THRRUUUM!
A heavy force burst out the moment the last chain shattered.
"Argh—!"
Both Cassandra and Gray staggered as if a giant hand had slammed down on their shoulders, pressing them toward the ground.
Their knees even bent under the sudden weight.
"Grr..."
Gray clenched his jaw, then quickly reached out, pulling Cassandra against him, hugging her softly.
"…Em-Emryn?" Her voice trembled in surprise.
But the instant he touched her, the crushing pressure suddenly vanished.
Gray's grip loosened.
"…Mhm."
Cassandra's cheeks turned faintly red as she looked at him:
"Why… why did you hug me?"
"I felt like it," he answered bluntly, reaching out to tap her nose again.
Cassandra puffed her cheeks and stuck out her tongue at him, though her lips rose into a small smile.
Gray's eyes returned to the sigil.
'…Just as I thought. Divika has always favored couples. I thought my mother was joking when she told me that… guess not,' he added inwardly.
