Noel stared at the book in the girl's hand, mouth slightly open.
"What does this book mean?" he asked.
The girl looked down at the worn cover, her eyes gleaming.
"This book," she said, "is one of the five volumes written by deciphering the knowledge of the mortal age. It contains strange symbols, forgotten truths, and theories that were proven long before mana shaped the world."
She turned the book slightly, letting the faint light catch its spine.
"Even now, many of the ideas inside are valid," she added softly. "They describe a world we've forgotten."
Noel's heartbeat quickened.
"So it's fascinating, isn't it?" the girl continued, smiling. "That mortals—who had no mana at all—understood parts of the world better than we do today."
Anna nodded, gaze thoughtful.
"Yeah," she said. "The world is full of mysteries. We just have to uncover them."
As if the nightmare itself had heard her, the bonfire flickered, then sputtered into embers. The green aurora, which had bathed the sand in a mystical glow, began to waver, as if the sky itself had grown uncertain.
Anna turned to the girl.
"So what's your goal in coming here?" she asked. "You couldn't have come this far just for a casual visit."
The girl exhaled slowly, her posture softening.
"I told you," she replied, voice a little tired. "I came because I heard you talking about the world before mana. Things I like listening to. And… this place is lonely. I haven't seen many people yet. When I saw your fire, I naturally came closer."
She looked at them both, her expression neutral now.
"Also," she added, "it's easier to talk to someone who knows how to think."
Noel blinked, then grinned.
"Flatterer," he muttered under his breath.
"Well, then," Anna said, "what will you do to spend the night? You're not planning to walk all the way back, are you?"
"You don't have to worry," the girl replied with a faint smile.
She raised her hands and formed a subtle hand seal.
Behind her, a huge black vortex opened in the air.
Darkness spilled from its edges, radiating a sense of dread that made the sand around it seem to flinch. The air itself grew heavier, colder.
Noel took a step back, fingers curling into the beginnings of a Wither Orb.
"What… is this?" he breathed, beads of sweat forming on his forehead despite the cool night.
Anna's eyes sharpened. Her perception, finely tuned, caught glimpses of things moving inside the vortex—shapes, forms, things that shouldn't fit in the world. She frowned, her grip tightening on her bow.
Then, from the mouth of the vortex, a black sphere shot out toward them.
Noel reacted instantly, mana coiling in his palm—
But the ball of darkness didn't attack. Instead, it burst open midair, unfolding like a blossom made of night.
It twisted, stretched, and solidified into a tent—large, sturdy, and strangely warm‑looking.
Anna's expression softened into surprise.
"You could've just said it was a tent," Noel muttered, lowering his hand and the orb dissolving. "And… can it fit all three of us inside?"
Anna glanced at him, then sighed, shaking her head.
"Well? Can it?" Noel pressed, turning back to the girl.
"Yeah," the girl replied. "It can."
Noel didn't hesitate. He stepped inside.
The interior was far larger than the tent's outside suggested. Soft, cushioned mats lay on the ground, and the air carried a gentle warmth that chased away the night's chill. A faint hum, almost musical, filled the space.
Noel lay down immediately, stretching out on one of the mats.
"Hahh," he sighed, eyes half‑closed. "This is quite good. I don't know what kind of magic this is, but I want one too."
Anna followed, stepping inside and taking a quick look around. The tent not only gave warmth, but it also carried a faint protective aura—enough to keep the cold of midnight at bay.
"So… what's your name?" Noel asked the girl as she settled in beside him.
For the first time, the girl's expression warmed into a real smile.
"Name, huh?" she said softly. "Mine is… Rose."
"Rose," Noel repeated. "Nice name."
He yawned, the day's fatigue pressing down on him.
"Anyway," he said, "for the watch shift, let me sleep first. You two can decide who guards first; I'll take the last watch."
Rose shook her head lightly.
"No need," she replied. "There aren't any spawns within a five‑hundred‑meter radius. And if there are, they're not hostile to us."
Anna's eyes narrowed slightly.
"How do you know that," she asked skeptically, "so precisely?"
