The wind in the Skyglass Expanse was cold and sharp. Harvie walked beside Edna, who was quiet. Since the last battle, she had spoken less. Her usual fire was now a low ember.
They walked across the frozen field. Ice cracked under their boots. Behind them, the squad followed carefully.
"Are you okay?" Harvie asked, trying to break the silence.
"I'm fine," Edna said quickly, not looking at him.
She wasn't fine. He knew. Last night, she had burned her arms again, hiding her pain under long gloves. Harvie had seen it before—too many times.
He wanted to tell her everything. About the deaths. About how many times he had seen her die. About how he always came back, just to try again.
But he couldn't.
The system would erase him.
Instead, he said, "You don't have to carry everything alone."
She looked at him then. Her eyes were tired, but strong. "I always have."
Before Harvie could answer, a loud horn echoed through the sky.
Everyone stopped.
From the west, crimson banners appeared in the air. A group rode toward them on red-winged beasts.
"The Phoenix Order," one soldier whispered.
Harvie narrowed his eyes. He had read about them in the game—strong, proud, and always dangerous.
The leader was a woman with long silver hair and glowing red armor. She landed in front of Edna, stepping off her beast with perfect grace.
"Edna Infernia," she said with a smirk. "Still burning villages, I see?"
Edna's eyes flared. "Caelia Rimeborne. Still chasing after things you don't understand?"
Harvie felt the heat rise between them, even in the cold air. This wasn't just a rivalry. It was personal.
Caelia looked at Harvie. "And who's this stray?"
"A survivor," Edna said shortly. "None of your business."
Harvie said nothing. He felt the pressure in the air shift. These people were dangerous. Especially Caelia.
Behind her, the rest of the Phoenix Order stood tall, weapons ready. They looked at Harvie with cold curiosity.
"We're here for the Seal," Caelia said. "It's in the floating temple, isn't it?"
Edna didn't answer. The tension was sharp enough to cut ice.
Suddenly, the system message flashed in Harvie's mind:
> [SEAL DETECTED – Trial begins in 48 hours. Magic conflict detected between factions.]
He stayed quiet, but his heart beat faster. He had to stay close to Edna. If something went wrong, he would need time—maybe another death—to fix it.
But each death made his soul feel colder.
Later that night, as they set up camp near the frozen cliffs, Harvie sat near the fire, watching the flames flicker.
Edna sat beside him, not too close, not too far.
"Be careful with Caelia," she said quietly.
"Why?"
"She smiles when she plans to hurt someone."
Harvie looked at her face lit by firelight. She looked tired again, but her voice was steady.
"I'll watch her," he said.
Then, after a pause, he added, "And I'll watch your back too."
Edna didn't respond.
But she didn't move away either.
And for Harvie, that was enough.