Their footsteps in the damp tunnel were not left undisturbed for long. The scent of fresh blood flowing from the wound on Kaera's palm acted like a dinner bell for the dwellers of darkness.
From the cracks in the shadowed stone ceiling, small creatures emerged with gray, scaly skin - Gravel-Imps. Their glowing yellow eyes stared with hunger.
"Behind you!" Eira shouted.
Kaera didn't wait. Even though her breathing was still heavy and her vision slightly spinning from the earlier rage phase impact, her killing instinct remained sharp. With a single slash of her blade-
TRING!
Steel met the sharp claws of an imp lunging from the darkness. Kaera gritted her teeth, holding back the creature's force. Her bleeding hand tightened around the katana's hilt, letting her blood smear across the blade.
"Don't push yourself!" Eira yelled, thrusting her palm toward the tunnel floor.
Nature magic activated. Thin roots living within the cracks of the stone stretched outward, coiling around the legs of the Gravel-Imps trying to surround them.
Eira wasn't attacking to kill-she was creating space for Kaera.
"Shut up and watch yourself!" Kaera snapped back.
She spun, executing a horizontal swing that beheaded two creatures at once. Black blood splattered against the tunnel wall.
But there were too many. For every one that fell, three more crawled out of the darkness. Kaera felt her muscles screaming in exhaustion. She nearly slipped on the slick floor, but a thick root suddenly rose behind her, supporting her weight before she could fall.
Eira stood close behind her. "Use my frequency," she whispered.
"I'll show you where they'll come from."
Through Echo Vein, Eira sent pulses of vibration that built a mental map inside Kaera's mind. She saw everything-every Gravel-Imp hiding in the darkness, even those creeping along the ceiling.
Kaera exhaled sharply. She didn't want to waste time with a tedious close-range fight.
"kneel..," she ordered coldly.
Before Eira could question her, Kaera raised her blood-soaked palm toward the air. With a single command, the blood burst into dozens of razor-sharp crystal droplets.
"Crimson Rain: Seek."
Instantly, the blood crystals shot forward like heat-seeking missiles. They didn't fly straight-instead, they twisted and curved, guided by the frequency Eira provided.
ZUP! ZUP! ZUP!
The sound of flesh being pierced echoed repeatedly. Each droplet sought out the hearts and heads of the Gravel-Imps with terrifying precision. In less than three seconds, the tunnel that had been filled with shrieks fell into complete silence. Demon corpses collapsed onto the ground like rotting fruit.
Kaera sheathed her katana without looking back. Her face was pale, her breathing short, yet she continued walking calmly.
"Don't make me use that power again," Kaera muttered as she dragged her steps forward.
Eira could only stare at the remnants of blood crystals slowly melting on the ground. Kaera's efficiency in killing existed on an entirely different level.
They continued through the remaining stretch of tunnel until a faint blue light greeted their sight.
-----
The small cave felt like a world separate from the chaos outside. In one corner, an underground river flowed calmly, its sound like a gentle melody trying to soothe wounded hearts. The blue glow from the clear water reflected off the cave walls, creating a peaceful dance of light.
After fighting relentlessly against a group of minor demons earlier, they had finally found shelter.
Eira sat against the cold stone wall, carefully wrapping cloth around the minor wound on her arm.
Across the small campfire, Kaera sat with her knees drawn to her chest. Her black hood was pushed slightly back, revealing part of the face she had long kept hidden.
Silence.
Only the crackling of firewood and the soft flow of the river filled the air.
"Your hand's been bleeding this whole time," Eira began, tying off her bandage. "Don't you feel anything?"
Kaera looked at her palm, still stained red.
"Blood... I'm used to it," she replied flatly. "Even if I bandage it, I'll still use it to kill the next day."
Eira smiled faintly, though her eyes remained focused on her own wound.
"If you leave it open like that... you won't last long. Even the finest sword needs to be sharpened and maintained, doesn't it?"
Kaera fell silent. She glanced at the roll of clean cloth Eira had placed beside her earlier. Without a word, she picked it up - a small action that meant something significant for someone who struggled to trust anyone.
HONESTY BEHIND THE FIRE
"Why are you still following me... even after I almost killed you?" Kaera's voice was soft, nearly drowned out by the fire.
Eira stopped wrapping her arm. She looked at Kaera honestly.
"Because at that moment... your eyes looked like they were asking for help."
Kaera immediately lowered her gaze. Her hand gripped the edge of the bandage tightly. The truth in Eira's words felt sharper than any blade. Her voice was no longer as sharp as usual; there was a fragile tremor she tried to hide.
"I'm not good at trusting people," Kaera whispered. "Everyone I've ever had... eventually disappeared."
"I understand," Eira replied gently. "I'm not here to make things harder for you."
Silence filled the cave once more.
Kaera finally lifted her face, staring into the dancing flames. The blue reflection from the river softened her usually cold hmm expression.
"You're weird," Kaera said suddenly.
Eira chuckled softly, leaning back against the cave wall to find a comfortable position.
"I hear that all the time."
Kaera let out a small sigh. Her eyes remained fixed on the fire, as if gathering the strength to say something foreign to her tongue.
"I'm... sorry," Kaera said quietly.
Eira blinked, clearly not expecting an apology from someone as hard-edged as Kaera. She straightened up and smiled faintly.
"Oh, okay... forgiven," she replied casually. "I mean, it's normal, right? A solo traveler being suspicious of a stranger who suddenly appears in the middle of the forest."
She gave an awkward grin, trying to lighten the tension.
Kaera nodded slightly, a hint of guilt rising in her chest. She knew how close she had come to taking the life of the girl in front of her-just because of a trauma she couldn't control.
"But if possible, next time don't try to kill people, okay?"
Eira added teasingly, raising an eyebrow at her as a reminder of the katana that had nearly pierced her neck earlier.
Kaera snorted softly. A bit of her cold demeanor returned, shielding her embarrassment.
"Fine..." she answered lazily, unwilling to prolong a conversation that left her feeling too emotionally exposed.
Without waiting for another response, Kaera lay down on the ground, using a worn cloth as bedding. She turned her back to Eira and the fire, pulling her thick black hood over herself.
"I'm going to sleep," she muttered before closing her eyes, letting the sound of the underground river carry her into a calmer dream.
For the first time since her journey began, Kaera did not feel the urge to run.
The fear was still there.
But something quieter... something steadier... had begun to grow within her.
****