2. The Knight Princess

Four years had passed, yet that gravestone still made his stomach twist every time he saw it.

“You should get here earlier instead of making excuses,” Asuka said. Her blond hair whipped in the wind while she held a bouquet of red roses.

“I did get here early,” Lied answered with a small smile. “Time just… stops when I’m standing here.” He stared at the stone, jaw clenched, as if bracing for the past to hit him all over again.

“I know it still hurts, but carrying that weight forever won’t help,” she said gently.

Still, the thought that his mistake had taken her life wrapped around his chest like iron chains. Forgiving himself felt impossible.

Zane approached the group with slow, measured steps. "The old man’s got another job for us," he said, his voice low.

“Which floor?” Lied asked.

“Third.” Zane gave the answer and walked off.

Asuka knelt and set the roses on the grave. The inscription on the gravestone caught the last rays of sunset and glimmered with a warm, fading glow:

Here rests Elena Kaspar Adventurer and Master Swordswoman.

“Get ready,” said the blond elf, resting a gentle hand on Lied’s shoulder before they left.

The hall was buzzing. Teams fresh from the dungeon packed the tables, food and beer everywhere.

The group soon gathered and set off together, heading down to the quay where they boarded a stubby boat bound for Dungeon Island—a jagged rock off the coast. Its cave entrance, perched high on a mist-shrouded hill, awaited them.

“How’d the rookies get stuck?” Lied asked as waves slapped the hull.

“They wandered into some side room and got jumped by unknown monsters,” Zane said.

“They hit the comm-orb and called for help,” Asuka added.

“Lucky they had one of these,” Zane muttered, fingers tightening on the comm-orb.

They soon arrived on the island. Tired adventurers were already getting into boats, their faces pale and worn. The trio climbed the narrow path, the sea mist clinging to their cloaks, and stepped through the cave’s magic gate. The dungeon swallowed them without a sound.

They advanced steadily through the dungeon’s winding corridors, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows on the damp stone walls. Only Asuka engaged, loosing wind-arrows with quiet precision. Each shot was clean, felling kobolds and drakes before they got close. Lied and Zane kept their pace calm but alert, eyes scanning the shadows, trusting her to clear the way.

“Which way?” Zane asked as soon as they hit the third floor.

Lied closed his eyes and took a breath, focusing every fiber of his being. The noise around him faded. Then—screams pierced the silence, followed by the clash of steel. His eyes snapped open. He broke into a sprint without a word, his friends close behind.

When they entered the side room, they found a wide chamber lit by flickering torches, the scent of blood thick in the air. The ceiling arched high above. Two adventurers lay motionless at the center of the room, their bodies being torn apart by small humanoid crows. Further ahead, two young fighters—one with a spear, the other with a sword—fought desperately against two more of the monsters, their movements frantic. Off to the right, a small mage had been cornered, three creatures circling in with slow, hungry steps.

“Zane!” Lied shouted.

Zane hurled a sword through the air, and Lied caught it mid-flight, cutting down one of the crows that was reaching for the mage. He stepped between the girl and the remaining monsters, shielding her. Behind him, Zane focused his mana and conjured two barriers of wind—one encircling the mage, the other shielding the young swordsmen. At the same time, Asuka unleashed flaming phoenix-shaped arrows that hit the crows dead-on, setting them ablaze. The flaming creatures shrieked and flailed as they scattered through the dungeon, burning wildly.

"Get out!" Asuka shouted to the rookies.

With a wave from Zane, the wind barriers vanished. The novices bolted toward the exit in a panic, tripping over one another in their desperate rush. Lied followed close behind, making sure none of them were left behind. As the last of the rookies cleared the chamber, Lied, Zane, and Asuka moved in unison to the threshold of the room, standing side by side.

The burning crows suddenly regrouped at the center of the room, merging with the other crows. The result was a towering monstrosity. A glowing purple crescent glowed on its chest, the same eerie light shining from its eyes.

“What is that thing?” Lied muttered.

“Doesn't matter—just hold it still. Zane, get ready to finish it,” Asuka commanded, her voice steady.

Asuka fired another of her massive flaming arrows—one of many she had loosed while weaving through the dungeon, each shaped like a fiery bird. It struck the monster dead-on, erupting in a brilliant explosion. But when the smoke cleared, the creature stood unscathed, letting out a furious roar.

Without hesitation, Lied launched forward like a bolt and drove his sword up beneath the creature’s head, burying it deep. The monster screamed in agony, but to his surprise, the attack hadn’t finished it off. It beat its wings hard, trying to take flight.

Gritting his teeth, Lied grabbed the beast by its arms and, with a surge of strength, slammed it back to the ground.

“Clear!” Zane shouted.

Lied leapt back as a series of magic circles flared into existence around the monster, encircling it. The air vibrated with mana. A split second later, blades of mana burst forth from the glowing runes, streaking toward the creature in a flurry of blue light. Moments before impact, it folded its wings tightly around its body and crossed its arms over its neck. The blades struck in a dazzling burst, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.

When the light faded, the monster was still, its body riddled with glowing wounds. The blades vanished, flickering out with a faint shimmer.

Then its eyes lit up again.

With a low growl, it rose to its feet. Slowly, the holes in its body began to close—it was healing.

“That one's a problem…” Lied muttered, watching it knit itself back together.

“Get ready—here it comes,” Asuka said, raising her bow.

The monster spread its wings, beating them heavily as it prepared to launch into the air. But before it could move, a swordswoman burst into the chamber through the main entrance, her boots striking the stone with force. In a fluid motion, she launched herself forward, spinning midair as her blade carved clean through the creature’s neck.

The headless body flailed its wings, trying to lift off, but collapsed to the ground and disintegrated into ash.

The knight turned to the group, her brilliant blue eyes glowing faintly as she offered a confident smile.

“Problem solved,” she said to herself, voice calm.

“Thanks for the help, Your Highness,” Asuka said.

The other members of her party arrived shortly after, stepping into the chamber one by one: a short-haired woman in armor, a young man with a sword, and a robed mage.

“Mary, don’t just vanish like that!” the short-haired knight scolded, narrowing her eyes.

“Sorry, Alice. I heard shouting and acted on instinct,” she replied with a wink, like it was no big deal.

Her expression changed when she spotted the two fallen adventurers. The light in her eyes dimmed.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t make it in time…” she murmured, bowing her head.

“Don’t blame yourself. Their safety was the Guild’s responsibility,” Asuka said firmly.

Lied watched in silence, observing both the group and the aftermath. Zane broke the silence.

“Something wrong?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I didn’t sense her arriving,” Lied said, gaze still locked on Mary.

“That’s what happens when you stop taking requests at the guild,” Zane replied flatly.

Lied didn’t argue. He knew Zane was right.

So that was the Princess of Ernas, Lied thought—the famous Knight Princess he had heard about so many times. Her radiant beauty, sword skills, and noble presence weren’t just rumors.

When their eyes met, she smiled at Lied with a gentle familiarity. Something in her gaze said she knew him from somewhere—but Lied couldn’t remember ever meeting her before.

Asuka, meanwhile, cast a serious look at both Lied and Zane. They understood right away what that meant.