The orchids of Meadow Ridge had bloomed and faded.


    I couldn''t help feeling somewhat resentful toward Cari. Did going home mean she had to abandon us too? Were all those years of friendship and shared memories worth nothing in the end?


    Thia also called Cari heartless. It was fine that she had left, but why hadn''t she sent even a single letter?


    Gradually, we stopped speaking of her altogether. It was as if by not mentioning her, we were punishing her in some way.


    We had made a pact. When Cari returned to Meadow Ridge, none of us would visit her. We wouldn''t speak to her, and even if she sent a letter, we wouldn''t read


    it.


    Days passed, and our martial arts skills grew stronger. It seemed we had all agreed that so long as we didn''t die, we would practice until we could do no more.


    Though we didn''t speak of it, I knew that deep down, we all thought the same. Cari was no longer Cari. Isaac had told us that after Sage Everett sent her down the mountain, she hadn''t smiled once. She always seemed lost in thought, troubled, and full of worry.


    We didn''t know what had happened to her. All we could do was continue our training, waiting for the moment when she would need us. When the time came, we would be ready, like drawn swords.


    Then, at longst, her letter arrived.


    It was not addressed to the Pathfinders Guild. It was for me, Thia, Bun, and Rod. In her letter, she asked us toe to the Southern Frontier to find her, though she didn''t exin why.


    Once, we had sworn we would never read her letters. But when it arrived, we wasted no time. We packed our things, mounted our horses, and left the mountain without telling our mentors.


    When we met Cari at the Southern Frontier, she was no longer the same. Gone was her former lively spark; she now seemed like something left to soak in a jar of stale brine. Not quite lifeless, but carrying an air of quiet decay about her.


    In her eyes, there was determination and steadiness, but not a trace of joy.


    Perhaps when she saw us, she felt some happiness, but that fleeting light quickly disappeared.


    Later, Cari calmly exined what had happened during her time away. We then learned that most of what Isaac had told us was indeed true. We were so heartbroken that we couldn''t find the words to speak. We shed more tears for her than we cared to admit, though she never knew.


    But the dangers of the battlefield gave us no room for excessive sorrow.


    After everything Cari had gone through, I made up my mind to stay by her side. I would apany her back to the capital and wouldn''t go anywhere else.


    As for the idea that someone from the martial arts world should avoid mingling with noble families, that was nonsense. When had I ever followed the rules so strictly? Besides, I came from the Spencer family of Ebonflow.


    No words could express how regretful I was for not going down the mountain to find Cari back then.


    We returned to the capital after aplishing our mission, but the military achievements didn''t cloud my mind. The Spencer family didn''t serve in court, and I had no interest in being a military officer. I was happy enough with the reward I received.


    Rod stayed behind in the capital with me. The money was part of the reason, but deep down, I knew he thought much like I did. He couldn''t bear the thought of abandoning Cari again, not when we were unsure of what the future might bring.


    Rod was like his mentor-loyal and full ofpassion, with a heart softer than anyone''s.


    Thia and Bun didn''t stay. They were the backbone of their guild, and had no reason to remain in the capital.


    Rod stayed under the pretense of making money—an excuse his mentor couldn''t argue with. Sage Isolde, though stern in words, was soft-hearted and fully supported his decision to stay and help Cari.


    As for me, my mentor couldn''t stop me. Whenever I made up my mind, he would


    try to use his authority, but would always yield to me in the end.


    To be honest


    when I saw Barrett


    and Aurora at the Southern Frontier,


    my anger red up. I wanted to


    off their limbs. Did those two


    scoundrels think our


    Meado


    Ridge''s reigning queen was some weakling they could bully however they wanted?


    But to my surprise, things gotplicated when Victory Pass became involved


    Karma bit Aurora hard at Victory Pass. I enjoyed it privately, but showed nothing


    on my face.


    Who cared about the greater good or matters of the kingdom? None of thatpared to my best friend''s hurt and suffering. At least, that was my view then- I was never one for grand undertakings anyway.