As the night wore on, everyone settled into their rooms. Luna's house contained several unused but well-maintained guest rooms and multipurpose spaces. He also had additional housing on the property, normally reserved for servants.
Inside Luna's room, he began, "Sura, I wanted to apologize about last night. It was thoughtless of me to do that in the heat of the moment."
Sura gave him a meaningful look and offered a gentle smile. "It was also my fault. There was no way you could have known our traditions. I was just surprised, that's all. Although I am curious. Have you ever been with anybody before?"
"Would you believe me," Luna replied with a self-deprecating smile, "if I said that in my more than twenty-seven years of age, that I have never been in a relationship?"
"Forgive me if I say I find that hard to believe. You are a charismatic guy, so obviously that is not the issue. I can only assume it was by choice." Sura furrowed her eyebrows, awaiting his confirmation.
He laughed bitterly. "Indeed. But I pray you don't misunderstand me, Sura. You are the first woman I have actually felt warmth from. The so-called 'potential' partners I rejected before, it all seemed fake. It was always 'I think you are handsome' or 'I like your personality,' when they had never even seen who I really am. It is like when people start dating someone they find attractive: they go through three months of bliss, and after that, they spend the rest of the time picking apart what they like and do not like, trying to change the person into something they deem perfect."
"Or when they try to force a different fighting style on you because it is more popular, even though you are perfectly comfortable with the one you have trained in. Mm, I understand." Sura nodded in agreement.
"Um… I gue... Yes. Absolutely." Luna did not know whether to laugh or cry. He was amused, but he realized the statement was fitting coming from someone of the Asuran race. After another moment, he found it absolutely adorable.
"How about you, Sura? Have you ever been with somebody?" Luna hesitated slightly. Sura was, essentially, the first girl he had ever felt any semblance of romantic feeling toward—whether because of her straightforwardness or, hypothetically, the fact that their souls were bound.
"None. I have never met anyone worthy. It is always, 'Hey Sura, learn this, it is more fitting for girls.' Ugh. Most Asuran men are in the running for the densest and most misogynistic of all the races. That is why we have never united as a race on any large scale. It is always just tribes." Sura spoke with passion, which made her even more adorable in Luna's eyes.
"Sura… why would you bind your soul so willingly to mine? Is your tribe in such danger that you would give up so much just to grow stronger?"
"That… partly, yes. Before you even summoned me, I felt your soul. I felt comfortable, secure, at peace. The gods were not lying when they said I would be summoned by someone worthy. If it had been someone I did not deem worthy, the spell would have failed and dissipated." She gave a light giggle and looked at Luna with enamored eyes. It had been less than half a week, yet it felt as though she had known him for years. Such was the magic of being connected through the soul. There were no secrets. Personality, feelings—almost everything short of actual visual memories—was felt on a deep level.
She continued, "Normally, it would be impossible to bind someone to a soul without permission, but the creatures of this Earth are currently at their weakest in terms of overall power. I hope you can forgive me for that."
Luna smiled, sensing her sincerity through their bond. "Gaining someone I know I can trust with my life. I do not see how that is anything to apologize for." His rare, warm smile made Sura blush.
"Then you do not mind if I sleep beside you tonight?"
"Not at all. Besides, I feel as though the closer we are when we sleep, the more effectively Apolaki's and Mayari's blessings integrate with my body. I am sure it is the same for you."
"Mm…"
Unbeknownst to them, this was something Apolaki had woven into the blessing. In the past, during their power struggle, Apolaki had injured Mayari in a fight, causing her to lose an eye. Wracked with guilt over the foolish conflict, he had never forgiven himself. He wished for the inheritor of their blessings to ensure he would never bring harm to the woman closest to him, whether lover or family. Whether by intention or as a result of his essence, with Luna and Sura both inheriting the blessings and growing fond of one another, it could only benefit them both.
As they lay in bed together, Luna leaned over and kissed her forehead. She did not need to ask what he meant. She felt in her very being that this time, he knew exactly what he was doing, and he meant it.
-----------------------------
Meanwhile, outside by the pool, Elise sat dipping her feet in the water, deep in thought, her weapons at her side. Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned quickly, grabbing both blades.
"It's just me! Sorry, I startled you." Boni raised his arms in surrender.
"Oh, my bad. I am just a bit on edge, you know? After everything that has happened—the zombie apocalypse, then those scumbags trying to…" She let her guard down and stared at the water, using the time to collect herself before the next day.
"It is fine, I understand. I guess that is something we both share," Boni said.
"What? You almost got raped, too?" Elise asked with surprise.
"Pfft! No, no, no!" Boni facepalmed. "I meant being saved by Luna."
They talked through much of the night before Elise decided to find a room. Yu-jin and Sang-Hwa shared a room, as did So-hee and Seo-hyeon. Hana was asleep on the couch. Elise did not feel comfortable sleeping alone, so after hesitating, she asked if Boni could sleep in the same room.
Sharing a room would give them both a sense of security. It made Elise even fonder of Boni, a straightforward guy with no ill intentions. When he offered her the bed and moved to the couch, she tugged his shirt.
"I actually meant… in the same bed. If that is okay." Elise was completely red. Boni felt as though he had been hit with his own mace. He had already grown fond of Elise's bubbly personality and her openness toward him. To say he did not look forward to sharing a bed with her would be a lie. After what she went through, how could she feel comfortable with this at all? People are different from one another, after all, and a woman's mind is even more unfathomable. Whether love, infatuation, or any of the sort, the key is always timing.
It's always the outwardly happy ones. Elise had been drowning in her mind, struggling to find a life raft, and as she frantically tried to find something to hold onto to pull herself out of the quagmire she was in, it just so happened that Boni was there to check up on her at the right time. As to whether this would bear any fruit in the future, who knows?
As much as he tried to be smooth, Boni could only lie down on the bed, straight and stiff as an arrow. Elise fell asleep and eventually rolled toward him, using him as a body pillow. He did not want her to think he was taking advantage, but after seeing her comfortable expression, Boni finally relaxed and fell asleep as well.