In the cold, rainy weather, two people were advancing steadily along a narrow, muddy, and mist-covered road. The path was surrounded by dense bushes and thickets. Though the rain was falling lightly, the cold was growing steadily harsher.
"Where are you taking me?" the tall, lanky guy asked, panting, his tone rough.
"Are you sure you're not possessed by some witch or something?"
The last part slipped out of his mouth without much thought — just careless, offhand sarcasm.
"Just keep walking," Sydrala shot back, running ahead. "This isn't the time for nonsense. Someone's life is in danger."
Cam turned toward her, his face clearly reading "You've completely lost it." But he still started running too.
In no time, they reached the large bush where Sydrala had earlier laid a man down beside a tree. But now, the situation had worsened. The cold bit harder. The fog thickened.
"The mud has spread even more here," Sydrala muttered to herself. "There are more pits around this bush... and you can't even see them."
"I've already slipped here six times. I need to be careful now."
She was just thinking this when a sudden thought crossed her mind — Cam is right behind me!
She opened her mouth to warn him, but before she could say a word—
"Ahh!"
She turned her head just in time to see Cam face down in the mud. His hair was soaked and matted with dirt. He was trying to get up, grumbling with frustration.
Sydrala burst out laughing.
"Oops… forgot to mention — these bushes hide a lot of pits."
Cam's face was something to behold. Somehow, it had miraculously escaped the mud — but his hair and clothes were absolutely wrecked.
And one more thing: Cam hated dirt. Just the sight of it was enough to drive him up the wall — and right now, he was losing it.
"Sydrala, couldn't you have told me earlier?" he snapped. "Are you insane?! A handsome guy like me came out here to help you in this god-awful rain and—"
Before he could finish, Sydrala, still laughing, cut in,
"I think your eyes and brain both need fixing. Who told you you're handsome?"
Cam's expression turned stormy.
"I'm going back," he huffed. "I'm gonna puke from all this filth."
He looked down at himself with a face full of disgust, taking in the mud-caked mess.
Sydrala cursed him mentally but kept a sweet smile.
"Oh, come on, I was just kidding! Honestly, I've never seen a guy more charming and good-looking than you."
She rolled her eyes and added,
"Now let's go — before that poor guy dies… dazzled by your beauty."
Before Cam could fire back, a faint groaning sound echoed from the other side of the bushes.
Both of them froze and turned their attention toward it.
They forgot their argument and began carefully making their way toward the sound, avoiding the invisible pits.
Sydrala's gut twisted with unease, while Cam was still busy trying not to gag from the lingering filth.
When they saw him, Cam stopped in his tracks.
A man lay against a tree, completely caked in mud and clearly wounded — barely conscious.
"We need to get him to your uncle. Fast!" Cam blurted.
Sydrala looked at him sideways.
"Ohhh… so now you get it? I think I've been saying that — what, in a different language or something? The moment you saw English subtitles, suddenly it made sense?"
Cam scowled, but before he could bite back, another groan silenced both of them.
They hurried to help the man.
"Cam, grab him by the waist and carefully lift his arm over your shoulder. I'll support him from the other side," Sydrala said, focused.
"I don't need your orders, alright?" Cam grumbled. "And why me? Why not you? He's covered in mud — can't we clean him off a bit first?!"
Sydrala looked ready to punch him.
She glared.
"Are you on some kind of drugs lately? I didn't bring you here to film a vlog: 'Hi guys! Watch how a girl saves a man twice her size in the pouring rain!'"
She exhaled dramatically.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I'll just go fetch soap and water from… I don't know, the enchanted forest stream? , to clean this innocent looking which disturbed our handsome boy ".
Cam wanted to argue — maybe a full-fledged fight — but now wasn't the time. The man's condition was getting worse.
He ran a hand through his hair — instantly feeling the gritty mud — and muttered a few curses under his breath.
"Alright, fine... let's lift him."
Sydrala, half amused and half annoyed, nodded and got into position.
Cam followed her earlier instructions — lifted the man's arm and wrapped it over his shoulder — while Sydrala supported the other side.
The man's head lolled, and Cam wrinkled his nose as it leaned onto him.
Sydrala led the way, keeping an eye on the ground, guiding them past the hidden pits.
Step by step, they made it out onto the narrow road, slowly veering toward the main street.
"All the weight's on me," Cam panted. "Can't you carry him a little better?"
Sydrala didn't answer. Her mind was on her uncle and the wounded man.
Cam noticed — and wisely shut up.
They stepped off the road. The rain had eased, and a few people and cars were now passing by.
People began to notice them.
Some glanced and moved on. A few nearby grew uneasy and backed away.
Only two men came closer.
One tall, with a thick beard and a flowing white robe.
The other short, chubby, with unusually pale skin.
The robed man showed no fear, no confusion.
With a soft, steady voice, he asked,
"Why are you coming from that direction? And why are you in this state?"
Sydrala and Cam exchanged a glance.
Cam, mentally kicking himself, thought, "Why did I ever leave my house today?"
He looked at Sydrala, silently begging her to speak.
But Sydrala didn't know what to say. That road — everyone knew it was off-limits.
She slowly lifted her gaze to the bearded man and said calmly,
"We heard someone groaning from that side. When we went to check, we found this man, injured. We got dirty trying to help him."
The pale man's eyes moved to the injured man — his expression tightened.
He whispered something to the robed one, who nodded in quiet understanding.
"This man is badly hurt," the pale man said. "You heard his cries and helped him. That's what matters."
Sydrala and Cam both nodded.
Before they could say anything else, the pale man added,
"He's critical. Come with us — I'll take him to the hospital in my car."
They were a little startled by the sudden help — unsure what to say.
The man in the robe smiled gently.
"Don't worry. We're not strangers. Let's just help him now."
Sydrala glanced at the unconscious man, her heart pinching with guilt.
She nodded quietly, and they started moving toward the car.
On the way, they apologized for getting mud all over it.
But the two men only smiled — their eyes soft, almost kindly.
The car was a simple dark-blue sedan, old but well-maintained.
The pale man got into the driver's seat, the bearded one beside him.
Cam and Sydrala got in the back with the injured man between them.
Just as the car started, Sydrala suddenly said — a bit rushed, a bit worried:
"Please take us to SM Hospital — it's the closest."
The robed man chuckled, not even looking back.
"That's where we're headed. Everyone goes there. It's the best around… and it has a very famous doctor."
"Umm… what was his name? Sa… something? Sa-dako?" the robed man said thoughtfully.
The moment the name left his lips, Sydrala's face lit up.
Of course — that was her uncle.
Cam noticed the change.
He raised an eyebrow, caught on instantly, and gave her a sideways look that said, "Oh, I see."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
After that, no one spoke. The car drove silently through the streets.
Cam and Sydrala kept watching the man closely, making sure he stayed conscious.
A little while later, the pale man finally spoke.
"We're here. This is the hospital."