The undercity of Eldrin was a maze of shadowed tunnels and crumbling stone, the air heavy with the scent of moss and faint traces of ancient magic. Rein trudged forward, his boots scuffing the uneven ground, his mind buzzing with the tension radiating from Lyra and Sylvara behind him. Their sharp whispers had grown louder over the past hour, grating on his nerves. He rubbed his temple, muttering, Can't they just give it a rest?
A figure emerged from the darkness ahead—a lean man with a crooked grin, dark hair pulled into a messy tail, and a scarred leather coat slung carelessly over one shoulder. His eyes glinted with mischief as they swept over the trio. "Lost, are we? Or just stumbling into trouble for fun?"
Rein's hand drifted to his dagger, his stance wary. "Who's asking?"
The stranger chuckled, palms raised in mock surrender. "Name's Vex. I know this undercity better than most—thought you might need a guide." His gaze flicked to Sylvara, a spark of familiarity in his expression. "Especially with her tagging along. Trouble follows her like a shadow."
Sylvara's tail flicked irritably, her voice a low snarl. "Keep your mouth shut, Vex. I'm not here for your games."
Vex's grin widened, undeterred. "Still charming as ever, Syl. So, what's the plan, hero?"
Rein eyed him, then relented. "We're hunting a cult. If you know the way, you're in—for a price, I'm guessing?"
"Smart man," Vex replied, falling into step beside them. "I'll get you there. Just don't cry if things get messy."
Deep in the tunnels, they reached a cavern lined with cracked, rune-carved walls. Rein's senses tingled, a faint hum resonating in his chest. A chime echoed in his mind.
[System: Skill Unlocked – Shadow Step]
Effect: Allows short-range teleportation within shadows. Cooldown: 30 seconds.]
He tested it, vanishing in a flicker and reappearing a few feet away, a grin tugging at his lips. This'll come in handy. But his satisfaction shattered as raised voices cut through the silence.
"You're going to get him killed!" Lyra snapped, her bow gripped tightly, her green eyes blazing at Sylvara. "You rush in like a madwoman, no plan, no care!"
Sylvara's claws gleamed, her tail rigid with fury. "And you'd coddle him to death, archer. He's not some fragile doll—he can handle himself!"
Lyra stepped closer, her voice cold. "I'm protecting him. You're too wild, too obsessed. You'd drag him into chaos just to keep him close."
Sylvara bared her teeth, her voice venomous. "Better than your cowardice. You're so busy hiding your feelings, you'll lose him before you even try!"
The air crackled as Lyra raised her bow and Sylvara's claws twitched, ready to strike. Rein's pulse spiked. No, no, no—this can't happen. He darted between them, arms outstretched. "Enough! Both of you, stop it!" His tone softened, desperate. "Lyra, you've saved me more times than I can count. Sylvara, you've fought for me when I couldn't. I need you both—don't tear us apart over this. Please."
Lyra's bow lowered, her breath shaky, tears brimming in her eyes. "Rein, I… I love you. I've loved you for so long, but I didn't know how to say it."
Rein froze, his heart thudding. "You… what?"
Sylvara's claws retracted, her voice raw. "I love you too, Rein. Since you pulled me from that cage. I'd do anything for you."
His mouth opened, then closed, his face flushing. "Both of you? I… I don't know what to say." He rubbed his neck, overwhelmed. "I care about you both. A lot. But choosing… I can't. I don't want to lose either of you."
Lyra swallowed, her voice quiet. "You could pick one of us, if that's easier. But… if you want us both, I'll try to make it work."
Sylvara's eyes narrowed, then softened with a smirk. "I don't like sharing, hero. But for you? I'll deal. Just don't play favorites."
Rein exhaled, a nervous laugh escaping. "Okay. Together, then. You're both too important to me." He flashed a crooked grin. "Guess I'm luckier than I deserve, huh? Two amazing women putting up with me."
Lyra's cheeks pinked, a shy smile breaking through. "You're not so bad yourself."
Sylvara purred, leaning closer. "Oh, he's more than 'not bad.' Keep talking like that, hero, and I might not let you out of my sight."
Rein's blush deepened, but he winked. "Careful, Syl. I might trip over my own charm trying to keep up with you."
Later, at the inn, the trio sat in stiff silence. Rein reached for his mug, misjudged, and knocked it over, the clatter loud in the quiet room. "Uh… oops. Guess my hands don't know what to do now."
Lyra stifled a laugh, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Maybe we just… take it slow? Separate beds tonight?"
Sylvara huffed, crossing her arms. "Fine. But I'm still watching you, hero. No sneaking off."
Rein nodded, relieved. "Deal. I'll take the floor—give you both some space. We'll figure this out step by step."
They settled in awkwardly—Rein on a blanket by the hearth, Lyra and Sylvara on opposite beds. The silence was heavy, but beneath it, a fragile warmth flickered, a hint of something new taking root.
Then, a sharp chime broke the quiet.
[System: Quest Alert – Shadows of the Cult]
Objective: Track the cult's movements and disrupt their next ritual.]
Rein sat up, eyes wide, adrenaline surging. The cult's moving. And now, I've got everything on the line. He glanced at Lyra and Sylvara, their steady breathing filling the room, and Rein clenched his fists.