Interlude: Aria – Part 01
Ewen Benjamin was becoming quite the thorn in Aria’s side.
Originally from the Militant Nation, he had served as an advisor to Zenobia Q. Lanchester, the Girl King, while also pursuing his studies in continental history as an aspiring scholar. He was rigid to a fault, but with gentle eyes and polite manners. At least, that’s how Aria, a non-human, saw him.
Their first meeting, however, had been far from ideal.
Aria was an Infernal Blade. And Ewen had lost his father to one owned by the Militant Nation.
During her time there, Ewen had approached her, seeking information on the Independent Trade City. At first, their conversations had been lively and engaging, but the moment the topic turned to Infernal Blades, his expression instantly darkened and the light vanished from his eyes.
“I will despise Infernal Blades until my dying breath.”
He spat the words out with a venom. And once he realized what Aria truly was, he disappeared without another word.
It was a horrible, miserable encounter.
That was exactly why Aria couldn’t let it end there. She refused to leave things unresolved, so she urged him to come watch the close-quarters combat between the Militant Nation and the Imperial Federation. She wanted him to see how she lived.
“I won’t let you go on as some coward, hating Infernal Blades. I have my pride, too! So watch closely, pretty boy. Watch how I fight today!”
She wanted him to know that not all Infernal Blades were made only to kill, destroy, and take away. Some fought to save, to protect, and to carve a different fate.
What Ewen made of that battle, what he felt as he watched, remained a mystery. Aria’s goal wasn’t to console him for his past. It was simply to challenge his belief that Infernal Blades were nothing but weapons of destruction.
But she felt her effort hadn’t been in vain. After Aria and her companions left the Militant Nation, Ewen followed them alone and bowed before her.
“I am truly, deeply sorry.”
His face then was clear, unburdened. His expression told her he had heard her message loud and clear. She nodded, feeling a slight tear welling up.
“No, thank you.”
And just like that, what had started as a small, bitter conflict ended in peace.
All’s well that ends well.
Or so it seemed.
“Aria!”
Here we go again.
Walking down the government office’s hallway with her partner, Aria felt her energy drain the instant she heard the voice behind her. She’d been trying her best to steer clear of him these past few days, but Ewen had finally managed to track her down.
She turned. And of course—there he was, the gentle‑faced, round‑glasses scholar. In the Militant Nation, he’d worn a soldier’s uniform as he was technically a member of the army, serving as Zenobia’s adviser. Here in the Independent Trade City, however, he had traded it for loose, comfortable civilian clothes. A soldier by title only, with the lean build of someone who had never trained.
Ewen hurried over, precariously balancing a stack of books in his arms.
“Thank you both for your service!” he greeted.
“And you as well, Ewen,” Cecily answered brightly.
Ewen adjusted the wobbling books and flashed a warm smile at Aria. “It’s been a while, Aria. I was getting worried since you’ve been scarce lately.”
“No need to worry,” Aria replied flatly. “I’ve been avoiding you on purpose.”
“Y-You’re as cold as ever,” he said, laughing awkwardly but not seeming too fazed.
Lately, Aria’s blunt remarks had become the norm whenever they crossed paths, so maybe he’d just gotten used to it. Despite her sharp tongue, he’d shown no sign of being discouraged.
Quickly bouncing back, Ewen put on his usual, good-natured smile. “A-Anyway, it’s been too long. I’ve started studying Prayer Pacts recently. That’s what all these books are for. As you’d expect from the birthplace of the technique, there’s tons of resources here in the city! I even ended up buying a load of jewel steel. Oh, and I’ve already memorized some basic healing incantations, so Cecily, if you ever need help, just let me know. Right now, I’m focusing on large-scale Prayer Pacts.”
“All right, all right, we get it,” Aria interrupted wearily. “No need to dump it all at once.”
She noticed Cecily watching them with a soft, knowing smile. On her face was the look of someone witnessing a wholesome scene, like she was quietly observing a couple arguing back and forth.
It’s not like that! Aria screamed internally.
She couldn’t help but remember the time Ewen had caught up to them. After his heartfelt apology, she’d assumed he would return to the Militant Nation. But instead, he joined their journey.
