Iria Alewine slowly laid down Rion's body on the ground. When she looked at the war again, her eyes were now filled with rage!

She picked up her sword and stood up. She narrowed her eyes at the arrow planted below her right shoulder and once again, she broke the arrow. Now, she had three arrows planted on her body and though each arrow miss the vital point, the pain was agonizing. She also lost quite a blood and that made her weak. However...

The pain of losing Rion made her numb and she didn't feel pain from those arrows at all!

The Commander saw how many of her soldiers sacrificed themselves just to keep her safe. Her blood boiled in anger and she tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword.

She started fighting again but this time, she resembled a crazy wild animal! The torturous pain caused by the three arrows was the last thing she cared about.

The thirst for revenge was driving her to the brink of insanity! Her sword can't wait to slash that person, the one whom she used to call her everything, the one whom she used to define as the most important person to her.

If Zaro was first in her life, then Rion would be the second.

Rion meant that much to her yet... he died from the arrow released by that coward! He died while saving her!

Many soldiers of the Royal Army stood in her way, trying to stop her. However, she would respond by killing each one of them. The archers were already down to 5 too. The soldiers of the Alewine Army took them down by throwing swords at them.

The fight goes on again for a few minutes and in total, it might be half an hour now. However, it was so intense and many deaths and casualties already took place as if they had fought for the whole day!

Iria Alewine forced herself to use both of her hands and the continuous movement of her body worsened her wounds, causing them to bleed a lot. However, the fact that she might lose her consciousness if this goes on... didn't even cross her mind. She couldn't think of anything else but avenging Rion.

As she was so focused on killing Zaro Aventine, she could sense how his gaze was on her the whole time.

Then suddenly, several arrows were released from behind and most of the arrows took down the soldiers of the Royal Army. Seeing this, General Trevor's eyes flew open. He observed far behind and then rushed to the King.

"Your Majesty, it's the Qalagon soldiers! If we don't retreat now, they will outnumber us!"

Anger rushed through the King in a split second. "Arin Helev!" he grunted. He was here for Iria?!

"Your Majesty, we should return and reinforce the soldiers," Derin promptly said. "If the Qalagon soldiers are here, that means they will soon attack the capital with the Cedore soldiers!"

Zaro Aventine briefly glanced at Iria who was forcing her way towards him. Then he finally nodded. "Retreat."

"Retreat!"

"Retreat!"

While the soldiers of the Royal Army rushed back to the way that would lead them back to the capital, Iria Alewine who had half lost her mind still had no plan to let them go! She was so adamant about killing the man who was once her best friend.

She glanced around and mounted on a horse. Then she went after them. Feeling worried, many of her soldiers followed her, including the lower-ranked generals.

Did she even know that the Qalagon soldiers were here?

Arin Helev was here.

"What will we do, Your Majesty?" General Hanson looked at the soldiers of the Alewine Army who were still chasing the Royal Army soldiers. Then he turned back to the King whose gaze was fixated on the ground.

The General followed his gaze and saw a corpse. Wasn't that...

Arin Helev shut his eyes. "Seems like we are a bit late," he muttered.

"We are supposed to reach the border post in the evening, Your Majesty. It's only afternoon and we are already in the Serene Valley," Hanson Lorin argued.

"Wait here with the soldiers," the King suddenly said. "I will stop her."

With that said, Arin Helev went after Iria and her soldiers. He caught up with them in no time and rode past many soldiers until he was riding right beside Iria. When that happened, he turned his head to her.

It was his first time seeing her again after months but... her hands, her face and her clothes were covered with blood. He noticed the three arrows planted on her body and that made anxiety surged through him. She lost too much blood! However...

Her eyes that hinted at pain, ruthlessness and lifelessness were what hurt Arin the most.

He was riding right beside her but... she didn't even notice his presence!

"Iria, please stop!" he said in a loud voice but she didn't even turn to him!

Did she hear his voice? Maybe not.

He knew that once the Jerivian soldiers reached the nearest city, they will be able to make use of the fort and the soldiers there. That will put Iria and her soldiers at a disadvantage but... it was obvious that she didn't care about any of that!

Knowing that he had no other choice, Arin Helev let go of the rein and jumped to Iria's horse. He landed behind her and he quickly hold the rein with her.

Iria Alewine felt as if she was suddenly woken up from a deep and hypnotizing sleep! When she felt his touch on her hand, she quickly looked behind and saw him.

It's him. Then she heard his voice.

"Let's stop this for now," he said to her, patiently. "If you want revenge, I will give you many chances to do that. But first, let's bring you and your soldiers to safety. You are badly injured."

No matter what, they were still in the territory of Jerivia, the kingdom of Zaro Aventine. They couldn't be so sure of anything.

"Trust me, Iria," Arin spoke up again. "I will help you in however way you want. But you have to survive first."

Like always, his words and promise were soothing for her. What she witnessed in the past days were enough to break her many times and it indeed broke her. When Rion died, she thought that her world was over but...

His appearance reminded her that she still had something to look forward to.

Slowly, she let loose of the rein while he tightened his grip on it. Once she did that, her vision became blurred and she collapsed in his safe arms.....