By the time Ponaparto's insane combat training ended, the atmosphere of the training ground resembled a battlefield that had burned itself out.
The trainees, battered and broken, collapsed onto the ground as though their very souls had been shaved away.
Endi, Rabesta, and Esta were no exception.
They lay beneath the shade of trees, too drained to even wipe the sweat dripping down their brows.
At that moment, about ten royal attendants entered the grounds with brisk steps, carrying large pots—the steam of freshly prepared meals rising high.
Among them were Lamia and Alpha.
"Good work, everyone! Please, eat as much as you'd like!"
Lamia's cheerful voice rang out like a bell signaling the end of battle.
Alpha rushed forward toward Endi and the others, a giant basket in his arms.
Mountains of rice balls wobbled precariously, threatening to spill at his feet.
Like starving beasts, the exhausted soldiers surged toward the food. The rush was fiercer than combat itself.
"Eat as much as you want!!"
His eyes spun in panic, yet Alpha forced himself to keep smiling.
Lamia handed rice balls and water to Endi and the others resting in the shade.
"Here! You three worked hard too!"
"Thanks, Lamia!"
Before his stomach could even rumble, Endi sank his teeth into the rice ball with desperate hunger—devouring it more like a beast than a man.
"Hey! You're eating too much!"
Not to be outdone, Esta stuffed his mouth full in challenge.
Rabesta, on the other hand, quietly gazed into the distance, eating in silence.
"Still, Ponaparto's insane. That guy's a monster…"
Endi's brow twitched as he chewed.
"Yeah, he's incredibly strong. But honestly, I'm relieved Marshal Moschino isn't here for this training."
Rabesta's words made Endi freeze.
"…So you think the same?"
He gave a strained laugh, while Lamia tilted her head in confusion.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Out of the three marshals, the strongest one is without question… Marshal Moschino!"
"Yeah. That's right."
Rabesta nodded, and Endi's expression sharpened.
"Ponaparto and Valentino are terrifyingly strong too. But Moschino… there's something unfathomable about him, something way more dangerous."
Tension hung in the air. Esta broke it with a casual grin.
"Heh, you guys aren't wrong. Moschino's crazy strong. But Rose told me someone even stronger once existed—Margiela."
At that name, both Endi and Rabesta twitched.
"Margiela… wasn't he the one who defeated Azbal four years ago and then vanished?"
"The Phantom Bird Margiela—said to be the greatest warrior in Nakatam's history. Moschino was apparently heavily favored by him."
At Esta's words, the air grew taut.
"I wonder what became of him…"
"No idea. I wasn't in the Royal Guard back then, so I never saw him. But Rose believes he's still alive, somewhere."
Endi's eyes shone.
"I wanna meet him someday… the Phantom Bird Margiela!"
"Yeah… if he's really that strong, I'd like to see him too."
Rabesta's voice carried a rare note of heat.
"You two are hopeless. Anyway… what about Cain? Haven't seen him lately."
Lamia's gaze drifted into the distance.
"I don't know. I haven't seen him either. But hey, he'll show up sooner or later, I'm sure! That's just who he is!"
Endi laughed, but Rabesta's eyes were serious.
"Endi… you should be careful of him."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"…From Cain, I sense something even more dangerous, more unfathomable, than Marshal Moschino."
Rabesta's grim words made Lamia bristle.
"Cain's a good person! Saying things like that is rude!"
"Yeah, he's a solid guy. Why would you think otherwise?"
"…I don't know. Just a feeling."
His curt reply left Endi and Lamia baffled.
"Those emotionless eyes of his are eerie, though." Esta muttered between mouthfuls of rice.
"…He's a kind man. I believe that." Endi's voice was firm. Lamia smiled gently, drawn along by his faith.
Endi lifted his gaze skyward, as though searching. Somewhere, he believed, Cain—silent, awkward, but steadfast—would return to them.
"Alright! Break time's over! Rabesta, Esta—let's fire ourselves up!"
Endi's voice rekindled flames of determination in his comrades' eyes.
"Do your best, everyone! But don't push yourselves too hard!" Lamia cheered them on.
"Everyone's fired up! Lamia, shall we head back?" Alpha, somehow at her side, beamed.
"Yes, let's."
With the attendants gone, the meal concluded, and Ponaparto and Valentino returned to the field—the second round of military training began.
At that time—
On the outskirts of the forest, in the wastelands.
Cain and Nova clashed.
From the beginning, Nova's instincts had told him Cain was dangerous. And now, that instinct was becoming reality.
As captain, Nova had deemed Cain a seed of unrest, a threat to the kingdom—and tried to capture him.
But neither his sharp punches nor his accelerating steps reached Cain.
"Nova, your speed's impressive. But your movements are too straight, too easy to read. You'll never beat me like that."
With those words, Cain's kick smashed into Nova's face.
"Answer me… what's your purpose? What are you scheming? Does it have anything to do with Endi's memory loss!?"
Bleeding from his nose, kneeling, Nova demanded.
Cain remained silent.
"So you won't answer… huh? Cain, you—don't you ever open your heart to anyone?"
At those words, Cain's face darkened.
"…What could you possibly understand?"
His voice was low, icy.
The air froze.
The next instant, Nova's body changed. Black fur surged across his skin, his form sharpened into that of a beast.
A black panther—that was the closest description.
With overwhelming speed, he circled behind Cain, claws slashing down—
"What—!?"
A five-meter radius around Cain erupted.
Flames roared skyward, the blast painting Nova's vision crimson, searing his skin with heat.
And then—darkness swallowed his consciousness.
Cain stood amid the pillar of fire, coldly gazing down at the fallen Nova.