Zerrei's breathing slowly steadied in Lyra's arms.
But the tremble in his hands didn't stop.
He clung to her cloak tightly—
like the nightmare had left hooks in his chest.
Lyra made small circles on his back.
"It's okay… you're safe… I've got you…"
Zerrei buried his face deeper against her.
"…Lyra… close…"
"I'm not letting go."
His fingers curled tighter.
"…never… leave Zerrei…"
"Never," she whispered.
Arden watched from a few steps away—
expression soft but worried.
"Kid's shaking like he's freezing."
Oren frowned.
"No.
That's fear."
Arden muttered:
"Great. And we're in the middle of a forest where every shadow wants to eat him."
Oren shot him a look.
"Not helping."
Arden held up his hands.
"Fine, fine. But we need to prepare for what's coming next."
Lyra kept stroking Zerrei's hair, voice soothing.
"What did you see, Zerrei…?"
He hesitated.
His voice cracked.
"…chains…"
Lyra stilled.
"Chains?"
He nodded weakly.
"…and… voice…
cold…
saying…
Zerrei… mistake…"
Her heart clenched.
"Who said that…?"
Zerrei's halo flickered—shaken, fragile.
"…Creator…"
Lyra's jaw tightened.
Arden cursed softly.
Oren's shoulders tensed.
"So the Creator can reach him in dreams," he said, tone heavy.
"It means the connection between them isn't broken. Zerrei's evolution hasn't severed it yet."
Zerrei whimpered faintly.
"…Lyra… please… don't… let them… erase Zerrei…"
Lyra immediately cupped his face.
Her voice fierce, unwavering.
"No one is erasing you.
You hear me?"
He blinked up at her—eyes glossy, desperate.
"…Lyra…"
"You are you.
Zerrei."
She pressed her forehead to his.
"And I won't let anyone take that away."
He shivered—
not from fear this time.
From relief.
"…mine… Lyra…"
She smiled softly.
"And you're mine."
Zerrei melted into her arms again.
OREN'S WARNING
Oren finished drawing the rune circle around the cradle.
He wiped sweat from his forehead.
"This should hold until dawn."
Arden frowned.
"What if dinner decides to show up before dawn?"
Oren stiffened.
"That's exactly what I'm worried about."
Lyra looked up.
"You think Vessel Five is already moving?"
Oren sat on a fallen log, posture tense.
"Not moving.
Stirring."
Arden scratched his neck.
"Meaning what?"
Oren turned to Lyra and Zerrei.
"When a vessel awakens, the forest reacts.
Mana shifts.
Creatures flee.
Shadows grow restless."
Lyra's eyes widened.
"…the forest did go dark earlier…"
"Yes." Oren nodded.
"That wasn't just Vessel Four.
That was the echo of something deeper."
Zerrei stiffened in her arms.
"…Lyra… new one… stronger…"
Arden exhaled slowly.
"How many vessels are there?"
Oren hesitated.
Then answered:
"There were originally six.
Six vessels the Creator attempted to perfect."
Lyra swallowed.
"And Zerrei is…?"
"Number Two," Oren said softly.
Arden's eyebrow twitched.
"Meaning Vessel One is—?"
"Dead," Oren said flatly.
"A failure."
Zerrei shrank into Lyra's hold.
"…dead… vessel…?"
His voice tightened.
"…Zerrei… next…?"
Lyra hugged him tightly before panic set in again.
"No. You're not next."
He shook his head softly against her.
"…Creator angry… Zerrei… broken… vessel…"
Oren knelt beside him.
"Zerrei," he said firmly.
"You are not broken."
Zerrei trembled.
"…then… why… they… chase Zerrei…?"
Lyra brushed a hand over his cheek.
"Because you're the only one who escaped him."
Zerrei froze.
"…escaped…?"
Arden nodded.
"You broke the rules.
You grew a heart.
You picked someone."
His gaze softened.
"And the Creator can't stand that."
Zerrei's glow pulsed faintly.
"…Lyra… Zerrei… love…?"
Lyra blinked softly, heart skipping.
"I…"
His eyes searched hers—
Fragile.
Hopeful.
Terrified.
"…love… Lyra…?"
Her breath trembled—
But she held his face gently.
"We can talk about it when you're not afraid."
He leaned against her.
"…Lyra…"
She stroked his hair.
"I'm right here."
STALKING PRESENCE
Arden suddenly raised a hand.
"Shh."
Oren froze mid-rune.
Lyra's heart jolted.
Zerrei tensed in her arms.
"…something…
coming…"
The forest went still.
Not silent.
Still.
Like the entire world held its breath.
Oren whispered:
"Outside the cradle…"
Arden's grip tightened on his sword.
"Something's watching us."
Zerrei curled into Lyra, shaking violently.
"…no… no… no…"
She hugged him.
"It's okay. The cradle is safe."
He shook his head.
"…not cradle…
forest…
forest scared…"
Oren's eyes widened.
"That's impossible—forests don't—"
A low sound rumbled through the trees.
Not a growl.
Not a roar.
A heartbeat.
Sluggish.
Heavy.
Far too large.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Arden cursed.
"Oh gods—what the hell is that—?!"
Oren's voice trembled.
"That's no monster.
That's a vessel heartbeat."
Lyra stiffened.
Her grip tightened around Zerrei.
"…Vessel… Five…" Zerrei whispered faintly.
Oren swallowed.
"Whatever it is…
It's awake."
Arden placed himself between them and the forest's edge.
"Let it come.
We're not losing anyone tonight."
Zerrei clutched Lyra's cloak in both hands.
"…Lyra… don't… let them… take Zerrei…"
She wrapped both arms around him, holding him firm.
"Not now. Not ever."
Zerrei's glow brightened weakly.
"…mine… Lyra…"
"Always."
And somewhere in the forest—
closer now—
The heartbeat grew louder.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Oren stood abruptly.
"We need to prepare."
Arden cracked his neck.
"Then let's welcome our next nightmare."
Lyra pressed her forehead to Zerrei's.
"We'll face it together."
Zerrei whispered:
"…together…"
And his halo flickered.
Not in fear—
In determination.