Kaiser’s eyes snapped open.

  His body tensed immediately, instincts screaming at him before his mind fully caught up. He inhaled sharply, sitting up in the bed, only to pause as his fingers grazed against fabric. Soft fabric. A blanket. A warm, comfortable one.

  This didn’t feel right.

  His gaze flicked downward, and his brow furrowed. He was shirtless. But that wasn’t what made him pause. He was… clean. Completely. The blood, the filth, the sweat from the slaughter, it was all gone. His skin was smooth, his hands free of grime, even his hair, which had been stiff with dried blood, now felt soft and untangled. The scent of iron, of war, had been scrubbed from him entirely, leaving behind only a faint sterile aroma.

  Kaiser’s eyes scanned the room, and what he saw surprised him to no end. Everything was pristine, unnervingly so. The walls and floor were made of pure, immaculate white tiles, polished to a reflective shine. Shelves lined the walls, stocked with medical supplies, though none were attached to him. No bandages, no tubes, no restraints, only the soft, warm blanket covering him. It was the most comfortable thing he had ever been wrapped in, a near-perfect balance of warmth and lightness.

  Then, something hit him, the realization he should’ve had the second he woke up. Four knights stood in his room. They were clad in heavy, plated silver armor, polished to a mirror sheen. Their helmets obscured their faces, but their postures were dignified. One of them, standing closest to the door, gave a small nod to another, who immediately turned and left without a word. The remaining three stepped forward, their heavy boots clicking against the spotless tiles.

  Kaiser exhaled slowly, flexing his fingers. His body felt intact, which meant he wasn’t captured as a prisoner. If they wanted to restrain him, they would’ve done it while he was unconscious, and at the moment, he had no chains nor any bindings on him.

  Still, that didn’t mean he was free.

  One of the knights, his voice smooth yet firm, spoke first. “You’re awake. That is good. You arrived unconscious, exiting the Drillex nearly three hours ago.”

  Kaiser narrowed his eyes slightly. ‘That explained the sterile setting. A medical facility, then?’ But something didn’t sit right. He pressed his fingers against his forehead, feeling a dull, sharp pain throb behind his skull.

  Pain.

  Real pain.

  For the first time in years, he could feel it clearly, raw and unfiltered. His nerves, dulled from years of injury and battle, had always made pain an afterthought. But this? This was something else entirely. The pounding in his skull was foreign, jarring, almost unbearable in contrast to the numbness he was used to, and he was not pleased. He exhaled through his nose before addressing the knight. “Where am I?”

  “The city of Orlogolog,” the knight answered, his tone composed.

  Kaiser’s expression darkened slightly as he realized that he was once again, unarmed. “My sword.” He said firmly.

  The knight was silent for a brief moment before responding. “It has been retrieved.”

  Kaiser’s fingers twitched. “I can see that, and I’ll take it back now.”

  The knight didn’t move. “It is an artifact of extreme significance, one that belongs under the care of the Liberatorium.”

  Kaiser let out a quiet, humorless chuckle, shaking his head. “Right. Safekeeping.” He leaned back against the headboard, rubbing his temple. “And I suppose that means I don’t get it back.”

  The knight gave a small, subtle tilt of his head. “Not at this time.”

  Kaiser let out a slow breath. His eyes, sharp and unreadable, studied the knights for a moment longer before he smirked slightly. “Well, isn’t that just convenient?”

  The knight didn’t react to his sarcasm.

  Kaiser’s smirk faded. He didn’t like this. He wasn’t particularly attached to the sword, as it was more like a tool than a possession, but he hated the idea of someone else deciding what was his and what wasn’t. Especially when it came from a group as secretive as the Liberatorium.

  Before he could ask anything else, the door to the room suddenly opened, making Kaiser turn his head. Whoever was entering next would either bring answers… or more trouble. And judging by the way the knights subtly adjusted their stance, it was about more likely to be the ladder.

  The knight they had sent away returned, stepping aside to allow another figure through. This one, however, was way different, and Kaiser’s eyes immediately locked onto him.

  The newcomer was clad in the same silver armor as the rest, but his presence eclipsed them entirely. A long red cape draped over his back, swaying slightly as he stepped forward. His helmet was unlike the others, more ornate, its design sharper, more refined, and on top of it sat a large flaming-red feather, swaying slightly as if moved by an unseen breeze. His posture was completely at ease, yet there was no mistaking it, this knight was powerful.

