Awful Night
Shazmeen walked alone in the dark moonlit night into the forest, unaware that it was now Kael who was hiding following her in the shadows of the night.
Shazmeen began to grumble because this was the experience of a lifetime, to be alone and moreover she experienced something completely unexpected. It started with attacking a mysterious figure in a black cloak and losing her bodyguard at sea.
Shazmeen walked into the darkness of the forest and finally found a cave that was enough for her to stay for a while because there was a spring nearby, but the journey to the village she wanted to go to was still too far away.
"What a night" grumbled Shazmeen.
Shazmeen sat in the cave, letting out a long sigh with a face full of misery. She glanced at her dust-covered and slightly wrinkled dress and grumbled to herself.
"Hah... This is completely unexpected. I, Shazmeen Daneena, have to sleep in a place like this? In the forest? With the cold air and... gosh, I don't even have a pillow!"
She patted her seat, as if hoping to find something more comfortable. But there was only dirt and small rocks which annoyed her even more.
Meanwhile, from the shadows, Kael kept watching. His expression remained cold, without the slightest change.
Suddenly, Shazmeen's stomach rumbled loudly.
"GRROOOOKK!!!"
She froze instantly. Her eyes blinked rapidly, then hurriedly cleared her throat and sat up straighter, trying to maintain her dignity.
"Hmph! I'm not hungry! I just... just need a drink! Yeah, that's all!" she said, reassuring herself.
But a few minutes later, he was already pacing around the cave, gazing at the forest with a thoughtful expression.
"How hard can it be to find food? I just need to... ah! There might be fruits around here!" Without hesitation, he stepped out and started "hunting."
30 minutes later...
Shazmeen returned to the cave with a proud expression, carrying... a handful of leaves and small twigs. "Hah! I did it!" he said triumphantly.
But once he saw the result of his hunt, the smile on his face slowly disappeared.
"Wait... what is this?"
She held the leaf in her hand, then looked at him with a flat expression.
"...I... I was just hunting... leaves?"
Silence fell over the cave.
In the distance, Kael, who had been observing, just closed his eyes briefly and let out a short sigh.
Shazmeen, on the other hand, stared at the twig in her hand and then slammed it to the ground in annoyance.
"I can't live like this! I need real food! I need...."
"GRROOOOKK!!!"
Her stomach rumbled again-this time louder.
Shazmeen immediately covered her mouth with both hands, her face bright red with embarrassment. She hurriedly glanced around, hoping no one would hear her.
But Kael had heard her all along. And he still didn't care.
10 minutes later...
Shazmeen sat with a defeated expression, her hand propped up on her chin.
"Hah... This really sucks," she muttered.
Then, out of nowhere, a fresh red apple suddenly fell right into her lap. Her eyes widened, then suspiciously, she looked left and right.
"...Ghost?" she whispered softly.
From the shadows, Kael stood still. Since earlier, he had only thrown the apple with no intention of showing himself.
Shazmeen stared at the apple, then shrugged. "Well, whoever gave it to me, thank you," she said, and began to eat with gusto.
Shazmeen took a satisfied bite of the apple in her hand. It was sweet, it was fresh, and most importantly-it was real food, not the silly leaves or twigs she had collected earlier.
But after a few bites, something bothered her.
She looked at the apple suspiciously.
"Wait... where did this apple come from?"
She rolled her eyes, trying to remember. There were no apple trees near the cave. There were no signs of apples falling naturally.
Shazmeen immediately put on a horrified expression.
"Perhaps... this is the work of supernatural beings?!"
She hurriedly examined the apple, looking for signs of bite marks from invisible creatures or... something worse.
Then suddenly...
"You're a bit too loud!"
The cold voice emerged from the darkness. Shazmeen froze instantly. She turned her head slowly, and there-among the shadows, Kael stood with a flat stare, leaning against a tree.
"KYAAAHHHHH!!!"
Shazmeen almost threw her apple at Kael. Almost. Fortunately, her brain was still fast enough to realize that the man was not a ghost, but rather... yes, the annoying man who saved her earlier.
Kael stared at her expressionlessly, as if he had predicted her overreaction from the start.
Shazmeen took a deep breath, then put one hand on her waist. "So it was you who threw this apple?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
Kael did not answer. He just stared at her for a while, then closed his eyes again, as if not interested in continuing the conversation.
