The campfire crackled in the stillness of the night, its golden-orange glow casting gentle shadows on the three figures, outlining their features in a rare moment of peace.
The faint aroma of roasted dried meat blended with the slightly burnt scent of bread, mingling with the cool night breeze, creating a comforting warmth amidst the untamed wilderness.
Yuna was the first to speak.
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes reflecting the flickering flames as if lost in thought.
Tearing off a small piece of bread, she took a slow bite before finally voicing her thoughts:
"Medai Village… I think we should head there first." Her voice was soft yet firm. "It's right along our route, so we wouldn't need to change course. If there's nothing special about the place, we can still continue north without wasting time."
Ren didn't answer immediately. He continued chewing the dried meat in his hand, his gaze fixed on the fire.
Horunka and Tolbana seemed like more practical choices, one offered valuable equipment, the other had an advantage in level progression and resources.
But before he could weigh his thoughts further, Nautilus chuckled lightly. His tone was playful, yet unwavering.
"If Yuna chooses Medai, then Medai it is."
Ren glanced at him, then shifted his gaze to Yuna.
She hesitated for a brief moment, but when she met Nautilus's unwaveringly trusting eyes, she merely smiled and shook her head slightly, as if this was something she had long grown accustomed to.
Ren exhaled and shrugged.
"Alright then." He closed the notebook in his hand and carefully tucked it into his inventory. "Medai it is."
The fire continued to burn brightly, embers glowing red as they rose into the night sky, flickering for a moment before vanishing into the vast darkness.
In the distance, the chirping of crickets blended with the soft rustling of the grass as a gentle breeze swept across the fields, carrying with it the cool promise of a long night ahead.
As the last pieces of bread and dried meat dwindled, the three gradually fell into a comfortable silence. Their shadows stretched long on the ground beside the warm fire, a fleeting moment of tranquility before the journey ahead.
The fire crackled on, radiating a soothing warmth in the still night. Occasionally, glowing embers drifted into the air, floating momentarily before fading into the darkness.
A faint trace of smoke clung to their clothes, mingling with the dewy scent of wild grass, crafting an atmosphere both peaceful and untamed.
After their simple meal, none of them moved, as if reluctant to disturb the rare stillness.
A light breeze stirred across the field, carrying the whispering rustle of grass. Yuna pulled her cloak tighter around herself, her quiet gaze shifting from the fire to the starlit sky above.
"Should we set out early tomorrow?" she asked, her voice low and casual, yet carrying a subtle seriousness.
Ren nodded, his eyes flickering toward the sword resting beside him out of habit. "The earlier, the better. Even if Medai is just a small village, we can't be certain what awaits us along the way."
At his words, Nautilus chuckled, tilting his head slightly as he regarded him. "You sound like you're expecting something to happen."
Ren didn't respond immediately. Instead, he tossed a dry twig into the fire. The flames flared up briefly before settling again, their amber glow reflecting in his eyes. "Being cautious never hurts."
"Well, that's fine by me." Nautilus stretched his legs out, lazily leaning back with his usual relaxed demeanor. "You can worry about all the careful planning, and I'll just follow along."
Yuna let out a soft laugh at his nonchalant attitude but said nothing more.
Silence returned once again. In the distance, an owl hooted in deep, rhythmic intervals, accompanied by the endless chirping of crickets and the occasional gust of wind carrying the night's chill from the fields.
Somewhere in the darkness, hidden dangers might still lurk. But here, by the fire, the three of them embraced this rare moment of peace, at least until dawn.
Ren glanced at his two companions once more, his gaze lingering on their faces for a brief moment. "We'll take turns keeping watch… who knows if any monsters are drawn to the fire. I'll take the first shift."
Nautilus shrugged, neither agreeing nor objecting.
He simply pulled his coat over himself and stretched out comfortably. "Just wake me when it's my turn."
Yuna had no objections either. She merely nodded, adjusting her position before unconsciously tightening her grip on the edge of her cloak.
They weren't used to Ren's heightened sense of vigilance yet, his concerns seeming somewhat excessive, especially when they had already dealt with the giant hornets in the area with ease.
And had yet to encounter a single wolf.
