Arthur woke to darkness.
Cold came first.
Then pain.
A dull ache spread through his side, slow and heavy, before sharpening the moment he tried to move. It felt deep—like something inside him had cracked and never set properly. A quiet groan slipped out before he could stop it.
For a few seconds, he just lay there, breathing through it.
Then he noticed the light.
A faint orange glow flickered somewhere ahead.
Fire.
His vision slowly adjusted. Shapes began to form—trees, shadows, the uneven ground beneath him.
And Sebastian.
He sat across from the fire, hunched slightly forward, one arm resting on his knee. A lighter turned lazily between his fingers, the flame occasionally sparking to life before dying again. His face was half-lit, half-lost in shadow.
"You're awake," he said.
Arthur swallowed. His throat felt dry, tight.
"What… happened?"
Sebastian didn't answer straight away.
He flicked the lighter once more. Flame. Out.
"You almost got yourself and me killed, fucking idiot."
There wasn't much anger in his voice.
That made it worse.
Arthur's gaze dropped. His fingers curled slightly into the dirt beside him.
For once, there was no grin. No excitement. No attempt to laugh it off.
Just silence.
"I'm useless," he muttered.
The words barely made it out.
Sebastian's grip on the lighter paused.
For a moment, he looked like he might say something.
Arthur stared at the ground, jaw tightening.
"I thought I could actually do something," he went on, quieter now. "Like… I don't know. Like this meant something."
His hand trembled slightly, pressing harder into the dirt.
"But I just—" He let out a short, hollow breath. "I just got in the way."
Sebastian watched him.
Something about the way Arthur sat there—shoulders slumped, voice stripped of all that usual energy—
It felt familiar.
Too familiar.
Sebastian looked back at the fire.
The flames shifted, rising and falling, never staying still.
"I need to stop messing around," Arthur said suddenly.
Sebastian glanced up.
Arthur pushed himself up slightly, wincing as pain shot through his side, but he forced himself to sit straighter anyway.
"I need to get stronger," he continued. "So next time…"
He hesitated.
Then smiled.
"…I'll be the one protecting you."
It looked convincing.
Almost.
Sebastian stared at him for a second.
Then—
"…Ha."
A small sound slipped out.
Arthur frowned.
Then it happened again.
A breath. A break.
And suddenly Sebastian was laughing.
Not a quiet chuckle.
Not forced.
Actual laughter.
Arthur blinked, caught off guard. "Why are you laughing? I'm being serious."
Sebastian tried to stop, pressing a hand to his face, but it only made it worse.
"Yeah," he managed between breaths. "I can tell."
Arthur's expression hardened slightly. "I am serious."
"I know," Sebastian said, exhaling, the laughter finally fading. "That's why it's funny."
Arthur stared at him, confused, a little annoyed—but not entirely.
Sebastian turned back to the fire, the faintest trace of a smile still lingering.
It had been a while since he'd laughed like that.
A long while.
Arthur shifted, trying to adjust his position.
Pain flared instantly.
"Shit…" He grabbed his side, teeth clenching. "It still hurts."
Sebastian glanced over.
"It didn't fully heal," Arthur said, testing the movement again and immediately regretting it. "Thought you said you healed me."
"I did."
Arthur looked at him.
Sebastian shrugged slightly. "I'm guessing it's because the skill's low level."
Arthur blinked.
"…Look who's finally talking like a nerd."
"Yeah, well," Sebastian muttered, "it's real. Doesn't matter how stupid it is—we'd be idiots not to figure it out."
Arthur let out a quiet breath.
"…Yeah."
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The fire crackled softly between them.
⸻
Morning came slowly.
The darkness faded by degrees, shadows thinning as pale light filtered through the trees. The fire had burned down to embers, thin trails of smoke curling into the cold air.
Sebastian hadn't slept much.
Every so often during the night, he'd raised his hand again.
"Heal."
Each time, the same green light.
Each time, a little stronger.
Each time, Arthur's breathing eased just a bit more.
By the time the sun had fully risen—
Arthur could stand.
Barely.
But it was enough.
⸻
They walked.
No path. No direction.
Just trees stretching endlessly in every direction.
"We need to find a town," Sebastian said. "Or anything. If there even is one."
Arthur clenched his fist as he walked.
"We'll find one," he said. "We have to."
A pause.
Then—
"Oh—nice."
Sebastian glanced over. "What?"
Arthur's face lit up again, some of that old energy creeping back in.
"I got a skill," he said. "Iron Skin. Must've come from that fight."
"What does it do?"
Arthur stopped walking.
He planted his feet, rolling his shoulders slightly like he was bracing himself.
"Hit me."
Sebastian stared at him.
"…No."
"Trust me."
"Not happening."
"Just do it."
Sebastian hesitated.
Then sighed.
"Fine."
He stepped forward and drove a punch into Arthur's stomach.
It didn't feel right.
Too solid.
Like hitting something that didn't give.
Sebastian pulled his hand back slightly, flexing his fingers.
Arthur blinked.
Then grinned.
"Haha—did you feel that?" he said. "I barely felt anything."
He looked down at his hands, clenching them slowly.
"This is insane…"
Sebastian shook his hand once.
"…Yeah," he said. "It suits you."
Arthur laughed. "You think so? Yeah… I guess it does."
⸻
They kept moving.
Time passed.
Then—
"Yo, Seb," Arthur said, slowing slightly. "You see that?"
Sebastian followed his gaze.
Through the trees, faint but unmistakable—
Smoke.
"…Yeah."
"That's gotta be something, right?" Arthur said. "A village, maybe—"
"Let's go," Sebastian cut in, already moving.
"I'm done with this forest."
⸻
The trees began to thin as they got closer.
Light broke through more easily. The ground flattened.
Then—
They saw it.
A wall.
Wooden. Tall. Reinforced with thick beams and iron bindings. Weathered, but solid.
At its center stood a heavy gate.
Closed.
Two guards stood at the entrance, unmoving.
Watching.
Sebastian slowed slightly.
I wonder if they'll just let us walk in—
Before he could think it through—
Arthur started running.
"Hey—" Sebastian muttered. "…of course you are."
Arthur reached them first.
"Hi!" he said, slightly out of breath. "My name's Arthur, and this is Seb. Can we come in?"
One of the guards didn't react.
"Proof of identification."
Arthur froze.
"Oh—we don't—"
"My apologies," Sebastian cut in smoothly as he stepped forward. "We were attacked in the forest. Bandits. He lost our belongings—including our identification."
The guard stared at them.
Silent.
Then the second guard spoke, still leaning slightly against the wall.
"Bandits have been causing trouble lately."
A pause.
"Get new identification issued as soon as possible."
The gate creaked.
Slowly—
Opening.
Sebastian gave a small nod. "Of course. Thank you."
Arthur stayed quiet this time.
They stepped through.
And stopped.
Shops lined the streets.
Wooden stalls. Stone buildings. People moving everywhere—talking, trading, living.
Noise filled the air.
Life.
Arthur looked around, eyes wide.
"It's…" he let out a quiet, disbelieving laugh. "…it's actually a fantasy town."
Sebastian didn't respond.
But he didn't look away either.