I woke up in a room that wasn't mine.
It smelled like flowers and soap. The sheets were too clean.
Too soft.
I sat up slowly.
No pain. Just a strange heaviness in my limbs.
The last thing I remembered—
That explosion.
Mana surging out of me, wild and loud like it had been waiting to escape.
I pushed myself up and stepped to the door.
It creaked open, and I peeked into a quiet hallway.
No guards. No signs. Just marble and silence.
A maid was walking by, holding a silver tray.
She flinched when she saw me.
"Um," I said. "There was someone with me… a girl. Is she alright?"
The maid blinked, uncertain.
"I… I'm not sure, sir."
She lowered her voice. "If you mean Her Highness, she's resting. I think Lady Celyne is with her."
"Can I see her?" I asked.
Her eyes widened.
"I-I can't allow that. You'd need permission."
She glanced nervously over her shoulder. "Please wait here."
She walked off quickly.
I didn't wait.
I followed.
A few turns later, I felt it—
Cold pressure in the air.
Familiar. Not dangerous, but sharp like a blade.
I jumped over the maid and ran past her.But i stopped when I saw her.
Celyne stood outside a grand door, arms folded, back straight.
Her armor reflected the hallway's soft light.
She noticed me instantly.
Her eyes met mine, calm but stiff.
And in that moment, I saw it.
She was controlling her breathing.
"You're awake," she said.
I nodded. "She's in there?"
"Yes. Resting."
"Can I see her?"
She hesitated.
Then nodded once. "She hasn't woken up. The doctors say her mana flow is stable."
I looked down.
"I wanted to apologize."
She didn't blink.
"You don't need to," she said.
"My job was to protect her. I got careless."
Her fingers curled slightly at her side. "That burst of mana… it felt like the kind someone with an azure core could release."
"…Is that bad?"
She gave me a long look.
"It's not something even someone with proper training should be able to do."
Footsteps hurried behind me.
The maid from earlier appeared, panting slightly when she turned the corner.
She froze when she saw me standing in front of Celyne.
Her hands tightened around the tray.
"I'm so sorry, Lady Celyne—he—he followed me,he was too fast and I didn't mean to let him—"
Celyne glanced at her.
A long pause.
Then she said quietly, "It's alright. You may go."
The maid blinked. Then bowed so fast she nearly spilled the tray.
"Yes, my lady!"
She all but ran back down the hallway.
I stared after her.
"…You're scary," I muttered.
Silence settled after the maid left.
I shifted, unsure what to do with my hands.
This is awkward.
Celyne didn't move either.
She just kept staring at the door.
I cleared my throat. "So…"
She glanced at me.
"...Do you always stand like that?" I asked.
She blinked.
Then looked down at her posture — arms crossed, back straight like a statue.
Her shoulders eased a little, but not much.
"I'm on duty," she said flatly.
Then added, "It's normal."
"Right." I nodded. "Makes sense."
More silence.
The tension in my shoulders was starting to feel like a cramp.
I scratched the back of my neck.
She sighed, just faintly.
"I'm not good at small talk."
"Me neither," I said.
Which was a lie. But I felt like she'd stab me if I tried too hard.
She looked at me again, this time for a second longer.
Then said, "You're like a beast."
I blinked. "...Thanks?"
"That wasn't a compliment," she muttered.
"You're strong. Really strong. But it's like you don't know what you are. Or how to use it."
I thought about that.
She wasn't wrong.
"I just… got lucky, I guess," I said.
She gave me a look.
"Luck doesn't crack the floor with raw mana."
I didn't respond.
Mostly because I wasn't sure I disagreed.
Another pause.
Time passed slowly after that.
Celyne didn't talk much.
Neither did I.
I sat on the bench down the hall. She stayed by the door.
A maid came by once to bring her a drink. She took it without a word and didn't look at me.
The hallway stayed quiet.
Just the sound of distant footsteps, and the occasional soft chime of wind through the stained glass.
After what felt like hours, the door finally creaked open.
Celyne turned immediately.
So did I.
The doctor stepped out — an older man with sharp eyes and white gloves faintly stained with glowing residue.
