RAPTOR FORTRESS - a Mort Western Territory
General Rin was strictly assessing the warriors as they trained, his sharp gaze moving from one soldier to another, demanding perfection in their movements, precision in every strike, discipline in every breath, as if anything less would be an insult to the battlefield they were meant to survive.
The clashing of weapons echoed through the grounds, raw and relentless, yet nothing escaped his attention, not even the slightest flaw. When suddenly a warrior approached him, distracting his focus.
"General, the Ghosthoof is on his way here." The warrior reported.
General Rin uncrossed his arms, his posture immediately shifting, alert. "Sera's here?" There was a hint of urgency beneath his otherwise controlled tone, something rare for a man like him. He walked hastily towards the direction of the gate, his steps growing quicker with each passing second.
He immediately knew it was Sera since aside from Lord Azron, only Sera was able to mount the Ghosthoof. And if it was Azron, they would be informed of his arrival long before he reached the gates.
The warrior followed him together with the officers, all sensing the sudden change in their general, the quiet tension in the air.
He climbed up the watchtower to confirm and saw Sera arriving, her figure unmistakable even from afar, riding with confidence despite the long journey.
She saw him as well and waved at him, a simple gesture, yet it carried familiarity, a quiet relief.
He signaled the warriors to open the gates, and he climbed down without delay.
General Rin approached Sera as she climbed down from Pearl. The gates closed behind them with a heavy thud, sealing her safely inside.
His eyes furrowed immediately upon seeing the blood on her clothes and on Pearl's coat.
"Are you wounded?" He asked with worry as he carefully checked her, his movements firm but gentle.
He knew Lord Azron would be unhappy if something happened to her. Even though Azron never told his generals about his feelings towards Sera, they had known each other for so many years that they understood each other even without words. They knew Sera holds a special place in their friend's heart—something deeper than duty, something dangerously close to devotion. That alone was enough to make them protective of her.
General Rin's concern made Sera look at herself. "It isn't my blood."
General Rin lifted his gaze, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly, though concern still lingered.
"I ran through some bandits on my way here…" She continued, her tone calm despite the violence behind her words, as if it were nothing more than an inconvenience. "I killed them all. So, it's kind of messy just a few kilometers away from here."
General Rin exhaled, but his worry shifted rather than disappeared, rising again as he thought Sera could have met Lurion's men on the way. Thankfully she was safe… for now.
"Did Lord Azron know you're here?"
Sera paused, her expression subtly tightening, a flicker of something unreadable crossing her face.
"I left him a letter."
General Rin's eyebrows slightly furrowed up, silently asking her to elaborate.
"I didn't tell him specifically that I would be here. He only knew I was on my way to one of the four of you."
General Rin just nodded. He could sense that something must've happened that made Sera leave Mort City. And her answer explained she didn't want to talk about it, so he let it pass without pressing further, respecting the silence she chose.
Just a few moments later, a warrior approached them with a letter in hand.
"General, a letter from Lord Azron."
General Rin immediately took the letter as Sera looked at him, curiosity flickering in her eyes—subtle, but undeniable.
Azron wrote to have him informed as soon as possible which of the four generals Sera went to. To confirm she had arrived safely and to protect her from Lurion. He instructed to just let her stay and not send her back to Mort City. And to just send him reports of how she was doing and never let her leave the fortress—every word laced with control, but beneath it, an unmistakable urgency that only Rin could read.
"Come with me." General Rin spoke as he rolled the letter, his expression unreadable.
Sera got curious about what Azron wrote to the general. "Are you gonna send me back to Mort City?"
"No." He paused slightly before adding, "If I do, will you let me take you back?"
"No." She answered without hesitation, her voice steady, though something in her chest tightened at the thought of returning.
General Rin knew he cannot force her to go back to Mort City. She will only challenge his authority and the army if pushed.
General Rin instructed his officers to tend to Pearl as he guided Sera to a private room where she could rest.
"You can stay here as long as you want. But please, don't wander around. Don't leave the fortress. If you ever wanted to leave, inform me. Can you do that?"
Sera nodded.
"Get changed and rest."
General Rin left the room and immediately sent a letter to Azron.
…
MORT CITY
Azron opened his generals' letters. Jidu, Wang and Dan reported their activities but no news of Sera.
Then he opened Rin's letter. He felt at ease knowing that Sera was with him, and that she was safe—a quiet relief settling in his chest, brief but real.
But concern still flicked within him as one of them also reported Lurion's hunt for his brother's killer. He had been attacking villages from all three States without mercy. The thought of Sera being anywhere near that danger made something tighten painfully in his chest, a pressure he could neither ignore nor release. But General Rin hadn't told Sera of what was happening, just as Azron instructed them.
