The last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the tree line, leaving the clearing bathed in the warm glow of campfires and lanterns.
A pleasant aroma drifted through the camp.
"...Is someone cooking?" I asked, sniffing the air.
Syllia giggled.
"Of course. You didn't think everyone packed enough cooked food for a week, did you?"
"I... honestly hadn't thought that far ahead."
"I've noticed."
"Ouch."
She bumped my shoulder with hers.
"I'm teasing."
Together we walked toward the largest campfire near the center of the clearing. Several merchants had gathered around a pair of iron pots suspended over the flames while others unpacked dried vegetables, smoked meat, and sacks of grain.
One older merchant with a thick gray beard stirred the stew with an oversized wooden spoon.
"Looks like the girls finally finished setting up their palace," he joked.
"It's hardly a palace," Markus laughed from beside another wagon. "From the sounds of it, Lucy nearly tore the thing apart."
"...Who told you?"
"Syllia."
I slowly turned toward her.
"You betrayed me."
She covered her mouth, trying—and failing—to suppress another laugh.
"It was funny."
"It was one tiny loop."
"It was attached to the tent."
"Details."
A few nearby merchants chuckled at our exchange before returning to their own conversations.
One by one, wooden bowls were passed around until everyone had a serving of steaming stew and a thick slice of fresh bread.
I accepted mine with a grateful smile.
"Thank you."
Finding an empty log we both sat down, I got situated and stared at the bowl.
The smell was incredible.
"..."
"..."
I looked at the stew.
Then at Syllia.
Then back at the stew.
"You aren't eating?" she asked.
"...Do I have to?"
She blinked.
"You've haven't eaten since I met you."
"So?"
I scratched my cheek.
"It's... complicated."
Technically, I could eat.
The system had said I wouldn't starve if I didn't.
But blood was what my body actually craved.
The stew smelled wonderful...
...yet somehow it felt strangely unappealing.
Like smelling fresh bread while already completely full.
"Lucy?"
I looked up to find Syllia watching me with concern.
"Are you feeling thirsty again?"
"...Not yet."
It was true.
Drinking from Syllia earlier had left me surprisingly satisfied.
Whatever blood she had given me seemed to last far longer than I'd expected.
Still...
I picked up the wooden spoon and forced myself to take a bite.
The vegetables were soft.
The broth was rich.
The meat was tender.
"...Huh."
"What?"
"It tastes good."
"But?"
"...It feels unnecessary."
Syllia tilted her head.
"What do you mean?"
"It tastes exactly how I'd imagine delicious food should taste." I shrugged. "My body just... doesn't care."
I took another spoonful to be certain.
The result was the same.
Enjoyable.
Yet oddly hollow.
No feeling of satisfaction.
No sense of filling an empty stomach.
It was like eating solely because I remembered people were supposed to.
"I guess vampires really are different," I muttered.
Syllia quietly watched me finish a few more bites before setting the spoon down.
"You don't have to force yourself."
"I know."
"You only did that because you didn't want people asking questions didn't you?"
"...Maybe."
She smiled softly.
"I appreciate it."
Before I could answer, one of the mercenaries walked into the firelight.
He was broad-shouldered with short black hair and a trimmed beard. His armor looked well-used, with a short sword rested at his hip.
"Markus."
"What is it, Garrick?"
"We checked the perimeter."
Markus looked up from his own meal.
"And?"
"Tracks."
The easygoing atmosphere around the fire dimmed ever so slightly.
"Fresh?" Markus asked.
Garrick nodded.
"Within the last day."
"Bandits?"
He shook his head.
"No."
A pause.
"Orcs."
Without realizing it, my grip tightened around the wooden bowl.
Crack.
A thin fracture spread across its side.
Syllia's hand immediately found, gently squeezing it.
"It's okay," she whispered.
I took a slow breath.
No.
It wasn't okay.
Not after what I'd seen.
Not after what they'd almost done to her.
Across the fire, Garrick continued his report.
"The tracks are old enough that they're probably long gone. Still, I'd recommend doubling the night watch."
Markus nodded without hesitation.
"Do it."
Garrick gave a curt nod before disappearing back across the clearing
The conversations slowly resumed, but quieter than before.
I stared into the dancing flames.
They're close.
