Rio and Filip remained seated on the steps.
The stone beneath them still held the warmth of the day, but the air had begun to cool. Ahead of them, the sun slowly sank behind the forest, painting the sky in deep shades of orange and violet before the light finally faded and shadows took its place.
Neither of them moved.
"Two days…" Rio whispered at last.
His voice was low, almost hesitant.
"It's been two days now. Two days since we were human."
Filip kept his gaze fixed on the horizon and gave a faint nod.
They were tired—not just in body, but in a deeper way. Worn down by fear, by decisions, by the constant need to stay alert.
But they were alive.
That alone mattered.
They sat in silence, simply watching. Their thoughts drifted without direction.
Rio thought about his new body.
About how the world felt sharper now—sounds carried farther, scents lingered in the air like invisible trails. His balance, once completely unreliable, had improved slightly, though it still felt unfamiliar.
More than anything, he thought about his family.
About the things he had never said. About how their voices must have sounded the last time he heard them.
His tail slowly lowered until it rested flat against the stone. His ears drooped without him fully realizing it.
Filip noticed.
He said nothing.
Not because he didn't care—but because his own thoughts were heavy. He thought about the fight. About the skeleton that wouldn't stop coming. About the sound of bones cracking. About the pain in his hands that still lingered, dull and persistent.
About how he was supposed to train.
If he even could.
After a long while, Rio finally spoke.
"What really happened down there?" he asked quietly.
"I heard the crash… and when I got there, it was already over."
Filip drew a slow breath. He didn't have the strength to relive it—not in words, not now.
"I did what I had to do," he said.
Nothing more.
Rio felt a hint of disappointment—but he didn't push. He knew it wasn't avoidance. Just exhaustion.
"Where did you put the bones?" he asked instead.
Filip lifted a hand and pointed.
"There."
They followed his finger. Near one of the statues at the edge of the forest lay a dark pile—bones in various shapes, scattered without order. Even though the sun had fully set, they could still see it clearly.
That was when Rio noticed movement.
A bush shifted near the pile.
Filip noticed it at the same time. Both of them tensed instinctively, eyes locked on the same spot.
From the shadows stepped a silver, four-legged creature.
"…A wolf," Rio whispered.
Filip tightened his grip on his sword, but didn't stand. The stairs were steep and long. He doubted the wolf would try to climb all the way up.
The wolf paused. Lifted its head toward the sky.
And howled.
The sound was deep, lonely, and unfamiliar. It sent a shiver through Rio's spine. Then the wolf stepped forward, grabbed one of the bones in its jaws—and vanished silently back into the forest.
Neither of them moved.
Not until the silence had fully returned.
Even then, the tension lingered.
"We should go inside and sleep," Filip said at last.
"I don't want to risk the smell of food spreading. Not with the wind up here."
Rio nodded. He packed away the stove quickly and quietly, then followed Filip down the stairs. Ahead of them floated Oathkeeper, its soft violet-blue glow steady enough to guide the way.
Inside the chamber, they positioned the two chests at the entrance.
They knew the chests wouldn't stop anything truly determined to get in.
But they hoped they would at least make noise.
They set Oathkeeper on watch and arranged the makeshift blanket made from old curtains and banners. Then they climbed into the large burial coffin.
It was spacious for a coffin—but still tight for two. They had to lie on their sides, close together, just to fit.
Rio couldn't help feeling a little relieved that they were smaller now. Otherwise, it wouldn't have worked at all.
They lay there, facing the opening. There wasn't much to see—just the back of one coffin and the decorated stone around them. Still, Rio couldn't stop thinking that it felt… strangely comfortable.
Warm.
He could feel Filip's tail lightly against his own.
They lay in silence.
Thinking about what had happened.
About what they had lost.
About what lay ahead.
No one spoke.
And eventually—without even noticing when it happened—they both fell asleep.