The Transmigrated Author

So after they heard my plan silence followed.

It seemed they all relied on Jan to make the final decision since he was the more capable person here.

But finally… he agreed nodding his head approvingly.

"The plan is solid. We attack when everyone's ready."

"Good. Until then," I said, lightening my tone, "we should eat well and rest. It might be our last chance for either."

I moved toward our modest kitchen area.

"I'll prepare something special. Consider it a pre-battle feast."

As I began pulling ingredients from our storage, Christian started helping by setting up our dining area.

The others broke into small groups, catching up on their separate journeys while occasionally glancing curiously at our preparations.

"Is he actually good at cooking?" Jan asked Christian quietly, but not quietly enough.

Christian laughed, clapping a hand on Jan's shoulder.

"Rel's cooking is the best thing about this hellhole. Trust me, you're in for a treat."

I couldn't help but smile as I began slicing the meat.

On it were premium cuts that we'd liberated from one of Richard's supply convoys last week.

The truth was, cooking had become my peace of mind during these months of constant fighting and information gathering.

Something about the precise measurements, the controlled chaos of flavors—it centered me in ways few other activities could.

Our hideout didn't have proper ventilation for traditional barbecue, but we'd rigged a clever system using stolen tech from Richard's labs.

The result was a smokeless grill that could reach extreme temperatures without setting off any detection systems.

Soon, the small space filled with the mouthwatering aroma of sizzling meat and vegetables.

I worked methodically, preparing dish after dish while the conversations around me flowed like water.

For a brief moment, it almost felt normal—just friends sharing a meal, not soldiers preparing for what might be their final battle.

"This is incredible," Camila exclaimed after her first bite, eyes wide with delight.

"How did you learn to cook like this?"

"Practice," I replied simply, not mentioning the countless nights I'd spent perfecting recipes to distract myself from near death.

The meal stretched on as everyone took seconds and thirds.

Stories were shared, laughter erupted occasionally, and for a few precious hours it felt like there was nothing to worry about.

As the night deepened and the feast wound down, I noticed the fatigue in everyone's eyes.

They'd traveled far and fought hard to reach this point.

Now they needed rest more than anything.

"Get some sleep," I told them, standing to clear away the remnants of our meal.

"I'll take first watch."

There were arguments about me having first watch especially from Jan and Valencia, but eventually everyone settled into whatever space they could find in our cramped quarters.

Christian and Anouz were used to our rotation system and quickly found their usual sleeping spots.

Once everyone had drifted off, I silently made my way to the roof access ladder.

***

Whoosh…

The night air was cool against Rel's skin as he sat on the edge of the building's roof, legs dangling over the side.

From this view point, he could see the entire expanse of the central city, a bizarre fusion of ancient architecture and futuristic technology that somehow managed to be both beautiful and terrifying in the moonlight.

"Finally… some time alone."

He took a deep breath, savoring the rare moment of peace.

For the first time in months, the distant sounds of machines and patrols seemed muted, almost nonexistent.

Even the stars above shimmered with unusual brightness, as if celebrating this brief break from the constant fighting.

"Hello," a soft voice came from behind him.

"Ah!"

Rel startled violently, his body jerking forward over the edge.

For one heart-stopping moment, he teetered precariously between safety and a deadly fall.

With reflexes honed by months of combat, he managed to grab the ledge and pull himself back, spinning around to face the intruder.

As he fell he looked up to see a girl with blonde hair and red eyes.

She had a confused look on her face and that's when Rel realized it was Valencia.

She stood there, her silhouette outlined by the gentle glow of the stairwell light behind her.

"I... didn't mean to startle you," she said, her lips barely curling into the semblance of a smile.

Rel quickly got to his feet, brushing dust from his clothes as he tried to regain his composure.

He hadn't expected anyone to follow him up here, least of all Valencia.

Now that she stood before him, he found himself uncharacteristically at a loss for words.

Valencia shifted slightly under his gaze, and he realized he'd been staring.

In the moonlight, her features seemed softer somehow, less guarded than they had been earlier.

Her eyes reflected the stars above, creating the illusion of entire galaxies contained within their depths.

Clearing his throat, Rel finally found his voice.

"What are you doing up here? I told everyone I'd handle the first watch."

"No particular reason," Valencia replied with a casual shrug, moving to stand beside him at the edge.

"Just wanted some fresh air."

She kept her eyes fixed on the horizon, trying not looking at him.

"It's been a long journey. Sometimes it helps to see the sky and remember how small our problems really are in comparison."

Rel knew she wasn't being entirely truthful.

The slight tension in her shoulders, the way she kept a precise distance between them as she sat down—these were the tells of someone with more on their mind than stargazing.

"Well, it doesn't have anything to do with me," he replied dryly, resuming his seat on the ledge.

"But feel free to stay if you want. Just don't make any noise that might attract attention."

Valencia's expression flickered briefly with something that might have been hurt before her usual composure returned.

"…."

After that silence settled between them as they sat side by side.

The awkwardness was almost clear as if it was hanging in the air like a fog that neither seemed willing to disperse.

But even for someone meant to be on watch, Rel kept stealing glances at Valencia and she did the same back.

It was clear that neither of the two had any conversation in mind but one of them had to break the silence.