The brutal fight happening before Cynthia is gone as the party is seen making camp next to a small lake. Nightfall is close to hitting as everyone finishes setting up.
(Artemis's View. Present time.)
I'm happy we found a nice spot to settle down for a bit before we reach the town of Bristiel. It's been a long trip since we first left so I can't say I'm not tired— I'm just surprised to be traveling with people like this.
That's something that I think about every day, but it's not a bad thing to think about.
Shimada sits down by the newly lit fire. "Not much further." He says while his gaze locks onto the fire.
He's right, according the map at least. We've been traveling for almost a week or so now and it's definitely quite a bit of walking. In the future we should invest in some horses or a carriage or something.
It would probably cut down our travel time by a couple days instead of it taking as long as it did.
Tap. Tap.
Artemis turned at the gentle taps on his shoulder, the last bit of sunlight casting a soft halo around the figure behind him. His gaze met Amelia's, her hands nervously fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve.
"Oh, hey Amelia," he said, a slight smile curling on his lips, his tone warm, surprised. "Didn't hear you coming."
Amelia hesitated, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear as her cheeks slowly flushed pink. "Um... hey," she said softly, her eyes not quite meeting his. "Do you... maybe want to sit together for a bit? Talk?"
She looked up then—hopeful, vulnerable. Her voice was tentative, like she was afraid of the answer.
Artemis blinked, his smile deepening with a touch of curiosity. "Of course," he said, before gesturing to a nice spot under a tree where sunlight dappled through the leaves. "Is something on your mind?"
As they sat, a silence settled between them—not uncomfortable, but charged. Amelia tucked her legs beneath her and looked out at the garden, lips pressed together like she was carefully choosing her words.
"I just… I've been thinking a lot lately," she finally said, voice barely above a whisper. "About everything. About you."
Artemis turned his head slightly, watching her closely. "Me?"
She nodded, still not looking at him. "You've done so much for me, well with Protecting me, you didn't just abandon me. And I guess I just… I like being near you after everything that's happened." Her last words came out in a rush, like she was afraid she'd lose her nerve.
Artemis felt his heartbeat quicken, a warmth blooming in his chest. He leaned slightly toward her, their shoulders just barely touching.
"I like being near you too, Amelia," he murmured. "More than I probably should."
That made her look at him—eyes wide, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips despite her blush. The moment lingered, suspended between unspoken feelings and the fragile tension of something about to begin.
I don't know what I'm doing right now, why am I telling her about how I feel with this whole thing...? I'm just a slave, nothing more.
That's something I need to get in my head or else I'll end up developing feelings that can't go anywhere.
A bit of silence goes between them after that for a brief while before the sun finally sets and the moon lights up in the sky. At least they both got to share a beautiful moment together before everyone else noticed.
"A—Anyway I think I'm going to get some rest, we can talk more tomorrow Artemis." Amelia manages to say before rushing off, a smile across her face.
She didn't even give me a chance to say something back but at least that went better than I expected it to. Originally I didn't think much about forming real relationships with people since I'm so different from everyone here.
Coming from a world that's nothing like this and being forced into working for everyone else, that's why I never considered it. I won't let anything happen to my party though, especially not after we've come so far together.
Maybe it would be best to be honest with her about the true goal I have with the followers. Killing them all or forcing them to stop everything somehow, some way.
Footsteps crunched softly over twigs and fallen leaves. Artemis didn't turn. He'd already sensed the familiar presence, the lazy gait. Sure enough, someone dropped down beside him with a grunt, back pressing against the same tree.
"A real ladies' man," Shimada said, exhaling dramatically. "I'm jealous, Art. Two beautiful girls hanging around you, and meanwhile, I think a squirrel tried to court me earlier."
Artemis gave a dry snort, eyes still on the calm lake before them. "Maybe it saw your stash of nuts."
Shimada gasped, clutching his chest. "You wound me."
There was a beat of silence before he leaned over and whispered, mock-conspiratorially, "But seriously, what's your secret? Mysterious stare? Tragic past? Is brooding the new cologne?"
Artemis didn't look at him. "Maybe they're just drawn to emotional trainwrecks."
"Damn," Shimada said with a chuckle. "If that's the case, I should be drowning in affection."
Another moment passed. Wind rustled through the trees. The lake shimmered as dragonflies skimmed across its surface. Artemis finally exhaled, his voice quieter this time.
"She's gone back to camp. I didn't say what I wanted to."
Shimada tilted his head slightly. The joke on his lips faded. "You wanted to say something serious?"
Artemis nodded slowly. "Yeah. I just… never know when it's the right moment."
Shimada was quiet for a while. Then: "You know, the perfect moment's a myth. Like a sober bard or a quiet goblin. If you wait for it, you'll miss the real ones."
Artemis glanced at him. "That might be the wisest thing you've ever said."
"Hey, I have layers," Shimada replied, smirking. "Like an onion. Or a tragic backstory wrapped in bad decisions."
"You're definitely not the main character, though."
"Good. Less pressure, more snacks."
Artemis chuckled under his breath. "We don't have snacks."
Shimada pulled something from his cloak. A slightly crushed, slightly stale piece of dried fruit. "You don't. I plan ahead."
Artemis just shook his head, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.
The two of them sat there, watching the water ripple in the late afternoon light. No more words for now—just the shared silence of two idiots who somehow understood each other.
Shimada's friendship with me did grow a bit more as we traveled, this was definitely new to me to have friends again. As stupid as he may be.