08.2 – The Hunter and the Hunted [2]

He was still unconscious when she found him, lying exactly where she had left him. The concealment tarp had done its job — he had been safe and hidden from view, protected by the surrounding debris.

Velmira carefully removed the tarp, checking his vital signs. His pulse was steady and his breathing was regular. The head wound had stopped bleeding and the healing potion seemed to be working. However, he needed to wake up soon; staying unconscious for so long wasn't healthy.

She dampened a cloth with water from her flask and wiped his face, cleaning away blood and dust. Despite everything, despite the violence she had just committed and the lies she was preparing to tell, her hands were steady.

'Come on, Aldric,' she murmured. 'It's time to wake up. We need to get back to Waal.'

There was no response. She tried again, pressing the damp cloth more firmly to his forehead.

His eyelids fluttered.

“That's it. Come back.”

Aldric's eyes opened slowly. At first they were unfocused, but they gradually sharpened. He stared at her for a long moment, confusion evident.

"What... what happened?" His voice was rough and weak.

“The golem activated when you touched that ring,” Velmira said, lying smoothly. “It attacked. Part of the ceiling collapsed. You were hit by falling debris and knocked unconscious.”

He tried to sit up, winced, and then settled for propping himself up on one elbow. His free hand went to his bandaged head.

“How long was I out?”

“A few hours. I destroyed the golem, got you out of the immediate danger zone and treated your injury.”

She helped him sit up properly and supported his back.

“How do you feel?”

“Like I got hit by a falling stone.” He looked around at the ruins. “You destroyed it? The golem?”

“Eventually. It was difficult. But I got lucky — it was damaged by the collapse, and I found a weak point in its construction.” Velmira met his gaze steadily, allowing him to see concern and exhaustion, but not the truth. “You scared me. I thought you were dead when you went down.”

"Sorry." He gave a weak smile. "Hazard of the profession. Scholars die in dusty ruins all the time."

"Don't joke about that."

They were both surprised at how angry she was. Aldric looked less angry.

"You really were worried."

"Of course I was. You're—" She caught herself. "You're my research partner. And... friend. I think."

"You think?" Even though he was hurt, he sounded like he was having fun.

"I'm not very good at making friends. But yes. Friend."

Aldric reached out and squeezed her hand. "Friend. Definitely." Then he looked around more carefully. "Did we find anything useful? Before the disaster?"

"I recorded K.M.'s messages before the collapse. And I have this." She pulled out the [Sentinel Ring], which was now inactive. "It's what triggered the golem. It's some kind of ancient artifact, probably what triggered the whole security system."

"Can I see?"

She handed it over, watching him examine it with scholarly interest despite his injury. The ring was harmless now—it was no longer dangerous, as the danger had gone away.

"What amazing workmanship," Aldric whispered. "The magical circuits are very advanced. This could be worth a lot of money if we can make it work."

"We should keep it quiet for now. If the Association finds out we activated a guardian construct and survived, they'll want to take everything and take over the site."

"I agree. This is between us." He took the ring in his pocket and tried to stand up. His legs were weak, and Velmira caught him immediately.

"Easy. You had a head injury. You shouldn't be walking yet."

"I can't stay here. We need to get back to camp, and then back to Waal." He leaned on her heavily, accepting her support. "Unless you want to carry me the whole way?"

"I could," Velmira said, and meant it. She could carry him easily for miles. But that would raise questions about her strength.

"I was joking. I can walk if I go slowly."

They carefully made their way out of the ruins, Aldric leaning on Velmira's shoulder. The sun was setting, bathing the sky in orange and purple. The Moonveil Cloak's protection was less necessary, the drain fading.

Their camp was still standing — the demon didn't attack it, too busy hunting her. Velmira helped Aldric to his bedroll, then started getting food ready and checking their supplies.

"We should stay here tonight," she said. "Let you recover. We can start back to Waal tomorrow."

"Probably wise." Aldric touched his bandaged head carefully. "I don't think I could do a full day's hike right now."

Velmira built up the fire, more for Aldric's comfort than her own need. She forced down some bread and cheese while Aldric ate properly, maintaining the illusion of shared humanity.

"Thank you," Aldric said quietly. "For saving me. For staying when you could have run."

"Where would I run to?" Velmira asked. "You're the only person I've trusted since I arrived here."

"Still. You could have made your own safety a priority. You didn't have to risk yourself for me."

But she had. Without hesitation. The moment the golem threatened him, every instinct told her to protect. Even though she knew he was mortal and would die in two years, she chose to save him.

"You're worth saving," Velmira said simply.

Aldric didn't say anything for a long time. Then:

"Does it bother you? Do you know I'm on borrowed time?"

Did it? She had known from the start, had accepted it, and had decided that the time was important, even though it was short.

"Yes," she said honestly. "But I'm choosing to work with you anyway. I'll be your friend anyway. Because the other option is to be alone, and I've had enough of that."

"Frieren's choice," Aldric said gently. "Connection despite inevitable loss."

"Maybe she knows something we don't."

"Or maybe she's just braver than most immortals." He lay back on his bedroll and stared up at the stars. "Does she regret it? Taking mortal apprentices? Knowing she'll outlive them by centuries?"

Velmira thought about the question. "I think... regret means wishing you'd done things differently. I don't think Frieren would choose to be alone over being with other people, even though it might be hard. So no. She doesn't regret it. She is sad, but she doesn't regret her actions."

"That's a nice distinction. Grief without regret." Aldric was starting to feel very tired and his injury was starting to hurt. "I hope you won't be sorry that you chose to be my friend, Velmira. Even when I'm gone."

"I won't," she promised, though she wasn't sure if she was lying or not.

He fell asleep very quickly, breathing evenly, and started to feel better.

Velmira sat by the fire, thinking about the demon she had killed, the lies she had told and the secret she was keeping.

K.M. had survived for seven years before demons found them. Velmira had lasted two weeks.

But she had won. At least she had killed one demon. Who knows how many demons will come for her?

But anyway, she had killed her hunter and protected Aldric in the process.

The win felt empty.

How many more would she have to kill? How many more lies would she have to tell?

How long would it be before the weight of it all crushed whatever humanity she had left?

Velmira looked down at her hands. They were pale and clean, with no sign of the violence she had committed hours earlier. Hands that had torn out a demon's heart. Hands that had saved Aldric's life.

Monster hands. Guardian hands. The line between them was thinner than she'd ever imagined.

"I'm sorry, Aldric," she whispered to his sleeping form. "I'm sorry for lying to you."

But she'd do it again. She would carry on lying, hiding and protecting him from the truth about who she really was.

That was the choice she'd made. It's better to be honest. It's all about keeping things secret.

Sometimes, love needs to be a bit dishonest. You have to pretend to be your best self so that your partner can get a good night's sleep.

Velmira fed the fire and kept watch through the night.

She was both a guardian and a deceiver, and she wondered which role would define her in the end.

End of Chapter 8