Lusian ordered the camp to be set up before nightfall.
The professional soldiers were the first to act.
They marked the perimeter, established defenses around the ruins, and set up watch shifts. The most dangerous entrances were blocked off while small patrols moved through the nearby streets.
The civilians set up their tents under supervision.
The priests prepared areas to treat the wounded, while the adventurers helped reinforce the outer defenses.
By the time darkness had completely covered the ruined city, the camp was already established.
Campfires illuminated the tents and cast long shadows across the remains of the buildings.
For a few hours, everything seemed peaceful.
Inside the main tent, Lusian mentally reviewed the watch rotations.
After what had happened with the chimera, he had learned something he could no longer ignore.
In this world, one moment of carelessness could cost a life.
And he had no intention of making another mistake.
He stood up.
He was about to leave when the flap at the entrance opened.
Emily stepped inside.
Lusian looked up.
"What is it?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Her eyes dropped to Lusian's arm.
"Sit down."
Lusian blinked.
"What?"
"I said sit down."
"I'm fine."
Emily stared at him.
"Lusian."
There was something in her tone that made him stop arguing.
He sat back down.
Emily approached and carefully took his arm.
The wound wasn't deep, but it was still open, and blood had stained part of his clothing.
Emily frowned.
"This is what you call fine?"
"It's not serious."
"It could have been worse."
"But it wasn't."
Emily raised her eyes.
"That's not the point."
Lusian fell silent.
She began cleaning the wound.
The touch of her healing magic produced a faint glow around his arm.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
"That was dangerous," Emily finally said.
"I know."
"No."
Her voice became firmer.
"I don't think you do."
Lusian looked at her.
Emily continued working on the wound.
"I saw you."
"During the battle?"
"Yes."
"Then you know I didn't have many options."
"You always say that."
Lusian didn't answer.
Emily finished applying the healing magic and slowly withdrew her hand.
"You could have died."
"But I didn't."
Emily closed her eyes for a moment.
"Stop saying that."
Lusian frowned slightly.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to hear that you're fine simply because you're still breathing."
He remained silent.
Emily took a breath.
"Don't put yourself in danger like that again."
Lusian looked at her.
"Emily..."
"No."
She shook her head.
"This time, you're going to listen to me."
Lusian remained quiet.
"You're not invincible," Emily continued. "You can be strong. But that doesn't mean you can face everything alone."
Those words made Lusian avert his gaze slightly.
For several seconds, neither of them said anything.
The tension that had existed between them over the past few days seemed to have gathered inside that small tent.
Emily slowly raised a hand and grabbed the front of Lusian's clothes.
He looked down at her hand.
Then back at her.
"Emily..."
"This time, I don't want you to tell me that it's not the right moment."
Lusian remained silent.
She didn't look away.
Outside, the soldiers continued their patrols.
Inside the tent, the voices gradually grew quieter until they became whispers.
The conversation continued for a long time.
Then came silence.
And later, Emily's voice could be heard again.
This time, clearly enough to pass through the canvas walls.
It wasn't an accident.
She wasn't trying to hide it.
A few meters away, inside another tent, Elizabeth sat beside a lamp.
She had an open book resting on her lap.
When she heard the voice, she stopped turning the pages.
She remained completely still.
She waited for a few seconds.
Then slowly lowered her gaze toward the book.
She tried to continue reading.
She couldn't.
She closed the book.
Took a deep breath.
Opened it again.
Read one line.
Then another.
The voice came from Lusian's tent again.
Elizabeth closed her eyes for a moment.
Finally, she closed the book again.
"What an annoying noise..."
She said nothing more.
She sat in silence, maintaining her composure.
On the other side of the camp, Alejandro had seen Emily enter.
Since then, he had remained awake.
Sitting beside one of the campfires, he kept his eyes fixed on that tent.
He could have walked away.
He could have pretended he didn't care.
He did neither.
One hour passed.
Then another.
The tent remained closed.
Alejandro slowly clenched his fist.
The muscles in his jaw tightened.
He didn't need to ask what was happening.
He already understood.
The night continued.
And Emily did not come out.
When the sky began to brighten, the first light of dawn illuminated the ruins.
The camp began to wake.
The soldiers changed shifts.
Some priests prepared water and food.
The adventurers began checking the perimeter.
Then the entrance to Lusian's tent opened.
Emily stepped outside.
Alejandro immediately raised his gaze.
She stopped in front of the tent.
Her hair was slightly disheveled.
She calmly tucked a strand behind her ear and adjusted the cloak over her shoulders.
Her expression was serene.
As if nothing unusual had happened that night.
Alejandro slowly lowered his gaze.
His hands clenched.
His knuckles began to turn white.