Mira had never met someone quite like him before.
At first, Char had just been another traveler passing through Hallow's Rest—one of many who came and went as the seasons turned, their faces blurring together in a parade of wandering adventurers and mercenaries, merchants and vagabonds. Some were kind, some were cruel, but most left no impression at all.
But Char was different.
She had first noticed it when he stopped to watch her brother's struggling performance. Most people ignored Merrick, dismissing him with a glance, but Char had stayed. Not out of pity, she thought, but genuine curiosity. That alone had piqued her interest.
Then, there was the way he carried himself—like he wasn't used to his own body yet. She had seen him training in the courtyard, his movements awkward yet determined, a sharp contrast to the grizzled warriors she was used to seeing. He wasn't a seasoned fighter, but he wanted to be.
And that… that was interesting.
She had found herself watching him more than she should. Nothing weird, of course—just… observing. Trying to understand what kind of person he was.
He was polite, but not stiff. Friendly, but not overly talkative. Young, but already carrying some kind of weight on his shoulders.
She knew that look.
Hallow's Rest was filled with people trying to escape something, whether it was their past, their failures, or the weight of expectations too heavy to bear.
Char wasn't so different.
Maybe that's why, by the end of the first day, she had already decided she liked him.
Not in any serious way—just a simple, innocent attraction. He was cute, in an awkward, endearing sort of way. And maybe a little bit mysterious.
But, of course, she had no idea how to approach him.
Mira had always been confident when dealing with people. She knew how to charm, how to hold a conversation, how to tease without overstepping. But this was… different.
She wasn't sure why.
Maybe it was because she could tell he wasn't the type to pick up on hints easily. Or maybe it was because she didn't quite know what she wanted, either.
So she had simply decided to let things play out.
And then, she had walked past his door at exactly the wrong moment.
She had only been passing by, on her way to return some borrowed blankets, when she noticed that his door was slightly ajar.
Normally, she wouldn't have thought anything of it. But then she heard movement, and—purely by accident—she glanced inside.
And there he was.
Shirtless.
Mira had never moved faster in her life.
She didn't even know what came over her. One moment, she was standing there, frozen, and the next, she was lobbing a towel at his face and fleeing like some embarrassed schoolgirl.
By the time she reached her own room, she was redder than a sunset.
She threw herself onto her bed, burying her face into her pillow.
What was that?!
It wasn't like she had never seen a guy shirtless before! The villagers trained in the heat all the time, stripping off layers when the summer sun got too strong. It wasn't supposed to be a big deal!
And yet, the moment it had been Char—a boy she had known for barely two days—her brain had short-circuited.
It didn't help that he had looked… well.
Better than she expected. She groaned into her pillow.
Okay. Breathe. It's fine.
It wasn't like he'd done it on purpose. And he probably wasn't thinking anything about it at all! He'd just go about his evening, and tomorrow, everything would be normal again.
…Right?
But despite her self-reassurances, a new worry crept in. What if she had made things weird?Char seemed a little socially oblivious, sure, but he wasn't stupid. What if he thought she was some kind of creep now?
Mira flopped onto her back, staring at the ceiling.
She could just… pretend it didn't happen. Act like it was no big deal.
Or—
She could acknowledge it, but make a joke out of it. Play it off as nothing. Yes. That was the best option. Tomorrow, she'd just give him a casual nod, maybe a smirk, and say something like, "Nice reflexes. You catch that towel?"
Yes. Perfect. Cool. Smooth.
She could absolutely pull that off.
And maybe—maybe—this would even give her a reason to talk to him properly.
The thought sent a small, unexpected flutter through her chest.
Mira huffed at herself.
This was ridiculous. She had barely known him for two days, and she was acting like some lovestruck village girl swooning over the first interesting boy to cross her path.
She wasn't like that.
But even as she tried to dismiss the thought, she felt a small, stubborn smile creeping onto her lips.
Maybe she had just a little crush.
Just a tiny, harmless one.
Nothing serious.
…Right?
*
Char descended the stairs of the townhouse, the warm scent of fresh bread and sizzling meat wafting up to meet him. It was early, but the main hall was already alive with quiet activity—villagers repairing flood damage, merchants setting up modest stalls, travelers nursing morning drinks. The storm had passed, leaving behind swollen streets and damp air, but the town had begun its slow return to normalcy.
He scanned the room as he walked, instinctively searching for Benjamin. No sign of him. Probably already awake and off helping with repairs. The old man never seemed to rest.
Char made his way toward the long wooden table near the kitchen, where steaming plates of food were being set out for guests. He grabbed a simple breakfast—bread, cheese, and some salted ham—before finding a seat near the window.
The world outside was still slick with rainwater. Workers waded through puddles, hauling wood and stone to mend the broken parts of town. From here, he could hear the distant sound of hammering, the occasional shout of instruction.
They'd probably be able to leave tomorrow.
He took a bite of his bread, chewing absently. The sooner they left, the better.
Even though the townhouse was comfortable, too comfortable, he reminded himself—it wasn't part of the plan. He couldn't afford to get attached to places, to people. He had a mission.
A mission that involved unlocking his mana nodes, and surviving the mess of a story he had written.
He let out a breath and reached for his cup of water, when he spotted her.
Mira.
And just like that, every single thought evaporated from his mind.
She had just entered the hall, her dark braided hair still damp from the morning air. She was scanning the room, her eyes moving over tables and faces—until they landed on him.
For a second, they just stared at each other.
And then, as if remembering what had happened the night before, the awkwardness crashed over him like a tidal wave.
Char stiffened. Mira's face remained unreadable.
Oh no.
His mind raced. What was the correct response here? Should he wave? Nod? Pretend like nothing happened?
He settled for picking up his cup and taking a long, slow drink, as if he hadn't just locked eyes with her. Smooth.
Unfortunately, that didn't stop her from walking straight toward him.
Oh no.
Char barely had time to brace himself before she reached his table and stopped just across from him.
"Morning," she greeted, her tone casual, but… slightly amused?
"Morning," Char managed, setting his cup down with careful precision. He tried to keep his face neutral, desperately hoping she wasn't about to bring up the towel incident.
Mira pulled out the chair across from him and sat down. "I heard you and Benjamin are heading for Jaffalex soon."
Char hesitated.
He hadn't exactly been keeping their destination a secret, but hearing it spoken so openly still put him on edge. Who else knew?
Mira must have noticed his hesitation because she tilted her head slightly. "I overheard Benjamin talking to Flint. You don't have to look so suspicious."
"Right," Char said, forcing himself to relax. "Yeah. We're leaving tomorrow, probably."
Mira nodded, resting her chin in her hand. "Long journey. I hear it's tough, especially on foot."
Char eyed her warily. "…Yeah."
He was about to ask why she cared when she leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice. "There's a way to get there faster, you know."
Char's breath hitched.
"What do you mean?"
"There's a shortcut," she said. "A secret way to get there from this town. It's dangerous, but if you're really set on going to Jaffalex… well."
A pause.
She leaned back in her chair and gave him a small, knowing smile.
"…I could show you."
Char didn't answer immediately. His brain was running through possibilities, weighing options.
A shortcut?
His first instinct was to be suspicious. Was she messing with him? But her tone was serious, and she didn't seem the type to joke about something like this.
It was true that Jaffalex was a difficult trek, and the faster they got there, the better. If there really was a quicker way…
He watched her carefully, but her expression was unreadable.
"…Alright," he said slowly. "I'm listening."