Zerrei didn't wake fully for hours.
Not all at once.
Not with clarity.
Just in small, fragile pieces—
a flutter of blue light under his carved eyelids,
a soft hum in his chest,
a faint tightening of his fingers around Lyra's clothes.
Lyra didn't move from her place even once.
She sat cross-legged on the forest floor, back against a tree, Zerrei curled in her arms like a wounded creature clinging to warmth. His carved cheek rested against her shoulder, and every so often he murmured her name as though it were the only word he remembered.
"Ly… ra…"
Each whisper squeezed her heart painfully.
Arden, sitting on a broken log nearby, finally broke the silence.
"So uh… we're staying here tonight, I assume?"
Oren sighed, rubbing his temples.
"It's safer than moving him. Any disruption could destabilize his core again."
Arden gestured vaguely at the forest around them.
"Great. Forest full of monsters. Creator's shadow somewhere above. A half-conscious vessel in Lyra's lap.
What could possibly go wrong?"
Lyra glared tiredly.
"Arden."
"Yeah, yeah, sorry."
He lifted his hands.
"Just trying to lighten the mood."
Oren added without looking up from his notes:
"You are failing."
"Hey—!"
Lyra exhaled softly and looked down at the boy—no, the being—curled against her.
Zerrei's fingers trembled.
His carved wooden lashes fluttered.
His voice cracked.
"…Lyra…?"
She brushed her hand gently through his carved hair.
"I'm here, Zerrei. Don't force yourself to wake up."
He nuzzled weakly into her shoulder.
"…stay…"
"I'm not going anywhere."
A SOFT REUNION
Zerrei slowly blinked awake.
Just barely.
Just enough for his gaze to slowly rise toward her.
His blue light was dim—
faint cracks traced with gold shimmer along the edges—
but it was undeniably him.
He stared at her as though seeing her for the first time.
"…Lyra…"
His voice was so soft she almost missed it.
Lyra cupped his face gently.
"Yes. I'm here."
His eyes wavered.
Then—
He suddenly lifted both arms and latched onto her with startling force.
"—!!"
Lyra nearly fell backward.
Zerrei buried his face into the crook of her neck, clinging so hard she could feel each carved finger pressing into her back.
"…Lyra…
Lyra don't go…"
His voice sounded small.
Childlike.
Terrified.
Lyra froze, then immediately wrapped her arms around him, holding him just as tightly.
"I'm not leaving," she whispered.
"I'm right here."
Zerrei shivered like something remembering cold and darkness too vividly.
"…Lyra warm…"
"…Zerrei cold…"
Her throat tightened.
"You're safe now."
He clung harder.
"Lyra… found Zerrei…
Zerrei… scared… lost…"
Lyra stroked his back.
"You're not lost. Not anymore."
He made a soft sound—
not quite a sob, not quite a noise—
something raw and real.
"…Lyra…"
She pressed her forehead to his.
"Yes?"
"…Zerrei hurt Lyra?"
Her heart dropped.
"No! Zerrei, you didn't hurt me."
He blinked slowly, trying to process her words.
"…Zerrei… safe?"
"Yes," she breathed, brushing his cheek.
"You're safe. I promise."
He relaxed—slightly—his grip still tight but no longer desperate.
"…Lyra… stay…"
"I'll stay," she promised again.
THE GUILD QUIETLY WATCHES
Arden stared, jaw slack.
"…Is anyone else getting stabbed in the heart right now?"
Oren scribbled quietly without looking up.
"He is experiencing post-traumatic core regression. Emotional dependency heightened. Completely predictable."
Arden pointed dramatically.
"He's cuddling her like a desperate toddler! That is NOT predictable!"
Oren shrugged.
"He nearly died. Emotional overload. Attachment trauma.
This is normal."
Arden blinked, stunned.
"…how do you say the most heartbreaking things in the most boring tone imaginable?"
"Practice," Oren said simply.
Zerrei's Question
Zerrei's fingers stroked Lyra's sleeve—clumsy, trembling motions.
"…Lyra…"
Lyra gently cupped his jaw.
"Yes?"
His cracked runes glowed faintly, nervously.
"…Zerrei…
still… Zerrei?"
Lyra's breath caught.
She leaned her forehead against his.
"Yes," she whispered fiercely.
"You're you. Nothing changed."
He trembled in visible relief.
And whispered like a child afraid of the answer:
"…Lyra… remember Zerrei?
…even if… break?"
Lyra pulled him tighter.
Tears stung her eyes.
"Of course I remember you. Even if you break. Even if you change.
I will always remember you."
Zerrei's whole body shuddered.
Not in pain—
but in something like relief so profound it shook him.
"…Lyra…"
His voice softened.
"…my Lyra…"
Lyra fell completely silent.
Arden made a strangled noise.
Oren dropped his quill.
Zerrei blinked slowly, confused by the sudden reaction.
"…not… allowed…?"
Lyra touched her forehead to his.
"Zerrei… you can call me that if you want."
He closed his eyes, content.
"…Lyra… mine…"
She hugged him, heart fluttering painfully.
"Yes. I'm here."
THE NIGHT PASSES
Hours later, Zerrei fell into a deeper, calmer sleep—arms still wrapped around Lyra's waist, cheek resting against her chest.
His glow brightened just slightly with every breath she took.
Arden stared at them from across the fire.
"So uh… we're gonna have to talk about the whole 'mine' thing eventually."
Oren muttered:
"Please not now."
Arden nodded.
"…yeah. He'd cry."
Lyra didn't hear them.
She was too busy brushing Zerrei's carved hair, whispering softly:
"I'm not letting you go."
His fingers twitched in response.
"…Lyra…"
She kissed his forehead.
"Sleep, Zerrei. I'll protect you now."
And for the first time since the Creator appeared—
Zerrei slept peacefully.