Shazmeen snorted. "What a weird guy!"
Kael, as usual, did not respond.
Shazmeen folded her arms, looking at Kael with a look of annoyance mixed with curiosity. "What are you doing here?" he asked again. "Don't tell me... you followed me?"
Kael opened his eyes slightly, then looked at him flatly. "Don't think too highly of yourself."
Shazmeen immediately gasped.
"What do you mean?!"
Kael sighed.
"I'm just making sure you don't die silly here," he said, then leaned back against the tree.
Shazmeen opened her mouth, wanting to retort, but... she realized he was right.
To be honest, if it wasn't for the apple, she might have started nibbling on the twig she had brought earlier.
But of course, he would not admit it.
"Hmph!" Shazmeen turned around, wearing a haughty expression. "As if I need your help? I can hold my own!"
Kael only glanced at her briefly before closing his eyes again.
Then....
"GRROOOOKK!!!"
Shazmeen's stomach rumbled for the third time that night. Silence fell over them. Shazmeen's face turned bright red.
Kael remained silent, but the corners of his lips turned up ever so slightly in a thin, almost imperceptible smile.
Shazmeen hurriedly took a big bite of her apple, as if to cover her embarrassment.
"Never mind! I'm just a little hungry!" she said in a voice that sounded very defensive.
Kael did not respond. He just turned around, walking away quietly.
Seeing that, Shazmeen frowned.
"Hey! Where are you going?"
Kael kept walking without turning around. "Don't follow me," he said coldly.
Shazmeen immediately smiled a little.
And of course, she followed him.
Shazmeen continued to pace behind Kael, munching on the last of her apple while glancing at the man curiously.
Kael walked at a constant pace, heedless of her following. There seemed to be no point in trying to shoo Shazmeen away, because somehow that woman had a determination as hard as steel... or maybe just too stubborn.
After a few minutes of walking in silence, Shazmeen finally couldn't stand it. "You're always like this, aren't you?"
Kael did not answer.
"Not talking, not reacting... like a walking ice cube," Shazmeen continued, her eyes narrowed at the man.
Kael remained silent.
Shazmeen chuckled. "Oh, alright, alright. If you don't want to talk, I will. You don't mind, do you?"
Kael finally stopped walking.
Shazmeen smiled a little. Aha! He's finally responding!
But then-
Kael turned around slowly. His gaze was still the same, flat and lifeless.
"You're interrupting."
Shazmeen immediately gasped. "Huh?!"
"I prefer the sound of crickets to your babbling," Kael continued, then turned around again and continued on his way.
Shazmeen was silent for a moment, before covering her mouth with one hand, pretending to be offended. "Wow. How rude."
Kael kept walking.
Shazmeen let out a long breath. "You have no personality, do you? I can't imagine someone like you having friends."
Kael stopped again, this time turning his head slightly. "I really don't need friends."
Shazmeen looked at him with an incredulous expression. "Seriously? You've never had friends?"
Kael shrugged, then resumed walking.
Shazmeen was silent for a while, then grinned.
"Okay, okay. If you don't have any friends... then I can be your first!" she said in a cheerful tone, quickening her pace to get in line with Kael.
Kael looked at her for a while, then sighed softly. "Don't waste your time."
Shazmeen shrugged. "No problem! I like a challenge."
Kael did not respond again.
Yet, somehow, Shazmeen was now walking beside him without any intention of leaving.
Ten minutes later.
"Aren't you tired of walking like this?" Shazmeen asked while stretching out her arms, looking bored.
Kael kept walking without changing his rhythm.
Shazmeen chuckled. "Look, you used to be a rebel and a heartless traitor to the country as far as I heard in the newspaper but it turns out you're not as bad as I thought, hmm but can we at least take a break first? My legs are sore."
Kael did not answer, but he did start to slow down his pace a little.
Seeing that, Shazmeen smiled a little. Aha! I won a point!
However.....
BLUGH!
Without prompting, Kael sat unceremoniously on a boulder at the edge of the path, leaning back with his eyes closed.
Shazmeen blinked.
"Oh. So you get tired too, huh?"
Kael remained silent.
Shazmeen folded his arms across his chest, looking at the man thoughtfully.
Then...
Very gracefully and dramatically, she flopped down on the ground beside Kael, lying down with a loud sigh.
