Chereads / That Journey of Mine / Chapter 8 - Chapter 5 : The Fated One.

Chapter 8 - Chapter 5 : The Fated One.

「Good Morning!! Every....oneeeee!!!」

「Today is the 6th day of me waking up in this world.」

「Currently, I'm all beat-up and shredded. I look like a dead body. Last night was a hilarious one—I got into a fight with a majestic beast.」

*(Ahhh!! He had a really bad temper. Tch... tch... stingy fellow.)*

「I just tried to borrow a little piece of meat, and he got really angry. I almost became his side dish.」

*(But I survived..... I guess.)*

(You know, I really thought it was my day to be a goner.)

「But, HHAHA... Luck was my bitch. MOFO!!!」

*(I chuckled as I made fun of the dead body of the massive beast lying below me.)*

---

The scene shifts to reveal a cave devastated by chaos. Broken rocks, deep cracks in the earth, and claw marks scar the walls. Dust lingers in the air. In one corner, the lifeless body of a mammoth beast lies sprawled. Its once-impenetrable scales are now slashed and torn, horns shattered, and its prideful eyes dulled to nothing.

Just above the beast's broken form, a small, furry creature quivers slightly, letting out weak breaths of exhaustion. Its bloodied fur sticks to its body, and its voice shakes as it babbles to itself.

He might have lost his mind because of pain and injury—

「Oye-oye, you wanna die so badly? I'm already letting you be, narrator–shit.」

He shouted at the hollow silence, his words directed at no one—or perhaps himself.

(Well, he's not all wrong. My body is all cut up and worn out. It hurts everywhere, and blood keeps dripping. My vision is blurred, and my head feels like it's about to split open.)

「But I can't stay here forever.」

(With a groan, I rolled down from the beast's high perch and landed with a thud on the cold ground. My body screamed in pain as I started dragging myself forward, every inch leaving a trail of blood behind.)

---

「All this commotion might have attracted a lot of... residents. If they find me, I won't be spared.」

*The faint sound of distant growls echoed through the cave, sending a shiver down my spine. My ears perked up, and I quickened my pace, teeth gritting against the agony.*

---

*Finally, the air grew still. The smell of other beasts faded. Taking a deep, shaky breath, I sniffed the air and caught the faint scent of water.*

「Water...」

*The scent was faint but unmistakable, earthy and damp. Forcing myself to move, I followed it. My paws scraped against the rocky ground until I found an underground stream trickling through the cracks in the cave floor.*

*The sight of it made my heart leap. Without hesitation, I threw myself into the water, splashing and gulping greedily. Cold relief washed over me as the blood and dirt on my fur were carried away. My wounds stung as the water touched them, but the chill numbed the pain.*

---

*For a brief moment, I felt peace.*

「Ah... this feels...」

*But before I could finish, my body gave out. Exhaustion overwhelmed me. My vision dimmed, and drowsiness took over.*

---

*I didn't even notice the current pulling me. The stream carried my limp body through the cave, its gentle flow growing stronger. The sound of rushing water grew louder and louder, until—*

---

*BOOM! SPLASH!*

*A roaring waterfall pulled me out of the cave and into the open air. My body tumbled helplessly, the wind whipping past as I fell. With a jarring crash, I landed on a jagged rock at the base of the waterfall.*

---

*I lay there, unmoving. The cold spray of the water pelted my fur, but I was too weak to care. My battered body twitched slightly, clinging to the edge of consciousness.*

---

*The distant roar of the waterfall echoed around me as I stared blankly at the sky above.*

「I'm still alive.」

*The words slipped from my lips in a weak, determined whisper.*

「That's what matters... for now.」

---

*"Bio ability – Soul-Reaper"*

*"Activated"*

「Wooaahhh...?!!」

I jolted awake, my senses reeling, my heart hammering as if I had fallen from some unimaginable height.

Once again, I found myself beneath an unknown ceiling.

The room around me was a fragile thing—a hut crafted from branches and dried twigs, its cracks clumsily patched with mud. A single, flickering fireplace fought valiantly against the shadows, its amber glow barely illuminating the cramped space. I lay on a makeshift bed of wood husk, covered by rough animal skins. My body was swathed in grimy bandages that reeked of pungent oil and faintly medicinal herbs.

*I was being nursed?*

I flexed my limbs cautiously. Pain rippled through me like a distant thunderclap, sharp but fleeting. My wounds had closed, though a dull ache remained. I sat up slowly, my breath catching in my throat as the fire's warmth began to sink into my cold skin.

For a fleeting moment, I let myself relax.

Then—*"crunch"*.

The faint sound of gravel shifting underfoot jolted me upright.

*Crunch… crunch…*

Light, deliberate footsteps approached, muffled by the weight of the earth. My ears twitched as I strained to catch every sound. Whoever it was, they weren't heavy—but there was a rhythm to their movements, an unsettling steadiness that made my fur bristle.

*Creeeaaaak…*

The door groaned like a dying beast, its ancient hinges protesting as it swung open. A sharp beam of light pierced the room, illuminating every dusty corner. I flinched, retreating deeper into the shadows, my eyes stinging from the sudden brightness.

"[aho tvam mam romayuktam mitram jagritvan?!]"

A voice echoed through the small hut, sharp and unfamiliar. The words were gibberish to my ears, but the tone was neither hostile nor hurried. It was... curious. Playful, almost.

The silhouette in the doorway stepped forward—a small, dark figure draped in animal skins, carrying a bent wooden stick. Their footsteps tapped softly against the stone floor, measured and unhurried.

I growled instinctively, low and threatening.

"Grrrr…"

The figure paused, tilting its head, then moved again, undeterred. Each step brought them closer, and with every inch, my instincts screamed to flee, to lash out. But I stayed rooted, pinned by equal parts fear and confusion.

When they were almost upon me, the figure cast off their heavy cloak. It landed with a soft *thud* on the dirt floor, revealing a small form beneath.

I froze, pressing myself against the wall.

But instead of aggression, the figure extended a hand.

I clenched my eyes shut, every muscle tensed, bracing for a blow.

Instead—softness.

Fingers, warm and gentle, brushed against my fur. They scratched behind my ears, smoothing the matted tufts, easing the tension in my trembling frame. The touch was cautious yet kind, the kind of touch I hadn't known in what felt like lifetimes.

Slowly, warily, I opened my eyes.

A child.

A boy, perhaps no older than ten summers, knelt before me. His face, streaked with mud and grime, was lit by a radiant smile so wide and genuine it seemed to banish the shadows in the room. His wild grey hair caught the firelight, shimmering faintly like spun silver, and his golden-brown skin glowed where the sunlight kissed it.

But it was his eyes that held me. Large, round, and brimming with a warmth I had almost forgotten existed.

For the first time, my fear melted away, replaced by something unfamiliar—a fragile hope.

He giggled softly, his fingers playfully tugging at my ears, and for a moment, I forgot everything. The pain, the confusion, the weight of my journey—it all faded in the presence of his innocent joy.

I didn't know why our paths had crossed, why this child had found me. But in that moment, it didn't matter.

Two stories had begun here, intertwined by the whims of destiny.

But destiny is a cruel thing.

Neither of us could know that where one story blooms, another must wither.

How will you end, oh—

*That Journey of Mine*