But in the end, they silently accepted it. Caution was never a bad thing, especially when no one truly understood how dangerous this world could be.
Ren quietly rose to his feet, stepping away from the firelight but never straying too far from its glow. His eyes narrowed slightly as he merged into the silent night.
The cold seeped through his clothes, carrying the scent of damp earth and wild grass. He took a deep breath, listening to the subtle sounds of the wilderness, then tightened his grip on his sword's hilt.
A long night still lay ahead.
Ren wasn't in a hurry to rest, but unlike the other two, he wasn't ready to sleep either.
He was still awake, his gaze fixed on the dying campfire, letting his thoughts drift toward unanswered questions.
He was taking the first watch, partly out of caution, partly because he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep just yet.
Too many things were still circling in his mind. The journey to Medai, the potential dangers along the way, Yuna and Nautilus's combat abilities, and even something beyond that, was he making the right choices?
Ren tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword. He had reminded himself countless times that worrying too much wouldn't help, but in this world, even a moment of carelessness could lead to irreversible consequences.
The wind brushed across the grasslands, carrying a chill that seeped through his clothes. He pulled his coat closer around him, then glanced at his two companions.
Yuna was curled up on her side, breathing steadily, while Nautilus seemed to sleep more comfortably, one arm resting beneath his head.
Ren let out a quiet sigh, then turned his attention back to the night around them.
He wasn't expecting any immediate threats, but if one arose, he wanted to be the first to notice. So until it was time to switch shifts, he would remain alert, watching, listening.
Darkness swallowed everything beyond the fire's small radius of light.
The tall grass rustled faintly in the wind, whispering eerie sounds.
In the distance, the chirping of insects intertwined with the occasional hoot of an owl from the forest beyond the fields, composing a silent yet unsettling symphony.
Ren shifted slightly, adjusting his sitting posture to keep his blood flowing. He didn't want his limbs to go numb if something happened.
His hand rested on the hilt of his sword as he carefully scanned the darkness, memorizing even the slightest movement.
There was something about this silence… something too perfect.
Not the natural quiet of the night, but an unnatural stillness, like the land itself was hiding something, something beyond their perception.
Ren took a slow breath, forcing himself to relax. Maybe he was just overthinking. But his instincts whispered vague warnings, making it impossible to lower his guard.
Everything seemed safe, but in this world, seemed never meant certain.
The night dragged on in absolute stillness, broken only by the occasional gusts of wind sweeping through the fields, carrying the damp scent of earth and the creeping cold that sank into his skin.
Each breeze made the wild grass sway like silent waves crashing into one another, while the last embers of the fire flickered weakly, casting faint, dying glows against the overwhelming darkness.
Still, Ren remained vigilant, eyes fixed on the surrounding shadows, ears tuned to even the smallest sound in the distance.
But throughout the entire watch, nothing came, only the slow, rhythmic breaths of his companions blending into the stillness of the night.
He could feel his body growing heavier, his once-sharp thoughts about tomorrow's journey gradually unraveling, dissipating like tendrils of smoke into the cold air.
Finally, when his internal clock told him it was time to switch, Ren exhaled softly and reached out to nudge Nautilus.
"Your turn." His voice was low, slightly hoarse from the hours of silence.
Nautilus blinked a few times, his half-lidded eyes still hazy with sleep as he reluctantly pulled himself out of his peaceful rest.
But in just a moment, he regained his clarity, giving a small nod before stretching, his joints cracking softly.
"Yeah, yeah… go ahead and sleep. I got it from here." His voice still carried that signature laziness, but there was no trace of drowsiness in his gaze.
Ren didn't say anything else. He simply turned away, adjusting his position, pulling his coat tighter to ward off the night's chill, and closed his eyes.
Even as the wind continued to whisper through the fields and the distant sounds of nature filled the air, his body slowly began to relax.
The lingering warmth of the dying fire, along with the quiet reassurance of having someone on watch, lulled him into a light sleep, a fragile drift between wakefulness and the coming day.
Meanwhile, Nautilus sat there in silence, resting his chin on his hand, watching the last embers flicker in the dark, listening to the rhythm of a still night, one fleeting moment of contemplation before dawn arrived.