Crestfall: Darkness Unveiled

Day 3

Rin yawned as she slipped a jacket over her uniform, bracing against the forest's biting cold. She moved to the back of the camp, settling beside Sosuke. Adjusting the blanket around him, she allowed herself a faint smile.

"How do you feel?" Ren's voice broke the stillness. He stood nearby, one hand on his hip. "If you're not up to it, you can stay here with him."

"I'm fine," Rin replied, glancing up. "Moving isn't the issue. Fighting might be." She felt perfectly fine but saw no need to admit it.

Ren nodded, stretching. "Alright. I'll help the others hunt something big—make up for the points we borrowed. Keep an eye on him. Anything could happen."

Rin gave a quiet nod. "Got it."

Arthur's voice called out from camp, and Ren jogged off, leaving Rin alone with Sosuke. She leaned back, fingers brushing the edge of his blanket. He looked pale but peaceful, and her lips twitched in a small, tired smile.

"Days in this forest, and not a single meal that isn't ration bars," she murmured, more to herself than to him. "And you're no help—just lying here like you've got nothing better to do." She laughed softly. "Not like you can hear me anyway."

Her gaze lingered on his face. She tucked her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. "If it weren't for you… I'd still be stuck in that nowhere town. Barely scraping by. No Astralis. No purpose." Her voice grew quieter, almost hesitant. "But you gave me a chance. And you didn't even think twice about it."

Rin paused, then reached out to touch his arm lightly. "You have no idea what you did for me," she whispered. "I'll make sure I don't screw this up. I promise."

She sighed, tilting her head skyward before her gaze fell back to him. "You're impossible, Sosuke," she muttered. "I think I might be falling for you." A single tear slid down her cheek, and she quickly brushed it away, laughing under her breath. "Good thing you're not awake to hear how corny I sound."

Ren, Lyra, Elowen, and Arthur trudged through the dense forest, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the thick undergrowth. Arthur was in front, as usual, leading the way with his quiet, determined pace. Lyra was next, grinning despite the circumstances, and Ren followed behind, his eyes scanning the trees. Elowen brought up the rear, her expression more focused than usual as she stayed close to Ren, her mind occasionally drifting back to Sosuke.

"You think we'll find anything soon?" Lyra called out, breaking the silence. She nudged Ren with her elbow. "Could use a good fight. My fingers are itching for some action."

Ren shot her a look, his lips curling into a small grin. "You always want a fight. Maybe try not picking a fight for once."

Lyra raised an eyebrow. "What, you saying you wouldn't want to kill something?" She nudged him again. "I know you better than that."

"Maybe." Ren's tone was casual, but his eyes were scanning their surroundings. "We need something that's actually worth the effort though. No point in wasting time on a small fry."

Arthur, ahead of them, didn't answer. He was too focused on the task at hand, always alert. Elowen noticed how his shoulders were a little more tense than usual, but she didn't comment on it. She had learned by now that it was best not to press.

"I still can't believe Sosuke went off like that," Lyra murmured after a pause. "He's insane sometimes. I mean, who risks it all like that?"

"He had his reasons," Ren said, his voice calm. "But… Yeah, I didn't expect him to go that far either."

"I didn't think he had it in him either," Lyra added, though there was a hint of respect in her tone now. "He's a lot more unpredictable than I thought."

Arthur suddenly stopped, his sharp eyes narrowing at something ahead. Lyra, Ren, and Elowen stopped just behind him, waiting for his next move.

"There." Arthur's voice was low, almost inaudible. "It's big."

A distant growl echoed through the trees, shaking the leaves. The others tensed.

"Alright, time to work." Lyra's grin returned, her posture ready for action. "Let's see if we can't make it more fun this time."

Ren cracked his knuckles, stepping forward. "We need to make this quick. We don't know how many others are around."

Arthur simply nodded, drawing his sword, the blade gleaming in the dim light.

"Stay close," he said, though his voice lacked the usual coldness. It was oddly… calm.

The forest air grew heavier as they crept forward. Each step was deliberate, the leaves crunching faintly underfoot. The growl echoed again, closer this time.

Lyra tightened her grip on her staff, her grin fading into a focused expression. "Big one, huh? Perfect."

Ren stayed quiet, pulling his daggers free. His movements were fluid, practiced. Elowen shifted her grip on her staff, her fingers glowing faintly as she prepared a spell.

Arthur raised a hand, motioning for silence. He crouched low, peering through the thick underbrush ahead. The group followed suit, each of them ready for the unknown.

