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Location: Demon Forest
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Shin and Bael continued walking through the Demon Forest. They chatted along the way as they dodged obstacles and leaped through the trees.
Night crept closer and closer as the sun began to set. Shin and Bael saw that there was no village nearby to rest.
As they looked around from the trees, they spotted a clearing just ahead. They rushed there and found a huge lake.
"This should be a nice spot for us to rest. Luckily, I bought some tents before we left that village," Bael said as he tossed his bag down near the lake's shore.
Shin followed suit. They unpacked their tents and set them up. Bael went out into the forest and chopped down some trees for wood.
He came back with a large pile.
"That should be enough wood to cook and last us till tomorrow," Shin said as he finished up the tent and stood.
Bael dropped the wood next to their tents. Shin lit the fire.
"Hey Bael, did you buy some po—never mind," Shin said as he pulled out two pots.
"Can you take out the meat in the back pocket of my bag?" Bael asked as he grabbed a flask and filled it with water from the lake.
They set up the pots, boiling water while cooking the meat.
"So, meat and...?"
"Purple maize porridge."
"Aren't we going to eat that in the morning?"
"We are."
Shin sighed heavily while Bael chuckled nearby. They had their dinner and went into their separate tents.
Shin lay in his tent, staring at the ceiling, thinking.
Why did you toss me in that room, Bjorn?
He replayed the events that led him here: Bjorn's betrayal, Satel saving him, the three years he spent with her, and now the Demon King's trial.
He chuckled.
How ironic that I would kill the Demon King just to end up being his replacement.
Shin turned his head toward Bael's tent. He heard some murmuring before it went silent.
He didn't pay attention and looked back up, reminiscing about the days at the orphanage with Bjorn and Jack, before Jack went missing and before Bjorn betrayed him.
He let out a heavy sigh, turned his head, and fell asleep.
Back in Bael's tent, Bael lay restless. He tossed and turned, but sleep never came.
"Hey. Hey. Shin. SHIN!" Bael called out as he sat up straight.
Silence.
Bael grew irritated and got up. He walked out of his tent and over to Shin's. Pressing his ear against the fabric, he heard Shin snoring.
Fine. I'll just take a walk near the lakeshore.
Bael walked to the shore and sat down, splashing his feet in the lake.
Why should I be the one to help Shin? Why did I even allow Satel and the chief to drag me into this?
Bael sighed. A few moments passed before he heard splashing in the water. He instinctively looked up—too late.
Something grabbed his ankles and yanked him underwater. Bael couldn't fight back as the creature dragged him deeper into the lake.