It was evening by now. Vyren was being continuously dragged by Chandrel, his wrist locked in a grip that felt unbreakable. Vyren had no idea why the hell Chandrel was pulling him toward the dark, dense forest.
Vyren: Why are we hiding? Hello? Are you even listening to me? I guess you aren't, right?
Chandrel: (silence)
Vyren: Will you speak, dude? Are you mute too?
Chandrel: I've told you to shut your mouth. Will you?
Vyren: I won't. So anyway, is this normal for you? Dragging a handsome man alone into a forest? Are you planning something? Wait… are you… oh my god… nooooo. Don't tell me.
Chandrel: ...…...!!!!
Vyren: Also, your friends? Wow. Top-tier hospitality. I was roaming around like an innocent, quiet, introverted human being and they straight-up put a whole damn sword on my neck. If you hadn't arrived at the right time, I would be a dead body by now.
Chandrel: Did you die? No. So be quiet.
Vyren: WTF?!
Chandrel: This is the last time I'm telling you to shut up. Got it, idiot?
Vyren: So you're saying I should be grateful that your menace friends didn't kill me for a crime I didn't even commit. Am I right?
Chandrel stopped out of nowhere, and Vyren crashed straight into his back with a pathetic "ow."
Before Vyren could continue his nonsense, Chandrel turned, grabbed him by the shoulders, and pushed him back against the nearest tree. He covered Vyren's mouth with his hand to stop him from continuing his nuisance.
Chandrel leaned in, his face inches from Vyren's. They could hear each other's heartbeat.
Chandrel: Don't move.
Vyren froze.Not because he was scared of Chandrel, but because he had never experienced something like this before. Also, holy hell, Chandrel was close. Way too close.
Chandrel: I can hear a tiger. Its footsteps. It's nearby.
Vyren's heart skipped a beat.
For three whole minutes, they stayed like that. Chandrel pressed close, shielding and protecting him, his hand covering Vyren's mouth while listening for the predator. His thumb rested at the corner of Vyren's lips, trying his best to keep him quiet.
Chandrel thought Vyren couldn't see him, believing Vyren was blind too, just like him.
But no.Vyren was not blind.
He was pretending. For no reason at all.
He was fully seeing Chandrel's expressions and having a complete mental breakdown.
Finally, the forest settled again.
Chandrel removed his hand, his fingers lingering on Vyren's mouth for a second longer than necessary.
Chandrel: I wasn't in the mood to fight a tiger today. That's why we were hiding.
Vyren inhaled slowly.
Vyren: Ah. So not people. Just big, violent cats. Great.
Chandrel sighed like existence itself pained him.
Chandrel: You're blind too. You're not from this world. Everything here is unknown to you. So yes, I had to save you.
Vyren: Thanks, I guess. But you're blind too. How do you move like that? I mean, you've got real skills. Not gonna lie.
Chandrel: I learned. Since childhood. There wasn't any other option.
Vyren was about to speak when Chandrel's voice dropped, deep and sharp.
Chandrel: And next time, if I tell you to be quiet, be quiet. Or I'll happily leave you for the tiger. And if the tiger doesn't kill you…
He leaned in slightly.
Chandrel: I will.
He walked ahead, expecting Vyren to follow.
Rain began soon after, first slow and then harsh, forcing them to seek shelter in a small, abandoned hut nearby. The air inside was cold and dim, smelling of wet earth.
Vyren sat on the cold stone floor, quieter now and a little more relaxed. Chandrel stood near the corner, listening to the rain, clearly trying to ignore the fact that Vyren was still being Vyren.
Vyren kept looking at him, eyes full of curiosity. He had never met someone like Chandrel. So unpredictable. Every word out of his mouth felt like a mystery, and Vyren was definitely loving it.
Then the sudden sound of footsteps broke the silence.
Vyren's pulse turned cold.
Vyren: Who's there?
His voice dropped to a whisper. His instincts kicked in. Was it an enemy? Someone from before?
Chandrel didn't answer. Instead, he grabbed Vyren's arm and pushed him toward the far wall of the hut.
Chandrel: Stay low.
Vyren didn't argue. He had learned by now that when Chandrel said stay low, you stayed low.
The door creaked open slowly, casting a long shadow across the stone floor.
Voice: Chandrel.
It was calm.
Vyren's eyes narrowed as the figure stepped fully into the room.
Chandrel: Kaelith, is that you?
Kaelith: Yes. It's me. Your best friend.
Vyren couldn't hide his surprise. That was the guy he had been thinking about earlier, the one with the sharp jaw and good looks. Now he stood there, cool as ever, like he had walked in just to check on a friend.
Chandrel: What are you doing here?
Chandrel's voice turned colder, guarded. Vyren could feel the shift.
Kaelith didn't answer immediately. He gave Vyren a sharp look, then softened as he turned back to Chandrel.
Kaelith: We need to talk.
Vyren's heart raced. The whole situation felt like a ticking time bomb.
Before Vyren could say anything, Chandrel looked at him.
Chandrel: Stay here.
And just like that, he vanished into the darkness, leaving Vyren surrounded by uncertainty.
Vyren stood slowly, staring at the spot where Chandrel had disappeared.
His stomach flipped. The Void. The dream world. Chandrel. Kaelith. And now whatever the hell this was.
The hut door slammed open again.
It was Chandrel.
Something about him felt different. Colder. More dangerous.
Without a word, he motioned for Vyren to follow and disappeared into the dark once more.
Vyren had no choice but to obey.