After another day of travel, we handed the captured bandits over to a mid-sized town along the way.
From there, the journey was smooth.
By the time the sun began to set, we finally reached the outskirts of Luxina.
I didn't realize it until that moment—
but it felt good to be back.
We went straight to the Mercenary Office.
Ron handled everything.
He explained why a one-week job had turned into a month-and-a-half expedition, presented the Duke's signed document as proof, and confirmed the increase in payment.
When the final amount was calculated—
each member was to receive over ten gold coins.
Except me.
I received four.
Khaun had already taken his share.
I didn't argue.
I simply deposited the coins and left.
From there, I went straight to Duracal's house.
The forge was quiet.
Duracal sat outside, not working—just resting.
I stopped Rusty at the entrance and climbed down.
He gave me a small nod.
"Welcome back."
"Good to be back," I replied.
He stood up and walked toward Rusty, patting his neck.
"This one didn't cause trouble, did he?"
Rusty huffed softly and licked his hand.
Duracal chuckled.
"Seems like you've gotten attached."
For the first time in a while—
it felt like home.
That night, we sat and talked.
I told him about the journey.
The fights.
The close calls.
He listened, then shook his head.
"You and death… always walking side by side."
He gave a short laugh.
"Can't you go on one trip without inviting it along?"
I smirked faintly.
"Doesn't seem like it."
"And now you've got a promise with a noble too?" he added.
"You're really making things interesting for yourself."
I didn't reply.
When I lay down to sleep—
my body was relaxed.
But my mind wasn't.
The fights replayed.
The pain.
The mistakes.
Khaun.
That final moment—
"You only reached me… because I allowed it."
I exhaled slowly in the dark.
"…I'm still far from it."
Only then did sleep take me.
The next morning—
work began again.
I checked my weapons.
Small chips.
Worn edges.
The spear's binding had loosened.
Nothing major—
but everything needed attention.
As I worked, I kept my sensory field active.
Trying to turn it into a habit.
Always aware.
Always ready.
Then—
I felt it.
Three presences.
Familiar.
I stepped out of the forge.
Rathen.
Siena.
Bharam.
Standing there.
Watching me.
Rathen spoke first.
"So… did you get close to death again?"
His expression was serious.
I paused.
"Duracal already told you?"
Before he could respond—
Siena burst out laughing.
"I told you!" she said, pointing at me.
"This one will walk into death's arms and call it training!"
Bharam shook his head.
"Tell me what happened."
I explained everything.
The monsters.
The bandits.
The duel.
Rathen and Bharam listened silently.
Siena, on the other hand—
laughed again.
"Good," she said.
"At least you taught that noble brat a lesson."
Then her expression sharpened.
"So? What did you learn?"
I paused for a brief moment.
"…I need to improve my defense."
That was all I said.
I didn't mention magic.
Not yet.
They exchanged glances—
then nodded.
"Good," Bharam said.
The rest of the day, I stayed with Duracal.
Helping in the forge.
Working the metal.
Hammer after hammer—
shaping steel into a blade.
It felt like meditation.
Each strike—
steady.
Controlled.
Focused.
But even then—
my body felt heavier than usual.
Not from wounds.
But from exhaustion that hadn't fully left.
My reactions were slightly slower.
My focus drifting at times.
The aftereffects of the journey—
still lingering.
As the day began to settle, I turned to Duracal.
"Do you know a good bookstore around here?"
He glanced at me.
"What kind of books?"
"Magic."
He went silent for a moment.
Then—
"You're a dark-affinity knight," he said slowly.
"You've already started walking the path of aura."
"If you want to switch fully to magic…"
He looked directly at me.
"You'll have to break everything you've built."
"Release it. Start again."
"And even then—your body might not accept mana properly."
I shook my head.
"I'm not switching."
"I just want to understand it better."
"To fight against it."
He studied me for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Tomorrow," he said.
"I'll take you to a good place."