The trio ventured deeper into the jungle, the thick canopy above casting shifting shadows across the forest floor. Clay led the way with Rekkan pacing silently at his side, while Sarah Quinn followed closely behind, her regal composure faltering as she struggled to keep pace.
"You're sure this is the right direction?" Sarah asked, brushing aside a low-hanging vine.
Clay glanced back, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "As sure as I can be in a place where everything either wants to eat us or get us lost."
Sarah arched an eyebrow. "Reassuring."
Clay chuckled softly. "Don't worry. Rekkan has a nose for danger."
Rekkan let out a low growl, his ears twitching. Clay's smile faded as he tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade.
Appraiser skill activated:
[No immediate hostile entities detected]
Clay relaxed slightly. "False alarm," he muttered. "Still, we need to keep moving. Staying in one place too long isn't safe."
Sarah nodded, though fatigue was evident in her eyes. Despite her royal upbringing, she showed a surprising resilience. Clay had to admire that.
"So," Sarah said after a moment of silence, "what exactly brought you to this... delightful jungle?" Her tone was light, but curiosity lingered beneath the surface.
Clay hesitated. "Let's just say I didn't exactly choose this place."
Sarah frowned. "You're not from around here, are you?"
Clay met her gaze. "No. But that's a long story."
Sarah seemed to sense that pressing further wouldn't yield answers. She shifted the conversation instead. "And Rekkan? He's not an ordinary beast, is he?"
Clay smiled fondly. "Rekkan's special. Saved my life more times than I can count."
Rekkan huffed proudly, his yellow eyes gleaming.
The path grew steeper as they ascended toward higher ground. The air became cooler, and the dense foliage thinned slightly, revealing glimpses of the horizon beyond.
"We're getting closer to safer terrain," Clay said. "There should be a clearing up ahead where we can rest."
Sarah sighed in relief. "I won't complain about that."
As they neared the clearing, Clay's instincts prickled. Something felt off, though he couldn't pinpoint what. He held up a hand, signaling Sarah to stop.
"What is it?" she whispered.
Clay scanned the area, his senses on high alert. Appraiser skill activated:
[Entity Detected: Concealed Rune Trap]
[Effect: Paralysis]
[Threat Level: Moderate]
"A trap," Clay said grimly. "Stay back."
He crouched low, examining the faint shimmer of runes etched into the ground. Whoever had set this trap knew what they were doing.
"Can you disarm it?" Sarah asked.
Clay nodded. "I'll need a minute. Just keep an eye out for company."
Sarah drew a slender dagger from her belt—a surprising sight for a princess. Clay raised an eyebrow but said nothing as he focused on the task at hand.
Carefully, he traced the rune patterns with the tip of his blade, disrupting the magical flow. Sparks flickered briefly before the runes faded into nothingness.
"Done," Clay said, standing up. "Let's keep moving."
They stepped into the clearing, the open space offering a brief reprieve from the oppressive jungle.
"This is better," Sarah admitted, sheathing her dagger.
Clay nodded. "We'll rest here for a bit. Rekkan will keep watch."
As they settled down, Sarah regarded Clay thoughtfully. "You're full of surprises, you know that?"
Clay smirked. "I'll take that as a compliment."
She laughed softly. "It was meant as one." Her expression grew serious. "I owe you my life, Clay. I won't forget that."
Clay waved a hand dismissively. "You don't owe me anything. Just glad I was there to help."
Sarah's gaze lingered on him. "Still, thank you."
Clay inclined his head, accepting her gratitude without further argument. He knew better than to dwell on debts and favors. In this world, survival was its own reward.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the horizon with hues of orange and gold, Clay felt a rare sense of peace. The journey ahead would be perilous, but for now, they had found a moment of respite.
And sometimes, that was enough.