"Because she's a woman"

"!!!" The soldier visibly trembled upon hearing these words, his eyes darting around searching for the speaker. But when he saw the lord commander approaching, his face drained of color.

"That's impossible, my lord," Eldarion narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the soldier in front of him from head to toe.

"Why is that, Keeper?" inquired Aron, stopping beside him.

""Keeper?"" Eamon and the soldiers echoed in unison, bewildered by the lord commander addressing this young elf with that title.

"Hmm?" When Eldarion saw the expressions on their faces, he realized he'd forgotten to explain the recent transformations. "Ahem...Yes, that's me. I'm Eldarion, the old Keeper."

Eldarion's revelation stunned the soldiers and Eamon. It dawned on them instantly that the awakening potion was the reason behind his youthful appearance. In a flurry, they all began examining their bodies, hoping the potion had reversed or restored their youth. Some checked their receding hairlines, while others opted for more sensitive spots.

Eldarion left them to their fantasies and replied to Aron's question. "My lord, there is no possibility for a woman to pass my interview without me knowing. With my runes, lying to me is impossible."

Aron smirked and said, "I've reviewed all the profiles, Eldarion, and I can confidently say a woman could have gotten through your interview with ease, simply because you neglected to ask one crucial question."

Eldarion raised an eyebrow. "Which is?"

Aron's smile widened, and he shifted his gaze to the soldier in front of them. "Are you male or female?"

As Aron's words sank in, a moment of realization washed over Eldarion's features. His eyes widened slightly, and then he let out a low chuckle, understanding dawning on him.

"Ah, I see," Eldarion murmured, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "A simple oversight indeed. But in my defense, all the Frostguards have always been men, so I never anticipated a woman infiltrating our ranks."

Across from them, the soldier trembled violently, beads of sweat forming beneath her helmet. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the sudden silence. What would happen now? Would they discover her true identity? Her lie? They would punish her for sure.

"L-Lord Commander, I think….Y-You made a mistake…I'm a man, not a woman," she stammered, attempting to maintain her composure, her voice wracked with nerves.

Aron and Eldarion exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable as they processed the soldier's words. The soldier's voice wavered with uncertainty, her eyes darting nervously between the two men.

Eldarion's brow furrowed slightly, a hint of skepticism in his eyes. "Are you sure about that?" he asked, his tone laced with doubt.

The soldier nodded frantically, her helmet shifting slightly with the motion. "Y-Yes, my lord," she stammered, her voice trembling. "I-I am definitely a man."

Aron's lips twitched with amusement at the soldier's evident discomfort, with his dragon sight he clearly saw that the soldier in front of him was a woman when he checked for the parasite inside her.

She was using some type of fabric with magical properties around her chest, successfully hiding her breasts.

"Very well," Aron said, taking a few steps forward until he was a foot away from the soldier, he lowered himself gazing directly into her eyes

"Prove it," he commanded, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine. The simple two words held the weight of her future. the potential for both freedom and annihilation.

"Prove it?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes widening in panic.

Aron nodded, amusement in his eyes. "Yes, prove to us that you are indeed a man," he said, his tone firm but not unkind.

The soldier's mind raced as she considered her options. She knew she had to act quickly or risk being exposed. With trembling hands, she reached for her helmet, unfastening the straps and lifting it off her head in one swift motion.

As the helmet fell away, her short brown hair was revealed, closely cropped against her scalp. She held her breath, waiting for Aron's reaction, her heart pounding in her chest.

Aron's gaze swept over her features. Her appearance was ordinary; with her light-green eyes, ivory skin, a slightly strong jawline, and her haircut. She could easily pass for a man at first glance, like an innocent young boy who just left the comfort of home and joined the army. But Aron's keen eyes caught the subtle details that betrayed her true identity.

Despite her efforts to conceal her femininity, Aron's gaze lingered on her chest, where the magical fabric cleverly disguised her curves. He could sense the faint aura of deception emanating from her, like a faint whisper in the air.

"Interesting," he remarked, his voice a low murmur.