"ASTAGA, finally!" she said exaggeratedly. "I thought you were going to torture me with endless traveling!"
Kael did not react.
Shazmeen raised one eyebrow.
"...Are you sleeping?"
Kael remained silent.
Shazmeen squinted, then slowly brought her face closer to the man.
One centimeter away...
Suddenly, Kael opened his eyes and looked at her sharply.
Shazmeen immediately jumped back. "HAAH?!"
"What are you doing?" Kael said coldly.
Shazmeen blinked a few times, then snorted.
"I just wanted to see if you were alive!" she said, huffing.
Kael just sighed and closed his eyes again.
Shazmeen frowned. She looked at Kael who was sitting there quietly, then...
Casually, she rested her head on Kael's thigh. Kael immediately opened his eyes.
"...."
"What?" Shazmeen looked at him innocently.
Kael stared at her for a long time, as if considering whether he should throw this woman into the nearby bushes.
But finally-
He just closed his eyes again and sighed softly.
"...Whatever."
Shazmeen smiled a small smile. Shazmeen smiled contentedly while resting her head on Kael's thigh. It felt comfortable-not too soft, but enough to serve as an impromptu pillow.
Kael was silent, but from his slightly heavier breathing, it was clear he was restraining himself from throwing this woman off the nearest cliff.
A few minutes passed.
Silence....
It was almost like a quiet, peaceful moment... if only Shazmeen had been completely silent.
"Kael."
Kael did not react.
"Kael."
Kael remained motionless.
Shazmeen squinted, then poked Kael's waist with his index finger. "Hey, walking ice cube, I know you're still awake."
Kael sighed, finally opening his eyes slightly.
"What?"
Shazmeen raised her face slightly. "Why did you keep following me earlier?"
Kael stared at her for a while, then closed his eyes again. "I wasn't following you."
Shazmeen snorted. "Oh, come on. You suddenly appeared from the shadows like a demon, then walked behind me the whole time. That's called stalking, you know, well for a rebel like you that's normal isn't it?"
Kael did not answer.
Shazmeen squinted, then poked Kael's waist with her finger again.
"Hey." Stab.
"Hey." Stab.
Kael finally looked at her again, this time with an expression full of thinning patience. "I'm just making sure you don't die silly in this forest."
Shazmeen blinked. "Huh?"
Kael sighed. "You walked into the forest without looking around. You almost stepped on an animal trap, almost tripped over a tree root, and almost got ambushed by something lurking from behind the bushes."
Shazmeen paused, then frowned. "Huh? You mean something was stalking me?"
Kael closed his eyes again. "Be quiet."
Shazmeen fell silent again.
Then....
She immediately got up from Kael's lap with an expression full of horror. "YOU CAN'T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT CASUALLY, IDIOT!"
Kael just shrugged. "You're safe now, so there's no need to panic."
"NO NEED TO PANIC?!" Shazmeen widened her eyes. "It could be a giant monster ready to swallow me alive!"
Kael snorted. "Not a monster. Just a hungry wolf."
Shazmeen blinked. "Wolves?"
Kael nodded. "Wolves... and two hunters."
Shazmeen jumped to her feet. "YOU CAN'T SAY SUCH HORRIBLE THINGS WITH SUCH A FLAT EXPRESSION, KAEL!"
Kael remained calm. "I already killed them."
Shazmeen immediately fell silent.
She stared at Kael for a long time, before finally letting out a long sigh and sitting back down.
"Oh my... my life since meeting you has been a nightmare."
Kael did not respond.
Shazmeen rubbed her face, then glanced at Kael with a suspicious look.
"Wait... if you've been following me, then you saw me too-"
Kael cut in quickly. "Yeah..
Shazmeen stiffened. "Seeing me-"
"Yeah."
"When I-"
"Yeah."
Shazmeen covered her face with both hands. "WHAT A SHAME!"
Kael still did not react.
But this time... the corners of his lips were slightly raised, barely visible.
IN THE MORNING
Dawn was breaking, the sunlight slowly creeping in. The cool morning air enveloped the place.
Kael had woken up first. He sat by the small spring, cleaning his sword quietly, his cold expression remaining the same as before.
Behind him, Shazmeen was still fast asleep and in a completely inelegant pose.
Her head was leaning against the cave wall, her mouth was slightly open, and a little drool began to flow at the corner of her lips.
