The sound of dripping water echoed faintly in the vast, silent darkness. Kael slowly opened his eyes to find himself lying on the surface of a still, endless lake. Cold, glassy water supported him like a fragile cradle, yet he couldn't move—his limbs heavy, his body numb. Only his fingers twitched, and his head barely turned.
Above him, the sky was an oppressive shade of black, starless and hollow. A ringing silence filled the air… until he heard it.
A soft, broken sob.
Kael turned his head with effort, eyes drawn to the source. Just a few meters away sat a figure—small, curled, trembling. A boy, knees hugged tightly to his chest, brown hair damp and clinging to his bruised skin. His face was a blur, like a memory Kael wasn't meant to see clearly.
And yet, he recognized him.
That boy was… himself.
From a life he no longer lived.
Fear gnawed at the edge of Kael's fading consciousness. He knew—he just knew—that if he looked too long, if he listened too closely, something inside him would shatter again.
A flash of red broke the stillness.
A butterfly.
Its wings glimmered like fresh blood as it fluttered gently in front of Kael's face before drifting toward the boy. But instead of drawing him into wonder, it provoked a terrifying rage.
"No!!" the boy screamed.
Kael flinched. The voice, once soft, now cracked with fury.
"He is mine!!"
The boy stood, shoulders shaking, and chased after the butterfly with such violence that Kael's ears rang painfully. His body trembled.
"Urghh…" Kael gasped, unable to take the piercing scream. His vision spun, but the boy had already stopped. His blurred gaze locked directly onto Kael.
"There you are…"
The boy stepped forward slowly, deliberately. The butterfly tried to distract him, flitting before his eyes, but he brushed it aside.
Kael's heart pounded. He couldn't move, couldn't even scream.
"You're mine. Why are you trying to hide?"
The boy knelt, and cold fingers wrapped around Kael's throat. Pressure. Weight. Darkness pressing down on his chest. He couldn't breathe. His back sank into the lake as the boy straddled him, squeezing tighter and tighter.
"N…n-no…" Kael cried weakly, tears falling sideways into the water. But no one heard him. No one could save him.
Then—light.
The red butterfly landed softly on his fingertip.
And suddenly, the water beneath him gave way.
The choking grip vanished.
He plunged down—alone—into the endless depths of the lake. Darkness swallowed him whole.
-----------------------------------------
The harsh rattle of carriage wheels over rocky terrain broke into his ears, followed by a smell—faint, warm, sweet. Kael stirred.
His eyes fluttered open.
Everything was hazy. His body was burning and freezing at the same time. His head throbbed, his breath shallow. The world looked blurred, smeared like wet ink. But a cool hand cupped his cheek. Another gripped his fingers tightly.
Elric.
She was holding him close, his head cradled gently in her lap. Her cold fingers brushed over his burning skin, her expression unreadable in the dim lamplight.
He blinked slowly, unable to focus. He heard her voice faintly, her warmth all around him, the scent of her hand lingering in the air.
"Where are… we… going?" he asked softly, barely audible.
Elric gently tightened the shawl around his shoulders. "Delcra," she whispered near his ear, "your home."
Kael's brow furrowed faintly. "My… home?"
Before she could answer, a loud knock came from the front of the carriage.
"We've entered the edge of Vaelthorn territory!" Robert's voice rang through the blizzard outside. "The storm is getting near! I'm casting the barrier spell now!"
Elric tapped twice on the carriage wall in acknowledgment. Her arm wrapped protectively around Kael, pulling him closer. His head rested on her shoulder, and she shielded his trembling frame with the blankets, tucking the edges around him like layers of armor.
The air grew colder, cutting through every gap. Elric could feel Kael's shivering intensify. She whispered close to his ear, "Kael, please hold on…"
A soft, golden light flickered from her palm as she cast a warming spell, her mana pooling outward to cocoon him in artificial warmth. But still—his breath against her cheek remained shallow. His temperature hadn't dropped.
"Are you feeling okay?" she asked gently. He blinked once in reply, too weak to speak. His head remained against her shoulder, barely lifting.
"I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable… but this storm will end soon. Just a little longer."
Then came a violent jolt—stronger than any before.
The carriage lurched off the ground and slammed back down.
Elric lost balance and fell, shielding Kael with her arms as they hit the floor. He landed against her chest, and she gasped as his weight knocked the air from her lungs. "Are you hurt anywhere?" she asked quickly.
Kael coughed weakly in response.
She reached for his forehead—he was burning. More than before. His breathing was faint, almost nonexistent. Her heart sank.
