Jaycee narrowly avoided the tree branch above. Before him, a meandering path led to a vast field. They had been journeying for hours since departing from the village of Decimari.

Beyond the towns, the landscape was strewn with dirt, withered flora, and wild creatures that made their homes there. It was late spring, and the trees were starting to blossom, with subdued shades of green, yellow, and brown bursting to life all around.

The sun, veiled by the expansive clouds, began its descent beyond the horizon. Streaks of blood orange and golden yellow painted the foliage. Wandering aimlessly through the night was no longer an option. Over time, the wilderness had become a refuge for more than just the poor.

“Can we stop here for the night?” Kyla asked. “My feet are killing me; I can’t take another step.” Without awaiting a reply, she settled down and extended her legs, letting out a sigh of relief.

Jaycee was desperate to sit down, his limbs as heavy as lead. Even before his time in jail, he had favored napping over working. Now, after a prolonged period of inactivity, his body found it difficult to keep up. As he collapsed onto the ground, his lower body roared in misery. He yearned for the comfort only a nap could give him.

“Mind if I sit here?” a deep voice asked, sending a tickle through his ears.

Jaycee looked up to find Alec, his fan waving steadily. Reluctant to speak, he gave a shrug of acknowledgment. The earlier discomfort surged back, his heart thumping in his chest like a drum.

“Kyla, what are you up to?” Alec inquired. A short distance away, Kyla was stretched out on the ground, her arms tucked behind her head serving as a makeshift pillow. “You’ve got five seconds,” he added.

“Five seconds before what?” She remained, undeterred. Jaycee sensed the man’s frustration radiating in palpable waves.

“One,” he said, his tone low, as if speaking to a child.

“Alright, alright, I understand. I’m going already,” she said with a huff, springing to her feet. In a swift move, she brushed the dirt from her back. “I’ll collect the firewood, but don’t count on me to do the cooking! I’m not Leon.”

“Two.”

Had Jaycee not given the man beside him a fleeting look, he might have missed the subtle smile gracing his features. Their relationship was indeed an odd one, more like siblings than a boss and his subordinate.

Without uttering another word, she veered towards the dense forest. Passing by, she shot a glare sharp as daggers at her boss and defiantly stuck out her tongue. Moments later, her silhouette merged with the underbrush.

“What a troublesome girl,” Alec remarked, but his tone was unmistakably affectionate.

Now, with only the two of them remaining, that restless feeling emerged once again. The grass tangled in his fingers felt prickly and crisp. Despite his brief time above, he missed the lush nature that enveloped Fioma. Those residents from above were unaware of their good fortune.

Beside him, Alec unfurled and fluttered his fan, a soft breeze brushing against Jaycee’s face. He was the enigmatic commander of a mercenary group, his goals and desires a mystery. The air of command he exuded left Jaycee, a notable figure in his own right, pondering why he had never come across him before.

The man in question sat mere inches away. Draped in crimson robes that cascaded around him like a blanket, he sat with legs crossed, one hand supporting his head as he gazed at Jaycee. The light brown eyes that met his were impenetrable, veiling the thoughts within.

“You’re sitting kind of close,” said Jaycee. He scooted away with a cautious look. “Do you need something?”

Alec hummed before responding, “Since we’re going to be allies for the foreseeable future, I thought we should get to know each other on a more personal level.”

“On a... personal level?” He scratched the back of his neck, puzzled. “Like what?” He considered if the other was flirting with him, but brushed that thought away just as fast as it appeared.

What did it matter in the end? Jaycee himself acknowledged that his only value was as a weapon. The effort put to understand him and what made him tick seemed excessive.

“For instance, how did you land yourself in jail?”

Jaycee’s eyes narrowed, showing his reluctance to respond.

Noticing his error, Alec raised his hands. “Ah, ah, don’t get upset. It was just a joke. You know, a way to break the ice.”

At that moment, Kyla returned, her arms laden with what seemed to be sticks and leaves. She fell to the ground before them, gasping for breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly. The collection she had gathered tumbled from her grasp, scattering across the front of Alec’s Hanfu.

“Kyla—”

“Oh God, oh no. I’m so sorry!” She paused, her face contorted as she took a deep breath. The restrained fury in her boss’s glare could induce panic in anyone. “Wait! Don’t move! I’ll clean it up so fast, you won’t even know it happened!”

Jaycee would never admit it, but he was grateful for Kyla’s clumsiness and awful timing. Spending another minute alone with Alec was more than he could bear. Engaging in conversation was not one of his strengths, especially not with someone as sharp, and though he hates to admit it, good-looking as him.

Having apologized profusely, with her head bowed and arms flailing, Kyla returned to her initial task of building a fire. Meanwhile, Alec towered behind her, issuing orders.

This left Jaycee feeling perplexed. Their boss wore many masks, making it challenging to discern his true persona. The question remained: who was Alec, truly?

Kyla bent over the pile of wood, vigorously rubbing two sticks together. Jaycee could hear her muttering from his spot.

As time slowly passed, the chirping of the nearby wildlife faded away. The animals seemed to sense the need to scatter as the temperature dropped and the beasts of the night stirred from their sleep.

“Do you need some guidance, little girl?” Alec asked, an amused tone in his voice as he observed her struggles. Despite his offer, he remained still, not moving to assist her, while he absentmindedly toyed with the fan in his hands.

“No need! I’ve got this under control. Just watch—Aha! Boss, are you seeing this?” A tiny spark flickered to life with a soft pop before blossoming into a flame. “Leon is going to be so jealous.”

Jaycee could only imagine why exactly that would be.

“About time,” Alec quipped, and their playful bickering continued.

Jaycee observed, feeling a tinge of envy for their friendship. He had laid most of his own companions to rest six feet under.

As the day faded into night, the two gathered close by the fire. Above them, the dark blue of the twilight deepened to near blackness. The stars remained hidden as the fog merged seamlessly with the nocturnal expanse.

Close by, the fire’s flames danced, casting animated shadows upon the earth. The fire’s humble warmth was enough to ward off the evening’s cold embrace.

“Jaycee, don’t you want to sit with us?” Kyla asked. “It’s warm over here.”

She and Alec were seated closely on the other side. Earlier, they had discovered a large log and had made it their resting spot.

“I’m okay over here,” Jaycee said. Trust required more than a day to establish, irrespective of their rescue efforts.

Kyla’s combat skills were impressive, yet he was confident in his ability to handle her; she posed no threat. Alec, however, was a different matter entirely. He felt a bit safer from a spot where he could monitor them.

“You realize it’s entirely your fault he’s avoiding us,” she said, picking up a stick from the ground and aiming it at him. “What exactly did you do to him while I was gone?”

“Silly girl, I can’t tell you that. It’s a secret between men.”

“No, don’t tell me you—”

In that instant, Jaycee folded into himself and closed his tired eyes. The impact of their quarrel on him was surprisingly soothing. It brought back memories of happier times, memories that he would revisit in his dreams.

His sleep, laden with fleeting moments soon to be forgotten, abruptly ended by rough hands that shook him awake with vigor.

The sound of a shrill howl intensified his anxiety, prompting his eyes to snap open.