As we walked through another stretch of forest, I finally gave up.
I stumbled toward the nearest patch of grass and slumped onto the ground with a loud groan.
"I'm so tired."
I leaned backward dramatically.
"My legs are officially dead."
Skull stopped walking.
He slowly turned his helmet toward me.
"It's only been five hours."
I lifted my head.
"Five hours?!"
I pointed at myself proudly.
"I even made it this far. You should be proud of me."
"I'm sure an average lady can't walk for five whole hours."
I nodded confidently.
"And of course, I am a lady."
Skull tilted his helmet downward, staring at me sitting on the ground.
"And you're sitting in the dirt."
I frowned.
"Not very ladylike, if I you ask me."
My mouth fell open.
I pouted.
"You're so rude."
"You don't treat me like a lady at all."
I dramatically rubbed my eyes.
"After everything I've been through..."
"Such disrespect..."
I began pretending to cry invisible tears.
Skull groaned.
"God, you're such a handful."
He walked toward me.
Then, to my surprise, he turned around and lowered himself onto one knee with his back facing me.
"Get on."
My eyes widened.
"Really?!"
My entire mood immediately changed.
I quickly began tying my belongings securely around myself.
Then I climbed onto his back.
Skull stood.
"Wooow!"
I looked down excitedly.
"I'm so high up!"
I happily swung my legs back and forth like a child.
"You're really tall, Skull."
"Stay still."
He began walking.
"And stop moving around while I'm carrying you."
I pouted.
"Okay, fine."
I wrapped my arms around his shoulders more securely.
Then we continued walking.
From up here, the forest looked completely different.
I could see farther between the trees.
I watched the path beneath Skull's feet as he walked steadily forward.
The rhythmic sound of his footsteps slowly began making me sleepy.
Before I realized it...
My eyes closed.
And I fell asleep against his shoulder.
When I woke up again, the sun was already beginning to set.
I blinked sleepily.
Then suddenly realized—
I was still on Skull's back.
My eyes widened.
"Oh my God!"
I immediately tried climbing down.
"Stay still."
Skull's voice stopped me.
I froze.
"Aren't you tired?"
A wave of guilt suddenly washed over me.
I looked around.
The forest had changed.
We had traveled much farther.
He carried me for hours...
While I was sleeping.
"I'm fine."
He said it casually.
Then added—
"You hardly weigh anything."
I stared at the side of his helmet.
"...Wow."
I slowly looked away.
"Now I'm not going to thank you anymore."
I pouted.
He ignored me.
We stepped out of the forest.
And the moment we did—
My mood changed completely.
I looked forward.
My breath caught.
The view before us was beautiful.
Absolutely beautiful.
The sun was slowly disappearing behind a distant mountain.
The clouds stretched across the sky, glowing orange and gold beneath the fading sunlight.
A flock of birds flew across the horizon in a perfect triangular formation, their dark silhouettes passing through the warm colors of the evening sky.
The whole world looked as though someone had painted it.
"Wow..."
I stared ahead.
Then I excitedly turned toward Skull.
"Look at that."
"Isn't it beautiful?"
He glanced back at me.
Then he slowly looked up at the sky.
"Mmm."
That was all he said.
But somehow...
I knew he agreed.
He stood there for a few quiet seconds, looking at the sunset.
Then he continued walking.
In the distance, I noticed a house.
It stood near the edge of the road, old and worn down.
Its wooden walls were faded and weathered, and the roof looked as though it had survived many years of storms.
It appeared abandoned.
Skull looked toward it.
"Let's stay there tonight."
I nodded.
He began walking toward the house.
Then he suddenly looked up at the clear sky again.
"This time, you're not staying outside with me."
I blinked.
"Huh?"
"It's going to rain tonight."
I immediately looked up.
The sky was almost completely clear.
There were hardly any dark clouds.
"How are you so sure?"
Skull didn't even look at me.
"As sure as I am about how dense you are."
My eyes widened.
I lifted my hand and smacked his helmet.
"Hey!"
Skull stopped walking.
For a moment, everything became silent.
Then his hand reached backward.
"I think it's time I throw you into that river."
My eyes widened.
Before I knew it, he began trying to pull me off his back.
"Wait!"
I looked to the side.
A river flowed nearby.
It came from a waterfall further ahead, crashing between dark rocks and uneven edges.
The rushing water looked anything but welcoming.
I immediately squeaked and tightened my arms around Skull.
"I'm sorry!"
"I won't do it again!"
"Please don't throw me in there!"
I sounded so desperate that I didn't even care how ridiculous I looked.
Skull chuckled.
Then he continued walking.
"Be a good girl and you won't get wet."
His deep voice made me pout.
But I quickly nodded.
"Okay."
I rested my head against his shoulder.
One day...
I swear I'm going to teach this man a lesson.
It was completely dark by the time we reached the house.
Skull slowly lowered me from his back.
I stretched my legs.
Then immediately regretted it.
"Ow..."
Skull glanced at me.
"Wait here."
"I'll check inside first."
He picked up two stones lying nearby and an old touch.
