Since that day, both of them marched together towards the forest, accompanied by the twilight that painted the sky in shades of orange and violet.
The group advanced in silence, with the boy leading and the girl a little behind, keeping a cautious but watchful distance.
The sound of dry leaves under their feet was the only thing breaking the stillness of the surroundings.
『Arthur: Hey, why didn't you tell me the girl was so pretty? 』
Arthur, with a mischievous smile, whispered in the boy's ear, getting close enough to make him uncomfortable. The boy frowned without breaking his stride.
『Neizan: Shut up and let's hurry before night falls. This is when the beasts start coming out hungry. 』
Arthur rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed by the comment.
『Arthur: Eeeh, don't say that or you'll jinx us and bring bad luck straight to our door. 』
Neizan let out a dry, almost sarcastic laugh.
『Neizan: I've had enough bad luck already for it to not matter in the slightest what happens because of that. 』
『Arthur: That arrogance of yours is going to be the death of me one of these days. 』
Neizan didn't respond, simply letting the silence speak for him. Arthur pulled a long face and sighed deeply, giving up for the moment.
After a few seconds, Arthur broke the silence again, this time trying something different.
『Arthur: Well... What's your name? 』
His question was directed at the girl walking a few meters behind. She glanced at him briefly but then looked down again, remaining silent.
Her dark hair stirred slightly in the forest breeze, and at that moment, Arthur noticed a hint of sadness hidden in her eyes.
『Neizan: See? You should learn from her and keep quiet. 』
『Arthur: Hey, don't be like that. Do you know her name? 』
The boy didn't turn his head, his gaze remained fixed on the path ahead. He only responded in a straightforward and dry manner.
『Neizan: No. 』
Arthur raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. He glanced at the boy from the corner of his eye, waiting for any sign of deception, but his companion's face showed nothing but cold indifference.
『Arthur: You definitely know it and just haven't told me out of respect for her, right? 』
The boy stopped abruptly. Slowly, he turned his head, his eyes now locked on Arthur. There was a flicker of irritation in his gaze, and his voice, though calm, carried a tone of menace.
『Neizan: I'm going to break your face and leave you here if you keep talking. 』
Arthur took a step back, raising his hands in surrender, though there was still a glimmer of amusement on his face.
『Arthur: Alright, alright. You're such a serious guy… 』
The forest around them was beginning to darken, and the sounds of nature grew more intense.
The trees seemed to whisper to each other, while invisible creatures moved in the shadows.
The group quickened their pace, knowing that soon the daylight would be nothing but a memory.
However, as they walked, Arthur couldn't help but glance again at the girl, intrigued by her silence and apparent loneliness.
There was something about her, something that didn't quite fit into this dangerous world. He wondered what story she carried, what secrets she hid behind those melancholic eyes.
But for now, the only certainty was that night was falling fast, and with it, the dangers of the forest would soon make their appearance.
『Arthur: See, that response means I guessed it right, hahaha! 』
Arthur understood the boy's nature well.
He knew that when someone like him felt exposed, they tended to react violently, using that aggression to dissuade and hide what might be a kinder side.
It was his way of protecting himself, of not showing that kindness he perhaps had, without caring if others saw him as good or bad because of it.
『Neizan: Don't draw your own conclusions. 』
The boy responded coldly, not even looking at him. Arthur, however, wasn't deterred.
『Arthur: Hey, girl, I bet you want to know his name, right? If you tell me yours, I'll tell you his right now, hahaha! 』
Arthur turned his face toward the girl, flashing a sly smile.
But before she could respond, the boy abruptly turned towards Arthur, raising his fist in a clear warning.
The threat was obvious, and Arthur immediately stepped back, raising both hands in surrender.
『Arthur: Okay, okay, calm down. I won't say anything. 』
Silence once again settled over the group as they continued walking through the forest.
The birds' song echoed among the trees, and the sound of their footsteps on the dry leaves added an almost hypnotic rhythm to their march.
It was the girl who decided to break the ice this time.
『Lina: Uhm... who are you? Family? 』
Her voice was soft, but there was a clear curiosity in her words. Arthur smiled, seizing the opportunity to speak first.
『Arthur: Oh no, no! We're just friends. 』
『Neizan: Partners. 』
The boy's response was quick, blunt, cutting short Arthur's enthusiasm. Arthur glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, his smile fading for just a second before recovering.
『Arthur: Here we go again... You still won't admit it, huh? 』
The boy didn't bother looking at him, keeping his expression serious and distant.
『Neizan: I have nothing to admit. We're nothing alike. 』
Arthur let out a small chuckle, shaking his head as if he was already used to these responses.
『Arthur: You always act like this around people. Honestly, you'd make a better merchant than me. You have that gift of keeping your distance. 』
The boy didn't seem affected by the comment and responded in his usual, unperturbed tone.
『Neizan: If I were, I wouldn't be here with you. 』
The atmosphere returned to silence for a few moments, but this time it wasn't uncomfortable. In the darkening forest, a sort of silent understanding seemed to form between them.
Arthur, with his carefree humor, and the boy, with his calculated coldness, made an odd yet balanced pair.