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“I’m Aria Brook of Team Aria.”
“I’m Luke Trevor, Team Leader of the seventh Mobile Heavy Cavalry. Please call me Luke.”
“Then Aria is fine for me too. Looking forward to working with you.”
“The pleasure is mine! I hear someone as young as you already holds a Grade. That’s reassuring!”
“Starting next month, anyway. So? Are your preparations finished?”

As dawn began to brighten the sky, Aria and Trevor exchanged greetings and a firm handshake at the campsite atop the hill.

Around them, the knights were dismantling their camp and preparing to withdraw.
In their place, members of Amukham’s Village Guard were carrying in barricades and beginning work on defensive fortifications. There were over a dozen corps members present. They had accompanied Trevor to the Hill of Lamentations both as an escort and as an advance party. Once the handover was complete, the knights would return to the village.

“Yes. We should be able to withdraw in less than thirty minutes. …But forgive me. Could I ask you to come to that tent for a moment? If there’s any help you can lend, I’d appreciate it.”

With that, Trevor led Aria toward a tent that was still standing in the center of the camp.

The rest of Team Aria dismounted and gathered together nearby. Each of them wore a cloak and kept their hoods pulled low over their faces.

“Hey… miss…”

Ilta spoke quietly to Susie.

“Hm?” Susie looked up at her from beneath her hood.
“You chose the Seer class as your starting class, right?”

Susie nodded.

“And after that? Once you enroll and receive your Ether Seal, what class are you planning to choose? Have you decided?” Ilta asked.

Susie tilted her head slightly and placed a finger against her chin as though thinking deeply.

“Mmm… Bard?”
“As expected of you, Princess!”

Katy Forest said excitedly, throwing up her fist.

“…Haah. I knew it…”

For some reason, Ilta let out a sigh. Seeing this left Susie even more perplexed.

“Ilta! Come here for a second!”

Aria’s voice suddenly called out from inside the tent. Wondering what had happened, the group walked over and entered after being invited inside.

The tent was larger than expected. Illuminated by lantern lights, Trevor and Aria were already there. A member of the logistics corps was tending to someone lying on a cot.

Then Susie noticed another partitioned-off space beyond the bed. Something was on the other side. A familiar presence caught her attention. She peered past the divider.

“Regulus?!”

The name escaped her lips before she could stop herself. There, without a doubt, was the Cloud family’s, Howard’s beloved horse, Regulus.

The horse lay on a pile of blankets spread across the ground. Bandages and large gauze dressings covered wounds all over his body. Blood had seeped through nearly all of them. His breathing was ragged and labored. Anyone could see he was suffering. Without thinking, Susie rushed over and sat beside him, placing a hand on his body. Regulus seemed to notice her. He weakly turned his head toward her.

“You know this horse?”

Seeing Susie’s reaction, Trevor addressed her.

“…Yes. This child used to take care of him often…”

Anne-Marie stepped smoothly between them and answered while keeping her face hidden beneath her hood.

“I see. I heard he belonged to the lord…?”
“…She’s always loved animals.”
“I understand. In any case, I’m glad someone who knows him is here.” Trevor lowered his eyes. “As you can see, he doesn’t have much time left. At least now he can see someone familiar before the end…”

Trevor did not press further regarding Susie’s connection to Regulus. Everyone present was visibly relaxed.

“…Can he be healed?”

Ilta asked Trevor quietly. Trevor slowly shook his head.

“Unfortunately, there’s no healer here capable of treating an animal this large. Casey over there managed to close the major wounds, but he couldn’t restore him completely…”

Trevor glanced back and forth between Regulus and the man, Casey Guinness, lying on the cot. His expression was full of frustration.

“Casey’s condition isn’t much better. At this rate, it’ll be difficult even to transport him back to the village. I was hoping Team Aria’s healer might be able to help.”

Ilta exchanged a glance with Aria. The two nodded.

“Understood. Leave it to me. But I need to concentrate, so I’d like everyone except our team to step outside.”
“You’ll do it?! Thank you! All right. We’ll wait outside. Please take care of Casey!”

After bowing respectfully to Ilta, Trevor left the tent together with the logistics officer. Still crouched beside Regulus and gently stroking him, Susie looked up at Ilta.

“…Miss Ilta. Could… could you let me do it?”
“I knew you’d say that, Princess. That’s exactly why I asked them to leave. You want to save this horse, don’t you?”

Susie nodded.

“Thank you, Miss Ilta.”

After giving Ilta a grateful smile, Susie turned toward Regulus and Casey Guinness. Then she quietly activated a skill.

Vitality Release.

A skill belonging to Susie’s Deification healing class, Great Wiseman. It completely restored the HP and MP of all allies around her. Any excess healing overflowed into stamina recovery and granted several minutes of automatic HP regeneration.

A wave of light spread outward from Susie. At the same moment, pillars of light erupted from both Casey Guinness and Regulus.

Their injuries began mending visibly. Their strength returned. When the light finally faded, Regulus immediately sprang to his feet and let out a powerful neigh. It was almost as though he understood that Susie had healed him. The horse promptly rubbed his muzzle against her face and began licking her enthusiastically.

“R-Regulus! W-wait! I get it already! Th-that tickles… f-fwahhh!”

His energetic licking nearly pushed back her hood. Anne-Marie hurried over and fixed it from behind before it could slip off.

“W-What was that light?!”

The tent flap was suddenly thrown open. Trevor burst inside.

“Luke! Barging in like that is rude!”

Aria instantly stepped between Trevor and Susie’s group.

“Ah… sorry. But that light… what in the—?!”

His eyes widened as he stared at Regulus. Only moments ago, the horse had been on death’s doorstep. Now he was standing, healthy and energetic. It was as if Trevor had witnessed a miracle.

“Wait… Casey! Are you all right?! Can you sit up?!”

Trevor turned toward Casey Guinness. Casey had already sat up in bed and was staring at his own hands in disbelief. He seemed unable to comprehend how completely his body had recovered.

“Y-Yes… completely. N-no, actually…” Casey flexed his arms and legs as he stood.

“I feel even better than before I was injured.”

“…Amazing.” Trevor stood speechless.

Then admiration flooded his face. “As expected of Amukham’s A-Rank team’s High Priest! Incredible!” He looked directly at Ilta.

“To restore them this thoroughly in an instant! Even among the elite healers of the Knight Order’s medical corps, there are very few capable of something like this! Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!”
“Ah… um… y-you’re welcome?”

Ilta awkwardly avoided eye contact as she answered.

“See? Just as I thought. With healing power like that already… It’s such a waste not to choose a healing class.”
“A Bard’s advanced classes are versatile. They can heal and fight. It’s not a waste.”
“Haah… I suppose that’s true.” Ilta smiled wryly. “For someone like our Princess, any class would probably work.”
“Mm!”