Then they saw it.

The beast towered over the forest floor, its hulking frame half-hidden by the dense trees. Its fur was a dark, matted gray, and its yellow eyes glowed like lanterns in the dim light. It was hunched over a mangled tree trunk, claws digging into the bark.

"Great," Ren whispered. "Another oversized monster. Just what we needed."

Arthur turned his head slightly. "Stay focused. We hit fast and hard. No one takes unnecessary risks."

Lyra smirked, her fingers tracing runes in the air. "Unnecessary risks? Isn't that our whole thing?"

"Not today," Arthur replied, his tone firm. "We do this right."

The monster's ears twitched, and its head snapped toward them. A low growl rumbled from its chest, deep and guttural.

"So much for a sneak attack," Ren muttered, stepping into a fighting stance.

The beast roared, its massive form barreling toward them. Trees cracked and splintered under its weight as it closed the distance.

Arthur moved first, charging straight at it with his sword raised. The blade flashed as he swung, forcing the beast to veer to the side. It snarled, swiping at him with a claw, but he ducked, his movements precise and controlled.

Ren darted in next, his daggers glinting as he struck at the creature's flank. His blades barely cut through its tough hide, but the strikes were enough to draw its attention.

"Over here, big guy!" Lyra shouted. She slammed her staff into the ground, a burst of magic erupting from the tip. The earth beneath the beast shifted, roots shooting up to entangle its legs. It roared in frustration, thrashing against the restraints.

"Elowen, now!" Arthur barked.

Elowen stepped forward, her staff glowing brighter. "Chain of Light!" she called, her voice steady. A golden chain shot from her staff, wrapping around the beast's neck. It recoiled, its movements growing sluggish as the chain tightened.

Ren seized the opportunity, leaping onto the beast's back. He plunged his daggers into its shoulders, holding on tightly as it tried to shake him off.

"Get ready!" Arthur shouted, charging in again.

Lyra gritted her teeth, raising her staff. "Inferno Surge!" Flames erupted, searing the beast's side. It howled in pain, its thrashing growing more erratic.

Arthur dodged another swipe of its claws and drove his sword deep into its chest. The beast roared one final time before collapsing to the ground, the earth trembling beneath its weight.

The group stood in silence for a moment, catching their breath.

"That was… easier than expected," Lyra said, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

Ren jumped down from the beast's back, brushing dirt from his uniform. "Easier? You're covered in scratches."

"Details," she replied with a grin.

Arthur cleaned his sword, his gaze lingering on the fallen monster. "We're done here. Let's move before something else shows up."

Elowen nodded, her staff dimming as she dispelled her magic. "Agreed. We need to get back to camp before nightfall."

As they started to leave, Ren glanced at Arthur. "So… no points talk yet?"

Arthur sighed. "Later."

Lyra smirked, nudging Ren. "Guess he's warming up to us."

"Don't push your luck," Arthur muttered, but there was a faint glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

They returned to camp just as the last rays of sunlight dipped behind the trees. Ren dropped his gear near the center of their small clearing, his muscles aching from the fight. As he turned toward Sosuke's tent, his eyes narrowed.

Sosuke was still unconscious, his breathing shallow and his face pale. Rin sat slumped next to him, fast asleep. Her jacket was draped loosely over her shoulders, and she leaned slightly toward Sosuke, one hand resting near his arm as if she'd fallen asleep keeping watch.

Ren approached quietly, crouching down beside them. His sharp gaze lingered on Sosuke, a frown tugging at his lips. He doesn't look like he's improving, he thought grimly. The subtle rise and fall of Sosuke's chest offered little reassurance, and the faint lines of exhaustion etched on his face seemed deeper than before.

Rin stirred slightly, mumbling something incoherent but not waking. Ren sighed, pulling his own jacket off and draping it over her. "You're as stubborn as he is," he muttered softly.

He glanced back at Sosuke, the frown deepening. "If you don't wake up soon, I don't know how much longer she can keep this up." Ren's voice was low, tinged with frustration and concern.

Behind him, Arthur's voice broke the quiet. "Ren, what's taking so long?"

"Give me a minute," Ren called back over his shoulder before turning back to the pair. He studied Sosuke for another moment, then rose to his feet. "We'll figure this out. We always do," he muttered, as much to himself as to Sosuke.

Rin shifted again, her fingers brushing the blanket over Sosuke. Ren's gaze softened briefly. "Rest up, Rin. You'll need it."

With one last glance, he turned and walked back toward the others, his steps heavy but purposeful.