Chapter 7: The Fox Girl and the Wounds That Can’t Be Seen

The soft clinking of a wooden spoon against a stone bowl echoed gently through the small cabin. Zeo sat cross-legged near the fireplace, stirring a slowly bubbling soup. The small flames dancing in the hearth gave off a warm glow—so different from the gray mist that loomed outside the magical barrier.

On a crude wooden bed made from trees of the Forbidden Forest, the young girl lay motionless, barely breathing. Her breaths were shallow—like a thread ready to snap at any moment. Her silver-white hair fell loosely around her face, partially covering the pointed ears that resembled those of a fox. A small, furred tail curled weakly at her back, lifeless—devoid of the lively spirit Beastkin usually had.

The magical mist they had crossed still left its mark. Zeo knew how deadly it was. He had spent years figuring out a safe way through it. Bringing another being through the corrosive energies and mental pressure of that mist—something that could crush the soul in minutes—was nearly impossible.

The girl's body didn't make it through unscathed.

The red wounds across her skin weren't just from the forest—it was the direct result of her battle, worsened by exposure to wild magical residue. Purplish blotches still spread around her neck, shoulders, and arms—clear signs of magic mist contamination. Her skin was battered and blistered in places.

Zeo gently applied an herbal salve he had crafted himself. The wide leaves covering her wounds were beginning to dry, slowly absorbing the lingering heat and pulling out the remaining toxins. These were remedies he had learned during his time with Kaira.

The girl's tail—essential to balance and emotional expression for her kind—looked numb. Even her ears only twitched faintly when thin gusts of wind slipped through the gaps in the wooden wall.

Zeo sat beside the bed, his elbows resting on his knees. He stared at the girl in silence.

How did she even end up there... alone?

The question echoed in his mind. Even though her body now lay within the magical mist barrier—in a relatively safe area—Zeo could still feel the lingering tension on her skin, like the memory of an unfinished battle.

Bringing another creature through the mist wasn't wise. It might've even been foolish. But he couldn't let her die.

Now, all he could do was wait. Wait to see if the girl would recover... or slowly fade into her wounds—wounds that might end her life.

Hours passed.

And then...

The girl opened her eyes slowly. Her vision was blurred, but enough to see the unfamiliar figure sitting not far from her.

Zeo didn't turn. He knew she had awakened.

"You're safe here," he said briefly, eyes still fixed on the fire.

The girl tried to sit up, her body trembling. Her hand shook as she tried to support herself.

"Don't push yourself. Your wounds aren't fully healed," Zeo said. He stood, grabbed the soup, and poured some into a smaller bowl. Carefully, he brought it to the side of the bed.

She looked at him—wary, but not afraid. Her eyes were silver, like mist under a moonlit sky.

"Was it... you who saved me? M-my name is... Ravyn," she whispered, her voice hoarse and nearly gone.

Zeo sat again, this time a little closer. "Zeo," he replied, simply.

Ravyn lowered her gaze and stared at the bowl in her hands. "Thank you... for saving me."

Zeo nodded. He didn't answer, only stared into the fire.

"What is this place...?" Ravyn asked.

Zeo exhaled. "I don't know. Just a place with no name."

Suddenly, Ravyn's eyes widened in shock. "T-this mist... why are we here? This place is dangerous. S-sir, we have to leave—this is still part of the Forbidden Forest."

Zeo smiled slightly. "Mmm... More precisely, we're inside the mist. So it's safe."

"Inside the mist?!" Ravyn looked around in disbelief.

She was clearly shaken to realize they were surrounded by the very magic mist known to kill.

"S-sir, this is—"

"Calm down," Zeo said calmly. "Just rest. You're safe here. And... don't get too close to the mist. It's still very dangerous."

"How... how can you live here? Are you... alone?" Ravyn asked.

"Mmm... Who knows. Your soup will get cold. You should eat."

Silence followed. Only the sounds of fire and wind filled the space.

Ravyn stared at her bowl. "Why... did you save me?"

Zeo shrugged. "Didn't you ask for help? That was enough."

"Ah..." Ravyn muttered as the memory returned—she had asked for help.

They fell into silence again. But this time, it wasn't awkward—just two people too tired for words.

After a few spoonfuls, Ravyn tried to sit up further, but the pain in her back made her wince. Zeo almost moved to help, but stopped himself. He didn't want to touch her without permission.

But as her clothes shifted slightly, deep scars were exposed—marks from whips and burns. Zeo looked away immediately.

"Sorry," he muttered.

Ravyn quickly pulled her clothes back. Her head lowered, eyes trembling. But to her surprise, Zeo didn't ask. He didn't pry. He didn't judge.

"How did you end up out there with wounds like those?" Zeo asked, breaking the tension.

But Ravyn said nothing. Just stared down.

"If you're not ready to talk, that's fine," Zeo said calmly. "I don't understand how demi-humans live, but I guess you have your reasons."

Ravyn clutched the bowl tightly. Tears welled in her eyes but didn't fall. For the first time in a long while, someone wasn't pressing her. Wasn't demanding. Wasn't forcing.

Midnight came.

Zeo sat outside the cabin, near the mist barrier. He studied the mist's movement. It swirled slowly, forming complex patterns that were difficult to read.

Ravyn stepped out quietly, wearing an extra shawl Zeo had given her.

"Is this... some kind of protection?" she asked.

Zeo nodded. "The mist is deadly. This will protect us from outside attacks. It's a barrier. Beasts can't cross it. And the air inside is cleaner."

Ravyn looked around. Beyond the barrier—only darkness and strange sounds. But inside, there was fire, wood, fertile ground, and—strangely—safety.

"You can stay here. But only if you follow my rules," Zeo said without looking at her.

"What kind of rules?"

"We'll talk when you're fully healed. Until then, think about whether you want to stay... or leave. If you can survive out there."

Ravyn gave a small smile. "Alright... Sir."

Zeo exhaled through his nose. "Stop calling me Sir. I'm just a normal guy. Oh—and don't touch that big rock." He pointed to a boulder near the entrance.

"Alright... what about 'Master'?" Ravyn asked innocently.

"That's even worse. Just call me Zeo."

"Okay, Master Zeo."

Zeo shot her a sharp glare. Silence followed. Then—soft laughter escaped Ravyn's lips. Gentle, weak... but sincere.

And in the middle of the thick, deadly mist—two lost souls... slowly began to find light in each other.

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