Veil slowly opened his eyes, his heavy eyelids fighting against the numbness of sleep. An unexpected warmth surrounded him, comforting yet strange—a stark contrast to the biting cold he had endured earlier. The flickering light of flames danced on the uneven walls of the cave, casting shifting shadows that seemed almost alive, as if they were watching him.

He remained still for a moment, his muddled mind struggling to piece together the scattered fragments of his memories. Every breath was an effort, but the warm air of the cave offered some respite to his exhausted lungs. A faint crackle echoed softly, the sound of burning wood quietly consuming itself in the campfire.

Veil (internal thought, confused): Where... am I? Why am I still alive?

With effort, he raised a trembling hand to rub his eyes, his body protesting every movement. His muscles still felt stiff, as if the cold had frozen them solid.

His vision, initially blurry, gradually sharpened. The details of the cave came into focus: damp, rocky walls, scattered twigs near the fire, and... a figure seated beside the flames.

He squinted, his gaze drawn to two luminous points staring back at him intently. Piercing, almost otherworldly blue eyes that seemed to scrutinize every detail about him. Those eyes carried an intensity that was both calm and penetrating, impossible to decipher.

His gaze followed those eyes to discern wolf-like ears perched atop the figure’s head, and a white tail that swayed gently at her side. The movement, slow and measured, betrayed a silent but unwavering vigilance.

???? (calm, almost neutral): "You’re lucky to be alive."

Her voice was steady, calm, yet tinged with a gravity that left no room for doubt about her seriousness. She wasn’t trying to comfort him—just stating a fact.

Veil (surprised, weak): "What... who... who are you?"

His voice was hoarse, barely a whisper, still bearing the strain of the effort it took to speak. He tried to sit up slightly, but his muscles immediately protested, drawing a grimace of pain from him. He slumped back gently against the rocky wall, a frustrated groan escaping his lips. His gaze, however, never left the woman. An instinctive wariness mingled with his confusion.

Veil (internal thought, wary): What is this situation? She’s not normal... and she’s not human.

She continued to observe him in silence, her blue eyes scrutinizing every movement, every detail. He could feel the weight of her gaze, almost oppressive, as if she were trying to unravel everything about him. Her tail paused for a moment, and her ears perked slightly, betraying heightened attention.

Alynia (calm but firm): "My name is Alynia. Stay still, human."

Her voice was direct, leaving no room for argument. It wasn’t a threat, but an order cloaked in serenity. Despite her calm demeanor, she exuded an imposing presence.

Veil (internal thought, perplexed): Alynia... Who is she? Why did she save me? And why do I feel like she already knows everything about me?

He tried to move again, his fingers instinctively searching for the dagger he had tucked into his belt. But another wave of pain made him grimace, rendering him completely immobile.

Alynia (raising an eyebrow, slightly mocking): "Are you seriously trying to play tough? Look at you—you can’t even stand."

Her words, though calm, carried a hint of sarcasm, as if she were pointing out the absurdity of his actions.

Veil turned his gaze away, frustrated but unable to respond. The fire continued to crackle softly, its flickering flames casting light around the cave as Alynia remained still, her expression impassive, her eyes still fixed on him.

A heavy silence fell between them. Veil felt his breathing slow as he tried to process the situation. The pain in his leg, sharp and throbbing, and the exhaustion weighing on his body harshly reminded him of his vulnerability. Yet his mind clung desperately to a single question he couldn’t ignore.

Veil (hesitant, in a weak voice): "Why... why did you save me?"

Alynia turned her gaze toward the flames. The orange glow danced across her impassive face as her eyes seemed to study the embers, as if searching for an answer she hesitated to voice. Her expression grew slightly more distant, as though carefully weighing her words.

A frustrating silence stretched out. The tension in the cave seemed to thicken with each passing second.

Veil (internal thought, irritated): Is she ignoring me? After all this, she doesn’t even have the decency to answer? Why not just let me die, then?

He clenched his fists subtly, more out of reflex than actual intent. Frustration mixed with unease surged within him, like a wave he couldn’t hold back.

Veil (more firmly, frustrated): "Why did you save me?!"

