Hansen stood in the center of Blue Bridge Fortress's council hall, facing everyone's astonished gazes with a slightly awkward expression.
He carefully took out a letter of appointment from his Magic Waist Pouch, its golden magic seal gleaming brightly in the firelight.
Everyone's eyes focused on the parchment, and a heavy silence filled the air.
All their past efforts and sweat seemed to have been ruthlessly erased in that instant, while disappointment surged through their hearts like a tide.
Quintina looked away from the appointment letter and fixed her gaze on Hansen. Her voice was calm, yet carried a hint of stubbornness. "I want to stay here and wait for Ang to wake up. Will you drive me away?"
Determination shone in her eyes, as though she were silently swearing to stand by her decision.
Hansen hurriedly waved his hands, his tone urgent. "Of course not! Quintina, Ang and I are good friends and comrades-in-arms. You can stay as long as you want!"
He tried to force a smile, but he could not conceal the complicated emotions in his eyes.
Quintina said nothing more. She merely nodded gently, turned, and returned to her room.
Inside, Ang lay quietly on the bed. After their careful treatment, the wounds on his body had healed, and his broken arm had been set and wrapped in thick bandages.
Quintina sat beside the bed, staring at his pale face as she murmured softly, "Ang, Hansen is Blue Bridge Fortress's commander now... You're only an ordinary Great Warrior now."
Her voice was so quiet, as though she feared disturbing him, carrying both heartache and unwillingness.
Two days later, Ang's group's one-year term officially came to an end.
Inside the council hall, everyone sat around the long table, but there was none of the heaviness of parting