Her Graceful War Song

Aurora's wounds were far too grave. Carrying her on his back, Travis could

already feel how faint her breathing was. Though she could barely complete a sentence, she managed to whisper something.

"Help... me, I don't want to die..."

When they arrived at the abandoned house they had previously stayed at, the first thing they did was stop Barrett's bleeding. There was still hope for him to live.

However, Aurora was in much worse condition. She had lost too much blood, and was likely suffering from internal injuries as well. It was a miracle she had survived this long.

There was a look of despair in her eyes, yet one hand still clutched Carissa's sleeve with all her remaining strength. Her lips moved as though she wanted to plead for help, but no words came. When she opened her mouth, only blood poured out.

Her gaze was unfocused, but she kept trying to find someone. Most assumed she was searching for Barrett, but he was being tended to. Travis was pressing down on his wound, trying to stop the bleeding, and sealing the pressure point at his left shoulder to prevent further blood loss.

Carissa checked Aurora's injuries and tried using hemostatic powder to stop the bleeding, but it was of no use. At last, Aurora's eyes seemed to clear. She stared straight at Violet, her expression full of hatred and bitterness. However, she was too weak to speak.noveldrama

Carissa understood her and softly said, "I told you that no one was coming to help us. We are the only ones carrying out the mission. You shouldn't have come back."

A mocking smile crossed Aurora's pale face. It was hard to say whether she was mocking Carissa or herself.

"Is earning merits worth more than your life?" Violet asked sharply, unable to hold back.

The words struck a nerve in Aurora. As she shut her eyes, a single tear slid down her face. Earning merit was important, but not more important than staying alive. Unfortunately, she couldn't speak her thoughts out loud.

Barrett's wound had been dealt with, but he couldn't move. He lay on the floor, gritting through the pain of his lost arm, his face pale with shock. He couldn't accept what had happened. In his heart, he blamed Aurora. If not for her insistence on going back, they would have already escaped safely. So, though he could have crawled over to see her one last time, he didn't.

Aurora soon drew her last breath. She died with her eyes wide open, unable to rest in peace.

Everyone knew they couldn't stay where they were for long. Since Aurora had died, they would at least bring her body home.

Carissa thought of the young officer, certain he was Arthur, Westhaven's crown prince. In this life, he had not been thoroughly humiliated, and thus wouldn't be driven to take his own life. But with Westhaven's court so deeply divided, who could say what his final fate would be?

With one dead and another wounded, the air among the group was heavy with gloom.

People had a poor impression of Aurora, but she was a female general of Starhaven and a comrade-in-arms. No matter what one thought of her, it was still

a bitter thing that she had lost her life here.

However, Carissa felt a deep sense of relief. Aurora's death meant that no matter what else happened, the terrible events of their previous life could no longer come to pass.

With the sky beginning to lighten, they had to leave before daylight fully broke Bun carried Barrett on his back, while Travis bore the weight of Aurora's body. Once they climbed the mountain path, the tightness in their chests eased a little. Given how quickly they were moving, the Westhaven soldiers wouldn't be able to catch up to them.

Soon, they found a flat stretch of land and stopped for a brief rest. By then, the sun had risen completely and was glowing gently above the ridge. Its light was gentle, the morning glow spreading across the sky. It looked like it was going to be a fair day.

Barrett had fainted from the pain of his lost arm while Bun carried him. Now that they had stopped to rest he was slowly waking up, but the pain was dreadful. Even when Bun held water to his lips, Barrett could only manage half a sip before

turning his face away, brow

furrowed in discomfort.

The others took a few bites of their dry rations and sipped what little water they

had, then set off again.

The battle had taken much out of

had

them, and none had truly rested. They all chose to preserve their strength rather than spend their inner force for speed. Better to walk quickly than waste their energy by using their Lightfoot Skill. If they did that and were attacked again, they might not even have the strength to defend themselves.

Besides, Barrett's wounds were severe, so too much movement could easily cost him his life. He endured the pain without complaint, but Carissa and the others dared not push too hard.

Carissa was eager to return not just to Victory Pass, but to the capital as well. She wanted to make sure her family was safe.

In this life, Arthur had not been disgraced, and there was no massacre of civilians.

So, in theory, the tragedy from before shouldn't repeat itself. However, nothing was ever certain.

Carissa had done everything she could to stop the bloodshed. In the end, all she really wanted was to keep her family safe.