The forest was unnervingly silent as I trudged forward, a little furball nestled snugly against my neck inside my collar.

  "That fucker is still out there," I muttered under my breath, gripping the hilt tighter. "Judging by the grievous wounds I gave to him, It will need some time to heal and recover"

  The Outer that had escaped earlier lingered in my thoughts like a splinter I couldn't remove. The Fact it retreated and not fought till its last breath shows hints at intelligence and I wasn't naive enough to think this was done.

  No that fucker would recover and will come for me if my broken memories hold true, then…no no matter what I’ll prepare for him and all others.

  The kitten mewed softly, her tiny head peeking out to survey our surroundings.

  "Yeah, I know, buddy," I said, glancing down at the little furball. "We'll deal with it when the time comes and I need to be proficient in use of essences…no point of them if can’t even use them"

  A heavy sigh escaped me as I pushed the thought away. Mom's lessons were distant echoes now—Her voice, once so clear in my mind, was fading like smoke. I shook my head to dispel the creeping melancholy.

  "Later," I muttered. "Focus on not dying first and finding a place to camp"

  A soft sound caught my attention.

  That's the sound of running water…

  Navigating the dense forest took longer than I'd hoped—thirty-five grueling minutes of sidestepping thorny underbrush and ducking under low-hanging branches.

  Before I could fully relax, movement flickered at the edge of my vision. Exira which I was using a radar pinged, locking onto a deer-like creature grazing near the water's edge. Exotic or not, it was meat, and that was all that mattered.

  The creature raised its head, large eyes widening as it sensed me too late. A swift burst of Exira's presence slammed onto the deer. It crumpled to the ground without so much as a cry.

  Meow!

  The kitten purred loudly, leaping out of my collar and padding over to inspect our fallen prey.

  "I suppose we’ll be eating fresh meat" I said, hoisting the deer's surprisingly light body over my shoulder. The kitten looked up at me, meowing as if asking for permission to approach the water.

  "Hah!" I laughed, waving a dismissive hand. "Yeah, go ahead, but don't drown yourself, furball."

  Mew!!!

  She let out an excited meow and bounded toward the riverbank. Crouching low, her little nose twitched as it sniffed the cool stream. She tested the water with a cautious paw, splashing lightly before dipping its head to drink.

  "Careful!" I called out, shaking my head with a grin. "If you fall in, I'm not fishing you out."

  The kitten ignored me, too engrossed in her new discovery to care about my warnings. Watching it, I felt a rare smile tug at my lips.

  I stretched, rolling my shoulders to ease the tension that had settled there. The peaceful scene was a stark contrast to the chaos of earlier, and for a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to breathe. But reality was a relentless bastard.

  But I can live in these moments just for a bit…I think I deserve that much

  "Right," I muttered, cracking my neck. "Camp first, meat later."

  I scanned the area, my eyes settling on a small clearing not far from the water. Sheltered by towering trees and with enough space to build something sturdy, it would do nicely. With a plan forming in my mind, I got to work.

  First, I gathered dry wood for a bonfire, stacking it carefully before striking a spark. The flames roared to life, their warmth chasing away the encroaching chill of the evening.

  Next came the shelter. I surveyed the surroundings, selecting sturdy logs and broad leaves—reminiscent of banana leaves but larger—to create a makeshift structure. Using my sword as a tool, I cut and shaped the materials, dragging them into place piece by piece.

  The kitten, meanwhile, watched me intently from a nearby rock, her head tilted as if judging my every move.

  "What?..." I said, glancing over my shoulder. "You think you can do better?"

  meow!

  She let out a cheeky meow, hopping closer to paw at one of the logs that had rolled out of place.

  "Great" I muttered, rolling my eyes.

  As the hours ticked by, I continued piecing the shelter together, sweat trickling down my brow. Each time I made an adjustment, I would glance at the kitten and ask, "What do you think? This meet your high standards?"

  It would meow in response—sometimes approving, sometimes hopping over to swat at something that clearly didn't meet its expectations.

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  "Alright, alright," I chuckled after one such moment. "I'll fix it. Don't get your tail in a twist."

  By the time I finished, night had fully descended, the forest bathed in the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the canopy. The shelter stood sturdy and surprisingly well-made, its roof of layered leaves promising some protection against the elements.

  I stepped back, hands on my hips as I admired my handiwork. "Not half bad," I said, glancing down at the kitten. “It sure is cozy"

  She let out an approving meow, rubbing affectionately against my leg before hopping into the shelter and curling up on the bed of leaves I'd laid out.

  "Figures," I sighed, shaking my head. "You get the first spot. Your highness"

  haaa…

  I settled down near the bonfire, my muscles protesting as I eased myself onto a fallen log. The ache in my body was a testament to the day's trials, but my spirits were oddly lifted. Watching the kitten settle in, I allowed myself a rare moment of contentment.

  "Alright, furball," I said, leaning back. "Gotta need a name for you, whatever happens you are family now"

  The kitten purred softly, her tiny form rising and falling with each contented breath.

  For the first time in what felt like ages, I felt a sliver of peace. The fire crackled, casting dancing shadows around us. The river babbled nearby, a soothing backdrop to the otherwise silent night. The little ball of fur snuggled in the shelter was a comforting reminder that I wasn't entirely alone in this gods-forsaken place.

