When Lofna came to, clutching her throbbing head, she found Shel sitting beside her bed, battered and bruised.

Lofna nearly jumped at the sight of her teacher’s swollen, cut-up face—she hadn’t even recognized him at first glance.

“Awake?” Shel pressed an ice pack to his cheek, voice weary. “Any sharp pain in your head? Speak up if anything feels off.”

Memories flooded back—the hulking woman who’d knocked her out. Lofna’s eyes widened. “Teacher… that woman who hit me—did she attack you too after?”

“I challenged her to a duel after she hurt you.” Shel pulled two bloody teeth from his pocket. “…Holy Knights are tough. But I won. Pried these from her mouth. Consider it payback for you.”

“Are those… *front teeth*?!”

Lofna numbly took the teeth Shel offered. They’d only been rinsed in snow, streaked with blood. One was cracked—a brutal souvenir.

She froze, words failing her.

Then her stomach rumbled.

“Right. You’ve been out half the day without food…” Shel sighed. “I’d stewed meat for lunch, but the fight dragged on too long. The whole pot burned. Hilna’s making a new batch—it’ll be ready soon. Grab some dry bread if you’re hungry. …Wait. My neck’s killing me. I need rest.”

“Teacher… are you alright?”

“Nothing serious.” Shel clicked his tongue. “Haven’t fought in years. Got rusty. That’s why I look like this.”

He set down the ice pack, slowly pushed himself up, and shuffled back to his room.

Still dazed, Lofna stared at the teeth in her hand. Unsure whether to keep or discard them, she carefully set them on the bedside.

Only Hilna, busy in the kitchen, could answer her questions now.

“You’re awake?” Hilna sighed at her sister’s blank stare. “Teacher went through hell today to get justice for you. You should thank him.”

“What… happened?”

“That Holy Knight, Talia—she slapped you, knocked you out. Teacher snapped. He got Father and Sir Perry as witnesses, took your short sword, and dueled her.”

“Teacher challenged a *Holy Knight*?”

“Yes.” Hilna shook her head at her sister’s stunned silence. “If you hadn’t stepped forward as his ‘bodyguard,’ none of this would’ve happened… Father and Perry tried calming him down, but Teacher just cursed—*vividly*. Said things about… intimately acquainting himself with Talia’s parents and relatives.”

“He *cursed*?”

“Profusely.” Hilna still sounded amazed. “I never knew his vocabulary was so… creative. Anyway, Talia got furious and accepted.

“They fought on an empty patch of ground. Talia was like a bear—wore light armor under her robes. Her weapon dwarfed your short sword. She even unleashed sword energy and lightning. I thought Teacher might die.

“But he took two heavy slashes, overpowered her strength, and when their blades locked—he whipped out a potato peeler hidden in his sleeve and slashed her neck.

“As she clutched her throat, he kicked her right in the groin. While she howled, he punched her down, grabbed a rock, and smashed her mouth until her front teeth broke loose. Then he pried them out…”

“Perry called it unfair—attacking a fallen opponent—and tried stopping him. Teacher ignored him. *Fought Perry too*. Nearly killed him. I had to step outside and hit Teacher with a calming spell to snap him out of it.”

“…” Lofna fell silent for a long moment. “The person you’re describing… is that really Teacher Charles?”

She couldn’t reconcile this savage stranger with the gentle man she knew.

“I saw it all from the window.” Hilna sprinkled pepper and salt into the stew. “He changed. And it’s not over. Both Holy Knights are badly hurt. Father took them to recover. They’ll likely come back for revenge.”

“This is just… too…”

“Don’t complain. If you hadn’t played hero and provoked Talia, Teacher wouldn’t be covered in bruises. I could’ve handled it peacefully…” Hilna’s voice held quiet reproach. “Dinner’s soon. Don’t say anything reckless in front of him.”

---

Shel lay in bed until the aches dulled. The scent of stew and spices drifted in—he felt his strength returning.

Today’s fight had dragged him back to his wandering days before Ipoli. Back then, life-or-death brawls were routine. Survival meant skill and luck.

Comfort had softened him. Made him rusty.

And he still couldn’t fully leash his impulses.

No matter how gentle he acted, how hard he tried to be kind—that violent, feral part of him could still burst free at the slightest trigger.

Only Hilna’s careful knock roused him. He dragged himself to the table.

The pot of stew, butter, and sliced bread waited. Both girls sat quietly.

No cheerful chatter filled the room tonight. Only heavy silence.

“It’s alright,” Shel rubbed his sore scalp. “I lost control facing those Holy Knights earlier. Must’ve scared you. Don’t take it to heart. And Hilna—thank you. Your calming spell stopped me from doing something irreversible.”

“No trouble, Teacher.” Hilna straightened. “I wasn’t scared. Just… surprised. I never imagined you’d have such violent outbursts.”

“I was reckless.” He admitted it plainly. “Before Ipoli, I’d felt it brewing. When my life was on the line—when death or crippling injury loomed—I’d snap. Become a madman executing anyone who threatened me. Only after the danger passed would I regain myself.

“Life here was peaceful. I thought it was gone. But when that woman struck Lofna…”

*Like a child bullied, dreaming of a strong friend to fight for him. Until that phantom warrior truly took over his body.*

Hilna understood. “Could it be trauma, Teacher? Or a mind shielding itself under pressure?”

“Maybe.” Worry shadowed his voice. “But I’m stable unless provoked. And your spell works. Without it, I might’ve killed them both. If I ever lose control again… I’m counting on you, Hilna.”

“Yes, Teacher Charles!” Hilna stood, bowing deeply. “I’ll protect you.”

Lofna said nothing. She stared at Shel’s bruises, then at the two teeth resting on her bedside.

Though starving, she barely touched her food.

Her Teacher had shattered himself for her.

And those Holy Knights would surely return for vengeance.