Kaid quickly realized that Mira was searching for the sword now in his possession.
"It must be something valuable… or perhaps Mira is nothing more than a thief who wants it," he thought.
Either way, one thing became clear—he could never hand it over.
Without hesitation, Kaid dug a small hole in the ground, carefully placing the sword inside before covering it up. He memorized the spot with precision, engraving it into his mind.
"Everything is ready. The first step… is gathering information."
Stepping out of his hiding place, Kaid approached the girl. It didn't take long before a group of knights gathered around her, forming a protective barrier.
"Mira, it's me—Kaid. The boy you saved from death earlier."
Her expression hardened instantly."Who are you? And how do you know my name? Men, remove him at once."
Kaid froze for a moment, confusion washing over him. Just a few hours ago, she had spoken to him with kindness.
"A few hours ago… could it be that time has turned back?" he wondered, his thoughts spiraling.
"My lady, I'm merely a lost traveler," Kaid said, lowering his voice with feigned humility. "I was hoping you might take pity on me and guide me to the nearest village. I've been wandering for days—hungry and alone."
Mira studied him for a moment before replying,"Very well. But you'll have to answer a few questions first."
She paused, her gaze sharpening."Have you seen any sword lying around here? It belonged to one of our fallen knights."
The question was far too direct.
In that instant, Kaid's suspicions solidified. There was no way anyone would search this desperately for a dead man's sword simply out of loyalty. And Mira had previously claimed she hadn't found any knights at all… which meant she had lied to him.
"I need to find out the truth behind this," Kaid thought.
"No, I haven't seen anything," he replied calmly. "I got lost and you're the first group I've encountered in days."
Despite her doubts, Mira ordered her men to assist him and bring him to the military annex of the province for further questioning. She hadn't fully trusted a word he said.
Inside the military annex…
A full week passed.
Kaid was interrogated relentlessly—about his origins, his age, his past, his purpose. They dug deep, searching for anything suspicious, yet found nothing. Time and time again, they brought up the sword… but to no avail.
The harshest truth that struck Kaid was the nature of this place.
It was no different from a prison.
He wasn't allowed to leave. Days passed with him confined within cold, lifeless walls.
On the seventh day, Mira herself came to see him.
"You're free to go now. Enjoy your stay in the Vena Province."
Kaid hesitated before speaking,"I… have nowhere to go. If possible, I'd like to stay—and join the guard."
Mira fell into deep thought.
Kaid had survived the valley alone—no small feat. Having someone like him among the guards could prove useful. And more importantly… it would allow her to keep a close eye on him, ensuring he knew nothing about the sword.
"Very well. I accept. You may stay—and your training begins tomorrow."
She called over one of the guards, instructing him to handle the paperwork and show Kaid to his quarters.
Kaid responded with a wide smile, one that reflected nothing but gratitude.
…But behind that smile, a plan had already begun to take shape.