The Author's Viewpoint

Tave lay on his back in the room Aura had provided, eyes shut tight, fingers pressing hard against his temples as he let out a long, heavy breath.

What the hell just happened?

It was all too much—too fast. The very thing he had feared earlier, that Aura might do something dangerous or threatening, had not only failed to materialize… it had flipped completely.

A proposal?

Yes. That had been a proposal. And not some veiled hint either. A direct offer from one of the highest-ranking warriors in the Forest Elf Kingdom. From Aura herself.

This wasn't something that happened every day. Not from someone like her.

She'd driven off that Tier 7 sea monster with little more than a flick of force. Minutes? No. Seconds.

Aura was stronger than Elincia. And that was saying something. She ranked fourth among the five Imperial Knights. Not just in status, but in raw strength. She could probably level half a forest if she wanted.

And yet she'd just asked him for a pact.

Tave let out another groan and dragged a hand down his face. This was not what he had expected tonight. Not even close.

Sure, in this world, a man could form bond pacts with more than one partner—hell, that was a rule he had written into the lore himself. Lol. It was his system. His logic.

And if he accepted Aura's pact, the benefits would be enormous. The strength boost alone would be staggering. Aura's spiritual power would sync with his. It would elevate him drastically.

But it would also double the danger.

He'd be tying his soul to more than one partner. That made him a bigger target. It made his choices heavier.

And that wasn't the point.

The real question now wasn't what Aura offered—but why.

Why now?

What was she truly thinking? What lay beneath that calm, deliberate request?

From a purely logical standpoint, this could easily be a power play. A political maneuver. Maybe there was pressure—perhaps the King, or the Number One Imperial Knight, had ordered her to intervene. Maybe this was their attempt to overwrite Tave's existing pact with Vanya, using Aura as a wedge.

Or worse—maybe it wasn't an order at all.

Maybe this was Aura's idea. Her initiative. Something she had chosen to do on her own.

And that was far more unsettling.

One more thing gnawed at Tave that night—Aura's words. Mysterious, loaded, and deeply suspicious. She had spoken like someone who knew more than she should, and she'd made it clear she'd only reveal everything if Tave accepted her pact.

What kind of information?

Was it possible? That Aura knew what happened before the world was reset? Did she somehow retain knowledge that no one else remembered? Or was Tave just overthinking it?

And yet—there was already proof she had altered something.

She had trained Vanya in archery.

That alone was enough to disturb him. In the original story, Vanya never used a bow. And that detail had been enough to throw Tave off. Enough to make him fail to realize that Panpan was, in fact, Vanya.

The crowned princess of Vensalor Kingdom.

Tave sat upright at the edge of his bed, exhaling slowly. He ran a hand through his hair.

There was another reason he couldn't sleep.

Something Aura had handed him before he returned to his room.

He reached into his storage ring and pulled the object out.

And there it was, solid in his hands. A bow, masterfully crafted. Sleek, mostly black with intricate gold trim that gleamed faintly even in the dim light. The design was refined, elegant, but carried the presence of something powerful.

[ Epic-grade Obsidian Whisper Tier 5 ]

It wasn't just any weapon. This was an Epic-Grade Tier 5 bow.

His first Tier 5 item. And Aura had given it to him. Just like that.

It felt like a bribe. A beautifully crafted, painfully tempting bribe. But Tave couldn't bring himself to say no. Not when she had offered it freely, with no conditions attached.

Still… the bow wasn't all.

She'd also said she would train him. Teach him archery, help him master the weapon she had just placed in his hands.

And in that moment, overwhelmed by the sheer presence of a Tier 5 weapon, he hadn't questioned it. Hadn't paused to consider the weight of accepting such a gift.

His greed had blinded him, clouded the caution that usually guided every step he took.

Now, in the silence of his room, the realization settled like a stone in his chest: Aura hadn't just handed him a bow.

She'd offered him a thread, a means of binding time between them.

With her offer to personally train him in archery, it meant they'd be spending more time together. A lot more.

