Two figures lay on a bed facing opposite directions.
An awkward silence hung in the air as the crackling campfire complemented the ambiance of the night.
Two hearts beat furiously as their owners' minds raced, a subtle heat clinging to them while the prior events replayed in their heads like a high-resolution movie.
'Okay, okay, calm down, Kaelira! CALM down!'
'SHIT SHIT SHITTTT! Okay, it's not that bad, right!? I mean, I didn't do anything!'
'It's no big deal, you just touched him a bit, that's all. That's completely normal, right!?'
'THAT WASN'T FUCKING NORMAL!! She just—just grabbed on and wouldn't let go. It's on her, not me. Yeah, she's the thirsty one!'
'It was so big… and hot… NO NO NO, STOP THINKING ABOUT IT, YOU IDIOT!! I have to think of something to save this beautiful face.'
'Her hand was so soft… like a cloud wrapping around my—NO, FOCUS!! Gotta think of an excuse. Wait, no, not an excuse, this is her fault!'
'Let's blame him! Yeah, he's the man. He should take responsibility for defiling my virgin hand a—and my pure mind!'
'Dammit! Vairon Aetherion, you're a man! What are you cowering for!? She made a move on you—challenged your manhood. Mother would mock you if we let this slight go unanswered!'
'AGHHHHH! No, I am not so shameless. Let's just talk it out. Say it was an accident and that you just move a lot in your sleep. I dare him to argue back with this princess.'
'Okay, just talk it out. The rice has already been cooked, no use crying about it now. There is only one answer.'
'Let's go for it!'
'Just do it!'
As both youths reached the conclusion of their whirlwind thoughts, they turned to face each other and spoke at the same time.
"IT WAS YOUR FAULT!"
"WILL YOU MARRY ME!?"
"WHATTT!?!?"
"THE HELL!?"
Two flustered and incredulous voices rose together, neither comprehending the nonsense the other had just blurted out. Their features shifted between embarrassment and confusion.
They both whipped their heads away as their cheeks flushed crimson, hearts beating so furiously they thought they might explode.
As silence began to blanket the room again, a mosquito-like voice pierced through it.
"I-Idiot! You stone-faced idiot! What the hell do you mean 'Will you marry me!?' Do you think you're worthy of this princess!?"
Swallowing, his throat dry, Vairon shot back,
"A-And what do you mean it's my fault!? I'm the patient here! I can't even move, let alone have the energy to commit such depravity!"
"…Well, for a patient, you certainly are lively…"
Vairon's cheeks lit up like they were dripping blood. "I AM A HEALTHY YOUNG MAN! HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO REACT!?"
"A-AND I'M A COMPLETELY NORMAL, HOR—PURE YOUNG WOMAN! YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME!"
"HAAA!? DO YOU EVEN BELIEVE THAT YOURSELF!?"
"I-I DON'T KNOW! I DON'T CARE! YOU'RE OWNING THIS, YOU PRUDISH BITCH!"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A BITCH, YOU SOCIOPATH!? YOU WERE THE ONE HANGING ON FOR DEAR LIFE!"
"LIES! DON'T FLATTER YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU HAVE A MILDLY IMPRESSIVE WEAPON! I-I WAS JUST AFRAID OF HARMING YOU!"
(About ten minutes of back-and-forth screaming later…)
"Ha… ha… ha…"
"Ha… ha… ha…"
Finally out of breath (and nonsense), the two glared at each other, faces burning with mortifying embarrassment. After a moment, with a trembling voice, Kaelira sighed and asked the question that had lingered at the forefront of her mind.
"Are you okay?"
Taken aback by her quiet but complex tone, Vairon paused before responding.
"Well, I've certainly been better."
With a light chuckle, Kaelira let out a breath that seemed to dissolve the tension.
"That's good. You were reckless, stone-face—really reckless. I honestly thought you weren't going to make it. After that big speech about not playing the hero, and then you go putting not only your body but your soul in danger."
