Night had fallen over the capital of the Douglas Duchy.
But Lusian was still in his office.
Documents lay open across the desk, along with recent reports and several maps covered in markings.
Lines.
Routes.
Movements.
Monster migrations.
The chaos was growing far too quickly.
And for Lusian, none of it was a surprise.
He had already seen it.
In the game.
There was one territory he remembered especially well.
Carter County.
Emily's home.
The young woman with whom, for years, there had been a betrothal agreement between their two families.
The terms were clear.
If Carter County requested assistance, the Douglases were obligated to respond.
But in the game...
they hadn't.
The duchy had been too busy dealing with its own crisis.
The request for help had been ignored.
The result was the same in every route Lusian remembered.
Carter County was destroyed.
Emily's mother died.
And although Emily never openly expressed what she felt...
her heart held a silent grudge against the Douglases.
Against him.
Over time, that resentment became a sword.
A sword that would eventually pierce his heart.
Lusian closed his eyes.
He remembered that scene perfectly.
"If I let everything happen the same way..."
He slowly opened his eyes.
"She'll never forgive me."
He paused.
"And she'd be right."
But this time was different.
This time, he was here.
This time, he knew the future.
And this time, he had the chance to change it.
He could not only save Carter County.
He could fulfill the obligation created by their betrothal.
He could save Emily before she lost her family.
And above all...
he could prevent her from growing to hate him.
Because Lusian knew that young woman's future.
Emily would not be an ordinary noblewoman.
She would become the bearer of Light Magic.
And in the original story...
she would become one of the few people capable of killing him.
Lusian stood up.
"Not this time."
He left the office.
The commanders were already waiting in the corridor.
"Prepare the troops."
The officers straightened.
"We'll leave for Carter territory at dawn."
One of them hesitated.
"My lord... why the rush?"
Lusian didn't answer immediately.
A pulse of light crossed the sky.
A wave of mana swept through the capital.
The prelude to something far worse.
Lusian raised his eyes.
"Because if we don't get there in time..."
His eyes hardened.
"Carter County won't survive the week."
The commanders exchanged glances.
None of them understood how he could be so certain.
But they didn't question the order.
They didn't need to understand.
They only needed to obey.
Dawn had barely begun when the duchy's main courtyard filled with movement.
Fifteen centuries of military tradition seemed to come alive in every corner.
Fifteen hundred warriors and mages, all Level Lord or higher, waited in formation.
The armor was ready.
The weapons secured.
The supplies loaded.
And standing before all of them were the two most feared beasts in Douglas territory.
Thunder.
Level 80.
The blue-eyed electric steed looked like a lightning bolt trapped inside the body of a horse.
Beside him stood Umber.
Level 78.
The dark-furred wolf watched in silence, like a living shadow waiting for his master's command.
Lusian approached.
Thunder snorted.
Small sparks ran across his body.
Umber raised his head.
Then a hand gently tugged at Lusian's clothes.
"Hold still."
Sophia.
The duchess adjusted the cloak over her son's shoulders.
Then she straightened his collar.
And, as if he were still ten years old, she pinched one of his cheeks.
"I already told you not to stray too far from Thunder and Umber."
Lusian sighed.
"Mother..."
"No."
Sophia looked directly at him.
"Don't 'Mother' me."
Her eyes took on that expression that had made generals and nobles alike tremble.
"If you leave the duchy, you leave protected."
She pointed toward the two beasts.
"Those two will follow you everywhere."
Then she looked at Albert.
"And you will make sure he doesn't do anything stupidly heroic."
Albert inclined his head with a small smile.
"I'll make sure he follows the order, my lady."
"I hope so."
Sophia looked at her son again.
For a moment, the duchess's expression disappeared.
Only a mother's remained.
She stepped closer and straightened a strand of his hair.
"It doesn't matter that this army could lay waste to a kingdom."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"I only have one son, Lusian."
Lusian looked at her.
"Come back in one piece."
He nodded.
"I will."
Then he heard a voice behind him.
"Lusian..."
He turned.
Isabella was walking between the soldiers.
She wore a thick coat.
Her eyes were swollen.
She clearly hadn't slept.
She slowly approached until she stood in front of him.
"Isabella."
Lusian already knew what she was going to say.
"I can't take you with me."
She pursed her lips.
"But I want to go with you."
"There will be monsters."
"I don't care."
"There will be danger."
"I don't care about that either."
Lusian sighed.
"Isabella..."
She lowered her eyes.
"I'm already yours."
Her voice trembled.
"I don't want to be left behind."
Lusian raised a hand and gently caressed her cheek.
"That's precisely why you have to stay."
Isabella looked up.
"You'll be safe here."
He paused.
"Outside the walls, I can't guarantee that."
She pressed her lips together.
For several seconds, she tried to hold herself back.
She couldn't.
She rested her head against Lusian's chest and clutched his cloak with both hands.
"Then promise me you'll come back."
Lusian wrapped one arm around her.
"I promise."
"And that you'll take care of yourself."
"That too."
Isabella took a deep breath.
Then she pulled away.
Her eyes were still glistening.
Albert stepped forward.
"My lord."
Lusian looked at him.
"The troops are ready."
Lusian nodded.
He mounted Thunder.
The steed let out a neigh as small bursts of electricity ran along his legs.
Umber immediately moved to his side.
The fifteen hundred soldiers adjusted their positions.
The courtyard fell silent.
Lusian looked first at Sophia.
Then at Isabella.
Finally, at the horizon.
Emily was out there.
Somewhere beyond those mountains.
And this time...
he wasn't going to arrive too late.
"We march."
Thunder surged forward.
The Douglas army began advancing behind him.
And as the duchy's gates opened...
Lusian couldn't help but think of one thing.
In the game, Carter County had been doomed because no one had arrived.
This time it would be different.
This time...
he would be there.