  More powerful than anyone else in the room. Even as he stood relaxed, Kaiser could tell, with the same certainty as the beating of his own heart, that this man could take on everyone in the room and still come out on top.

  And then there was his sword. Though still sheathed, Kaiser could feel the power radiating from it. It wasn’t the same as his last sword, but it was eerily similar, more like a different kind of strength, but one of equal magnitude. A weapon meant to slay something far beyond the realm of mortals.

  It had become obvious to Kaiser that this man was someone important.

  Without hesitation, the man raised a gloved hand and motioned for the other knights to leave. None of them protested, nor did they hesitate. With smooth, disciplined movements, they turned and filed out of the room, closing the door behind them with a soft click.

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  Kaiser watched as the man approached, his movements precise, purposeful, yet carrying no hostility. When he finally stopped at the foot of the bed, he removed his helmet with a smooth motion, revealing a face that was both sharp and composed.

  “I am Regulus,” he said, his voice deep but calm, carrying the kind of authority that came naturally rather than one that had to be forced. “One of the commanding Liberators of the North.”

  Kaiser didn’t react, though the title wasn’t lost on him. Regulus exhaled, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if bracing himself for his next words. “I am also…” He hesitated, just for a fraction of a second. “A close friend of the Lady of the Morning, from the Southern Liberatorium.”

  Kaiser raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t sure what to make of that yet, but the way Regulus spoke of it caught his attention.

  Regulus didn’t let the silence linger long. “I came here to assist and thank you,” he continued. “For what you did in the mission.”

  Kaiser scoffed lightly, running a hand through his hair. “Mission?”

  Regulus gave him a knowing look. “The raid on the Right Fist.”

  Kaiser clicked his tongue, shaking his head slightly. “I didn’t do that for any grand cause.” He swung his legs off the side of the bed, rolling his shoulders as he tested his muscles. “I had my own reasons.”

  Regulus smiled, just slightly. “Of course.”

  Kaiser stood up, stretching his limbs. His body felt strong, unharmed, and somehow even rested. But something nagged at him, something more important than whatever conversation Regulus wanted to have. His eyes gleamed as he turned back to the knight.

  “Where is she?”

  Regulus quirked an eyebrow. “She?”

  “My companion.” Kaiser’s expression darkened, his tone losing any trace of amusement. “Aria. The reason I helped Milo in the first place.”

  Regulus tilted his head, as if weighing something, before letting out a quiet chuckle. “You know,” he mused, crossing his arms, “Most people who meet me act stiff. They measure their words, keep their posture straight, speak like they’re walking on a blade’s edge.” His smirk grew just slightly. “You, on the other hand, don’t give a damn who I am.”

  Kaiser shrugged. “Should I?”

  Regulus laughed, a deep, genuine sound, before stepping aside. “She’s here. You’re free to leave whenever you want.”

  Kaiser wasted no time. He turned toward the doors, already ready to walk past him, when he heard Regulus speak again. “Oh, one last thing.”

  Kaiser stopped, glancing over his shoulder. Regulus gave him an almost amused look. “You might want to put some clothes on first.”

  Kaiser blinked. He looked down, suddenly realizing that, yes, he was still shirtless, standing in the middle of what was most likely a hospital. He kept his expression unreadable, burying any embarrassment before it had the chance to surface. Instead, he simply asked, “Where are my old clothes?”

  Regulus reached down, slipping a hand under Kaiser’s bed before pulling out a neatly folded set of clothing. A fully black long-sleeved shirt and blue pants. Something simple and functional.

  “Your suit,” Regulus explained, “while beautiful, was… well.” He gave a slight smirk. “Let’s just say it was so drenched in blood that it became a health hazard.” Kaiser sighed, taking the clothes from his hands.

  “…Figures.”

  Regulus chuckled again, stepping back as Kaiser got dressed. “Once you’re done, go find your companion. But when you’ve settled, come see me later.” Kaiser didn’t respond, but something told him that whatever Regulus wanted to talk about wasn’t going to be something minor.

  For now, though, only one thing mattered, and that was finding Aria.

