Allen just sat there with his mind processing the new information that had just been dropped onto him and calculating all the different variables.

Joining them meant putting himself in direct conflict with beings who could apparently destroy entire cities and getting dragged deeper into a war that wasn't his. It could even mean risking exposure and risking revealing the true nature of his system.

But it also meant access. Access to information about this world, about magic, and about the highlanders. Access to resources and potential allies, however temporary. And staying here under their protection was certainly safer than trying to survive alone in a hostile world he knew nothing about.

It was a gamble. One that could alter the course of his life in this world completely.

"I understand," he finally said, his voice quiet. He looked Lishia directly in the eye. "What you're fighting for… I get it. But this is… a lot to take in if I'm being completely honest. You're asking me to risk my life in your war based on just one conversation."

He leaned back slightly in his chair. "While I do somewhat agree with your fighting cause and all that, I can't give you an answer right now. I need time to think about it and to weigh my options."

Lishia studied his face for a moment longer. She saw no fear or hesitation, but rather what reflected in her eyes was a calm and calculating look. It somewhat reminded her of herself.

It wasn't the reaction she had hoped for after baring her people's suffering, but she understood what it meant and wasn't disappointed.

This wasn't really a simple request, after all. She gave a single and sharp nod.

"Of course," she said, her voice returning to its usual all-business tone. "Take all the time you need. Luna will show you where you can rest."

Allen stood up. He gave a slight bow to the three of them while his expression was still unreadable.

He turned and pushed aside the tent flap and stepped back out into the somber quiet of the camp, leaving the three women alone in the tense silence.

The moment the cloth flap fell shut, the fragile peace inside the tent was instantly shattered.

"What was that, Lishia?!" Luna's voice was low, but there was a clear presence of anger in it.

She spun around with her fists clenched, with a clear look of disappointment and frustration on her face as she looked at her commander.

"What was what?" Lishia replied calmly. She didn't even turn around, her attention was already focused back on the map spread across the table.

"You know what!" Luna snapped as she took a step closer, her voice rising.

"We agreed, didn't we?! This was supposed to be an information exchange! We find out who he is and where he's from, and in exchange tell him about the highlanders. That's all it was supposed to be! We never talked about recruiting him!"

"Plans change, Luna," Lishia said nonchalantly, finally turning to face her. Her expression was cold and neutral. "And I did what was necessary for our cause."

"Necessary? You ambushed him! You poured out our entire tragic history trying to guilt trip him into joining our war! He has nothing to do with this, you know? Plus we don't even know if we can completely trust him."

"Did you not just tell me he killed a highlander?" Lishia countered, her voice sharp. "A highlander that neither you nor your sister, our two strongest fighters, could even scratch? Did you not just say he saved both your lives?"

She stepped away from the table, closing the distance between them. "Imagine the advantage, Luna. Imagine what we could do with someone like him on our side. A power equal to a Gifted one or maybe even stronger, but one the highlanders know nothing about.

"I'm sure you've noticed this too, but he doesn't have an aura around him. Which means they can't sense him. He's a blind spot. He's the perfect weapon against them."

"He's a person, Lishia! Not a weapon! Unlike us, his entire life does not revolve around a war! We are the ones who are taught to fight from the moment we are born, not him!" Luna shot back, her voice filled with frustration. "He's just lost and alone in a world he doesn't understand! We can't just use him like some kind of tool!"

"Can we afford not to?" Lishia's voice was quiet now, but her words hit harder than a shout. She looked directly at Luna with an unwavering, almost pitying gaze.

"Think about what happened today. Think about the lives we lost. Think about that highlander. We got lucky because Allen was there. But what happens next time? What happens when one of them decides to show up here? Or maybe two of them?"

She paused, letting the gravity of the situation sink in. "You are a Gifted, Luna. You are our best hope against them. But you can't even control your Grade 2 activation yet. You know that very well yourself.

"If you lose control in a real fight against a highlander, you'll do nothing but become a liability. You could kill more of our own people than the enemy would."

The words were rather personal and brutal. After all, nothing she was saying was a lie. Luna flinched as if Lishia had physically struck her.

The anger drained from her face, leaving behind a look of raw and helpless frustration and a deep, familiar shame. She opened her mouth to argue in order to defend herself, but no words came out.

What could she say? Lishia was right. She wasn't ready. Her power was a dangerous and unpredictable thing.

"As you are now," Lishia finished, her voice flat and leaving no room for argument, "you can't fight a highlander alone and guarantee a win. He can."

Luna looked away, unable to meet Lishia's cold and pragmatic gaze. She stared at the canvas wall of the tent, with her fists clenched so tight her knuckles were white. She hated it.

She hated that Lishia was right. She hated that they were so desperate that they had to rely on a stranger, a man who clearly didn't care about their cause. But she couldn't deny the logic.

Her shoulders slumped in defeat. Her voice was barely a whisper.

"…Fine. You're right," she said with a sigh.

No matter how much she hated it, she knew Lishia was right. She had always been. That's why she was the commander and not her, despite her not being a Gifted One.

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