Then Azron wondered why did Sera choose to go to Rin among his generals?
Rin was grumpy. His mouth had no filter, except when talking to Azron. His words cut deep just like his weapons on the battlefield.
He didn't know that Sera actually liked Rin's personality. He may be grumpy, but he never crosses a line. He never asks unnecessary questions and prefers to observe rather than pry or gossip. Sera knew Rin would never sugarcoat anything for her. And even though he always steals her snacks and candies…his personality is far less sweet than his tooth.
Azron made the wedding preparations at halt, waiting for Sera's decision. But Azron already sees Sera as his wife despite the lack of the ceremony. The night of their union is final. He bowed to be loyal to her. And submit himself to her alone. Even in her absence, his heart remained bound to her, unwavering, as if that single night had sealed something far deeper than vows ever could.
…
THREE MONTHS LATER
Sera stood with her arms crossed at the training grounds of Raptor Garrison. The wind brushed gently against her, slipping through her hair, yet her stance remained firm.
Her stay within General Rin somehow put an ease to her internal battles for a while, though not completely silencing them. Some thoughts refused to fade—especially the ones tied to Azron. General Rin had given her a task to keep her distracted. And her task was to train new recruits.
General Rin respected Sera's skills and entrusted her to share her knowledge with the warriors.
At first the warriors got confused why they were being trained by a weak-looking woman. But after a few demonstrations and knowing from the other warriors about how they witnessed Sera's lethality during their battle in the North…they trusted her.
"Tie your hair." General Rin said as he took Sera's fruit candy.
"Hey! That was my last candy." Sera's face showed genuine shock at Rin's swiftness in taking the candy from her hand.
"I know that wasn't the last. You had been hiding candies from me." General Rin said with a straight face while chewing the candy, his eyes fixed on her as if silently amused.
Sera was indeed hiding her candies from General Rin. Every time he sees her eating one, he always takes them casually, not asking for permission.
"Tie your hair." He ordered again.
"Why?"
"You had been distracting my men from their training."
Sera looked at the warriors who had been taking a peek at her despite being busy with their training and duties.
"These men haven't seen women for quite some time. Especially a beautiful woman. Don't make it hard for them."
Sera's face flushed with embarrassment from his straightforwardness. "Did you really just blurt that out? Calling me beautiful?"
"Yeah. So…tie your hair."
General Rin went on, leaving Sera speechless. She shook her head, a small sigh escaping her. Sometimes, Rin's honesty makes her feel awkward in ways she wasn't used to.
After some time, Sera made the trainees rest and she walked to go to Pearl, when she suddenly felt dizzy, her steps faltering slightly as if the ground beneath her shifted.
Her breathing became uneven, a faint tightness creeping into her chest that she couldn't immediately explain. She stopped walking and tried to relax herself, pressing her fingers lightly against her temple as if grounding herself would help.
Maybe she was just tired, she thought. She had been feeling this for months after leaving Mort City, but she kept on ignoring it, pushing it aside like something insignificant, something she didn't have time to face.
"Sera, do you want some fish soup? We got some fresh catch a while ago." A young warrior approached her carrying a bowl and handed it to her.
She felt a sudden queasy sensation in her stomach the moment the scent reached her. It was overwhelming—sharp, invasive. Her face paled instantly as her body reacted before her mind could catch up. She immediately covered her mouth and ran away to vomit, her body trembling slightly from the force of it. The warrior stood there, surprised by her reaction, unsure of what he did wrong.
"But this is fresh…You don't like fish?" He asked innocently as he smelled the soup, checking if it was spoiled.
Sera stayed on the side of the fence, one hand braced against it as she cleaned herself after vomiting, her breathing still uneven. She lifted her head slowly, her thoughts beginning to piece themselves together, her heart starting to pound as realization crept in.
She had been feeling strange for days…no, weeks.
Then it hit her.
Her period hadn't come.
Her breathing fastened again, panic rising in her chest, as the memory of that night came rushing back with painful clarity—Azron's touch, the warmth of his body, the way he had looked at her like she was the only thing that existed—and a conclusion formed that made her stomach drop.
No…no…It can't be.
She immediately went to her Quarters and paced, her steps restless and uneven as her thoughts spiraled. Then she stopped and touched her belly. It felt different. Subtly firm…slightly rounded.
"I can't be pregnant. No…no…no."
She paced again, shaking her head repeatedly, as if denying it hard enough would make it disappear.
"How can I be pregnant? It's just my first time."
She bit her lip and sat down, her hand pressing against her temple as her mind raced uncontrollably.
"Sera…you stupid…stupid! How can you be so careless!"
Her voice cracked slightly, frustration and fear mixing together.
She stayed inside her room thinking of what to do if she is indeed pregnant while burying her head in her hands, her fingers tightening against her hair.
