The morning light filtered through the trees, casting a soft, golden glow over the forest. The birds chirped and the leaves rustled in the breeze, as if the world had moved on, indifferent to the dread that still weighed heavily on Valeria’s heart. She blinked her eyes open, her body still exhausted from the previous day's events.

For a brief, fleeting moment, she wished with all her might that she would wake up back at the lakeside rock, with everything that had happened, nothing more than a terrible dream. But the rough ground beneath her and the soft crackling of the nearby campfire reminded her that reality was far less kind.

“Good morning,” came the soft voice of the young woman beside her. She had kept her promise, staying close to Valeria even as she slept. Her presence was a strange comfort, though it did little to ease the ache in Valeria’s heart.

Valeria didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Deep down, she still clung to the desperate hope that this wasn’t real, that she would wake up and find her mother and father waiting for her at home. But even as she tried to hold on to that hope, it was slipping through her fingers like sand.

The woman stood up, her movements quiet and deliberate as she rummaged through her belongings. “I should cook something for you before we move on,” she said, her tone light. “Let’s see if I have anything left…” she murmured to herself, her voice trailing off as she continued searching.

With the light of day now illuminating their surroundings, Valeria could see the woman’s features more clearly. The bandage covered a quarter of her face, leaving only her left eye visible. But even through the bandage, Valeria thought she was quite pretty with her long white hair neatly tied back. And despite her youthful appearance, there was a weariness in her eyes, something that Valeria didn’t fully understand.

What stood out the most to Valeria, though, was the state of the woman’s clothes. She wore light armor, the kind that some adventurers wore, but hers was in poor condition—frayed at the edges, scratched and worn, as if she had been through countless battles. It was a far cry from the polished, well-maintained gear of the adventurers Valeria had met in the past. And one of them had even lectured her on the importance of taking care of their equipment.

Valeria’s thoughts drifted, focusing on the strange woman rather than the terrible memories of the past days. She watched as the woman moved with efficiency, her movements careful but confident. The woman glanced up and met Valeria’s eyes, offering a faint smile as she held out a bowl of soup.

“This should be enough for you. It’s best if you stick with something light for now,” she said gently. “Please bear with it.”

Valeria murmured a faint thank you as she accepted the bowl. The soup tasted different from the night before, but it was still good. The warmth of it settled in her stomach, easing some of the tension she hadn’t realized she was holding. She ate quietly, her mind a jumble of thoughts she wasn’t ready to confront.

As Valeria finished her portion, she watched the woman put away the pot, murmuring to herself, “I probably still need this…”

Confused, Valeria spoke up for the first time that morning. “What about you? I haven’t seen you eat since yesterday.”

The woman paused, looking up with another smile. “I still have some dry rations left. That should be enough for me,” she replied.

Then, Valeria watched with growing curiosity as the woman began packing up her things. One by one, she placed the pot, bowls, and various items into a small pouch—far too small, it seemed, to fit everything. Valeria blinked in surprise, her confusion evident as she finally asked, “How is that possible?”

The woman chuckled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “This pouch can hold a lot more than it looks like,” she explained, giving the small bag a light pat. “In fact, if you’d like, I could help with your bag as well.”

Valeria’s grip tightened around the tie of her own bag—the one her mother had given her. It was the last thing she had left from her, and the thought of parting with it, even for a moment, was too much. She shook her head firmly, hugging the bag closer to her chest.

The woman nodded, her expression understanding. “I won’t take it away from you, don’t worry,” she said gently. “Just let me know if you get tired, alright?”

Valeria gave a small nod, feeling a bit more at ease. After packing away the rest of her belongings, the woman stood and asked, “Do you think you can walk? We should get going if you’re feeling better.”

There was a hesitation in the woman’s voice, as if she was reluctant to bring up the next part. After a moment, she continued, her tone gentle but firm. “I really don’t want to take you back there… Not now. Let’s head to a bigger settlement first and figure out what to do next. Is that alright?”

Valeria sat quietly, her hands resting on her lap as she processed the words. The woman’s reluctance to return to the village made sense, but the thought of leaving without seeing what had happened to her home, her parents, filled her with a fresh wave of anxiety. Still, she knew deep down that there was nothing left to go back to—not yet, not after what she had overheard. The thought was too painful to accept, but the woman was right. She wasn’t ready.

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She nodded, her movements slow and hesitant, as if acknowledging the situation would make it all the more real. But the woman’s gentle presence, her calm voice, was the only thing keeping Valeria from breaking down again.

The woman knelt down beside her, securing the cloak around Valeria once more. “I’ll stay right beside you. We’ll move slowly.” she said, giving Valeria a reassuring pat on the head. Valeria looked up at the woman, her mind still struggling to process everything that had happened, everything she had lost.

But there was something in the woman’s eyes, something kind and unwavering. For now, Valeria could trust her. With a deep breath, Valeria pushed herself to her feet, her legs still shaky but stronger than before. The woman offered her a hand, helping her stand, and together, they began their slow journey through the forest, the morning light guiding their way.

As they walked through the forest, the silence between them was heavy, filled with the unspoken weight of everything that had happened. Valeria felt as though the world was slipping away from her, the familiar warmth and security she once knew now replaced by an unyielding sense of loss and confusion.

