Ren sat quietly, resting his elbows on his knees, carefully flipping the slice of bread to keep it from burning.
The heat from the glowing embers slowly turned the surface golden, releasing a faint aroma that blended with the scent of smoke and the morning mist.
He didn't have many ingredients to cook with, nor did he need anything extravagant, food was for survival, not enjoyment.
An empty stomach after a long night only needed to be filled in the simplest way possible.
Beside him, Yuna stirred. She let out a soft groan and instinctively curled deeper into her cloak, as if trying to escape the morning chill.
It was only after a long moment that she slowly opened her eyes, her lashes fluttering slightly in the dim morning light.
Her unfocused gaze blinked a few times, still not fully awake, her breathing steady with the lingering rhythm of sleep.
Ren observed in silence. Compared to her tense, battle-ready stance from the day before, Yuna looked much smaller now.
No wary eyes, no rigid posture bracing against danger, just a girl who had endured a long, exhausting day and was now savoring a brief moment of rest.
In that instant, she looked like an ordinary person, as if this world had never trapped her.
It wasn't until the scent of toasted bread drifted over that her eyes brightened.
"You're making breakfast?" Her voice was hoarse, carrying the lazy tone of someone just waking up.
Ren didn't reply immediately. He flipped the bread one last time, ensuring the crust was crisp but not burnt, before handing it to her.
"Eat."
Yuna reached out, but the moment her fingertips touched the warm surface, she immediately pulled back.
"Too hot!" She winced, but her gaze remained fixed on the bread, eyes filled with hunger.
Ren's lips curved slightly, but he said nothing. Instead, he placed a berry in her hand as compensation.
Yuna blinked at him but didn't refuse. She obediently brought the berry to her lips, nibbling at it as she waited for the bread to cool.
Across the fire, Nautilus was still asleep. His head drooped slightly, his body swaying ever so gently with each breath.
He didn't look like someone in deep slumber, more like a person who had been holding on for too long and had finally succumbed to exhaustion.
Ren watched him in silence, his expression flickering.
Somewhere inside, he understood why Nautilus was so stubborn. Caution was a habit hard to break, especially for those who had grown used to a world where a single moment of carelessness could lead to death.
After a brief hesitation, Ren quietly placed a piece of toasted bread beside Nautilus.
He could eat it when he woke up, or not. That was up to him.
Ren had no intention of waking him. If he was truly this exhausted, then perhaps letting him sleep a little longer was the better choice.
Ren relaxed slightly, absentmindedly running his fingers through the grass, feeling the lingering night dew clinging to the blades.
The world around them was so still that he could hear Nautilus's slow, steady breathing and the distant rustling of wind through the trees.
The fire had burned down to its last embers, glowing faintly among the gray ashes.
Ren propped his elbow on his knee, flipping the last piece of bread before setting it aside, letting the remaining warmth of the embers crisp the crust a little more.
Yuna ate her meal slowly, occasionally nibbling on a berry, her expression pensive.
Each time she took a bite, she would frown slightly, as if contemplating its taste before chewing again.
Ren wasn't in the habit of watching others eat, but for some reason, this moment felt different.
Watching Yuna quietly chew her bread, legs crossed comfortably, her tousled hair falling over her shoulders…
She didn't look like someone trapped in this world.
She didn't look like a player fighting to survive.
She was just a girl, enjoying a simple breakfast in the quiet embrace of the grasslands.
Ren averted his gaze, focusing back on the fading embers.
But Yuna suddenly spoke.
"He's still not awake?"
She gestured toward Nautilus with a tilt of her chin.
Ren glanced over. Nautilus hadn't moved at all, his posture unchanged, his head resting against a rock, his breathing steady but slightly heavy.
"No need to wake him." Ren replied briefly. "He needs sleep."
Yuna tilted her head, tracing a finger along the surface of the remaining bread.
She soon finished her meal, stretching lazily before pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders.
Her long black hair was slightly disheveled, with a few stray strands falling over her forehead as she rested her chin on her knees, brown eyes reflecting the soft golden light of dawn.
"What do we do next?" she asked, turning to Ren.
Ren lowered his gaze, thinking for a moment.
Then, he stood, brushing off the ashes clinging to his clothes, and glanced toward the still-sleeping Nautilus.
"We wait for him to wake up, then we leave."
Yuna didn't argue, simply nodding as her gaze drifted toward the pale blue sky in the distance.
A light breeze passed through, carrying the scent of wild grass and the lingering mist of the night.
A peaceful morning.