Kael took a quick glance and immediately looked away, as if what he had just seen was too depressing to pay attention to any longer.
However, a few moments later....
"NGGHHH...!?"
Shazmeen suddenly woke up with a very dramatic movement, like someone who had just had a nightmare.
She immediately smoothed her hair in a panic, then turned to Kael with a suspicious look. "K-You! You didn't see anything strange, did you?!"
Kael didn't say anything
Shazmeen watched him with narrowed eyes. "Hmmm... You must have seen something. I can feel it."
Kael did not answer and just took his katana back.
Shazmeen let out a long breath, then moved her body slightly, trying to stretch her stiff muscles.
And just like that-
"GROOOKK!"
A loud sound came from her stomach.
Silence.
Shazmeen instantly froze in place, her expression changing drastically. "..."
Kael turned his head slowly with a flat look.Shazmeen laughed stiffly while holding her stomach awkwardly.
"Eh-hehe... Looks like I'm still a little hungry..."
Kael let out a long breath. "Troublesome." Without saying much, he got up and walked on.
Shazmeen looked at him expectantly. "So you're going to find food for me?"
Kael paused for a moment, turned his head, then said...
"No."
Kael looked at Shazmeen with an expression that showed how unconcerned he was. "Then?"
Shazmeen folded her arms, acting very gracefully like a princess demanding something from her subordinate.
"You're a man, so you should do something. Go hunting or find food."
Kael gave her a long look, then left.
Shazmeen glared at him. "Oh my! I'm talking to you!"
Kael remained silent.
Shazmeen let out a long breath, stood up, and began to pace dramatically. "Well, if you won't help, I'll go look for myself! An independent woman doesn't need a man who is cold as ice!"
Kael did not react at all.
Shazmeen snorted, then stepped towards the dense forest.
But after three steps, he stopped.
She glanced around. The trees seemed like dark figures stalking her, and the faint sounds of animals made her hair stand on end.
Shazmeen bit her lip, standing in place, trying to remain calm.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Then
"KAELLL!"
She immediately ran back to Kael with a panicked expression and hugged him tightly.
Kael was still with his flat expression, looking at her in surprise. "Did you get any food?"
Shazmeen looked away very haughtily, as if not wanting to admit her defeat. "I... was just making sure that you were okay."
Kael let out a long breath. "Hmph. Troublesome."
However, after a few seconds, he finally took a small pouch from his belt.
"Eat." Kael tossed a crusty bread to Shazmeen.
Shazmeen stared at the bread, then glanced at Kael. "Huh? You already have food?"
Kael sat back and closed his eyes. "It's eat or nothing."
Shazmeen squinted. "So you just let me panic and almost find my own food, when you already had this?"
Kael did not answer.
Shazmeen gave him a long look, then chuckled softly. "What an annoying guy."
However, her stomach was rumbling again, so she had to accept her fate and started eating the bread.
As she took a bite....
KRAK!
Shazmeen immediately frowned. "Gosh, is this bread or bricks?! You want me to lose a tooth?!"
Kael opened his eyes briefly and glanced at her. "Eat it or leave it."
Shazmeen sighed, trying to hold back her pride, then went back to taking careful bites of the bread.
While she was busy trying not to lose a tooth, Kael gave her a quick glance.
For the first time since the beginning of their journey-
A small, almost imperceptible, smile appeared on his face.
Somewhere hidden from the world, Nythragael's organization gathered in oppressive silence. The faint glow of blue torches glowed along the stone walls, creating dark shadows that seemed to have a life of their own.
Unknown 1 let out a short breath before speaking, his voice cold and full of authority.
"Hmph... Kael Thalrune huh? Unexpectedly still exists in this world Clan Thalrune. That means he's the only one left, don't you think, Levian?"
Levian, chuckling. "Yes. The massacre erased all traces of them. There's nothing left... or at least, that's what we believed all along."
Unknown 5 spoke in a dismissive tone. "Are you sure this isn't just a rumor? Someone claims to be Thalrune, then suddenly you consider him a threat?"
Unknown 1 spoke calmly and intimidatingly "Yes, so far we don't know the truth, but the betrayal by Shagzi Thalrune is true."
"Coguku (Unknown 8) You were sent with Exile and Ensha to hunt down and investigate the truth of the rebel boy and for you levian I would like to have a one-on-one talk with you"