The sunlight filtered weakly through the mist, painting silver streaks across the stream. For the first time in days, we allowed ourselves a small luxury: a bath. The cold water ran over our arms and faces, washing away grime, sweat, and the lingering smell of smoke and blood. I shivered at first, but then let myself enjoy it.
Vivi washed her hair with a quiet hum, while Lily rolled up her sleeves, dipping her arms into the stream. Phoebe stayed at the edge, just letting the water splash over her hands, lost in thought.
Nolan's mother, meanwhile, had already started cooking the meat from the beasts we'd fought. The aroma drew us all to the small clearing, and despite ourselves, we let our stomachs grumble.
"This actually smells amazing," Lex said, his usual pride softening for a moment as he sniffed the sizzling meat.
Phoebe took a bite and nodded. "Better than anything I've had in days."
I looked at Nolan's mother and grinned. "Seriously, you've got skills. You should consider cooking professionally."
She shook her head, cutting the meat carefully. "I don't feel like I've been much help lately," she admitted quietly. "Just… feeding you all, making sure you survive. It's not much."
"Don't say that," Nolan said softly, his hand brushing hers.
Veyra, standing a little apart, watched quietly, her calm presence grounding the conversation. She gave a small nod toward the mother. "You've done more than you think."
We ate in silence for a few minutes, savoring the warmth of both the food and the fire. When our bellies were full, we cleaned what we could, wrapped up our minimal gear, and packed the fire down.
Veyra stepped forward, her chains coiled and ready. "We're close to the mountain now," she said, her voice carrying across the small clearing. "The climb won't be easy. Expect Layer Two and Three beasts to appear more frequently. Be cautious, watch each other, and keep your formation tight."
Lily adjusted her katana and quiver, glancing at Vivi.
Vivi smirked faintly.
I slung my chains across my chest and tightened my boots.
Nolan stood next to his mother, giving her one last reassuring glance. "We'll handle whatever comes. Just stick close."
With that, we moved toward the looming base of the mountain, mist curling around the trees, the stream fading behind us. The forest ahead felt darker, denser, alive in ways it hadn't been before.
Veyra's gaze stayed ahead, sharp and steady. "Let's move."
And we did, stepping into the next challenge, knowing the climb—and the beasts that awaited and would push us further than we had ever been.
***
In Theron City
(Near the city center Mall)
Under the morning Sun, The city was bustling. People going to jobs, Children going school, Vendors opening up their shops, Various cafes open with customers, The smell of coffee traveling through the street.
Under the noise, small pairs of feet walked non-stop from one store to another, from one vendor to another, until the owner of the feet came across cafe. She was a girl no more than 9, Her clothes were ragged and dirty, her unkept blonde hair flowed with the wind and her big blue eyes swallowing the world whole.
She came across a cafe full of people, She stopped Infront of a big man, then with her little hands she tugged at his pants.
The man turned around and found a little girl tugging his pants, The man looked big and had very stern face, the girl looked intimidated, at first she hesitated but pushing through she said in a sweet voice
"Uncle, I am hungry can you feed me"
The man looked at her clothes and then said with a indifference "Go beg somewhere else"
He shrugged the pants removing her hands and moved forward.
Without minding the incident she walked over to some more people some people gave her something, some looked with disgust.
After a while, She got next to a toys shop, seeing many parents gifting their kids with toys and dolls, she felt a little sad but that didn't stop her. Going near the shop in a bin she found a stuffed animal, it was broken but she wasn't picky.
She quickly put the doll in her small backpack and started moving, In couple of minutes she arrived in a alley, There was a small house made of cardboard, She went inside the house which had three blankets, a broken radio and two more stuffed animals.
She put the backpack aside and removed a cookie and the broken stuffed toy.
She then put the stuffed elephant near the other two dolls and lied down.
"Here, You have a new friend kelly, Kuro" She said to the two dolls of a tiger and crocodile.
"Her name ...." she Paused to think a name for the new friend "Her name is Eli, Hi Eli my name is Kiri"
She looked at the two old doll and talked as if having a conversation.
"I picked him today, unfortunately I got no snacks today, Only a cookie..... hmm..... Okay I will"
Kiri nibbled on the cookie slowly, as if stretching it out would make her hunger last less. Her tiny fingers brushed Eli's torn ear as she spoke, her voice half-whisper, half-imagination.
"You know, Eli… two days ago at the mall…" her blue eyes dimmed, gaze unfocused as the memory rose, "…everything got so loud. People were running and screaming. The bad men had guns. I thought…" her small voice shook a little, "…I thought that was it for me."
She pulled the blanket tighter around herself.
"I hid by the fountain, holding Kelly and Kuro really tight. They came so close—I heard their boots and their angry shouting. I was so scared."
Her words slowed, but then her eyes lit with a spark of wonder.
"But then…" she lifted Eli up, as if making her see, "…two angels came. A girl with light shining so bright it hurt to look, and a boy with wings dark like the night. They fought the bad men. They weren't scared at all."
Her little hands trembled as she hugged Eli to her chest. "The white angel helped people, she was so warm, like she wanted to hug everyone. And the black angel… he looked so sad, but he protected everyone too. Together, they saved us."
She placed Eli down carefully beside the others, her eyes glistening. "I think they must've come from the sky just for us."
For a moment she sat quietly, tracing the edge of her cookie, before whispering the thought that had been haunting her.
"…If I had wings, would Mama and Papa have kept me? Would they have thought I was special too?"
Her gaze flickered to the dolls. "Maybe… maybe if I was like them, I wouldn't be alone."
The broken radio beside her gave a faint crackle, but no sound came through. The city outside was alive with laughter and footsteps, but in her little cardboard home, Kiri curled under the blankets, clutching all three of her stuffed friends.
She closed her eyes and whispered softly, almost a prayer:
"Please, white angel, black angel… don't forget me."