Ren always hid his face beneath the wolf-fur hood of his armor.
That appearance only made him more enigmatic, as if concealing a secret no one could ever reach.
Nautilus had once believed this was his chance to change.
A different life, a new beginning.
A place without the limits of reality, where he could become stronger, where he could fight without fear.
That was why Nautilus loved playing games.
In this virtual world, he could do things reality had never allowed him to.
He could stand on his own two feet, no longer bound by invisible chains or the expectations of others.
He had once dreamed of a future where he was no longer weak, no longer afraid, no longer forced to bow his head in helplessness.
A future where he could rise, where he could fight, where he could protect what mattered to him.
But then, he realized that Aincrad was not the world he had imagined.
This game was not merely an entertainment experience or a challenge to sharpen oneself.
It did not allow for mistakes. There were no second chances.
Every decision, big or small, carried real consequences.
And death, once just a number on a screen, had now become a permanent end, something irreversible.
He had planned everything. Step by step. No recklessness, no unnecessary risks.
He spent his time training, honing his skills, waiting for the right opportunity.
For Nautilus, survival wasn't something that could be left to luck or momentary courage.
He knew all too well that those who rushed ahead would fall before they even realized their mistakes. He would not become one of them.
But then Ren appeared.
A stranger, someone he hadn't known for long, yet who somehow disrupted everything in a way he couldn't understand.
Ren didn't follow any of the rules Nautilus had come to know.
He wasn't cautious like Nautilus, nor did he advance slowly like the other careful players.
He moved with a strange kind of resilience, a determination that didn't stem from confidence, nor from a desire to conquer.
Every step he took was not an experiment, not a reckless decision, but an irreversible choice.
And yet, those steps... felt lost, as if searching for something.
He wasn't much stronger than Nautilus. He didn't have more experience either, both of them had started from the same point.
Nautilus could say with certainty that Ren wasn't a Beta Tester. He was just a regular player, just like him. From the way Ren hesitated when receiving the guidebook... Nautilus could tell. That expression, it wasn't an act.
Yet somehow, just by standing near him, Nautilus felt as if the rhythm of this world was shifting.
And that unsettled him.
Everything about Ren, his way of moving forward, his way of facing this world, his refusal to let fear control him, made Nautilus feel a twinge of jealousy.
But what frustrated him the most was Yuna. Not because she had changed, but because she seemed to be growing too close to Ren.
They talked more, coordinated more naturally, and little by little, Nautilus felt like he was being left behind.
He didn't know what Ren was thinking, no one could see past the hood covering his face.
But every time Nautilus looked at Yuna, he saw her smiling, a soft smile he had come to know so well.
Only now, it was no longer meant just for him.
Nautilus didn't know if Ren considered him a comrade.
But he knew one thing: if he continued following him, he wouldn't be able to keep the same pace as before.
He wouldn't be able to slowly accumulate strength, avoid danger, or stay in his own safe zone forever.
Perhaps he was still afraid. Perhaps he still wasn't ready.
But this time, he wasn't fighting alone.
Nautilus pulled his coat tighter, sat up straight, and took a deep breath. The cold air filled his lungs, soothing the turmoil inside him, but it couldn't erase the unease.
Even so, he held onto that feeling. Because it was proof that he was still here, still moving forward.
Nautilus glanced at Ren.
Even in sleep, he still held his sword tightly, never loosening his grip.
His dark armor covered him completely, and the wolf-fur hood cast a shadow over his face, leaving only stray strands of hair visible under the dim firelight.
Even after traveling together for a whole day, Nautilus still couldn't understand him.
He seemed like a lone warrior, always on guard, as if he trusted no one, or perhaps refused to let himself show even the slightest weakness.
Nautilus frowned. That feeling of unease stirred within him again.
"He... is just like me... still unable to fully trust anyone."
But unlike him, Ren did not waver. He stepped forward, fought, and made decisions without hesitation… as if nothing in this world could shake him.
Wasn't that exactly what Nautilus had once wished for? Someone who could be fearless, who could be strong without faltering?
