Pain dragged Alex back to the world.
A sharp breath escaped his lips as his eyes snapped open.
The first thing he saw—
White cloth above him.
The second—
Voices.
Low. Tense.
"…he shouldn't have survived that."
"…lucky fool."
"…or something else."
Alex frowned slightly.
His body ached, but his mind was already awake.
Listening.
"You're awake."
A voice cut through the murmurs.
He turned his head.
A healer stood beside him, arms crossed, watching him carefully.
"Where…" his voice was dry. "…am I?"
"Field camp," she replied. "Western Army."
The battlefield flashed in his mind.
The mage.
The throw.
The explosion.
"…I lived," he muttered.
"Barely," she said. "Next time, don't try to fight mages like you're invincible."
Alex didn't respond.
Instead—
He looked around.
Dozens of wounded soldiers filled the tent.
Some groaning.
Some silent.
Some… not moving at all.
Reality settled in again.
Heavy.
Cold.
"This world…" he whispered.
Before he could think further—
The tent entrance opened.
And the atmosphere changed.
Boots.
Slow. Controlled.
Each step deliberate.
The murmurs stopped instantly.
Alex looked up.
A man stood at the entrance.
Armor darkened by battle.
Cloak swaying behind him.
Eyes sharp enough to cut through noise and lies alike.
Even without introduction—
Alex knew.
A knight.
"Sir Vald," someone whispered.
The name settled in the air.
Sir Vald – The West Wind
Vald walked forward, his gaze scanning the room.
Then—
It stopped.
On Alex.
Silence followed him as he approached.
"You."
One word.
Calm.
Heavy.
Alex met his gaze.
Didn't look away.
"You broke formation," Vald said.
"…Yes."
"You charged a mage."
"…Yes."
A pause.
"…Why?"
That question hung differently.
Not anger.
Not accusation.
Expectation.
Alex exhaled slowly.
"…Because we were going to lose."
A few nearby soldiers shifted.
Vald didn't react immediately.
"So you thought you could change that?"
Alex's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…No."
That answer made Vald pause.
"I thought… if nothing changed, we'd all die."
Silence.
Then—
A small shift in Vald's expression.
Not approval.
But interest.
"Hmm."
Before he could speak again—
"Oi! You're alive!"
The tension broke instantly.
A young man pushed through the crowd, grinning despite the bandage wrapped around his arm.
Theo
"You caused chaos out there," he said, stopping beside Alex.
"Everyone's talking about it."
Alex blinked.
"…Everyone?"
Theo nodded eagerly.
"Yeah. 'The madman who threw a spear at a mage.' That's you now."
"…That's not a good title."
Theo laughed.
"It's better than being dead."
Vald glanced between them.
"You know him?" Vald asked.
Theo shook his head.
"Nope. But I like him already."
Vald sighed quietly.
Velkris
Vald turned back to Alex.
"You're part of the army of the Kingdom of Velkris."
Alex listened carefully.
"A weak kingdom," Theo added without hesitation.
No one corrected him.
"Our land is rich in mithril," Vald said.
"Enough to make stronger kingdoms greedy."
Alex's thoughts aligned quickly.
Valuable… but vulnerable.
"Our forces are limited," Vald continued.
"Swordsmen form the majority. A handful of mages."
Theo smirked.
"And almost no proper spearmen."
Alex's fingers twitched slightly.
"So we're lacking," Alex said.
Vald met his gaze.
"…We are exposed."
The word carried weight.
The One Who Holds It Together
"There is only one reason we haven't fallen," Theo said, his tone lowering.
Vald didn't stop him.
"The Duke."
Alex's attention sharpened.
"Vale Le Noctra," Theo said.
"The Hound of Night."
Even injured soldiers nearby went quiet at the name.
"The only dukedom in Velkris," Vald added.
"And the man who holds the borders together."
Alex leaned back slightly.
Processing everything.
A weak kingdom.
Valuable resources.
Enemies waiting.
One man holding it all together.
A fragile balance.
The Decision
Vald stepped closer.
"You survived," he said.
A pause.
"That is not enough."
Theo nodded. "Yeah, surviving once doesn't mean much."
Vald's gaze sharpened.
"But what you did…"
Silence.
"…was not normal."
Alex didn't respond.
Inside—
His thoughts were clear.
This world is not fair.
Not balanced.
Not safe.
A slow breath left him.
Then—
Quietly.
Firmly.
"…Then I won't stay weak."
Theo blinked.
"…Oh?"
Alex looked forward.
Eyes steady.
"If this kingdom is weak…"
A pause.
"…then I'll become strong enough to change that."
Silence.
Then—
Theo smiled.
Wide.
Excited.
"…I like you."
Vald watched Alex for a long moment.
Then—
Very slightly—
"…We'll see."