“I want that and her lot gone!” The Commander smashed his fist over the table, spitting the words out. “No one from the Higher Circle gets involved, got it?”

Seulgi stood resolute, straight as a needle despite the pain in her arm and the fury in her eyes.

“Forgive me, Commander,” Seulgi used all of her will to keep her voice down. “But the Knights don’t belong to the Queen, thus, who the Knights are collaborating with is none of the Queen’s business.”

“What?” The old man snapped. He slammed both fists now, leaning forward. “You dare defy me? You’re nothing without the Queen’s help!”

“The Knights are not dependent on the Queen, Commander.” Seulgi lifted her chin. “We have always been a separate entity, older than the Queendom itself.”

“You little wench!”

Seulgi took one step forward. The four soldiers flanking the Commander drew their swords, forming an X in front of the Commander. Seulgi glared at them, then at the Commander.

“I suggest you learn to respect us. One day you’ll be crying out for the Knights and we won’t be there to save your arse.”

Seulgi turned around and exited the tent. The Commander bellowed behind her.

“Idiots,” Seulgi muttered under her breath.

She made her way through the soldiers gathering the tents and supplies, loading boxes onto carts and reining horses and bulls. She spotted the black figure among the crowd and strode there. Chungha was watching Seulgi approach, her frown quickly replaced by a smile as she halted before the mage, Seulgi’s silver helmet rested against her hips and her shield strapped to her arm.

“It seems the Commander doesn’t want you here anymore.”

“Not a surprise,” Chungha focused on the soldiers disassembling camp. “I should report the incident to the Higher Circle.”

There was no Wildling Witch. Only a girl born outside the Circle that mastered simple but effective spells and monsters that were not part of any lores Chungha knew. The Elder would be pleased to find a new magic user and worried for the threat these new creatures posed. Chungha glanced down at the two sticks she was holding, once pure white and connected as one. Now as useless as she felt.

“How long will it take you to return?”

Chungha looked long at Seulgi, as if she hadn’t understood her question.

“I am not returning.”

“You’re leaving for good?” Seulgi sounded almost disappointed, but her face showed none of it.

“My task here is done. I have assessed what needed to be assessed, what else should I be doing?”

“Helping us get to the bottom of this,” Seulgi stared at her hopeful. “We need a powerful mage user like you.”

“Funny you say so,” Chungha averted her eyes. “Since you seem to be a mage user, too.”

“Not a secret that Knights employ magic, how else could we know what we are up against? Still, it’s only a sip compared to you.”

“You say it as if all magic is bad,” Chungha retorted.

“It’s not,” Seulgi kept her tone neutral. “Look, Sunmi knows where these…,” she gestured at the caged monsters, quietly awaiting their fate, “...these things are coming from. We might have a chance to put an end to it before it spreads.”

Seulgi closed the distance between them and watched the woman as she held her gaze.

“I have also spoken with Sunmi while you were out,” she continued, pleased that Chungha was listening - at least, from the way her look hadn’t wavered. “She agrees your knowledge would be as valuable as your magic.”

Seulgi paused for effect but again the mage hadn’t argued or stated her opinion, instead, allowing Seulgi to add more to the conversation. Seulgi wanted to trust her - after that night - but she was still a pupil of the Higher Circle and Seulgi was still a Knight; some habits were harder to break.

“And,” Seulgi smiled. “And I want us to work together.”

“I am afraid,” Chungha finally intervened, lifting the two sticks for Seulgi to see. “That my skills relied on my staff. Without it, I am proficient in tricks and spells that mend the body, not which destroy.”

“That is more than enough,” Seulgi encouraged, tapping her shield with her helmet. “I can take the first line while you can keep me from tiring.”

“While the witch slays everything?”

Seulgi dramatical