Mae jolted, then reflexively straightened up.
"Oh— Lady Ravena," she said at once.
Lina stopped wiping the table.
"Eh?" She turned, confused. "Lady… who?"
The woman stepped inside without haste. Her gaze paused briefly on Lina before returning to Mae.
"It's been a while," she said lightly.
"I'm Ravena. Mae's former colleague. Back when she was still willing to serve on the battlefield."
Lina blinked. From the way Mae stiffened, it was obvious this was no ordinary visitor.
Ravena glanced around the small clinic—simple wooden shelves, low-grade potion bottles, bare-bones equipment.
"So this is where you are now?" she said. "A small village. A small clinic."
Mae offered a faint smile.
"I'm comfortable here."
Ravena snorted softly.
"You've always been bad at lying."
She stepped closer. Her tone remained casual, but her eyes were sharp.
"Comfortable? In a place where the young master dares to challenge a Regional Knight? Come on, Mae."
Ravena crossed her arms.
