Charles and Nora continued along the dirt path, the blue system arrow glowing in Charles's vision, pointing toward the Stormy Forest cave.

The sun was high in the sky, warming the air, and the tall trees cast shadows that offered brief relief.

Charles felt the weight of the bandages on his arms and the slight sting of the wounds on his hands, but his energy, though low, was enough to keep him moving.

However, after what felt like an eternity of walking without reaching the village Nora mentioned, exhaustion started to creep in.

'Damn it, how much farther?' he thought, wiping sweat from his forehead.

He glanced at Nora, who walked beside him with irritating ease, not a drop of sweat on her face.

'This woman's a machine,' he thought, clenching his teeth.

His pride wouldn't let him admit he was worn out, especially not in front of a girl.

Suddenly, Nora stopped by a cut tree trunk at the side of the path.

Without a word, she sat on it, crossing her legs and resting her hands on her knees.

Charles frowned, confused.

"What's up?" he said, stopping beside her. "Why're you stopping? I thought we were headed to the village."

Nora looked at him with a calm expression, though a mischievous glint sparkled in her gray eyes.

"I'm tired," she said, shrugging. "Just want to rest a bit. Got a problem with that?"

Charles raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.

'Tired? Yeah, right!' he thought, noting the lack of sweat on her forehead and her steady breathing, as if she'd just woken up.

He knew she was lying, but the idea of resting was too tempting.

Though he'd never admit it out loud, his legs were begging for a break.

Plus, if Nora, who seemed unstoppable, was giving him this chance, he wasn't going to waste it.

"Fine," Charles said, feigning indifference. "If the great Master Nora needs a breather, I guess I can humor her."

He sat beside her on the trunk, closer than he'd expected.

Their shoulders nearly touched, and the tight space made their knees brush lightly.

Nora noticed immediately and turned her head, a playful smile on her lips.

"Well, well, Rian," she said, her tone teasing. "So close? What's this, you getting attached to me already?"

Charles let out a short laugh, feeling his face warm slightly.

"Attached? Pfft," he said, crossing his arms and flashing a crooked grin. "Let's say I was interested in you—hypothetically. What's in it for me? Come on, sell it. What do I get out of dating the great Nora?"

Nora blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question.

For several seconds, she stayed silent, and Charles noticed her expression shift.

Her gray eyes, usually full of mischief, turned more serious, and her face—sharp yet soft, with brown hair falling in loose waves—seemed to reflect genuine thought.

'Is she actually considering this?' he thought, a mix of confusion and curiosity stirring in him.

He hadn't expected his joke to hit so seriously.

Finally, Nora broke the silence, looking him straight in the eyes.

"The benefit of being with me… is… being with me…" she said, her tone simple but firm.

Charles opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out.

The silence between them felt heavy for a moment, and he wasn't sure how to take her answer.

'What the hell?' he thought, scratching the back of his neck.

Before he could say anything, Nora continued, her tone lighter but still serious.

"But seriously, Rian, watch out for the girls in the clan," she said, crossing her arms. "You're a Cole, and now that you're climbing the ranks, a lot of them will start cozying up to you. Not because they like you, but because they want your kid. You know, to secure their spot in the clan."

Charles raised an eyebrow, surprised by the shift in topic.

Then he laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

"A kid? Seriously?" he said, his tone mocking. "What, you're not dying to have a little Rian running around?"

Nora rolled her eyes, but her smile returned.

"Kids? What a hassle," she said, her tone mixing disdain and amusement. "Trust me, babies are the last thing on my mind. Lucky for us, there aren't many kids running around here. It's a relief."

Just as she finished speaking, a sharp, loud cry pierced the forest's silence.

It was a baby's wail, so clear it seemed to come from nearby.

Nora grimaced, covering her ears with her hands.

"Damn it…" she groaned, glancing down the path. "Guess we're closer to the village than I thought…"

Charles looked at her, amused by her reaction.

But before he could say anything, Nora raised a hand and, with a quick gesture, created an invisible air barrier around them.

The baby's cry vanished instantly, like someone had flipped a switch.

Charles's eyes widened, impressed.

"How'd you do that?" he said, his tone curious.

Nora shrugged, a smug smile on her face.

"Simple trick, remember?" she said, resting her hands on her knees.

Charles sighed, shaking his head.

"Sure, 'simple,'" he said, his tone sarcastic. "Still sore about earlier, huh?"

Nora laughed, giving him a light elbow nudge.

"Maybe I'm a little petty," she said, her tone playful. "But don't worry, I won't make you look bad again… for now."

Charles grinned, ready to keep the banter going.

"How about a duel to settle our differences?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "You and me, right here."

Nora looked at him with disbelief, then burst out laughing.

"A duel? Seriously?" she said, shaking her head. "You're covered in bandages, Rian, and you just fought three Custodians. I don't fight injured people. Plus, I'm tired. Give me a break."

Charles laughed, leaning toward her.

"Tired? Or scared?" he said, his tone challenging. "Come on, Nora, don't tell me the great Master's afraid of a lowly Warrior like me."

Nora stared at him, and for a second, Charles thought she might take the bait.

But instead, she smiled, closed her eyes, and, to his surprise, rested her head on his shoulder.

The weight of her head was light, but Charles felt an unexpected warmth in his chest.

'What the hell?' he thought, freezing in place.

Nora seemed to be using him as a pillow, her breathing slowing as if she were genuinely exhausted.

"Just give me five minutes," she murmured, her voice low and tired. "Let me rest. No noise."

Charles blinked, still processing what was happening.

Nora's brown hair brushed against his cheek, and he caught a faint scent of herbs and fresh wind.

He wasn't sure whether to move or stay still, but something about the calm of the moment made him decide to stay.

The blue system arrow still glowed, reminding him of his goal, but for now…

Taking a break wouldn't hurt.

"Alright," he said softly, his tone gentler than he intended. "Five minutes. But don't get used to this, okay? I'm not your personal pillow."

Nora let out a faint laugh without opening her eyes.

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