Soren whipped his head left and right, frantic, searching for something. He barely noticed the new face among them.
Ren's.
"Where are they?" he growled, clutching the leg Gelly had stabbed in their earlier fight, his shoulders,throbbed from pain as well.
"They're not here," Ren replied flatly.
Soren blinked, confused by the stranger's calm. He was about to ask who he was when a firm hand clamped down on his shoulder.
"They left," Nox said, his grip steady.
Soren snapped his head back, anger blazing, but froze. Nox's eyes,fierce, unshaking. The fire in them doused his rage, forcing him to look down. His fists clenched, jaw locked, and hot tears dripped onto his knuckles.
Ren raised a brow. The timid boy he'd seen a moment ago was gone, replaced by someone steadier. That change intrigued him.
"Well, if you're both done tucking in your emotions, I'll go find us something to eat," Ren cut through the heavy silence.
"You should really learn to read the room," Nox muttered.
Soren wiped at his eyes and finally looked up. "Who's this guy anyway?" He jabbed a finger toward Ren.
Before Nox could answer,
"Hi, I'm Ren." The newcomer's grin stretched ear to ear.
"You mean this is the guy you've been traveling to meet?" Soren's voice lifted, but disappointment shadowed his face.
"Unfortunately… yes." Nox gave Ren a sideways glance, unimpressed.
Ren gasped, clutching his chest. "Are you two talking lowly about me while I'm standing right here? Unbelievable! Whatever." He stomped off, sulking. "I'm going to get us food."
He came back looking ridiculous, a live deer slung across his shoulders, its legs bound together in his grip. The poor creature twitched and thrashed its head in protest.
"Hahahaha!" Ren bellowed, laughing like some cartoon villain. "Tonight, we feast on this dear deer!" He planted himself proudly in front of them, grinning ear to ear. Now they'll respect me for sure, he thought smugly.
From what Nox had told him, Soren had almost considered showing Ren a sliver of respect. But when he saw this ridiculous display, whatever respect had been building instantly evaporated.
Nox, however, was practically bouncing. He crouched to start a fire, eyes gleaming, until Soren's voice cut through the moment.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
Nox blinked, confused. Wait, what's wrong with him? Does he not eat meat? His hunger was gnawing at him, and right now Soren's words made zero sense.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Ren tilted his head.
"That's way too much meat for just three people. We'll never finish it before it goes bad," Soren said flatly.
Ren froze, staring at him. Too much meat? He turned toward Nox for backup. Surely he disagreed with Soren?
Nox's thoughts were a mess. What the hell, Soren? This is perfect. We coul eat until our stomachs burst. Sure, some leftovers, but that's even better. Still, the look Ren shot him pinned him. Betray Ren or side with Soren? His stomach screamed one answer, but his mouth betrayed him.
"Ahem." Nox cleared his throat. "Y-yeah… maybe it's a little too much for us."
"Fine." Ren sighed dramatically. He dropped the deer and gave it a firm smack on the rear. The animal bolted into the trees, vanishing back into the wild. Ren dusted his hands. "I'll get something more… bite-sized."
Nox stared after the deer, heart breaking. In his mind's eye it was already roasted golden, juices dripping. I should've sided with Ren, he muttered miserably as the last flick of its tail disappeared into the dark.
Ten minutes later, Ren returned. This time, he dangled two rabbits by their ears, one in each hand.
"How's this?" he asked, grinning as he held them up like trophies.
"Drop the smaller one," Soren said without hesitation. "One will be enough."
Ren blinked at him, then slowly turned his head toward Nox.
Nox felt his eye twitch. He wanted to scream, Are you insane?! Two rabbits is barely enough, forget just one. But under Soren's calm, demanding tone, he caved again. No way was he siding with the idiot over the prince.
"Y-yeah," Nox muttered weakly. "One should be fine."
Ren narrowed his eyes, muttering under his breath, "What are you two,demons?" Still, with a sigh, he let the smaller rabbit go. It darted into the brush, gone in an instant.