Yuna sat still for a while, as if contemplating something.
Her fingers absentmindedly rolled the last berry between them, her eyes reflecting the dying embers, silent yet complex.
Finally, she spoke softly.
"…Sorry."
Ren paused slightly.
At first, he thought she was speaking to him, but as he followed her gaze, he realized she wasn't looking at him.
She was looking at Nautilus, still fast asleep beside the cold ashes.
She exhaled quietly, fingers gripping the edge of her cloak, as if dissatisfied with herself.
"I should've taken over the watch, but I ended up falling asleep…"
Her voice was quiet, but there was genuine remorse in every word.
Nautilus didn't respond. His breathing remained steady, undisturbed.
Perhaps he was too exhausted. Perhaps he had stayed up the entire night. Either way, he remained deep in slumber.
Yuna watched him for a moment before lowering her gaze.
"Thank you."
The words were barely above a whisper, nearly lost in the gentle morning breeze.
Ren said nothing, but his eyes lingered on her.
He could see the guilt in them, not just for sleeping through her turn, but for letting Nautilus shoulder a burden that should have been hers.
It wasn't just responsibility.
It was the feeling of not wanting to be a burden to someone else.
After a moment, Yuna tilted her head slightly, rolling the last berry between her fingers before setting it down beside Nautilus's piece of bread.
"At the very least, he'll have something to eat when he wakes up."
Her voice was light, almost casual, but there was an unspoken gentleness in her gaze.
Ren remained silent, simply watching.
This girl… she didn't seem to be good at expressing gratitude with words, but her actions spoke louder than anything else.
After placing the berry down, Yuna leaned against her knees, gazing toward the horizon.
She let out a long breath, as if trying to cast away the complicated thoughts in her heart.
"Next time, I won't let you stay up alone."
This time, her voice was steadier. No longer hesitant or apologetic, but filled with simple, sincere determination.
Ren watched her action in silence.
A simple gesture, yet one that carried a meaning difficult to put into words.
He didn't know what kind of relationship they had, but one thing was certain, Nautilus was more important to Yuna than he had initially thought.
A light morning breeze swept through, making her long brown hair sway, catching the soft glow of the early sun.
Ren still said nothing, simply observing in quiet contemplation.
Some words didn't need to be spoken to be understood.
A gentle wind passed by, lifting a few dried blades of grass into the air, swirling them briefly before letting them fall.
The morning light bathed the three of them, soft yet fleetingly fragile.
A peaceful moment in this dangerous world....perhaps, not something to be taken for granted.
After a while, Nautilus stirred.
At first, just a slight furrow of his brows. Then, his shoulders shifted, his breathing changed rhythm before he slowly opened his eyes.
His pale green eyes, tinged with brown, shimmered under the morning light, still hazy from sleep.
He blinked a few times, adjusting to the brightness, then frowned slightly, rubbing his neck as if he had just woken from an uncomfortable rest.
"…Did I fall asleep?" Nautilus murmured, his voice still a bit hoarse.
Ren glanced at him and replied flatly, "No, you stayed up all night."
Nautilus froze for a second before letting out a soft chuckle, a hint of self-mockery in his tone. "I see…"
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, as if listening to his own body, then stretched lightly, his joints making small cracking sounds.
His gaze then swept over the other two, pausing slightly when he saw Yuna sitting beside him, her eyes fixed on the dying embers with a contemplative look.
"…You're awake?" Yuna asked softly, not turning to face him.
"Yeah." Nautilus responded simply. He lifted a hand to rub his eyes a little, then instinctively reached toward the wooden plate beside him.
His fingers stopped when they touched something small...a berry, placed neatly next to his portion of bread.
Nautilus blinked in mild surprise, staring at it for a moment. He glanced at Yuna, but she said nothing, simply resting her chin on her hand, gazing into the distance.
Perhaps… he understood.
Nautilus didn't ask, nor did he say anything. He merely picked up the berry, rolling it lightly between his fingers before letting out a quiet chuckle.
"…Thanks." His voice was barely above a whisper, as if speaking only to himself.
Yuna didn't reply, but the faint curve of her lips was enough for Ren to notice.
A brief silence passed.
Nautilus looked down at his bread, then, without hesitation, picked up a piece and started eating. Ren said nothing more, simply standing up and brushing the dust off his coat.
"Eat up, then let's go." He said calmly.
Nautilus looked up at him, then quickly nodded. "Got it."
Yuna didn't object either.
And so, under the vast, clear morning sky, the three of them continued their journey.