Elior's lashes trembled before his eyes slowly opened.

  The ceiling above him looked unfamiliar. The air smelled faintly of herbs and warm oil. His breath came uneven—heavy, like his lungs were still remembering how to work.

  He tried to move.

  A quiet resistance stopped him.

  His hand was trapped inside a firm, desperate warmth.

  Kael's fingers.

  Elior turned his head slightly. Kael was slumped forward beside the bed, still asleep, their hands locked together like something sacred neither of them had agreed to release.

  Elior tried to shift his fingers.

  Kael's grip tightened instantly.

  Like a reflex.

  Like fear.

  Kael jolted awake.

  His eyes opened sharply, as if he had been pulled out of a nightmare. For a second he looked lost—then he saw Elior.

  Relief flooded his face so fast it almost hurt to see.

  "You're awake…" he breathed.

  His hand rose without thinking, brushing gently against Elior's cheek, as if confirming he was real.

  "How do you feel? Are you in pain? Do you need water?"

  Elior tried to answer, but his throat felt dry. Kael noticed immediately. He helped him sit up slowly, one arm firm behind his back, careful like he was holding something fragile.

  He brought a cup to Elior's lips.

  "Slowly."

  Elior took small sips. The water felt like life returning.

  Kael set the cup aside—but his hand returned at once, fingers wrapping around Elior's again. Tight. Careful. Unwilling to risk distance.

  As if loosening his grip would make Elior disappear.

  "I'm okay," Elior said softly. "What about you? …How did we get here?"

  Kael hesitated, then quietly explained—

  the villagers finding them,

  the temple,

  the treatment,

  the lost time.

  "Aevrin?" Elior asked.

  A flicker crossed Kael's face. Something sharp. Something restrained.

  "He's alive," Kael said. "Not life-threatening. But the injuries were bad."

  Elior had more questions. Too many.

  But Kael looked exhausted in a way that went beyond wounds. So Elior swallowed his curiosity.

  Kael noticed.

  And chose silence too.

  A caregiver entered soon after with light food and medicine.

  "I'll do it," Kael said quickly, taking the tray.

  "I can eat myself," Elior murmured.

  Kael didn't argue.

  He just looked at him.

  Elior sighed in defeat, letting Kael feed him slowly. Each movement careful. Each pause wordless. Embarrassing, maybe—but neither of them pulled away.

  When Elior finished, Kael adjusted his pillow.

  "Rest. I'll stay."

  "You should rest too," Elior said.

  Kael only shook his head.

  He remained there long after Elior's eyes closed—watching his breathing like it was the only rhythm keeping the world stable.

  Night deepened.

  A soft knock.

  The monk stood at the doorway. "May I speak with you?"

  Kael followed him quietly.

  Inside his own room, the monk studied him gently.

  "How are you feeling, my child?"

  "I'm fine," Kael replied. "Thank you… for saving us."

  "It was the least we could do."

  A pause.

  Then the question came.

  "What happened in that forest?"

  Kael's fingers curled slightly.

  "Something attacked us," he said carefully. "After that… I don't remember clearly."

  He spoke only of the first encounter.

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  Nothing more.

  Nothing deeper.

  That's enough, he told himself.

  The monk nodded slowly. "Perhaps wandering demons. You should not trouble yourself tonight."

  He left Kael alone.

  Kael stepped onto the balcony.

  Cool night air met his skin. He leaned against a stone pillar, eyes unfocused.

  Just last night…

  Elior had been in his arms. Moonlight. Quiet laughter. Shared warmth.

  And now—

  Bandages. Silence. Questions.

  Two figures in the forest.

  One warning that Elior was being watched.

  Another… something else.

  A presence. A force. A battle that pushed them to the edge of death.

  And then—

  A blank.

  How did it end?

  Why can't I remember?

  He remembered falling.

  He remembered despair.

  But the victory—

  the collapse of that figure—

  the strange sense of power—

  Gone.

  Like something had stepped into his body…

  fought in his place…

  and erased itself.

  Thoughts crashed endlessly.

  Who sent them?

  Who were they?

  Why Elior?

  Why us?

  Why did it leave us there?

  Why does my heart feel relieved… and uneasy at the same time?

  His mind gave him no rest.

  And then—

  Clink.

  A sharp, fragile sound.

  Ceramic breaking.

  From Elior's room.

  Kael's head snapped up.

  Kael reached Elior's room in seconds.

  A shard of porcelain rolled across the floor.

  Elior sat frozen on the bed, the fallen cup at his feet, water soaking into the sheets.

  "I— I just—"

  He bent slightly, trying to pick up the broken pieces.

  Kael moved faster.

  "Don't."

  The word came sharp. Breathless.

  He caught Elior's wrist mid-reach and gently pushed his hand back.

