Chapter 58: The Girl's Story
The dawn broke softly, light filtering through the trees as Kazuki, Elara, and Tara led the rescued girl back to the river camp. The girl's legs were unsteady, and her face remained pale, but she managed to keep up.
Once they reached the camp, Elara helped her sit by the fire, offering some water. Tara, still tense, kept watch at the edge of the clearing, her eyes scanning the forest.
Kazuki crouched next to the girl, offering a gentle smile. "What's your name?"
The girl hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. "Lina."
Elara patted her shoulder reassuringly. "You're safe now, Lina. Can you tell us what happened?"
Lina took a shaky breath. "My brother and I... we were traveling to the next town. We sell herbs and potions. The bandits attacked us on the road. They killed our guards and took me. My brother... he managed to get away."
Kazuki exchanged a glance with Elara. "We found your brother. He was the one who told us where you were."
Lina's eyes filled with relief. "He's okay?"
Elara nodded. "He's hurt but safe. We'll take you to him once you've rested."
Tara scoffed quietly from her perch. "Typical bandits. Thinking they can just take what they want."
Kazuki's jaw tightened. The memory of the bandit leader's sneer still lingered in his mind. "They won't hurt anyone else."
Lina looked at him, her eyes wide and grateful. "Thank you... for saving me."
Kazuki felt his cheeks heat up slightly, unused to such direct gratitude. "It's nothing. We couldn't just leave you there."
Elara smiled warmly. "Kazuki always steps up when people are in trouble."
Tara glanced back with a smirk. "Sometimes he just needs to be reminded not to lose his head while doing it."
Kazuki shot her a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. The tension from the night before had faded somewhat, replaced with a cautious sense of normalcy.
Lina leaned back, finally allowing herself to relax. "I thought... I'd never see my brother again."
Elara squeezed her hand. "You're strong. You survived. That's what matters."
As the morning sun rose higher, Kazuki took a moment to assess their situation. The bandits were dealt with, but his inner turmoil was far from over. Still, having helped someone, even in his own chaotic state, brought a faint sense of purpose.
Elara moved closer, her voice soft. "Are you okay?"
Kazuki gave her a small nod. "Yeah. Just... tired."
Tara stretched, cracking her knuckles. "We should move soon. If any bandits survived, they might regroup."
Kazuki agreed, though his mind remained partly on Lina. There was something resilient about her, a quiet strength despite what she had endured. As they packed up camp, he couldn't help but wonder — if she had faced something so terrifying and come out alive, maybe he could too.
The Grizzly remained silent, but Kazuki could feel it lurking just beneath the surface, waiting for the next opportunity to seize control. For now, he pushed it back, focusing on the road ahead.