(Opening Scene: Astrid stands in the clearing, the wind swirling around her, her stormy gaze fixed on Kurozane and Eclipse after her initial questions in the previous chapter.)
Zane stared at Astrid, a wave of surprise washing over him. In his desperate flight and subsequent confrontation, he had assumed he was entirely alone in the depths of the monster forest. The appearance of a well-equipped noblewoman, wielding the power of the storm, was entirely unexpected. He remained silent, his hand still gripping the Null Blade, his dark eyes narrowed with a mixture of caution and suspicion.
Eclipse, sensing Kurozane's unease, remained coiled and still beside him, its shadowy presence a silent warning to the newcomer.
Astrid observed Zane's reaction – the wary stance, the silent intensity of his gaze. She noted his worn clothes and the unusual, shadowy weapon he held. There was a vulnerability about him despite the fact that he had clearly defeated a dangerous beast. A flicker of something akin to pity softened her stormy features.
Reaching into a pouch at her belt, Astrid produced a wrapped piece of what looked like dried meat and some hardtack. She held it out towards Kurozane, her expression neutral.
"You look like you haven't eaten in days," she said, her voice losing some of its initial sharpness. "Here. It's just travel rations, but it's better than nothing."
Zane hesitated. Trust didn't come easily to him, especially after his experiences in the village and his time alone in the forest. But the gnawing emptiness in his stomach was a persuasive argument. He slowly reached out, his eyes still fixed on Astrid, and took the offered food.
The dried meat had a salty, smoky smell, and the hardtack was tough but filling. He ate slowly, his gaze darting between Astrid and Eclipse, his wariness still palpable. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her sudden appearance than mere chance.
Astrid watched him eat, her arms crossed, her stormy eyes thoughtful. She didn't press him with more questions, allowing him to take his time and perhaps feel a bit more at ease. The wind around her had calmed slightly, the immediate threat of a storm momentarily abated.
The silence stretched between them, punctuated only by the sound of Kurozane cautiously chewing his meager meal and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. An uneasy truce had formed in the clearing, born of Astrid's unexpected offer and Kurozane's desperate hunger. The presence of the shadowy serpent beside him remained a silent, enigmatic factor in their tentative encounter.