great anticipation when she heard a commotion outside.
Perplexed, Maxi peered out of the tent and saw soldiers running through the camp.
“D-Did something happen?”
A cleric ran into the tent.
“The men at the front have returned,” she exclaimed.
“Some of them are injured.”
Maxi jumped up.
As if on cue, she saw soldiers carrying the injured towards the infirmary.
She hurriedly left and guided the men to the empty beds.
There were seven injured in total, and although none were in critical condition, they all complained of excruciating pain.
After assessing their condition, Maxi turned to one of the soldiers who had brought the men.
“T-Are the others… are they all okay?”
"Some of the knights were injured, but they were treated with magic.
These men are the last of the injured."
“Was there any loss of life?”
"None."
With a sigh of relief, Maxi immediately began preparing the herbs and medical instruments.
The soldiers helped the men take off their armor while she did so.
Maxi crouched down beside each of them and inspected their injuries.
One appeared to have a broken rib, as his chest was blackened.
Two others were gushing blood from spear wounds in their legs.“These men only have light bruises,” Nora, who was assessing the remaining men, shouted at Maxi.
“I will apply warm compresses to your wounds, so please tend to those who are bleeding first.”
Maxi immediately grabbed the coagulants and a bowl of boiled water.
One of the wounds on the thigh was covered by a blood-soaked, stiff tissue.
Maxi cut and cleaned the blood and dirt, revealing a deep gash.
After removing blood clots and other impurities from the wound, she spread the coagulant over the cut and applied the detoxifier.
The soldier writhed in pain, and Maxi was drenched in sweat by the time he finished.
"I did what I could for him.
Please have the pain and f-fever medicine ready."
"Understood!"
The clerics acted in perfect coordination.
Despite the speed of their actions, however, it was almost sunset by the time they finished treating everyone.
Exhausted, Maxi sat in the corner to catch her breath.
His face was red from running around the stuffy tent all day with his hood over his head.
As she fanned herself, she wondered if the White Dragons were resting in their quarters now.
The soldier had informed her that no one else was hurt, so was it safe to assume that Riftan was okay?
She was lost in her thoughts when she suddenly heard Idsilla's urgent voice.
“Lady Calypse!”
Maxi turned to find the girl waving a towel excitedly at her.
"What are you doing there?
If you're done taking care of the men, let's go to the fountain and take a bath before it gets dark."
“R-Right now?”
"If we miss this opportunity, who knows when we'll get another one.
The soldiers should still be there.
Let's hurry!"
Maxi quickly grabbed a bar of soap and a change of clothes.
Despite the growing shadows, his desire for a bath was acute.
Determined to clean themselves up, the two women ran towards the darkening forest.
They ran along the forest path for a while before they spotted the guards ahead.
Turning her back to the men, Idsilla said, “I'll ask them to keep an eye out while we shower, so you go first.”
With that, she left like an arrow without waiting for Maxi's response.
Although Maxi was a little uneasy about walking through the gloomy forest alone, she hurried toward the fountain, determined to wash up before the sun disappeared completely.
A clear spring soon appeared among the dense trees, and Maxi excitedly ran towards it.
She was about to undress when she heard the sound of water being stirred nearby.
She lifted her head with a sigh.
Not far from where she was, a man with a powerful build was half submerged in the water.
She was staring in shock at the man's smooth back when he suddenly turned his head.
Maxi hurriedly lowered hers.
A cold sweat broke out on his back, and his heart beat erratically.
The man was none other than Riftan.