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But as quickly as it had appeared, the moment was gone. Lucavion\'s trademark grin returned as if nothing had happened. He brushed off her questioning look with a light wave of his hand. "Forget I said that," he repeated, his voice returning to its usual playful tone, though something about it seemed forced now.

Valeria narrowed her eyes, sensing that there was more to those words than he let on, but before she could press further, he continued.

"Look," he said, leaning back against the wall again, his casual demeanor slipping back into place. "Those who really care about you, who know you—well, they\'ll trust your actions. They\'ll believe in the kind of person you are. If you have faith in them, just trust that they\'ll understand in the end." He smiled, though this time, there was a softness to it that hadn\'t been there before.

"And if they don\'t?"

Lucavion paused for a moment, the silence stretching between them. It wasn\'t like his usual playful pauses, where he seemed to be on the verge of teasing or saying something clever. No, this was different. His smile faded just a fraction, his expression thoughtful, almost distant, as if her question had touched on something deeper, something he wasn\'t sure he wanted to share.

For a fleeting moment, Valeria thought she saw a glimpse of something more—something heavy behind his eyes. But then, just as quickly, the mask returned. His grin softened, though it didn\'t quite reach his eyes this time.

"Let\'s hope such a thing never happens," he said, his voice quieter, almost resigned. It was a strange answer, lacking the bravado he usually carried with him. And then, before she could press further, he turned away, his steps slow and deliberate as he began to leave.

As he moved down the hallway, he stopped just before reaching the door, glancing over his shoulder one last time. His eyes met hers, and this time, his smile wasn\'t teasing but knowing, almost as if he was offering her a piece of advice—though Valeria couldn\'t tell if it was meant for her or for himself.

"Sometimes," he said, his voice low but clear, "bending the rules for the path you believe in isn\'t wrong."

With that, he walked out of the inn, leaving Valeria standing in the hallway, his words echoing in her mind.

Bending the rules… for the path you believe in.

She remained still for a moment, her thoughts swirling around that final statement.

Valeria stood in the hallway, the quietness of the inn pressing in around her, but her mind was anything but silent. Lucavion\'s words echoed relentlessly—bending the rules for the path you believe in isn\'t wrong.She had never thought in those terms before.

Her entire life, she had been taught that rules were the foundation of society. The Olarion family, a family of knights, was built on principles of discipline, honor, and duty. Abiding by the rules was what separated a knight from a common fighter.

She had been told time and time again that without rules, without structure, there would be chaos. And for someone in her position, the stakes were even higher. She wasn\'t just a knight—she was the heir to a noble house. Her actions reflected on her family, and every decision she made had consequences.

But... what if the rules were the problem?

The thought startled her. If she adhered strictly to the rules, she would take her knights to the tournament. They would accompany her, guarding her every step, ensuring her safety. And yet, wasn\'t that the very thing that was holding her back? How could she prove herself? How could she become the knight she was meant to be if she always had a safety net?

The more she thought about it, the more she realized that Lucavion\'s point, though unconventional, wasn\'t entirely wrong. Following the rules had kept her on the path her family expected, but it also left her in this frustrating position. Her hands were tied by her duty, her actions dictated by what was expected of her.

\'But if I were to bend the rules—just this once...\'

The idea was intoxicating. To face the challenge alone, without her knights, without the safety net of her family name. To prove that she was more than just the heir of House Olarion. She would be free to make her own decisions, to fight on her terms.

Yet, the other side of her training—the rigid, disciplined side—fought back. If she defied her father\'s orders, even in something as small as leaving her knights behind, she would be going against everything she had been taught. Wouldn\'t that be a betrayal of her family\'s trust?

But at the same time... she was trapped. The rules she had always followed, the very principles that were supposed to guide her, had become a cage. She could see no other way out of her dilemma unless she made a choice.

Either she followed the rules, took her knights, and played the part of the dutiful daughter—or she defied those rules, left them behind, and took her own path, even if it meant bending her father\'s orders.

Her breath came a little quicker, the weight of the decision settling heavily on her shoulders.

What kind of knight do I want to be?

