When night settled again, I brought Elira with me to the pub. This time, the place was far busier. More people from our caravan had gathered there, and even the leader himself was among them.

The pub reeked of sweat, alcohol, and maybe a touch of vomit. Most women would have run out the door the moment that smell hit them, but for me… it carried a strange comfort. Surrounded by these rough, noisy people, I felt something I hadn't expected.

Welcomed... Needed.

Was it strange for me to feel that way?

"Beatrice! Hahaha! You came!" Northern Wolf's booming voice rose above every other sound in the pub. Perfect. With him acknowledging me so openly, slipping into the ranks of the fighters would become far easier.

I lifted a hand in a casual wave, then glanced back at Elira. "Come on, let's go. I'll introduce you to the rest." She nodded with a timid but excited look in her eyes, taking in the lively chaos around us.

"All rounds on me for the most amazing healer in the whole Holy Empire!" Northern Wolf's shout sent the entire pub into an uproar—at least among the people who knew what had happened yesterday. I caught the caravan leader's expression through the chaos, a mix of confusion and faint suspicion tightening his features.

"Beatrice? Elira? What are the two of you doing here?" His voice was calm, but the scar cutting across his left eye made him stand out far too much. He looked like someone who missed nothing.

Before I could answer, Northern Wolf cut me off once again. It annoyed me a little, but I let it slide.

"Hahaha, Boss Scar, this woman here is incredible. Yesterday she saved a girl whose throat swelled shut. Her healing and ice magic would fit perfectly for the mission."

Ah. So that's what he's doing.

"Is that so?" Scar lifted his mug for a slow sip, closing his single eye as though deep in thought. "Strange that this is the first I'm hearing of her being a mage."

His gaze drifted toward me, carrying a faint dissatisfaction. Understandable. Both Elira and I had kept our abilities hidden since joining, so finding out today that I possessed rare talent likely put him on edge.

What an old fox.

"Because you never asked us, did you?" Elira cut in with her sweet, almost melodic voice, light as a bird's call. She wore a wide, innocent smile that would be difficult for anyone to get angry at. Scar let out a short laugh, his stern expression easing just a little.

This girl is truly dangerous… I laughed quietly to myself inside my mind.

"Fair point." He let out a light laugh, then pointed at a few of his lackeys. "What are you all standing around like statues for? Grab the beauties some seats, you damn idiots. Did your mothers never teach you any manners?"

"Move, move, get the ladies their chairs!"

The entire place slipped into chaotic motion, and I couldn't stop a soft laugh from leaving my lips.

"Hey, give me your chair. You've got legs—just stand yourself."

I watched as the lackeys scrambled to prepare seats for us, placing them directly between Scar and Northern Wolf. The arrangement formed a power circle. I felt slightly out of place, but the intention behind it became clear quickly. This wasn't just courtesy.

It was a test. A way to see how we handled pressure. Maybe even a small revenge for meddling in affairs we weren't supposed to touch.

Does he think I won't retaliate later? Heh… keep your life for now, but we'll see if you can still breathe when your mission fails.

"Tell me, Beatrice. Elira. How much do you know about why we've gathered here?" Scar asked, clearly probing.

"Not much," I replied simply. "Just that the payment is good, and we're in dire need of money for our travels. No matter the job." I gestured toward myself. "I control ice. And Elira here controls the earth element."

Of course I couldn't possibly reveal she controlled all of them.

"And I know some healing as well. Whatever the mission is, we'd like to join in. Since we're already traveling with the caravan, it wouldn't be an inconvenience… would it?"I met his gaze directly as I lifted the mug and took a calm sip of alcohol.

Let's see how you react to that, old fox.

"Then you already know too much, haha!" He let out a booming laugh and downed his entire glass in one go before slamming the mug back onto the table for a refill. "Listen, this mission will be dangerous. Are you sure you want to join? I don't mind taking you in, but letting such pretty faces get injured would make us all feel responsible. Am I right, boys?"

They responded like true yes-men, shouting their agreement and filling the pub with renewed noise.

"As my master mentioned before, there won't be any issues. And we have so many handsome men here who can protect us and create space for our attacks. What could possibly happen to us? Or… are you saying your men are incompetent in battle?"

Elira spoke before I could open my mouth, and my eyes nearly popped out of my skull. Was this truly the Elira I knew? Since when was she this bold? This arrogant? I knew she was strong, but I never imagined her tongue could be that sharp. I saw her in a new light now…

"Well then." A smirk tugged at the corner of Scar's mouth. "Let's all drink to our new mission members. Welcome them properly!"

The next twenty minutes blurred into a storm of toasts and small talk. Mug after mug was shoved into our hands, and every fighter seemed eager to introduce himself, brag about something, or show off. Eventually, though, the noise settled, and the moment I'd been waiting for finally arrived.

Scar leaned forward, lowering his voice just enough to draw everyone's attention.

"Listen, all of you. The mission is quite simple. You will be responsible for dealing with the Holy Knights who turned against the empire. They stole a treasure from the capital, and now they must pay for their sins."

The entire pub fell silent. Holy Knights were known across the empire as elite: powerful, disciplined, deadly. An average fighter would die in a single strike against them.

I already knew the basics from the whispers I had heard… But what I needed today was the truth: who exactly we were fighting, and how many.

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