Mark woke up to the light of dawn filtering through the tree branches.
He stretched inside his sleeping bag, feeling every muscle in his body protest after sleeping on the hard ground.
'Ow… I definitely miss my bed in the dungeon.'
Mark sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
The forest was quiet, with only the distant sound of birds singing and the soft whisper of wind through the leaves.
Mark looked around the clearing, but he didn't see Yuki anywhere.
'Where is she?'
"Yuki," he called, his voice still hoarse from sleep. "Come here."
There was a moment of silence, and then, as if materializing out of nowhere, Yuki appeared at his side.
Mark nearly jumped in fright.
'Shit. I still haven't gotten used to that.'
Yuki looked at him with her expressionless red eyes, standing beside him as if she had always been there.
"Good morning, Master," she said in her monotone voice.
Mark cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure.
