The morning came, and the sun shone brightly in the sky, its light filtering through the cave entrance. Kajin slowly opened his eyes and stretched his body, feeling the stiffness in his muscles. He glanced around and saw Ruya still asleep, with Cracknut nestled comfortably on his chest, his tiny tail twitching faintly.
Kajin got up and grabbed his waist bag. Opening it, he pulled out a strip of dried meat and began to eat, his eyes drifting to Ruya and Cracknut, who were still sleeping soundly. The cave was quiet except for the soft rustle of leaves outside.
"All I can think about is her..." Kajin muttered under his breath as he chewed. "I need to save her... Vanessa..."
He walked over to Ruya, grabbed a water tank, and without warning, splashed the water onto Ruya's face. Ruya bolted upright, gasping and wiping the water from his eyes. Cracknut, startled by the sudden movement, leaped onto Kajin's stomach and scurried up to his shoulders, hiding inside his shirt.
"AGHHH! Are you nuts?! That was freezing, bro!!!" Ruya shouted, his voice echoing off the cave walls. Before he could say more, a piece of meat hit him square in the face.
"Stop acting like a baby and just eat," Kajin said, his tone calm but firm. "You said it yourself, you're dead weight, and no one wants you to be one, especially not in this situation."
Ruya peeled the meat off his face, glaring at Kajin before taking a defiant bite. His expression was still angry, but he chewed in silence. Kajin smirked slightly.
"Cracknut," Kajin called. Cracknut poked his head out from Kajin's shirt, his ears perking up. "Go tell your friends we're leaving. And make sure they look after the boy while we're gone."
Cracknut nodded and leaped out of Kajin's shirt, darting across the cave floor to wake the other squirrels. Kajin turned back to Ruya, who was now gathering his things. Ruya picked up his bow, running his fingers along its curve before slinging it over his shoulder.
Kajin walked over and placed a hand on Ruya's shoulder. "Look, I know this isn't easy for you," Kajin said, his voice steady. "But I believe in you. Without you, everything I've done up until now would have been harder. You're stronger than you think."
Ruya stood silent for a moment, his shoulders tense. Then he looked at Kajin, his eyes glistening. "Thank you, Kajin," he said quietly. "Without you, I'd still be just a nobody..."
Ruya opened his arms, stepping forward to hug Kajin, but Kajin was no longer there. Confused, Ruya blinked. "Huh?" he muttered, just as a sharp slap sent him flying into the cave wall, leaving a faint indentation in the stone.
"I kinda liked the emotional Kajin..." Ruya groaned, sliding to the ground.
Kajin crossed his arms, his expression stern. "Hmph! Grow up, Ruya. We're not kids who cry over every little thing. Now get up, we've got work to do."
Ruya pushed himself to his feet, dusting off his clothes. "Always ready to die, huh..." he said, his voice still breathless.
"You could say that," Kajin replied, his tone light but resolute. Together, they walked toward the cave's exit, the morning light spilling in behind them.
~~~
Kajin and Ruya leaped swiftly from tree to tree, their movements a blur against the dense forest backdrop. Ruya held Cracknut tightly, the small creature gripping his shoulder with all his might as they sped through the forest at an incredible pace. Close behind, Kajin followed, his legs engulfed in white flames as he used his White Flame magic to boost his speed. Even with the flames enhancing his movements, he struggled to keep up with Ruya's relentless pace.
"Ruya's speed is something else..." Kajin thought, his breath steady but his focus sharp. "Even with the flames giving me a boost, I can't seem to close the gap. His skill is just too good... His invisibility skill... I don't know who taught him that, but it's on another level. Most invisibility skills only last for a short time, and the best ones might hide your body, mana, sounds, and even the things you touch for a while... But Ruya's skill is more than just invisibility. It's tied to his speed as well..."
Kajin glanced over at Ruya, who moved with effortless grace, his form almost flickering as he darted through the trees. "The only explanation is... Awakening. Being so skilled that you elevate an ability to something divine..." Kajin pushed more mana into his legs, the white flames flaring brighter as he tried to match Ruya's pace. "Ruya's talent in agility could even rival Agnus's..."
Breaking from his thoughts, Kajin shouted to Ruya, "We're about six hours from Slavara!" Ruya glanced back, giving Kajin a quick thumbs-up before refocusing on the path ahead. Kajin watched him, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as the strain of the run began to weigh on him.
"The question is... Can I really endure this six-hour run?" Kajin muttered under his breath, his legs burning as he continued to follow Ruya through the endless expanse of trees.