The Mercenary Guild was louder than usual that morning.
Voices overlapped everywhere.
Requests for monster hunts.
Merchants arguing over escort fees.
Young mercenaries boasting loudly about jobs they probably exaggerated.
Con stood calmly near the front desk, waiting patiently.
The guild clerk shuffled through several documents before finally looking up.
"Ah, Constantine."
Con inclined his head politely.
"Yes?"
The clerk leaned forward slightly.
"There's a special request for you."
Con raised an eyebrow behind his blindfold.
"For me specifically?"
"That's right."
The clerk tapped a parchment.
"A noble escort mission."
Con listened quietly.
Escort jobs were common.
But nobles usually preferred older, experienced mercenaries.
Not academy trainees.
"Destination?" Con asked.
The clerk glanced down again.
"The neighboring kingdom of Eldoria."
The clerk continued.
"It's a one-month journey. The noble lady wishes to travel safely with a small caravan."
Con thought about it for a moment.
A month was long.
But the payment was generous.
More importantly—
Travel meant new mirrors.
New places.
More chances to learn about the Mirror Realm.
Con nodded.
"I'll take it."
The clerk grinned.
"I figured you would."
Later that day—
Con explained the mission to his friends.
They sat around a table in the academy courtyard.
Daren leaned forward immediately.
"A month-long trip?"
Tomas slapped the table excitedly.
"That sounds amazing."
Mikel folded his arms.
"And profitable."
Jorin, the quiet one, simply looked toward Con.
"You're taking it."
Con nodded.
"Yes."
Daren grinned.
"Then we're coming too."
Con chuckled softly.
"You don't have to."
Tomas scoffed.
"Of course we do."
"Besides," Mikel added, "we registered at the guild because of you."
That was true.
After seeing how well Con did with commissions, his friends had followed his example and joined as apprentice mercenaries too.
Not that they struggled.
Training with Con for years had made them far stronger than most trainees their age.
Even the guild had begun recognizing their small group.
Con smiled.
"Alright then."
"A month on the road."
The caravan left the capital two days later.
Three wagons.
Six hired guards.
Four young apprentice knights.
And the noble they were escorting.
When Con first met her, he bowed politely.
"My lady."
The noblewoman stepped down from her carriage gracefully.
She was young.
Perhaps nineteen.
Elegant.
Her voice carried a cheerful warmth.
"Please, no need to be so formal."
She introduced herself with a smile.
"Lady Elara Valenwood."
Con nodded politely.
"A pleasure."
Lady Elara studied him curiously.
Her gaze lingered on his blindfold.
Then on his face.
Then lingered a little longer.
"…oh."
Con tilted his head slightly.
"Yes?"
Elara blinked as if catching herself.
"Nothing."
But internally—
She was stunned.
He's beautiful.
She had expected a rugged mercenary.
Maybe an older knight.
Not this.
Tall.
Elegant.
With soft silver hair and an almost unreal calmness.
Even with a blindfold, his presence was striking.
She coughed lightly.
"Well then, Sir Constantine."
"I look forward to our journey."
Behind Con—
His friends were already whispering.
Tomas elbowed Daren.
"Did you see that?"
Daren grinned.
"Oh, I saw it."
Mikel smirked.
"She likes him already."
Jorin remained quiet.
But he glanced toward the noblewoman again.
Just observing.
The journey began smoothly.
Day after day, the caravan rolled across roads, plains, and forests.
And just like every expedition before—
Con impressed everyone.
He could detect danger long before it arrived.
Bandits avoided them.
Wild animals never came close.
When wheels broke—
Con repaired them.
When rain came—
Con built quick shelters.
When food ran low—
Con hunted fresh game.
Even the veteran guards began respecting him.
One of them laughed during dinner one night.
"Kid, are you sure you're not secretly three different people?"
Con smiled faintly.
"Just lucky."
Lady Elara sat nearby.
Watching him often.
Too often.
Eventually she began walking beside him during travel.
"So, Constantine…"
"Yes, my lady?"
"You don't have to call me that every time."
"Habit."
She smiled.
"And you're really blind?"
"Yes."
"…that's incredible."
"How so?"
"You move better than most people who can see."
Con chuckled softly.
"I've had practice."
She laughed.
And the conversations continued.
Little ones at first.
Then longer ones.
Soon—
Everyone noticed something.
Lady Elara clearly enjoyed Con's company.
A lot.
One evening, she leaned closer during dinner.
"You know…"
Con tilted his head.
"Yes?"
"You're quite charming for a mercenary."
Daren nearly choked on his food across the fire.
Tomas kicked him under the table to keep quiet.
Con remained completely calm.
"I'm just doing my job, my lady."
Elara pouted slightly.
"That's not a very romantic answer."
Mikel covered his face.
Jorin stared quietly into the fire.
Later that night—
The boys gathered near their tents.
Daren burst out laughing.
"She's definitely flirting."
Tomas nodded enthusiastically.
"Absolutely."
Mikel grinned.
"You're hopeless, Con."
Con sighed.
"I noticed."
Tomas pointed dramatically.
"So what are you going to do?"
Con shrugged.
"Nothing."
Daren blinked.
"Nothing?"
"I'm escorting her safely. That's the job."
Mikel chuckled.
"She's going to be heartbroken."
Jorin finally spoke quietly.
"…she's not bad."
The others looked at him.
Jorin cleared his throat slightly.
"…she seems kind."
Daren smirked.
"Oh?"
Tomas grinned wickedly.
"Someone's paying attention."
Jorin ignored them and looked toward the noblewoman's carriage.
Lady Elara laughed softly with her maids nearby.
His expression softened just a little.
But no one noticed.
Not yet.
The road ahead was long.