"Oh… Carai, you're back. Why do you look so… mad?" He followed her gaze to the sleeping Saeriel and jolted upright. "Wait hold on, it's not what you think!" Kayon's voice cracked with panic.
Carai crossed her arms, stepping closer. "Then explain. Now."
"She… she took me around the city," he stammered. "When I asked her how she ended up here… she started crying. And then she just collapsed."
"She cried… and collapsed?" Carai's voice was sharp.
"Yes," Kayon admitted, his forehead slick with sweat. "I had nowhere else to take her, so… I just brought her here."
Carai's eyes flicked to Saeriel. She clicked her tongue, disapproval clear.
"Hey."
"Yes, dear," Kayon replied, heart thudding.
"Go bring some water. Now."
"Yes, ma'am." He bolted from the room, nearly tripping over himself.
Carai stepped closer to Saeriel. "Now." Her tone was flat, commanding. "How long do you plan on pretending?"
Saeriel flinched under her gaze. Slowly, she rose. "I… I'm sorry, Lady Carai. I didn't mean to"
"I guess you're the one I should have been worried about."
"I… I'm sorry," Saeriel murmured, lowering her head.
"Sorry doesn't explain why you're in my bed." Carai's glare cut through her, making Saeriel flinch.
"Tell me… I hope you didn't try anything stupid." Carai's hand hovered over her blade.
Saeriel scrambled off the bed. "No! I swear nothing happened between us!"
Carai's eyes swept over her, studying her posture. 'Well… if she'd done something, she wouldn't be this energetic after sleeping with him' She sheathed her blade.
Carai's gaze settled on her.
"You love Kayon, don't you?"
Saeriel froze.
"…No."
Carai's eyes narrowed slightly,
"Careful," she said softly. "That answer came faster than your breathing."
Saeriel's fingers curled at her sides. "…I just respect him."
"Respect?" Carai stepped closer, slow, controlled. "Is that what we're calling the way you look at him now?"
Saeriel's lips parted, but nothing came out.
Carai tilted her head, studying her.
'Not a rival. Not harmless either.
That's it.'
"Let me make this simple for you," Carai continued, voice calm, almost patient. "You can lie to him if you want... But don't lie to me."
Silence stretched.
Saeriel's shoulders dropped slightly.
"…I don't know what I feel," she whispered.
Carai watched her carefully.
"Hm."
She turned slightly,
"Well, that actually works out for me."
Saeriel blinked. "What?"
Carai sat down, crossing one leg over the other, completely at ease now.
"I was planning on finding you anyway."
A beat.
"If he accepts you," she said, resting her chin lightly on her hand, "then I don't have a problem with it."
Saeriel's eyes widened.
Carai saw it instantly.
Her gaze sharpened.
"But understand this," she said, her voice dropping, "if you betray him…"
She leaned forward slightly. "I will kill you."
She paused, "That's not a threat... It's a promise."
Saeriel dropped immediately, bowing low.
"I swear it. I'll be loyal… until I die."
Carai watched her for a moment longer… then leaned back.
"…You're smoother than I expected."
Saeriel let out a shaky breath.
"No… I just couldn't lie anymore."
Carai's lips curved faintly.
'Good. Honest tools are easier to control.'
Kayon grabbed a bucket of water. "She really did cry herself unconscious…" he muttered, lifting it. "I hope I'm not in trouble."
He rushed back to the tent only to stop short.
Carai was alone.
"…Huh. Where did she go?"
"She left," Carai replied calmly.
He set the bucket down and moved closer, sitting beside her. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice soft.
No answer.
In the next instant, she moved.
Kayon hit the ground, breath catching as Carai pinned him beneath her.
"I suddenly feel like taking you," she murmured, her hands resting lightly at his neck not tightening, just enough to remind him she could.
He didn't resist. Didn't even try.
"If that's what you want… then don't hold back" He held her gaze "I won't either." Carai flinches,
Silence fell between them .
