The watch order was quickly decided.
Rena and Han Jin were assigned to the first shift.
With the arrangements made, everyone found a spot to rest.
Night slowly pressed down upon them.
The firelight, enveloped in the white mist, could not reach far, only illuminating a few blurry faces nearby.
Rena sat on the eastern side of the campfire, her back against a fallen dead tree.
Han Jin kept watch on the other side, near the path leading to the Old Valley.
The entire campsite lay between them.
If either of them wanted to leave, it would be difficult to avoid the other's gaze.
Because he wasn't trusted, Milo was not assigned to keep watch. Still, he insisted on holding his short crossbow as he found a rock not far from Rena and leaned against it.
From this position, he could see Rena's back perfectly. If she stood up or made any other movement, he would see it clearly.
He had already lost one opportunity to prove himself.
This time, he was going to keep his eyes on Rena and see exactly what she would do.
The night deepened.
The scent drifting through the air was relaxing.
It was like warm, damp vapor slipping into the body through the nose and mouth, slowly softening the tightly wound strings of the mind.
Aside from soft snoring, the only sounds were the distant, intermittent chirping of birds in the dark forest.
Milo's eyelids began to grow heavy, and he jerked his head up.
By the campfire, Rena was still sitting there.
She held a small twig, occasionally poking at the fire.
It seemed she hadn't moved an inch.
But as time passed, doubt began to creep into Milo's mind.
How could she be so flawless?
How could she keep up this act for so long?
What exactly was her goal?
Was it just to watch him run around shouting like an idiot, while everyone else treated him like a coward and a lunatic?
He bit down hard on the tip of his tongue. The taste of blood spread through his mouth, the sharp pain bringing him a brief moment of clarity.
But before long, the drowsiness washed over him again.
Like an invisible hand pressing down on the back of his head, it slowly pushed him toward sleep.
Milo shook his head violently, his eyes bloodshot.
He slipped a tiny bolt from his sleeve and, gritting his teeth, dragged it across his forearm.
His skin split open, and beads of blood quickly welled up.
The sharp pain finally tore through the thick, sticky drowsiness.
He couldn't fall asleep.
If he fell asleep tonight and something happened tomorrow, he would never be able to explain himself.
Rena had her back to him, but she heard every bit of that faint rustling perfectly.
Who would have thought a coward would have such a side to him? He was holding out quite well.
She pressed the bitter grass she had picked during the day under her tongue.
The taste was astringent and pungent, so unpleasant it made her want to gag.
When she was starving in her past life, she had once chewed on this stuff for half a month straight.
She had hated the taste to her core back then.
Yet now, holding it in her mouth, she actually found it somewhat familiar.
This mouth full of bitterness was no longer a form of torture.
It was more like a warning carved into her bones, reminding her of how she had crawled, step by step, out of those dark and hopeless days.
Among the decaying leaves, the Mist-Slumber Flowers had quietly bloomed.
Their blue-and-white petals unfurled, hidden among the dark brown leaves like pairs of half-open eyes.
The fragrance was not strong, mingled with the dampness of the decaying leaves.
Inhaling it for too long would slowly relax the body, dulling even one's vigilance with drowsiness.
A quiet fell over the campfire.
The others, resting their heads on weapons or logs, drifted into sleep one after another.
Only Kolo remained sitting in her spot.
She pulled her cloak high, covering most of her face, and leaned against the rock behind her as her breathing gradually grew even.
She appeared to be asleep.
Yet her hand resting near her weapon never loosened. She had merely entered a light doze.
Should any strange noise arise, the eyes hidden beneath her cloak would open at a moment's notice.
Even Han Jin, keeping watch on the other side, leaned against a tree and occasionally scanned their surroundings.
But as the night deepened, his eyelids gradually grew heavy.
Isolde knew the time had come.
Her fingertips twitched slightly beneath her cloak.
A Soul Thread, so thin it was virtually undetectable, slipped into the pile of decaying leaves, silently and slowly creeping along the ground.
The Soul Thread wound around the campfire, also avoiding the spot where Milo sat.
Drowsiness was beginning to blur Milo's vision.
He could only see Rena's back and could hardly notice the thread on the ground, which was thinner than a strand of spider silk.
The Soul Thread made its way to Han Jin's side, poking out from beneath the decaying leaves to gently prick the inside of his wrist.
The prick was not particularly sharp, but it was enough to jolt him from his drowsiness.
Han Jin snapped his eyes open, his hand already on the short dagger at his waist.
The surroundings remained quiet.
The campfire crackled softly, and the others were still fast asleep.
Rena sat on the other side of the camp, staring down at the fire as if she had never noticed him.