Should I do abortion? No…I can't do that. It's a baby. I can't murder a baby.
Her chest tightened painfully at the thought.
Should I tell Azron? No…he will surely make me marry him. And I can't marry him.
But even as she rejected the idea, his face surfaced in her mind—the way he looked at her, the sincerity in his voice when he said he wanted her, not out of obligation, but because he truly did. It made her heart ache in a way she didn't want to admit.
Grand Ersi! No…it'll be her great grandkid. I can't tell her or she'll definitely force me to marry.
What should I do?
Sera was so lost in thoughts that she didn't hear General Rin calling from outside.
"Sera, if you're not going to answer, I'm going in."
General Rin stepped inside the room and saw Sera sitting down while holding her head and staring blankly at the floor. There was something off about her—something fragile that didn't match the woman he knew.
He cleared his throat to catch her attention but she didn't hear him.
So he walked towards her and lowered his body down to level his head to hers, studying her expression more closely.
Sera finally noticed him but she didn't change her position. She just looked at him, her gaze distant, as if she was somewhere else entirely.
"What's going on with you?" He asked.
"Nothing." Her answer was short but her face is saying the opposite.
General Rin's eyebrows slightly furrowed.
"You're not…planning on escaping, right?"
Sera shook her head.
"I'm visiting a village nearby. Do you want to come?" He asked as he straightened his body.
Sera immediately stood up and took her things. "Let's go," she said.
She needed distraction. She needed to get away from her thoughts. Maybe a new environment will help her relax.
…
They were traveling in a forest together with a hundred of General Rin's cavalry warriors. The rhythmic pounding of hooves echoed through the trees, steady and grounding. Sera didn't bring Pearl with her to avoid attention.
She looked above the trees. The light filtered softly through the leaves, the movement of branches calming in a way she didn't expect. It was peaceful despite the sound of the horses' footsteps.
These trees aren't so different from the ones from my world. She thought as she looked at the tree trunks, trying to anchor herself to something familiar.
Then suddenly her eyes caught a small movement a few meters from their troops. It was so subtle that even Rin and the other warriors didn't notice it.
Sera's eyes silently traced the surroundings while tightening her grip on her bow. Her breathing slowed, controlled. She didn't make any unusual movements so the enemy would not notice that she had already detected them.
Then suddenly a small movement was caught by her eyes again. Two warriors swiftly running and hiding in the huge trees. Their head cover had a red patch in it.
Vaiels!
Sera immediately recognized them.
Without a word, Sera swiftly raised her bow and arrow. Her movement was precise, instinctive. She shot an arrow heading General Rin's direction.
General Rin was surprised. For a split second, confusion flashed across his face. But then he saw the fallen red and blue arrows on the ground—one shattered mid-flight.
Then his gaze turned to Sera.
Realization struck.
She had just saved his life.
Then suddenly Vaiels' warriors jumped from the trees and attacked them.
General Rin's troops were surrounded.
Steel clashed violently. Horses reared. The forest erupted into chaos.
Sera held her stomach. Though being pregnant is not what she wanted, a deep, instinctive protectiveness surged within her. Her body reacted before her thoughts could form.
She felt worried about what would happen to the life inside her during the battle.
Though she wasn't happy about the pregnancy, it is still her child.
She bit her lip and raised her bow. Her protective instinct took over as she shot multiple arrows in rapid succession, each one precise, each one lethal, killing a lot of the enemies before they could even approach.
The enemies couldn't even get closer to her.
Then suddenly an arrow flew in her direction. It sliced through the air with deadly speed.
She immediately twisted her body and dodged the arrow, her hair whipping with the motion. Her eyes locked onto the direction where it came from.
A man mounting a black warrior horse with dark red armor on it. His presence alone was overwhelming. He was good looking despite his deadly aura. His figure was as broad as Lord Azron. He was wearing gold armor with a red feathered coat and was aiming a gold plated bow towards her.
His stance and image was different from the warriors all around him. His aura screamed wealth, dominance, and cruelty as he smiled dreadfully while looking at her—as if he had finally found something he had been searching for.
General Rin saw and recognized the man looking at Sera and immediately ran towards her but was stopped by multiple enemies swinging their swords at him.
Sera's eyes shifted to a more lethal stare as she recognized the man.
He resembled General Loran.
He must be…
Lurion Vaiels.
Lurion unmounted his horse and walked towards her while killing Mort warriors on his path with terrifying ease, his blade moving like it had a will of its own.
Sera grinned her teeth as she walked towards him as well while killing enemies on her path, her movements sharp but slightly heavier than before.
Then they both swung their swords towards each other.
A huge clang sounded, echoing through the battlefield.
