The light of dawn filtered through the small window of the dungeon as the entrance door creaked open. Krau did not react immediately. He merely narrowed his eyes, watching the approaching shadow.
The duke.
The guard opened the gate and the nobleman stepped forward with a confident stride, stopping in front of Krau with a smile that held no warmth.
"Well, Krau... ready for your punishment?"
Krau exhaled boredly, as if the conversation seemed like a routine of no interest to him.
"So early... I thought you'd at least give me time to eat breakfast before you tried to kill me."
The duke laughed softly, as if the response amused him.
"I've been thinking about how to punish you for the incident with the griffin. One hundred lashes: fifty in front of the townspeople and fifty in front of my guests from last night."
He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice.
"But..." His finger slid from Krau's chest to his jaw. "It might be unnecessary if you decide to change your mind."
The silence lingered.
Krau did not look away. He made no gesture.
The duke smiled more, with a calmness that made the air heavier.
"We don't have to be enemies, Krau. We both want the same thing."
Krau raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you being so kind to me, Duke?"
"If you scratch my back..." He winked, the gesture slower this time. "I'll scratch yours."
Krau dropped his head back with feigned exhaustion.
"This has romantic overtones."
The duke let out a soft laugh, but he didn't deny anything.
"I mean... if you accepted my proposal last time, who would it hurt?"
Krau narrowed his eyes. He was speaking too familiarly.
"Hey, is this romantic?"
The duke didn't answer right away. He just smiled, the same calculated smile as always, but now with a more private gleam in his eyes.
"After all... we can do everything together, can't we?"
Another wink. This time, more intentional.
Krau let out a small, dry laugh and shook his head.
"Ah. Ah..."
The duke watched him expectantly.
Krau tilted his face slightly toward his hand, without moving it away, letting the moment linger for a moment longer.
"I'm sorry, Duke. But I don't like things that can't be said."
A slight gleam crossed the Duke's gaze.
Krau smiled slightly, still without moving.
"I'm flattered. Perhaps a little curious."
He let the silence linger for a moment, just to play with his expectations.
And then...
"But the answer is no."
The duke didn't lose his smile immediately, but his eyes stopped shining. And for the first time, Krau noticed the slight hardening of his jaw.
The nobleman took a step back, but his voice remained smooth.
"A hundred lashes, then."
He paused.
"Perhaps you'll want to talk later... when the flesh is softer."
And he left.
Later that same morning
Krau's body fell heavily onto the damp stone floor of the dungeon. The door slammed shut behind him. The guards said nothing. There was no need.
His back was burning. The pain was a silent storm, pulsing through every fiber of his body.
Fifty lashes. Another fifty were due at sunset.
In war, it hurt less. There, the blows were for survival. Here... they were for whim. For wounded honor. For peace.
The silence of the dungeon was a respite. The pain burned, but at least he was alone.
Not for long.
Boots echoed in the hallway. Slow. Unhurried.
Krau did not raise his head until the shadow stopped on the other side of the bars.
"Well..." said the figure in a harsh voice. "This is how peace welcomes one of its old champions."
Krau narrowed his eyes, recognizing the silhouette.
"Don't you have anything better to do, Corvus? I thought you had forgotten my existence years ago."
Corvus smiled dryly.
"I find it difficult to forget my mistakes."
"What are you here for now? To remind me that I failed as a paladin? Or to see if I'm still breathing?"
"To offer you a job. A simple one," Corvus said calmly, dropping a small envelope between the bars. "You will take a novice to the elven kingdom of Eliy. No monsters. No glory. Just escort a girl to the woods."
Krau laughed incredulously.
"After six years without seeing you, you come to offer me a job as a nanny? I thought your favorite, Ezxi, would be delighted to do something so noble. Or are you afraid of him? Are you afraid he'll ruin even such a simple job?"
Corvus's face remained unchanged.
"Ezxi is not an option for this. Neither the Church nor the Crown wants him anywhere near this mission."
Krau looked at him coldly.
"Why me?"
"Because I want this to be discreet. And no one is more discreet than you. No one asks about a man who has fallen out of favor with the Church."
Krau snorted.
"Discreet... yes. And useful even for your ridiculous requests."
Corvus narrowed his eyes, ignoring the provocation.
"Accept. It's non-negotiable. The Church wants this novice to arrive alive in Eliy. And I want to make sure that happens because your decision will determine whether you continue here receiving lashes or who knows what other punishment. The decision is yours."
"And what about Ezxi?" Krau muttered. "Is he no longer the spotless hero? The champion of the goddess Kise?"
Corvus was silent for a moment before responding, his voice laden with disdain.
"Stop mentioning him. That imbecile has other... tastes that I don't want anywhere near the girl."
Krau raised an eyebrow but did not insist.
"Fine. I'll accept this nonsense. But not for you."
"I know," said Corvus, turning away. "And try not to break her. She's more important than she seems."
The master walked away without another word, leaving Krau alone with his task and his silent contempt.
Later, upon leaving the dungeon...
Krau walked through the door to the outside, feeling the fresh air for the first time all day.
His eyes adjusted to the light.
And then he saw Corvus... accompanied by a young woman.
Liria.
Krau watched her for a few seconds, his expression unchanged.
Then he snorted with slight annoyance, walking past without saying anything.
"Stop," said Corvus, in a firm tone.
Krau stopped.
He turned his head with genuine exasperation.
"Stop acting like a child," Corvus continued.
Krau exhaled heavily.
"Fine."
Silence.
Then he looked at the young woman with disinterest before turning back to Corvus.
"I need a drink before I listen to this nonsense."
And he kept walking.
The young woman stared at him, but said nothing yet.
There would be time to talk later.