Chapter 334 (Patreon)

The desert felt different at night.

During the day it had been a sea of fire, endless waves of red sand shimmering beneath a merciless sun. Now it had transformed into something quieter. Colder. The dunes stretched beneath a silver moon, their shadows long and uneven, turning the landscape into a maze of dark ridges and pale valleys. Wind swept across the sands in steady breaths, carrying a soft whistle that seemed almost alive.

It was likely their final stop before reaching the town where the ambush awaited them.

Nobody needed to be told what to do.

The moment Rose gave the order, the knights and students moved. Tents rose from the sand. Bedrolls were laid out. Firewood was gathered. Within minutes, a campfire crackled at the center of their temporary camp, its orange glow pushing back the darkness.

Some habits formed quickly when people spent enough time surviving together.

As usual, one of the knights found himself drafted into kitchen duty alongside Suri and Chelle. Strangely enough, the three no longer argued over every little detail. A few weeks ago, that alone would have been shocking.

Now they worked together with surprising harmony. Chelle stirred a large pot hanging above the fire while Suri carefully sprinkled spices into the stew. The knight monitored the roasting meat with an expression of intense concentration, as though the fate of kingdoms depended on not burning dinner.

Nearby, Kana sat on a flat stone beside Boris.

The giant boy had a parchment spread across his lap, its surface already crowded with notes, crossed-out ideas, and hastily written observations. His brow furrowed as he added another line beneath the names of his available classes.

Every now and then he would stare at the list, then scratch something out and write it again.

Kana watched quietly. The firelight reflected across the parchment while shadows danced across Boris's thoughtful face.

Thorne, meanwhile, had completely abandoned him. The small lizard had stationed herself near the campfire long ago and refused to leave. Her eyes remained fixed on the roasting meat with the unwavering focus of a veteran hunter. Every so often her tongue flicked out expectantly.

Kana suspected Thorne had already decided dinner was hers.

Artin and Rose were nowhere to be seen. Earlier, they had informed the camp they would be conducting a patrol around the perimeter, but that explanation did little to ease the tension hanging over everyone.

The approaching ambush lingered in every mind. Even the laughter around the campfire felt quieter than usual.

Kana broke the silence first. "You should take your time choosing your class," she said, her gaze fixed on the distant dunes. "But if what Commander Rose suspects is true, we're going to meet strong opponents soon."

The breeze seemed stronger than usual. Sand hissed softly across the ground.

Kana continued, "The people waiting for us are probably not ordinary soldiers. If they're from the Empire's main forces, many of them may already have evolved classes."

Boris stopped writing. The quill hovered above the parchment. For a moment he simply stared at the moonlit desert beyond the camp, where countless dunes rose like frozen waves. "You're saying I should choose before we reach them."

Kana nodded. "It would improve our chances."

Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly. "We don't know how many enemies there are. We don't know how strong they are. Every advantage matters."

Boris looked down at the list again. The names seemed heavier now. No longer possibilities. Choices that could decide whether he walked away from the coming battle.

He released a long breath. "I understand."

The usual confidence in his voice was still there, but quieter. More thoughtful. For several minutes, only the sounds of the camp filled the air. The crackling fire. The bubbling stew. The distant whisper of wind moving across the dunes.

Then suddenly a loud metallic clang echoed through the camp.

Everyone jumped. Suri stood beside the enormous cauldron, grinning triumphantly while using a ladle to strike its side like a ceremonial bell.

"Dinner's ready!" she announced.

The reaction was immediate. Knights rose from their seats almost instantly. Conversations ended mid-sentence. Even exhausted veterans somehow found new energy.

A cheer broke out around the campfire. Thorne practically launched herself toward the food.

For the first time that night, genuine laughter spread through the camp.

The next few days would bring uncertainty. But for a little while, beneath the cold desert sky and the warmth of the fire, they could simply enjoy a hot meal together. And sometimes, Kana thought, those small moments were worth protecting just as much as kingdoms.

….

Night had settled fully over the desert by the time Rose called for the second duel.

The camp had come alive in its own quiet way. The fire crackled at the center of the encampment, casting orange light across the dunes and turning the surrounding darkness into a sea of shifting shadows. The wind carried a coolness that hadn't existed during the day, brushing across the sands in long whispers. The next few days they would reach the ambush point. Everyone knew it. Nobody said it aloud.

The knights and students lingered around the fire after dinner, talking, laughing, and trying not to think about the battle waiting for them.

Then Rose Light stepped toward the flames. "Kana," she said softly. "It's time."

Kana rose from her seat beside Boris. Her hand rested naturally on the curved sword hanging at her hip.