When she saw his gaze linger on her chest, her heart plummeted, her breath catching in her throat. She'd done her best to hide her true self, but it seemed Aron had pierced through her facade. Yet, she wouldn't surrender easily. Determined, she was prepared to play this game to the very end.

Aron chuckled inwardly when he saw the determination in her eyes, he thought of the best way to break her and force her to drop her disguise.

Stroking his chin, he said, "Not enough evidence, I'm afraid." Aron's tone was playful yet laced with authority, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

The soldier's heart sank further at Aron's response, her mind racing to come up with another plan. She couldn't afford to fail; her life depended on her ability to maintain her disguise.

"Wh-What kind of proof do you need?" she stammered, her voice shaky.

Aron displayed a wicked grin as if anticipating this very question. "Well... you know the difference between a man and a woman, right?"

"!!!" Her face paled as the implication of his words hit her. The direction of this conversation was crystal clear, and her heart skipped a beat with dread.

With the same mischievous grin, Aron uttered the words that shattered the fragile web of her lie "Drop your armor and prove that you're a man"

*Whistles*

"Hum?"

A collective whistle erupted from the side. Aron glanced over to see the new watchers who had gathered, their eyes fixed on the unfolding drama before them. Their whispers and murmurs filled the air, adding to the tension of the moment.

"..." Viens plugged in Aron's head, he didn't like the smirk on their faces, they were enjoying this too much and to make matters worse, they were still NAKED!

"WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT!" his voice boomed across the gathering, cutting through the whispers and murmurs like a sharp blade. "GET BACK TO WORK!"

"You have two minutes to disappear from my sight, or you'll spend the night naked in the snow!"

"!!!" The soldiers quickly snapped, and hastily gathered their belongings, their faces flushed with embarrassment as they scrambled to leave the scene. They wrapped their pants around their waists, avoiding eye contact with Aron as they hurried away, eager to escape the impending punishment.

Aron watched them go, his expression stern, until they vanished from sight. He then turned his attention back to the soldier standing before him, only to find her eyes brimming with tears

"S-Sorry...M-My lord!...I can't," she stammered, her voice thick with emotion.

Aron's expression softened slightly as he observed the tears welling in the soldier's eyes. "So you're a woman?"

"Y-Yes! I am" she confused with trembling words.

"Why?" Aron's voice was gentle, probing for an explanation behind the soldier's deception. His eyes held a mix of curiosity and empathy as he awaited her response.

Her shoulders slumped in defeat, her gaze fixed on the ground as she struggled to find the right words. "I...I came in place of my brother," she began, her voice barely a whisper. "My parents are old, and I have a younger brother by a year….The day after his military recruitment, a thief broke into our house, assuming all the men were gone." She paused to catch her breath, wiping her tears with a trembling hand.

Aron listened intently, He gestured for her to continue, a silent invitation for her to share her story.

The woman took a moment to compose herself before continuing, her voice wavering with emotion. "My brother was in the house at that time protecting our parents," she recounted, her voice trembling with the weight of her memories. "By the time I arrived, the thief escaped later to be captured by the guard, but my brother was badly wounded, lucky he survived but he was in no condition to join the army"

Aron's expression softened further. "So you took his place?"

"Mm.." she confirmed with a weak nod. Dropping to her knees in a plea, she choked out, "Please, Lord Commander, don't report this. I...I'm willing to accept any punishment, but please leave my family out of it."

"Punishment?" Aron repeated, his voice laced with genuine confusion. "Why would I punish a woman who sacrificed her safety to protect her family"

"Eh?" The female soldier, still on her knees, blinked back tears. She stared at him, unable to utter a word.

A stern voice cut through the tension. "What she did is a serious offense, my lord," Eldarion interjected, his voice regaining its usual composure. "Impersonating a Frostguard soldier is punishable by death for her and her entire family."

A tremor of fear rippled through the female soldier. The consequences she'd risked for her family now loomed large, a dark cloud threatening to engulf them all.

Aron, however, remained unfazed by Eldarion's words. He met the young elf's gaze, a flicker of defiance igniting within his own eyes. "According to whom?"

