The young man noticed how tense Valeria was, her small hands trembling slightly as she held her bowl. He seemed to decide that breaking the silence might help and flashed her an easy smile. “I’m Henry, by the way,” he said, keeping his tone light and friendly. “Figured I should at least introduce myself since we’ve been traveling together for a bit now.”

Valeria glanced up at him, her wide eyes still filled with uncertainty, but she managed a small nod in acknowledgment.

Henry, still smiling, continued, “I’m the one who helped you with your fever, well... a little. I don’t know much about healing, but I know enough to help with basic stuff. Lily was pretty insistent on that.” He paused for a moment, gauging her reaction before diving into a story. “You should’ve seen it when she first showed up with you. We all thought she was a bandit at first, appearing out of nowhere like that.”

Valeria’s brow furrowed slightly, her curiosity piqued despite her lingering fear. She listened quietly as Henry went on, his tone casual, as though recounting an amusing memory.

“She just pops out of the woods with you in her arms,” Henry explained with a chuckle. “We didn’t know what to think! It was so sudden, and given the times we’re living in, we weren’t exactly ready to trust her right away. My boss, especially—he thought we were about to be ambushed or something.”

Valeria's eyes widened slightly at the thought. She couldn’t imagine anyone mistaking Lily for a bandit, but then again, she hadn’t seen how Lily carried her through the forest. Henry noticed her surprise and quickly waved a hand. “Don’t worry, we figured it out fast. She wasn’t a threat, obviously. The first thing she did was ask for help with your fever. She didn’t want anything else. Said she’d help guard our caravan in exchange, no payment needed, just wanted us to help you.”

He paused to take a sip from his own bowl of soup before continuing, “At first, our client and my boss weren’t too keen on the idea. Monsters are cropping up everywhere lately, and there’s a big wave rumored to be in this area. They weren’t too sure about taking her on, especially with you in tow. But then she showed her guild's badge. Turns out she’s a pretty high-ranked adventurer, I heard.”

Valeria’s mind quieted slightly as she listened to Henry’s story, the steady flow of his words helping to ease her anxiety.

“Once our client saw that she was high-ranked, he practically jumped at the chance to have her join. Especially since it was free,” Henry added with a chuckle. “My boss was still a bit wary, though. But Lily was clear—all she cared about was getting you treated.”

Valeria felt a warmth spread through her chest as Henry spoke, the edges of her fear softening as she realized how much Lily had done for her. She still felt the weight of her loss, but knowing she wasn’t alone anymore. Lily had gone to such lengths to care for her, and it brought her a small sense of comfort.

Henry was about to continue, maybe with another lighthearted remark, when Valeria’s eyes suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure approaching. It was Lily, her white hair slightly disheveled, but her face brightened with a smile when she saw Valeria.

“Valeria!” Lily called out, waving at her from across the camp. Her voice was warm, and the sight of her safe and sound filled Valeria with relief.

Without thinking, Valeria jumped to her feet and dashed toward her. As she ran, she faintly heard Henry murmur to himself, “…cute…”

Valeria rushed into Lily’s arms, hugging her tightly, feeling a wave of emotions rush over her—relief, comfort, and the lingering sadness that hadn’t quite left her. Lily wrapped her arms around Valeria, pulling her close and gently patting her back.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you woke up,” Lily said softly, her voice full of regret. “I had to make sure everything was safe. I didn’t mean to leave you alone.”

Valeria shook her head, still clinging to her. “It’s fine,” she murmured into Lily’s cloak.

Lily smiled gently, brushing a few strands of Valeria’s hair away from her face. “I’m a bit of a mess right now,” she said with a small chuckle, “but I’m glad to see you up and about. Are you feeling better?”

Valeria nodded, not wanting to let go just yet. The warmth of Lily’s presence, the way she had come back for her, made her feel safe again.

Henry approached them with a grin, his usual easygoing demeanor making the atmosphere a bit lighter. “Hey, why don’t you both join us for dinner?” he offered, his gaze shifting between Valeria and Lily. “Plenty of food to go around.”

Lily nodded at him, her expression calm but grateful. “Thank you,” she said, glancing down at Valeria. “And thanks for looking after her while I was away.”

Henry waved a hand dismissively. “No need to thank me. But you don’t have to be so vigilant all the time,” he said with a slight chuckle. “I’d like to think my team is pretty capable, you know. We’ve handled plenty of rough situations.”

Lily gave him a casual shrug, her eyes scanning the camp as if still taking in her surroundings. “I’m used to it,” she replied simply. “I’ve always preferred to handle things this way. Old habits.”

Henry, perhaps unsure of how to respond to that, hesitated for a moment. Then, with a small, awkward smile, he turned back to Valeria. “So, why’s she so tense, huh?” he asked, gesturing toward the girl. “That fever she had—it wasn’t just sickness. Seems like she’s pretty exhausted.”

Then, as if trying to lighten the mood even further, Henry’s tone became more playful. “You didn’t, like, kidnap her or something, did you?” he joked, but his smile faltered a little as Valeria paused.

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Valeria froze at the question, her mind churning. Kidnap? The word felt strange to her, as if she had to make sense of what it even meant in this context. Lily did taken her, but… things had happened so fast. She pondered the question for a moment, feeling the weight of her own confusion, before softly shaking her head.

Henry’s playful tone wavered, and he blinked in surprise. “No way, right?” he added, trying to laugh it off, but Valeria’s reaction left him feeling unsure. He glanced at Lily, who sighed softly.

“Valeria,” Lily said gently, crouching down to the girl’s eye level. “Why don’t you go and join the others at the campfire for a bit? I need to talk to Henry for a moment.”