  Tomorrow would bring new challenges, more blood, and likely more monsters. But for now, I allowed myself to relax, if only for a little while.

  "Okay, it's done I think" I muttered, tying off the last knot on the crisscrossed logs. I gave the ropes one final tug to ensure they held firm. Satisfied, I tested the structure with my weight, leaning into it with a grunt. When it didn't so much as creak, I collapsed onto my makeshift bed with a groan of relief.

  I scattered some leaves and spare clothing beneath me for cushioning, but it wasn't much. The surface was still uneven and hard, but compared to stone floors or cold dirt, this felt like pure luxury.

  "Ahhh, my back... this is heaven," I sighed, sprawling out with my arms behind my head. My body ached from the day's exertions, but the faint crackle of the bonfire and the gentle rustling of leaves in the night breeze began to soothe me.

  "Meow!"

  I looked down to see the kitten glaring up at me with an annoyed expression, her tiny paws scratching futilely at the logs of the bed.

  She had tried—and failed—to climb up, and her frustration was palpable.

  I couldn't help but laugh. "Hahaa…"

  The kitten let out an indignant meow, her tail lashing back and forth.

  "Alright, alright," I relented, sitting up. I reached down and scooped the kitten up, setting her beside me on the bed. "There. Happy now?"

  It didn't even acknowledge my effort. Instead, it immediately began rolling around, sniffing at the leaves and pawing at the rope bindings.

  "Cats…a corgi would have been nice" I muttered with a smirk.

  An idea struck me. Reaching into my pack, I pulled out some spare leather and a bit of rope. With nimble fingers, I quickly fashioned a small ball.

  "Here," I said, tossing it lightly onto the bed. "Something to keep you busy."

  The kitten's eyes lit up, pupils dilating as it focused on the new toy. She pounced immediately, batting it around with enthusiasm, tiny paws a blur as she chased it across the bed.

  "You're good for the soul," I said quietly, leaning back on one elbow. Seeing it play—carefree and innocent—was a strange comfort amidst the chaos that had become my life.

  But peace was a fickle friend. Shaking my head, I sat up. "Alright, enough lazing around," I muttered.

  The kitten paused, tilting her head to look at me, the leather ball pinned under one paw.

  "I'm not feeding you raw meat," I said, wagging a finger at her. "So don't give me that look."

  It let out a plaintive meow, eyes wide and imploring.

  "Don't try that cute shit on me," I warned, though a smile tugged at my lips. "It won't work."

  The kitten blinked slowly, then resumed batting the ball around, clearly unbothered by my refusal.

  I stood up, stretching my arms overhead until I felt the satisfying pop of my spine. My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since... hell, I couldn't even remember.

  "Time to fix that," I said to myself. Using my bone knife, I skewered the meat and made shallow criss cross cuts along its surface. Sprinkling a bit of salt and a pinch of spice mix I'd managed to scavenge, I placed the skewer over the flames to cook.

  The sizzling sound filled the air almost immediately, and the aroma that wafted up made my mouth water.

  "Meow!"

  I looked down to see the kitten sitting beside the fire, tail wagging furiously. her wide eyes were locked onto the cooking meat, a line of drool dripping from its tiny mouth as She swayed side to side in anticipation.

  "Holy shit, look at you," I laughed. "How in hell did you get here so fast…earlier you were struggling just to climb?"

  Meoww

  She let out another eager meow, head bobbing as if to say, Hurry up!

  "Patience, furball," I said, turning the skewer slightly to let the meat cook evenly. "You'll get your share. Eventually."

  Smirking, I turned my gaze to the deer carcass lying nearby. The soft crackle of the fire and the kitten's excited meows filled the night as I stood, pulling the shaman's skull staff from my ring.

  The object felt heavier in my hand under the moonlight. The intricate carvings along the shaft seemed to glow faintly, and the hollow sockets of the skull stared blankly ahead, emanating a subtle aura of power.

  "Alright, let's see what this thing can do," I murmured, walking over to the deer.

  The kitten's meowing faltered slightly as she watched me leave, but her attention quickly returned to the roasting meat.

  I knelt beside the deer, laying the staff across its body. A faint hum resonated through the wood, as if reacting to the fresh corpse.

  "So how should I use it?"

  Closing my eyes, I let Exira hum softly in my other hand. Carefully, I guided the energy, allowing it to flow into the staff and resonate with the essence inside.

  The reaction was immediate. The skull's eye sockets flared red for a brief moment, and I felt a subtle pull—like an invisible thread connecting the staff to the blood lingering in the deer's body.

  "Interesting," I muttered, pulling the staff back. For now, I returned the staff to my ring and stood, brushing off my hands.

  The mouthwatering smell of the cooking meat reached me as I turned back toward the fire.

  "Alright, furball," I called, grinning at the kitten's eager stance. "It's almost ready "

  I chuckled, settling back down by the fire. As the meat finished cooking, I skewered another piece, letting it roast as I tore a small chunk from the first for the kitten.

  "Here," I said, holding it out. "Just don't burn your tongue."

  The kitten sniffed the meat cautiously before grabbing it with both paws, gnawing happily as her tiny tail swished behind it.

  I leaned back, chewing on my portion as the fire crackled beside us. The stars above were scattered like diamonds on velvet, and the cool night air was refreshing against my skin.

  HOUSE OF END DISCORD

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