The crackle of the campfire whispered softly into the stillness of the night. Occasionally, the chirping of insects echoed from behind the trees, weaving a natural lullaby that soothed the darkness.
By the riverside, the firelight reflected on the faces of two girls sitting side by side—Ashtoria and Mira. Both hugged their knees, their gazes fixed on the fish slowly roasting over the flames. The scent of smoke and cooking flesh drifted into the air, teasing their senses, stirring hunger impossible to ignore.
Mira's stomach suddenly growled loudly. She immediately clutched it and pouted. "Ughh... it smells way too good," she whined dramatically.
Not long after, the sound of footsteps approached. Riven emerged from behind the bushes, freshly bathed, water dripping from his hair. He carried two large, cheap-looking but thick and warm fur jackets, along with a large blanket.
Without a word, he handed the first jacket to Mira. The little girl immediately accepted it with glee, squeaking as she slipped it on. "So cold!" she cried, her small body swallowed by the layers of fabric.
Then Riven turned to Ashtoria and offered the other jacket. "Put this on. Sleeping outdoors at night, especially in a forest like this, gets very cold. As a noble, you've probably never had to sleep outside. It might be uncomfortable."
Ashtoria shook her head slightly.
"I don't need it."
Riven frowned. "Cold weather can be merciless. I've seen vagrants fall asleep and never wake up again. Please, just wear it. I insist. I don't want to see you sick tomorrow." He added with a touch of annoyance, "Or... are you refusing because it's a cheap jacket?"
Ashtoria stared at his face for a long moment. Her eyes searched his expression—stubborn, yes, but there was honest concern there. Finally, she nodded and accepted the jacket. Though plain, its weight felt oddly comforting. There was warmth in it—not just from the fabric, but from the intent behind the gesture.
Mira, who had been watching the exchange, grinned. "Brother, is the fish ready yet? I'm so hungry I think I might die!"
Riven chuckled. "Almost done." He sat near the campfire, tossing in more wood to keep the flames alive.
A few minutes later, he pulled out six skewers of roasted fish and handed one to each of them. The rich, savory scent filled the air.
Mira accepted hers with joy and began eating like someone who hadn't had a meal in days. Riven laughed softly.
"Slow down. Watch for fishbones."
He then handed a skewer to Ashtoria. She took it silently, not wanting to argue further.
"It might not suit your noble palate," he teased, "but I promise it's not bad. Though, of course, it can't compete with your household chefs."
Mira added cheerfully, "Yeah! My brother's grilled fish is amazing! If we ever settle down and have a house, I'll open a grilled fish stall and he'll do all the cooking!"
Riven just laughed again.
Meanwhile, Ashtoria examined the fish in her hand for a moment. Then, with little hesitation, she took a bite from the tail. The salty, smoky flavor spread across her tongue, and the warm, tender meat awakened something unfamiliar yet pleasant.
Riven stole a glance, surprised to see the noblewoman actually trying it. She ate slowly, steadily, without stopping. When she finished the first skewer, she took another from the remaining pile and ate that one too, all in silence.
Her face remained composed, emotionless—but from the way she ate, Riven could tell she genuinely enjoyed it.
"You're a strange woman," Riven said suddenly.
Ashtoria turned, her eyebrow arching slightly as if to ask what he meant.
"Yeah," Riven went on. "At first, I thought you were just another cold, prideful noble. But the more time I spend around you, the more I see... you never complain. You don't look down on people like us—drifters, beggars. Not like the others. You... you're really different."
Ashtoria looked confused. But deep inside, something stirred. She met his gaze seriously. "So... do you think I'm worse than them?"
Riven blinked, surprised by the question. "Worse than them? Why would you even say that?"
He paused a moment, then added in a softer tone, "I just praised you. And even though I've only known you for a day... I can already say you're better than most nobles I've ever met."
Ashtoria's expression shifted. Subtly—almost imperceptibly. But Riven saw something there. Not a smile. Not sadness. But something that made her face look... alive. Like a feeling long buried was finally surfacing.
She looked down, staring at the ground. No more words were exchanged. Silence crept in again—not awkward, but peaceful.
Moments later, Riven doused the fire, ensuring the embers wouldn't attract wild animals. Then they all leaned against a wide, flat stone that retained the campfire's warmth.
Night deepened.
They slept close together, their shoulders touching. Mira lay in the middle, wrapped in the oversized jacket. Riven cocooned himself in the blanket to ward off the cold.
But a few minutes later, Mira sat up and scrunched her nose. "Brother, you stink. I don't want to sleep next to you."
Riven snorted. "You're the stinky one! You didn't even bathe, you little gremlin." He sniffed his own body but smelled nothing offensive.
Mira moved to Ashtoria's side and said,
"We have to sleep close together so we don't freeze."
Ashtoria shifted slightly, and now her shoulder brushed against Riven's. He didn't say a word. Just grew a little tense, then closed his eyes. He resumed his mana absorption technique, trying to focus until sleep took over.
Mira was the first to fall asleep.
Meanwhile, Ashtoria didn't close her eyes. She watched Riven's sleeping face in silence, trying to understand what exactly she was feeling.
And so, the night stretched on—wrapping them in a silence that was soft, full, and strangely warm.