The girl’s lips curved into a small smile as she greeted Raul, using a tone that assumed Raul already knew her .Raul blinked, confusion knitting his brows. “Do I... know you?” he asked cautiously.

Her expression shifted to surprise for a split second before she quickly composed herself. He doesn't remember me, she realized.

But she wasn’t entirely surprised. Then she let out a soft laugh and shrugged. “Well, maybe not. Anyway, I’m the one who shot you with the dart.”

Raul’s body tensed. “Why?” he asked.

Her gaze didn’t waver. “I didn’t know if you were a threat. ” She hesitated before adding, “Sorry about that. I had to be sure.”

Raul sighed, the tension easing slightly. “ What’s your name?”

The girl tilted her head, her lips curling into a smirk. “You can call me Red Herring.”

Raul raised an eyebrow. “That’s not a real name.”

She laughed softly, though the sound held a trace of bitterness. “You’re right. It’s not. But out here, survival is all that matters. Real names don’t mean much to anyone anymore.”

“Don’t people care?” he asked, frowning.

She shook her head, her smile fading. “Not really. Not anymore.” Her tone was casual, but Raul could sense something deeper beneath her words.

Deciding not to press further, Raul shifted topics after telling her his name. “Do you know anything about the barrier?”

At that, her expression froze, her eyes narrowing slightly as though weighing her words. “The barrier?” she echoed, her voice guarded. After a pause, she said, “It’s been here for over five years now. Everyone knows about it.”

Stolen novel; please report.

Raul gasped, the realization hitting him like a blow. Five years? His heart raced as he pieced it together. When Catalea summoned him, there had been no barrier, no talk of this magical divide. That meant he had been gone for five whole years.

His mind reeled with the implications. Five years... everyone I know must have changed. I’m older now—what, fifteen? The thought felt surreal, but the girl’s words left no room for doubt. Time had moved on without him.

Herring leaned casually against the cave wall, her eyes flickering between Raul and the entrance. “I’ve been working on fortifying the protection spell here,” she said, motioning toward the cave’s entrance. “You were lucky I found you first. Being so out in the open like that? Careless.”

Raul frowned. “Why? What’s so dangerous?”

Herring shrugged, giving him a look that screamed are you serious? “You probably don’t know,” she said, her tone almost teasing but edged with seriousness. “The day the barrier appeared, hordes of monsters came pouring out. They spread everywhere, tearing through villages, towns, and cities. Viswall—was at the epicenter. It got hit the worst.”

Raul’s stomach tightened. Monsters. He hadn’t seen one himself, but Catalea had warned him about undead creatures immune to modern magic. This sounded like the same threat.

Herring continued, her voice steady but grim. “Most magic we’ve been using for years? Useless against them. A few spells have been developed recently that can hurt them, but they’re crazy expensive to learn, and even harder to master. Not many people can handle it. Most just... don’t make it.”

Raul’s thoughts flashed to what Catalea had told him. She had mentioned the collapse of modern magic against these creatures.

He looked at Herring. “Tell me more about the monsters. What do they look like? What can they do?”

She glanced at him, then at the fire, and waved dismissively. “Eat first. We’ll talk more later. I wasn’t planning on staying here long, you know. I only stopped because of you.”

Raul’s curiosity burned, but his stomach growled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten in hours. As he reached for the roasted meat, he asked, “Where are you going, anyway?”

Herring hesitated, her expression softening briefly before hardening again. “I’m looking for someone. Someone close to me.” Her tone didn’t invite further questions.