The next morning, the faint light of dawn crept through the cracks of the wooden shed.
Mino blinked awake, her sleepy eyes adjusting to the pale glow. For a moment, she didn't move — her mind still clouded with the thoughts that had kept her awake most of the night.
Should I really leave with Luciel?
The question had circled endlessly in her head until exhaustion finally claimed her.
"Sniff…"
Her nose twitched. A warm, savory scent drifted through the shed.
She sat up, blinking, and followed the smell. Over by the small fire pit, Luciel was crouched beside a makeshift iron pot hung from a wooden frame. A few glowing coals flickered beneath it, and the gentle bubbling of boiling meat filled the air.
"Awake?" Luciel turned his head slightly, stirring the pot with a spoon. "Get up and eat something."
Mino stared at him for a moment in surprise. Normally, she was the one who prepared their morning meal.
"Your body… you're already healed?" she asked softly.
