The village chief rose with effort, her face tightening as a jolt of pain shot through her. Step by step, she made her way towards Rayna and Soren.
"Rayna," she said, her voice low but firm, "we need to talk."
Rayna's eyes flashed with urgency. "Village Chief, I can't—not now. Yunxi is gravely injured, I have to get to him." Her words tumbled out, desperate and uneven.
Soren's gaze snapped to her, his eyes widening. "Injured? What happened?"
Rayna's throat tightened as she answered, "He wanted to distract the half-beastmen away... to give us a chance to escape. But the scorpion struck him—stabbed him. He's badly hurt."
"I'll come with you then," Soren said.
Ezra called out firmly, "You're badly injured, Soren. Compared to you, I'm in better shape—so let me go with Rayna."
Rayna gave a brief nod.
"I'll just tie up this wretched mantis first. He'll have to be interrogated later—after all, he's caused grave damage to our village. He deserves to pay for every moment of it."
The village chief spoke gravely. "Rayna, bring Yunxi to my hut."
Gratitude flickered in Rayna's eyes as she bowed her head. "Alright," she replied softly.
As they stepped outside, the village lay heavy in silence. In the background, some of the females tended to the wounded, while others wept quietly for the fallen—mourning the brave males who had laid down their lives to protect them.
Ezra brought and carried Yunxi carefully to the village chief's hut. Since Yunxi was meek and lighter than most men, the task was not too difficult. Ezra laid him gently on a pile of grass. Yunxi's condition, however, looked grave.
"Rayna," Ezra said quietly, his voice heavy with warning. "You must prepare yourself... for the worst."
Rayna sniffled, her chest tightening. Was she really going to lose Yunxi? Just like that?
Over the days they had spent together, she felt really comfortable around Yunxi. His cooking, his vast knowledge of herbs, his shy smile, the subtle blush that touched his round, chubby face—each memory pressed against her heart. She had grown closer to him, closer than she realized, and the thought of losing him now filled her with an ache she could hardly bear.
Yunxi had come to mean something to her... something more than a friend.
Regret gnawed at her. She had often thought of asking him to be her mate, but she had kept postponing, telling herself there would be time—once the mark issue was settled, once they returned from Beast City. But now, staring at his fragile form, she knew it might already be too late.
A bitter thought seared her mind: Sometimes, waiting for the 'right time' means that time never comes... and the chance is lost forever.
Soren stepped closer and wrapped an arm around Rayna's shoulders, gently patting her back.
The village chief slowly bent down beside Yunxi, checking his pulse, examining his wounds, and listening to the faint rattle of his breath. After a long pause, she turned to Rayna, her expression grave.
"Rayna... his breathing is already shallow. It will be difficult to save him. In truth, it is nothing short of a miracle that with such a frail body—and injuries this severe—he is still clinging to life at all."
Tears spilled freely down Rayna's cheeks. Alongside Ezra and Soren, she had wanted so badly to protect Yunxi, yet now it seemed far too late.
Ezra moved closer, his voice low but firm. "Don't blame yourself, Rayna."
Soren nodded in agreement, pulling her into a tighter embrace.
"But it was because of me that—" Rayna's voice cracked, the words breaking apart under her grief.
The village chief's voice cut through the air, steady and weighty. "Rayna... tell me one thing. Are you ready to do anything to save Yunxi?"
Rayna nodded frantically. "Yes—please, is there any way?" she asked, her voice trembling with a flicker of hope.
The village chief returned the nod, her expression grim. "There is... one way. You know, dragon's blood carries a rare power. It can quicken the recovery of the gravely injured—heal wounds beyond saving, even when death is near."
Rayna's eyes widened. "Really?"
The chief's gaze grew distant. "So it is said. Whispers passed down through old tales and ancient memory speak of its power. I have never seen it with my own eyes... but I have heard a lot."
"Do you want to go ahead with this, Rayna? Will you use your blood to save Yunxi?" the village chief asked solemnly.
Without a moment's hesitation, Rayna nodded. "Yes."
"How much would it take to cure him?" she asked quickly, her voice urgent.
