Soon, Miss Sera and Miss Kaelyn returned.
"We're ready now. Alve, stay behind us and avoid any fights if you can," Miss Sera instructed. Her eyes briefly dropped to the sword hanging from my waist. "Good. At least you got yourself a weapon."
"Oh, this?" I patted the hilt lightly. "I borrowed it from one of the knights."
With that, we moved out of the palace gates. Outside, a line of adventurers and knights had already assembled.
The front lines were filled with swordsmen—adventurers and knights side by side. Behind them stood archers and mages, ready to launch spells and arrows over their heads. Leading all of them, at the very front, were Miss Sera and Miss Kaelyn.
I trailed just a few steps behind them.
"At this rate," I thought, eyeing the organized formation, "when we run into that monster army, I won't even have to draw my sword. That's not too bad... especially since I'm not supposed to fight anyway."
"Everyone, get ready! The monster horde is just ahead!" Miss Kaelyn shouted, her voice cutting sharply through the fog.
Even from the back, I heard her clearly. I couldn't see the enemy yet, but now I know they are close.
A few more steps forward, and I froze.
It wasn't the number of monsters that shocked me—it was the state of the city.
Several buildings were already smashed to pieces. Cracked walls, bloodied doorsteps...
People were already dying.
"Damn it... Engage the enemy!" Miss Sera commanded, drawing her blade.
It was clear—we wouldn't have the luxury to thin out the monsters first. We had to fight and evacuate simultaneously.
As the frontline clashed with the incoming beasts, I slipped away from the group. Instead of fighting, I focused on pulling civilians out of their homes—many of whom were still hiding, thinking it was safer.
"Head for the north gate!" I shouted to a woman clutching her child. "If anyone is injured, there's a healing camp at the palace training grounds. Lady Saya is there!"
I repeated the same words again and again, guiding people through the fog, urging them to move faster. The more I looked around, the more destruction I saw.
Meanwhile, at the frontlines, my actions hadn't gone unnoticed.
"…That kid's already moving on his own?" Miss Kaelyn muttered while cleaving down a beast with a sweeping strike.
Still fighting, Miss Sera glanced in my direction. "I know. He's too restless. I told him to stay back until we were done."
Miss Kaelyn blocked another attack, then replied, "Still, for his age... he's mature, calm, and quick to make decisions. And most of all, he doesn't panic, even when the situation changes."
Miss Sera's eyes lingered on me for a moment longer.
"Yeah… He's just like _him_. Same attitude. Same expressionless face… and the same sharp eyes."