The forest finally allowed them peace.
After everything that had happened—the encounter with Seraphine Drakmor, the appearance of Aris Veyl, and the strange reactions that followed—Kael's group decided to stop early for the day.
The sun was already lowering.
Golden light filtered through the trees, painting the clearing in soft warmth.
A small camp was set.
A modest fire crackled at the center.
And for the first time in hours…
There was no danger.
Nyx stretched her arms above her head with a long, exaggerated groan.
"I swear… if one more insane woman shows up today, I'm going back to the Empire."
Her body arched slightly as she stretched, her clothes tightening just enough to emphasize her figure.
Kael blinked.
Once.
Then quickly looked away.
"…You say that like you had a choice."
Nyx smirked.
"Oh? Were you looking just now?"
"I wasn't."
"You were."
"I wasn't."
"You absolutely were."
Lyra sat quietly beside the fire, pretending to focus on preparing some simple food.
But her ears—
Were very clearly listening.
And her cheeks…
Had gained a faint pink tint.
"…Kael."
Her voice came softly.
Too softly.
He turned.
"Yeah?"
She hesitated.
Then looked down slightly.
"…Would you… sit closer?"
Nyx's eyes widened immediately.
"Oh? So bold today, aren't we?"
Lyra's face turned even redder.
"I-I only meant because it's cold!"
"It's not cold."
"It feels cold!"
Kael chuckled lightly.
"…Alright."
He moved.
Sitting beside her.
Closer.
A little too close.
Their shoulders brushed.
Lightly.
Lyra froze.
Her breath hitched—just slightly.
But she didn't move away.
Instead…
She leaned.
Barely.
Just enough for their arms to stay in contact.
Nyx stared.
"…Unbelievable."
She stood up suddenly.
Walked over.
And dropped herself on Kael's other side.
Now he was trapped between them.
"…Now it's balanced," Nyx said proudly.
Kael sighed.
"…I feel like I don't get a say in this."
Fufuin, lying nearby, opened one eye.
"…You do not."
Silence fell again.
But this time—
It was different.
Warmer.
Closer.
The fire cracked softly.
The scent of wood filled the air.
And Kael could feel it.
Both of them.
Lyra's soft warmth against his arm.
Nyx's leg lightly pressing against his.
Unintentional.
Or maybe not.
"…You're tense," Nyx suddenly said, glancing at him.
"I'm not."
"You are."
She leaned slightly closer.
Her voice dropping.
"…Is it because of earlier?"
Kael didn't answer immediately.
Lyra's hand moved.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Until her fingers gently rested over his.
"…You don't have to carry everything alone," she said softly.
That warmth again.
Not the strange power.
Not the one from before.
Something simpler.
Something human.
Nyx watched the interaction.
And for a moment—
Her teasing expression softened.
"…Yeah," she muttered. "What she said."
Kael looked at both of them.
Then smiled faintly.
"…Thanks."
But then—
Something pulsed.
Again.
That same feeling.
Deep in his chest.
The mark.
Lyra gasped softly.
Nyx's eyes widened.
"…Wait."
The air changed.
Subtle.
But undeniable.
Their bodies reacted before their minds could.
Lyra's grip on his hand tightened.
Her breathing grew slightly uneven.
Nyx leaned closer—
Without realizing.
"…This again…" she whispered.
Kael frowned.
"…I'm not doing anything."
Fufuin sat up.
His gaze sharp.
"…No. You are not."
A pause.
"…It is responding."
"To what?"
Silence.
Then—
Fufuin's eyes shifted slightly.
"…To them."
Both girls froze.
"…What?" Nyx said.
Lyra's heart was racing now.
She could feel it.
That same pull.
Stronger than before.
Not overwhelming.
Not controlling.
But inviting.
Her fingers tightened again around Kael's hand.
"…Kael…"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"…Why does it feel like… I don't want to let go?"
Nyx swallowed.
"…Yeah… same here…"
Kael looked between them.
Confused.
But not uncomfortable.
Because deep down—
He didn't want them to move away either.
The fire flickered.
The night grew deeper.
And without realizing—
The distance between them disappeared completely.
Lyra leaned gently against his shoulder.
Her head resting there now.
Nyx watched.
Paused.
Then clicked her tongue softly.
"…You're not the only one."
And she leaned too.
Now—
Both of them.
Close.
Warm.
Soft.
Kael froze for a second.
Then slowly relaxed.
"…This is dangerous," he muttered.
Fufuin snorted.
"…You have no idea."
Above them—
The stars began to fill the sky.
And far beyond what they could see—
Something was watching.
The "Desire" was growing.
Not as destruction.
But as connection.
As something that bound hearts.
Something that—
If left unchecked—
Could change everything.