Chapter 168 – The Hour of Rest
Gruthak and his sworn brothers carried the half-conscious messenger into camp just as dusk settled.
He was more blood than cloth by the time they laid him down.
Selene did not waste a second.
When the message was delivered—Margrave under siege, multiple forts fallen, Beast Army advancing—she canceled the encampment immediately.
“We move within the hour,” she ordered.
Not shouted.
Ordered.
Short rest. Eat. Treat the wounded. Repack everything.
No fires.
No noise.
Within an hour, they would march through the night.
Ivaline and Vaelis were both seated beneath a lantern while clerics worked.
Minor cuts. Bruised ribs. Torn muscle fibers.
Nothing fatal.
“Rest,” the cleric insisted. “You pushed too far.”
Seraphine came running the moment she was dismissed from perimeter duty.
She dropped to her knees and hugged Ivaline carefully, mindful of bandages.
“Boo hoo… after this war I’m studying healing magic seriously.”
Ivaline patted her head slightly.
“You cannot perform basic healing?”
Lyra leaned in with a smirk.
“Silver Ward, wouldn’t you consider acquiring a mistress proficient in both illusion and healing? I would be a tremendous long-term investment.”
“HEY!”
Seraphine released Ivaline and whirled on her.
Behind them, party members attempted half-hearted mediation.
Vaelis used the distraction to sit beside Ivaline.
Silence.
They looked at each other.
Understanding passed without explanation.
“Strong.”
“Mm.”
“Master?”
“Three days.”
“After?”
“Self-taught.”
“From?”
“Nine.”
“Now?”
“Fourteen.”
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“Good.”
“Un.”
Seraphine blinked.
Lyra blinked.
“…You can converse like that?” Lyra whispered.
Vaelis turned slightly.
“Ivaline.”
“Vaelis.”
“Thank you.”
“Welcome.”
A pause.
“Lover?”
“Seraphine.”
“Mistress?”
“No.”
“Can I?”
“—WAIT. WAIT. WAIT!”
“Hold your horse!!!”
“…..? / …..?”
Seraphine lunged between them.
Lyra attempted the same from the opposite side and was immediately shoved back.
“Love,” Seraphine hissed, clutching Ivaline’s arm possessively, “what exactly did you two discuss?”
“With Vaelis?”
“Already first name?!”
“Hey love, can you call me by my name as well?”
“…..? Ok Lyra.”
Lyra gasped dramatically. “She said my name~”
“You can’t call her love!”
“If I love her, and she calls me that, what authority do you possess to object?”
“I’M HER WIFE!”
“And I’m her future mistress.”
“ON WHAT BASIS?!”
“Optimism.”
“FCK OFF!”
Ivaline slowly raised her hand.
“…Continue?”
Seraphine inhaled deeply.
“…Yes.”
“She complimented my strength. Asked about training. My age. did I had a lover. Did I had a mistress. Asked if she could become one.”
Seraphine froze.
Lyra froze.
“That last part!” Seraphine exploded.
“You can’t! I’m first mistress!”
“You are not a mistress!”
“…Don’t mind second.”
“Oh? Then acceptable.”
“NOT ACCEPTABLE!”
The argument reignited.
Ivaline stood between them like a calm rock splitting a river.
Nearby, Rivel rubbed his chin.
“If I become strong, will I be popular like her?”
Aldric smiled gently. “I am stronger than you and remain unclaimed.”
Behind him, Nyssa puffed her cheeks.
Mira leaned in and whispered something that caused Aldric to cough.
“On another note,” Aldric added smoothly, “Garrick plans to marry upon return.”
Garrick flushed. “Aldric…”
Rivel narrowed his eyes.
“Characters planning marriage usually die.”
Garrick lunged. “Take that back!”
“Grudge returned!”
“Fck this kid!”
Laughter rippled through the camp.
It sounded almost normal.
Almost peaceful.
Then—
“HAHAHAHA! LIVELY AS EVER, SILVER WARD!”
Gruthak’s voice rolled through the camp like thunder.
Ivaline turned.
“Gruthak.”
The orc strode forward proudly. Silver-rank adventurer. The one who could halt her final clash with Vaelis alone.
“You have grown stronger. Rematch?”
“No. Still hurts.”
“GRRR! You won before!”
“One minute.”
Ivaline once survives a conditional duel of surviving his strike for one minute.
“You are stronger now! Two minutes!”
“Refuse.”
“GRRRRR!”
He clutched his own head in frustration.
Ivaline stepped forward and gently patted his ribs.
Because he’s too tall and she could not reach higher.
“I promised Rivel a duel after war. Same to you.”
Gruthak froze.
Then grinned wide.
“GOOD! DEAL!”
She turned to the two towering orcs behind him.
“Who?”
“My sworn brothers. Gertakt—Iron Crush. Gretukt—Stone Hold.”
Orcish Warrior
Gertakt—Iron Crush
The larger one slammed his massive hammer into the ground.
“I GREET THE HUMAN MY BROTHER ACKNOWLEDGES!”
He leaned down.
“I REQUEST DUEL AS WELL!”
“Refused. Queue after Gruthak.”
“…UNDERSTOOD!”
He roared in laughter loud enough to shake nearby tents.
Orcish Warrior
Gretukt—Stone Hold
The third raised his gauntleted fists.
“ME AS WELL.”
“…After Gertakt.”
“ACCEPTED!”
Ivaline exhaled softly.
A hand slipped into hers.
Fingers entwine.
She turned.
Vaelis.
“Help?”
“How?”
“One.”
“Can’t.”
“Together?”
“Ask them.”
“STOP!”
Seraphine launched between them again, forcibly separating their hands.
“You cannot hold her hand!”
“That’s right! My turn!” Lyra darted in and was blasted aside once more.
“What were you discussing?” Seraphine demanded.
“Vaelis offered assistance. She asked to take one of Gruthak’s brothers alone. Or fight together as a pair.”
“THAT SOUNDS FUN!” Gretukt boomed.
“BUT I OBJECT!” Seraphine snapped. “If group battle, I am first choice!”
“Then remove Vaelis. First mistress precedence.”
“YOU ARE NOT HER MISTRESS!”
Gruthak threw his head back and roared.
“HAHAHAHA! SILVER WARD ALREADY CLAIMED SECOND AND THIRD WIFE! EXCELLENT!”
A collective headache spread among the onlookers.
Especially Selene.
She stood at the edge of camp, arms folded, watching the chaos.
If you have time to argue about marriage, she thought dryly, you have time to sleep.
The laughter continued.
But beneath it—
Boots were being tied.
Armor was being buckled.
Supplies were being packed in disciplined silence.
Within the hour, they would march toward a fortress already bleeding.
The camp was loud.
But the night beyond it was very, very quiet.
And somewhere ahead—
Silva waited.
