Chapter 46: Arrow
The tent was set up among the trees. The rain pounded steadily against the roof, marking a steady rhythm. The wind whistled through the branches, making the treetops rustle. It was cold and damp, but at least they had shelter.
Thanks to the food they’d managed to warm over the small fire Caelan had lit, Jae fell asleep quickly, curled up under a blanket with his eyes closed and his face serene. He was breathing deeply, his chest rising and falling slowly.
Rong Ye, on the other hand, did not sleep.
He lay awake, his back against one of the tent’s inner walls, the blanket pulled up to his chin, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, following the shadows the storm cast. He had always been a light sleeper, but that night, neither fatigue nor shelter were enough to quell the restlessness that kept him awake.
Caelan moved gently, sitting nearby but keeping a respectful distance. He watched him for a moment in silence before speaking.
"Aren’t you going to sleep?"
Rong Ye didn’t reply. He just looked away.
"I don’t mean to upset you," Caelan added. "I just wanted to... apologize."
Rong Ye tightened his lips, not looking at him.
"I know I was a jerk to you," Caelan continued. "I judged you without knowing. I pushed you too far, and I know you didn’t deserve it. I don’t always know when to stop... but this time, it was too much."
Rong Ye closed his eyes for a moment, hoping not to hear, hoping not to feel anything. But something in Caelan’s tone, in his low, sincere voice, kept him grounded.
"I just want to know," Caelan said carefully, "why you hid from us the fact that you were a Guide."