CHAPTER 223: CHAPTER-223

Kaya shifted, about to get up, only to realize the weight still pressing against her stomach. Her gaze flicked to him, then down to his hands, silently pointing it out with her eyes.

Veer caught her look and gave a nervous laugh. "How about... we stay like this for a moment?" he suggested, trying to sound casual. But the forced curve of his lips betrayed him—his smile looked anything but natural.

"No. Release me. Now." Kaya’s tone was flat, unyielding.

She tried to sit up, but the moment she moved, a sharp sound broke from him.

"Ugh—" Veer grimaced, pain flashing across his face.

Kaya froze completely—her body went still, though her eyes fixed on him.

"What happened?" she asked, her voice calm but edged with suspicion.

Veer shifted nervously, avoiding her gaze.

"I asked," Kaya pressed, sharper this time, "what the hell happened to you?"

His eyes darted toward her for a second before slipping away again. "Um... I think my hand is stuck."

"What?"

Veer’s voice rose slightly, betraying his fluster. "I was holding you all night in the same position. That’s why my hands... both of them are completely sore. I can’t even move them."

Kaya stared at him, deadpan. "Are you dumb? Let’s take a moment for terminal belief. How could a person not move their hands even a little the entire night? That’s the dumbest thing possible."

Hearing her words, Veer looked at her, ready to retort. But instead, he only huffed, turned his head aside, and forced himself upright. That’s when Kaya noticed—his hands were red, almost burning.

Her expression shifted. She quickly reached out, pressing her palm against his hands, then his forehead, then the bridge of his nose.

"You’re burning up, idiot."

Veer gave her a crooked smile. "Oh, actually... the fire collapsed last night. You were sleeping, so I couldn’t move."

Kaya stared at him in disbelief. "So you mean... after the fire went out, you just sat here like a statue? Didn’t even move a muscle? Not even bother lighting it again? The fire was completely gone!"

Without waiting for his answer, she slid her hand between his and pried herself free. Rolling across the ground, she slipped out of his embrace. Now facing him fully, Kaya touched his forehead again, her brows furrowed.

His temperature was too high—fever. And those sore arms... it wasn’t just from holding her. The sickness was already creeping in.

She glared at him, baring her teeth in frustration, and muttered under her breath, "Idiot."

Turning away, Kaya strode to her bag. She dug through it, searching for anything that could keep him warm. Her fingers brushed against a bundle of hides wrapped in cloth. Pulling two out, she returned to him and draped them carefully around his shoulders and neck, cocooning him against the cold.

"Wait here," she ordered.

Veer’s hand shot up as if to stop her, but the movement sent a sharp pain through his arm. "Ugh—" he groaned, grimacing.

Kaya didn’t even flinch. "Stay right here. I’ll be back in a moment."

His voice, hoarse and weak, followed her. "It’s not safe outside. Stop. I’ll go with you."

But when she glanced at him, his eyes were hazy, unfocused.

"Shut the fuck up and stay here," Kaya snapped. "You’ve already done more than enough."

Without waiting for an answer, she guided him to lean back against the wall, then stepped outside.

The morning air bit at her skin. She noticed it at once—last night, she had been too distracted to realize, but this place was completely barren. The ground was mottled, stripped of trees. Only stubborn patches of grass clung here and there, but beyond that, there was nothing.

If she wanted food—or anything useful—she would have to descend the mountain. For others, that might only take minutes. For Kaya, with her body’s limits, it would cost hours.

She scanned the land, thinking fast. If it’s this cold... there has to be a water source nearby.

Following the slope, she searched through the rugged terrain for twenty minutes before the sound of trickling reached her ears. Her steps quickened, and soon she found it—a small waterfall spilling down from the mountain.

The water gleamed crystal-clear. Tiny fish darted about in the shallows, proof of life.

Kaya filled an animal-hide pouch with water and managed to catch a few small fish, enough to make soup. They looked clean, their scales glistening, and from what she could judge, there was little chance they were poisonous. Still, she didn’t take them all—only the ones that looked even vaguely familiar. Familiar, though not exactly the same. Perhaps these creatures were too unevolved, or far too evolved, to resemble the fish from her world.

When Kaya returned to the cave, her eyes immediately landed on Veer. He was struggling, dragging himself toward the entrance as if sheer willpower alone could keep him upright.

Kaya clicked her tongue in frustration, setting down the bundle of dried grass, water, and supplies. She hurried over and slipped her arms under him.

"Are you crazy or what? Where the hell are you going?"

Ignoring his feeble resistance, she lifted him in a princess carry. He was heavier than she expected—his frame larger, broader—but Kaya gritted her teeth and managed. His legs still brushed and dragged against the ground as she carried him back inside the cave.

Setting him down against the wall, she turned her attention to the fire pit. She struck stones together, sparks jumping but fizzling out again and again. Nearly ten minutes passed. Veer’s groans filled the silence, each sound needling at her patience. Normally, she would have tossed the task to him, but in his condition, he couldn’t even sit straight.

With a sharp breath, Kaya slammed the stones together one final time. A spark caught. Smoke curled as dry grass began to smolder, and she bent down, blowing steadily until the flame took hold. Soon a small fire flickered to life, growing under her breath and persistence.