Yu Zhen's breath misted faintly in the cool forest air.
The cottage hearth crackled weakly behind them, yet the chill in his chest never fully faded. Every heartbeat throbbed slower than the last, not from illness, but from magic draining time itself from his body.
Lian Xuan noticed before Yu Zhen showed any outward signs.
The knight watched the smallest things.
The lingering pauses between breaths. How Yu Zhen leaned against doorframes more often. How his hands trembled when he tried to hide exhaustion.
[LIFESPAN DECAY RATE: ACTIVE]
[SOUL THREAD STABILITY: MODERATE]
[MEMORY FRAGMENT 7: 41%] Moon-Ward Run
When witch-hunters arrived, it happened without warning.
Silver chimes echoed between trees, the unmistakable signal of a mage patrol.
"Move," Lian Xuan said immediately, sweeping Yu Zhen into his arms.
Yu Zhen protested weakly, but Lian Xuan ignored him, sprinting into the night as magical blasts splintered trees behind them.
They didn't stop until moonlight broke upon open stone ruins.
Breathing hard, Lian Xuan finally set Yu Zhen down.
"You're lighter," he whispered dangerously.
Yu Zhen didn't answer right away.
Blood Evidence
The curse Yu Zhen had absorbed hadn't just cut into his lifespan; it wrote itself into his blood.
Yu Zhen staggered suddenly.
Blood spilt from his lips.
Lian Xuan caught him instantly.
"Zhen! Look at me!"
Yu Zhen slumped into his arms, a weak smile trembling.
"Told you… The ritual would bite back."
Lian Xuan locked his cloak around him, holding him upright desperately.
"Why didn't you tell me how much it would cost?"
Yu Zhen's eyes shimmered.
"Because you would've refused the cure."
"And let me die instead?"
"Yes."
The honesty devastated him.
Lian Xuan pressed Yu Zhen closer—their faces nearly touching.
"You don't get to choose death for me."
"What about choosing it for yourself?"
The knight had no answer ready.
His voice broke softly:
"You matter more to me than my survival."
Yu Zhen stilled.
The air shifted.
[SOUL RECOGNITION SPIKE] [MEMORY FRAGMENT 7: JUMP TO 56%] The Confession
They stood beneath moonlight amid abandoned stone circles.
Lian Xuan carefully brushed blood from Yu Zhen's mouth, thumb trembling.
"I don't remember every life yet," he confessed.
"But I remember the feeling."
"What feeling?"
"That I never want a world without you."
He leaned forward, resting his forehead against Yu Zhen's.
"I've died for you before," he whispered.
Yu Zhen's voice shook.
"So have I."
They kissed.
Slow.
Tender.
Full of desperation and devotion.
Yu Zhen melted into it, hands gripping Lian Xuan's armour lightly.
Lian Xuan wrapped his arms around Yu Zhen's back, not crushing, but protecting.
They broke apart only to hold each other tighter.
The moonlight silvered their forms.
Shared Shelter
They found shelter in a ruined chapel as the night deepened.
Yu Zhen collapsed onto the stone pew from sheer fatigue.
Lian Xuan removed his armour piece by piece, then wrapped Yu Zhen inside his cloak.
Holding him chest to chest.
"They're hunting you now because of me," Lian Xuan said heavily.
"They hunt power," Yu Zhen answered softly. "You just gave them reason to fear me."
He adjusted weakly in Lian Xuan's hold.
"Tired," he murmured.
"I've got you," Lian Xuan promised.
He didn't let Yu Zhen sleep alone.
They stayed curled together, Yu Zhen tucked into his arms, breathing synchronously beneath flickering candlelight.
[AFFINITY LEVEL: 94%]
[SHARED WARMTH STATE: STABILIZED]
[MEMORY FRAGMENT 7 INTEGRATION: 63%] Dream of Thorns
Yu Zhen dreamed…
Of vines coiling around two figures made of light—one weeping, the other shielding him from divine blades.
Of words spoken through thorns:
"Your love defies heaven."
Yu Zhen woke shaking.
Lian Xuan was already awake, holding him.
"Same dream?" he murmured.
Yu Zhen nodded.
"The memory's coming faster."
"Good."
Lian Xuan kissed Yu Zhen's temple gently.
"Then let's reach the end together."
[AFFINITY LEVEL: 94%]
[MEMORY FRAGMENT 7: 63% AWAKENED]
[LIFESPAN CONSEQUENCE: ESCALATING]