Chapter 11: They’re dead

They encountered no monsters, and for that, he was glad. He didn’t even know where he was going, but he made sure it was far from the place he died.

He walked around randomly for a while before he picked a big tree with roots that formed some measure of a natural barrier to use for the night.

He laid the girl down on the leaf-covered floor and sat beside her. He didn’t trust her, and he knew she didn’t either. With the way her breath was now stable, he guessed she wouldn’t die for now, and as an aura practitioner, she might wake up anytime.

And then what? She would panic and use a technique on him? He remembered how she wounded the monster so badly with that dark… something of hers. She must be at least rank three to be able to use a technique, but he doubted she was in rank three with the way she fought.

No way he would risk his two remaining lives for that.

Just to be safe, he tried to tear some of her clothes with his sword so he could tie her hands, but it was like using steel to cut steel. “What material was that cloth made of?”

But then he thought better of it. She would likely think she was being kidnapped if she woke with her hands tied.

So he stood and walked away from where she was sleeping. He picked a new tree and buried his resurrecting stone, then he chose another tree, squeezing between its roots to sleep.

Contrary to his expectations, he slept quickly. The events of the day must have been more tiring than he thought because he was out cold immediately after his head settled on the soft forest floor.

His dreams were a whirlwind of his sister’s fearful face, her choking sounds, and the monsters trying to tear his face up. He woke up with a gasp, breathing heavily. He sat up between the roots, his hand going to his cheek to feel the dried tears.

The sun was already up, and the forest was bright. For a moment, Riven didn’t know what he should do or what he was doing in the forest, but then memories flooded him, and he gave a heavy sigh.

He stood up and stretched, scratching his naked chest, muttering out loud, “Seems I wasn’t eaten by some kind of monster in my sleep.”

A voice replied. The voice was low, like a whispering breeze, but it had a bite to it as well, like the edge of a blade. “Do you have a habit of getting eaten by monsters in your sleep?”

Riven nodded. “Maybe? I can’t tell…!!”

Suddenly, he froze and slowly turned.

A girl who should be the same age as him was standing there on a root, looking at him with black eyes edged with gold, her tattered robe fluttering gently in the breeze.

Riven was so surprised he drew his sword and thrust forward at her heart! But she was far faster than him, so much so that it shouldn’t even be compared.

Suddenly, she was standing atop the sword that he had thrust, as if she was balancing on a branch.

And Riven couldn’t feel any weight on his sword. It was as if she wasn’t there at all. She raised a single dark brow at him. “Do you make a habit of killing everything you see as well?”

His heart was beating fast, but he didn’t show it, reminding himself that he must not show weakness. He slashed the sword downward and watched her jump off to a nearby root.

This time, he saw how she moved—like an elegant blade. Sharp, simple, and fast. A deadly combination that reminded Riven that he would be dead if she wanted, but then he reminded himself that she would be dead twice over if it wasn’t for him.

He answered her question. “I make it a habit when all the strangers I’ve met tried to kill me.”

Riven shot her a glare. “Including you.”

At least she had the grace to look a little sheepish, but that too was gone as she shrugged. “I thought you were more powerful than that until I pulled you out of the tree.”

She looked at him frankly, her eyes seeming to pierce through him and into him. “But now I see that you are even far weaker than you look. You are…”

Riven braced himself for the words he knew were coming. Useless and worthless.

“You are brave,” she finished.

Riven blinked. He didn’t know what he was expecting from her. Maybe she would insult him or curse him, but it wasn’t that. Brave?

But she wasn’t done. She continued speaking. “You are brave and stupid. A very dangerous combination that will see you dead in no time.”

Riven scowled. “That’s how you pay back the one who saved you?”

She shrugged and began to coil her black hair on her head. “I am only blunt. Are you like those pompous fools who like to hear false praise and such about themselves?”

Riven did not know who the pompous fool she was referring to was, but he was a person who liked honesty and not living in an illusion. Still, he hardened his face. “Why do you say I am stupid?”

“Because you saved me,” she replied simply. “If I was in your situation, I would wait for the monster to finish you off and then see what I could loot from your body.”

She jumped to the ground without making a sound, but Riven saw her wince.

“This tells me you are still new to the practitioner world. Let me guess—a sheltered kid who ran away from home hoping for adventure?”

She sneered. “You better return home and beg your parents. Go tend to some cow or sheep or whatever. That is if you don’t want to die.”

“They’re dead,” Riven said flatly.

That didn’t stop her. “Then there must be someone taking care of you. See, your cheek still has some fat, and although you are thin, you are fresh. Which is it? Some family you were leeching off of?”

Riven couldn’t take it anymore. He snapped.

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