The smoke was thin. Straight, white, stretching from between the trees toward the sky. Campfire smoke. Arnoir Sophia looked up at that thin white line, trying to push the thought of the street blocked by the Iron Crown Brigade from her mind. They had sealed it off. A frontal breakthrough was impossible. But if this smoke belonged to someone——. "[serious]Let's go" Sophia was the first to move. Rain hesitated for just a moment, then followed in silence. They threaded their way between the trees. The fallen leaves beneath their feet were damp, seeping moisture with each step. Morning light filtered through the gaps in the branches, staining the forest in pale orange. Bird calls echoed somewhere. It was a peaceful morning scene, but Sophia's chest still dragged with the memory of last night's bandits. That one moment when she'd touched Rain's hand. As they drew closer to the source of the smoke, the scent of medicinal herbs began to mix in. Sweet, with a slightly sharp edge. A different smell from the campfire smoke—gentler, more soothing. The trees opened up. A small clearing. She realized later it was near the Storyteller's Spring—the place in the center of Brave Forest where clear water bubbled up. A simple hearth made of stacked stones sat at the edge of the spring, with a pot resting on top. Inside, a green liquid simmered and swayed. And beside it, a single boy sat. His fluffy golden hair gleamed almost blindingly bright in the morning light. Clear, water-blue eyes widened the moment they noticed the two of them, sparkling with delight. A small star-shaped earring glinted on his left ear. He looked to be around sixteen, his features still boyish, yet he carried an oddly composed air about him. "[excited]Oh, we have visitors!" The boy stood up, spreading his arms in a welcoming gesture. Far from frightened, his face looked as though old friends had just arrived. Rain stepped half a pace forward, placing himself in front of Sophia. His right hand naturally drifted toward his sword hilt. "[cold]State your business" "[laughing]Come on, you don't have to make such a scary face. I'm Milvaan Alru—just a traveler" The boy who introduced himself as Alru turned his attention back to the pot without seeming bothered. He took out two wooden bowls and poured the herbal tea with practiced ease. His movements were efficient, practiced. "[gentle]Want some? It's Worzley grass tea—good for exhaustion. It grows all over Brave Forest, a bit bitter but it warms you right up" Steam rose from the offered bowl. Sophia accepted it but didn't drink immediately. Rain didn't even reach for his. "[serious]You've been in this forest many times?" "[serious]Yeah. I know it by foot better than by map at this point. Why?" Rain paused. He was suspicious. Sophia could see it. But at the same time, he was calculating—the reality of the Iron Crown Brigade blocking the main road. "[serious]Do you know of any beast paths through the forest? A way west without using the road?" "[surprised]Ah, you mean those brigade horses?" There was something casual and knowing in Alru's voice. He already knew. Sophia found that slightly unsettling. "[serious]They've been here since yesterday evening. I came in avoiding the road, so I was fine—but I know three beast paths. The safest one is probably entering from the north side of the spring and cutting before the Golte Ruins—the old bandit stronghold south of here. I don't think the brigade's messenger birds can reach that far" The information was specific. He didn't sound like he was lying. But why did he know so much? *(Could it really be this convenient...)* Sophia brought the bowl to her lips. Bitter. But her body did warm. In the end, the three of them moved together. Rain probably wasn't convinced. But the reality that they'd be caught if they didn't move forward had narrowed their options to one. ────── The beast path was narrow. They walked in single file. Alru led, Sophia followed, and Rain brought up the rear. Alru's back, brushing grass aside as he moved, was reassuringly reliable. His footsteps were light, his placement on tree roots precise. The way he moved spoke of having walked this path many times before. When they reached a steep descent, the rocks beneath Sophia's feet began to slip. "[gentle]Give me your hand" Alru turned back, extending his hand to Sophia. His water-blue eyes looked straight at her—no hesitation, no calculation, just a natural gesture. Sophia took his hand. It was warm and firm. Step by step, they descended the cliff edge slowly. Once they reached solid ground, Alru's face softened with relief. Then, glancing back at the cliff edge, he paused. "[gentle]Oh, this" Alru plucked a small white wildflower blooming in a crack in the rock. A tiny flower, one whose name she didn't know. He gently tucked it into Sophia's hair. "[gentle]It suits you. ...I like people with eyes like yours" The words were straightforward. Not shy, not teasing. Just honest—as if he'd simply thought it and decided to say so. Sophia's face grew hot. *(Eyes like mine? What kind of eyes...)* She couldn't bring herself to ask what he meant. Behind them, Rain had witnessed everything. When Sophia glanced back, Rain's gaze was fixed on the trees ahead. His expression hadn't changed. But his pace had quickened slightly. Sophia noticed. And it bothered her. *(Does Rain... not feel anything?)