Nautilus bit his lip lightly and turned his face away, but his gaze unconsciously drifted to the small figure sleeping peacefully beside Ren.
Yuna.
She was sound asleep, her back leaning against a rock, her face far more relaxed than when she was awake.
Even after a long and tense day, she still wore a faint smile as she unconsciously shifted in her dreams.
Nautilus used to think he was the only one Yuna could rely on. But now, she seemed… more at ease when she was with Ren.
The discomfort in his chest suddenly morphed into something else, a bitter, heavy feeling he didn't want to admit.
He closed his eyes, pulling his cloak tightly around himself.
No matter how long this night would last, no matter how thick the darkness became… he wouldn't let it swallow him.
...
The dark night gradually faded, retreating and making way for the morning sunlight, which slipped through the thin clouds in the sky, painting faint streaks of light across the mist-covered ground.
The early air carried a slight chill, mingled with the damp scent of wild grass and lingering ash.
Ren slowly opened his eyes. The first sensation to creep into his awareness wasn't the comfort of a restful sleep, but rather a vague emptiness, as if he had never truly left his state of alertness.
He sat up, moving carefully so as not to disturb the quiet space, his gaze habitually drifting to his companions.
Yuna was still sound asleep, her steady breathing gently rising and falling. At that moment, her face carried a rare sense of peace, no more worry, no more tension, only tranquility, as if after everything, she still believed she was in a safe place.
The cloak draped over her shifted slightly with her unconscious movements, as though even in her sleep, she wanted to hold on to the warmth that remained from the night.
Not far away, Nautilus sat beside the now-dead campfire. He wasn't fully asleep, but he wasn't awake either.
His head drooped slightly, his body swaying faintly with each heavy breath. He looked like he was trying to fight off the drowsiness, but his weary eyes betrayed his determination.
Only a few faint embers flickered among the cold ashes, wisps of smoke drifting upward with the gentle breeze before disappearing into the sky.
Ren quietly observed them for a while, saying nothing, making no movement beyond his steady breathing.
Yuna slept peacefully, as if, no matter what happened, she trusted that someone would be there to protect her.
And Nautilus… even though he was so exhausted he could barely keep his eyes open, he still pushed through, as if letting his guard down for even a second would cause everything to fall apart.
Ren narrowed his eyes slightly.
Perhaps he didn't need to guess.
It seemed… he could finally understand a little of the feelings Nautilus had for Yuna.
Ren slowly stood up, careful not to make a sound that would disturb the two of them.
He stepped out of the clearing, his leather boots brushing against the dew-covered grass, leaving faint footprints on the soft earth.
The sky was gradually brightening, the first rays of sunlight breaking over the horizon, tinting the meadow in a pale golden hue.
The morning breeze passed through, carrying the fresh scent of grass and a gentle chill.
Ren took a deep breath, letting the refreshing air fill his chest before continuing to move.
He walked along the low bushes, bending down to pick up scattered dry branches from the ground.
Small branches, large branches, they were all neatly gathered in his arms. Occasionally, he found wild berries hidden among the leaves, red, purple, some so richly colored that they didn't look safe to eat.
Ren carefully selected the ripest ones and placed them into his inventory.
When he returned, only a few faint embers remained in the pile of ashes. Ren arranged the firewood, took a straight stick, stirred the ashes, and gently blew on them.
The embers flared up briefly, clinging to the dry wood, their orange glow dancing with each small gust of wind.
Ren took a small knife and carefully sliced the bread into thin pieces, placing them on a clean stick and holding them close to the glowing coals.
The warmth spread out, and as the bread slowly toasted, its surface turned crisp, releasing a soft fragrance that blended with the scent of burning wood.
The morning breeze swayed the embers and carried the gentle warmth of their simple breakfast, some toasted bread and a few wild berries gathered along the way. Simple, yet enough to soothe the hunger after a long night.
Ren sat down, his eyes following the small flickers of flame dancing before him.
He glanced at Yuna and Nautilus, both still lost in quiet sleep. He didn't rush to wake them.
Perhaps… letting them sleep a little longer wouldn't hurt.