The question gnawed at her. Would she continue being the knight her family had molded, or would she take this chance to be something more, something of her own making? Valeria closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, trying to calm the storm raging inside her.

At the end of it all, she knew one thing with certainty: a decision had to be made. Whether it was by the rules or against them, she couldn\'t remain paralyzed by indecision. The tournament at Andelheim was her opportunity, and she would have to choose how to face it.

Follow the rules and stay protected... or bend them and take the risk.

Just as Valeria\'s thoughts began to swirl, her focus narrowing on the weight of the decision she faced, a familiar voice pulled her back to reality.

"Lady Valeria, did you finish your morning training?"

It was Sir Elthen, one of her most trusted knights. His presence was always steady, reliable—a rock amid whatever chaos surrounded her. He stood a few paces away, his posture as respectful as ever, though his eyes carried a hint of concern. He had always been perceptive when it came to her moods.

Valeria blinked, pushing away the lingering thoughts of her dilemma. She had been so lost in her mind that she hadn\'t even heard him approach. Forcing herself to appear composed, she turned to face him.

"Yes," she replied, her voice steady but curt. "Just finished."

Elthen nodded, though his eyes seemed to linger on her a bit longer than usual. It was as if he sensed that something was troubling her, but he didn\'t press. He never did unless necessary.

"You were up early, my lady," he remarked, his tone casual but polite. "I assume you\'ve had time to reflect on our next course of action?"

Valeria\'s jaw tightened ever so slightly.Reflect?That was an understatement. She had been doing nothing but reflecting since yesterday. She glanced at Elthen, his unwavering loyalty clear in every gesture. The knight would follow her anywhere, no questions asked, but that was part of the problem.

Would he understand if she left him and the others behind?

Her mind raced for a moment, but she quickly reined it in. This wasn\'t the time for hesitation. She had to maintain control of the situation, even if the answer wasn\'t yet fully clear to her.

"I\'ve been thinking," she began, careful with her words. "We\'ll stay here for a few more days, as planned, to rest. After that... we\'ll decide our next move." She kept her tone neutral, noncommittal. She needed more time to figure out how she would navigate this decision.

Elthen nodded, his expression calm. "Understood, Lady Valeria. The men will be ready for whatever you decide."

Valeria gave a small nod of acknowledgment, though her thoughts were still far from settled. As Elthen turned to leave, she found herself clenching her fists again, the weight of the choice looming larger than ever.

Would they understand?

That was the question that wouldn\'t leave her alone.

Elthen paused for a moment as if sensing her inner turmoil. "If there\'s anything troubling you, my lady," he said softly, "you know you can always confide in us."

Valeria\'s heart clenched for a moment, but she forced a smile, though it felt hollow. "Thank you, Elthen. I\'ll keep that in mind."

As the knight bowed and took his leave, Valeria stood there in the quiet hallway, feeling as if she were once again standing at the edge of a precipice.

Yet little by little, something slowly started spreading in her heart.

A seed of change on her worldview, something that would normally bother her in the future countless times.

That stone-like Valeria Olarion.

She slowly started changing.

*******

I led the horse out of the stable, its coat gleaming in the morning sun. The coper had tried every trick in the book to raise the price, spouting off about lineage, strength, and stamina, but I had no patience for his games. In the end, I left him with a purse lighter than I would have liked, but a horse was necessary. I wouldn\'t be walking the rest of the way.

Vitaliara stretched lazily on my shoulder, her white tail flicking with mild interest. [You sure know how to handle those types. The look on his face when you cut the price in half—priceless.]

I didn\'t respond immediately, focusing on checking the saddle one more time. The horse was sturdy, at least, and it would get me where I needed to go.

I mounted the horse, adjusting my cloak as I prepared to leave Rackenshore behind. The town had served its purpose, and there was nothing more for me here.

The sword created by Harlan rested securely in its sheath at my side. I could still feel the weight of it, an unfamiliar yet welcome presence.

[Now that you\'ve got your shiny new sword, what exactly are you planning to do with it?] Vitaliara\'s voice cut through the quiet, her curiosity barely masked.

I smirked.

"I\'m going to eat a fish."