"The kingdom's law, my lord," Eldarion replied confidently.

"Listen carefully, Keeper," Aron declared, his voice ringing with authority. "My word is the law here. Not the kingdom's. And if anyone thinks otherwise, they are welcome to challenge me."

Eldarion's expression faltered for a moment, caught off guard by Aron's unwavering stance. The weight of the lord commander's words settled heavily upon him, questioning the very foundation of the laws he'd upheld for so long. But then, a flicker of understanding dawned on Eldarion's face. He bowed his head in acceptance.

"You are right, my lord."

Aron nodded curtly, a sense of satisfaction radiating from him. He turned his attention back to the female soldier, who remained on her knees before him, her eyes wide with apprehension.

"What's your name, girl?" Aron inquired, his voice gentle.

"Alan my Lord...No! I mean Lyra my name is Lyra" she quickly corrected.

Aron studied Lyra for a moment, his gaze thoughtful as if assessing her sincerity. "Lyra," he repeated, testing the sound of her name on his tongue. "A fitting name for someone with such courage. I suspect that Alan is your brother's name?"

"Yes, my lord," Lyra confirmed.

'System, show me the profile information of the Frostguard named Alan,' Aron commanded silently.

[Yes M    aster]

Instantly, an image flickered to life before his eyes, retrieved from his memory – Lyra's profile from Eldarion's interview. Though she'd successfully deceived the elf by pretending to be a man, everything else in the profile was true, including her magical abilities.

'The Guardian,' Aron's eyes light up as he reads the description of her magic.

Her magic is simple yet powerful. As long as her feet touch the ground, she is immovable. Additionally, for a brief period, she can activate a skill called "Iron Castle," reducing 90% of any damage she takes for ten seconds. Furthermore, she possesses another skill called "Wound Transfer," allowing her to transfer any fatal wound to her arms or legs, turning it into a minor injury – but only usable once a week.

Aron's eyes narrowed slightly as he absorbed the information presented by the system. Lyra's abilities were indeed impressive, and her dedication to her family was evident in her actions and matching her magic—The Guardian.

"Lyra," Aron began, his voice measured. "You have shown great courage and sacrifice, but you have also deceived us. However, I am willing to offer you a chance to redeem yourself."

Lyra's eyes widened with hope, a glimmer of gratitude shining in her gaze. She nodded eagerly, her heart pounding with anticipation.

Aron turned to Eldarion, who seemed to understand without words. The elf bowed and exited the laboratory with a silent nod.

Aron then crouched down and retrieved the awakening potion from her hand, raising it close to her eyes. "Become a Watcher," he declared.

Before Lyra had the chance to say yes or no Aron added "I must warn you, I have no idea how you'll react to the transformation. As far as I know, all the Watchers have been men so far. I don't know if there's a reason for that or not."

"I don't have a choice do I?" she asked.

Aron smiled faintly, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. "Girl, you never had a choice from the beginning," he replied cryptically. His words held a deeper meaning.

Lyra took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever lay ahead. With a determined nod, she reached out and accepted the vial of awakening potion from Aron's outstretched hand. She met his gaze with unwavering determination, ready to face whatever consequences awaited her.

She stood up and removed her armor, her face flushed with embarrassment but she forced herself to keep going glad that Aron turned, his back facing her. Standing in her birthday suit she walked to the side and drank the vial with no hesitation.

Surprisingly, her transformation was the same as the rest. Nothing changed, and when that cocoon shattered. Lyra was reborn.

Her hair grew longer reaching her waist, silver like moonlight, cascading in soft waves down her back. Her features softened, taking on a delicate beauty that seemed to glow with an otherworldly radiance. Gone was the guise of a soldier; in its place stood a woman of ethereal grace and strength.

When she opened her crimson eyes and gazed at Aron, she saw a massive shadow with wings behind him, at that moment she felt an instinctive desire to bow to him, so she did.

"My lord"

Aron approached with a satisfied smile on his face "Congratulations Lyra on being the first female watcher in history"

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