Chapter 53: Prowess assessing
Soon after the exchange, Velira and the others took their leave. Alayne slipped away to change, while Velira and Shaula busied themselves with preparations.
That left only Mira and Eren in the dim confines of the tent.
Here, closer to the heart of camp, the noise of soldiers was dulled. The constant bustle was still there, but faint—just a murmur in the background compared to the chaos on the outer edge.
Mira sat cross-legged, shoulders slouched, eyes fixed somewhere on the ground. Her voice came out low, thoughtful.
"The pill... The kingdom’s advanced so much, and yet here we are. Still stuck on the outer layers, doing our own thing... like it doesn’t matter."
Eren studied her quietly, the thought gnawing at the back of his mind—Should I tell her about the System?
But almost as quickly as it surfaced, he smothered it.
If he spoke of that, then the truth of his reincarnation would come close behind. And if she put the pieces together—that his change, his strength, his very nature had shifted the same day the System appeared—would she still see him as her nephew? Or as someone else?
His jaw tightened.
"Haa..." Eren exhaled, the breath heavy.
Too many complications, he decided. Best to leave it.
Eren glanced toward Aunt Mira, only for her voice to cut through the quiet.
"You smell of Velira..." she murmured, the words edged with suggestion. A pause, then softer, "And something else, too. Are you sure you didn’t... do anything while you were gone for hours? Was it really just the healing?"
Eren dropped his gaze, pretending to sniff at himself. "No. I don’t smell anything," he muttered, inhaling harder as if to prove it. "Maybe... from the morning?" The hesitation cracked through his tone.
Mira’s eyes lingered on him, then drifted toward the curtained tent entrance, latched shut. She exhaled heavily.
"Alright..." she said at last, though her gaze slid aside. "But you do remember your promise from the morning, right?"
"The morning..." Eren echoed blankly, scrambling through his memory. Then it struck him, and he stammered, "Yes, yes. Of course."
Of course I can’t do it right now, he thought, relief washing over him. Good thing she isn’t pressing for it this moment.
Eren exhaled, forcing a smile. "At night, of course." He added a wink, then rose to his feet and moved toward the tent flap.
"Where are you going?" Mira’s voice followed him.
"Since we’ll be heading south," Eren replied lightly, "I figured I should know the strength and details firsthand. Better to be prepared, no?"
Mira studied him a moment before humming in agreement. "Alright... then I’m coming with you."
Together they stepped out into the rows of canvas, weaving through the endless sprawl of tents. The air was thick with the shuffle of boots, clatter of armor, and muffled orders carried across the camp.
After a while, they spotted Bavrik. He stood alone at the rise of a small slope, arms folded, gaze fixed over the moving soldiers below—his face set in thought.
Eren lifted his voice, steady but firm. "Bavrik!"
Bavrik turned at the sound of his name, his eyes narrowing as he saw the two approaching—Mira clinging tightly to Eren’s arm, her grip pressing firm against him.
He stepped forward to meet them. "You’ve returned?" His gaze flicked lower. "Ah... the hand. It’s healed?"
Mira answered for Eren, her tone steady. "Yes. Miss Alayne had a pill—one that could mend an arm within hours."
Bavrik froze. His eyes widened, disbelief flashing across his face. "A few hours...?" he repeated, voice edged with shock.
"Yes," Mira confirmed, nodding faintly. "She told us as much. I suppose the kingdom has advanced far in alchemy."
Bavrik’s brows knitted tighter. "A pill like that? Advancement in alchemy?" His voice dropped, muttering as if more to himself. "Why haven’t I heard of such a thing...?"
But before Bavrik could complete his train of thought, Eren cut in.
"Ehmm... what’s done is done. Let’s focus on what’s ahead. We’re heading south, aren’t we? You’ll want to see what I’m capable of." His words sliced into Bavrik’s musing, firm and deliberate.
Bavrik’s eyes narrowed, dropping to meet Eren’s with a measuring look. "Are you certain you’re ready? Ready enough for us to test those capabilities?"
Eren didn’t falter. He raised his once-shattered arm, rotating it loosely before flailing it outward. "Look—it’s fine."
The movement showed the truth. Though healed, the limb looked visibly leaner, the muscle mass shrunken compared to his other arm.
"In just one day, the loss is obvious," Eren admitted, flexing the weakened arm. A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "But it’ll do just fine now."
Bavrik hummed, then gave a short nod. "Alright. We’ll take this to the field. Assessing you here could stir the tents."
Eren agreed with a curt nod, and together they moved. Bavrik strode ahead, his cloak brushing at his heels, while Eren followed—Mira still clinging to his arm as if unwilling to let go.
They walked past the lines of tents until canvas gave way to open earth. A wide clearing stretched out before them, the edge of the camp fading into open ground.
The sun beat down from above, harsh and unyielding. It was well past the hour of lunch, but Bavrik gave no thought to meals. This was more important.
He stopped in the middle of the clearing, turning slowly, eyes sweeping over the field.
He stopped in the middle of the clearing, turning slowly, eyes sweeping over the field.
The sound of boots and murmurs soon followed, soldiers began to amass—first in twos and threes, then in clusters until a loose circle formed around them. Armor clinked, spears and swords rested against shoulders as curiosity thickened the air.
Eren stood tall within the growing ring of bodies, Mira still at his side, while Bavrik kept his expression composed—though he clearly welcomed the attention. An assessment like this wasn’t just for Eren. It was a show for the men.
From the edge of the circle, a shadow shifted. Bavrik’s eyes sharpened, catching sight of a soldier half-hidden, craning his neck to peek through the press of bodies. The man stiffened when Bavrik’s gaze locked onto him.
"You," Bavrik called, his voice cutting clean through the noise. "Step forward. Into the circle."
The soldier jolted, hesitated for a beat, then obeyed—pushing past his fellows until he stood in the open with Eren and Bavrik, stopping just short of Bavrik, face tense with the weight of sudden attention.
"What’s your name?" Bavrik asked, voice even but carrying.
The man hesitated only a moment before straightening his back under the commander’s gaze. "Simon, Commander."
Bavrik hummed. "Simon, eh?" His hand scratched idly at his chin. "Which company commander do you serve under?"
"Commander Kael, sir," Simon replied crisply.
Bavrik gave a curt nod. "Alright."
His gaze shifted toward Eren, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Think you can handle a match against this pretty boy here?" He jerked his chin toward Eren. "We’re testing his prowess."
Simon’s answer was immediate. "Yes, sir."
Bavrik’s smile widened as he stepped back, his boots grinding against the packed dirt. With a wave of his arm, he gestured to the gathered soldiers. "Clear some space."
The ring of men widened, boots shuffling back until a proper arena formed. Bavrik’s voice rang out once more:
"Simon—get your spear and armor."