  Kaiser stepped out of the white chamber, rolling his shoulders as he adjusted the black long-sleeved shirt and blue pants Regulus had given him. His body still ached, but at least he was clean. The knights he passed in the hallway were as stiff as ever, their silent gazes following him as he moved. He could tell they didn’t like him much, not that he cared.

  As he walked through the hospital’s bright, spotless halls, sunlight streamed in from tall windows. Outside, the city of Orlogolog stretched before him, the heart of it centered around a round plaza with a large fountain. Water shaped like fish and other creatures leapt gracefully from the fountain’s depths, glittering in the light. People gathered around it, some sitting on the edge, chatting or resting, while others strolled hand-in-hand, enjoying the day. A few children ran around laughing, their voices mixing with the sound of flowing water. It was a peaceful place, warm and alive, the kind of scene Kaiser rarely had the time to appreciate.

  Behind him, a familiar voice cut through the quiet. “This city never changes, for that reason out of many, it remains one of my favorites.”

  Kaiser turned to see Milo approaching, his uniform neatly in place, looking completely unharmed. The old commander smirked as he extended a hand, and Kaiser took it with a firm shake. “You look like you didn’t even fight,” Kaiser said, narrowing his eyes. “Meanwhile, I feel like I got hit by a damn warhammer.”

  Milo’s smirk widened. “That’s because you’re a complete idiot.”

  Kaiser blinked. “Excuse me?”

  Milo sighed, shaking his head. “The Drillex, Kaiser. It’s supposed to be used with precision. People who travel through it are kept perfectly still in special chambers to avoid injury. But you? You just jumped straight in like a lunatic.”

  Kaiser scoffed. “Maybe you should’ve mentioned that before.”

  “It’s common knowledge for those who know of the Drillex...”

  “Well, I’m not a common man.”

  They stared at each other for a moment before Milo let out a chuckle. Kaiser rolled his eyes but found himself smirking too. It was a stupid argument, but at least it meant they were both alive to have it.

  Milo’s smirk faded slightly, replaced with something more thoughtful. He turned, motioning for Kaiser to follow. “Come on. Walk with me.”

  Kaiser and Milo strode through the pristine white halls of the hospital, but there was a faint scent of antiseptic in the air, Kaiser finally broke the silence between them. “What happened to the others?” he asked, glancing sideways at Milo. “The twenty city guards, Erya, Iris… Did they all make it out?”

  Milo scoffed, shaking his head. “Did they make it out? Hah! Kid, their missions were a damn breeze. The Kingsguard got wind of what was happening—turns out the sheer level of magic from you, me, that sword of yours, and that bastard with the violin tripped every sensor within a hundred miles. The whole damn world knew something was off in Arkhold.”

  Kaiser raised an eyebrow. “So, you didn’t even check on them?”

  Milo shrugged. “Didn’t have to. The moment the Kingsguard got involved, the whole operation turned too big for the Right Fist. They offered barely any resistance where Iris and Erya went. Hell, those cocky bastards even turned it into a competition.”

  Kaiser smirked. “A competition?”

  Milo nodded, rubbing his chin. “They wanted to see who could finish first. And, to my surprise, Iris won.”

  Kaiser blinked, then let out a short laugh. “Iris? Really?”

  “Really,” Milo confirmed, chuckling.

  “I mean, I don’t know much about her,” Kaiser admitted, crossing his arms, “but if I had to bet, my money would’ve been on Erya. From everything I’ve heard, that woman could do anything blindfolded.”

  Milo snorted. “And you’d be right! She’s damn near unstoppable. I still don’t have a clue how Iris managed to win. Either she pulled off something ridiculous, or Erya got distracted by something shiny.”

  Kaiser let out another laugh, shaking his head. “I almost feel bad for not being there to see it.”

  They continued through the halls, the once-sterile quiet now filled with their conversation, and eventually, they approached a set of large double doors, guarded by two knights in the same heavy silver armor as the ones Kaiser had seen earlier. Their helms covered their faces entirely, and they stood rigidly, their hands resting on their swords as Kaiser and Milo approached.

  Milo gave them a simple nod, and without hesitation, they stepped aside, pushing the doors open. “Sir,” one of them said, saluting Milo with the kind of respect that only came from years of recognition.

  They didn’t even glance at Kaiser tho.

  Kaiser exhaled through his nose, shaking his head as he stepped forward. “Yeah, yeah. Good to see you too.” And Milo stifled a chuckle as they entered the room.

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