The forest mist clung to everything like sweat. Pale strands drifted low over the ground as if the woods were trying to swallow us whole.
We were walking again. Always walking.
Nyssa was a few paces ahead, silent as usual, her hand resting lazily on the hilt of her sword.
I was watching her hips sway.
...
Oh come on, don't judge me.
I needed something to focus on. And her hips were dangerously effective at keeping my attention on anything but the creeping dread of being lost in monster-infested woods.
Then she stopped. Abruptly.
I almost walked straight into her back.
"What—"
She turned. Her hand shot out, fingers brushing against my chest, halting me without effort.
"Shh," she whispered, low and close.
I could feel her breath on my jaw. Warm. Minted with something herbal.
My brain stalled.
"Is it something dangerous?" I whispered back, leaning in slightly. Maybe more than slightly.
"No," she said, eyes narrowing. "Just... quiet. You're loud when you walk."
I raised an eyebrow. "You stopped just to bully me?"
"If I wanted to bully you, you'd cry."
I grinned. "Kinky."
She didn't smile, but her gaze dipped—just for a second—toward my lips.
Then she stepped past me. Her shoulder brushed mine, deliberate, firm, and warm enough to leave a little spark behind.
"If something kills you out here," she murmured, "don't expect me to avenge your dumbass."
I watched her walk ahead again, wondering—not for the first time—if she was testing me.
Or just amused by how easy it was to get under my skin.
Either way, the air felt warmer now.
Yeah...
I think it's safe to say that the warmth didn't last very long.
A low hiss rose from the underbrush ahead. Definitely not the wind.
Something wet. Something wrong.
Nyssa stopped again, already crouching. Her fingers rested lightly on her blade, eyes scanning the undergrowth.
I followed her lead this time. Lowered myself beside a wide root, heart pounding but feet steady. I didn't need the system to tell me this wasn't good.
The hiss came again, followed by a scraping sound—like something dragging itself across bark and stone.
Then I saw it.
Or rather, them.
Crawling through the mist, barely visible except for the unnatural shimmer clinging to their skin, were two things that looked like they'd once been wolves.
Except wolves didn't have six legs.
Or split jaws that unhinged down to their chests.
"Forest leeches," Nyssa muttered, drawing her sword with a soft rasp. "Mutated scavengers. Slow, but persistent. Aim for the base of the spine."
I didn't even get time to ask how the hell I was supposed to do that.
Because they charged.
Nyssa moved like lightning—one step forward, blade sweeping in a tight arc. The first creature didn't even scream. Just collapsed in a spray of dark ichor.
The second veered off. Right toward me.
Of course.
It barreled low, fast despite its broken limbs. I raised my stick-turned-spear from earlier, angled it down, and braced myself.
Not today.
I jabbed forward, just as it lunged. The tip slammed into the thing's side, but not deep enough. It snarled, slamming into me, teeth gnashing at the air inches from my neck.
I twisted, using its weight against it, rolled us both down a shallow slope, and kicked up with everything I had.
It landed with a crunch against a mossy stump.
Nyssa was on it before it could recover. One sharp, clean stab—right through the back of the neck.
It twitched once.
Then went still.
I laid there for a second, panting, soaked in sweat and maybe a little blood.
Nyssa offered a hand.
"You're improving."
I took it, letting her pull me up. "Yeah? I was aiming for its face."
"You missed. But you got lucky."
"Story of my life."
She didn't smile, but again... that twitch at the corner of her mouth. I was starting to think that was her version of a full-blown grin.
We took a break not far from the kill site. Nyssa checked her gear. I wiped slime off my shirt and did my best to not puke from the adrenaline.
"So," I said, "any chance those things were the last horrifying mutation between us and freedom?"
"No."
"Didn't think so."
She pulled a rolled parchment from her satchel. Old, brittle-looking, ink faded but legible. A map. Hand-drawn and covered in weird symbols I couldn't even begin to understand.
She tapped one with her finger.
"There's a passage east. Covered by a warding grove. Old magic. It's risky, but it's our best bet out."
"You've been there?"
"Once."
"And?"
"I barely made it back."
Of course.
She pointed to a ridge marking. "If we reach this elevation before sundown, we'll be close enough to camp before the grove begins."
"And then?"
"Then we try not to die."
Cool. Cool cool cool.
I stood, stretching my sore shoulder. The system pinged faintly in my peripheral vision.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Bond Progress with Nyssa: +3%
Current Sync Level: 17% — Observation Tier Active
Trait Bonus Enhanced: "Predatory Grace" now active within 20m radius.
New Passive Condition Met: "Instinctual Parry"
Effect: In close combat, you react 10% faster when flanking with bonded subject.
Still no health bars or inventory screens, but I'd take the perks.
"Ready?" Nyssa asked, adjusting the strap on her satchel.
I nodded. "Yeah. Let's get out of this nightmare forest."
She paused, giving me a rare, level look.
"If you keep pulling your weight, I might even let you stay alive once we're out."
"Aw," I said, grinning, "you do like me."
She turned without answering. But I swore—just for a second—I saw her shoulders shake.
Laughter? Or a silent curse?
Hard to tell with her.
We set off east.
And somewhere behind us, deep in the trees, i felt it in my soul that the leeches weren't the only thing that caught our smell.