The forest remained still for a few moments longer.
Then Leo moved.
He pushed aside the branches again and looked down at the man.
"…Can you walk?"
The man let out a faint breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
"Walk?" he muttered. "That might be asking too much…"
Leo clicked his tongue softly.
"Then crawl."
The man gave him a look—half disbelief, half amusement.
"…You're not very kind, are you?"
Leo didn't respond.
Instead, he reached down, grabbed the man's arm, and pulled it over his shoulder again.
The weight returned instantly.
Heavy.
Unstable.
"Try not to die on the way," Leo said flatly.
They began moving.
Slowly.
Each step was uneven, the man stumbling more than walking, his breath growing heavier with every movement. Leo adjusted his footing again and again, silently compensating for the imbalance.
The path through the forest felt longer this time.
Or maybe it was just the weight.
By the time they reached the edge of the village, the man's body had nearly given out again.
Leo paused.
Listening.
Silence.
No footsteps.
No voices.
Only then did he move forward.
They slipped behind the hut quietly, keeping to the shadows.
Leo pushed the door open just enough and guided the man inside.
The interior was dim.
Cramped.
Bare.
The man's eyes moved slowly across the room.
The wooden bed.
The worn floor.
The emptiness.
"…You live here?" he asked faintly.
Leo helped him sit against the wall before answering.
"…Yes."
There was no shame in his voice.
No pride either.
Just fact.
The man gave a weak nod, as if that alone told him enough.
Meanwhile—
outside the hut—
The guards were returning.
Their search had yielded nothing.
Frustration lingered in their movements as they walked back through the village.
"…He couldn't have just vanished," one of them muttered.
"Unless someone helped him," another replied.
They passed house after house.
Doors closed.
Lights dim.
Then—
They crossed Leo's hut.
One of the guards slowed slightly.
His eyes drifted toward the small, broken structure.
He frowned.
Something about it bothered him.
"…Wait," he said quietly.
Another guard turned. "What is it?"
The first guard kept looking at the hut.
"That boy…"
A pause.
"I think we should check again."
For a brief second—
there was silence.
Then the other guard scoffed.
"Check what? That rat?" he said dismissively. "You saw him. Half-dead and crying."
The first guard didn't look convinced.
"…Still—"
"We're wasting time," the second one cut him off. His tone sharpened. "Our orders weren't to babysit some useless brat."
A step forward.
"Forget him."
Another pause.
Then, more firmly—
"We return. Now."
A few others nodded.
"…Our lord won't be pleased if we delay further," someone added.
The first guard hesitated.
His eyes lingered on the hut for one last moment.
Then—
He turned away.
"…Fine."
And just like that—
they left.
Inside the hut—
The man exhaled slowly, his body relaxing just slightly as if he had been holding onto something invisible.
"…You're lucky," he murmured.
Leo, who had been standing near the door, listening the entire time, finally moved away.
"…No," he said.
A small pause.
"They're just impatient."
He walked toward the bed and dragged it slightly closer.
The wood scraped softly against the ground.
"Lie down," Leo said.
The man looked at him.
"…You're offering me your bed?"
Leo shrugged.
"You'll bleed less if you're not sitting."
The man let out a quiet chuckle, though it quickly turned into a cough.
"…Practical. I like that."
With some effort, he shifted onto the bed.
His movements were slow, strained, but eventually he managed.
Leo stepped back, watching him for a moment.
"…You should see a doctor," he said.
The man gave a weak smile.
"…That obvious?"
"You'll die if you don't," Leo replied bluntly.
A short silence followed.
Then—
"…And you?" the man asked, looking at him. "What do you get out of this?"
Leo didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the remaining coins.
They clinked softly in his hand.
"…I already got paid," he said.
The man stared at him.
Then laughed quietly.
"…You really don't miss a chance, do you?"
Leo didn't respond.
The room fell silent again.
But this time—
it wasn't empty.
Something had changed.
Two strangers.
One small, one broken.
Both alive—
for now.
......
Morning came quietly.
A faint golden light slipped through the cracks of the broken roof, falling across the small hut in uneven patches. Dust floated lazily in the air, drifting wherever the light touched.
The silence of the night had faded.
In its place—
a still, fragile calm.
Leo was awake.
He always woke early.
He sat near the wall, his back resting lightly against it, eyes half-open but aware.
Watching.
Listening.
On the bed—
the man stirred.
His breathing had steadied slightly compared to the night before, though his face still looked pale. The wounds hadn't healed, but they had stopped worsening.
For now.
Slowly, the man opened his eyes.
He didn't move immediately.
Instead, his gaze shifted.
Taking in the room.
The broken roof.
The rough walls.
The boy sitting quietly in the corner.
Leo didn't greet him.
Didn't ask anything.
He simply watched.
After a few seconds, the man pushed himself up.
Carefully.
Trying not to make noise.
He winced slightly as pain shot through his side, but he suppressed it, gritting his teeth.
Leo's eyes followed every movement.
The man swung his legs off the bed.
Paused.
Listened.
Then slowly—
he stood up.
Unsteady.
But standing.
Step by step, he began moving toward the door.
Each step light.
Measured.
Almost silent.
Leo tilted his head slightly.
Watching.
The man reached the door.
His hand rested on it.
"…Leaving already?" Leo's voice broke the silence.
The man froze.
Slowly, he turned back.
A faint, awkward smile formed on his face.
"…You noticed."
Leo didn't reply.
The man exhaled quietly and leaned slightly against the door for support.
"I can't stay," he said. "The longer I remain here, the more dangerous it becomes… for both of us."
Leo's expression didn't change.
A brief silence passed.
Then Leo spoke again.
"…What's your name?"
The question was simple.
Direct.
The man paused.
For a moment, something conflicted in his eyes.
Then he shook his head slowly.
"…I wish I could tell you," he said, voice quieter now. "After everything you've done… you deserve that much."
A small pause.
"But knowing my name…"
He looked at Leo.
"…will only bring trouble to you."
Leo stared at him for a second.
Then—
without hesitation—
"…Then don't say it."
The man blinked.
Then laughed.
A small, genuine chuckle.
"…You really are something else," he murmured.
He opened the door.
Morning light spilled in.
Before stepping out, he glanced back one last time.
His eyes lingered on Leo for a brief moment.
"…If fate allows," he said softly, "we'll meet again."
Then—
he left.
Leo stood there.
Watching.
The man's figure grew smaller as he walked away, his steps slow but steady.
For a few seconds—
Leo didn't move.
Then he turned.
Walked back inside.
The hut returned to silence.
A few minutes passed.
Then—
Footsteps.
Leo's eyes shifted toward the door.
It opened.
The man stood there again.
There was an awkward pause.
He looked… different.
Not injured.
Not serious.
Embarrassed.
Leo stared at him.
Expression blank.
"…What is it now?" he asked.
The man coughed lightly.
Looked away.
Scratched the back of his head.
"…I…" he started.
His voice dropped.
So low—
it was almost inaudible.
Leo frowned slightly.
"…Speak louder."
The man sighed.
Then, reluctantly—
"…I don't have any money."
Silence.
Leo blinked.
The man continued, his voice still carrying that faint embarrassment.
"…Since you took everything."
A small pause.
"…Can you lend me some?"
Another pause.
"I'll return it," he added quickly. "In the future."
Leo stared at him.
For a moment—
neither of them spoke.
Then—
"…What?" Leo said flatly.
The silence that followed—
was almost comical.