Just for the records, this chapter was produced more than a week, before I even thought about a female lead, and started the vote.
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The days went by, following this routine.
Effie and Ray went out to hunt together whenever the mountains of food, brought back by them ran out. In return also harvesting quite a few shards.
Their cooperation also increased, so that their hunts went even smoother.
In those weeks that followed, Ray also got to know why the houses close next to Effie's were completely empty.
She snored.
Loud.
One time, he was even afraid that the walls wouldn't hold on, but luckily everything held together.
The surprise for Ray came one night, when everything was tranquil. Though, that didn't last for long.
Ray had barely processed what was happening when his hut's door creaked open. The cold night air swept in, followed by a figure stepping through the doorway without hesitation.
Effie.
She wasn't carrying her spear, thankfully. Her white robe, usually pristine beneath her armor, was slightly out of place, as if she had rolled in her bed with it. Her expression was unreadable in the dim light, but there was something in her movements - calm, deliberate, entirely unbothered.
Ray, still half-asleep, blinked at her. "Effie-?"
She didn't answer. She just walked over, shoved him aside with the kind of effortless strength only she had, and dropped onto his bed like she owned it.
Ray barely had time to adjust before she made herself comfortable.
That was how it started.
There were no grand conversations about it, no real agreements. It was just another part of their lives now - something unspoken, something that neither of them questioned.
And now, about a month later, they found themselves in one of the guard rooms on top of the wall after another hunt. This one had taken longer than expected, forcing them to opt for the walls rather than attempt the journey back up the mountain in the dark.
The torchlight flickered, casting long shadows along the stone walls as they sat side by side, eating with the kind of ravenous hunger that only came from a long day of fighting. The room was otherwise silent, the only sounds being the occasional scrape of metal against wood and the distant wind outside.
Effie finished first, leaning back in her chair with a satisfied sigh. Ray wasn't far behind, setting his plate aside and stretching his arms. When he glanced at her, she was already looking at him, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
One thing led to another.
It didn't take much – a look, a shift in posture, the unspoken understanding that had developed between them. It was familiar by now, as natural as the fights they fought together.
But just as things started to escalate, Ray suddenly froze.
Effie noticed immediately. "What?"
He didn't answer at first. Something had changed in the room, he felt another presence, this one not like his usual stalker from the dark sea. It felt weaker, more like eyes in the dark.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw it.
A shadow.
Not cast by the torchlight, not shaped by anything tangible. It moved unnatural - fluid and controlled at the same time, it was like a silent stalker rushing through the dark shadows. And within that shifting darkness, wide, unblinking eyes stared straight at him.
Ray felt a mix of irritation and relief wash over him. They were being interrupted, again, but at least this time… he knew exactly who it was. And knowing who it was, brought a broad grin to his face, before he laughed a bit.
Effie's eyes flicked between Ray and the strange, fluid darkness at the edge of the room. It didn't move like a natural shadow - it wasn't shaped by the flickering torchlight or cast by anything real. Instead, it flowed, controlled yet untamed, its wide, unblinking eyes locked onto Ray.
She tensed instinctively, shifting her weight, ready to react. But then she noticed something strange. Ray wasn't alarmed. In fact, he looked more amused than anything, a broad grin spreading across his face before he let out a quiet chuckle.
"What is that?" Effie asked, her voice both irritated and mildly intrigued. "And why are you reacting like that?"
"Oh, that?" Ray gestured lazily toward the shadow, his grin widening. "That's just a sign that a friend is nearby."
Effie raised an eyebrow. "That thing is a friend?"
"More or less," Ray admitted, stretching his arms behind his head. "It's one of his tricks. Always a bit too shy. I'd love to see his face right now."
Effie eyed the shadow again. It remained there, perfectly still, except for the subtle, unnatural way it breathed, like a living thing pressed flat against the world. Then, slowly, it sank into the deeper darkness of the room, dissolving into nothingness.
Effie scoffed. "Tch. You have some weird friends, handsome."
Ray let out another chuckle, rolling his shoulders. "Oh, you have no idea."
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Outside of the guard post, one could see a group of three people. All of them looked completely ragged. It were two girls and one guy. The two girls, one blond, the other silver haired, looked at the young man with wild unkempt dark hair. Currently his face was covered in a deep blush, making it completely red.
Luckily for the young man, was it too dark for the other two to notice his change in skin tone.
Even then, his current weird behavior still attracted their attention.
The silver haired girl spoke first, in a slightly serious tone, "Are there enemies ahead, Sunny?"
Sunny, the young man snapped out of it, thanks to the question of the girl. "*cough* No, not really. It is just… ehm… something I did not expect to see here. Sorry. But I'd say, what is inside probably means no harm, that I'm sure of, I think."
Hearing the awkward reply, the two were even more confused, but believed in the judgement of their comrade. The three then came closer to the door, leading into the room, Sunny just scouted.
Sunny stepped forward, and knocked on the door, earning another unreadable look from Nephis, who still had her sword at the ready.
Silence.
For a few moments, nothing seemed to move. The world stood still, before they could hear footsteps come closer. They stopped soon, before the door was opened.
And in front of them, stood now a tall and handsome young man. One, that two of the trio knew quite well.
"Lost Witness?" asked Nephis confused, while blinking a few times.
"Hey, how's it doing, for you guys? I must say… you guys look like shit," came the answer from the young man standing in the door, ushering them inside.
The trio stepped inside, the warmth of the guard post immediately contrasting with the cold night air outside. The flickering torchlight illuminated their weary faces - Nephis scanning the room with sharp, calculating eyes, Cassia stepping in with measured precision despite her blindness, and Sunny… was still slightly red in the face.
Effie leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, her gaze flicking to Ray with an amused smirk, after seeing the gloomy and awkward young man. She knew. Of course, she knew. He had told her just before they arrived, and now she was reveling in the moment.
Nephis remained tense, her eyes sweeping across the room, assessing every detail. Even after recognizing Ray, she wasn't one to let her guard down easily. Cassia stood beside her, silent but attentive, her presence calm despite the unfamiliar environment.
Ray, on the other hand, leaned casually against the table, perfectly at ease. "Well? Are you just going to stand there like statues, or are you coming in?"
Nephis gave him one last searching glance before stepping fully inside. Cassia followed without hesitation, and after a moment, Sunny shuffled in as well, still avoiding to look directly at Effie.
The huntress let out a short chuckle. "What's wrong, little shadow? You look like you've seen something scandalous."
Sunny coughed, shifting his gaze anywhere but at her. "I-it's nothing."
Ray laughed, shaking his head. "Oh, it's definitely something."
Effie let out a hum of amusement before gesturing toward the remains of their meal. "Well, since you're here, might as well eat. Unless you prefer standing around and looking awkward."
Cassia inclined her head slightly. "Thank you. We appreciate it."
Without further hesitation, the three joined them near the campfire. The smell of cooked meat still lingered, and though their exhaustion was evident, none of them declined the offer.
For now, the deeper questions could wait.