The small pharmacy near the park entrance smelled of antiseptic and herbal tea. Soft afternoon light filtered through the windows as Draven sat on a wooden stool, shirt partially unbuttoned so Lira could clean the slash on his shoulder. The cut wasn't deep, but it still oozed dark blood that the 7th Form had already begun to subtly influence — the edges tinged with the faintest unnatural sheen.
Lira dabbed at the wound with a cotton pad soaked in antiseptic, her touch surprisingly gentle despite her earlier adrenaline.
"Hold still, Mr. Tough Guy. This might sting a little," she warned, then winced in sympathy as he didn't even flinch. "Okay, it probably stings a lot and you're just pretending it doesn't. You know, normal people say 'ouch' sometimes."
Draven kept his gaze fixed on the wall ahead, voice even.
"…It's nothing."
Lira rolled her eyes but smiled softly. "There you go again with the 'nothing.' One day I'm going to make you admit when something actually hurts." She placed a fresh bandage over the wound and taped it securely, her fingers lingering a second longer than necessary. "There. All patched up. Try not to get whipped by any more evil flowers tonight, okay?"
She stepped back, admiring her work, then tilted her head with a playful grin. "You look almost normal like this — sitting still, letting someone take care of you. It's kind of cute. Dangerous Shadow Slayer turned into a patient."
Draven buttoned his shirt slowly, one eyebrow twitching. "Cute is your department."
Lira laughed brightly, the sound filling the small shop and easing the tension that still clung to both of them. "Flattery? From you? Wow, that monster must have hit you harder than I thought." She leaned against the counter beside him, her expression turning more serious. "But really… thank you for letting me help back there. I know you prefer working alone. It means a lot that you didn't push me away completely."
Draven stood up, testing his shoulder with a small roll. It pulled slightly, but the pain was manageable. He looked at her for a long moment, dark eyes unreadable yet softer than usual.
"You fought well. Most civilians would have panicked. You threw stones at a monster and told it to shut up." The corner of his mouth lifted faintly. "Reckless. But… impressive."
Lira's cheeks warmed at the rare praise. She poked his uninjured arm lightly. "See? That wasn't so hard. Complimenting me won't kill you." She paused, then added quietly, "I was scared too, you know. Not just for me — for you. When that whip had your arm… I kept thinking what if I couldn't do anything? What if I lost you right there in the middle of our date?"
Draven reached out and gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, his touch careful.
"You didn't lose me. And you did more than most could." His voice dropped lower. "Next time something like that appears… I might not be able to keep the promise to stay normal for long."
Lira nodded, stepping closer until she could rest her forehead lightly against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. "I know. Your world is dangerous. Monsters, portals, ancient swords with 99 colors… it's a lot. But I'm not asking you to quit being who you are. I'm just asking you to let me be part of it sometimes. Even if it's just patching you up afterward or throwing random branches." She looked up at him with sparkling yet determined eyes. "Deal?"
Draven exhaled slowly, the faintest trace of warmth breaking through his stoic mask. He placed one hand on her back, holding her there for a quiet moment.
"…Deal."
They left the pharmacy together, the late afternoon sun now painting the streets in deeper oranges and golds. Lira linked her arm with his good one as they walked, swinging it lightly like she had earlier — trying to bring back some of the date's original lightness.
"So," she said cheerfully, trying to steer the mood, "since the park got a little… occupied, how about we try that new café I mentioned? The one with the fancy hot chocolate and those giant cookies. No monsters allowed this time. Just sugar and normal conversation. You can even brood quietly in the corner if you want."
Draven glanced down at her, allowing the smallest nod. "Hot chocolate sounds acceptable."
Lira grinned triumphantly. "Progress! Next thing you know, you'll be ordering strawberry like me." She bumped his side gently. "And maybe, just maybe, you'll tell me more about that sword of yours. Not the scary parts — the cool parts. Like, does it have a favorite color yet? Or does it get jealous when you talk to other swords?"
The 7th Form at his hip gave a very faint, almost indignant pulse — barely noticeable.
Draven's lips twitched. "It doesn't get jealous. It gets hungry."
Lira laughed again. "See? That's why I like you two. One of you is tall, dark, and quiet. The other is tall, dark, and sharper." She squeezed his arm. "But seriously… whatever comes next with that cave or the Monster King… we'll face it when it happens. Together when we can. Okay?"
Draven didn't answer immediately. Instead, he simply walked beside her, the weight of the 7th Form a constant reminder of the path ahead. Yet for now, with Lira's warmth beside him and the city lights beginning to flicker on, the shadows felt a little less heavy.
In the monster realm, the ancient cave had grown quieter once more. But the stone floor now showed faint veins of new color — threads of violet beginning to spread where the blood had soaked in.
The 99 stages were no longer distant.
They were awakening.
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**To be continued...**