I was still sitting by the window. Though I could put weight on my foot now, my ankle still throbbed. It wasn't as bad as I had first thought, but it was uncomfortable enough to make me clench my jaw with every wrong movement.
I wasn't used to these kinds of "accidents," but I figured I had to adapt quickly.
Tiredly, I tilted my head back, letting my gaze rest on the windowpane. The faint light reflected my face—greenish-brown eyes staring back at me from the darkness, blurred as the lamp's glow barely touched my features. I smirked slightly. I liked liking myself—even with the odd pimples peeking out from beneath my few freckles. I was nothing more than I needed to be. That was the only way to win a real battle—once I had already fought the one with myself.
Outside, the night was thick and motionless, the lights of the castle glowing faintly in the distance.
Dark figures moved beneath the walls. Some were training, their quiet movements blending into the shadows, while others stood completely still, like statues. A few whispered to each other, but most remained silent, simply watching.
I couldn't imagine the strength they possessed. How much endurance it must take to remain motionless, guarding the castle while others had long since gone to rest. Like pillars in an icy ocean, unshakable.
My eyes lingered on the castle's lights.
"Is he in there?"—I wondered, pressing my forehead against the glass like a child watching the first snowfall.
The ruler. The one who didn't want to let me leave. I didn't know exactly why, but as I stared at the dark walls, I felt as if something invisible was keeping me bound.
For some reason, at that moment, I wanted to know everything.
What decisions had been made within those walls? What secrets lay hidden in the depths of those halls? How difficult was it to maintain the illusion of balance? How much did the leader struggle with the uncertain fate of this world?
My thoughts dragged me deeper and deeper, as if the shadows of the castle were slowly closing in on me. I squinted unconsciously, as if believing I could see inside.
Good thing the window was made of reinforced glass—otherwise, I would have already fallen out from straining so hard.
But then, my nostalgic trance shattered.
A sudden knocking broke the silence.
No… not knocking—pounding.
I flinched.
A moment of silence. Then, again. Someone wasn't just knocking—they were demanding to be let in.
Before I could react, the door burst open, and a short girl rushed inside.
Her short brown bangs stuck to her forehead, her face flushed red, and her wide eyes darted around desperately until they locked onto mine.
"I'm sorry!"—Her voice was quick, breathless, gasping for air. "I know we don't know each other, but your room is closest to the back entrance, and… there's a huge problem!"
That was all I needed to hear.
I was already on my feet, despite the pain in my ankle.
"What happened?"—I asked, my heartbeat quickening.
"Intruders… they attacked the back garden!"—The girl was still panting. "And a recruit is out there… but everyone else is on the other side of the castle…"
That was the moment when common sense should have told me to find someone qualified.
A guard. A trained fighter. Anyone who actually knew what to do.
Because looking back at my recent actions, I was definitely not the trained warrior who should be handling this.
But there was no time for logical decisions.
I saw it in the girl's face—this was urgent.
I saw it in her eyes—we didn't have time to wait.
So, leaving everything else behind, I ran with her toward the back corridors.
My face flushed from the sudden rush of adrenaline, my mind racing even as I ran.
My pulse pounded in my ears, my footsteps echoing against the stone floor as I chased after her. My thoughts scrambled, trying to make sense of the situation, but everything was a tangled mess under the weight of urgency.
The only plan I could come up with was to veer slightly toward the castle to reach the nearest guards. If I could get their attention, maybe we'd have a chance at calling for backup.
But time… Time was against us.
It was unbelievable to think that since I'd arrived here, I hadn't had a single moment of peace.
It was as if the entire world was constantly testing me—my instincts, my choices, my very way of thinking.
And now, here was another trial.
My ankle was still far from healed, reminding me with every step that I wasn't at full strength.
But that didn't matter now.
The only thing that mattered was reaching the recruit before it was too late.
And if it was already too late…
I clenched my teeth.
I couldn't let doubt paralyze me.