With her [Night Awareness], the camp felt very alive around her. She could hear Suri suppressing another burp after eating too much stew. Chelle was still laughing at something one of the knights had said. Somewhere near the fire, Thorne made a strange chirping noise while waiting for scraps of meat.

Kana wasn't entirely certain if lizards were supposed to burp.

Rose studied her for a moment. "I barely raised my voice," she said. "Yet you reacted immediately."

Kana met her gaze.

Rose folded her arms. "You can hear everyone, can't you?"

It wasn't a question. Kana hesitated before nodding.

"I have no choice," she admitted, "I've hated it more than I've liked it."

A faint chuckle escaped Rose. "I can imagine."

The commander stepped away from the campfire and drew her longsword in one smooth motion.

Steel sang through the night. The watching knights immediately moved aside, creating a wide circle around the two fighters. Even the slave from the lawless city shifted farther back, lying comfortably against a rock while watching with lazy curiosity.

Suri grabbed Chelle's sleeve and dragged her several steps away. "I know they won’t use any skills," she muttered, "Still. I don't want to be near them."

Chelle didn't argue. Rose settled into a defensive stance. Unlike most warriors, she looked completely relaxed.

Dangerously relaxed. The sort of calm that came from winning too many battles. 

"Show me," Rose said. "What Kana is capable of during the night."

Kana took a slow breath. Then she unsheathed her sword.

The moment the blade cleared its scabbard, the world sharpened.

Every heartbeat. Every shift of muscle. Every breath.

Her [Night Awareness] expanded outward like ripples spreading across still water.

Rose stood motionless. No weakness lines. No openings. Nothing. Kana felt herself smile slightly.

Then she'd have to create one. She moved. To the spectators, it looked as though she vanished.

One moment she stood several paces away. The next she was already attacking.

Gasps erupted from the watching knights. Kana's blade swept toward Rose's side in the same opening strike she had used during the day.

But tonight was different. Tonight she could see more. Feel more. Predict more.

As her sword traveled, Rose's muscles shifted ever so slightly. A twitch in the shoulder. A tightening of the wrist. A subtle adjustment of balance. Tiny movements invisible to ordinary eyes and even during daytime.

But now Kana could see all of them and she adjusted.

Her sword changed angle halfway through the strike. Rose reacted instantly. Steel met steel. The impact rang across the desert. Yet despite the successful parry, Rose's footing shifted backward.

Just enough as Kana’s planned. The weakness lines appeared.

For the briefest moment. Kana lunged. Her leg swept low toward Rose's Achilles tendon.

The commander jumped. Barely. Sand exploded beneath her boots. But Kana was already moving again. Rose's eyes widened.

Kana released her sword. The curved blade spun harmlessly through the air.

Several spectators shouted in confusion. Then they understood. The sword had only been bait. Kana's hand flashed toward her waist. A dagger appeared.

She launched herself upward. Rose saw it.

Her body reacted. But not fast enough. For the first time since the duel began, genuine surprise crossed the commander's face.

A heartbeat later, both women crashed into the sand.

Silence followed. The camp froze.

Nobody moved. Nobody breathed. Then the dust settled.

Kana sat atop Rose. One knee pressed against the commander's arm. Her dagger rested lightly against Rose's throat. The blade reflected the firelight.

A single inch. That was all.  For several seconds, neither of the two spoke.

Then Rose laughed. A genuine laugh. The kind that came from someone who had just discovered something unexpected.

"My [Duel] skill would be completely useless against you. I must remember that."

Kana tilted her head. "What was that?"

"Nothing." Rose brushed sand from her armor and slowly stood. Kana stepped back, offering her a hand. Rose accepted it.

Around them, the students erupted into cheers. Suri practically jumped to her feet. Chelle looked stunned. Boris laughed loudly and slapped his knee.

The knights, however, exchanged uncertain glances. Most of them had barely seen the fight. To them, Kana had simply transformed into a blur. Then somehow Rose Light, one of the kingdom's most feared and strongest royal knights, had ended up flat on her back with a dagger at her throat.

The entire duel lasted only for a few seconds.

Rose dusted herself off one final time before turning toward the gathered group. "I've seen enough."

Her voice carried easily through the camp. The cheering gradually quieted. Rose looked toward the darkness beyond the firelight. Toward the distant town where enemies waited. Then she smiled.

A small smile. The kind that usually meant trouble for someone else. "Kana was right."

She sheathed her sword. "We attack at night."

This time, even the knights cheered. But many of them continued glancing toward Kana. Studying her. Wondering. Because the same question lingered in every mind.

Not how strong she was. Not how she won. But something far simpler.

Where in the world did Kana come from?

Post note:

Night it is! Boris time!

Sixth chap of the week.

Hope you enjoy the chap! 🙂

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