The forest settled into a trembling quiet as the battle finally came to an end. The icy air still held the sharp scent of mana and frozen blood. Snow drifted lazily from the disturbed branches above, falling over the massive corpse of the ice bear.
The Head Knight exhaled, lowering his sword. He turned to Brenna, giving her a respectful nod—one earned, not given lightly.
But Brenna barely noticed him. Her eyes were fixed elsewhere, searching the shadows between the trees with a rising knot of worry.
Young master… where are you?
Her voice was low, lined with fear that cracked through her usual discipline.
The Head Knight stepped closer.
"Rest assured, Lady Brenna. The Young Master is down at the camp. He reached us safely."
Brenna's shoulders dropped—not in relief, but in urgency. She turned immediately, ready to sprint back through the forest.
Before she could move, a calm voice drifted out from behind a nearby tree.
"I'm here, Brenna."
Jude stepped into the faint moonlight, brushing a few stray flakes of snow from his sleeve. Brenna froze, then rushed toward him. She placed both hands on his shoulders, her breath still unsteady from the fight.
"Young Master—are you alright? Were you harmed at all? Did anything happen to you?" Her voice trembled more than she intended.
Jude shook his head gently. "I'm fine, Brenna. Truly."
He glanced at her closely. "You're the one who needs to rest. And to check your wounds—your breathing is uneven."
Only then did she realize how heavily her chest rose and fell, how tight the cold air stung her lungs.
The Head Knight approached, his armor clinking softly.
"Young Master," he said with a steady tone, "what shall we do with the beast?"
Jude looked at the fallen ice bear. Its huge frame glistened in the moonlight, frost forming a thin layer across its wounds.
"The core is rare," Jude said. "And useful in many ways. The bear should be opened—its fur made into coats, and the rest of the body brought back to the House. Nothing should be wasted."
He paused, rubbing his hands together as a shiver crawled up his arms.
"But before that… let's prepare a fire for the night. The cold is worsening."
The knights bowed with a unified "Yes, Young Master," and immediately set to work. Two of them dragged the heavy corpse toward the campsite, leaving a deep trail in the snow. Others gathered fallen branches, setting up a structure for the fire.
Jude and Brenna walked behind them, her pace slower from the numbing cold and the strain of battle.
When the fire finally roared to life, warmth spread across the clearing like a blessing. Flames danced orange and gold, pushing back the biting night.
Around the fire, the knights began their work. They carefully opened the massive beast, removing the glowing blue core from its chest and placing it gently into a reinforced box. Other knights sliced its thick hide, separating fur, flesh, and bone with practiced precision. The bear's heavy breaths had faded minutes ago, leaving only the distant crackling of the fire.
The Head Knight paused his work, glancing at Brenna as she wrapped a strip of cloth tightly around her arm.
She really is strong, he thought. To hold her own against a six-star magical beast… not many knights could.
But something else gnawed at him.
And the Young Master… how did he move so quietly? I could not sense him at all.
He straightened and approached Jude with a firm step.
"Young Master," he said respectfully, "I am tasked with ensuring your safety until we reach the main Estate. For that reason, I implore you—please move with the knights at all times until we arrive."
His tone was bold but earnest.
Jude studied him briefly. In the Head Knight's eyes, he saw loyalty—not blind following, but a man who took his duty with sincerity.
This man… is worthy of my respect, Jude thought.
"Very well," Jude said aloud. "We'll do that from now on."
The Head Knight bowed. Then he turned toward Brenna, who was now patching the last of her wounds with steady hands.
He cleared his throat.
"Lady Brenna," he said, "your skill tonight was… admirable. Thank you for striking the final blow."
Brenna didn't look up. "I only did my duty as a maid of House Avernus."
The Head Knight nodded and stepped away.
Jude walked toward her, kneeling beside her as she tied off another bandage.
"How are you feeling now?" he asked quietly.
Brenna lifted her eyes. She gave a small smile—weak, but genuine.
"My body will be back in shape in no time, Young Master. I promise."
A low chuckle whispered from Jude's shadow.
"That is one tough woman," Abaddon said, voice dripping with amusement.
Jude exhaled softly through his nose. "I know."
The fire crackled louder. Snow continued to fall.
But for the first time that night, the cold didn't feel suffocating.
They survived.
And the journey to the Estate would continue with the dawn.