The village chief shook her head. "Just a little. A few drops are enough."
Rayna exhaled in relief and nodded again.
Soren and Ezra exchanged uneasy glances before speaking together. "Are you sure about this, Rayna?"
She caught the weight in their words. They weren't only asking if she was prepared—they were reminding her of what this choice meant. Once Yunxi recovered, she might have no choice but to reveal the truth... that she was, in fact, a dragon.
Rayna met their eyes firmly. "Yes. I'm sure. I want to do this."
Both Soren and Ezra fell silent, bowing their heads in respect for her decision.
The village chief handed her a dagger, the steel glinting faintly in the dim light. "It will hurt, Rayna," she warned gently.
Rayna gave a small, determined smile. "It's alright. A little pain is nothing... if it means saving Yunxi's life."
The chief nodded, her expression softening with quiet assurance.
Rayna drew the dagger across her palm—just a shallow cut, enough for the blood to flow. She held her trembling hand close to Yunxi's lips, letting the crimson drops trickle into his mouth.
The village chief's voice was steady. "He will heal soon. Don't worry, Rayna."
Ezra glanced at the chief. "Do you have the Seryth root?"
The chief rummaged through her pot of herbs and produced a few dried stalks. Ezra took them, crushed the root into a fine paste with practiced hands, and gently applied it over Rayna's wound. Then, tearing a strip from his own tunic, he bound her hand with care before lifting it to his lips, pressing a tender kiss against the bandaged skin.
After this, Rayna went near Yunxi and crouched down beside him, her heart pounding as she searched his face, waiting for him to heal. Then she noticed it.
The open wounds across his body were slowly drawing closed, his shallow, ragged breaths steadied into deeper, stronger ones. The pallor that had drained his face gave way to a warmer hue, a flush of life seeping back into his cheeks.
Rayna lifted her gaze toward Soren, Ezra, and the village chief, her eyes shimmering with desperate hope. "I just... I just hope he wakes up soon," she whispered.
As if in answer, a faint sound escaped Yunxi's lips. He shifted slightly, a low groan breaking the silence. "Argh..."
Rayna's breath caught, her heart leaped.
Yunxi's eyelids fluttered weakly before finally opening, his gaze hazy as he struggled to focus. A faint sound escaped his lips. "Mhm..."
Slowly, his eyes found her. "Rayna?" he whispered, his voice fragile but filled with recognition.
Rayna's chest tightened, tears welling as relief washed over her.
Rayna smiled through her tears and leaned forward, wrapping Yunxi in a gentle embrace. "I'm so glad you opened your eyes... you don't know how much."
Yunxi, still dazed, slowly pushed himself upright and, to her surprise, tightened his arms around her. His heart thudded unevenly as a strange thought flickered through his mind. So this is it... I must have died. And this... this must be heaven—because Rayna's hugging me. She's so warm... so cozy.
Yunxi nuzzled in Rayna's neck.
Behind them, Soren and Ezra exchanged a glance before deliberately clearing their throats.
Startled, Yunxi's eyes snapped open wider, darting to them with a confused look, as if silently asking, Wait... what are you two doing in heaven?
Soren understood what his facial expression meant, and he crossed his arms, his tone clipped. "No, Yunxi, this isn't heaven—and you didn't die. You're in the village chief's hut right now."
That blunt statement snapped Yunxi back to reality, dragging him out of his dreamy haze. "But... but I really thought I died..." he muttered, still bewildered.
The village chief spoke softly, her voice gentle. "Ezra, Soren... I'd like to have a word with you both."
Rayna blinked, not fully understanding why, but the chief's intention was clear—she wanted to give Yunxi and Rayna space to speak without Soren and Ezra's presence hovering nearby.
Soren and Ezra exchanged a glance, then quietly followed the chief to the outer perch at the hut's entrance. The air outside was still, carrying the faint scent of smoke from the fires burning in the village.
The chief turned to them, her expression composed yet serious. "Soren, Ezra... there's something important I need to tell you."
Seeing both Soren and Ezra listening intently, the village chief spoke in a low, deliberate tone.
