Three days had passed since Veil and Alynia had left the Dungeon, taking shelter in a small cave.

  The sun rose with its usual crisp breeze, bathing the forest in a rosy glow as birds filled the air with song. Veil, who had woken first, went outside to fill the pot with water to prepare their breakfast.

  Once back, he lit the fire and set the pot above the flames, adding a few herbs Alynia had gathered the day before.

  “I don’t know about you, but it feels nice to rest without constantly thinking we’ll have to face something huge,” Veil said as Alynia stretched.

  “I’ll admit it’s a relief… but it’ll be better once we’re back in the city. Don’t relax too much, though. Need I remind you this is the forest where the Kael?r live?” she replied.

  Veil poured the heated infusion into two cups and handed one to Alynia.

  “Are you trying to jinx us? Honestly, after everything we’ve faced, I’d take a Kael?r any day over a Hydra,” he muttered, raising his cup. “By the way, I don’t know the city. What’s it like?”

  “Hmpf, sometimes I forget you have no memories. We’re heading back to Aldelion, the royal city of the kingdom of Elorath. What’s it like there? Let’s just say… special. But I’ll let you see for yourself,” she said with a small laugh.

  “I’m not sure if I should be worried or not. Because last time you told me the dungeon wouldn’t be too hard, we almost died twenty times. But fine, I won’t complain—you did get us out of there,” he muttered under his breath.

  They finished their drinks in silence, avoiding each other’s eyes. Veil packed their things, extinguished the fire, then turned to Alynia.

  “Well, if you’re up for it, maybe we can finally head toward this famous city of yours? Where is it anyway? I haven’t seen a single sign of a settlement since we entered this forest.”

  “That’s normal. Aldelion is the closest city, but to reach it, we’ll need six days on foot,” she sighed.

  Veil turned toward the cave’s exit, his shoulders slumping in frustration.

  “Six days? Seriously? Haven’t we suffered enough? Now we’ve got to slog through this frozen hell without a break,” he groaned, rolling his eyes.

  Alynia rose, grabbed her satchel, and stepped up beside him, laying a hand on his shoulder.

  “Done complaining? You should be grateful. We nearly never saw daylight again,” she said, taking in a deep breath of the crisp air. “Besides, it’s not like I didn’t warn you back in the Dungeon.”

  She stepped out of the cave, her stride still slightly unsteady. Veil adjusted his coat—the only protection he had left against the cold—and followed her with heavy steps.

  That morning, the forest was calm. A gentle breeze, warmed by sunlight, made the shadows dance across the ground. The peace was broken only by the distant cries of CryoWolves and the cheerful song of birds.

  “Enjoy seeing daylight again, huh? She’s not wrong… I still have so much left to discover,” Veil murmured under his breath. “Just hoping the road ahead won’t throw more monsters like those at us.”

  The next three days passed without incident, as if nature itself had decided to grant them a reprieve. Though his arm remained sore, oozing with a sticky secretion, Veil gradually regained freedom in his movements.

  But as they crossed a small clearing within the vast forest, growls erupted around them. Deep, guttural snarls echoed through the trees. Three CryoWolves emerged from the shadows of the woods.

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  Alynia stepped forward, claws extending. But Veil stopped her with a wave of his hand.

  “I can handle this. I don’t need anyone protecting me, you know,” she shot back, frustrated.

  “Do I really have to remind you what happened with the Hydra? If you push yourself too hard, you’ll reopen that wound and we’ll never make it to the city. You stay put. I’ll deal with them. No arguments,” Veil replied, irritation sharpening his tone at Alynia’s stubborn pride.

  She reluctantly retracted her claws while Veil, dagger in hand, advanced toward the CryoWolves to drive them away from her.

  “You’re infuriating. I’m not some damsel in distress. As if I’d ever need a human to take care of me. Pathetic,” she muttered under her breath.

  And yet, deep inside, as she watched Veil confront the beasts, something stirred—a contradiction to her own words. A warmth she didn’t want to acknowledge spread through her chest, no matter how hard she tried to deny it.

  Why? Why am I feeling this? He’s just a foolish human. I only stayed to figure out why he was here, why he came out of that pillar, she thought bitterly, whispering to herself.

  She shook her head, trying to banish the thoughts, but the sensation refused to fade. After several minutes of fighting, Veil finally struck down the last CryoWolf. Sweat beaded on his brow as he turned back toward Alynia.

  “At least we’ve got something to eat now. We should move on a bit before stopping,” he said, breathing hard.

  Alynia didn’t answer. Instead, she crouched by the beasts’ corpses, collecting the few items they had left behind. She slipped them into her satchel, stood, and resumed walking.

  “So… am I allowed to walk on my own? Or do you plan on carrying me on your back too, like some gallant knight rescuing his princess?” she said at last, her words sharp despite the softness of her voice.

