Quefaialm: In Another World With A Battleship

Chapter 22: Deep

The night was silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind and the soft crunch of our boots on the dirt path.

The town of Riverton was fading into the distance behind us, and with it, the quiet life we had built over the past six months.

The night stretched endlessly as Nathalie and I moved through the dense forest, the shadows of the trees swallowing us in their embrace, and the wind whistled softly.

My plan was very simple. We travel by night, and rest by day until we reach the next town. But...

"Huff. We've been traveling for 3 days!"

Just how long the next town would be? The bandits along this road might bring a potential danger, just like what we've met months ago.

But with my plan—and a little luck—we could avoid them, for now.

I glanced at Nathalie, her breath steady but her face etched with exhaustion. She was tough, stronger than most would have guessed, but three nights of travel had taken its toll. Her dark hair, once neatly tied, now clung to her face, damp from the sweat of constant movement.

"We'll get there soon," I said, though I wasn't entirely sure. The map I had memorized was old, and who knew how much had changed in the months since we first came through this unknown land. But I needed to keep Nathalie's spirits up. If she lost hope, it would only make things harder for both of us, especially me.

She didn't respond, just nodded weakly, her eyes scanning the trees as if expecting trouble at any moment. And she was right too. These woods weren't safe, especially after dark. Bandits were the least of our worries. The rumors of creatures lurking in the forest, unseen but always watching, had made even the bravest of men avoid this path. But we didn't have a choice.

"Maybe another rest by that river, to clean up?" I suggested.

"Okay," she said with a nod.

We made our way toward the river, the sound of rushing water growing louder with each step.

It was a welcome relief—clean water, a chance to rest and wash off the dirt and fatigue of the last few days. The moonlight barely filtered through the thick canopy above, casting pale shadows that danced around us as we walked.

As we reached the riverbank, Nathalie immediately knelt down, as I cupped the cool water in my hands to use it to wash it onto her face.

I crouched beside her, my eyes darting around the trees, still on edge. The river was wide, its current strong but steady, and its sound seemed to drown out the unsettling silence of the forest.

I took a deep breath, trying to push the anxiety away. For now, we were safe.

I don't remember it being this hard last time. Of course, we were given a ride through Riverton before. But now, we're on our own.

The river's tranquility offered a brief respite from the gnawing tension, but as I stared at the dark waters, a prickling sensation ran down my spine.

Something wasn't right. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I shot a glance at Nathalie. She seemed lost in thought, still wiping the water from her face, unaware of the growing unease in the air.

Suddenly, the wind shifted, carrying with it a low, guttural sound—faint at first, but unmistakable. I froze. Nathalie, sensing the change in my posture, straightened and looked at me with wide eyes.

"I hear something," I whispered.

There it was again—closer this time, a deep, rasping breath from somewhere beyond the treeline.