  "I'll clean it. Just… don't move."

  There was no anger in his touch—only urgency. Fear disguised as firmness.

  Kael knelt and gathered the shards carefully, wiping the water, making sure nothing sharp remained. Only after the floor was safe did he return.

  He sat beside Elior.

  Close.

  "If you need anything, ask me," he said quietly. "Don't move around and hurt yourself. Okay?"

  Elior's lips formed a small pout.

  "I was just drinking water… not fighting a war."

  But Kael's expression didn't soften.

  If anything, it tightened—like the idea of anything going wrong was unbearable. Anyone seeing his face would mistake it for anger.

  Elior didn't argue.

  Kael's hand found his again, fingers closing firmly.

  This time, Elior understood something unspoken—

  If he pulled away,

  Kael wouldn't stop him.

  He would only hold tighter.

  So Elior let him.

  "Do you want to sleep?" Kael asked.

  Elior blinked. "I've been unconscious for three days. Do you think I took sleeping herbs on purpose?"

  For a second, Kael just stared.

  Then a tired sigh escaped him.

  "…Right. Okay."

  A pause.

  "Do you feel like walking?"

  "Yes," Elior answered instantly.

  Kael wrapped a thick sweater around Elior's shoulders before they stepped outside.

  The night air was cool, gentle.

  They walked slowly through the garden.

  Side by side.

  Elior leaned lightly into Kael's arm—steady, warm, grounding.

  Kael still hadn't let go of his hand.

  Not once.

  They reached a small stone table beneath the open sky and sat.

  Hands still joined.

  Elior glanced at their fingers but said nothing.

  What happened to him…? he wondered.

  But if holding on gave Kael peace,

  then pulling away felt cruel.

  So he simply breathed.

  Fresh air replaced the sharp scent of medicine. Moonlight spilled softly across the garden stones. The stars blinked awake, quiet witnesses above them.

  Two days ago, they had stood like this too—

  laughing softly, sharing warmth beneath the same sky.

  And now…

  Bandages. Silence. Careful steps.

  How did everything change so fast?

  The thought came, but Elior let it drift away. He was too tired to chase it.

  Tonight, it was enough that—

  Kael was here.

  Alive.

  Beside him.

  And as long as they were both still breathing under the same sky,

  maybe that was enough.Kael sat beneath the open sky, the moonlight spilling gently over the garden stones.

  Elior's hand rested in his, warm and real, yet his mind felt far away.

  They had come here for something simple.

  Training. Learning. A short escape from the academy walls.

  Something almost peaceful.

  But in a single night, everything had turned upside down.

  Now they were sitting here like strangers to their own plans —

  what they wanted and what they received felt like two different paths entirely.

  Kael exhaled slowly.

  The assignment.

  That was the reason they came.

  Seven days.

  Just seven.

  And six of them were already gone.

  Only one day remained before they had to return to the academy…

  yet it felt like they had lived through something far longer than a week.

  Near death.

  Fear that still clung to the bones.

  Moments that refused to fade.

  His dreams resurfaced in fragments.

  First, the strange book.

  Then the mountain.

  Then the three shadows watching in silence.

  At that time, it all felt distant. Unreal.

  But now, looking back, everything had happened so fast—

  as if fate had been rushing them toward something they couldn't see.

  And three days ago…

  Two dangers.

  One came like a warning.

  Watching. Waiting.

  Almost as if it wanted to say something.

  The other didn't hesitate.

  It attacked without a sign. Without mercy.

  Kael tightened his hold around Elior's fingers.

  We came here for a reason…

  But somewhere along the way, we did something else.

  And ever since then, things keep changing.

  From calm to chaos.

  From answers to questions.

  From light… into something uncertain.

  He stared at the moon, eyes distant.

  What is this?

  Where did we step wrong… or right?

  The night gave no reply.

  Only silence — and the quiet warmth of the hand he refused to let go.

  The night air grew colder with every passing minute.

  A thin chill slipped through the garden, brushing against their skin.

  Kael noticed.

  Elior was still recovering. The cold wouldn't be good for him.

  Without a word, Kael rose and helped him stand. Slowly, carefully, like handling something precious. They returned to the room in silence.

  Kael guided Elior back onto the bed and pulled the blanket over him gently.

  Then he sat down beside him.

  And didn't move.

  Their hands were still locked together.

  His fingers still wrapped firmly around Elior's — as if letting go was no longer an option.

  Minutes passed.

  Elior shifted slightly, trying to ease his hand free.

  The grip didn't loosen.

  "Kael…" he said softly. "You can let go."

  Kael didn't respond.

  His hold only tightened a little.

  "I'm fine," Elior continued, voice calm and tired.

  "I'm safe here. You don't have to keep holding my hand."

  Silence lingered between them.