The impact sent a violent shock through Sera's arms, the force far greater than she expected. Her grip almost slipped as the vibration traveled through her entire body.
Sera was overwhelmed by his strength and she was thrown back, her feet losing balance as she crashed against the ground, the air knocked from her lungs.
Lurion laughed.
"I have searched for you everywhere…" Lurion said as he walked slowly towards Sera who was kneeling on the ground, his steps deliberate, savoring the moment. "…They said you're the one responsible for killing my brother. The woman who rides the Ghosthoof… Azron's other half. I was worried he was keeping you at Mort to hide you from me."
Sera stood up, forcing her body to steady itself, ignoring the lingering tremor in her arms.
"You're pretty. No wonder Azron was smitten. Too bad he wouldn't see that face one last time when I chop off that pretty head of yours in exchange for my brother's!" Lurion said as he dashed forward with terrifying speed and swung his sword at her.
Sera prepared herself for his attack when suddenly General Rin covered her and blocked Lurion's sword with his own.
The impact was devastating.
Both Sera and Rin were thrown back by Lurion's overwhelming force. General Rin's arm twisted unnaturally as a sickening crack echoed—broken instantly.
"Rin…" Sera rushed to him, checking on his bleeding arm.
"Go, run." General Rin said as he slightly groaned from the pain, his voice strained but firm.
Sera felt a wave of dizziness again. She held the ground and balanced herself. The force she took from Lurion was so powerful that it shook her body deeply. This force wasn't supposed to affect her that much—but because she was pregnant…she felt unusually weak, her strength betraying her.
She felt pain in her stomach and her breathing fastened again but she tried not to make it obvious, biting down the pain.
Lurion attacked again. Sera swung her sword, forcing her body to respond. She moved swiftly, dodging and countering, and managed to scratch his arm.
They paused.
Lurion laughed, clearly amused, realizing she was indeed incredible—the first to ever leave a mark on him.
General Rin tried to attack him from behind with just his one hand. Lurion effortlessly dodged his attack and immediately countered, aiming to stab him.
Thankfully Sera was swift enough to block his sword.
But Lurion was faster.
He kicked her directly in the stomach.
The impact was brutal.
Sera and Rin were thrown back again.
Sera felt a gushing pain in her stomach that made her instinctively clutch her belly, her body curling slightly from the pain.
That reaction caught Lurion's attention.
Lurion's eyes squinted as he studied Sera carefully. Then he noticed the blood running down her ankle.
A slow, cruel smile formed on Lurion's lips.
"What a prize. Azron will be devastated to discover the death of his woman…together with his unborn child."
His words cut through the chaos.
General Rin's eyes widened as he looked at Sera and her bloodied leg. "What?"
Sera's breathing became shallow, her vision dimming as the pain intensified.
Rin stood up and held her, pulling her close protectively. He stepped forward to shield her from Lurion. The revelation made him grip his sword tighter despite his broken arm. He was willing to die just to protect Sera and the baby inside her.
The battle intensified around them, warriors clashing desperately, buying them time. Lurion cut down Mort warriors mercilessly as he advanced, his focus locked on Sera.
But when he broke through—
They were gone.
He looked around and noticed the Ghosthoof running far from him and out of the battle. It was carrying Sera and General Rin, while a few of Mort cavalry warriors rode alongside them, shielding them.
Lurion immediately mounted his horse and chased after them with many of his troops.
Pearl ran fast despite being the smallest, her speed unmatched as they rode toward the harsh mountain path. The wind lashed against them, the terrain unforgiving beneath her hooves.
Lurion's men chased relentlessly.
There was no turning back.
They couldn't return to Raptor Fortress.
The only way forward—
Mort City.
General Rin tied Sera securely to his body. She was now unconscious. Blood continued to drip from her body onto Pearl's coat, staining it as his warriors fired arrows behind them, trying to slow the enemy.
They had been riding for a long time with no plan of stopping.
General Rin released a secret signal to the warriors to divide.
He signaled one group to head toward Mort City to inform Lord Azron of their situation, while he and Sera became the target, drawing the enemy away.
It was the only way.
Lurion made his troops divide as well.
Some chased the messengers.
The rest was with him chasing Sera.
All of General Rin's warriors that were with them were eventually killed, one by one, leaving him and Sera stranded at a tall cliff with no way out but down the Spine River.
The river below churned violently, its dark waters roiling and crashing against unseen rocks, as if the current itself was alive and hungry.
Infested with crocodiles, their presence hidden beneath the surface, waiting in stillness for anything that dared to fall.
Falling there—
was death.
Pearl brayed loudly, restless and agitated, her hooves shifting against the ground as she sensed the danger pressing in from all sides.
They were surrounded.
Behind them—
the abyss.
In front—
Lurion.
No escape.
Only the edge of fate.