Close enough that their tracks had reached this road.
My eyes drifted toward the dark forest beyond the camp.
A cold determination settled in my chest.
If they're operating anywhere near this road...
I'll find them before they find her.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The fire crackled softly as silence settled over me.
I kept my eyes fixed on the dancing flames, but my mind was somewhere else.
If they're operating this close to the trade route...
How many camps are there?
How many could I could i wipe out by morning?
A gentle squeeze around my hand pulled me from my thoughts.
I looked down.
Syllia was still holding my hand beneath the log we were sitting on.
Her thumb slowly brushed across the back of my hand.
"...Lucy."
"Hm?"
"You're making that face again."
"What face?"
"The one where you look like you're about to do something."
"...I have no idea what you're talking about."
She gave me a flat look.
"I've known you for four days."
"..."
"..."
"...Is it really that obvious?"
She nodded immediately.
"Very."
Markus, who had apparently been listening despite focusing on his stew, chuckled.
"If she's thinking about charging into another orc camp by herself, I can tell you right now that's a terrible idea."
I nearly choked.
"How did you—"
"You've got the same expression every mercenary gets when they're planning something stupid."
"...There's a look for that?"
"There absolutely is."
A few nearby merchants laughed.
"I wasn't planning anything," I muttered.
"Liar," Syllia said.
"I was merely... considering future possibilities."
"That's a much fancier way of saying you were planning something."
Markus stood up drawing everyone's attention
"Alright."
The conversations quieted.
"We leave shortly after sunrise. Get as much sleep as you can."
The merchants began dispersing, heading back toward their tents.
The mercenaries split into groups, with four of them taking positions around the edge of the clearing while the rest settled down near their own campfire.
Within fifteen minutes, the once lively campsite had become surprisingly quiet.
Only the crackling of dying fires, the chirping of insects, and the occasional laugh from the night watch remained.
Syllia stood, stretching above her head.
"I'm exhausted."
We walked back toward our tent together.
It wasn't large—just enough room for the two of us to sleep comfortably.
Syllia crawled inside first.
"Actually..." she said, peeking back out. "There's only one problem."
"What?"
"There isn't exactly a lot of room."
'Perfect' I thought grinning to myself
Before crawling in myself I erected a physical barrier a foot past the tent on all sides, once in place I set the second alarm barrier around the first in a 10 feet radius. Nodding to myself i crawled inside.
She wasn't kidding.
The tent was just large enough for two people to sleep in, and even that was being generous. We laid our bedrolls side by side, Both of us laid down facing each other leaving almost no distance between us. For a moment nether of us spoke, simply enjoying the closeness of each other. Syilla took the initiative snuggling closer to me, burying her head in my shoulder while wrapping her arms over me pull the blanket over us both. we stayed like this for a moment before she finally spoke.
"Thank you."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
I turned my head toward her.
Moonlight filtering through the canvas cast a soft silver glow across her face. Her emerald eyes looked brighter somehow, though I couldn't tell if it was the light... or the emotion behind them.
"For what?"
"For coming into my life."
I blinked.
She smiled sadly.
"If you hadn't found me..."
Her voice caught.
"I would've lost Mom."
She swallowed hard.
"And I..." Her fingers tightened slightly against the blanket. "I don't even want to imagine what would've happened to me."
Reaching up I gently cupped her cheek pulling her up so our eyes met
"I think..."
"I should be thanking you."
She looked at me in surprise.
"...Me?"
"When I woke up in this world..."
I gave a quiet laugh.
"I didn't know who I was."
"I didn't know where I was."
"I didn't know what I was supposed to do."
"I was completely alone."
I gently rubbed my thumb across her cheek
"Then I met you."
Her expression softened.
"You gave me someone to protect."
I smiled.
"And... someone who makes this world feel a little less lonely."
For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
Words didn't seem necessary anymore.
Closing her eyes, enjoying my touch
"...I like it here," she murmured.
My heart skipped a beat.
"...Me too."
I could feel the steady rhythm of her breathing as she relaxed beside me.
It was strange.
A few days ago, I had awakened alone in an unfamiliar world.
Now...
I couldn't imagine falling asleep without her beside me.
"...Goodnight, Lucy."
"Goodnight, Syllia."
