I decided to step toward her; it was a strange feeling—my heart was pounding wildly, I didn't know what this feeling was, but I suppose this is what they call love. I had fallen for her at first sight.
The girl was retreating backward as I advanced forward; she looked frightened.
– "Who are you? What do you want? Stay away from me!"
Those were the words she kept repeating.
I paid no mind and continued to close the distance.
Oran: "Don't worry, I won't hurt you. I was just wandering in the area when I saw you by the river."
The girl: "And what guarantees that you won't do anything to me?"
At that, Oran threw his spear to the ground, stepped toward her, and raised his hands to the sky.
Oran: "See? I won't do anything to you. You can trust me. Actually, I'm not from around here—I've just arrived, coming from the Western Desert, trying to find a safe place to escape those demonic creatures for now."
The girl: "And what do you want from me?"
Oran: "I just wanted to ask: have the demonic beasts overrun this area?"
The girl: "Yes. The Green Plains weren't spared by this catastrophe either—hordes of demonic monsters swept through and annihilated everyone in their path, scorching everything. If you're looking for a safe place at the moment, this is likely one of the places they haven't reached yet."
Oran: "All right, I'm truly grateful. By the way, what's your name?"
The girl: "No need to thank me—I haven't done anything worthy of thanks. My name is Rawan. Pleased to meet you."
Oran: "Pleased to meet you too. I'm Oran."
The girl: "Did you come all this way alone?"
Oran smiled sadly, lifting his head to the sky as he spoke: "I was traveling with my siblings, but here I am, continuing the journey alone."
Rawan understood what he meant.
Oran: "In any case, it was nice meeting you. Goodbye."
Oran picked up his spear from the ground and waved it at her in farewell, but…
Rawan: "Where do you plan to go at this hour?"
Oran replied, "I will travel on to stay alive. How about you?"
Rawan stumbled over her words: "I… I don't have anywhere to go."
Oran smiled at her and said, "What do you think about traveling with me? Don't worry—I can protect you from most of the monsters; I'm somewhat strong."
She hesitated—should she go with someone she had just met, or stay alone in the open, without shelter or mercy? But despite that, she decided to trust me.
So she led me to the cave where she had been staying.
The darkness was so complete that you couldn't even see your own body or anyone beside you. I decided to act: I used my power to ignite a flame at the tip of my spear.
Rawan was astonished, but she fell silent and followed me deeper.
When we reached an opening in the cave, I built a fire in the center using branches I had gathered along the way.
I leaned my back against the cave wall, leaving some space between us. I was starving—I hadn't eaten in about two days—but I decided to take a nap to forget the hunger.
Not long passed before Rawan woke me, carrying a wooden bowl:
– "Here, take this. You must be hungry. I made some soup."
I took it from her hand without hesitation—I was so eager that I didn't even use the spoon; I was like a wolf tasting meat after a month of famine.
Rawan watched in amazement as the spoon in her left hand remained untouched. I finished the soup in a few moments, still craving more, so I asked her, and she didn't refuse.
After I polished off my second bowl, I apologized for my lack of manners:
– "I'm so sorry for my rudeness, but I was starving—I hadn't eaten in two days."
She smiled at me and said:
– "No need to apologize—I understand completely. I've been like you on days when I couldn't go out to gather anything to eat."
– "Anyway, could you tell me in detail what happened to you? This catastrophe appeared in your area of the Western Desert."
I began to explain in tedious detail what had happened to me—from being enslaved to wandering the desert—up to arriving here:
– "And that's what happened to me. Is corruption widespread here too?"
She answered, her expression full of sorrow and grief:
– "Yes, just as in most of the seven regions. Our nations sold their people for the sake of war… Our stories are very similar. We were also a happy family living in peace and harmony until the Green Plains forces stormed our home. They didn't kill my father and mother, but they took my brother by force."
– "Since then, the joy and delight we once had vanished. Then the worst happened: the demonic catastrophe appeared, and everyone I knew died—my father, my mother, and my brother too. I saw their corpses with my own eyes. The day they took my brother was the same day the catastrophe emerged, tearing everyone it encountered to pieces."
– "Here I am, left alone, waiting for my fate: to die or to survive."
I tried to reassure her and bring life back to her eyes:
– "Don't worry—as long as you stay by my side, I won't allow any creature to touch a single strand of your hair. That's a promise."
She relaxed at my words, and sleep overtook her as she lay on the cold ground.
I had some light blankets in my pack and covered her. Then I stepped out to the cave's entrance and gazed at the sky. I remained awake through the night.
By morning, the black sun had begun to cast its ominous aura. Many demonic beasts were manifesting their shadows on the ground, while they themselves hovered high in the sky.
When Rawan awoke, she came to my side, rubbing her eyes—it was just after waking.
– "Thank you for covering me against the cold. Here, take your blanket back. Did you stay awake all night?"
I told her I could no longer sleep after all I had been through.
Then she spoke of what we would have for breakfast and gathering supplies so we could stay alive.
Oran: "All right, let's go out now. Are you ready? Let's collect as much water and essential supplies as we can."
Rawan: "Why should I go with you? You can look for them yourself while I stay inside."
Oran: "I won't repeat the mistake I made before; we'll go step by step."
Rawan gave up trying to persuade me to go alone while she stayed
in the cave.
Then the two of us stepped out to search for anything edible in this unknown and dangerous place.