Layra reopened her eyes only to find herself inside the small shelter constructed of leaves and branches. However, she quickly realized that the surface she was resting against was neither a cluster of leaves nor branches, but actually Kael, and that her head was nestled against his chest.
Moreover, between the two of them lay a small girl, appearing to be around two years old, with short silver hair and wearing a white gown resembling a nightdress—half-elf, half-human. Her facial expression clearly showed that she was in a deep and peaceful sleep.
Upon seeing this tableau, Layra involuntarily blushed and felt embarrassed. She desperately wanted to regain control of her thoughts, but this was the first time in her life she had not only woken up next to a man but had also spent the night in the same room with one. She tried to quickly jump up from her spot, but the girl beside her—or rather, the daughter—was wrapped around her arm, and Layra did not want to wake her. So, she calmed herself down and carefully slid over to the other corner of the shelter.
Kael and the girl in his arms were still sleeping, or at least, that is what she thought. In truth, Kael had been awake for a while; he was simply pretending to sleep so as not to disturb the two of them. Layra, feeling ashamed, would turn away every time she looked toward him, and before long, she fell asleep again.
Once Kael was sure Layra had fallen asleep again, he carefully nestled the girl in his arms closer to her mother and stepped outside. He sensed no mana from any living creature around them except for the small insects on the ground and in the trees.
Suddenly, Kael began to feel a sensation he hadn't experienced in a long time: hunger. This feeling reminded Kael that he was still a mortal being and, like other humans, needed to perform his vital activities.
"Damn it, just when I thought I'd forgotten, I started feeling hungry again," Kael cursed under his breath. "I wonder if the other two are in the same condition as me. I can endure it, but it would be wise to quickly find something for them to eat. The problem is, there isn't even a monster around, let alone food. What am I supposed to do now?"
Kael began to wander the forest aimlessly. After walking for a while, he decided to return to Layra's side, but precisely at that moment, a sound of an explosion coming from a distance caught his attention. He swiftly leaped through the tree branches to reach a high vantage point. Looking in the direction of the sound, he saw smoke rising approximately two or three hundred meters away, just beyond the edge of the enormous forest.
"If I go there, I am sure to find something or someone, but the main problem is that I need to go to where the smoke is rising and get back before they wake up. I hope I can return in time."
Kael moved as fast as possible among the colossal branches of the trees. The branches cracked with every step he took, as if they were about to shatter, and the leaves scattered in his wake were swept up by the wind created by his speed, as though caught in a fierce gale. The end of the forest came into view through the tight branches, and with every leap and every crack of a branch, he drew closer. Yes, only a few trees remained, but his mind was with those he had left behind. He felt an incredibly strong urge to turn back, yet he pushed on, knowing he had to continue.
Finally, he reached the last tree and launched himself upward with all the strength he could muster. The impact of this maneuver produced a loud crash as the branch splintered beneath him. On one side was a vast, towering wall of colossal trees; on the other, in stark contrast, was an endless expanse of grassland.
Kael's final leap carried him to the very top of the massive trees, allowing him to see both of these stark opposites and the location, now not so far away, from which the smoke and the sound of the explosion were coming.