Chapter 126: [126] Not a Hero
The gentle rocking of the wagon matched the rhythm of Xavier’s pounding headache. He cradled Naomi in his arms, her breathing slow and steady against his chest. The thin blanket barely kept the cold at bay, but her warmth against him did more than any wool ever could.
"How’s she doing?" Efler asked from the driver’s seat, her voice low enough not to wake Naomi. She glanced back, golden eyes catching what little light remained in the darkening sky.
"Still sleeping," Xavier replied, brushing a strand of hair from Naomi’s face. "Exhaustion finally caught up with her."
Efler nodded, returning her attention to the snowy path ahead. "Smart woman. She should rest while she can."
Xavier studied Efler’s profile, searching for hints of Ashley beneath the unfamiliar features. The same sharp jawline. The same watchful eyes that missed nothing. The same protective instinct that had made her take charge after the attack, organizing survivors with calm efficiency.
The wagon hit a rut, jostling them. Naomi stirred but didn’t wake.
"Sorry," Efler said. "Path’s getting worse. We’ll be lucky to reach the waypoint before full dark."
Xavier nodded, glancing at the other two wagons trailing behind them. What was once a caravan looked like a funeral procession now—twenty-five people cut to eleven.
He should have felt something about that. Guilt, maybe. Sorrow for the lives lost. But all he felt was relief that Naomi was safe in his arms, that Efler—Ashley—was alive and guiding them forward.
I’m not a hero, he thought. Never claimed to be one.
In his previous life, he’d have been the one capitalizing on the carnage, not preventing it. Progress, he supposed.
While Naomi slept, Xavier closed his eyes and summoned his status screen. The translucent pink interface appeared in his mind’s eye, displaying his stats and Soul Bonds.