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

This time, she slowly turned her head toward him, her movements deliberate and controlled. Her piercing blue eyes fixed on him with a cold, calculated stare that seemed to delve straight into his soul.

Alynia (coldly): "You want a reason? Fine. Let’s say I don’t like useless corpses littering my forest."

Her words, sharp as a blade, hung heavily in the air. There was a hint of irony in her tone, but also a disarming seriousness. The bluntness of her response struck Veil, momentarily taking his breath away.

She rose smoothly, her movements imbued with natural grace, as if every gesture was perfectly measured. She stretched slightly, her ears perking up while her tail swayed lazily behind her, emphasizing her composed demeanor.

Alynia (calmly, almost nonchalant): "Show me your leg. The wound."

Veil furrowed his brow, an instinctive wariness flaring up inside him. His gut told him to stay on guard, but his weakened body left him little choice. After a moment’s hesitation, he finally complied.

Slowly, he pulled up the leg of his pants, revealing a deep gash surrounded by fabric soaked in dried blood. The wound was red and swollen, and a faintly acrid smell wafted from it. Veil felt a wave of uncomfortable heat rise to his face as he fully realized the critical state of his leg.

Veil (murmuring, nervous): "It’s... it’s not that bad, right?"

His words lacked conviction, and he briefly averted his eyes to avoid confronting the reality of his wound.

Alynia crouched beside him, her gaze fixed on the injury with clinical focus. Her ears twitched slightly, and she discreetly sniffed the air around the wound.

Alynia (examining the wound, neutral but sharp): "Hmph. Doesn’t look good. You can walk on it, but it’ll get worse if you act tough."

She knelt closer to Veil, her movements precise and measured. Her agile fingers rummaged through a small leather pouch attached to her belt, pulling out a small glass vial filled with a bluish liquid. The firelight reflected off the glass, making its contents appear even more peculiar and mysterious.

Veil (internal thought, wary): What is that stuff? And what’s she planning to do with it?

Without a word, she uncorked the vial and poured some of its contents onto a piece of fabric she tore effortlessly from her clothing. The cut was swift, and the edge of the cloth frayed slightly under the tension.

She slowly lifted her gaze to meet his, her piercing blue eyes locking onto his.

Alynia (impassive): "This is going to sting."

Her tone was direct, almost clinical. There was no gentleness in her words, only a straightforward warning.

Veil (internal thought, nervous): Sting? No, that means it’s going to be hell. No doubt about it.

Alynia didn’t give him time to think further. She pressed the cloth soaked in the bluish liquid against Veil’s wound without waiting for his consent.

Veil (groaning, surprised): "Grrr... ARGH! You warned me, but this is just cruel!"

The burning sensation from the liquid intensified immediately, radiating from the wound through his entire leg. He tensed, his muscles rigid as he fought not to pull away from the searing pain. His fists clenched against the ground, and a low growl escaped his lips.

Alynia, however, remained impassive. Her gaze stayed fixed on the wound, her movements precise and measured. Not once did she look away, and not once did her hands waver.

Alynia (internal thought, neutral): He complains a lot for someone who stared death in the face just hours ago. But... he’s holding up. That’s something.

Alynia (focused, authoritative): "Complain all you want, but don’t move. I’m not doing this twice."

Her voice was calm, almost detached, but carried an authority that left no room for protest. It wasn’t a suggestion—it was an order thinly veiled as advice.

Veil (internal thought, frustrated): Don’t move? Easy for her to say when she’s not the one suffering.

Another groan escaped Veil, louder this time, as the burning sensation seemed to intensify. Alynia frowned slightly but didn’t slow her movements.

Alynia (internal thought, annoyed): He should be grateful I didn’t let him die in the snow. But no, of course, he’s complaining. Humans... always so fragile.

The burning seemed endless, each second stretching into an agonizing eternity. After what felt like forever to Veil, Alynia finished disinfecting the wound. She tucked the vial back into her pouch before pulling out a makeshift bandage, her expression still unreadable.

With quick, practiced motions, she wrapped the cloth around his leg, tightening it just enough to apply pressure without causing further harm. Her nimble fingers worked as if they had done this countless times before.

