"Good news, team! We've got ourselves a promise to be posted somewhere a bit more exciting tomorrow," Cassian announced with a grin as he settled down by the campfire. Althea handed him a bowl of steaming chili along with a crusty piece of bread.
"Don't tell me we're getting posted near the third defensive line!" Robert asked, his eyes lighting up with excitement.
"She hasn't told us yet. We'll find out in the morning," Lumine said as she sat down next to Cassian, picking up her bowl of chili and bread with a small, content smile.
Althea settled down across from them, stretching her legs out toward the fire and tearing off a piece of her bread. "I hope we get something exciting," she said, her voice light but with an edge of anticipation. "It's been dead quiet for days now, and I'm getting sick of sitting around doing nothing."
Robert chuckled, scooping up a mouthful of chili. "Careful what you wish for, Althea. You might end up face-to-face with that giant ape again before you know it."
The group burst into laughter, the campfire's warmth enhancing the brief moment of cheer as they ate their dinner. But the lighthearted atmosphere didn't last long. A sharp, disdainful voice cut through the air, making all of them turn toward the source.
"Fucking bunch of disgusting hobos," sneered a boy as he walked past, his expensive armor gleaming even in the dim light. His tone dripped with contempt, and he didn't even glance their way as he passed.
The laughter faded, replaced by tense silence. Cassian's jaw tightened, but he remained seated, calmly breaking off another piece of bread as if nothing had happened.
"He meant us, right?" Wanni asked, looking genuinely confused.
Everyone nodded, making her frown. "Why? We don't even know him."
That comment earned her a round of puzzled stares until Theron raised an eyebrow and asked, "Wanni… tell me, are you a noble?"
Wanni nodded casually, dipping a piece of bread into her chili and taking a bite before replying, "Yeah, didn't I mention that before?"
A collective shake of heads told her otherwise.
"Oh," she said, blinking as if just realizing it. "I must've forgotten, then. Well, I'm a noble from Andhartha Kingdom, part of the Earldom of Masshet. My full name's Wanni Masshet. I thought you knew, so I didn't bother saying anything."
The group stared at her in stunned silence for a moment.
Lumine let out a sigh and explained, "Well, Wanni, in that case, he wasn't talking about you. He meant the rest of us common folk."
Wanni's eyes widened in surprise, though she still looked confused. "Really? But… why?"
Robert leaned back on his hands, smirking slightly. "Because that's just how some nobles are, Wanni. They think anyone without a title or a big pile of gold is beneath them."
Althea, shaking her head with an irritated expression, added, "Yeah, they act all high and mighty, even if they've never held a sword in their life or stepped foot on a battlefield. It's all about status to them."
Wanni frowned, clearly puzzled. "But that doesn't make any sense. We're all fighting the same monsters, risking our lives out here. Why act like that when we're on the same side?"
Cassian chuckled, though there was a hint of bitterness in his tone. "Welcome to the reality of the world, Wanni. Titles, gold, and fancy family names don't just disappear because we're in a war zone. For some people, that stuff is everything."
Wanni took a thoughtful bite of her bread, chewing slowly as she considered their words. Then, after a moment, she asked, "So… are they always ? Or is it just that guy?"
Robert snorted, crossing his arms. "Mostly, yeah. But don't get me wrong—there are some good nobles out there. Like you, obviously."
"I used to be a noble too," Lumine said through gritted teeth, her tone sharp with lingering bitterness. "And Robert's right—there are some good ones out there, but most of them are powdered-faced assholes." She exhaled, then gave Wanni a small smile. "No offense to you, of course."
"None taken," Wanni replied with a shrug, unbothered.
Cassian, feeling a little lost in the moment, shifted uncomfortably. A part of him had been debating whether to tell them the truth for a while now. Most of the team already knew bits and pieces, and it wasn't like it mattered anymore—especially since the main reason he had kept it quiet was tied to Katherine and keeping her safe. But now? They were in a war, and danger was everywhere, no matter who he was.
With a small, almost sheepish smile, he spoke up, "I'm also a noble… well, sort of."
That simple statement hit like a lightning bolt. Everyone froze, blinking at him in shock.
"Wait, what?" Robert asked, nearly choking on his mouthful of chili.
"Don't tell me… the red hair…" Robert stared at Cassian, his face a mix of shock and disbelief. "You're a Ven Dyke, aren't you?"
Cassian nodded, looking a bit guilty. "Yeah, but like I said, I'm sort of a noble. I'm a bastard, though. I was raised in the slums of the royal capital." He explained briefly how he ended up here, though he left out any mention of Katherine, keeping that part of his past to himself. Instead, he mentioned how he met Julius, who helped him land the job in the city.
Robert let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. "You've had quite the interesting life there, brother. From the slums to the Ven Dyke duchy, and now here, fighting monsters as a Circle Warrior. That's one hell of a climb, huh?"
But Cassian didn't miss the slight edge in Robert's tone—there was a flicker of resentment there, barely hidden beneath the surface.
"I always had a feeling you were hiding something," Lumine said with a playful smile, leaning back against the log. "I just didn't realize it was this—the blood of the most prominent warrior family in the kingdom flowing through your veins."
But just as she finished speaking, her eyes widened in shock, and her expression shifted. "Wait… if you're a Ven Dyke, then that red domain of yours… it's a Killing Domain, isn't it?"
Everyone around the campfire blinked in confusion—everyone except Cassian and Lumine. Cassian gave a small nod, confirming her guess.
Wanni frowned, tilting her head. "What's a Killing Domain?" she asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes as she glanced back and forth between Lumine and Cassian.