Zami ventured into the desolate expanse, his eyes scanning the broken terrain. The gray sky above offered no warmth, and the twisted remnants of trees jutted from the ground like skeletal fingers. Food was scarce in these lands, but he couldn't risk leaving the girl without nourishment.
He crouched by a patch of earth where a cluster of unfamiliar plants sprouted. Their deep green leaves shimmered faintly, an odd sight in such a barren world. Zami inspected them closely, noting the thick, fleshy stems and small, bulb-like pods. He had never encountered plants like these before, not even in the depths of the colony.
"No time for hesitation," he muttered, plucking several stems. They might be poisonous—or worse—but perhaps the girl would know their nature.
As he rose, he felt a faint pang of regret. His life had been shaped by endless trials and battles, where even a moment's pause could mean death. But this girl, fragile and mysterious, seemed to belong to a different kind of story. One he wasn't sure he understood.
On his way back, his hand brushed against the pouch at his side. He paused, remembering its contents. Inside, he still carried the black berries he had gathered in the Withering Spire, a place where he had to choose between the poisonous and the safe ones in a trial of intuition.
The Bone Monarch shard rested there too, its faint energy thrumming against his touch, along with a small wooden bird figurine—a memento he had found in Forsaken Hollow.
He returned to the hut to find the girl exactly where he had left her, seated silently with her knees drawn to her chest. Her dark eyes flickered toward him as he entered, but she didn't speak.
"I found these," Zami said, holding up the strange plants. "Do you know if they're safe to eat?"
The girl tilted her head, her gaze lingering on the stems. She didn't answer immediately, her silence stretching until Zami wasn't sure if she had heard him. Finally, she shook her head faintly, the motion barely perceptible.
Zami sighed, setting the plants aside. "I have something else."
He reached into his pouch and pulled out the black berries, holding them out for her to see. "These are safe. I've eaten them before."
The girl's gaze shifted to the berries, and for the first time, there was a flicker of recognition in her expression. She nodded slowly, almost hesitantly.
Zami handed her a few berries, watching as she took them in her small, pale hands. She brought one to her lips, pausing for a moment before biting into it. The act seemed almost ceremonial, as though she hadn't eaten in a long time.
"They're good," Zami said, his tone softer than usual. "Eat slowly."
The girl nodded again, chewing quietly.
Zami sat across from her, his katana resting beside him. The air in the hut was heavy, but for a moment, there was an odd sense of calm.
"You didn't answer me earlier," Zami said, breaking the silence. "Are you human?"
The girl glanced up, her black eyes meeting his. She didn't respond, only lowering her gaze once more.
Zami leaned back, his mind racing. He didn't trust this situation—there were too many unknowns. But for now, the girl was here, and she needed help. That was enough.