Northern exhaled heavily as he stepped onto the balcony. The tension inside had weighed on him like an anvil, and now, with each breath, it felt as if some of that weight had been lifted—though not entirely.
Regret crept in almost immediately. The words he'd spoken echoed in his mind, leaving a bitter taste behind.
The next moment, his steps faltered, and he frowned.
"What are you doing?"
Bairan stood beside him, arms folded, a dark expression settling over his features.
"What?" Northern asked, noticing something unusual. The Sword King carried an aura he didn't usually have.
Bairan had always been capable of coming across as cold and detached—his sharp features only reinforcing that impression. But with Northern, he had always been different, more direct and never unfeeling.
This time, however, something was different.
"Did you really have to go that far?" Bairan's voice was quiet, but firm. "I get what you were trying to do—you wanted to break her, to make her understand that her recklessness won't keep her alive. You hoped that if she learned to restrain herself, she wouldn't keep throwing herself into danger."
He sighed, shaking his head.
"But are you sure you didn't take it too far?" His gaze settled on Northern, unreadable. "She's young. And at the end of the day, she's just a girl who wants the freedom to do as she pleases—just like you do. Beating her down so harshly just because she lacked the power to protect herself… That isn't fair."
Northern clenched his jaw, suppressing a frown.
"I know…" His voice was quieter now. "I know, Bairan."
Even he couldn't fully understand why he had lashed out like that. He had wanted to destroy her courage, to crush that reckless bravery, believing that if she feared the consequences, she'd finally obey him. That she'd stop throwing herself into danger.
His hands curled into fists.
"But damn it…" His voice wavered. "I really need to grow up."
Inside, he was a mess—a tangled, twisted knot of emotions he couldn't even begin to untangle.
'Do I need a therapist?'
Maybe he had been right after all.
Bairan sighed.
"Tactically, you made the right call. You did it for her good. But morally… you were wrong."
His gaze was steady.
"Because in the end, you did the very thing you accused her of. You beat her down because you wanted her to be safe. Just like she threw herself into danger because she wanted to matter. Selfishness—on both sides."
He paused, watching Northern's expression carefully before continuing.
"At the end of it all, selfishness is a part of being human. Just don't be a hypocrite about it."
His tone darkened.
"You've been rather hypocritical, Master. You call out others for their selfishness while doing the same, just in a different form. It doesn't have to be an exact mirror, but take a step back. Look at every single thing you resent in people—then look at yourself. How you've treated them. How you've treated yourself."
Northern remained silent, his fingers curling slightly.
Bairan exhaled.
"You need to be able to inspect yourself at all times, Master. Ask yourself the questions that force you to grow. Make sure you're getting better. Make sure you're not lying to yourself."
Bairan scratched the back of his neck, muttering, "Moreso, her intentions—flawed as the execution was—were noble."
He gave Northern one last assessing look. Then, without another word, he disappeared.
Northern stood there, turning the words over in his mind. He was both amused and uneasy at the Sword King's insight. As he found himself questioning everything, a single thought surfaced through the noise.
'Maybe I should apologize to her.'
As that thought formed, he heard approaching footsteps.
He turned, eyes widening in surprise.
It was Roma.
'What is she…'
Contrary to what anyone might expect, she wasn't beaten down. She wasn't broken. She was burning.
Indignation blazed in her eyes as she stormed toward him, each step like the march of a soldier ready for war.
Northern felt his throat go dry. He swallowed hard.
When she stopped in front of him, she inhaled deeply, then let the breath out in one slow, controlled exhale. Her expression straightened. Her eyes met his with a chilling calmness.
Something shifted in the air around her. Subtle, but unmistakable.
At first, Northern had assumed she was retaliating because his words had cut her too deep. That she was lashing out in anger, wounded by what he had said.
But now… he wasn't sure.
He was certain it must have hurt. And yet—this wasn't mere retaliation.
Roma stared at him for a long, blank moment. Then, her voice cut through the silence like a blade.
"For someone who's so wise, you sure talk a lot of shit you don't understand."
Northern frowned slightly. "What?"
Roma didn't stop. She didn't even hesitate.
"You think my weakness makes me useless? Maybe. But tell me, Rian—do you even know what you're fighting for? Or do you just fight because you're afraid of stopping long enough to find out?"
Northern's breath caught.
"You're right," she continued, her tone unwavering. "I'm weak. I'd probably die if I tried again. But strength isn't something you hand down like a lesson in a lecture. It's something people find in themselves."
"You think my bravery is selfish? Maybe. But you're a fool if you think I'm doing this for me."
The air between them felt electric.
"You don't have to believe in me, Rian." Her voice dropped, final and unyielding. "But you damn well better remember me when the day comes that I prove you wrong."
Roma took a step closer. Then, unexpectedly, she hugged him.
Northern stiffened. It caught him completely off guard, making him feel… strange.
"You are an amazing person," she murmured, her voice steady. "And I know it."
He didn't move.
"You're a good friend, too," she continued. "Even though we disagree on several fronts, that doesn't change anything. So, sincerely—thank you. For everything you did on our way to Lithia."
Then, just as suddenly, she pulled away, a small smile gracing her lips.
"After I do what I came here to do, I'll be leaving." She exhaled lightly. "Don't ask me how. My brother and family will probably find me soon. By now, they've likely noticed I've run away."
Her gaze softened, yet there was resolve behind it.
"I do hope we meet again someday." She tilted her head slightly. "Both of us as better people than we are now."
Northern held her gaze for a moment, then nodded.
"I hope so too."