After catching her breath, Hinata felt a slight sense of relief wash over her.
All of that had only been a nightmare.
At least…
That's what she was trying to tell herself.
Yet deep down, something continued to bother her profoundly.
That dream had felt far too real.
And above all…
It was no longer the first time.
She slowly turned her eyes toward Zerath.
For a moment, she hesitated to tell him everything.
The whispers.
The crucified boy.
The creatures in the void.
That strange voice repeating over and over:
"We need to talk."
Twice now.
Two identical dreams.
Or almost.
And each time…
The feeling became more oppressive.
Closer.
But in the end, Hinata slightly looked away.
Maybe she was overthinking.
Maybe it really was nothing more than a simple nightmare caused by stress, fatigue, and that strange forest.
So she chose to change the subject before calmly asking:
— Have we left the underground tunnels?
Zerath immediately nodded.
— Yes.
He glanced around him.
Daylight filtered through the trees while a light wind stirred the tall grass around them.
— The collapses couldn't have been very far from the surface. After getting through the debris, Kert and I eventually saw light, so we headed toward it.
Hinata nodded softly.
— I see…
Then Zerath turned his eyes back to her before giving a slight sincere smile.
— Without your mana… we would probably already be dead several times since the beginning.
He lowered his eyes slightly.
— Thank you, Hinata. Really.
Hinata immediately shook her head.
— Don't thank me.
A slight smile appeared on her face.
— It's normal to help your companions.
Zerath seemed to smile more before finally straightening up.
— Good.
He slightly stretched his shoulders.
— Let's go find Kert now.
Hinata blinked lightly.
— Wait… that's right.
She quickly looked around.
— Where did he go?
Zerath immediately let out a tired sigh.
— He was too hungry. He said he was going to look for something to eat.
His expression became slightly exasperated.
— I tried to hold him back… but you know Kert.
Hinata finally stood up as well before letting out a small laugh.
— In that case… we'd better go find him before something eats him first.
Night had fallen once again over the forest.
The fire crackled softly in the middle of the improvised camp while its flames illuminated the tired faces of the three youths.
Around the embers, several pieces of meat slowly grilled.
Their dinner for the evening.
A mutant boar that the trio had managed to take down a little earlier.
The smell of cooked meat gradually spread through the air while the wood cracked under the heat.
Sitting near the fire, Kert let out a long dramatic sigh.
— Good thing you arrived in time…
He looked at the meat cooking with a mix of relief and pride.
— Otherwise that boar would probably have turned me into its meal.
Beside him, Zerath immediately crossed his arms.
— I'm mostly wondering how you could even think you could beat that thing barehanded to begin with.
He sighed deeply.
— Hunger really makes you unstable.
Then he glanced at Kert before adding:
— Good thing we arrived before it sent you straight to heaven. It only needed to hit you once and it would have been over.
Kert immediately grumbled under his breath with an offended expression.
— Gneugneugneu… "It was going to send you to heaven…"
He then raised a finger toward Zerath with indignation.
— I'd still like to point out that thanks to me, we're eating mutant boar tonight. You should be thanking me instead.
Zerath immediately rolled his eyes.
— Tsk… You really are incorrigible.
Hinata, sitting on the other side of the fire, let out a soft amused sigh before calmly intervening:
— Both of you, calm down a bit.
She gently turned a piece of meat over the flames.
— The worst was avoided… and on top of that, we finally have real meat to eat.
Kert's smile immediately returned.
— Exactly.
He proudly placed a hand on his chest.
— And all thanks to the prodigy that I am.
Zerath slowly looked away with a tired expression as Kert started bragging again.
— There… he goes again.
Kert shot Zerath a provocative look before muttering:
— Jealous bastard…
Then, unexpectedly, he gradually calmed down.
His gaze settled on the dancing flames of the campfire.
For a few seconds, he remained silent.
A faint smile slowly appeared on his lips.
— In truth…
His voice became a bit more sincere.
— I like you two.
Silence immediately fell around the fire.
Zerath instantly turned a surprised look toward him.
Hinata did the same.
Kert continued calmly:
— You're real friends.
He watched the flames with an almost nostalgic look.
— When I was little, my father often told me that nothing happens by chance.
His smile softened slightly.
— Good… evil… death… to him, all of that was part of destiny.
He gently raised his eyes toward them.
— So the fact that we met… that was destiny too.
Hinata smiled discreetly before slightly lowering her head to continue watching the meat cooking over the flames.
But Zerath remained frozen for a few seconds before finally grimacing.
— Wait… what exactly is wrong with you, Kert?
He narrowed his eyes.
— Did you get hit on the head or something? Since when do you say things like that? It doesn't sound like you at all…
While he was speaking, a vein slowly began to throb on Kert's forehead.
He pretended to ignore it.
Then suddenly—
— YOU SHUT UP THAT'S ENOUGH!!
Zerath almost jumped before immediately replying:
— You're the one who should shut up!
He pointed at Kert.
— You sound like you think you're in some kind of story where you absolutely have to make an emotional declaration around a campfire!
Kert immediately crossed his arms arrogantly.
— Ignorant fool. You know nothing about affection.
Then a mocking smile appeared on his face.
— I bet you don't even have a girlfriend in the real world.
Zerath's face instantly turned red.
— And what does that have to do with anything?!
Kert immediately took on a superior air.
— The connection is obvious. You just refuse to accept it.
— I'll show you a "connection"!
Zerath abruptly grabbed Kert by the collar while Kert was already bursting into laughter.
— Oh? Are you looking for death now?
— Say that again and see what happens!
Before the two could actually start fighting, Hinata immediately intervened:
— Guys…
They both instantly turned their heads toward her.
— I think the meat is ready.
Their expressions changed instantly.
— Really?!
Kert asked, eyes shining.
— I want my share already. And the biggest one preferably.
Zerath immediately replied:
— All portions are equal. Go kill another boar if you want more.
— Damn, shut up!!!
A few minutes later…
As if their argument had never existed, the two were sitting side by side around the fire, devouring their meat with almost absurd seriousness.
The silence was only interrupted by:
crackling fire;
chewing sounds;
and sometimes—
— You took a bigger piece than mine!
— Stop counting other people's bites and eat.
— I'm still watching you.
Hinata watched them in silence.
Then she finally let out a small quiet laugh.
Even in this terrifying forest…
Those two still found a way to act like children.