"Elira." Nn found himself sohly calling her name.


    Still half-asleep. Eliza answered with a muffled, "Mm" Then, blinking in confusion, the asked. "What did you say just now?


    Nn quickly coughed into his fist, dodging the truth. "Nothing Just asking if you''re hungry-want to get up and eat something?


    sure." Ehra repbed; nodding instinctively. But her foggy mind inll lingered on that voice in her dreams. She could''ve or Nn had just called her name-and only her


    name.


    Before she could puzzle it out, Nn had already brought over a bell of straming oatmeal


    "Mmm! Smells amazing she murmured, as the aroma wafted over, making her stomach growl audibly


    Nn chuckled when he heard it. "Then get up and eat. After that, you can wash up"


    He held the bowl out to her, suppressing the instinct to feed her himself.


    Her checks instantly flushed. She turned her head sharply toward Nn, only to find the man had already slipped our and closed the door behind him.


    The awkwardness vanished as quickly as it came. She let out a quiet sigh of relief, changed into fresh clothes, and polished off the delicious oatmeal in a matter of minutes.


    Just as she stood, she noticed a basin of warm water by the table, with a clean towel neatly folded beside it. The unexpected thoughtfulness made ber blink


    "How''s the situation outside Eliza asked, walking into the courtyard and sitting down across from Nn, who was reviewing the updated patient registry from various parts of Noganlul.


    "The number of infected has spiked in the past few days," Nn replied. "But fortunately, Kane was decisive early on. As soon as the outbreak began, he mobilized Noganlul''s entire supply of herbs and centralized them for dispatch."


    Eliza nodded. “Looks like Kane really has an iron grip over this region."


    It wasn''t easy to pull off suchrge-scale requisitioning. In other cities, merchants would be raising prices through the roof by now.


    "Kane didn''t get to where he is by ying nice," Nn said. "The man carved out his position with blood and fire. If you oppose him, you either leave Noganlul-or get buried under it."


    Basically, Kane ran Noganlul like a private kingdom


    "I see," Eliza murmured. It might be a ruthless approach, but in a crisis like this, it worked.


    "Kane already received word of our arrival, Nn added, handing her the patient registry.


    Eliza took the list and skimmed through it while asking. "So what did he say?"


    "He said we can do whatever we want. Hold the prayer ritual whenever, however- as long as we don''t create another Caslig County, he doesn''t care."


    Eliza raised an eyebrow. "That easygoing?"


    Nn let out augh. "If I''d marched in with ten thousand ck g soldiers, you think he''d be so friendly!


    IIII 10:40 300,


    Eliza instantly understood. It wasn''t really abouncing agreeable-Kane had simply sized them up and saw that they were only three thousand strong, not enough to shake his control.


    1000


    What she didn''t know way even if Nn had only brought a thousand, it wouldve been enough to overturn Kane''s


    dominion.


    Years ago, when Bortend was under siege, Nn had led a mere thousand newly trained ck gs and stormed deep into enemy territory. The enemy, terrified of the surprise raid, withdrew five hundred miles without a single major battle.


    That story had never been widely circted-too humiliating for the enemy to publicize-and Nn himself didn''t care for boasting. Few knew about it. But Kane did.


    And what Kane really cared about... wasn''t just the number of soldiers Nn brought


    It was Nn''s attitude. The three thousand ck gs weren''t just troops-they were a message.


    Having received that message loud and clear, Kane had handed over themand center without a second thought.


    As Nn exined all this to Eliza, she finally understood.


    "So I can n the ritual however I want... just don''t go looking for danger?"


    Nn gave her a look, half-exasperated, half-amused. “You make it sound like you don''t have a habit of getting into danger."


    Eliza blinked, then realized what he meant. "Wait-you''re still mad about that p?"


    Back in Hasen City, she had deliberately provoked Gabriel and taken a p to execute her trap.


    Nn frowned. ''One p this time. Who knows what you''ll pull next."


    He still couldn''t think about it without a surge of guilt and fury.


    make peace.


    Eliza could only smile sheepishly. When you''re the one who caused the anger..... you''d better be the one to m


    "Alright, alright," she coaxed. "Didn''t I promise already? From now on, I''ll follow your arrangements. No more impulsive ns, I swear,"


    To seal the deal, she raised her hand like taking an oath. "If I mess up again, I''ll give you both of my precious herb plots in the courtyard and-she paused, grimacing. -I''ll nt chives in them. All chives."


    Just imagining that was enough to make her wince.


    "Fine. I''ll reluctantly believe you, Nn said, raising an eyebrow in mock disdain.. but still stood up to bring her the freshly brewed medicine.


    Though her fever had broken, her voice was still raspy. Nn was determined to nurse her back to full health hisself-no exceptions.


    The bitter smell filled the air. Even after years of studying medicine and toxins, Eliza still wrinkled her nose. "It''s so bitter..." She hadn''t even finishedining when Nn quietly slipped a piece of preserved plum candy into her mouth. The sweetness burst across her tongue, washing the bitterness away. "Suck on that," Nn said gently. "I didn''t bring much with me on this trip. Next time, I''ll pack more."


    He only had one bag of plum candies with him, and this trip had been rushed. After Caslig County, he was even more cautious-nothing unverified would pass her lips. No street snacks. No random coffee.


    10:46 Sat, 14 Apr


    As the sugar melted in her mouth, Eliza felt a stinge warmth bloom in her chest. She pressed her hand lightly over her heart, willing the thittering away.


    She said nothing, only tilted her head slightly and resumed discussing the details of the prayer ritual with him—just as if that moment had never happened.


    Two dayster, fully rested and dressed in a pristine ceremonial gown tailored by Mary herself, Eliza stepped into the carriage. After two hours on the road, she arrived at the first quarantine zone. The ritual was about to begin.