I stepped out of the tent after she fell asleep. I rolled my shoulders, exhaling hard, half expecting no one to be around. But there he was, leaning against a jagged post like he'd been waiting for me all morning.
Thales.
He didn't say anything at first, just flicked his eyes at me with that calm look he always had. Then, after a few seconds, he smirked slightly.
"I heard everything."
"Of course you did. You always do. You're like a shadow, you know that?"
He ignored the jab. "You don't usually talk that much but you said a lot in there about her."
"Yeah, well don't get the wrong idea. An inspirational speech isn't going to change her. It won't change anyone. That girl doesn't need words. She needs time. Whatever I said in there is just… a stake in the ground or something to hold onto before she drives herself off a cliff."
Thales tilted his head, studying me like I was some puzzle piece jammed into the wrong box.
"Why do you care so much?"
"That's a dumb question. You heard me in there. She's—"
"No, why you? This isn't you. You don't stick your neck out unless it's necessary since high school. So why her?"
I stopped walking, looking at the snow under my boots. It was easy. I don't want to die.
The plot of Masquerade of Dreams: Shattered is not fixed anymore. Every damn choice we make as Outers feels heavier, like we're skating on thin glass. If she dies, who knows what happens? Maybe if the story collapses, we all do.
So I gave another of my reasons.
"She's strong, Thales. For a Commoner, she's ridiculously strong. It's a waste to let someone like her burn out this early. And she's my first friend since I came here. That counts for something, doesn't it?"
"Yeah. That counts."
"Don't worry, I'd do the same for you. But thankfully you already crawled out of your hero complex pit, so I don't have to babysit you too."
That earned me the tiniest laugh out of him. "True."
"See? I'm consistent."
We walked a few paces in silence before he said, "We should move. I scouted earlier and found it."
"Found what?"
"The Slime Octopus."
I let out a long sigh. "Of course you did. No rest for the damned, huh?"
"Never."
I rolled my eyes but motioned forward.
"Alright then. Let's go. Just us, yeah?"
"Just us. Xaessiarerich can hold the others here. I already spoke with her."
That made me blink.
"Wait, you spoke with her and lived to tell about it?"
"Clearly."
"How? I can't even ask my sister what's for dinner without risking bloodshed."
Thales's lips twitched. "You underestimate me."
"No, I think you underestimate her. You sure she didn't lace whatever deal you struck with poison?"
"She only cares about one thing."
"Fluvehearts."
"Exactly. She said it herself. She needs more of them. Which means she'll kill as many Fluviums as it takes to collect them. That alone will keep her entertained. Win-win for us."
I let out a low whistle. "And you pulled that off without her gutting you alive. Color me impressed."
"It's just Xaessiarerich. I know what she wants and the conversation writes itself. She has not changed since high school."
"Mmhm. You make it sound so easy. One of these days, you'll have to teach me how not to get strangled mid-sentence with her."
"Not my job to fix your sister issues."
"Thanks. Real supportive."
He smirked faintly, then raised a hand. In an instant, a massive sword materialized, big enough to use as a platform. He stepped onto it casually.
"You know, one of these days, I'm going wake up and realize all my friends are freaks."
"Already true."
I barked a laugh, shaking my head as I hopped up beside him.
"Fair enough."
The sword hummed under our feet, then lurched upward, slicing through the late morning air. The wind tore at my clothes. Ahead, the mountains loomed. Somewhere out there, the Slime Octopus was waiting. And honestly? After the days I'd had, I almost preferred facing that thing to having another talk about feelings.
Time for the one third of the main act to end.