The dark lake was so deep that merely looking at it filled one's heart with inexplicable fear. In the wind, there seemed to be the sound of some massive creature striking the water from the depths of the lake, but no matter how closely they looked, they could see nothing.
Shade poked at the bonfire with a long branch in his hand. After thinking for a moment, he took a ring from his pocket.
"The Plague Doctor Ring can grant immunity to certain special diseases. Wear it; it might come in handy later. Turn the ring's face counterclockwise to use it. No need to refuse—I'm probably physically stronger than you."
Naturally, Iluna did not refuse. After accepting the ring, she asked whether Shade was still carrying her Sun Holy Emblem Brooch. Once he confirmed that he was, they began discussing the Youthful Immortality Leaf again.
Snowflakes drifted down from the black sky, swaying in the wind before landing on their shoulders. Dull sounds periodically echoed from the Great Swamp again, followed by deep, drawn-out calls, but no one knew where they came from. The pitch-black lake reflected the firelight as waves continually lapped against the shore, and amid the rippling reflections appeared the figures of the girl and the Outlander beside the bonfire.
Even though they would soon be forced to face a difficult battle, Iluna still felt that she would remember this moment—the brief respite she and Shade shared beside a bonfire on the shore of a dark lake in the depths of the Great Swamp.
Compared to the four of them on the Mudflat of Death in autumn, this time, there were only her and Shade.
Twenty minutes was not long, and Shade had kept a close eye on the time. As wednesday night was about to pass