Rose smiled faintly, but didn't answer.
"I have my own ways," she said. "Don't worry about it."
She lay down beside Noel, folding her arms beneath her head, and soon her breathing evened out, hinting at sleep.
Anna didn't trust it fully. She stayed outside, sitting cross‑legged near the tent's entrance, bow across her knees, eyes scanning the desert.
Morning in the Fog
By morning, the sun rose, but visibility remained hazy, wrapped in a thin veil of fog left over from the night's chill.
Inside the tent, Noel woke up slowly, rubbing his eyes to force them open.
"Hahh," he groaned, "last night gave me a really peaceful sleep…"
Then he felt it.
A heavy weight pressed against his chest. Something warm and soft brushed against his shoulders.
He turned his head.
Two sleeping forms lay beside him—Anna and Rose—both with their arms draped loosely over his shoulders, as if they'd clung to him for warmth in the cold night.
Noel froze.
For a second, his mind blanked, then spiraled into a chaotic mix of embarrassment and surreal joy.
"Huh," he thought, cheeks heating up. "I've never been in a situation like this with girls before. But… isn't it kind of great? Two beautiful girls leaning on me… this soft warmth… life feels… beautiful."
He snapped himself out of it.
"No," he muttered under his breath. "Stay out of that thought. Focus."
He took a breath, then gently nudged both of them.
"Hey… wake up, you two."
Anna stirred first, blinking awake, then sat up in one smooth motion, stretching her arms. She glanced at Noel, expression unreadable for a second, then reached for her bow.
Rose yawned, stifled a sleepy chuckle, and rubbed her eyes.
"Let's go," Anna said, dressing quickly. She turned to Rose. "You can come with us, if you want."
Rose nodded, standing up with a small stretch, her stance calm and confident. Noel followed, stepping out of the tent into the early morning light.
Rose stopped for a moment, then formed a hand seal.
The same black vortex opened behind her. The tent shrank and twisted, pulled inside the vortex, disappearing with a low, ominous sound that sent a chill down both Noel's and Anna's spines.
"You have to tell us before you do that," Noel said, voice a little strained. "Next time, maybe I can stay a bit farther away from that… whatever that is."
"Okay," Rose replied, looking faintly embarrassed. "I'll do that from now on."
"So," Anna asked, eyes narrowed, "what is that vortex? And don't say it's harmless, because it sure as hell feels malicious."
Rose turned toward her, expression calm.
"You feel the intent," she said, "because you haven't had anything like it touch your senses before. As for what it is and how it works…"
She paused, letting the tension rise.
"I only know its name," she added quietly. "And it would be better if you don't hear it from someone else's mouth. You wouldn't like the experience."
The air grew heavier, as if the desert itself had grown wary.
Anna exchanged a glance with Noel, then exhaled slowly.
"Fine," she said. "Let's keep moving."
They started walking again, the trio leaving the campsite behind.
The Heat and the Stalker
Three hours passed under the burning sun.
The desert stretched on, endless, its heat rising steadily. Sweat dripped down their faces, and their robes clung to their skin.
"The temperature is climbing," Rose said, voice calm but urgent. "If we keep going at this pace, we'll be dead before we even reach the next water source."
"Yeah," Noel replied, panting. "How much longer do we have?"
Anna raised a hand, silencing him.
"Shhh," she whispered. "Did both of you feel that?"
Noel shook his head, bewildered.
"Feel what?" he asked. "I didn't see anything—didn't feel anything."
"I didn't either," Rose added, frowning.
"…Yes, it's right," she said after a moment, gaze turning inward. "My senses picked it up from the moment we left the tent. Someone's been following us since then."
Noel stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell us earlier?" he asked.
"I wasn't sure," Rose admitted. "It was only a flicker… someone letting their presence slip for a second. I didn't want to cause panic without confirmation."
Anna's grip tightened on her bow.
"So we have a stalker," she muttered. "Great."
The three of them continued walking, tension humming beneath the surface now, the dry heat pressing down as if the desert itself were watching.