The remaining rabbit was cleaned and roasted over the fire. When it was finally ready, Ren cut it into three portions. Of course, he took the biggest chunk for himself, leaving Nox and Soren to share the smaller pieces.
Nox tried not to sulk, chewing with deliberate slowness, savoring every scrap. Soren, meanwhile, picked at his share like he wasn't even hungry.
For Nox, though, this was torture. This isn't nearly enough, he thought bitterly, glaring at Soren out of the corner of his eye.
Across from him, Ren was already licking his fingers, satisfied. Nox had a few questions for him, but. A few minutes later, his snores filled the night air as he flopped back, out cold.
Soren lay down soon after, his breathing steady as he drifted off.
Nox sat there, stomach rumbling so loud it nearly echoed. He wanted to scream. Damn it, I knew I should've just sided with Ren. Who cares if I looked like an idiot, at least I wouldn't be starving now.
He hugged his knees, staring at the fire. With every growl of his stomach, his annoyance with Soren sparked hotter.
The fig tree above them glowed with embers, its burning branches illuminating the clearing, keeping the three boys warm until morning.
By dawn, Nox looked like death itself,dark bags under his eyes, stomach still groaning from the night before. He sat up slowly, glaring at nothing in particular.
Beside him, Soren stretched and tried to get up, only to wince in pain as his leg gave out.
Ren yawned, scratching his head. "Oh yeah, I forgot you were hurt. Here." He dug into his pouch and pulled out a small black pill.
Soren eyed it suspiciously. "…What the hell is that?"
"It revitalizes anyone who can use iora," Ren explained lazily. "Subsides the pain, stirs the iora around the wound, speeds healing. Miracle stuff really," he yawned through the words.
"And how exactly was this made?" Soren raised a brow, skeptical.
Ren sighed dramatically. "Do I look like a doctor? Take it or leave it."
"Give it here," Soren snapped, snatching the pill and popping it into his mouth. His face instantly twisted. "Ugh! It's so bitter! Why didn't you warn me?" He gagged, retching exaggeratedly. "And why didn't you give me this yesterday if you had it all along?"
Nox glanced at Ren, curious how he'd wriggle out of this one.
Ren rubbed the back of his neck innocently. "…Oops. I guess I forgot."
"You forgot?!" Soren's voice cracked with outrage. "I was in pain all night, you..."
"And why," Ren cut him off smoothly, "do you act so entitled?"
The words stopped Soren cold. For a moment, the air grew heavy.
Nox finally stepped in, scratching his cheek. "Uh, you see… he was, uh… a prince. Before you know ,umm,things… happened."
Ren's face lit up instantly. "A prince? No way! Me too!" He laughed like a kid who had just found a new best friend.
"Huuuuh?!" Nox blurted, nearly falling over.
Soren stared at Ren blankly. He didn't even bother responding to what was clearly nonsense.
Nox stood, his body smeared with ash, his clothes in tatters. His dark hair hung rough and unkempt, he was a little tall for his age, his hands were already riddled with scars. The sleeves that barely clung to his arms were shredded even worse than the rest.
Ren's eyes lingered on him, curious.
"Hey… where did you get your clothes?" he asked, tilting his head.
"Well… Raizen gave one to Juro and me, right before we started combat training," Nox replied flatly, not thinking much of the question.
Ren stepped closer, squinting at the fabric. The threads shimmered faintly beneath the dirt. "Wait a second… when Raizen left Eden, he took some Iorite fabric with him. I can't believe it. He actually made these clothes himself."
Nox froze, wide-eyed. "What do you mean? Are you saying… Raizen made this? Himself?"
"Yeah," Ren answered casually, though a little surprised himself. "Didn't know he was that good."
Soren looked between them, confused, his gaze drifting back to the fig tree that still glowed faintly with fire.
Nox's mind spun. He remembered all those moments during training when Raizen would vanish without explanation. So… he was making clothes for them? His chest tightened, heat rising behind his eyes.
"He took us in… clothed us… fed us…" Nox muttered, his voice breaking slightly. He remembered Raizen joking, Do I look like a seamstress to you? and now the meaning hit him fully.