Han Jin frowned and glanced down at his wrist.
There was no wound.
The sharp prick from before felt more like an insect bite.
Beneath her cloak, Isolde's wrist warmed slightly.
Within the 【Corona Band】, Moon received the thought she sent.
Just as Han Jin was about to close his eyes again, a very faint white light suddenly glowed deep in the woods ahead of him.
A silver-white mane swept through the mist, and a pure light flashed from the horn on its forehead before quickly vanishing behind the rotting wood.
Han Jin saw it. Though it was only for a split second, the figure was clear enough.
A unicorn.
The word flashed through his mind, and the lingering sleepiness in his eyes instantly dissipated.
He suddenly stood up, his gaze sweeping over his sleeping companions first, before looking at Rena on the other side of the campfire and asking in a low voice:
“Did you see something just now?”
Rena's face showed nothing but the cold indifference of being disturbed.
“See what?”
Han Jin stared at her for a couple of seconds. Her confusion didn't seem feigned.
It seemed he was the only one who had seen it.
Just then, the rustling of fabric came from behind Rena.
Milo startled awake from his drowsiness and jerked his head up.
He first saw Han Jin standing, then immediately looked at Rena, asking in a panic:
“What's wrong? Did Rena do something...?”
“It's nothing.”
Han Jin interrupted him immediately, letting go of his dagger and speaking in a casual tone.
“I'm going to relieve myself.”
Milo frowned. “Now?”
Han Jin chuckled.
“Do I need to ask your permission?”
Milo was left speechless. He instinctively looked at Rena again.
Rena remained sitting in her spot, offering only a cold reminder:
“Don't wander too far. The forest at night eats people.”
The corner of Han Jin's mouth twitched up. “I don't need you to teach me.”
He turned and walked toward the direction where the white shadow had vanished.
Milo forced himself to stay alert, his gaze falling back onto Rena.
She was still there, her posture unchanged.
She merely raised her hand to toss a twig into the fire.
The flames flickered slightly.
Han Jin's figure was already swallowed by the mist.
Milo stared at Rena's back, the unease in his heart growing heavier.
He endured it for a moment before asking in a low voice:
“You're just letting him go like that?”
Rena did not stop poking at the campfire.
“Otherwise?”
Milo looked in the direction Han Jin had gone. “You just said the forest at night eats people.”
“I warned him.”
Rena flipped a charred branch over, sending tiny sparks scattering.
“He didn't listen. Am I supposed to hold onto his trousers and go with him?”
Milo was speechless, but he quickly sensed something was off again.
“You didn't even try to stop him?”
Rena finally turned her head to glance at him.
“Why should I?”
“You're the guide right now,” Milo stared at her. “And you agreed to let them tag along. If something happens to him, those Descenders won't let it slide.”
Rena sneered.
“I agreed to guide them, not to be their nanny.”
“He has his own legs. If he wants to seek his own death, is that supposed to be pinned on me?”
Milo opened his mouth. Rena's attitude perfectly matched her usual temperament.
Selfish, short-tempered, and completely indifferent to the lives of others.
But the more it fit, the more stifled he felt.
She seemed to always know exactly what to say, finding a logical explanation for every single word.
Milo stared at her for a long time, then suddenly asked:
“Did you know I've been watching you this whole time?”
Rena let out a low chuckle. “Did you think you were hiding well?”
Milo's fingers tightened around his short crossbow. “Since you knew, why didn't you say anything?”
“Why should I care if you want to keep your eyes open and stay awake?”
“Besides, don't you want to prove there's something wrong with me?”
She tilted her head, the firelight illuminating half of her face.
“Then keep a close eye on me.”
“Watch and see if I'll suddenly grow fangs tonight and eat all of you up.”
Cold sweat broke out in Milo's palms. Only after a long while did he say in a raspy voice:
“I will prove you're an impostor.”
“Is that so?”
Rena tossed the twig in her hand into the fire.
“But have you ever thought about what happens if you can never prove it?”
Milo's breath caught sharply.
Rena had already turned back around, her voice as light as a casual inquiry.
“When that time comes, will you doubt me, or will you doubt yourself?”
“No, my memory isn't wrong.”
Milo spoke rapidly, as if slowing down even a fraction would shake his own resolve.
“I saw that castle with my own eyes. I also saw—”
“Shh.”
Rena turned around and raised a finger to her lips.
The surrounding people were still fast asleep.
Kolo leaned against the rock, her face hidden by her cloak, making it impossible to tell if she had been disturbed by them.
“Since you're so sure, then keep watching.”
Rena turned back around, leaving her back exposed to Milo.
“The night is still young.”
“Make sure you don't fall asleep.”
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