I gently drew her closer until our lips met. She froze for a heartbeat, her emerald eyes widening in surprise. Then, as if realizing there was nowhere else she'd rather be, she relaxed completely. Her eyes drifted closed, and she returned the kiss with a quiet tenderness that made the rest of the world disappear.
Pulling away, we lingered there for a few quiet moments, foreheads resting together as neither of us felt the need to speak. Eventually, she nestled against my shoulder once more. Before long, her breathing slowed into a soft, steady rhythm as sleep quietly claimed her.
I remained awake for a while longer, absentmindedly running my fingers through Syllia's soft blond hair.
A small smile found its way onto my face.
"You're unfairly cute..." I whispered.
She stirred slightly in her sleep, letting out a quiet, content hum before nuzzling a little closer against me.
"...Mmm..."
I froze for a second, waiting to see if I'd woken her.
Nothing.
She simply tightened her arms around my waist and continued sleeping peacefully.
"...Well, I guess I'm not going anywhere."
Chuckling under my breath, I rested my chin lightly atop her head.
The silence stretched comfortably between us.
Outside, crickets chirped beneath the moonlit sky, and the occasional crackle of a dying campfire drifted through the canvas walls.
I closed my eyes...
SCREEEECH!
My eyes snapped open.
"What the—"
The shrill alarm assaulted my ears for only an instant before I instinctively dismissed it with a thought.
Syllia jolted awake, blinking sleepily.
"L-Lucy...? What happened?"
I placed a finger to my lips.
"...Someone crossed my outer barrier."
Her sleepy expression vanished instantly.
"They're here?"
"I don't know."
Slowly, I slid out from beneath the blanket, careful not to disturb the tent any more than necessary.
I knelt beside the entrance, extending my senses toward the barrier.
There.
A single heartbeat.
Steady.
Human.
Not panicked.
Just... standing there.
"...One person," I whispered.
"Can you tell who it is?" Syllia asked just as quietly.
I focused harder.
The crimson tint of my vision briefly returned as the faint outline of a body appeared beyond the canvas.
Medium build.
Sword at their hip.
The heartbeat was calm, but hesitant.
"...It's one of the mercenaries."
Syllia's expression tightened.
"...Which one?"
"I don't know."
The heartbeat shifted.
A hand reached toward the tent flap.
Without making a sound, I stood,
I grabbed it first and pulled it open.
The mercenary standing outside nearly jumped out of his boots.
"O-Oh!"
He quickly raised both hands.
"I wasn't trying to sneak in!"
I recognized him as one of the men from earlier, though I couldn't remember his name.
"What are you doing outside our tent?" I asked, my voice calm but noticeably colder than before.
He awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
"I... uh..."
His eyes darted past me for the briefest moment, toward where Syllia sat wrapped in the blanket.
I noticed.
So did Syllia.
His face immediately paled.
"I-I came to ask if you two wanted first watch or second watch!" he blurted.
"..."
"..."
"...You're asking that at midnight?" I replied flatly.
He opened and closed his mouth.
"I..."
"...No."
"I got mixed up."
"You 'got mixed up,'" I repeated.
He laughed nervously.
"Y-Yeah..."
I held his gaze for several long seconds.
Then I smiled.
It wasn't a warm smile.
"Oh."
"I see."
Something in my expression made him instinctively take half a step backward.
"Tell Markus," I said pleasantly, "that Syllia and I will be sleeping for the rest of the night."
"O-Okay!"
"And..."
My crimson eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.
"...If anyone crosses that invisible line around our tent again without announcing themselves..."
I let the sentence hang.
The man's heartbeat instantly doubled.
"I-I understand!"
He hurried away without another word, practically tripping over his own feet in his rush to leave.
I watched until his heartbeat disappeared beyond my barrier before closing the tent flap once more.
When I turned around, Syllia was watching me.
"...You scared him."
"I meant to."
She couldn't help smiling.
"...A little possessive, aren't you?"
"Obviously"
She simply giggled and lifted the blanket.
"Come back to bed."
Without another word, I slipped back under the covers beside her.
She immediately wrapped both arms around me again as if I'd only been gone for seconds.
"...Better?"
"...Much."
She smiled against my shoulder.
Outside, the camp settled once more into silence.
This time, no one crossed the barrier.