Chapter 8 : Days of Healing, Shadows of Danger

The first days of Ravyn's stay in the strange place were filled with silence and recovery. Zeo rarely spoke. He only appeared to deliver food, change her bandages, or check on the magical mist. The rest of the time, he disappeared—either exploring the forest or retreating to the furthest edge of the mist barrier.

Ravyn spent most of her time gazing at the grey sky that never cleared.

Her body slowly healed. The surface wounds dried, but the internal ones still throbbed. Several times she coughed up blood—a result of deeper injuries, one being a stab wound in her abdomen—and Zeo had to brew bitter potions to stabilize her energy flow.

"Drink this," Zeo said one morning, placing a wooden cup beside her bed.

Ravyn looked at the greenish liquid. "It's bitter, right?"

Zeo nodded without emotion. "If it were sweet, it'd probably be poison."

Ravyn chuckled softly. Her laughter was weak, but alive. Zeo glanced at her briefly, then turned away before she could notice.

At night, when the fire crackled in the middle of the hut, Ravyn sat wrapped in a blanket near the hearth, trying to piece together her memories.

Zeo stood near the barrier, far enough away, yet Ravyn knew he was watching her. There was a quiet tension between them—like two wild animals slowly learning each other's scent, but not yet ready to approach.

"Do you... always live alone, Master Zeo?" Ravyn asked, breaking the silence.

Zeo nodded from a distance. "Not always... but for the last two years, anyone who tried to stay with me survived only seconds."

"Because of the mist?"

Zeo turned to her. His gaze was sharp but not angry. "More or less. Until a few months ago, this place was covered in thick mist."

"Then how did it become... a barrier like this now?"

"I discovered a mechanism in— Never mind. It's not important."

Ravyn nodded slowly. "Still... it feels safer here than the outside world."

Zeo didn't respond. He looked up at the stars, barely visible beyond the mist. "That's because the outside world will never be safe for someone like me."

Ravyn looked up. "?"

Zeo turned toward her. His gaze was serious. "Not just me. Maybe for someone like you too... a half-blood. I don't really know how your kind lives."

Ravyn's eyes grew warm, but she didn't cry. She just lowered her head.

Zeo continued. "But here... you're free. As long as you don't do anything strange, I'll let you stay."

Silence fell between them.

Ravyn clutched the blanket around her. "Can I stay here, then?"

Zeo looked at her for a few seconds. "You're not healed yet. Until then... this is your home too."

Ravyn gave a faint smile, but her heart trembled.

The Next Day

Ravyn was strong enough to walk within the mist barrier. She began helping Zeo dry medicinal plants, sort firewood, and occasionally wash dishes near a small spring in the safe zone.

But one night, she heard Zeo speaking to himself—or perhaps meditating. Through a gap in the cabin wall, she saw him sitting on a large stone, eyes closed, hands on his knees.

"...Too disruptive," Zeo whispered.

Ravyn held her breath. But Zeo slowly opened his eyes.

"I know you're there. Come in if you want to talk."

Ravyn entered shyly. "Sorry... I was just curious."

Zeo wasn't angry. "It's fine. Sit. I wasn't talking about you."

She sat cross-legged on the ground.

"There's something beyond the barrier," Zeo said. "The flow of energy has shifted. Like... something is approaching."

Ravyn hugged her knees. "Beast?"

"Maybe. Or... something else."

They stared at each other.

For the first time since arriving here, Ravyn realized—even in a place as safe as this, life continued to move beyond the barrier. And danger could come at any moment.

Zeo stood. "Do you know how to fight?"

"Uh... a little," Ravyn replied.

"For now, focus on healing. But eventually, you'll need to survive—with or without me."

That night, Ravyn slept peacefully. But outside the barrier, something heavy shifted—soft thuds on leaves and branches.

Zeo noticed the food supply was running low. He had to make another portion tomorrow. After checking everything, he stepped out of the mist.

He walked into the mist. Within minutes, his figure vanished into the dense energy surrounding their home.

But Zeo forgot—the mist wasn't as thick anymore, not after he modified the positions of the magical stones underground.

Meanwhile, on the eastern edge of the mist...

Three men dressed like knights tossed a prisoner into the Corrosive Mist—a high-profile criminal, a former assassin accused of slaughtering a noble family.

"Throw him into the Corrosive Mist. It's a fitting punishment."

The large man rolled in, hit a rock, and sank into the mist.

What they didn't know... was that the mist wasn't as deadly anymore.

The man gasped for air. Blood dripped from his forehead and shoulder. But his battered body began to adapt to the mist's pressure. He crawled through the rocks—until he saw something shocking.

A clearing in the middle of the mist.

A small wooden house. A fire still burning outside. Wild herbs planted in the soil. As if someone lived here... peacefully.

His eyes narrowed. He crawled toward the house and slowly pushed the door open. Inside—silence. Only the sound of wind and the smell of medicine.

Small bottles lined a wooden shelf. The man grabbed one and drank it without thinking. It was one of Zeo's healing mixtures meant for Ravyn—but it rapidly closed the man's wounds. Within thirty minutes, the damage from the mist faded.

He exhaled. The world felt lighter.

Then... he saw Ravyn.

The demi-human girl slept on the bed. Her breaths were soft, body wrapped in a light cloth, her white tail curled tight. Her fox ears twitched slightly in her sleep.

His gaze darkened.

"A demi-human...? Cute... so she's the owner of this place," he muttered. His breathing grew heavier. He crept closer, like a shadow.

His hand reached out—to touch her pale skin.

But... Ravyn wasn't just any girl.

Even while healing, her body reacted fast. Her silver-blue eyes shot open, and with a reflexive move, she rolled and slashed with her claws, then leapt back to create distance.

"You're not Zeo... Who are you?!" she growled.

The man flinched—then laughed. "Still got some fight in you, huh? Good... I like 'em wild."

Ravyn slashed at his neck, but the man blocked with his bare arm. They exchanged blows. Ravyn was faster, but her wounds reopened. Fresh blood spilled.

She fell to the floor, body trembling. The man grinned, eyes burning red with lust.

"Out of strength, huh... Now I'm gonna—"

BRAAAK!!

The door exploded.

A shockwave slammed into the man, hurling him into the wall. Flames burst from the hearth. Dust flew everywhere.

In the doorway... stood Zeo.

His eyes blazed crimson. His face dark. A terrifying aura surged from his body like a storm. The mist behind him swirled, roared, twisted in rage.

Ravyn could only whisper, "...Zeo..."

Zeo stepped forward. Slowly—but like death itself.

"You dare," he whispered. Each word a blade.

The man stood, bracing himself. But it was too late.

Zeo struck relentlessly. Every punch carried a shockwave. Every kick cracked the earth. The man tried to defend—but Zeo's strength was no longer human. He was slammed, kicked, punched—until the wall shattered.

With one stomp, Zeo sent a tremor through the ground. The large stone near the hut wobbled.

It rolled... and fell.

BOOM!

The earth split. From the debris, a giant hole gaped open—dark, deep... like a mouth to hell.

Zeo stopped. He panted. His eyes fixed on the pit. Ravyn, slumped against the wall, stared in horror.

From the hole...

Growls echoed.

One... two... six glowing red eyes stared from below.

Beasts.

Underground monsters—once sealed beneath that stone—now released.

Zeo clenched his jaw. Eyes locked on the shadows.

"Tchh... This just got worse."