"She's awake," he said. "Tired, but alert."
He looked at me.
Then at Celyne.
"She asked for him."
My chest felt tight.
I nodded.
Walked past him into the room.
It was quiet inside.
Soft light filtered in through pale curtains.
Lana lay in the large bed, propped up by cushions.
She looked tired.
But her eyes were clear now.
Focused.
She smiled faintly when she saw me.
"You look terrible."
I scratched the back of my head.
"Thanks."
I stepped closer, slower than I meant to.
She didn't seem scared.
Just… calm.
"You're not hurt?" I asked.
"No. The doctors said I'm fine."
Her gaze lingered on my face.
I opened my mouth.
Then closed it.
She tilted her head.
"What is it?"
"I'm sorry." I said.
"The explosion happened because of me."
She blinked.
Then smiled again.
A little wider this time.
"It was already expected."
That stunned me.
She continued softly,
"Celyne warned me. And I knew it might happen, too."
"…Then why are you smiling?"
"Because you didn't mean to hurt me."
She shifted slightly, wincing a little.
"I felt your mana at that moment. It was… wild. Untrained. But it didn't want to destroy anything."
I sat down in the chair beside her bed.
She studied me in silence for a moment.
Then said, "You're strange."
"I get that a lot."
"No," she said. "I mean… I can feel people's intentions. It's part of my magic. Light affinity at a high level.Mostly,only bishops or priests have it."
I glanced up.
She went on, "I can tell when someone is lying. Or hiding something bad.
And when I saw you—back then—I felt something else."
Her voice dropped.
"Something better."
I looked away.
Her words made my chest feel too small.
"I still nearly hurt you," I muttered.
"You didn't."
She reached for the cup beside her and took a slow sip.
Then looked at me again.
"I want to trust you."
That made me meet her gaze again.
"…Why?"
"Because someone like you doesn't show up for no reason."
She set the cup down.
"And I think… you were meant to be here."
"…Maybe it was the Goddess's intention," Lana murmured.
"The what?"
She turned her head slowly. "The Goddess."
I looked at her. Confused.
She stared back for a moment. Then her expression changed.
"…You really don't know?."
There was no judgment in her voice. Just quiet disbelief.
"Our godness who created the world," she said. "The sky, the land, the mana we use… everything."
My mouth stayed shut.
Lana's eyes searched mine. She wasn't angry—just… disturbed.
"You're not joking."
A pause stretched between us.
Then she leaned in slightly, her voice lowering.
"Don't ever say that in front of other people."
I frowned. "Why?"
She hesitated. "Because that's not something anyone here would say. Not even a criminal."
Her tone wasn't warning. It was concern. Like she was already thinking ahead—what kind of trouble someone like me could run into.
"They'll think you're lying. Or cursed. Or worse."
I blinked.
Lana looked down at her hands. They were clenched lightly over the blanket.
"…I don't know where you came from," she said. "But if the Goddess brought you here, there's a reason. Even if you don't remember it."
She exhaled, a bit shaky.
"…Will you help me protect this kingdom?"
I blinked.
"What?"
She looked at me, steady. "I want you to become my Royal guard."
I stared at her like she'd grown a second head.
"You—what? Are you serious?"
Lana nodded.
"You do remember I kind of… blew up your favorite tea spot, right?"
"I remember," she said calmly.
"Then why would you ask me?"
"Because I saw it in you." Her tone didn't change. "You don't lie. You act on instinct. You could've run away or turned violent, but you didn't."
I scratched my head. "I also passed out and nearly took out a building."
Lana smiled faintly. "True. But I've seen nobles do worse, on purpose."
She leaned back a little. "Besides… I'd rather have someone dangerous for me than against me."
I opened my mouth. Closed it again.
This felt way above my pay grade.
"I don't know anything about being a Royal Guard," I muttered.
"Then learn," she said. "It's not the armor that matters. It's who you choose to protect."
I looked away.
My hands were still scarred from the last world.
I couldn't tell if she is insane or not
But for some reason… I wanted to say yes.But....
"I will think about it."