After several attempts, sparks flew between them.
Eventually, the dry cloth wrapped around an old wooden stick caught fire.
The small torch illuminated the darkness.
Skull pushed open the old wooden door.
Before he could step inside—
I grabbed his arm.
"Nope."
He stopped.
"I'm coming with you."
I looked behind me.
The forest was almost completely black now.
The distant trees looked far more terrifying at night.
I tightened my grip around his arm.
"I'm definitely not staying outside alone."
Skull sighed.
"Fine."
"Just stay behind me."
I immediately moved behind him.
"Gladly."
He stepped inside.
The torchlight moved slowly across the dusty walls.
The house was empty.
But surprisingly, it was in much better condition than the cottages we had stayed in before.
There were old pieces of furniture inside.
A wooden table.
A few chairs.
And against one wall was a long wooden settle—a wide bench with a raised backrest. Its surface had been covered with old but surprisingly soft cushions stuffed with feathers and wrapped in thick cloth.
It actually looked comfortable.
Near the center of the house was a large stone hearth.
Skull walked toward it.
After arranging some dry wood inside, he lit the fire.
Warm orange light immediately spread through the room.
The cold house slowly began warming up.
"You can rest here."
He took a blanket from our belongings and spread it carefully over the feather-stuffed settle.
Then he handed me a piece of roasted meat wrapped neatly inside a large leaf.
I took it.
"Thanks."
Skull nodded.
Then—
He began walking toward the entrance.
I frowned.
"Where are you going?"
"I need to stay outside."
He reached for the door.
"Just in case."
"In case what?"
"To keep the cottage safe."
Before I could answer—
BOOM!
Thunder suddenly roared outside.
I flinched.
My eyes widened.
He was right.
Rain was coming.
"But—"
Another thunderclap sounded.
The rain began pouring almost immediately.
Heavy drops slammed against the roof.
I stared at Skull.
"The rain!"
But he was already opening the door.
"Skull!"
"You'll get wet, dummy!"
He ignored me.
Something inside me suddenly snapped.
I rushed forward and slammed the door shut.
"You're staying here!"
My voice echoed through the cottage.
Skull's hand slowly fell away from the door.
He silently looked at me.
I didn't care anymore.
I didn't care how embarrassing I sounded.
I didn't care if he thought I was being dramatic.
My chest hurt with an emotion I couldn't understand.
"Do you seriously think I'll sleep peacefully knowing you're outside?!"
My voice trembled.
"Do you think I don't care about you?!"
Silence.
The rain continued pounding against the roof.
Skull simply stood there.
Watching me.
I swallowed.
My hands curled into fists.
He always acted so nonchalant.
He insulted me.
Teased me.
Called me ugly.
Called me a stray.
Called me a nuisance.
But when it came to keeping me safe...
He never hesitated.
He had protected me again and again.
He acted like some kind of personal knight.
Even though he tries not to show it.
And now...
He wanted to stand outside in the rain just to make sure I was safe inside?
Idiot.
I grabbed his arm.
"Come on."
He didn't resist.
I pulled him back toward the fire.
Then I pushed him down onto the floor beside the hearth.
I sat beside him.
Neither of us spoke.
I handed him one of the blankets.
"Take it."
Then I wrapped myself in the other one and slowly lay down beside him.
For several minutes, I said nothing.
My breathing slowly calmed.
The fire crackled.
The rain continued pouring outside.
Then...
I felt something warm on my cheek.
I frowned.
Huh?
I touched my face.
And froze.
Tears.
I hadn't even realized I was crying.
I quickly wiped them away.
Beside me, Skull spoke.
"I'm sorry for worrying you."
His voice was quiet.
Deep.
And unusually sincere.
I didn't answer.
I didn't know what to say.
So instead...
I moved a little closer to him.
Not too close.
Just enough.
Enough for him to understand that I was okay.
For a few seconds, nothing happened.
Then I felt his hand gently pat my hair.
Once.
Twice.
Slowly.
Softly.
The rain suddenly became even heavier.
BOOM!
Thunder shook the cottage.
I flinched.
Without thinking, I moved closer.
This time, there was barely any space between us.
I pulled my blanket closer around myself.
Another thunderclap sounded.
Skull's deep voice came quietly beside me.
"It's fine."
"I'm here."
It was almost a whisper.
But somehow...
It was enough.
I loved the sound of his voice.
There was something about it.
Whenever I heard it, I felt safe.
The amount of trust I had slowly built for him during our journey...
Sometimes I felt like I trusted Skull more than I trusted myself.
I didn't know when it happened.
Maybe when he saved me from falling.
Maybe when he pulled me away from that knight.
Maybe when he gave me a name.
Or maybe...
It had been happening little by little from the very beginning.
All I knew was that I felt safe around him.
Safer than I had felt since waking up in this strange world.
My eyes slowly became heavy.
The warmth of the fire.
The sound of the rain.
Skull sitting beside me.
Everything slowly faded.
And with the sound of the storm outside...
I finally fell asleep.
Author's words: thanks for reading. Full Novel in my profile, feel free to check it out.
