The first thing Nixxin felt was warmth.
Not sunlight.
Warmth.
His eyes were still closed. He felt rough leaves under his back. The smell of wet soil filled his nose. Wind brushed his face, soft but cold. Somewhere above, branches moved and made a low sound like whispers.
Then he felt it again.
Something tight around his waist.
And something holding his arm.
He opened his red eyes slowly.
Green leaves. Tall trees. Blue sky between branches.
He turned his head to the left.
Kael.
Kael's brown hair was messy. His face was calm. His arm was wrapped tight around Nixxin's waist like he was hugging a pillow.
Nixxin's eye twitched.
He turned his head to the right.
Lira.
Her white hair was spread over the leaves like silk. Her blue eyes were closed. Her face was peaceful. Both of her hands were holding his arm close to her chest.
Nixxin stared at the sky.
"…Why," he muttered.
Kael squeezed tighter in his sleep.
Nixxin's face went blank.
He grabbed Kael's wrist and threw it off him.
Kael rolled on the leaves with a small grunt but did not wake up.
Nixxin then looked at Lira.
She was still holding him.
He tried to pull his arm back.
She tightened her grip.
"…Oi," he said softly.
No response.
He leaned closer. "Lira. Wake up."
Her lashes moved. Slowly, her blue eyes opened.
For a moment she just stared at him.
Then she blinked.
Then she looked down at her hands.
She was still holding his arm.
She let go at once and sat up straight.
"Why are you here?" she asked.
"We slept here," Nixxin said.
She looked around. "I know that. I mean why are you next to me?"
"You rolled."
She narrowed her eyes. "You are lying."
"I am not."
She looked to the left and saw Kael lying on his back, arms wide open like he was claiming the forest.
Her eyes went back to Nixxin.
"…Why was he hugging you?"
"I do not know," Nixxin said. "Ask him."
She stared at him a bit longer.
Then her eyes dropped.
She grabbed his wrist.
"Wait," she said.
Nixxin frowned. "What."
She pulled his hand closer to her face.
Her eyes focused.
Then she turned her own wrist up.
On her skin was a faint mark. A shape like fire but thin, sharp at the edges.
She grabbed Nixxin's other hand.
On his skin was the same mark.
Then she suddenly looked at Kael.
She crawled to him, grabbed his hand, and pulled up his sleeve.
Same mark.
She froze.
"…Why do you and Kael have the same tattoo?" she asked.
Nixxin's eyes shifted.
"I do not know."
"You do not know?" she repeated.
"I woke up with it."
"When?"
"Yesterday."
She stared at him.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"It is the truth."
She stood up fast.
"That is not funny, Nixxin."
"I am not joking."
She walked in a circle, arms crossed.
"Same mark. Same shape. Same place. Do not tell me that is a random thing."
He stayed silent.
She stopped in front of him.
"Say something."
He looked away.
"…I said I do not know."
She clenched her fists.
"You always do that."
"Do what."
"Hide things."
He looked back at her.
"I am not hiding."
"You are."
Her voice was sharp now.
He did not answer.
For a moment the forest felt heavy.
Wind moved the leaves but neither of them spoke.
Kael suddenly snored loudly.
They both looked at him.
Lira looked back at Nixxin, eyes cold.
"I need a bath," she said. "I feel dirty."
She turned and walked toward the lake.
Nixxin stood there for a second.
The island was not safe.
Even if they chased the miners away, the place still felt wrong. Too quiet at times. Too loud at others.
He clicked his tongue and followed her.
"I can go alone," Lira said without turning back.
"I know."
"Then stop following."
"No."
She stopped and turned.
"You think I cannot handle myself?"
"That is not what I think."
"Then what."
"It is dangerous."
She stared at him.
"You think I need you?"
He did not answer right away.
She scoffed. "You are just like those boys in school. Always acting cool."
"I am not."
"You are."
She turned again and kept walking.
Nixxin followed.
The lake came into view. Clear water. Sunlight dancing on the surface. Trees around it like a wall.
Lira stepped near the edge.
"Stay there," she said.
Nixxin stood by a tree, back turned.
He listened.
Water sounds. Soft steps.
He kept his eyes on the forest.
His body was still.
His mind was not.
Why do I even follow her.
Because it is dangerous.
Because I do not want something to happen.
Because…
He stopped the thought.
He heard a splash.
He tightened his jaw.
The wind felt stronger near the lake.
He scanned the trees again and again.
After some time, the water sounds stopped.
"Done," Lira said.
He did not turn.
She walked past him without looking at him.
"Thanks," she said flatly.
He turned and followed again.
She did not speak the whole way back.
He tried once.
"About earlier."
Silence.
"Lira."
"Do not."
He shut his mouth.
At the shore, the other students were gathered.
Thirty left.
Some were sitting on logs. Some were standing. Some were arguing.
One girl raised her hand.
"I have an idea," she said. She held papers. "We all draw a house plan. With details. Then we vote. But no one can vote for their own plan."
Murmurs.
"That sounds fair."
"Yeah."
"We need walls fast."
Nixxin grabbed a paper.
Kael sat next to him.
"I will draw the best one," Kael said with a grin.
"You cannot even draw a cat," Nixxin said.
"I can draw muscle."