  Then—

  "It's not that I don't want to," Kael murmured.

  His voice was low. Strained.

  "It's just… when I let go… it feels like it all comes back."

  His fingers trembled faintly.

  "That moment. That fear.

  Like I'll lose you again."

  Elior went quiet.

  Understanding settled gently in his chest.

  Anyone who stood that close to death would carry its shadow.

  Anyone would be afraid.

  But…

  Why was Kael holding on this tightly?

  Elior didn't know what to do.

  If he pulled away, it would hurt Kael.

  If he allowed it, Kael would stay like this all night — trapped in fear.

  He was caught somewhere in between.

  Unable to refuse.

  Unable to fully accept.

  A soft sigh slipped past his lips.

  And he let Kael hold on.

  The room was quiet again.

  Kael still hadn't moved.

  Still hadn't let go.

  Elior stared at the ceiling, thoughts drifting.

  He could just let Kael stay like this all night…

  But sitting there without rest wasn't right either.

  A small hesitation filled him.

  Should I ask him to sleep here?

  Would that be strange?

  What would Kael think?

  The idea made him feel oddly uneasy.

  Not wrong. Just… shy. Awkward.

  Still, he gathered a little courage.

  "Kael…" he called softly.

  Kael looked up at once.

  "Do you want to sleep here?"

  Elior gently patted the space beside him on the bed.

  Kael froze.

  The bed was big enough for two. That wasn't the problem.

  What if I move in my sleep?

  What if I hurt him?

  He was about to refuse—

  But Elior spoke again, quieter this time.

  "It's better if you stay beside me… my mind will be at ease too. Okay?"

  That single word was enough.

  Kael's resistance faded.

  He gave a small nod.

  Carefully, he lay down beside Elior.

  Even then, he didn't let go of his hand.

  Elior noticed.

  After he falls asleep, I'll slowly free my hand, he thought.

  But Kael's hold was different now.

  It looked tight, yet felt gentle.

  Secure, but never hurting.

  Like he was holding something precious, not restraining it.

  Under the dim light, side by side—

  They finally slept.

  Not close.

  Not distant.

  Just their hands joined quietly between them.

  Elior was the first to fall asleep.

  So quickly.

  Kael watched him in quiet disbelief.

  Wasn't he the one who said he hadn't taken sleeping herbs? Then how did he fall asleep so fast?

  And now he was already lost to dreams.

  A faint, tired smile touched Kael's lips.

  He reached out and brushed Elior's cheek softly, just to be sure he was real… warm… here.

  And in that still moment, a quiet truth settled inside him.

  This person…

  He is the light in my world.

  Not a passing glow.

  Not something that fades with time.

  A light that was his alone.

  Irreplaceable. Unmistakable.

  Kael's gaze softened.

  Things hadn't gone the way he planned.

  He had tried to act differently… to stay distant… to stay composed.

  Yet somehow, everything led him here instead—

  Closer than ever.

  In a way he never expected.

  As his thoughts drifted, Elior stirred in his sleep.

  Slowly, instinctively, he shifted closer—

  his hand brushing against Kael, searching without knowing.

  Kael gently loosened their joined hands and moved closer.

  Careful. Quiet. Afraid to wake him.

  He slipped an arm around Elior and drew him in.

  A soft embrace.

  Nothing rushed. Nothing forceful.

  Just warmth meeting warmth.

  Kael exhaled.

  Their heartbeats settled into a shared rhythm, steady and close.

  For the first time since the chaos began,

  his chest felt light.

  I'll become stronger, he promised silently.

  Strong enough that this danger never repeats.

  There are eyes watching from the dark… I know it.

  I'll find the truth. I'll face all of it.

  No obstacle will take him away from me again.

  No force will tear us apart.

  Only then—

  only when Elior could smile without fear—

  would Kael allow himself true peace.

  Like this moment.

  Quiet. Close. Breathing the same air.

  His eyes slowly grew heavy.

  And outside, moonlight slipped through the window.

  Soft. Gentle. Silver.

  It didn't intrude.

  It simply rested over them—like a silent blessing.

  As if the moon had always wished to share its light with souls like theirs.

  Because moonlight is not loud like the sun.

  It doesn't demand to be seen.

  It just stays…

  washing the world in calm,

  holding fragile moments without breaking them.

  Maybe that's why people love it.

  Under moonlight, hearts speak softer.

  Pain loosens its grip.

  And souls feel a little more alive.

  Bodies remain the same.

  But something inside finally finds rest.

  Wrapped in that quiet glow,

  the two souls lay close—

  Bound by something deeper than words,

  stronger than distance,

  gentler than fate itself.

  And slowly,

  Kael drifted into sleep.

  — by Aurea;"The moon witnessed what words couldn't—two souls choosing each other in silence."