"Why does this taste so incredibly good?"

Rein couldn't hold back her confusion.

"It's just ordinary grilled meat. You're probably just starving," Sophia replied casually.

"...".

True, Rein hadn't had a proper meal in ages. Years ago, alchemy training had eroded her sense of taste until flavors vanished completely. Food lost all meaning to her. Now, this first meal since regaining her taste buds imprinted even simple rabbit meat deeply.

"By the way, little one—what’s your name? 'Little girl' feels too impersonal."

"Rein. Just call me Rein."

"Then I'll call you Little Rein!"

"Whatever..."

"Little Rein, hehe! I'm Sophia. But age-wise, you should call me big sister."

"Sophia..."

"Eh? Not calling me big sister? Are you shy, Little Rein?"

"...".

Rein didn’t bother explaining. "Big sister" held sacred weight in her heart—using it lightly would cheapen its meaning.

"I have a question..."

"Ask away."

Sophia’s relaxed tone contrasted sharply with Rein’s caution.

"Why aren’t you sad your teammates died?"

Since waking, Rein sensed zero grief over fallen comrades from Sophia. They might as well have been strangers.

"Why should I be sad?" Sophia countered.

"We fought together!"

"The Knight’s Code forbids mourning fallen allies. Grief gets more comrades killed. Death isn’t an end—it’s a new beginning."

"A new beginning..."

*Like me*, Rein thought. *I’m someone who began anew after death*.

"Something wrong, Little Rein?"

"N-nothing..."

Rein hastily pulled dry straw over herself and feigned sleep.

Sophia didn’t press it. After setting a trap at the cave entrance, she returned to the fire. Sleep wasn’t an option tonight—predators prowled the darkness. Her old squad would’ve drawn lots for watch duty. But Rein was just a sleep-deprived stray kid. *One sleepless night won’t cripple a knight*, Sophia reasoned.

Though Sophia meant no harm, Rein refused to lower her guard. Exhaustion clawed at her eyelids after the meal, but she gripped a spare branch hidden under straw. Whispering a spell, she watched inky, tentacle-like patterns crawl from base to tip. The crude wand offered no magic boost—just focus and faster casting. Tucking it away, Rein finally surrendered to deep, dreamless sleep.

Sophia shifted closer, studying the girl’s face in firelight. "Such a pretty child... If only her family..."

Noticing Rein’s furrowed brow, Sophia fell silent, mistaking it for disturbance. Then—a faint mental ripple. The trap triggered. Sword in hand, she slipped out without a word.

The deepest silence ruled the most terrifying nights.