"That is not a house."
Kael laughed.
Lira sat a bit away from them.
She did not look at Nixxin once.
Nixxin stared at his paper.
Strong wind. Soil near shore. Forest close.
We need thick walls.
He began to draw.
Straight lines. Simple shape. No beauty.
Just thick walls.
After some time, everyone finished.
They placed the papers on the ground.
One by one, they explained.
Some were messy. Some too small. Some too big.
Then it was Nixxin's turn.
He stood.
"This house," he said, "has thick walls. The wind here is strong. If walls are thin, they break. Thick walls keep us safe."
He pointed at his drawing.
"It is simple. One big room. Less time to build."
"That is it?" someone asked.
"Yes."
He sat down.
Kael jumped up next.
His paper had strange shapes.
"This is my house," Kael said proudly. "It has big windows so we can see the sea. And a tower. I want a tower."
"Why?" someone asked.
"Because it looks cool."
"Anything else?"
He scratched his head.
"It will be fun."
Silence.
Someone coughed.
Kael sat down, smiling like he just won.
Then Lira stood.
She picked up her paper.
Her face was calm.
"This island has strong wind," she began. "But the wind comes mostly from the sea. So if we build near the shore but not too close, and place the house between forest and sea, the trees can block some wind."
Some students nodded.
She placed the paper down so all could see.
"This is a frame house. The base will be in soil, not sand. Soil is more firm. We use wood beams to make a strong frame. The walls do not need to be too thick if the frame is strong."
She pointed to lines.
"These are support beams. One every few steps. This spreads weight. If wind hits one side, the force moves through the frame."
She moved her finger to another part.
"This is the floor plan. We are thirty. So we make three large rooms. Ten each. That way no one sleeps outside. We also build small storage for food."
Her voice was steady.
"And ventilation," she said. "Small openings near the top. Hot air goes up. Cool air comes in from lower windows. This keeps inside from being too hot."
She looked around.
"If we build too small, we will fight. If we build too open, wind will break it. This balance gives space and safety."
She paused.
"And if we place it near trees but clear a small space around, we avoid branches falling on roof."
Silence.
Even the sea sounded quiet.
One boy whispered, "She thought of everything."
Another girl muttered, "Of course she did."
Nixxin watched her.
She is good at this.
No.
She is better than good.
Kael leaned toward him. "She is scary smart."
Nixxin did not answer.
Two students in the back frowned.
"She just wants to show off," one thought.
"Why does she always lead," another thought.
But most were nodding.
When voting started, it was quick.
Twenty four hands raised for Lira.
Three for Nixxin.
One for someone else.
Kael raised his own hand for himself, then remembered the rule.
"Oh," he said and lowered it.
Lira won.
She did not smile.
She just nodded once.
"Then we start now," she said.
They moved into the forest to cut wood.
Kael grabbed an axe.
"Finally!" he shouted. "Training time!"
He swung hard.
Wood chips flew.
He laughed.
"I will beat you one day, Nixxin!"
"Focus on the tree," Nixxin said.
Kael grinned and swung harder.
Nixxin cut a few logs.
Then he stopped.
Lira was near the forest edge, picking fruits from low trees for food.
He watched her.
She moved fast, silent.
He put his axe down.
"Kael," he said.
"What."
"I will help with food."
Kael smirked. "Running away?"
"No."
"Scared I get stronger?"
"Maybe."
Kael laughed loud.
Nixxin walked toward Lira.
She heard his steps but did not look back.
He picked a fruit.
Silence.
"Lira," he said.
No answer.
"I am sorry."
She stopped moving.
"For what," she asked without turning.
"For following you."
"That is not it."
He swallowed.
"For not answering."
She turned slowly.
Her eyes were not angry now.
They were tired.
"You always do this," she said. "You act like you are alone."
"I am used to it."
"I am not your enemy."
He looked down.
"I know."
"Then trust me."
He clenched his fists.
"It is not that easy."
"Why."
He struggled.
"I do not even know what this mark means. If I tell you something wrong, it may hurt you."
She stepped closer.
"I am already hurt."
That hit him harder than any punch.
He looked at her.
"I do not want to drag you into my mess."
She frowned.
"We are already here. Same island. Same danger. You think I am weak?"
"No."
"Then stop deciding for me."
Wind moved her hair.
He felt small.
"I thought… if I keep it to myself, it is safer."
"For who?"
He had no answer.
She looked at the fruit in her hand.
"When you followed me to the lake, I thought you did not trust me."
"I do trust you."
"Then why not say it."
He stared at her.
"I was scared."
Her eyes widened a little.
"Of what."
"That if I say too much, you will look at me different."
Silence.
"I already look at you different," she said softly.
His heart jumped.
"Because you are not just some cold idiot. You care. But you hide it so bad it makes me angry."
He let out a weak laugh.
"I am not good with words."
"I know."
She sighed.
"But do not shut me out again."
He nodded.
"I will try."
"Not try. Do."
He met her eyes.
"…I will."
She watched him for a few seconds more.
Then she turned and picked another fruit.
"Help me," she said.
He stepped beside her.
They worked in silence.
But this silence was not heavy.
Back in the forest, Kael raises his hand and shouted as another tree fell.
"I am getting stronger!"