I Reincarnated as Drag king in Another World

Chapter 9: Fading Embers

The cool night air wrapped around them as Kaelith led Asuka deeper into the crumbled outskirts of the ruined village. Every step felt heavier than the last, the silence between them broken only by the crunch of ash and gravel underfoot. Asuka's mind was a maelstrom of emotions: fear, guilt, and the adrenaline that still thrummed in her veins from the fight they'd just survived.

Kaelith's silver eyes scanned the path ahead, her blade still drawn and streaked with drying blood. Despite her outward calm, her every movement was taut with readiness, like a spring coiled too tightly. Asuka followed a step behind, clutching her spear as though it was the only thing anchoring her to reality.

"We need to rest," Asuka said, her voice barely above a whisper. She hated how small she sounded, how unsure.

Kaelith stopped abruptly and turned, her expression unreadable. "Rest here, and we're dead," she said simply, her voice cutting through the darkness like a knife.

Asuka swallowed, her gaze dropping to the ground. She didn't argue further.

They continued in silence until Kaelith abruptly raised a hand, signaling for Asuka to stop. "Stay here," she murmured, crouching low.

"What is it?" Asuka asked, though she obeyed instantly.

Kaelith didn't answer. She reached out with one gloved hand, brushing away debris on the ground. A faint glint of metal caught the moonlight.

"A tripwire," she muttered under her breath. Her eyes darted along the line of the wire, tracing its path to a half-buried device tucked against the base of a crumbled wall.

"A trap?" Asuka asked, her voice rising slightly in alarm.

Kaelith nodded. "And not a careless one. These people are professionals." She picked up a small rock, tossing it deliberately over the wire.

The explosion came instantly. Fire and smoke erupted, sending a shockwave that rattled Asuka's teeth. She stumbled back, shielding her face from the flying debris.

Kaelith was already pulling her to her feet. "They're herding us," she said grimly.

"Herding us?" Asuka repeated, her voice trembling. "Why would they—"

"Because we're worth more alive than dead." Kaelith's tone was sharp, almost cold. "If they wanted to kill us outright, we'd already be dead."

Asuka felt the blood drain from her face. The memory of the raiders' calculated movements flashed in her mind. They weren't just scavengers—they were predators.

"What do we do?" she asked.

Kaelith scanned their surroundings. The faint outlines of jagged hills rose in the distance, crowned by the ruins of what appeared to be an ancient fortress. Her eyes narrowed.

"We take the high ground," she said.

The hill was steeper than it looked. Loose gravel shifted underfoot with every step, and the cold wind bit at their exposed skin. The ruins of the fortress loomed above them, its crumbling walls casting jagged shadows under the moonlight.

Asuka struggled to keep up, her legs burning with exertion. Her breath came in short gasps, each one clouding in the frigid air.

"Kaelith," she said, her voice hesitant.

Kaelith stopped, glancing over her shoulder. "What?"

Asuka hesitated, gripping her spear tightly. "Earlier… I froze. If it weren't for you—"

Kaelith's expression hardened. "You survived," she said flatly. "That's all that matters."

"But I—"

"Stop." Kaelith's voice was sharp, cutting off any further protest. "Dwelling on what you did or didn't do will only slow you down. The only thing that matters is staying alive."

Asuka looked away, her cheeks burning with shame. "I'll try."

Kaelith studied her for a moment before nodding. "Good. Now keep moving."

They pressed on, the climb growing steeper with every step. The wind howled around them, carrying with it the faint echoes of the battle they'd left behind.

When they finally reached the summit, Asuka collapsed onto her knees, her chest heaving. She glanced up at the fortress, its walls crumbling and overgrown with vines.

Kaelith stood beside her, her eyes scanning the area. "We'll rest here," she said finally. "But only for a moment."

The interior of the fortress was as decayed as the exterior. Broken stone littered the ground, and the faint scent of moss and damp earth filled the air. Kaelith led the way, her blade drawn as she checked every corner.

Asuka followed closely, her spear at the ready. Her heart still raced, the memory of the raiders' pursuit fresh in her mind.

They found a small alcove near the center of the ruins, partially shielded by a collapsed wall. Kaelith motioned for Asuka to sit.

"Eat," she ordered, pulling a small pouch from her belt and tossing it to her.

Asuka caught it, her hands trembling slightly. Inside were dried strips of meat and a few hard biscuits. She bit into one, the taste bland but comforting.

Kaelith didn't eat. She sat with her back against the wall, her eyes fixed on the entrance to their shelter.

"Do you ever rest?" Asuka asked after a moment.

Kaelith glanced at her. "Resting gets you killed."

Asuka frowned. "That's not a life. Always running, always fighting. Don't you ever wish things were different?"

Kaelith's gaze softened slightly, though her expression remained guarded. "Wishing doesn't change reality," she said. "But surviving does."

Asuka fell silent, her thoughts heavy. She wanted to argue, to push back against Kaelith's cold pragmatism, but she couldn't find the words.

The quiet didn't last. A faint noise reached their ears—a soft, rhythmic tapping, like footsteps on stone.

Kaelith was on her feet instantly, her blade in hand. She motioned for Asuka to stay back, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the shadows.

The sound grew louder, closer. Asuka gripped her spear tightly, her pulse quickening.

A figure emerged from the darkness.

It wasn't a raider. It was a young boy, his clothes tattered and his face streaked with dirt. His wide eyes flicked between Kaelith and Asuka, his small frame trembling.

"Please," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Don't hurt me."

Kaelith lowered her blade slightly, though her posture remained tense. "Who are you?"

The boy hesitated, glancing over his shoulder as though expecting someone to appear. "My name is Ren," he said finally. "I was hiding when… when they came."

Asuka's heart ached at the fear in his voice. She stepped forward, ignoring Kaelith's warning glance.

"It's okay," she said softly. "We're not going to hurt you."

Ren's eyes filled with tears. "They killed everyone," he said, his voice breaking. "My family… my friends… they're all gone."

Asuka knelt beside him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You're safe now," she said, though the words felt hollow.

Kaelith sheathed her blade with a sigh. "We don't have time for this," she muttered.

"We can't just leave him," Asuka shot back, her voice firm.

Kaelith's silver eyes met hers, and for a moment, neither woman spoke. Finally, Kaelith relented. "Fine. But if he slows us down, he's on his own."

Ren clung to Asuka's side as they prepared to move again. Despite Kaelith's cold demeanor, Asuka felt a flicker of hope. In this shattered world, maybe there was still room for compassion.

But as they left the ruins behind, the shadows seemed to grow deeper, and the faint echoes of distant footsteps reminded them that safety was always just an illusion.