Drawn by Eliza''s voice, Nn closed his eyes and listened in silence. His chaotic thoughts gradually settled


    But after a while, the wire stopped.


    Opening


    g his eyes, he saw Eliza had reached the stream where she fetched water,


    She set down the wooden buckets from her shoulders and stepped onto arge rock. Crouching down, she dipped one bucket into the water.


    Since her return to this life, she hadn''t done much heavybor. Her strength wasn''t what it used to be. She could only fill the bucket halfway before struggling to lift it. Water sloshed over the edge, spilling onto the rock beneath her feet


    Completely unaware of the danger, Eliza ced the half-full bucket down and reached for the empty one. But as she bent forward, her foot slipped on the wet surface.


    "Ah!" With a ssh, she lost her bnce and tumbled straight into the stream was barely waist-


    Nn''s eyes widened. Instinctively, he leaped off the bridge, as if to rescue her. But the moment hended, he realized the water was b deep.


    Eliza, who had already scrambled to her feet, turned around in confusion. Standing in the shallows, dressed in dark robes, silver hair flowing, was none other than Nn. His expression was unreadable.


    "Prince Nn"" She was caught off guard. She had only realized someone else was there when she heard movement behind her, but she hadn''t expected him.


    Nn looked away slightly, his voice t. "Well, there''s a monastery nearby. It''s too noisy. This ce is quieter."


    It took Eliza a second to process. So he was saying he came here for some peace and quiet-not that he was lurking around for no reason. “1 sec Please, don''t let me disturb you, Prince Nn"


    Something about his demeanor seemed off, but Eliza didn''t ask. Instead, she focused on climbing out of the stream-only to realize one of her burbrin was missing-


    Looking downstream, she spotted it, floating right toward Nn


    Without a word, he reached down, grabbed it, and walked to the shore. Then, just as silently, he handed it to her.


    Thank you, Prince Nn. The words came out automatically. And the moment she said them, Eliza realized-since meeting him, "thank you" was probably the thing she''r said most


    Alle embarrassed, she reached for the bucket, only to find it already half-hilled with water, saving her the trouble of drawing more.


    But just as she grasped it, Nn didn''t let go. He was tall, and though Eliza wash''i short, she always felt diminutive next to him


    He looked down at her, hit sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "Words of thanks don''t mean much. Next time, don''t bother. But if I were to make a request, would you agree!"


    Eliza brutated. "That depends, Prince Nn.


    something beyond my ability-"


    She agreed that empty gratitude was pointless, but she wasn''t about to promise anything blindly.


    Nn raised an eyebrow, as if amused by her caution. "Don''t worry. I won''t sell you


    Then, finally, he let go of the bucket.


    Eliza tank it, but she kept her answer to herself,


    Nn let out a low chuckle. "Alright. I''ve gathered the medical books, I''ll have them sent to you tomorrow"


    "Thank you " Eliza started, but when she saw Nn raise an eyebrow, she quickly adjusted. "Prince Nn, if you ever need my help. I''ll do what I


    -id at a within my lity"


    She dord there was much she could do for someone as powerful as Prince


    Nn, but to her surprise, his expression eased noticeably.


    "Nothing for today. I''lle find you tomorrow," he said casually


    Eliza nodded. "Alright"


    After ahir left," Nn returned to the monastery in unusually good spirits.


    10:18 AM


    His subordinates, who had been scouring the entire area with the help of an old priest, nearly copsed in relief when they spotted him strolling back,pletely unbothered.


    "Prince Nnt" Deputy Commander Ross practically shrieked. "Where the hell were you! We were about to send the ck g soldiers to search all of Mount Westin!"


    For the past two years, Nn''s headaches had been getting worse. Each episode left him on the edge of losing control, sometimes even harming himself in the pr


    Some


    process.


    whispered that it was karma-that the countless lives he had taken hade back to haunt him.


    Others imed he was cursed from birth. His silver hair was said to be a bad omen, proof of heaven''s disfavor. His illness, they insisted, was simply fate taking its toll.


    Of course, Ross and the others didn''t buy any


    They had fought alongside Nn for years, through blood and fire, life and death. Maybe the heavens had cursed him, maybe not-but what they did know was that Nn had led them to countless victones, protected their people, and crushed the enemies of Bortend.


    So they ignored the gossip. To them, Nn wasn''t cursed. He was just sick. And if


    it was an illness, they would stand by him until they found a cure.


    That was why they never left his side during an episode-because when the pain took over, Nn could be unpredictable.


    But today, in the brief moment they had turned their attention to an old priest''s prayer, Nn had disappeared without a trace.


    By


    the time they realized it, they had practically turned Holy Cross Monastery upside down looking for him.


    And now just as they were gasping for breath, preparing for the worst, Nn


    casually walked back like nothing had happened.


    Nn coughed lightly. "I didn''t go anywhere. Just stepped out


    It for some air. You lot were too noisy


    Ross and the others instantly deted.


    They''d been a little excitable, sure-this was their first time in a monastery-but


    now Nn was ming them. That was too much


    Ross opened his mouth, about to protest, but then he suddenly noticed


    something


    "Prince Nn your eyes. His expression changed, his voice tightening with rm.


    "Did you already have an episode?


    AD