Since our last conversation, a heavy silence had settled between us.
I could tell Cassandre wanted to say something, that she was looking for a way to lighten the mood... but I didn't help her.
I was too lost in my thoughts, diving back into everything that had happened—and especially into what awaited me now.
As we walked, I experimented with my blood manipulation ability. I tested it cautiously, using small amounts to avoid exhaustion. I had to stay clear-headed, ready to react to the slightest danger.
The sky was tinged with orange and purple, announcing the imminent arrival of night. We decided then to set up a makeshift camp.
Cassandre took care of the fire. I watched her in silence, realizing I had never taken the time to learn how to light one.
The past year, I had lived like a beast—tracking, hunting, surviving without the slightest comfort. A fire? That was a luxury I'd never even considered.
I remained still, listening to the crackling of the first flames as the scent of burning wood mixed with the cool evening air. A moment of calm before what was to come…
Cassandre pulled a bag from her pack and took out some dried meat and a couple of makeshift water flasks.
Each group had received a basic kit: rations of dried meat and fish, water, minor health potions, and a few remedies and disinfectants.
I realized then how essential trades were here. Me? I hadn't learned any yet. Should I be looking into that?
Curious, and mostly eager to break the awkward silence, I took advantage of our meal to ask her a question:
— By the way, what's your trade, Cassandre?
She widened her eyes, visibly surprised that I had spoken first.
Then, almost comically, she quickly swallowed her piece of dried meat, as if not wanting to miss the chance to answer.
Finally, an enthusiastic smile lit up her face, and she spoke, excited like a child:
— See those potions and remedies? she said, puffing out her chest with pride. I made them!
She struck a theatrical pose, full of pride, and I almost felt like her nose was growing with the weight of her ego.
— I'm an alchemist! she added, chin lifted, as if she had just announced an incredible feat.
A small chuckle escaped me at her overly dramatic performance.
— I can tell you're proud of that! I teased her.
Cassandre then seemed to realize how over-the-top she had been. Her smile faded slightly, and she gently settled back down, looking away.
Her lips had taken on a slight reddish tint—a sign she was a bit embarrassed by her own exaggeration.
The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows on the surrounding trees. The air was filled with a comforting warmth, contrasting with the chill of the night. We sat side by side, eyes lost in the flames, each absorbed in our thoughts.
I turned slightly toward her and said, in a light but sincere tone:
— In any case, I just wanted to thank you… You know, without you, I would've never become human again. You've helped me so much since we met… You're kind of like my little goddess.
She nearly jumped. Her eyes widened, and her cheeks turned crimson.
— Wh-what? What are you saying?! she stammered, clearly embarrassed.
Her reaction was adorable. A hint of a smile formed on my lips as I watched her look away, fleeing my gaze with a touchingly nervous air.
A silence settled. Only the crackling fire broke the calm of the moment. I loved those suspended moments, those seconds when words seemed unnecessary and only the language of emotions really spoke.
Then, in a calmer voice, she spoke again, regaining a hint of composure:
— Don't worry… You don't need to thank me.
She inhaled gently, as if hesitating before adding, more softly:
— It's more like I owe you a lot...
I frowned slightly, intrigued.
— Huh?
I was about to ask her, but she cut me off before I could dig deeper:
— I'm going to sleep, she said, getting up and quickly looking away. We have to wake up early tomorrow. Wake me when it's my turn for the watch.
She walked away, leaving me with my questions. Her back turned to the firelight, I could still sense her unease.
I sighed softly, watching the flames dance before me.
What had she meant?
At dawn, she stirred gently, stretching with a light yawn. The first rays of sunlight brushed her face, playing with the wild strands of her hair. I watched her in silence, amused by the peaceful sight, savoring these few moments before she noticed me.
When she finally opened her eyes, our gazes met. I gave her a light smile.
— Morning. Sleep well?
