Warrior Training System-Chapter 467: Scent on the Wind

Here’s a cleaner, smoother rewrite that keeps the tone straightforward and flowing, without adding extra drama:

Cassian stepped out of Aria’s tent feeling oddly lighter. He wasn’t sure why—maybe because finding the traitor was no longer his responsibility, or maybe because it simply wasn’t his problem anymore. Either way, he was done here. From now on, he could move freely.

He was already thinking about leaving for Magisteria tomorrow when Robert suddenly appeared in front of him, snapping that brief calm.

Cassian’s jaw tightened. "One more thing to take care of..."

Night was about an hour away when he went looking for the women he’d seen with Robert the previous evening. They weren’t hard to spot—laughing, flirting with a few soldiers near the edge of the camp. Before he could even approach them, they started heading out with those men.

Cassian didn’t need to guess where that was going.

Keeping his distance, he followed quietly, his assassin’s bracelet slipping into place as his presence faded into the background once more.

The two women led the soldiers deeper into the trees, laughing softly, brushing arms, keeping them just distracted enough to not notice how far they’d wandered from camp. By the time night fully settled in, the cold had started to bite—winter wasn’t here yet, but it was close enough to make the air sharp.

One of the girls shivered deliberately. "It’s freezing out here," she said, hugging herself. "Mind making a fire?"

The soldiers, eager and already half-hooked, jumped at the chance. Within minutes, they were stacking wood, striking flint, doing everything short of tripping over themselves to look useful.

Cassian watched from above, crouched in the branches, his presence smothered by the bracelet.’Yeah... this again,’ he thought. A fire was perfect—light, noise, and an excuse to stay put. Stall long enough, and the real reason for this little walk would show up.

The flames finally caught, crackling softly, throwing warm light across the clearing. The girls sat close, hands stretched toward the heat, smiling just enough to keep the soldiers relaxed.

Cassian didn’t move. He didn’t need to.

If his guess was right, Robert would be here soon.

Cassian landed on a higher branch in a single smooth motion, muscles coiled, eyes locked on Robert. His pulse was steady, but his thoughts weren’t.

’When did he get that close?’No footsteps. No shift in air. Nothing.

Robert lounged against the trunk like this was a casual meeting, one leg dangling, hands relaxed. Too relaxed.

"Easy," Robert said, amusement lacing his voice. "You look like you’re about to stab a friend over a misunderstanding."

Cassian didn’t lower his guard. His Domain hummed faintly beneath his skin, probing, searching—yet there was nothing. No hostility. No flare. No tell.

"That’s new," Cassian said coolly. "Sneaking up on me. Since when did you learn that trick?"

Robert chuckled softly. "Since I learned it was healthier to stay alive."

Below them, the soldiers were distracted, laughter crackling with the fire. The women were still playing their parts, but Cassian noticed it now—the way their eyes kept drifting toward the trees, the way their smiles never quite reached their eyes.

"You didn’t come for them," Cassian said. "You came for me."

Robert tilted his head. "Did I?"

"Yes," Cassian replied flatly.

Robert chuckled, lifting both hands in mock surrender. "You’re right. Those two are just gonna talk the idiots up tonight. Nothing exciting," he said, eyes flicking toward the fire below before drifting back to Cassian with a knowing look.

Then his smile tilted, just a little."Unlike yesterday..."

Cassian stiffened, fingers tightening around the hilt of his new sword. "You knew I was watching?"

Robert chuckled. "Not at first. That little bracelet of yours did its job—I’ll give you that. Slipped right past my senses." His eyes glinted. "But once you left, I caught your scent. Same as today."

Cassian’s surprise faded into suspicion. Scent? His mind raced—mage, Circle Warrior, cult experiment, something worse.

He snorted. "Picking up my smell? And I’m the pervert here?"

"Don’t deflect," Robert said, straightening from the branch. "I can practically hear the gears turning in your head."

He stepped lightly onto another branch, casual, balanced—too casual. Far enough from the others that no one could overhear.

"So," Robert continued, tilting his head, "what are you guessing?" A pause. A faint smile."Am I a mage... or a Circle Warrior?"

Cassian’s grip tightened around his sword as he took a step back. Robert, annoyingly calm, stepped forward instead.

"Doesn’t matter," Cassian said coldly. "I’m killing you anyway."

Robert clicked his tongue, looking genuinely offended. "Wow. That’s how you repay favors? I kept an eye on Lumine for you, you know. She was one bad patrol away from becoming monster food."

The moment Lumine’s name left his mouth, Cassian’s killing domain flared—red light crawling over his skin like heat haze.

"You traitorous bastard," Cassian snarled. "I shared my fucking underwear with you."

Robert burst out laughing. "You’re getting sentimental now? Bringing up shared underwear?"

He didn’t finish the thought.

Cassian flashed past him in a red blur.

Robert froze mid-laugh. A thin crimson line appeared across his shoulder—then his armored arm slid free and dropped to the ground with a heavy thud.

Robert blinked, more surprised than hurt. "Huh. Thought you’d go for my neck."

Cassian was already staring, horror creeping in as muscle twitched and writhed. Tendrils of flesh pulled together, knitting bone and sinew back into place. In seconds, the arm reattached itself, skin sealing smooth as if it had never been cut.

"How...?" Cassian muttered.

Robert flexed his restored shoulder, rolling it once before grinning. "Surprise."

The skin beneath the torn armor looked brand new.

"Not only you get ridiculous abilities like that," Robert continued casually. "I got mine too. Courtesy of the cult."

Whatever shock Cassian still had evaporated the moment Robert admitted the cult’s involvement, replaced by pure, burning fury.

Robert felt it immediately. He raised both hands and took a step back. "Hey—hey. Easy," he said quickly. "I didn’t say I am a cultist."

Cassian paused, confusion cutting through his rage just enough to make him lift an eyebrow.

Robert smirked at that, clearly enjoying the moment.