The bodies of countless beasts lay scattered across the ground.
Werther flicked Intent Blood. Blood slid down its gleaming blade and stained the dead leaves red.
Intent Blood did not deign to absorb the beasts' blood.
"Werther, what are you doing here? My brother contacted you, didn't he? Whatever happened, thank you."
Catarina's voice was a little hoarse. When Werther had first met her, she had been unable to speak. Her throat had suffered a terrible injury, and though it had healed, her original voice had never returned.
But her voice now had a beauty of its own. Beneath the rasp lay a feminine softness that sent a pleasant tingle through the listener.
"Ferdinand contacted Doffy, and Doffy came to me. How are you? Are you all right?"
Werther frowned slightly as he looked at Catarina, who was covered in blood.
"You're hurt?"
Catarina gave a quiet hum and looked away.
"I took a few hits fighting the beasts earlier, but it's nothing serious."
"No. I mean your leg. Your shinbone is cracked. That injury is at least a month old, isn't it?"
Catarina specialized in kicks, yet her shinbone was badly fractured.
What did that mean? If her fighting strength had once been a ten, it was now a five at best.
"Yes. I ran into some powerful enemies. I killed them, but I was badly hurt in the fight. My strength has fallen by at least half."
Catarina spoke lightly, as though the injury to her leg did not matter.
"Werther, let's leave that for now. Catarina and I are both filthy, and we haven't eaten in ages.
"We'll wash up, then get something to eat. There's a stream nearby."
Something about Ferdinand's words struck Werther as strange.
"All right."
Werther said nothing more and followed the two