Their journey kept going. After a few hours, it was almost night. The sun had already set, so they decided to take rest. But first—
"We should collect some branches for the bonfire before it gets too dark. It'll be good so we can eat in the light, and it'll also make it easier to keep watch at night," Rin said in a commanding tone.
Luca, Ming, and Deiba nodded, and Ming said, "Yes, you're right."
Then everyone started collecting branches. When they had gathered enough, they placed them on the ground.
Luca asked, "How will we burn it?"
Rin took out a matchbox from his pocket. That surprised them a little, and Ming asked with curiosity, "How did you have this?"
Rin turned his head slightly toward him and replied in a calm voice, "We all have matchboxes for emergencies like this. So don't be surprised—we use them only when needed."
Ming asked again, "Then why didn't you use it before? I mean, yesterday?"
As Ming asked that, Luca also looked curious. Rin replied, "Because that time my clothes were wet, and the matchbox was wet too. Obviously, it wasn't possible to use it then."
Ming and Luca nodded in understanding. Rin adjusted the branches and tried to light them, but they wouldn't catch fire. They tried for a few minutes, but it still didn't work. Rin sighed, stood up, and turned toward Luca, Ming, and Deiba.
"Does anyone have a paper?" he asked.
Everyone shook their heads no. But then Ming suddenly remembered that he had a diary his brother had given him.
"Wait! I have a diary," he said, opening his bag and taking it out. He flipped through the pages, looking for empty ones. Suddenly, his eyes fell on a line: "He was sad but—" Ming ignored it and kept turning the pages. Then another line caught his eye: "I need to do something. I have to—"
Ming kept ignoring it and continued until he finally found the last three empty pages of the diary. He tore them out and handed them to Rin.
Rin took them and said, "Now we need dry leaves."
Luca, Ming, and Deiba nodded. Ming put his diary back in his bag and helped collect dry leaves from the ground. When they gathered enough, they threw them on the branches. Rin placed two pages under them and lit the third one in his hand, using it to ignite the rest. The branches finally caught fire.
Everyone sat around the bonfire. Rin took out some bread from his bag and gave it to everyone. They began to eat together.
Then Deiba said, "Thank you all for everything."
They all turned their heads toward her. Rin responded in a firm but gentle voice, "You don't have to thank us... it was our duty."
As Rin said that, Ming and Luca nodded in agreement. Luca added with a bright, kind smile, "Yes. And also, you're like our sister."
Deiba smiled under her face veil. Rin said softly, "You don't have to worry. We'll protect you."
Deiba nodded gratefully. It was a sweet, calm, and peaceful moment.
After a few minutes, Luca said, "Tonight, I'll keep watch."
Rin and Ming turned toward him in surprise, and Ming asked, "Are you sure?"
Luca nodded with confidence. They didn't like the idea because of Luca's injury, but eventually, they agreed.
After about twenty minutes, everyone was in a deep sleep, while Luca sat in front of the bonfire, keeping watch. Suddenly, someone sat beside him. He turned—it was Deiba.
Luca was surprised but smiled kindly and asked, "Couldn't sleep?"
Deiba nodded. Luca couldn't read her expression because of the veil. Then he asked, "Will you ever remove that veil... that face mask?"
Deiba was a bit surprised by the question but replied, "Yes... but only when I feel I can trust someone even more than I trust myself."
Luca nodded slowly in understanding. "Oh, okay... I think it's getting late. You should sleep," he said softly and kindly.
Deiba nodded. Then, suddenly, she said, "Sorry."
Luca was surprised, but before he could ask anything, Deiba stood up, walked back to where she had been sleeping, lay down under the tree, and closed her eyes.
Luca was confused. He shook his head and thought maybe she said sorry because she felt like a burden. Then he ignored it.
Meanwhile, at the headquarters, everyone was in their rooms, prepared to sleep. Just as they were about to, they suddenly heard—
"ROOOAAAAARRRR!!"
Back in the forest, Deiba suddenly opened her eyes. They were glowing red like blood.
What was that? What will happen to them now? Danger lurked everywhere—in the forest... and even in the headquarters.
End of Chapter 26