Chapter 293: Starting the Day on the Wrong Foot

The rookie climbed down from the bunk carefully and took a seat at the edge of the bed.

Now that she had her so close, under the dim light filtering through the window, Alice could make out her face more clearly.

There was nothing left in her of the joking, somewhat clumsy young woman she knew.

Her expression was serious and pensive, her gaze lost on the floor, as if she’d been turning something over in her head for far too long and had finally decided to say it.

"Is this about today?" Alice asked, sitting down beside her. "Because if it is, you shouldn’t make such an important decision while you’re still worked up... We were all at our limit, and yes, I was hard on you, but that’s no reason to—"

"No, it’s not about that," the rookie cut in softly, shaking her head. "It has nothing to do with you, or with today. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time."

Alice simply looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

The young woman fell silent for a few moments before speaking, as if she needed to put her thoughts in order first.

"Do you know why I joined the Inquisition?" she finally asked, with a sad smile. "It wasn’t out of a calling, or because I believed in your cause... None of that."

She let out a short, dry laugh.

"The truth is much simpler... and a lot less pretty."

"Tell me," Alice said, watching her closely.

"I grew up in a very poor household," the rookie went on. "My parents could barely keep the family afloat, and with several younger siblings, every coin mattered. So when I grew up, I understood I’d have to find my own way to help them."

Her expression dimmed a little.

"The problem was I had no magical aptitude, no influential family behind me, no resources to start with... and in a world like this, that leaves very few doors open."

She paused briefly.

"Really, I only had three paths," she confessed bitterly. "The clergy, which had already shut its door on me because of my nonexistent magic. The Inquisition, which took in almost anyone willing to wield a weapon. Or... selling my body in some brothel."

She shrugged with resignation.

"Of those three, the Inquisition was, by far, the most dignified... At least here I could send some money back to my family with my head held high."

Alice listened to all of it in silence.

And as the young woman spoke, something shifted inside her.

Because all at once, every bit of harsh treatment she’d given her over the past few days took on a different weight.

She had assumed, without a second thought, that the rookie was just another recruit, someone who had chosen this life and simply needed to learn through discipline.

She had never once stopped to consider what had brought her here, or what story she carried on her back.

For the first time in a long while, Alice felt something close to guilt.

"I’m sorry to hear that..." Alice murmured, somewhat sadly.

"You had no way of knowing," the rookie replied with a small smile. "It’s not something I go around telling people."

"Even so... I don’t want you making a decision you might regret later," Alice said in a calm voice. "I know life hasn’t been easy on you, but I also know you’re a lot stronger than you think."

Then she sighed.

"And honestly, I’m also worried about what’ll happen to you if you quit. Do you already know how you’re going to support your family?"

"I don’t know," she admitted honestly. "But I’m sure I’ll find something else... It might be hard, but I’d rather carve out my own path than stay here just out of fear."

Alice studied her for a long moment, and although part of her wanted to press further, to convince her to stay, she knew this wasn’t the moment.

It was late, they were both exhausted, and a decision like this shouldn’t be made or dismissed in the middle of the night.

"All right... I’m not going to try to talk you into anything right now," Alice said after a moment. "Just promise me you’ll wait until morning before deciding."

She settled back onto the bed.

"Now try to get some rest... when the sun comes up, we’ll talk about this properly, and maybe we’ll find a better solution."

The rookie looked at her, and a warm, almost grateful smile lit up her face.

"...All right," she said quietly. "And thank you for taking the time to listen to me, Grand Inquisitor... It means a lot to me."

"Don’t mention it," Alice replied, closing her eyes. "Now go to sleep, before I regret being nice."

The rookie let out a soft little laugh, got up, and climbed back onto her bunk.

And for the first time all night, with that conversation lifting a weight off her chest, Alice finally felt like she could rest.

...

When Alice woke up the next morning, the faint rays of sunlight were already creeping in through the cabin window.

She sat up slowly, still groggy, and the first thing she did was glance up at the top bunk.

To her surprise, it was empty.

The blankets were still rumpled, but there was no sign of the rookie anywhere.

’She must have gotten up early...’ she thought, rubbing her eyes. ’Probably went to sort out the supplies, like I told her to yesterday.’

That thought brought the conversation rushing back to her, and with it, a pang of discomfort.

’I think I was too hard on her in the end...’ Alice admitted to herself as she sank back into the bed. ’After everything it cost her to open up to me, the least I could’ve done was try to comfort her.’

She let out a long sigh.

’And instead, I ended up being just as curt as always... Delicate conversations are definitely not my strong suit.’

She lay there for a moment, cursing herself internally for her social clumsiness, planning how she’d bring the subject up with the rookie again, this time with a bit more tact.

But then, a violent blast shattered the morning silence.

Alice bolted upright, every trace of drowsiness vanishing instantly.

Her heart shot into overdrive, and her hand flew toward the gauntlets resting beside the bed.

And without wasting a second, she got up and ran out the door.

"What the hell is going on?!"