Each step felt uncertain, as if the ground beneath her might give way at any moment. Her small hand clung tightly to the woman’s, squeezing it with desperation she couldn’t fully understand. Valeria wasn’t just holding on for balance—she was holding on because she was terrified that if she let go, this stranger, too, would disappear like everything else.

The woman noticed the tight grip but didn’t say anything, simply giving Valeria’s hand a gentle squeeze in return. They continued on in that awkward silence, the only sound between them the crunch of leaves and twigs underfoot.

After a while, the silence became too much for Valeria to bear. She felt a strange need to fill the empty space between them, to make this connection feel more real, more grounded in the reality that she was desperately trying to hold on to. She glanced up at the woman, studying her face as much as the bandages allowed. Despite the strangeness of their situation, the woman’s presence was a comfort—a lifeline in the chaos that had become her world.

“Um… you never told me your name,” Valeria finally managed to say, her voice small and tentative.

The woman looked down at her, surprised by the question but quick to respond. “You can call me Lily,” she said, offering a soft smile. There was an apologetic tone to her voice as she continued, “I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself sooner.”

Lily’s tone was light, as if trying to ease the tension that clung to them both like a heavy fog. She glanced over at Valeria, her expression gentle. “And what’s your name?” she asked, turning the question back to the girl.

“Valeria,” she replied, her voice still shaky but a little stronger now. Saying her name out loud felt like a small anchor to the person she was, to the life she had.

“Valeria,” Lily repeated, as if committing it to memory. “That’s a beautiful name.”

Valeria nodded, not quite knowing how to respond. The sound of their footsteps continued to fill the silence as they walked, but it wasn’t as oppressive as before. The fear of losing this connection, of being alone again, still lingered, but knowing Lily’s name made the world feel just a little bit safer. Valeria didn’t let go of Lily’s hand, but she no longer gripped it quite so tightly. Instead, she walked with a small but growing sense of trust, her steps more sure as they made their way through the forest, together.

But suddenly, Lily halted, her body tensing. Before Valeria could react, Lily knelt down and pulled her into a tight embrace. Valeria heard a strange sound—a sharp, brief noise that she didn’t recognize but that sent a shiver down her spine. Lily’s grip tightened, and she whispered, “I should have been more focused…” Her voice was strained, filled with a quiet intensity that Valeria hadn’t heard before.

Lily quickly softened her tone, sensing Valeria’s fear. “Valeria, just give me a moment, alright? I’ll be just around here. I’ll be close, I promise.” She led Valeria to a nearby bush, the leaves thick enough to hide her small frame. “Stay here, alright? I’ll be back before you know it,” Lily said, her voice gentle but firm, as if trying to shield Valeria from the dark memories that had already begun to surface.

Valeria nodded, her heart pounding in her chest as she crouched down in the bush. She watched with wide, anxious eyes as Lily moved swiftly through the dense undergrowth, her form quickly disappearing into the shadows of the forest. The seconds stretched into what felt like hours, and Valeria did her best to keep her mind at bay. The haunting thought of losing yet another person gnawed at her insides, but she tried to focus on Lily’s promise.

Just as the dread was about to overwhelm her, she heard Lily’s voice calling out, “Valeria, I’m back.” Relief flooded through her as she saw Lily emerging from the trees, her figure becoming clear once again. The sight of her brought a sense of safety that Valeria clung to, her fear slowly ebbing away.

But as Lily came closer, Valeria’s eyes were drawn to a dark stain on the side of her clothing. The light fabric was marked with blood, and Valeria’s heart dropped. She could see a wound on Lily’s side, a deep gash that hadn’t been there before. “L-Lily, are you hurt?” Valeria asked, her voice trembling with worry.

Lily glanced down at the wound, then back at Valeria with a reassuring smile. “It’s nothing, really. I was just a bit careless this time. It’ll heal soon.”

Valeria blinked, confused. She remembered how long it took for her own small scratches and bruises to heal, and this wound looked far more serious. How could it possibly heal quickly?

Lily seemed to understand what Valeria was thinking. She knelt down beside her, showing the wound more closely. “Look, it’s already stopped bleeding, you see?” she said, pointing to the gash. Indeed, the blood flow had already slowed, and the wound seemed to be closing, though Valeria didn’t fully understand how.

“If you ever get hurt, just tell me, okay? I’ll make the pain go away,” Lily added, her voice soothing. There was something in the way she spoke, a quiet confidence that made Valeria believe her, even if it didn’t make sense.

Valeria nodded slowly, still processing everything that had just happened. The terror of the past days, the confusion of the present, and the strange comfort that Lily brought all swirled together in her mind. She didn’t fully understand what was going on, but there was one thing she knew: Lily was there for her, protecting her, and that was enough for now.

Lily reached out and gently patted Valeria’s head, her touch warm and reassuring. “Let’s keep moving, okay? We’ll find a safer place soon.”

Valeria took a deep breath, letting Lily’s words calm the storm of emotions inside her. She took Lily’s hand, and together they continued their journey through the forest. The fear was still there, lurking in the shadows. But with Lily by her side, Valeria felt a little stronger, a little more capable of facing whatever came next.