  “Why not, if you ask nicely? It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had to carry you,” Veil replied.

  A faint blush crept across Alynia’s cheeks. She bit her lip at his remark and kept walking, muttering incomprehensible words under her breath, hardly speaking to him for the rest of the journey.

  “You talk big, but in your condition, do you really think you’d manage anything?” she whispered softly.

  The next day, the tension between Veil and Alynia had eased. Their journey continued without incident, though fatigue weighed on them, and their movements still betrayed the pain of their wounds. Alynia kept her ears perked, catching every sound around them, guiding Veil whenever something suspicious stirred in the distance.

  At dawn on the sixth day, Veil awoke to the smell of roasting meat. His stomach growled at the scent, but he grimaced.

  “You went out hunting? Why didn’t you wake me up first? I could’ve handled it,” Veil said with a yawn, stretching his arms.

  “I told you I could take care of myself. Think whatever you want, but I don’t need anyone watching over me. And deny it all you want—I can see your arm still hurts,” she replied sharply, turning the meat over the fire.

  Rubbing his eyes, Veil stood slowly. Her words irritated him, yet deep down, he couldn’t shake the feeling he was becoming a burden.

  “Yeah, my arm hurts. But it’s nothing compared to your wound. You need to tell me why you refuse help so much. There’s nothing wrong with it. I’m not forcing myself just to please you. I do it because… because…” he stammered, fidgeting with his fingers.

  “Because what? Because you think I’m fragile? That I was stupid for ending up wounded? Yes, without you I probably wouldn’t have made it out of that dungeon alive—but I know that. I know every mission could be my last, and still, it’s the life I chose,” she shot back sharply.

  Tears welled in her eyes, born of both pain and anger. Veil slowly rose, sat down beside the fire, and looked straight at her.

  “Because I care about you, idiot. I don’t know anything. I don’t even know why I’m here. And you’re the only person I know. You think I see you as weak? After everything you’ve done? After the way you fought those monsters? I need you. You’re my only landmark in this place. I don’t even know where to go, whether I have a family, or if anyone out there is even looking for me,” Veil said, his voice firm.

  Alynia turned her gaze away. Beneath her anger, something inside her was far more deeply moved by his words than she wanted to admit.

  “That’s enough. I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Eat your food and get ready—we’ll be there soon anyway,” she said, cutting the conversation short.

  She stood, took her portion, and walked off in silence, keeping her eyes from meeting his. Veil didn’t follow, realizing she needed space. He didn’t want to worsen the misunderstanding, so he quietly ate his share, his mind replaying what had just happened in endless loops.

  Several minutes later, once their meal was finished, Veil packed their things and joined Alynia, who was still standing apart. She handed him her cup, which he tucked away before offering her satchel. She rose and fastened it around her waist.

  “Listen, Alynia, I’m sorry, really. Forgive me if my words or actions made you think I saw you as weak. That was never my intention,” he said timidly.

  But she lifted her hand, cutting him off, her eyes closing as she let out a soft sigh.

  “Don’t apologize. It’s not you. I just hate feeling like this… and even more, I hate relying on someone else,” she replied, her gaze still avoiding his. “Come on, let’s get moving.”

  The rest of the day passed quietly, though the air between them remained tense. Meanwhile, the forest began to change. The snow gradually gave way to green grass, and the trees grew sparser, letting the sun’s warmth brush against their skin.

  A path began to take shape, winding between the trees. In the distance, a bare hill rose above the forest.

  “Once we cross that hill, we’ll see the city. We’re not far now,” Alynia said.

  Veil stayed silent, enjoying the slow retreat of the cold. Deep down, though, impatience stirred—he wanted to see what this city looked like.

  As they climbed the hill, a stone tower slowly came into view.

  Only when they reached the top did he stop in his tracks. Enormous walls stretched out before his eyes, encircled by a river flowing into a nearby lake. Perched high on a verdant mountain stood a vast castle overlooking the city. Below, rows of small houses revealed their orange-tiled rooftops.

  “So this is Aldelion? It’s beautiful, Alynia. You’d never think such a place could exist so close to that forest,” he said, his voice filled with wonder at the imposing sight.

  “Close your mouth, Little Wolf, or people will think you’re trying to swallow their souls,” Alynia teased with a laugh. “This city is breathtaking, but don’t be fooled—its beauty hides shadows of its own.”

  She followed the path winding down the hill toward a bridge that spanned the river. Veil trailed after her at a slower pace, his eyes soaking in every detail he could.

  Though joy filled him at finally leaving the forest behind, a quiet unease crept in. He knew nothing of this world, and soon he would have to face other people. Fear gnawed at him, but stronger still was the pull of curiosity—the desire to step into the next stage of his journey now guiding his every step.