Chapter 268

"I encountered a wild boar and sprained my ankle while climbing a tree." Evelyn had been so consumed by the desperate climb that she barely registered the pain until much later, when the adrenaline faded.

"Do you realize this is a restricted zone? It's extremely dangerous terrain."

"This is restricted?" Evelyn blinked in surprise. Chloe nodded firmly while the soldier beside her added, "This is an ancient, uncharted forest teeming with predators. Consider yourself fortunate it was just a boar." Even trained personnel avoided wandering here alone. A boar was manageable - encountering a wolf pack would have been fatal. Evelyn fell silent, a disturbing realization dawning on her.

The base camp appeared through the trees, its perimeter lights glowing warmly. The instructor's tense shoulders relaxed visibly upon seeing the group return safely. However, his expression darkened when learning of Evelyn's transgression. "Restricted means prohibited! Were you attempting suicide, venturing there alone?"

"My apologies."

The sincerity in Evelyn's voice softened his stance. "No more reckless behavior. You'll be marked absent for today's training and assigned field cleanup at dawn as disciplinary action."

Back in the barracks, Rachel nearly tackled her in relief. "Thank goodness you're safe! What possessed you to enter restricted territory?"

Evelyn dropped her pack heavily. "Winifred led me there."

"Winifred?" Rachel's eyes widened. "But why would she...?"

"No clue." Evelyn couldn't recall offending anyone. Why would Winifred deliberately strand her in lethal wilderness? Had fortune not favored her, she might never have returned.

She resolved to confront Winifred later. "Rach, any food left?" Her stomach growled audibly, empty since lunch.

"Plenty!" Rachel produced a stacked meal container, then retrieved a second. "Seconds available if you're still hungry!"

Dawn's pale light found Evelyn alone on the dew-slick field, raking leaves while others breakfasted.

Felix materialized under an oak, hiding something behind his back. "Exhausted yet, little goddess? Require assistance?"

"Negative." Evelyn kept raking without glancing up. Felix pouted dramatically before revealing a steaming food box. When Evelyn paused, he teased, "By completion time, the mess hall will be closed. This is purely altruistic - no need for gratitude."

Her stomach growled betrayal before she could refuse.

Felix smirked victoriously. "Eat. I'll handle this." He snatched the rake with surprising enthusiasm for someone who'd likely never performed manual labor. Evelyn studied the meal, perplexed by his kindness but genuinely appreciative.

"Thanks."

Seated on a weathered bench, she ate hurriedly. Felix wasn't the spoiled aristocrat she'd assumed. Between rakestrokes, he stole glances - watching Evelyn's bowed head, the delicate motion of her lips as she chewed.