Chapter 275: Her Father’s Help
Irene felt a bit bad that every time she went to visit her family, it was because she needed something from her family, but if not that, then when else would she see them?
Considering how overly affectionate her father was, she knew that he likely didn’t feel used but merely happy that his daughter was visiting at all. He loved helping others. Despite his rugged appearance, he had a heart for all living things.
Most people didn’t know that, but she preferred it that way. Even though she liked to fight her own battles, she could always hide behind her father if needed.
She and Felix were once again on the trail, but unlike the past couple of weeks, they were more on edge than before. Having to go entirely around the forest where the monsters lay dormant and waiting made them cautious.
The paranoia surrounding monsters would be lifelong after the war they faced and somehow survived. But that was what put them on edge the most. They somehow survived while people they deemed more skilled and experienced than they were did not.
It merely meant they had to work that much harder not to be something more or less worthy of dying. Survival was random at times, and they would beat the variables at whatever cost, just as they had done so far.
Once they got around the northern edge of the forest, their path took them northwest through the central plains for hours. There wasn’t much to see because most of the trees had gone. For miles and miles, they could see around them, which meant that they wouldn’t be snuck up on unless something came from the ground.
The first break, the knights allowed their horses to drink and eat some of the grasses. Felix and Irene drank a bit themselves and had jerky and stale bread that would have to carry them over until they could properly hunt or eat with Irene’s family.
The second break allowed the two to communicate with one another about their plans going forward.
As Irene slipped off her horse to stretch out her body a bit, she turned to Felix, who did the same.
"The sun is setting," he noted. "We ought to find camp soon."