In the center of the quiet grasslands under the stars fill sky is a campfire crackling softly as the flame burn away woods while cooking some kind of meat as it sizzling and give off a unique fragrance,

The orange glow of the campfire casting out long shadows over the three unlikely companions who unknown to this world and to each other.

The carcass of the meat lay some distance away, its massive size a stark reminder of the battle they had just endured. Over the fire, chunks of its meat sizzling on makeshift skewers.

Sat cross-legged on the grass while using a stick to poke at the cooking meat with a thoughtful and questioning expression. His eyes, sharper and darker than one might expect from a young man yet still hint a bit of curiousity when he look at the skewer of meats infront of him.

“Are we even sure this thing’s meat is edible?” Rudeus asked, his voice low and tinged with caution, questioning the credibility and safety of the what know as Wyvern meat.
“For all we know, it could be poisonous or worse. Wyvern meat isn’t exactly common back home.”

Rory Mercury, seated opposite him, rested her chin on her hand. Though she right now is oddly quiet, her crimson eyes fixed on Rimuru, who sat between them. She didn’t seem to care about the meat or the conversation. Instead, her gaze pierced through Rimuru as if she could see something no one else could.

Although being stare at like that Rimuru doesn't seem to notice as he continue to cook the meat
“It’s fine,” said casually while flipping his own skewer, a small smile grown on Rimuru face while he clarifying the safetiness of the meat “My skill [Great Sag—uh, Raphael] already analyzed it and no toxin so It’ll be edible... I think.”

Rory tilted her head slightly then speak up with curious voice, “You seem awfully chipper for someone with a soul broken as yourself, Rimuru.”  her words is cutting through the warm air like a knife while her crimson eyes piercing though the orange light to look at Rimuru.

And the remark made Rudeus pause, hand freezing mid-turn on the skewer as he glanced at Rimuru, curious but yet dare saying nothing as the tensions grown high.

Hearing Rory word for a moment Rimuru’s before he let out a chuckle, eyesing the flame infront of him. “Broken soul? That’s a dramatic way to said it.”

“but.. that one way to put it...” Took a bite of the wyvern meat, Rimuru chewing thoughtfully tasting the uniqueness of it then spoken up not denying what Rory said.

Rory didn’t laugh. Her halberd rested beside her, but the weight of her presence was almost tangible. “You lost something important. A missing piece of a puzzle. It’s not just damage, it’s fill your heart with emptiness and disappointed.”

Swallowed hard, Rimuru leaning back laying on the grass as he looking up at the stars thinking about something or someone, maybe a preson he left behind or a unfinish busniss of his.

“You’re not wrong,” he admitted as painfull as it sound.
“I did lose part of my soul. It happened during… let’s call it a bad day. Not only that I fail my family too.... But complain about that won’t change my failure since at the end of the day... life go on wether I want to or not.”

Rudeus who been quiet through out all of this spoke up, his voice more subdued than before. “Losing something like that… doesn’t it make you feel hollow?”

Rimuru gave a small shrug. “Maybe. But self Pitty ain't gonna fix it... I can’t afford to wallow in the mistakes I created.”

Turned his head, Rimuru’s eyes with Rudeus and his look is fill a somewhat determination look of someone rebuild their life back. “Not when I still have time to change it. You get it, don’t you?.”

Rudeus’s grip on his robes tightened. “Yeah… I do.” His gaze drifted to the flames. “But that doesn’t mean it gets any easier.”

Rory finally leaned back, her gaze softening as she speak up with a playful voice, lighten the mood a bit. “You two are such downers,”

“Broken soul or not, you’re still alive, aren’t you? That’s enough for Emroy’s blessing. Fighting, living, dying—it’s all part of the cycle.” Rory said while pointing her finger at Rimuru to encourage him with her words

Rimuru giggle eyes the stars on the sky wondering why is that? “I’ll take that as a compliment.” He tore another piece of meat and held it up infront of Rudeus.

Although still hesitated about the meat but eventually he take the Skewers and took a bite. To his surprise, it wasn’t bad—savory a bit of fatnnes with a hint of sweetness. “Not bad” he muttered as he bite another piece, savouring the tast of this wyvern.

As the moon light shine down, The three fell into a quiet rhythm as the campfire their only companion in the vast emptiness of the dark grasslands.

Despite their differences and the unspoken tension still lingering between them and the shared meal brought a sense of fleeting camaraderie.

For now, they weren't friend nor foe—just three wanderers in an unfamiliar world, bound together by circumstance and unspoken understanding.