Valeria nodded hesitantly, her gaze lingering on Lily for a moment before she shuffled over to where the others were eating. Her mind was buzzing with thoughts, but she couldn’t quite put them in order. What did Henry mean by his question? And why had she hesitated before shaking her head?

She glanced back over her shoulder, watching as Lily and Henry spoke in hushed tones. Henry’s expression shifted from curiosity to concern as Lily spoke, nodding along to whatever she was telling him. Valeria wondered what they were talking about, though part of her already had an idea. Lily was probably explaining everything—about her, about what had happened.

Valeria’s mind wandered, turning over the events that had led her here. The weight of her loss still hung heavy on her heart, but Lily’s presence had kept her grounded through it all. Yet there were still so many unanswered questions.

It didn’t take long for Henry to return. His usual carefree smile was still there, but there was something softer in his expression now. He walked over to Valeria and gently patted her on the head. “You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?” he said, his voice kind. “Get well soon, okay? You’re tougher than you look.”

Valeria looked up at him, still a bit unsure, but she managed a small nod. She glanced past him, searching for Lily, but saw her standing at a distance, waving gently.

“Where’s Lily going?” Valeria asked, her voice small.

Henry glanced back, then shrugged. “She said she’s gonna rest for a bit. Don’t worry, she’ll be back soon,” he assured her. “For now, how about we finish up dinner and make sure you get some rest too?”

Valeria nodded again, but even as she returned to her place by the fire, she couldn’t shake the slight unease in her chest. Lily had been with her since everything fell apart, and now, even just a little distance made her feel vulnerable again. But she trusted Lily, and if she said she needed to rest, then Valeria would wait.

Morning arrived once more, casting a soft glow over the landscape as the group resumed their journey. Valeria sat quietly in the cart, taking in the peaceful scenery that stretched out before her. The gentle breeze rustling through the trees, birds chirped in the distance. And the world felt, for a moment, calm and serene. Valeria had never been this far from her village before, and the unfamiliar sights filled her with a strange, distant feeling.

She had always thought she would be excited to leave the village, to explore new places and have adventures like the ones she’d heard about in stories. But now, her mind felt blank, the weight of everything she had been through dulling any sense of excitement she might have once felt. Instead, the scenery, as beautiful as it was, simply helped ease the chaos in her mind, offering a brief respite from the overwhelming emotions that had plagued her since the loss of her family.

Lily sat next to her, eyes closed, and Valeria couldn’t tell if she was asleep or just deep in thought. She decided not to disturb her. Instead, she focused on the landscape, letting it calm her restless thoughts, though her exhaustion and the weight of recent events lingered heavily within her.

But then, Valeria watched as Lily’s expression grew serious. She turned to Henry, who was siting nearby, and whispered something to him. Henry immediately nodded, his casual demeanor vanishing as he called for the group to halt. The carts came to a slow stop, the sudden silence unsettling.

Both Lily and Henry quickly jumped off the cart. Henry dashed to the front cart to reach his boss, the grizzled leader of the group, Roan, while Lily stayed near Valeria, her eyes scanning the woods. "Stay still, Valeria," Lily instructed, her voice firm but calm.

Valeria nodded, her heart pounding in her chest, though she still didn’t fully understand what was happening. She watched as Lily reached into her pouch and pulled out a bow, the sight of it strange and mesmerizing. Valeria’s eyes widened as she saw an arrow of ice form in Lily’s hand as she touched the bowstring, the sight making her gasp in quiet awe.

Lily drew it back and, with a smooth motion, fired the ice arrow into the distance. Valeria didn’t see what happened next, but she heard the loud crash of something—something large—forming in the woods where the arrow had disappeared. Before she could ask, Lily vanished, sprinting toward the direction of the shot.

Valeria’s mind spun with confusion, fear creeping in as she tried to process what was happening. Why had we stopped? What is going on? She felt vulnerable, sitting in the cart alone as Henry and the other mercenaries moved swiftly into position, forming a protective circle around the carts. Roan towered over the rest, wielding two large axes that gleamed in the sunlight.

Suddenly, Valeria saw them—a pack of monsters emerging from the forest, their forms resembling wolves, the ones that she had seen in her mother’s books. But they are much larger, their eyes glowing with a menacing hunger. Their fur bristled, and their sharp teeth glistened as they charged toward the group. Valeria’s breath caught in her throat, fear rooting her in place.

The group moved with precision, each one holding their ground as Roan barked orders. Swords clashed, and arrows flew through the air. Despite the terrifying appearance of the beasts, Henry and his team handled them with relative ease, cutting down the attackers with swift strikes. Roan’s powerful swings cleaved through the monsters like they were nothing.

Though the fight was over quickly, the fear still gripped Valeria. She scanned the chaos, her heart racing as she searched for Lily. Where is Lily? The thought consumed her, panic setting in as the last of the monsters fell. She didn’t see Lily anywhere, and the fear of being left alone, of something happening to the one person she trusted, clawed at her chest.

Henry, noticing the look of fear on her face, sheathed his sword and walked over to her. “Hey, don’t worry,” he said with a smile, patting her head gently. “Did she wander off? She should be capable, trust me. She’ll be back soon.”

Valeria tried to nod, but the panic still gnawed at her. She kept her eyes on the treeline, willing Lily to return.

And soon enough, there she was. Valeria spotted Lily walking back toward the cart, her bow already gone. She waved at Valeria with a reassuring smile, her pace steady but calm. Relief flooded Valeria’s chest, and the tension that had built up began to melt away. Lily looked a bit tired, but otherwise unharmed, her expression relaxed as she approached.

Lily knelt down beside the cart, her smile still soft as she patted Valeria on the head. "All good now," she said quietly, her voice gentle. "You’re safe."

Valeria nodded, her heart still calming, grateful that Lily had returned safely. Despite everything that had happened, Lily’s presence made the world feel a little less frightening.