03

Two years passed since I arrived at the border.

The conflict between our Empire and Rockdale Kingdom intensified, around that time the knight trained us, and we were working as their medical doctor, as well as helping them on their monster occasional attack.

I was sixteen this year, and I am not an apprentice priestess as I used to be. Sister Tyanne declared it to the Head priest Ronn using a letter.

"Hey, did you hear that the Duke successor will arrive here ?"

Layla said, with her sparkling eyes, were currently in the storage. After two years together in here, I became her good friends along with Cynthia from the Theobrwil temple.

"Where do you hear that, stop eavesdropping on people. It's not good." I said while sorting the medicine on the shelf, not minding her sulking on the chair.

"I am not eavesdropping, the soldier and the knight talking about it every day. They said that he was already came."

"Then stop talking about it, come here. Write the lack of herb before today shift ends."

I handed her a blank paper requests, while taking my personal notebook to my mini bag.

"Geez, okay, but where are you going ?"

"I need to check how the apprentice doing at the infirmary, there are several wounded soldiers from last scouting." I said explaining to Layla who seems sulking. "Besides, if the duke successor came, it would signify that we are going to an all out war with them."

"Huh ?"

"Don't you see that the number of priest increased and the soldier harsh regimen doubling as well as their number?"

"..."

"We're probably in the front lines because of our side close to them. The captain face getting grimmer every day, so... list the herb carefully, we can afford to play around."

"...okay."

Hearing Layla subdued voice, I stop talking. She'll be sad if I'm fueling her too much.

"(Sigh) then, see you later."

I left the room and heading to the infirmary. While at it, I was looking outside the walls. For the past two years, I was lived inside the building which was attached on the walls surface.

The white snow always covering the North ground, like the everlasting season. We had to build a greenhouse with magic temperature for growing an emergency herb as well as food.

The knight sometimes consume a monster meat after we rid the toxins. Thanks for that, I could make winter clothes with its fur.

Passing the patrolling knight and soldier, I was amazed by their faithful training despite the cold weather.

"Miss Ophelia"

"Good day, Sir Atwin. How's the kids doing ?" reaching the infirmary, I could see they're working on the wounded soldier diligently.

"They're doing good. Some of them feeling exhausted but nothing major happened except for the fatal injury they get, the senior priest handling them well."

Atwin was a commoner knight from the ducal of Theron who was assigned to this fort defense. I got to know him well after he takes care of us diligently for the past two years ago.

"Alright then, I'll go inside."

I am going to check their treatment carefully. When I went inside the room, everyone gazes still at the patients. This was a usual routine conducted by the senior priest which was the core reasons why they are not greeting actively.

'They did well...' I thought inwardly when I see how they treat every wound.

It took one hour to scan everyone jobs, when I am done, they seem relieved.

"Good work everyone."

""Thank you, Sister Ophelia.""

They said almost immediately, feeling delighted.

"Here, sir Atwin, a list about how long their wound can be healed will be. I've checked all."

I gave him a copy of today's inspection list for his superior.

"I'll take a break first."

"Sure, thank you, miss Ophelia."

I took my serving portion for today lunch from the cafeteria, heading to the west riverside of the fort.

Looking for the rare fish who swam around in the cold river while doing some experiment to me.

I tried to absorb mana, which was can't be done because it keeps dissipating. Mana and divine power was fundamentally a different energy altogether, which was why there isn't any individual who can coexist with two energies inside one bodies.

The divine power itself can neutralize the mana, that's the reason why if someone born with both strong energy they often get sick from its collision.

"It doesn't work again..."

Brushing my hair behind, I was frustrated. Putting my notebook aside, I ate my lunch before my works hour start again.

If you ask why I want to have mana was because I was desperate to life before the war breaks out. The divine power barrier works only for monster attack, I was vulnerable to human attack, although I could heal myself.

I am not crazy enough to get myself wounded. Stuffing the sandwich and drinking the warm milk, I stand up while dusting the snowflake on my shoulder.

'I need to go back before its getting cold...' I thought inwardly, feeling the weather around.

Humming on the way, she passed the oak tree. Looking to the front directions, she could see an unfamiliar face coming in to her way.

A man with the towering height, probably around 187-190 Cm. Sharp jawline, perfect nose, with a red ruby eyes, and white skin contrasted with his jet black hair.

It was a color she hasn't forgotten.

"Good afternoon, your grace." I said softly while curtsying him.

He was the duke Theron successor, the ones who will lead the army on the front lines.

Sadly, he only nods his head and walk past me into the woods.

A typical cold-hearted noble, he was twenty years old. An adult based on the empire law, Eighteen were categorized as an adult age for nobles.

Well, for the commoner aside, it doesn't count.

Anyway, I am not offended by his attitude. Living in the North border with a constant monster attack as well as near enemy land hardening everyone hearts to be strong.

I turn my gaze away from his back, and continuing my walk to the fort base.

Thirty minutes passed when I was walking.

"Come to think of it, I didn't write today progress in my book." I muttered, reaching the bag.

"Uh- where is my book ?"

Halted, I frantically searching it inside the bag.

"No No No! Don't tell me I left it there!" In panic, I ran back to the place I usually ate.

'I hope he didn't goes there! Or saw what is inside!!'

I shouted inside, feeling the growing anxiety because the book were written by her mother language which was unknown for everyone.

Running through the oak forest, she could see him standing near the bench while holding the familiar book case in his hand.

I ran in fright and mustering my courage to call him.

"Excuse me!!" I said, catching his attention from my book. I stood in front of him, catching my breath.

Feeling the cold winter breeze in my lungs making me lightheaded.

"Gasp- gasp. Uh- Your Grace... could you give the book in your hand." I said carefully, looking at his handsome face.

Its strange, I thought he looks surprised for a while.

"Is it yours ?" He asks.

'WOW'

For a moment, I thought I was hearing a sinful thing. I feel both my eardrum pregnant with his low and heavy voice that trickling my winter heart. Furthermore, I could tell that both of my cheeks feel warm.

"Yes." I said a bit nervous because he looks weird.

"What's your name ?"

"Its Ophelia, your grace."

'Why did he ask my name? Does he think I am suspicious ?'

"Ophelia..." he said, "How old are you this year ?"

'What a ridiculous question is this!!'

"Huh... sixteen years old."

I can't shake a weird feeling he gave me, I was unconsciously smiling awkwardly.

"Really ?" He asks again, but somehow his frosting face looks amused.

"Yeah..." I tilted my head on an instinct out of habit.

"It's really you..." He uttered softly, pulling her into his embrace while burying his head in her neck.

"Quinn."

Hearing him muttering my past name, I was flustered and can't help to flinch. He couldn't read anything in that book, I wrote it in jumbled words from the language I am familiar with like English, Japan, Korean, and French.

'Mary Quinn Oaklyn'

I write it in English on the first page, he can't possibly read it because the empire alphabet has a different form and structure.

"How..."

I momentarily speechless and dumbfounded in his embrace. Holding my waist tightly, I could tell that it was his breath brushing on my neck.

Loosening his circling hand, I saw his face looking at me intently.

"It's me. Jill, don't you remember 'Quinnzie'"

'Quinnzie' was my nickname from him, it's all because of truth n dare event at the field trip with my colleague. Lana was asking him a question, but he refuses to answer, then he dared him to make a pet name for one of us.

He chooses me of all people.

"Head team... Boss ?" I asked trembling, I was simply cant believe it. When I called him, he smiled warmly.

Unlike his previous behavior, whom I met on the way.

Distant and cold.