A frantic knock.
"Is everything alright?!" Robert's voice cut through the storm.
"Robert! His fever's getting worse!!"
The carriage came to a sudden stop. Elric fixed Kael's sitting position quickly, wrapping every blanket they had around him. His cheeks were flushed bright red—almost glowing—and his lips had gone pale.
Robert opened the carriage door, wind blasting snow and cold air into their fragile haven. He placed his hand over Kael's chest, eyes narrowing. "His fever's spiking. Just as we feared. And this storm's not natural—it won't stop."
"How long is the teleportation port?" Elric demanded, turning toward the driver.
"About an hour, my lady!"
"We don't have that long!" she snapped, eyes wide with desperation.
Robert cast another warming spell, but it barely helped.
Then—they both froze.
A drop of blood trickled from Kael's nose.
"No—Kael!" Elric caught the blood on her sleeve, wiping it away. Her voice cracked as she grabbed his face. "Don't fall asleep! Please—stay with me!"
Turning to the driver, she shouted, "Hurry to the teleportation port! Make it in less than 30 minutes, or he won't make it!!"
"Y-yes, my lady!"
The carriage surged forward through the storm, wheels rattling like drums of war.
Kael coughed again, his half-open eyes fixed on Robert's hand as he tried to cast another spell. But it wasn't working. His body rejected the mana. The fever wouldn't break.
Elric pulled Kael tightly against her, whispering again and again, "Hold on… just hold on…"
"I have a potion," Robert said suddenly, pulling out a small glowing vial. "It might help. But—"
The carriage jolted again, making it impossible to pour it into Kael's mouth.
Elric grabbed the potion from his hand. "I'll give it to him."
"What—?"
She didn't answer. Her eyes were fixed on Kael's face—eyes that were unfocused, but still open.
"I'm sorry," she murmured softly. "But please… let me help you."
She drank a small amount of the potion but didn't swallow it. Cradling Kael's face in both hands, she tilted his head toward her and leaned in.
Their lips met.
Kael's eyes widened as her breath mingled with his, and the potion flowed from her mouth to his. He tried to push her back, but his arms were too weak, trembling against her shoulders. Elric held him firmly, pressing closer until he had swallowed.
She pulled back, gasping softly, her cheeks glowing crimson. A faint trace of lipstick marked Kael's mouth. Her heart skipped. She bit her lip, unsure of what she had just done—but did it again.
One more time, she drank the rest of the potion.
And once more, she kissed him—gently, this time, no longer trembling. Kael didn't resist.
He closed his eyes and drank.
Robert, who had witnessed the entire exchange, turned away awkwardly, a deep flush on his face. "I… I'll just… keep an eye out…"
Kael coughed again, his body still weak, but he didn't collapse. His head rested against Elric's chest, and she wrapped her arms around him protectively.
Robert placed his hand over Kael's again. "His fever dropped slightly… but not for long. That potion only warms from the inside. We need to move—fast."
The carriage rattled on.
Elric never let him go.
His breathing remained faint. His pulse, racing.
She held his hand tightly, whispering like a prayer. "Please… hold on…"
-----------------------------------------
They finally slowed. Then stopped.
A knock.
"We've arrived!" the knight outside called out.
Elric's heart jumped. "We must activate the portal," she said. She handed the knight a large mana stone.
Turning back to Kael, she saw his eyes still open, barely.
"Just a little more," she whispered. She touched his hand again—he was gripping hers, weakly but surely.
She smiled through her exhaustion. "Just a minute. I'll come back later…"
Then she stepped out into the storm.
With Robert's help, the teleportation gate activated. A blinding pillar of light consumed them all—and in seconds, they were gone.
-----------------------------------------
They landed safely on solid stone. The air was warmer. They were at the western teleportation port, near Delcra Castle.
Elric doubled over, catching her breath. "After this… I'm setting up a portal at my house."
Robert chuckled. "Not a bad idea…"
Their moment of relief was short-lived. Knights wearing the Delcra crest approached and bowed.
"Welcome to Delcra Dukedom, Duke Vaelthorn, Sir Robert. We received His Highness's message about your arrival."
Elric nodded quickly. "Good. Then please, ready the carriage. We must get to the castle—immediately."
The knight raised a signal, and an ornate carriage pulled up.
Elric rushed back to her own.
And froze.
Kael was on the floor.
His blanket had fallen aside. His lips pale. Eyes closed.
She ran toward him, heart in her throat. She knelt, placed her ear against his chest.
No heartbeat.
Her eyes widened. A gasp left her lips.
"…Kael?"