By the time Khione returned to camp, Nero was already folding his tent, methodically packing his belongings with practiced ease. The early sunlight shimmered faintly on the dewy grass, casting long shadows beneath the towering mountain range.
"Morning, Khione!" he greeted, offering her a warm smile that contrasted the grim tension in the air.
"Morning, Nero. Something doesn't feel right." She didn't hesitate, her voice calm but firm as she shared the unease that had been gnawing at her.
Nero didn't look surprised in the slightest. His expression remained composed, a quiet affirmation that he too had sensed the strange stillness.
"I felt it too." He looked toward the forest, his gaze sharp. "Everything's too quiet. No beasts, no birds, not even insects. We'll move cautiously today—and let's stay close. It's safer if we move together."
The unspoken understanding between them was clear—their personal competition would have to wait.