Apparently, Zenobia had assigned him as a liaison between the Militant Nation and the Independent Trade City, meaning he was in it for the long haul. That explained why he’d shown up with an absurd amount of baggage—a horse loaded down with crates and saddlebags.
Initially, Aria had thought he’d traveled all that way just to make amends. But no, it turned out his apology was just a stop along the way to his new assignment.
The realization had left her more than a little annoyed. And so began Aria’s worst nightmare.
Ewen got really close to Aria, likely because she was the first person he’d met here.
“I found something strange earlier,” “What’s this food called?” “The northern side of the continent really is warmer, huh?”
From idle chatter to trivial questions, he struck up conversation with her at every turn. That alone was suspicious enough, but the fact that he’d left his duties in the Militant Nation to follow her only added fuel to the misunderstandings. By the time Aria realized what was happening, the people around them had already decided she and Ewen were in that kind of relationship.
“You have my blessing, of course,” Cecily had teased.
“As a fellow demon, I demand an explanation,” Lisa said.
“So, the Infernal Blade’s been doing the deed, huh?” Luke snickered, earning himself a sharp kick in the shin. He’d howled in pain.
Aria had insisted that she and Ewen weren’t lovers, and they were just friends. Her type, she declared, was someone more like Cecily.
“Th-This is awkward. I already have someone,” Cecily had muttered under her breath.
Despite Aria’s repeated denials, Ewen’s obliviousness and failure to change his behavior only kept the rumors alive.
Even after they reached the city and he moved into the government dormitories, Ewen continued to approach her like an eager puppy every chance he got. Naturally, that fed a whole new round of gossip among the civil officials.
“The Infernal Blade Aria went to the Militant Nation and snagged herself a man!”
If she’d been the kind of Infernal Blade who could fight alone, she might have reduced the entire government office to rubble by now. That was how infuriating these utterly baseless rumors were.
And this was why his presence had become such a headache for her.
And besides…
Though he acted friendly, it was clear Ewen hadn’t fully opened up to her.
“Cecily, may I borrow Aria for a bit?”
His voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She turned to find him addressing Cecily, his usual smile replaced by an expression of mild unease. Aria found it surprising.
“I don’t mind,” Cecily replied, her gaze shifting to Aria.
Ewen turned to her too. “Would that be okay?”
“Uh…” Aria hesitated. She couldn’t tell what he had in mind. “For what?”
“There’s somewhere I’d really like to take you.”
“Where? And why me?”
“I’ll explain once we get there. Please?”
Aria looked to Cecily, who gave her a small nod.
“We don’t have anything pressing today. Since he’s inviting you, you might as well go.”
If Cecily says so…
Aria reluctantly agreed.
Ewen said he needed to return the books to the archive first, so Aria decided to wait for him near the entrance of the government office.
“This feels strange,” she murmured to herself.
Standing alone, she absentmindedly watched the flow of citizens and staff entering and exiting the building. Her thoughts wandered randomly.
Before coming to the Independent Trade City, as an Infernal Blade, she had passed through the hands of various owners via trade. Though she occasionally traveled with her owners, it was always as a sword, never as a person. She had never had the freedom to wander as she pleased, spending most of her time carried in blade form.
That was why standing here now, waiting for someone, felt so oddly unfamiliar.
It’s like… I’m human.
She was an Infernal Blade, not a human being. Since meeting Cecily, she’d spent more time in her human form, but even then, her actions—like choosing to follow Cecily or having Luke craft her a sheath—had been driven by her will as a sword. Accepting an invitation and meeting someone at their request was something she had almost never experienced. And now, she had the ability to refuse invitations. It was a new feeling, deeply significant for Aria.
She felt strangely elated. Her body felt light, almost as if she were floating. She had no idea where Ewen planned to take her, but the simple fact that she could act like a human filled her with joy. Not that she had any special feelings for Ewen, of course.
A hand tapped her shoulder from behind, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Turning with a smile, her pleasant mood suddenly soured. “Ugh.”
It wasn’t the person she had been waiting for.
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