Juna's eyes were filled with a pleading look, her hands trembling slightly as she stood under the woman's cold gaze. Yeon-ah could feel the tension thick in the air, the silence pressing down on them.
"She's scared," Yeon-ah whispered, hoping the woman might show even a hint of compassion. But her mentor's face remained stony, unreadable.
"Being scared doesn't make her trustworthy," the woman replied, her voice as sharp as ever. "You know the rules, Yeon-ah."
Rules. Those same unspoken rules that had kept them alive for this long: Trust no one, hesitate for no one, survive at any cost.
But Yeon-ah couldn't shake the feeling that something was different about this girl. Maybe it was the look in her eyes, or the vulnerability in her voice, but something told her that Juna was no threat.
"She's just a kid," Yeon-ah said softly. "She's alone... like I was."
The woman's expression softened, but only for a moment. "Being alone doesn't make you less dangerous."
Juna's voice broke through the tension. "I swear I don't want to hurt you... I just need help."
The woman lowered her blade slightly, her eyes narrowing as she studied Juna. "If you're lying, I won't hesitate. Understand?"
Juna nodded vigorously, her body visibly relaxing now that the immediate threat of violence had lessened. "I understand."
Yeon-ah let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. The girl's fear was genuine, and for now, that was enough to convince her.
"Let's move," the woman said, her voice cutting through the quiet once again. She turned sharply, leading the way back through the debris-filled streets.
Juna hesitated, glancing at Yeon-ah. "Are... are you sure I can come with you?"
Yeon-ah gave her a reassuring nod. "Come on. We don't have much time before the streets get dangerous again."
As they walked, Yeon-ah kept a close eye on Juna. She couldn't shake the feeling that this girl was hiding something, even if it wasn't malicious. Everyone in this world had secrets—some darker than others. But for now, Juna seemed harmless.
"You've survived this long on your own?" Yeon-ah asked, her voice quiet as they navigated through the twisted wreckage of the city.
Juna nodded, her eyes downcast. "I had to. After my family... after they were gone, I didn't have a choice."
There it was again—that look of sorrow, of loss. Yeon-ah understood it all too well. The pain of losing everything, of being thrust into a world that no longer made sense. But Juna's story didn't line up perfectly. A child her age surviving alone for this long without help? It seemed... unlikely.
"How did you manage to avoid the Deborers?" Yeon-ah pressed, careful to keep her tone neutral.
Juna's steps faltered for a moment before she answered. "I hid. I'm good at hiding."
Yeon-ah nodded, though the doubt still gnawed at the back of her mind. "Hiding's not always enough. The Deborers... they're smart. And relentless."
Juna's face paled slightly, and she fell silent. Yeon-ah decided not to push any further. She didn't want to scare the girl—or give her a reason to run.
They continued their journey in tense silence, the woman leading them with her usual sense of purpose. The streets were eerily quiet, the only sounds being the distant howl of wind and the occasional creak of metal from the collapsing buildings around them.
"Where are we going?" Juna asked after a long stretch of silence.
The woman didn't turn to answer, her focus still ahead. "Somewhere safe. If you keep up, you'll see soon enough."
Yeon-ah glanced at Juna, who seemed more confused than reassured. But Yeon-ah knew better than to question the woman's decisions, especially now.
After a while, they arrived at the outskirts of the city, where the ruins began to give way to open fields. In the distance, a towering structure loomed—a crumbling fortress that seemed as old as the city itself.
"This is the place?" Yeon-ah asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
The woman nodded, her gaze fixed on the fortress. "It's abandoned now. But it's secure enough for the night."
They made their way toward the fortress, Juna trailing slightly behind. As they approached, Yeon-ah couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The shadows seemed to move with them, twisting and shifting as they walked.
The woman noticed it too. Her hand moved to the hilt of her sword, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the area.
"Something's not right," she muttered under her breath.
Yeon-ah tensed, her heart racing. "Do you think it's Deborers?"
"Maybe," the woman replied. "But it feels... different."
Suddenly, a figure appeared at the top of the fortress wall, barely visible in the fading light. Yeon-ah's blood ran cold as she realized they weren't alone.