I. Advancement on the Battlefield
Arthur's performance as the "Frost Warrior" had swiftly captured the attention of the high command. His Ice Magic served as the perfect antidote to the relentless magical barrages of the Elves. With the aid of this mysterious power, the Human-Orc Alliance made steady gains into Elven territory. On paper, Arthur was still an F-Class conscript, but on the field, he was treated with the reverence afforded to an E-Class elite.
Yet, a single thought haunted Arthur's every waking moment: Anna. She was the commander of the opposing forces. Every step he took toward victory for the Alliance was a step that endangered her life.
He calculated his chances. With his current E-Class reservoir and the Seal's extreme density, he possessed a momentary "Strike Power" equivalent to a B-Class noble. It was formidable, but against a High Elf like Anna—who possessed A-Class mana—it was still not enough to ensure her safety if the tide truly turned.
II. The Spark of Betrayal
After days of grueling marches, the Alliance positioned itself at the mouth of a vast valley, preparing to clash with the Elven main line. While hauling supplies, Arthur passed by the large command tent where the officers had gathered. The flap was slightly ajar, and the voices drifting from within set his frozen heart ablaze.
It was the voice of Captain Demir—the same man who had sent Arthur to the trenches.
"According to my scouts, the commander of the Elven line is a woman named Anna. Hah!" Demir's voice echoed with a repulsive laugh. "I hope she has a body worth the effort. Once we take her, I plan to sell her to our high nobility as a slave. We'll get our revenge and line our pockets at the same time!"
The other officers joined in with filthy, guttural laughter.
Arthur's entire body trembled with uncontrollable rage. The frost within the Seal began to boil in his veins. Anna was his friend—the person he had died for! And these men saw her as nothing more than spoils of war. Every shred of loyalty Arthur held for the Human Kingdom withered into pure, unadulterated hatred.
III. A Message from Home
Arthur hurried away from the tent, his heart hammering against his ribs. He ducked into a secluded corner, whispering to himself in a panic.
"What do I do?! If we win, Anna's life and honor are forfeit. She'll fall into the hands of those monsters. If we lose, I'll be a prisoner of war and my Seal will be exposed. Either way, everything is ruined!"
In that moment of despair, a fellow soldier approached him, holding a crumpled piece of parchment. "Arthur, a messenger came for you. From Barren Town... it's a letter from your family."
With trembling hands, Arthur unfurled the letter. It was written in Satella's neat but hurried script:
"My son, our situation is dire. Royal soldiers and the Orc marauders joining them are seizing the supplies of F-Class peasants like us. They call it a 'front-line tax.' Your father, Alex, tried to resist, but one of the Orc warriors beat him mercilessly. They took half our land through lies. There is no one to help us, Arthur. Please, no matter what happens, do not come back. Knowing you are safe is enough for us. This Kingdom belongs only to the nobles. Please, just stay alive..."
As he read, hot tears traced paths through the grime on Arthur's cheeks. The Human Kingdom did not protect its own; it couldn't even shield its people from the very "allies" it had brought in. His father had been beaten by the Orcs he was currently helping.
Anna's peril and his family's suffering solidified Arthur's resolve. This Kingdom was not worth defending.
IV. Changing Sides
Arthur crumpled the letter in his fist and stood up, wiping his eyes. His face no longer held traces of fear or anger—only a cold, crystalline determination.
"Frost. Density. Sharpness. This is my power. And I will use it to protect my family and my truest friend."
He moved immediately. He had to warn Anna. He had to help her.
He began to walk toward the command tents of the Human-Orc Alliance. He had to find a way to infiltrate their plans, reach Anna's position, and defect. He was no longer Arthur, the conscript of the Human Kingdom.
He was Anna's Secret Weapon. He was the Sealed Miracle.
V. The Infiltration
Arthur's mind was made up. He would infiltrate the command tent, secure definitive proof of the conspiracy against Anna, and then cross over to the Elven lines, even if it cost him his life.
As darkness fell, Arthur made his move. The E-Class mana reservoir flowing from his Seal kept him alert and energized for this perilous mission. The main command tent was guarded by a joint patrol of Orcs and Human sentries. To slip past the Orcs' brute perception was relatively simple using his F-Class mask.
Arthur crawled toward the rear of the tent, near a massive stockpile of supplies that Sergeant Korhan was constantly grumbling about. He gathered his mana secretly in the palm of his hand. His goal was to create an opening without making a sound. Ice Magic was perfect for such delicate work.
He pushed the mana out of the Seal slowly and with absolute control. A sharp Ice Dagger, no thicker than a finger, manifested. He pressed the blade gently against the thick canvas of the tent; the extreme cold of the ice froze the fabric, making it brittle and allowing it to be sliced without a single sound.
Arthur peered through the minute slit.
Vl. The Details of the Betrayal
Inside the tent, Captain Demir and several Orc officers were hunched over a large map, discussing the final details of the assault on Anna's front. Arthur listened intently.
"The Orcs will strike from the northern flank. Your armor will act as a shield against the Elves' Flora Magic," Demir said, pointing to a spot on the map. "Our mages will distract the Elves on the southern flank. But the true objective is here..."
Demir's finger slid to a pass in the very center of the valley.
"Commander Anna's army is stationed here. The Orc War-Leader, Grannok, will lead the primary assault through this pass. Meanwhile, our Mage Units will seal Anna's retreat path with Fire and Earth Magic. She will have nowhere to run."
An Orc officer gave a guttural chuckle. "A fine plan, Captain Demir. Bring the woman to us alive. She will fetch a high price in the slave markets."
Arthur's blood ran cold. Even Anna's escape route had been cut off. This wasn't just a battle; it was a capture operation.
VII. Flight and Defiance
Arthur needed no more evidence. Hearing the patrol at the tent entrance, he immediately retreated into the shadows. Now came the most dangerous part: crossing the front lines.
He began to sprint toward the deepest part of the forest, where the mana flow was most intense. The Elven positions lay hidden within those depths. As he ran, he deliberately released his mana. He spread his Ice Magic across a wide area, freezing the ground behind him.
This was something an F-Class could never achieve—it was a clear signal of his desertion and betrayal of the Alliance.
A shout rose behind him. "Halt! Who goes there? Is that... Ice Magic?"
Arthur did not stop. He kept running.
Minutes later, as Arthur approached the Elven lines, a thunderous sound echoed. Before he could take another step, a wall of vibrant green Flora Mana erupted from the earth. This was the boundary.
Arthur was forced to a halt. He raised his hands and screamed:
"I am not an enemy! I am a Human, but I have a message for Commander Anna! She has been betrayed! Her retreat path is being cut off by Fire Magic!"
The Elven guards stared at Arthur in shock. At their head was an Elven Lieutenant, arrows notched, eyes glowing with green mana.
"Who are you? A Human spy? How dare you approach us?"
Arthur made one final move. He gathered half of his remaining mana for one last display—not for an attack, but to earn their trust. He channeled the Frost Magic into the mud at his feet and onto his sword.
"I am Arthur, Anna's old friend! I have betrayed the Alliance to save her! I am no F-Class conscript; I am the Sealed Miracle!"
The mud at Arthur's feet solidified instantly, forming a small, crystalline Frost Throne. This display was enough to stun the Elves. It was impossible for a Human to wield such purified mana.
The Elven Lieutenant hesitated, caught between shock and suspicion.
"Drop your weapon, Human. Do not utter another word. We are taking you to Commander Anna immediately!"
Arthur dropped his sword into the muddy earth. He had made his choice. He was no longer a soldier of the Human Kingdom; he was Anna's guest, and the Alliance's greatest traitor.