Her expression changed instantly. Her brows furrowed slightly, and her gaze darkened with sincere annoyance.
— Why didn't you wake me? Are you insane?!
I shrugged, unmoved.
— I don't sleep easily… so I thought I'd let you rest.
She sighed, crossing her arms over her chest.
— This is the last time you do that, got it?!
Her tone was harsh, but I couldn't help finding it adorable. Seeing her worry about me—even when angry—warmed my heart.
I nodded in silence, giving her a faint smile.
She looked away, still slightly sulky, before muttering:
— From now on, I'll take the first watch shifts.
I nodded again, obediently.
A silence settled. Only the birdsong marked the end of the night. Then, with a sigh, she slumped back against her pack, running a hand through her hair, clearly still tired.
— You're impossible, she murmured under her breath.
I smiled discreetly, still enjoying this unspoken bond between us.
We resumed our journey, walking at a calm pace under the golden morning light. This time, the atmosphere was different. Lighter, more natural. Unlike the day before, we talked more.
Our exchanges were sprinkled with teasing and muffled laughter. Sometimes, long silences settled, but they were no longer awkward. Just pleasant. A budding bond slowly took root between us, weaving an imperceptible yet very real connection.
As we followed a path lined with towering trees, a low growl made us stop in our tracks.
A Xylorath bear emerged from the underbrush, its dark fur bristling and its red eyes locked on us. A massive, intimidating creature—but not enough to worry me.
I took a deep breath and activated my Intimidation skill.
The beast's gaze faltered. It growled one last time before backing off, then turned and bounded into the woods.
I let out a light laugh.
— Hah… He quickly realized he was outmatched.
Cassandre, who had observed the scene in silence, nodded before resuming the walk without a word.
A bit later, she suddenly stopped at the side of the path and crouched before a patch of plants. Curious, I watched her gently pick a few leaves and carefully store them in a small leather pouch.
— Medicinal herbs? I asked.
— Yes, some have useful properties. You never know when they'll come in handy.
I mentally noted that she, too, seemed to have improved her Identification skill.
The rest of the day passed at the rhythm of our steps and our animated conversations. Nothing extraordinary—just light exchanges, observations about our surroundings, and the occasional teasing that made her smile in spite of herself.
Then, slowly, day gave way to night.
The sky blazed with orange hues before darkness settled in for good. We decided to stop and set up camp, letting the nocturnal silence wrap around our journey.
This time, I stayed by Cassandre's side, watching her every movement as she lit the fire. I listened to the rustle of twigs beneath her fingers, the slight crackle of dry wood she placed carefully. The air was filled with the scent of damp moss and earth, as the night gently fell over the forest.
Then suddenly, a spark flared. A tiny flickering light that, with a breath, ignited the twigs. The flames rose, dancing joyfully under Cassandre's satisfied gaze.
She was really good at this.
— See? It's not so hard! Tomorrow, you'll try, she said in a cheerful tone, true to herself.
I gave her a mischievous look and replied with amusement:
— And I'll do better than you.
Her smile widened.
— Want to bet?
I narrowed my eyes, intrigued.
— What do you want to bet?
Her expression softened, but a mischievous gleam shone in her eyes.
— I want you to tell me about the person you were talking to, when you were alone in the forest.
A chilling wave swept through my heart. An imperceptible shiver ran up my spine.
So, she had heard me.
— You were listening… I murmured, almost to myself.
— Yes, yes, I was. And I admit—I'm curious.
I lowered my gaze to the flames, hesitating. Should I really talk to her about it?
And then… what could I ask for in return?
My mind wandered for a moment, recalling our conversation from the night before. Maybe this was my chance to learn more about what she hadn't wanted to tell me before falling asleep.
And maybe talking about it would help me… if I ended up losing.
In the end, it was a win-win situation.
I looked back up at her and said in a firm tone:
— Alright, I accept. But in exchange, you'll have to tell me what you didn't want to reveal last night.
