The town square buzzed with tension.
Naofumi had hoped for a quiet supply run. But nothing was ever quiet when Motoyasu was involved.
The Spear Hero arrived like a performer entering his stage—gleaming armor, overconfident grin, a trail of admirers behind him. And beside him, as always, was Malty.
Kaley's jaw tightened the moment she saw them. Raphtalia stepped closer to her instinctively, her hand brushing Kaley's cloak.
Naofumi sighed. "Here we go."
Motoyasu's voice boomed, louder than necessary. "Shield Hero! I challenge you to a duel—for the freedom of these girls you've enslaved, and that poor beast you've corrupted!"
Kaley stepped forward, void flickering briefly along her shoulders, but Naofumi raised a hand. "Don't."
"He's an idiot," she muttered, her eyes narrowing.
"Yes. But a loud one."
The crowd gathered quickly, drawn by spectacle. Malty was already whispering to the officials, her smile full of poison.
Naofumi nodded. "Let's get this over with."
The duel was set.
Raphtalia stood on the sidelines, tense, fingers tight on her sword. Kaley stood beside her, one hand resting on her hilt—not to interfere, but prepared to act.
Filo chirped anxiously from behind them, wings half-flared.
Motoyasu strutted into the ring, spinning his spear with dramatic flair. "I'll free you from his control, fair ladies! Especially you, my Valkyrie!" he called to Kaley with a dazzling grin.
Kaley didn't blink.
"I've killed gods," she said flatly. "You think I need saving from a man who treats war like theater?"
His smirk faltered.
Malty edged closer to the ring.
Kaley's eyes narrowed. A shimmer of pre-cast magic danced at the edge of her vision.
The duel began.
Motoyasu launched forward with impressive speed, spear spinning in a silver arc. Naofumi met him with shield raised, bracing hard as the impact cracked through the stone beneath his feet.
He didn't budge.
Motoyasu growled and twisted, slamming again—his strikes furious, almost desperate.
"You're just a wall!"
"I'm the wall keeping you from hurting anyone else," Naofumi gritted back.
Their weapons clashed again, echoing like thunder through the square. Dust rose. Sparks flew.
Then it happened.
Kaley saw the magic shimmer—a distortion curling toward Naofumi from the sidelines.
She moved.
Void lanced from her boots, and she dashed across the field in a heartbeat.
She caught Malty's wrist mid-incantation, her fingers crackling with restrained force.
"No," she said, voice cold enough to silence the crowd.
Malty shrieked, trying to pull free.
Kaley leaned in, golden-brown eyes glowing faintly. "Try that again and you'll learn what real fear feels like."
The spell collapsed.
And on the battlefield, Filo shrieked.
She surged forward—feathers glowing, limbs shifting mid-leap. She transformed in a burst of radiant energy, talons slamming into Motoyasu's chest with a sound like a war drum.
He flew backward, crashing into a merchant cart with a wooden splintering crash.
Silence.
The official looked lost. Then, hesitantly, "The match is… a draw!"
Boos. Cheers. Confusion.
Kaley released Malty and stepped back.
The whispers started before the crowd even dispersed:
"She stopped the magic with her hand."
"Did you see her eyes? Like fire."
"She's not the Shield Hero's warrior. She's his goddess."
Kaley said nothing.
But she felt Raphtalia glance up at her—not with fear, but awe.
And she felt Naofumi watching her, silent and steady.
That night, they camped outside town beneath the low-hanging stars.
Naofumi sat by the fire, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. "You didn't have to stop her."
"Yes, I did," Kaley answered, voice low.
He looked over. "Why?"
She didn't respond immediately. Then, with a breath: "She reminded me of someone. From before. Someone who thought power gave them permission."
Naofumi stared into the fire. "And you took that permission away."
Kaley was silent.
Then she asked, barely above a whisper, "Do you think I'm divine?"
Naofumi turned. "No. I think you're tired. And still here. That's enough."
Kaley blinked. A ghost of a smile passed her lips.
Filo curled against her side, chirping once in contentment.
Raphtalia, wrapped in her cloak, watched quietly from across the fire.
Kaley looked at them both—and for a brief moment, her breath caught.
This felt like belonging.
Not through duty. Not through chains. But through something earned.
A bond.
And somewhere in the trees, far from the firelight, a presence lingered.
Watching.
Smiling with her face.
Waiting.