Time she would undoubtedly use to slowly, deliberately push her agenda. To make her case for the pact. Not through force, but proximity, presence, and persuasion.

And the thing was… she never once asked him to cancel his pact with Vanya. So technically, if he accepted her offer too, wouldn't that benefit him?

Tave would gain an immense power boost. Aura was already incredibly strong. If the bond went through, there was a high chance he could inherit her powerful element affinity and that would skyrocket his capabilities.

It was hard to ignore the logic.

But no. Tave couldn't just dive in. Not yet. He needed to see more. Watch closely. Study her. Understand what was truly driving Aura, because she wasn't someone who laid her motives bare.

She was clever. Incredibly so. But never obvious. That was what made her dangerous.

Unless someone knew her deeply, they wouldn't have a hope of guessing what this Imperial Knight was actually after.

And truth be told, even now… Tave wasn't sure if he did.

***

The next morning, Tave and Lily joined Aura for breakfast in the main dining hall of the house. Though the table was still mostly filled with fruits and light fare, this time there was also a selection of meats—something Tave didn't hesitate to enjoy. Not a bite was wasted.

And yet, throughout the meal, he didn't speak a word to Aura.

She had welcomed them as usual, offering food with the same calm kindness she always wore. Nothing in her tone or expression gave away what had happened the night before.

Instead, Aura shifted her attention smoothly to Lily, engaging her in conversation with a natural ease that Tave couldn't help but notice.

Of course. They were both women, and Aura was naturally extroverted. She could blend with anyone. And Lily, well, Lily was friendly. At least to everyone except Tave.

"I could assign someone to accompany you for your training and hunting, Lily," Aura said with a gentle smile. "I'm sure you'll find any kind of monster you're looking for in the forest."

Lily lit up like a child handed a surprise gift, her face beaming with excitement. "Seriously? I've been dying to explore more of the woods. I can't wait!"

"Of course," Aura nodded. "Sylara will go with you. And if you need additional guards—"

"No, it's okay! Sylara's great. I'd love to talk with her more," Lily answered, her voice practically skipping, her laugh light and girlish.

Tch. Just like that, Aura had completely won her over. Lily was already treating her like a doting older sister. Warm, admired, and completely different from how she responded to Tave's constant teasing.

Was this part of Aura's strategy? To get closer to Lily—to win her trust as a way to influence him?

Damn it. If that was the plan… it was working far too well.

By midday, after Lily had set off with Sylara for her hunt and solo training session, it was time for Tave's turn. Just as Aura had promised the night before, they would begin his archery training today.

And yes… Tave had to admit, he was more than a little curious to see what this session would become.

"Let's go?" Aura asked, her voice light as they stepped out of the house together.

"Yes," Tave replied, falling into step beside her as they headed toward the lake. The same place they'd shared that strange, unforgettable conversation the night before.

"How was your rest?" she asked. "Have you decided you're ready to train in archery now? I assume you accepted the bow because, well… no one in their right mind would pass up something of that quality, right?"

"Yes," Tave answered, his tone dry. "You successfully bribed me. But it worked only because you said you weren't asking for anything in return."

Aura laughed softly and skipped ahead a few steps, her expression bright and playful. And honestly, it was almost surreal. How easily she carried herself with such lightness, when the power she held could level a city. Literally. With a single skill, she could tear through a place like Dissidia Kingdom without breaking a sweat.

"Don't worry," she said with a glance over her shoulder. "We'll talk later about why I believe the bow suits you so well. Especially considering your elemental affinity."

"Yes…" Tave muttered, exhaling. He wasn't surprised. Of course Aura knew. She had the ability, and the insight to read through someone's elemental core with disturbing accuracy.

So it made perfect sense that she'd picked up on Tave's potential.

Hell, she might even know he had two Gaia Cores.

But for now, he would play along. Accept the generosity. Use the opportunity. And stay sharp.

Because no matter how friendly or casual Aura seemed… This was still a game of depth and calculation.

And as long as he still had his pact with Vanya, he was practically untouchable here.