* While Alru's kindness was warm, Rain's profile was somehow painful, and she couldn't tear her eyes away. ────── Night fell. They made camp near the Storyteller's Spring. A small fire was lit, and the three of them sat shoulder to shoulder. Alru skillfully prepared a soup of dried meat and beans. It was surprisingly good. "[laughing]Rain, can you cook?" "[cold]No" "[laughing]Figured as much. Swordsmen are usually like that" Alru laughed. As his laughter dissolved into the forest, Sophia's lips naturally curved upward too. For days now, she'd been trapped in a tense atmosphere. She hadn't expected a night where she could laugh. Then Alru stood. "[gentle]I'm going to get water. The spring's just nearby" As his figure disappeared beyond the trees, silence settled before the fire. Rain sat down beside Sophia. Closer than usual. Much closer. "[whispers]Don't trust him" His voice was low, quiet. Not angry. Serious. *(I know. But——)* "[serious]...You didn't tell me your name either, at first" She regretted it the moment she said it. But she didn't take it back. Rain fell silent. He didn't argue. It was the kind of silence where he'd started to say something and stopped. The fire crackled softly. *(I hurt him. I know I was wrong... but I can't apologize first)* She wanted to apologize. But she didn't know how. More than that, she didn't understand why she'd said it that way in the first place. It wasn't that she trusted Alru more than Rain. It was just—when Rain tried to push Alru away, something in her chest had stirred. Why? Alru returned, carrying a water skin. With his usual smile, he said "It's cold" and offered it to them. His brightness smoothed over the surface tension. But after that, Rain didn't meet Sophia's eyes. The firelight flickered. Sophia hugged her knees and stared into the flames. Unable to apologize. Carrying that weight, she fell asleep. ────── It was the next morning. The beast path gradually widened. The density of trees thinned, and the sky came into view. The ground was muddy from last night's rain, and each step made a wet squelching sound. They emerged into a clearing. In that instant, Sophia's feet stopped. Before them stood mounted men. Twenty of them. All in armor. The black iron was dulled by the morning light. The horses stood motionless, their very presence dropping the temperature of the air. The man at the front advanced his horse one step. He was heavily built. Forty, perhaps, with many scars on his face. A thin smile played at the corner of his mouth. The smile of someone enjoying himself. The face of a hunter who'd found his prey. "[cold]Arnoir Sophia" The man—Gard Vesper, commander of the Iron Crown Brigade—spoke. "[cold]By order of the Crown Prince. You are to be brought back alive. —Now, come quietly" Rain drew his sword. The sound cut through the air. "[serious]Run. The detour is——" Alru started to shout. But the encirclement was skillful. Knights moved from three directions. One escape route, then another, sealed off. "[cold]Don't let them escape!" They ran. Alru pulled Sophia's hand, running, while Rain swung his sword behind them. Metal clashed violently. Pursuing footsteps. Running between trees, always running. Sophia glanced back. An arrow was lodged in Rain's shoulder. "——!" No sound came out. Rain stumbled but didn't stop. His sword hand didn't waver. A second arrow struck his back. He kept running. When a third arrow found his thigh, Rain's legs finally faltered. "[serious]Run! Don't worry about me!" His voice shook. Not from pain, but from something else. Gard dismounted and walked forward slowly. Unhurried. Confident. The cold composure of a hunter before cornered prey. "[sarcastic]Did the Executioner fall for the lady?" His voice was quiet. But those words cut deeper than any arrow. "[cold]You're nothing but a tool for killing. No matter how far you go, that's all you'll ever be" Rain's eyes wavered. Sophia saw it. She saw it happen. Those red eyes that had never wavered before—they trembled for the first time when they received Gard's words. Words that must have been thrown at Rain countless times since birth—this man had chosen them precisely, at the worst possible moment, and spoken them true. "[serious]Rain!" Alru's arm wrapped around Sophia from the side. Strong. "[serious]We have to go!" "[angry]Let go! I won't leave him!" She screamed, looking back. Rain stood there, three arrows still embedded in him, sword raised before the knights. Alone. Alru's arm didn't release her. The forest deepened. Trees multiplied, Rain's figure grew smaller, and eventually disappeared from sight. ────── She didn't know how long they ran. Alru slowed their pace. The trees were dense here, too thick for horses to enter. The two of them leaned their backs against tree roots, catching their breath. After a while, a sound reached them. From far behind. Metal clashing violently. Knights shouting. Rain's voice—not a battle cry, but something more urgent, heavier. Sophia placed both hands against the tree trunk, listening to that sound. The metallic clang continued. And continued. And continued. Then—it stopped. All the sounds ceased at once. Sophia's hands lost their strength. Her knees buckled, and she sank to the grass, sitting down hard. The damp grass was cold. But she couldn't feel the cold. Had he been captured? Or——. Both possibilities flooded her mind, and each one stole her breath. She hadn't apologized last night. She'd fallen asleep without saying anything. Rain had been hurt by her words, and now he was fighting alone—was he fighting? Or had he already——. Alru placed a hand on Sophia's shoulder. A warm hand. But knowing that hand wasn't Rain's, Sophia bit her lip hard. *(Rain...)* The words she couldn't say burned in her chest, with nowhere to go. The forest night was deep, traces of pursuit still lingered in the air, and the two of them could only wait for dawn—with no way of knowing Rain's fate.