Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended [Part One]

CHAPTER 149: A Bridge Between Worlds

The static intensified as he extended his hands toward her, kindly offering a loaf of bread, crisped bacon, and a cup of water. The simple gesture was a bridge between two worlds, and yet the energy that rolled off his body felt so similar—grief, confusion, loneliness, and deep yearning for something more.

Though he had been in her presence for but a fraction of a second, every fiber of her being screamed to throw herself into his arms and never let go. The intense longing surged through her with unrelenting force, overwhelming her senses, but she forced herself to suppress it. With a quiet breath, she kept her head low and averted her gaze, determined to shield herself from the weight of his lingering stare.

Her body flinched, and an inaudible gasp escaped her lips as he gently wound the thick length of a scarf around the hood of her cloak. "Even the longest night must yield to the dawn, for no darkness can hold back the rising sun," the boy whispered in a velvety tone, butterscotch eyes gleaming with sympathy. "If it's the last thing I do, I promise I'll get you out of here. So try to keep up your strength; it will also help to keep you warm."

The girl's eyes fluttered at his words. Simple, unremarkable even—yet they ignited something deep inside her, like a spark in the coldest of nights. For a brief, fleeting moment, her heart stirred with hope, the weight of fear and loneliness lifting as if the morning sun had burned away the night's shadows. How could such simple words possess such warmth, such power, to make her feel seen, if only for an instant?

At the sound of the stranger's retreating footsteps, the girl finally tilted her head and regarded him from beneath her thick lashes. Her eyes gleamed as she studied his silver hair, butterscotch eyes, and warm smile.

"Haxks," she muttered beneath her breath as if testing the sweetness of his name upon her tongue.

Cradling the precious memory of Zephyr and Daisuke, the girl allowed a soft, wistful smile to bloom on her lips. Then she curled closer to the fawn, drawing warmth from its gentle presence, and slowly allowed the comforting embrace of sleep to pull her back into its depths.

***

What could have easily been a treacherous and solitary journey across the sprawling landscapes of the Arcanium Kingdom was transformed into a delightful adventure, filled with joy and companionship. The crimson-eyed girl and the fawn embraced every moment of joy they could find. Whenever the Mithrilcrest Deer grazed or rested, they indulged in playful games of tag and hide-and-seek, their laughter ringing through the air like a melody.

They splashed through the crystal-clear stream, droplets shimmering like tiny crystals in the sunlight. The fawn pranced about, its legs springing with youthful energy, while the girl skipped alongside it, her radiant smile and gleaming eyes reflecting pure happiness.

The fawn frolicked beside the girl as she knelt to forage for mushrooms and fiddleheads, her delicate fingers brushing the cool, mossy earth. Soft giggles bubbled from her lips as she held up her discoveries for the fawn who leaned in with wide, curious eyes and a gentle twitch of its nose. From a short distance, the Mithrilcrest Deer watched with quiet vigilance, its silvery coat shimmering faintly even in the dappled forest shade.

Suddenly, her ears twitched, and her muscles tensed. The air shifted, carrying with it a faint but unmistakable danger. The sharp crack of a twig underfoot followed, and the Mithrilcrest Deer let out a shrill cry—a sound so primal and urgent that it jolted the girl to her feet and sent the fawn bounding toward its mother.

The girl barely had time to process the warning before a group of poachers emerged from the shadows. Their laughter was coarse and filled with malicious glee as they tightened their grip on their weapons. The glint of drawn bows and the hungry gaze of their horses left no doubt about their intent.

Wh-Who are they?! thought the girl in a panic as she scrambled onto the Mithrilcrest Deer's back. The fawn darted close to its mother, its tiny frame trembling in fear.

Wasting no time, the deer sprang forward, her powerful legs cutting through the forest like the wind. Trees blurred into streaks of green and brown as they fled, her hooves pounding the earth in a desperate rhythm.

"Neigh~!"

But the poachers were relentless. Mounted on sturdy horses bred for endurance, they tore through the undergrowth, their malicious shouts growing louder as they closed the distance. The men were armed with bows and arrows, so although the deer held the advantage in speed—

FEWP-FEWP-FEWP!

The poachers could easily compensate for their disadvantage with their long-ranged weapons. Arrows hissed through the air, glinting in the patches of sunlight breaking through the canopy, their sharp points biting into the ground just inches from the fleeing deer.

"Wh-Why are they chasing us?!" the girl cried, clinging to the creature's neck, her heart pounding with dread.

Ignoring the child's distress to prioritize their escape, the Mithrilcrest Deer surged forward, its muscles straining as it pushed itself harder. Its silver coat glimmered faintly, almost as if trying to vanish into the light itself, but the poachers were tenacious. Another volley of arrows sliced through the air like a war cry.

THUNK!

A pained cry tore from the deer's throat as one of the projectiles buried itself in her hind leg.