Though this silver-haired girl was cute, I really wasn’t in the mood to catch her. This frail body would’ve been crushed to pulp instantly. I didn’t want to die again.

The moment I realized my life was slipping away, only fear and despair flooded my mind, overwhelming my sanity.

Was I going to die again? Dying in this vibrant forest, feeling life’s last warmth on the cold earth—that warmth being my own blood.

No, even the blood probably wasn’t mine. My biggest regret would be never seeing Eunice again—the one who occupied my body—and my own form.

Another regret? Being crushed to death by a girl falling from the sky.

But that wasn’t my final thought. A force knocked me aside onto the ground, saving me from being shattered by Rosalynd.

Poor Rosalynd wasn’t so lucky. She was slammed into the earth nearby by the little girl’s violent power.

Dirt and rocks flew everywhere. A dust cloud hung thick in the air.

I coughed heavily twice in the thin haze, easing my terror. Then I realized I’d suffered no real injuries.

Ha, lucky me. I sighed in relief and instinctively reached to pat my chest. But my arm was grabbed. I looked up to see a familiar face.

Her delicate features wore infinite calm. This was my body once, yet utterly unlike my old self.

Because the person inside wasn’t me—it was Eunice, that cold-hearted girl who’d kill me with a sword at the slightest provocation.

I’d been saved by the one who killed me?

“Are you okay?” Eunice asked. Her eyes held no killing intent, only a trace of relief. After all, her body had almost been crushed by Rosalynd moments ago.

“Huh, I’m fine for now.”

“Get up and run that way. It’s dangerous here.” Eunice wasted no words. She pulled me up, and we sprinted aside.

“Did that Knight die?” I asked casually.

“How should I know.”

“Uh, is that little girl really a dragon?”

Eunice glanced back, annoyed by my extra questions. But she answered, “Probably. She used dragonfire and a dragon’s roar. No other race can do that.”

Eunice pulled me far from Rosalynd’s crash site but didn’t stop. I wanted to flee too, yet my legs grew heavier—like lead balls tied to them. Keeping up strained my lungs terribly.

Kindly, Eunice noticed my struggle. She slowed her pace gradually. Sure enough, she was protecting her own body.

As we ran, she eyed me puzzled. “Why are you so slow?”

I panted slightly, complaining, “How’s that my fault? Your body’s just slow.”

“No.” Eunice shook her head. “I’m strong compared to you. You just can’t use my strength.”

I paused inwardly. Eunice was powerful; her speed could rival the dragon girl’s. Yet I couldn’t unleash even a hint of it.

How frustrating. If only I had power too.

Just then, a loud boom echoed behind us. I looked back. Rosalynd, crackling with silver arcs of electricity, clashed with the little girl, Knightly Sword flashing. Just watching felt heart-stopping.

Eunice’s expression turned grave. She frowned slightly. “Rosalynd can’t beat that dragon. She won’t last much longer.”

“How can you tell? I just see them fighting.”

“You only need to know I can see it.” Eunice avoided explaining. “The girl’s strength is rising slowly. Rosalynd’s at the end of her rope. Defeat is inevitable.”

“What should we do? Help her?”

“Help her?” Eunice stared at me like I was an idiot. “She’s Avaria’s Order Knight!”

I scratched my head, confused. “Avaria’s Order Knight? What’s strange about that? Why can’t we help?”

A strange look flashed in Eunice’s eyes—as if I’d asked something extremely foolish. Her lips parted, then she just hardened her face.

“You don’t need to know.” Her words cut off as she yanked me behind her. Before I understood, a cold blade flashed past where I’d stood.

“Tsk tsk, sharp reflexes. But I wasn’t aiming to kill her anyway.”

The speaker was a burly mercenary. His fierce face bore a terrifying scar, twisted into a nasty grin. He looked more like a vicious bandit than a mercenary.

Wasn’t he one of those who’d scattered like birds earlier?

I didn’t know Eunice’s thoughts, but seeing him made me nervous. I hid behind her, perfectly playing the frail girl.

“Hey, kid.” He sneered at Eunice, blade pointed at me. “Hand over the girl behind you, or—”

He never finished. Eunice punched him, sending him flying into a distant tree. He dropped like a sack of rags, struggled briefly, then lay still.

As expected of Eunice—efficient and reliable. She gave me security.

“Let’s go. You’re targeted by the dragon. It’ll bring trouble.”

I’d almost died from Rosalynd’s crash and still feared that violent girl. I nodded fast without hesitation.

“You’re right. This place is unsafe.”

I followed Eunice a short way, then stopped abruptly.

“Why aren’t those mercenaries running?”

I gestured to hidden spots nearby. The same men who’d fled the slit-pupiled girl earlier now hid around Rosalynd and the dragon’s battlefield—not too close, not too far. All crouched behind trees, boulders, any cover.

They watched the human-dragon duel tensely, as if waiting.

Most stared at the little girl. When she showed power, they trembled slightly. When Rosalynd gained ground, they grew excited.

Strangely, not one moved to help. They only spied from the shadows.