Veil (exasperated, panting): "You’re not exactly gentle, are you…"

He looked at her, a flicker of frustration mixed with a hint of respect in his eyes. But Alynia didn’t acknowledge it, her face remaining impassive as she checked the bandage’s tightness.

Alynia raised an eyebrow and let out a faint chuckle, almost imperceptible.

Alynia (smirking, mocking): "I’m patching you up, not here to pamper you."

Her tone was light, almost amused, but carried a hint of provocation, as if she were testing his patience.

She straightened with fluid grace, crossing her arms over her chest. Her silhouette was outlined by the flickering firelight, casting an imposing shadow on the walls of the cave. Her tail swayed gently behind her, a strange contrast to the serious expression now etched on her face.

Alynia (serious, firm): "If you plan to survive here, you’d better toughen up. This forest doesn’t forgive. Make one mistake, and you’re dead."

Her voice was calm, but her piercing, icy gaze left little room for doubt. Her words weren’t a threat—they were a brutal reality stated with cutting clarity.

The silence that followed seemed to weigh down the air in the cave. The crackling of the fire, which had been comforting moments before, now felt almost oppressive. Alynia’s gaze bore into Veil with an intensity that seemed to probe his thoughts, as if trying to discern what he was made of.

Veil (internal thought, frustrated but determined): She thinks I’ll give up? Not a chance. I might be a mess right now, but I’m not backing down.

He lowered his eyes to his bandaged leg and took a deep breath, letting the weight of his own thoughts fade for a moment. The bandage was tight but effective, and despite the pain, he could feel a faint strength beginning to return.

After a moment, he raised his head to meet Alynia’s gaze. His expression had changed. A flicker of defiance shone in his tired but resolute eyes.

Veil (defiant, in a firm voice): "I’m not planning on dying here."

Alynia blinked, though her expression remained unchanged. A second passed before a faint smile, barely noticeable, appeared on her lips.

Alynia (internal thought, slightly intrigued): Not bad. Maybe he’s got more guts than I thought.

She didn’t respond immediately, simply continuing to study him for a moment, as though weighing the sincerity of his words.

A faint gust of wind slipped into the cave, stirring the campfire flames and casting shifting shadows across their faces. The whisper of the wind outside served as a stark reminder to Veil of the harsh world he had just barely escaped.

Their eyes met, a silent exchange thick with tension. Despite his weakened state, Veil held her gaze, a spark of determination flickering in his tired eyes. His fists clenched slightly, as if silently reinforcing his words.

Alynia narrowed her eyes slightly, studying his expression with care. A faint smile, almost imperceptible, tugged at the corner of her lips, betraying a hint of amusement.

Alynia (smirking, slightly mocking): "We’ll see."

She turned away with calculated nonchalance, seating herself near the fire in a deliberately relaxed manner. Her white tail settled gently beside her, while her eyes fixed on the flickering flames. A thoughtful expression crossed her face, marked by a depth she did not share.

Alynia (internal thought, reflective): This guy... maybe he has a chance. But chances are fragile. And here, fragility comes at a high price.

The fire crackled softly, casting a warm glow that stood in stark contrast to the relentless cold outside. Shadows danced on the rocky walls, weaving a silent, rhythmic ballet.

Veil felt the warmth slowly spread through him, soothing his aching muscles and lifting, if only slightly, the crushing fatigue weighing him down. He let out an involuntary sigh, his body sinking slightly against the rocky wall behind him.

Veil (internal thought, exhausted): I should stay awake... but why? She’s here. She’s keeping watch, right?

The weight of exhaustion crashed over him like a wave, irresistible. His thoughts began to blur, blending with a strange sense of safety he didn’t quite understand.

The night crept on, the flickering firelight casting shifting shadows across the uneven walls. Veil’s breathing grew steadier, calmer, as his eyelids grew unbearably heavy.

Before sleep claimed him, he cast one last glance at Alynia. She was still seated by the fire, unmoving, her blue eyes reflecting the orange glow of the flames. Her silhouette appeared frozen, like a silent guardian.

Veil (internal thought, reassured): This time... I can sleep.

His eyes closed gently, and the world faded into silence, broken only by the crackle of the fire and the peaceful breath of the sleeping forest.