The world outside faded, leaving only the quiet shift of movement, the rustle of fabric, and the space between them collapsed. Breath caught, Fingers tightened, Control slipped and neither of them pulled away.
The next day, Dravena came to collect Carai, and the two left for training.
Kayon remained in the tent, meditating in silence until afternoon.
A soft knock broke the stillness.
"Hello… can I come in?"
"Wait a moment," he said, quickly pulling on his clothes. A pause. "Alright. Come in."
Saeriel stepped inside, carrying a tray. She set the food down carefully.
"Carai's training," she said. "She asked me to bring this to you."
Kayon nodded, picking up the bowl and starting to eat. "She's been training a lot lately, huh."
"Yes," Saeriel brushed her hair back slowly, watching him through the motion. "And tomorrow… she plans to train with me."
Kayon paused mid-bite, then swallowed, his gaze shifting away for a moment.
"…Wait. Aren't you an archer?"
"I am." She gave a small smile. "Dravena's heading out to gather supplies, so Carai wants to spar with me instead."
She turned slightly, already moving toward the exit.
"I hope everything's alright," Kayon said,
She paused at the entrance, then glanced back. "Don't worry. It's just training." And with that, she left.
The day slipped by faster than he expected.
By the time Carai returned, it was already night, Her clothes were soaked through. Sweat clung to her skin, and the faint metallic scent of blood lingered in the air.
Kayon wrinkled his nose slightly. "You need a shower, right now."
"Aww… you don't like my new scent?" she teased, rushing forward and wrapping her arms around him before he could react.
"Hey come on, I just bathed!" he protested, trying to pull back as she laughed.
"Then we can take another one," she said with a grin, tightening her embrace.
He sighed, a faint smile breaking through as he tapped her head lightly. "So that was your plan all along."
She let out a soft laugh.
He cleared the center of the cave and formed a hole in the floor and filled it with steaming water. She stared at it.
"Wow… that's handy magic."
"I know now get in. It's warm." He stepped behind her, pressing gently into her shoulders.
She sank immediately, tension melting from her body. "Wow… that's amazing."
"You really trained till night, huh."
"Yeah… and I wanted to ask how do those stones work?"
"They charge at night and shine during the day."
"Seriously?"
"You'll have to ask Saeriel for details."
She turned her head to look at him then slowly sank back into the water.
After soaking for hours, he lifted her from the water. It vanished behind them, the hollow sealing as if it had never been there. He laid her down gently and settled beside her.
Morning came.
Kayon stirred, reaching out only to find the space beside him empty.
"…She's already gone."
He pushed himself upright, then noticed the food set nearby.
"Hm… at least she didn't forget me."
He picked it up and ate in silence.
When he finished, he lay back down
and drifted off again.
Outside the cave, an injured warrior staggered toward the boulder sealing the entrance.
"Open up! We need help!"
The stone shifted. A guard rushed forward, catching him before he collapsed. "What happened?"
"The boss…" he swallowed hard. "She's in trouble. She's fighting a magic user."
"Damn it… Lady Saeriel and Carai are out…" The guard froze. "Wait."
He lowered the man carefully. "We'll ask him."
He sprinted toward Kayon's tent and burst inside.
"Sir we need your help!" He dropped to one knee. "Lady Dravena is in trouble."
Kayon sat up, eyes locking onto him. "Explain."
"She ran into a magic user."
'magic user that's a five star, aren't they supposed to be rare.'
'Yes, Master,' Mian replied. 'Based on current data, encounters should be unlikely.'
Kayon stood. "Where are they?"
"I can show you"
Kayon grabbed him by the collar. "No need. Let's go."
In the next instant, they were airborne wind tearing past them as the ground vanished below.
"Which direction?"
"The Randal group northwest!"
"Good."
Kayon released him midair. "You won't die from this height."
The man dropped along the mountain side
and Kayon shot forward.
The air cracked behind him, a violent burst that sent the trees below thrashing as he disappeared toward the northwest.