The tense nights bled into equally tense days. The journey was a silent one, the air thick with an unspoken strain that had nothing to do with the threat of monsters. It was Rian. He remained a statue carved from ice, his expression flat and distant, a perfect reflection of the cold fury he had unleashed in the forest. The change was so profound that Catty found herself hesitant, almost afraid, to speak to him. An awkward chasm had opened between them, and their conversations were now limited to only what was necessary—brief, functional exchanges with none of the easy banter or warmth that had once defined their bond.
After what felt like an eternity, the oppressive canopy of the forest began to thin. A sliver of bright light pierced through the gaps in the trees, a welcoming beacon at the edge of the woods. As they emerged from the shadows, a winding, well-trodden road stretched out before them, leading toward the distant silhouette of a massive, walled kingdom.
They followed the path, the soft earth marked with the tracks of horses and wagons. The sight of other travelers passing by was a strange comfort after their isolation. Finally, they arrived at the main gate of the kingdom of Fulakmi. As expected, they were stopped by a pair of heavily armored guards.
Fredd, now fully committed to his role as their guide and protector, stepped forward. He explained to the guards that Rian and Catty were travelers from a distant land, which was why they possessed no written identification. To vouch for them, Fredd presented his own adventurer's necklace. The brilliant green gem, the mark of an Epic-tier hero, gleamed in the sunlight.
The guards' demeanor changed instantly. Seeing the mark of a regional champion, they asked no further questions and waved them through with a respectful nod. The process was far easier than Rian had anticipated. Fredd then led them through the bustling city streets, away from the main thoroughfare, and into a quieter, more residential district. He stopped before a large, two-story house.
"You can stay here for now, until you find a place of your own," Fredd said, turning to them. "I will stay here as well, to accompany you."
"Is this your house, Fredd?" Catty asked, looking at the old but well-maintained building.
"No, it belonged to my parents," he explained, a flicker of old sadness in his eyes. "They passed away long ago, so the house has been empty. A servant comes by occasionally to clean it. Please, you don't need to pay. Stay here, and consider it your own home."
"What will you do now, Fredd?" Catty asked.
"I will rest for a bit, then go out and buy some household supplies and provisions for your stay here," he replied.
"Thank you," Rian said. The words were clipped, his tone flat, offering no follow-up questions.
"Thanks, Fredd. This is a huge help," Catty added, her voice much warmer, trying to make up for Rian's coldness.
Fredd departed, leaving the two of them alone in the quiet house. Rian walked into what looked like a receiving room, furnished with a simple table and chairs, and sat down. The house had an air of age to it, but it was sturdy and clean, a welcome sanctuary.
Catty sat down beside him, her gaze soft as she studied his profile. His face was a stoic mask, but she could see the storm behind it. It was as if he were holding back a thousand unspoken words, all of them poisoned by the brutal events of their last battle.
"Rian," she said gently, her voice barely a whisper.
"Hmm," he responded, a noncommittal hum that didn't require him to open his mouth.
"Did I do something wrong?" she asked, her voice laced with a vulnerability that pained her. "You've changed so drastically."
"You've done nothing wrong," he answered, his voice still short, clipped.
"Then what is it? What's made you so quiet?" Her own voice began to tremble with a mix of frustration and sorrow. "I miss the old you. The one who was always cheerful, kind, caring, and attentive. The one who was always talking, who never let the silence grow cold. Being with him… it made me feel warm."
"I am no longer human," Rian stated, his gaze fixed on some distant point across the room.
"You are human," Catty insisted, her voice gaining strength. "You just don't want to admit it."
"But this isn't how a normal human acts."
"And what is a 'normal human' supposed to be like?" she challenged.
"A normal human would feel compassion for others," Rian explained, his voice cracking for the first time. "But you saw what happened yesterday. I enjoyed Daniel's death. Doesn't that mean I'm not human anymore?"
The confession hung in the air between them, raw and painful. Catty realized how little she truly knew about him. "Rian… it seems you don't really know what humans are like here, do you? Where are you really from? How did you end up in that forest? Where are your parents?" The questions tumbled out, questions she had never dared to ask before, but the moment felt right.
"I don't know," he lied, falling back on his prepared story. "I just remember waking up in the forest. I was just trying to survive, and then I found you."
Catty sighed, letting the questions go for now. "Actually," she began, her tone shifting, "I want to thank you for everything. You care about me so much, you pay such close attention to me. But… you know you don't have to fight so hard, right? You don't have to unleash that kind of anger, the kind that feels like a threat even to me."
"I have to, Catty," Rian said, his voice turning firm, his resolve hardening once more. "I don't want to lose you. If it concerns your life, I will throw everything away to save you. Do you understand?"
"I do," she said, meeting his intense gaze without flinching. "But I want the old you back. I've had enough of this gloom, this silence. If you stay like this… I'll leave you."
The threat, though she didn't fully mean it, struck Rian like a physical blow.
"No," he said, a raw panic in his voice, the first real emotion he had shown. "Don't leave, Catty."
"You asked me to be your equal," she pressed, her voice firm and resolute. "If I can't express my own opinions and desires, then I'm not your equal. I'm still just your pet."
The word 'pet' hit him harder than her threat. He finally broke. "Okay, okay, fine," he surrendered, his shoulders slumping. "What do you want?"
"I want you to act like you used to," she pleaded, her voice softening. "Push away the thought that everyone is a threat to me. I can fight now. I'll get better at protecting myself. So please… just be yourself again, okay?"
"But…" he hesitated, the new, cold creed he had forged still warring within him.
"No 'buts'," Catty said, cutting him off. "If you still want me with you, if you still want me to follow you, then you have to grant my wish."
A long silence stretched between them. Finally, he let out a long, weary sigh. "Alright."
"That's more like it," she said, a genuine smile finally returning to her face. "And if you're ever unsure about a decision, you don't have to hesitate to ask me." She leaned forward and gently pressed her lips to his forehead. "This is a reward for your struggle. Thank you, my Rian."
Rian froze, completely stunned. A deep, uncontrollable blush spread from his neck to his cheeks. He couldn't form a single word. All he could do was nod, agreeing to everything she had asked, the icy walls around his heart shattered by a single, warm touch.