Vairon's lip twitched as he turned his head away in silent embarrassment.
"It wasn't that dire. I just did wh—"
"You could have died, Aetherion."
Vairon froze at those words, his mind blank. Seeing his silence, Kaelira's expression softened; she lowered her head as her shoulders began to tremble slightly.
"I'm sorry…"
Puzzled, Vairon turned to face her—only to be stunned by the vulnerable look in this proud woman's eyes. He had never seen her show such emotion, not even when they were at their most desparate being hunted by Sylas and his gang.
"I was worried. You weren't waking up, your body was falling apart at the seams, and I couldn't do anything. You said we were partners—that we'd make it out of this together. That you'd give me that rematch."
"I never said that—"
"But as you lay there, without a hint of breath, like a corpse—"
"Oye, don't ignore me!"
"I thought I was going to lose you. Lose the first friend I'd ever made outside the sect. I-I didn't know what to do. I should have been faster, should have fought with you—and died with you if it came to it. I feel like I failed you, Aetherion."
The vein that had begun to emerge on Vairon's forehead faded as she spoke. Hearing the helplessness and vulnerability in her voice, he couldn't bring himself to argue. He let out a sigh and, with his free hand, gently patted her head of silver hair.
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Kaelira jolted from her self-pitying monologue. A blush crept up her neck as she stammered,
"W-W-W-What are you doing!? J-Just because you're hurt d-doesn't mean you can—"
"Vairon."
Caught off guard, Kaelira tilted her head.
"What?"
Chuckling softly, he repeated,
"Call me Vairon. Wife or not, you've at least earned that right—as my friend."
The blush completely flooded her face as she struggled to articulate her thoughts, torn between a strange happiness, embarrassment, and faux anger.
"W-Who are you calling your wife, stone-face!? I told you, you aren't my—"
"Yeah, yeah. Jeez, woman, just read the mood. And people say I'm tone-deaf."
Kaelira's face shifted from red to purple before settling back on red as she huffed angrily, pouting her lips and puffing her cheeks like a small squirrel.
"Whatever. I can't be bothered to argue with a man as petty as you."
Letting out a light chuckle, Vairon finally felt his body ease as the tension between them melted away.
Staring at him intently, Kaelira's eyes traced the sharp lines of his jaw, his damp green hair matted to his forehead with sweat. His scent tickled her senses like a warm breeze that eased her mind and body.
"So… when do you plan on giving me my arm back?"
As if just realizing their close proximity, Kaelira hastily jumped up and smoothed out her dress, his scent still lingering on her like a subtle perfume.
Finally beginning to feel sensation return to his numb arm, he slowly lifted his injured body into a more comfortable position, fully taking in the situation around them. The wind qi in the air carried a faint sense of sorrow and loss.
He turned his gaze to the window and was startled by the sight that greeted him. Outside lay a city, cold and empty—devoid of life for what seemed a very long time. The vestiges of the past still lingered in the shadows of the buildings and in the calm breeze that drifted through the desolate streets.
"We made it? But how?"
Turning to Kaelira, a frown appeared on his face as he tried to grasp their situation.
She stayed silent for a beat before also turning her eyes to the world outside. Her gaze was conflicted as she looked upon the lonely buildings and streets.
"After you collapsed, I carried us to the city we'd seen in the distance. Surprisingly, no more beasts showed up after we vanquished that disgusting… worm. I walked four or five days straight before reaching the city walls.
The second I reached the gates, I fainted. When I awoke, we were in this room. I have no idea how we got in, but I took this brief respite to heal and recover my qi while scouting our surroundings."
Noticing her calm, confident demeanor returning, Vairon's lips curved slightly, almost finding the gap between the two versions of her cute. But as she spoke, his expression gradually turned serious.
"…I know I've been asking this a lot recently, but… where are we?"
Still gazing at the city, Kaelira stilled before turning to face him.
"We… we are in the city of one of the primordial races."