The night pressed heavily against the village, clouds swallowing the moon as if sky itself wished to hide.
Lucy walked ahead in silence, her footsteps light but her thoughts deafening.
Omar's words still echoed in her mind like a curse that would not fade—
"Try to survive."
What did he mean?
Was it a warning… or a sentence?
Merlin followed behind her, silent, his eyes never leaving her back. He could sense it—the way her shoulders trembled ever so slightly, the way her breathing faltered when she thought no one noticed. Lucy White was not someone who cried loudly.
She broke quietly.
She suffered quietly.
And that terrified him more than any enemy.
When they stepped away from Omar's house and reached the narrow dirt path leading to the small broken cottage, Lucy finally stopped walking.
Merlin did not speak.
He waited.
The forest whispered around them—branches groaning, wind sighing through leaves like a distant chant. It felt as though something unseen was watching from beyond the dark.
Lucy clenched her fists.
"How… how can he say that so easily?" she whispered.
Merlin took a step closer.
"Lucy…"
She turned sharply, eyes blazing.
"Does everyone just decide my future without asking me?" she cried. "First my mother. Then the forest. Then that man. Now even my life isn't mine!"
Her voice broke, sharp and fragile.
Merlin's chest tightened.
She looked so small in the vast darkness—like she might vanish if the night swallowed her too deeply.
"I don't want any destiny," she whispered. "I just wanted my father back…"
Her knees nearly gave way.
Before she could fall, Merlin caught her.
He held her tightly—not forcefully, but with desperate care, as though fearing she might shatter in his arms.
Lucy struggled.
"Let go of me!" she gasped. "I don't need anyone!"
But Merlin did not release her.
Instead, he pulled her closer.
You could run from the world.
But not from him.
"Don't lie," he said softly against her hair.
Lucy froze.
Merlin had never spoken in that tone before—low, quiet, steady.
"You don't need the world," he whispered.
"But you don't have to face it alone."
Her heart slammed violently inside her chest.
She pushed against him again.
"I said let go!"
Merlin tightened his grip—not painfully, but firmly.
"Lucy White," he said quietly, "you're allowed to be weak in front of me."
Her breath caught in her throat.
Weak?
The word struck something deep.
She had never been allowed to be weak.
Not in her house.
Not in school.
Not after her father died.
Not after her grandmother fell unconscious.
And now… not even here, in a village swallowed by monsters and gods.
She ripped herself from his arms and turned away.
"I don't… I don't feel anything for you," she said quickly, her back to him. "So stop pretending you matter to me."
Merlin did not move.
The silence between them became heavy.
Then he laughed.
Low.
Soft.
Not mockery.
Sadness.
He stepped forward until Lucy felt his presence behind her without even turning.
"You're terrible at lying," he said gently.
Her heart throbbed painfully.
She clenched her jaw.
"I'm not—"
"You don't look away when you lie," Merlin said. "You don't raise your voice either. And your fists tremble only when you're afraid you'll lose something."
Lucy's breath stuttered.
"You're scared of losing me," Merlin whispered.
She spun around.
"That's not true!"
Merlin met her gaze calmly.
Then… without warning—
He leaned forward.
And hugged her.
Not a desperate embrace.
Not a forceful one.
A quiet hug.
Like he was holding something precious that might disappear at any moment.
Lucy's eyes widened.
Her world blurred.
In that embrace, she felt something she had not felt in years—
Safety.
"I won't leave you," Merlin said into her hair.
"Even if the forest eats the sky… I will still stay."
Her heart trembled.
Her body betrayed her as her hands slowly gripped the back of his coat.
Tight.
As if afraid of losing him.
Then—she remembered.
Omar.
Her father.
The wolf.
The blood.
The curse.
She pushed Merlin away suddenly.
Her face burned.
"This isn't right," she said breathlessly.
Merlin stared at her.
"Lucy—"
"I don't want this," she interrupted. "I don't… I can't…"
Her voice faltered.
Merlin exhaled.
Then smiled faintly.
As if amused by heartbreak.
"Then don't run from me," he said. "But don't lie to me either."
He reached out.
Gently.
Tapped her forehead with his finger.
"As friends… or lovers… I don't care yet."
Lucy blinked.
He smiled softly.
"But I won't disappear."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"I'm not going anywhere," Merlin said quietly.
She looked away.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"I only see you as a friend."
The lie hung between them like frozen glass.
Merlin heard it.
Felt it.
But he only chuckled lightly.
"Then I'll be a very patient one."
Lucy blinked.
"What?"
He stepped away, hands in his pockets.
"Now come," he said casually. "If we don't eat tonight, you'll faint before destiny kills you."
She stared at his back.
Confused.
Relieved.
And painfully drawn to him.
Inside her chest—
Something fragile awakened.
They reached the small house.
Inside, Lucy attempted to help… and immediately spilled water everywhere.
Merlin burst into laughter.
"You were trained to fight beasts," he teased, "but water defeats you?"
Lucy scowled.
"Say that again and I'll drown you in it."
He chuckled.
"You're scary when you're cute."
Her face flamed red.
"H-Hey!"
Merlin took over cooking with surprising skill.
Lucy watched—
Stunned.
"Since when can you do this?" she asked.
"Military life," he shrugged. "If you can handle bullets, you can handle soup."
She laughed softly.
The heaviness in her heart lifted… just a little.
They ate together.
Side by side.
Outside the window—
In the forest—
A pair of glowing eyes watched silently.
Cold.
Ancient.
Unblinking.
And above the village—
The moon shifted behind clouds.
As if hiding from something awakening beneath it.