Kairos stood at the door of his mid-spire apartment, bag slung over his shoulder. The Space Bag felt heavier today — not because of weight, but because of everything it carried: weapons, equipment, and the weight of the journey ahead.
Lumen hugged him tightly around the waist.
"Big brother, come back soon, okay? And bring something cool from the ocean!"
Kairos ruffled his hair gently. "I will. Study hard while I'm gone. Mei and Ivan will check your homework."
Old Mei placed a warm hand on his arm. "Be careful, boy. The sea is not kind."
Ivan gave him a firm nod. "Don't do anything stupid. And keep that girl safe."
Kairos smiled. "I'll try."
He gave everyone one last look, then stepped out.
The drive to Aria's spire was quiet. When he reached the entrance, Reck was already waiting outside, leaning against the wall with his usual mischievous grin.
"Bro! You're early," Reck said, eyes sparkling with teasing energy. "Honeymoon pe ja rahe ho kya? Mujhe good news ka intezar rahega!"
Kairos chuckled, shaking his head. "It's a hunt, Reck. Not a honeymoon."
Reck wiggled his eyebrows. "Same thing, according to me."
Before Kairos could reply, Aria appeared at the doorway. She shot her brother a sharp look.
"Reck, shut up."
She used a small illusion wave — a soft shimmer of silver light — to temporarily silence him. Reck's mouth moved but no sound came out. He looked comically offended.
In his mind, Reck thought with genuine warmth:
Brother Kairos… I trust you. Please keep my big sister safe.
Aria turned to Kairos, her voice calm but firm.
"Why are you just standing there? Load all the equipment into the car."
Reck, still silenced, happily helped carry the bags and cases into the sleek black vehicle Aria had prepared. Once everything was loaded, Reck finally got his voice back.
He leaned close to Aria's ear and whispered loudly enough for Kairos to hear:
"I want this exact brother-in-law. Don't mess it up."
Aria's face turned bright red. She pushed him away, embarrassed.
"Get lost!"
Reck laughed and waved as they got into the car.
As the vehicle pulled away, Aria sat in the passenger seat, staring straight ahead. In her mind, she thought:
What happened to him? He used to scare away every boy who even looked at me. Now he's pushing me toward Kairos?
A memory flashed in her mind.
Years ago, when she was younger, any boy who tried to approach her would suddenly find himself running away in terror — thanks to Reck's overprotective illusions or direct threats. Sometimes he even pretended to be a monster just to scare them off. But now… he was actively encouraging Kairos.
She glanced sideways at Kairos. Their hands accidentally brushed on the center console. She didn't pull away immediately.
The journey began smoothly.
The car glided through Nexus's outskirts, then onto the long coastal highway. Tall fusion towers gave way to open fields and then the vast blue of the sea on their right. The road was smooth, lined with glowing aether-lamps that activated as evening approached.
They talked about small things at first.
Kairos pointed out a distant ruined pre-Fall bridge. "That used to be one of the longest bridges in the old world. Now it's just a skeleton."
Aria nodded. "The Fall destroyed so much. But it also created new beauty."
They stopped once for a quick meal at a roadside stall — fresh seafood grilled with crystal spices. Aria teased Kairos when he burned his tongue on a spicy piece.
"You dive into the ocean but can't handle a little spice?" she laughed.
Kairos grinned. "I'll get used to it… just like I'm getting used to your company."
The sun set slowly, painting the sky in oranges and purples. The road became quieter. Stars appeared overhead, brighter than in the city.
As night deepened, fatigue started to set in.
Up ahead, a modest but elegant hotel came into view — "Starlit Haven" — known as a popular stop for travelers heading to the coast.
Kairos slowed the car. "We should rest here for the night. It's getting late."
Aria agreed.
They parked and walked into the lobby.
The lady at the counter smiled warmly at them.
"Welcome! Such a lovely couple. Honeymoon special?"
Both Kairos and Aria froze, faces turning red at the same time.
Kairos cleared his throat quickly.
"Actually… we need two rooms for tonight, please."
The lady checked her screen and frowned apologetically.
"I'm so sorry, sir. We only have one room available tonight. This hotel is famous for honeymoon packages. Most people book months in advance. We're fully booked except for that one suite."
Aria stood behind Kairos, silent for a moment.
Then she spoke softly.
"It's okay. We'll take it."
Kairos hesitated, glancing at her.
"You sure?"
Aria nodded, though her cheeks were still pink.
"Yes."
They took the key and headed to the room.
When they opened the door, they both stopped.
There was only one large, beautifully made bed in the center of the luxurious suite. Soft lighting, rose petals scattered on the sheets, and a bottle of sparkling wine on the side table.
Kairos and Aria stood side by side, staring at the single bed.
To be continued...