"You both know dragon's blood doesn't just heal or hasten recovery. It holds power far beyond that—it can even bring the dead back to life."
Both Soren's and Ezra's eyes widened upon hearing this fact.
The chief's gaze sharpened. "That is why you must be careful. Do not let anyone learn of this, or Rayna could be harmed—or worse, misused. Protect her always. I know she is immensely strong, but even the strongest people need care... and protection. So I will say it again—protect Rayna. She's special. Understood?"
"Always, Chief," Soren replied firmly.
Ezra added with quiet conviction, "Even if you hadn't told us, we would still protect her—even if it cost us our lives."
A faint smile touched the chief's lips. "Yes... but take care of yourselves, too. You saw how Rayna was when you were hurt today. You mean as much to her as she does to you. You two are lucky to have her as your mate." She emphasized the word softly but with weight.
Both Soren and Ezra shared a glance, small smiles tugging at their lips.
"Yeah... I'm glad we crashed into each other that day," Soren murmured, lost in thought.
"And I'm glad I brought her those fruits," Ezra added with a smile of his own.
"Now, let's go in," the village chief said softly.
The three of them stepped back inside the hut, where Rayna and Yunxi were talking quietly. When Rayna noticed them return, she rose and walked over to Ezra and Soren.
The three of them stood in a corner, the village chief gave them space.
"Hey..." she whispered, her voice hesitant.
Both of them immediately understood what was coming.
"You know," Rayna began, her fingers nervously twisting together, "I've realized something. Yunxi means a lot to me... more than just a friend. At first, I thought I'd wait until after we returned from the East City to talk to him—and to both of you as well. But now... I see we shouldn't always wait for the perfect time. Soren, Ezra... I want to take Yunxi as my mate."
Soren and Ezra exchanged a long glance. Then Soren gave a small nod. "We have no objections. Yunxi didn't hesitate to risk his life for you—that alone shows how deeply he cares. He'll be a good mate, Rayna."
Ezra sighed dramatically, though his lips curled into a wry smile. "Yeah... but I can't lie, I'm a little upset. I already had to deal with this bird, now a panda—Rayna's love and attention are getting more and more divided." He said it teasingly, his tone light, and Rayna caught the humor in it.
She chuckled and cupped both of their faces fondly. "Aww, don't worry, my honeys—that's not going to happen. I care for all of you deeply."
Their expressions softened. Both Soren and Ezra smiled and pulled her into a warm embrace.
"I'll ask him now then?"
Both of them nodded.
Rayna slowly approached Yunxi, her heart thudding in her chest. Taking a breath, she said softly,
Yunxi... you know, I've realized something. I feel so happy and comfortable whenever I'm with you. You mean more to me than just a friend. I really care about you... I'm truly fond of you. So... would you want to be my mate?"
Her eyes searched his, nervous yet full of sincerity.
For a moment, Yunxi blinked in disbelief. Then a wide grin broke across his face. "Really? This... this isn't a joke, right?"
"Not at all," Rayna said firmly, shaking her head. "I'm serious."
Yunxi's voice caught with emotion as he replied, "Rayna... you don't even have to ask me. Of course, yes! I just... I never believed you could ever accept me. I'm weak, not that useful,—ugly and..."
Before he could finish, Rayna cupped his cheeks, her touch gentle but steady. "Shh. You're not ugly. Not to me. You're my fluffy cloud." She leaned forward and kissed his forehead tenderly.
Her eyes sparkled with playful sternness. "Didn't I already scold you enough about this? Do you want me to give you another lecture?"
Yunxi's cheeks flushed pink. "N-no... no lecture," he stammered, but the nickname made his heart flutter. Fluffy cloud. He secretly adored it. It settled warmly in his heart, wrapping him in a sense of belonging he'd never known before.
Oh that cute blush. Rayna smiled.
And just like that, Yunxi was finally Rayna's mate. For Yunxi, being called Rayna's "fluffy cloud", her mate was no less than a dream made real. And for Rayna, she had found yet another piece of her heart.