She burst out laughing, delighted.
— Deal! she said, her smile lighting up in the flickering firelight.
— Get ready for a crushing defeat! she challenged me, grinning.
I raised an eyebrow, amused.
— Right back at you.
Our laughter rose into the night, mingling with the fire's crackling and the distant song of crickets. The atmosphere was light, almost carefree.
After a few more minutes of lively conversation, we decided it was time to eat. Granted, with our advanced levels, neither hunger nor fatigue really affected us anymore, but keeping human habits helped maintain some sense of mental balance.
— Tonight's menu: dried fish! Cassandre announced enthusiastically, holding up our portions.
I took mine, nodding in thanks. The salty, smoky smell of the fish tickled my nostrils. Without another word, we began our meal in peaceful silence, disturbed only by the rustling of the wind in the leaves.
At the end of the meal, Cassandre pulled out two makeshift cups, rudimentary but functional. I examined them with curiosity, noticing the artisanal markings on the metal. Probably the work of someone in the group with the blacksmith trade, I thought.
Cassandre, having followed my gaze, smiled before explaining:
— That's Pierre, our blacksmith. He made a few essential tools this year.
She turned the cup in her hands before adding, her tone filled with sincere gratitude:
— We all owe him a lot.
I turned my own cup in my hand, its cold metal contrasting with the fire's warmth. That simple sentence reminded me once again of how important trades were within a group.
I still didn't have one.
A slight unease brushed over me. Should I pick one? Find my place through something more than pure survival?
But, as always, Cassandre broke the thread of my thoughts before they strayed too far.
— Alright, give me the cup. Tonight, I'm making you a special herbal tea! she declared proudly.
Curious, I watched her pull out the herbs she had picked earlier. My eyes lingered on the intertwined leaves and twigs in her hands. Out of curiosity, I cast my Identification spell on them.
Identification (Low) – Name: ??? | Medicinal Property
That was all my weak level allowed me to see. A sigh escaped me. My Identification skill was still too limited… To be fair, over the past year, I had relied more on animal instinct than on my actual abilities, developing only stealth to survive.
But I had made up my mind: from now on, I would train this skill. It would be more than useful.
— What are you making? I asked, intrigued.
Cassandre wagged her finger under my nose, a mischievous smile on her lips.
— You'll see when it's ready!
I watched her attentively, studying her movements. She carefully selected leaves, removed some, crushed the rest in my cup with calm precision. Then she lightly heated them above the fire—probably to dry them a little, I thought.
Finally, she added water and placed the cup on the hot stones beside the flames, letting the heat gently infuse the mysterious brew.
I followed each step with fascination. Cassandre seemed in her element, and for a reason I couldn't explain, that warmed my heart a little.
Eventually, it was ready.
Cassandre handed me the still-warm cup, which she had wrapped in cloth so I wouldn't burn myself.
— And you're not having any? I asked, raising an eyebrow.
She gently shook her head, an enigmatic smile on her lips.
— This one is just for you.
I took the cup in my hands. The warmth spread instantly through my palms, numbed by the night's chill… and, strangely, all the way to my heart.
I blew lightly on the drink's surface, watching the fine steam curl upward, swirling in my breath before vanishing into the night air.
Cassandre was watching me with childlike impatience, her eyes sparkling with excitement, like a little girl waiting for someone to try her very first cake.
The fire's crackling lulled our silent exchange, adding a gentle touch to the suspended moment.
Finally, I brought the cup to my lips and took a sip. Then a second.
A delicately sweet taste spread through my mouth, followed by a comforting warmth that seeped into my tired muscles. I exhaled with satisfaction.
— Aaah… I sighed softly.
It was pleasant. Much more than I had expected.
Sip after sip, I savored the comforting drink, feeling my entire body relax, as if an invisible weight was lifting from my shoulders.
And then, without even realizing it, sleep took me. A deep, peaceful sleep like I hadn't known in far too long.