"I'm... afraid of Lauren," Sakura pleaded, her voice trembling. "Will you protect me?"
Her words brought an amused smile to my lips.
Protecting a young woman seemed like such a simple request at the time.
I agreed without hesitation—a decision I would soon come to question.
From that moment on, Sakura became my constant shadow, trailing behind me wherever I went.
When night fell, she abandoned the relative comfort of the cave, insisting instead on sharing my wooden shelter.
For her peace of mind, I allowed her presence.
As darkness settled, Sakura lay on a bed of grass beside me, her breathing falling into the steady rhythm of sleep.
I studied Dawson's map in the dim light, lost in contemplation.
Dawson was a criminal, yes, but his genius was undeniable.
Through primitive observa
