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Her golden body glowed warr with each passing night, as if absorbing Luna’s despair and trying to give her comfort.
On the seventh day, just before dawn, as Luna sat beside the rock, exactly the rock of their first night. She was worried sick. Only this place gave her so comfort.
She heard a faint Flickering.
Luna...
Her eyes shot open. She looked around but no one was there. Then it ca again, louder:
"Luna... Luna! Can you hear ? I’m okay. I’m coming back!"
Her heart stuttered. Her breath caught in her throat. Was it real? Was she hallucinating?
Miryam jolted awake beside her, eyes flaring. The little wyrmling pressed her snout to Luna’s chest and let out a low purr—she had heard it too.
Tears welled in Luna’s eyes. "Kai...? Is that you?"
The voice again: "I’m sorry... the rift gate threw far. I’m in the Southern Forest. I couldn’t contact you before... my soul power wasn’t enough. But I’m okay now."
Tears welled in Luna’s eyes.
"Kai...?"
Her lips trembled. "Kai, is that really you?!"
"It’s really ," ca the gentle reply. "I had to absorb sothing powerful to speak to you... but I’m safe. I’ll return soon. Just wait for a little longer."
Luna clutched her bracelet, hot tears spilling freely. "You idiot... you made wait seven days."
"I’m sorry," he whispered through the bond.
"I thought I lost you..." Her voice broke.
"No. You never will. I’m Okay, Luna."
No reply ca for a second....
Kai’s voice echoed through the bond, warm and steady, laced with just enough playfulness to stir her pulse. "Luna... don’t tell you’ve started crying without . That’s not fair. I haven’t even gotten the chance to tease you yet."
On the other end of the connection, Luna’s breath caught.
Luna sniffed, wiping her cheeks as she tried to suppress the laugh bubbling behind her sobs. "You jerk..."
"There it is," he said, smug. "That voice. That pout. I missed it more than I’ll admit."
The link vibrated faintly with her heartbeat, it was fast, hot, fragile. "Are you hurt? Trapped? You said Southern Forest—are you—"
"No injuries. Stronger than ever." His tone turned softer. "But sothing’s changed, Luna... in . I feel it. Maybe it’s all the things I didn’t say before. The things I should have said when we stood together last."
There was silence. Then her voice, "Like what?"
He smiled through the link. "Like how you’re the reason I keep walking. The reason I’ll make it back, no matter how far this world throws ."
Her heart fluttered. "Kai..."
"And how, when I get back..." He paused for effect. "You owe a hot bath. Just you, , and enough hot water to steam that scowl off your face and your beautiful body. You can’t imagine how much I miss your warmth."
Luna choked, a crimson blush blooming across her cheeks. "W-what kind of bath—?!"
"The kind where I get to wash every part of you," Kai purred. "Starting with that stubborn mouth and ending wherever your moaning makes stop."
She gasped. "K-Kai!"
"Hmm? You wanted honesty. I’m being gentle, believe ." His voice dipped with mock seriousness. "I could’ve started with the tail. You’ve no idea how much I miss pulling that vine wrap of yours off slowly—"
"KAI!" she squealed in horror.
"What? It’s my turn to be shaless."
Her flustered rage dissolved into laughter. It rang clear and bright across the bond. For a few precious seconds, everything felt okay.
"Just get back soon," she whispered. "Please. Once you are back, play with as much as you want, how you want."
"I will. I will make you beg to stop! " His voice softened again. "But before that—Luna, listen."
The mood shifted. "About my location, I am near the Eastern-Southern sea border."
Luna tensed. "You’re near the coast? How close?"
"Close enough."
"Then stay away from the water," she warned firmly. "Kai, whatever you do—don’t cross the sea that separates east and south. It may look small... but it’s dangerous. Very dangerous."
"Dangerous how?" Kai asked.
"I don’t know. No one does. Everyone who’s entered deeper than a few thousand ters into that sea has either died or gone mad. They say there’s... sothing invisible beneath the surface. And that sea connects to all four regions. It’s cursed. Or worse."
Kai tilted his head, curious. "Now you’ve made it sound too mysterious to ignore. You know I like secrets, Luna."
"Don’t joke about this. You must think about Miryam and before you do sothing very dangerous."
"Relax. I won’t throw myself in blind. I just... want to see it. From a distance."
"Promise , Kai."
He hesitated. "I promise... not to drown. How about that?"
She groaned.
"Hey," he said, lightening the mood again. "You’re not allowed to worry too much. You’ll age early, and then who will I shalessly flirt with? Your grumpy grandma version?"
"I’ll behead you myself if you don’t return in one piece," she muttered, cheeks burning. "And don’t think that soul connection gives you permission to peek on when I’m—"
"Too late. I already saw you thinking about ."
She screams internally. But even as embarrassnt curled her toes and set her heart racing, she smiled.
They stayed like that, two souls strung across a dangerous world, holding onto warmth, laughter, and a promise only they understood.
The last breath of Luna’s warmth still clung to Kai’s mind when the soul-link shifted, softly, without warning, like a child slipping their hand into his.
A different presence brushed against him now.
It was Gentler, Lighter, Smaller. It was Miryam.
The bond ford like a second thread wrapped beside the first. Kai could feel Luna beside the wyrmling, her heartbeat steady, holding the young creature close.
Then ca a whisper. Not words, not even feelings—just sound. Tiny. Careful. Childlike.
"...Papa?"
Kai’s chest tightened. He nearly spoke aloud but didn’t. The soul-bond didn’t need his voice.
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