"Hah." Nox let out a trembling laugh, his lips curling into a fragile smile. "So he really did make these clothes." A warmth spread inside him, his affection and gratitude for Raizen swelling beyond words.
Ren clapped his hands together, voice suddenly sharp again. "Anyway, Nox, you're giving Soren a piggyback. He won't be able to walk properly yet. So,you'll be his crutch for now."
Nox wiped his eyes quickly, forcing down the warmth Raizen's memory had stirred. He didn't want Ren or Soren to see him soften.
He groaned. He was still pissed at Soren, but what choice did he have? With a muttered curse, he crouched down.
Soren climbed onto his back, but Nox grabbed his injured thigh a little too hard… on purpose.
"OW! Take it easy, Nox!" Soren cried out.
"Yes, yes, your majesty," Nox replied with a mishiveous smile.
Ren chuckled, pretending not to notice the tension. Before they left, he cast one last glance at the fig tree, its branches still smoking into the sky. For a moment, hesitation flickered in his eyes, then, as always, he covered it with his usual bright grin.
He led the way, humming quietly to himself, hands behind his head like he was on a stroll rather than walking out of a ruined forest. Nox followed close behind, Soren still on his back, his leg wrapped tight.
They traced the southern edge of the giant scorched crater, the lingering smoke from the fig tree curling into the sky behind them. For a while, no one spoke. Only the crunch of their steps on burnt soil filled the silence.
Then Ren suddenly stretched his arms wide, his grin flashing back. "I hope you're both ready. The wheat village is something else. When it's harvest season, the whole place glows gold, like the sun dropped down just for them. The villagers? Always smiling. Always welcoming. Best wheat in all of Blitz."
His words painted a picture so vivid that Nox almost forgot the hunger gnawing in his stomach. For a moment, he imagined it, fields of gold, faces bright with laughter. It felt familiar, though he couldn't place why.
Hours passed. The sun began its slow descent, and the shadows stretched longer. Nox carried Soren without complaint, though his shoulders ached and his arms felt like lead. They joked a little, laughed a little, even Soren softened now and then. For the first time in a long while, it almost felt like they were just kids again.
But then, smoke. A thick plume rising in the distance.
Ren stopped cold. His grin vanished, his body stiffened. Nox followed his gaze, and his heart dropped.
That wasn't the golden glow Ren had promised.
It was black. Choking. Wrong.
The wheat fields that should have shimmered like sunlight were scorched and lifeless, the air thick with the stench of ash.
The three of them stood in silence, the picture Ren had painted shattered before their eyes.
They walked forward, no words left in any of them. Soren clung a little tighter to Nox's shoulders, his body trembling despite the heat of the scorched air.
The closer they drew, the worse it became. The golden fields Ren had once described were nothing but blackened stalks. Smoke leaked from collapsed huts, carrying the acrid sting of burned flesh.
Ren's jaw tightened, his steps heavier with each stride. Nox glanced at him and saw a quiet rage flickering beneath his usual brightness, like a flame barely contained.
They entered the heart of the village. Silence ruled here, broken only by the crunch of ash underfoot.
Then they saw them.
Scorched shapes frozen in place, the shadows of lives erased. Burned bodies collapsed in the streets, some clutching tools, others shielding children. The sight made Nox's stomach twist violently.
And at the very center stood something that rooted them where they were.
A blackened figure, charred but unbroken, crouched on one knee. His right hand pinned a sword to the ground, his grip so fierce that even fire hadn't pried it loose. In his arms, clutched tight against his chest, was something smaller.
Nox's legs carried him forward without thinking. He circled around the burned man's frame, his heart hammering.
And then he saw her.
A little girl, her hair black as soot, her garments once blue but now charred to tatters. Her small face was frozen in eternal sleep, yet even covered in ash, it was unmistakable.
Too familiar.
Nox staggered back, and Soren slipped from his shoulders, falling into the ash with wide, horrified eyes.
Tears streamed before either of them realized, hot and relentless.
This face… this girl…
A face that had once brought them comfort.
Nox's lips parted, and a quiet whisper seeped past.
"…Lara."