The conversation with Aria lasted longer than Mark had expected.
One drink beca two, and two beca three. Maybe that was why the whole situation felt so enjoyable. And before he even realized it, hours had passed with the two of them talking about everything.
It turned out Aria was a Rank S healer, specialized in treating severe wounds and purifying poisons. She had arrived in Thornhaven two years ago, looking for a place where she could help as many people as possible.
"My dream has always been to be a healer," she explained, her heterochromatic eyes shining with passion. "It’s the only thing that makes feel like my life has a purpose."
’She’s so... pure,’ Mark thought.
"And you?" Aria asked, leaning forward with genuine curiosity. "What’s your story? How did you end up becoming an adventurer?"
"There’s not much to tell," Mark lied, keeping his tone casual. "I’m just an adventurer. I take missions and try not to die... the usual."
"My sister said you used dark magic against those bandits. Are you... are you a dark mage?"
The question was asked with curiosity, not fear or disgust.
Mark looked at her, genuinely surprised by the absence of prejudice in her voice.
"I’m a necromancer."
He waited for the usual reaction: the small instinctive flinch, the suspicious look, the subtle shift in body language that ant the person in front of him now saw him as a threat.
But... none of that happened.
"Oh," Aria said simply, as if he had told her he was a carpenter. "That explains your aura."
"My aura?" Mark repeated, sowhat thrown off.
Ely had ntioned sothing about that before, but Mark hadn’t bothered to dig into it or ask what it ant.
"I can sense people’s auras," Aria explained in a calm tone. "It’s part of my abilities as a healer. Everyone has a unique aura — it’s like an energy signature. Yours is... different. Colder than most, and a little dark. But definitely not evil."
Mark didn’t know what to say to that.
He hadn’t expected his aura to be classified as not evil.
"Most people run the mont I ntion my class," he admitted.
"Most people are idiots." Aria shrugged with a smile. "They judge labels, not actions. You saved my sister. You risked your life for a stranger. That’s all that matters to . Not what kind of magic you use... but how you use it."
"Master," Ely said, her voice growing increasingly tense, "this conversation has gone on long enough. We should leave. Now."
"Just one more minute..."
"Master..."
"Ely. That’s an order."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Mark could feel Ely’s contained fury through their link.
An emotion so intense it almost seed to take on physical shape.
"Aria," Mark said, forcing himself to ignore the tension. "It’s been a pleasure eting you, but I should get going. I have... things to take care of early tomorrow."
"Oh, of course."
Aria stood, and Mark caught a flash of disappointnt in her eyes — one she tried and failed to hide.
"But... could we et again? I’d like to... I’d like to get to know you better. If it’s not too much trouble."
Mark knew that agreeing was probably a bad idea, especially now that he had two unhinged won at his side and the last thing he needed was another.
"Sure," Mark’s mouth said before his brain could stop it. "Tomorrow night?"
Aria’s smile turned bright and warm.
"Yes!" she blurted, then quickly softened her tone. "I an... yes, that would be wonderful. Here, sa ti?"
"Perfect."
They said their goodbyes, and Mark headed up to his room feeling the weight of multiple gazes boring into his back.
The mont Mark closed the door, Ely erged from his shadow and Yuki beca visible as well. Their expressions were difficult to read.
"Master," Ely said.
Her voice was calm. Too calm.
"May I ask what that was?"
"A conversation... nothing more."
"A conversation with a woman who is clearly romantically interested in you."
"Ely..."
"A living woman," Ely continued, and now her voice trembled with sothing Mark had never heard from her before. "A woman who can offer you things I cannot: warmth, normalcy, a future, children... a normal life."
Mark looked at her.
Then at Yuki, who remained silent — but he could sense she was carrying the sa thing Ely was.
And for the first ti since he had revived them, he saw sothing in their eyes that wasn’t devotion.
It was fear.
Pure, raw, devastating fear.
"Ely. Yuki," Mark said quietly, taking a step toward them. "Co here."
Both obeyed, approaching with hesitant steps, as if they feared he would disappear if they moved too fast.
Mark took their hands — cold, but strangely pleasant to the touch — and held them between his.
"I’m not going to abandon you," Mark said, looking at both of them. "Never. Do you understand? No matter what happens, I’m not leaving you."
"But she—"
"She’s just soone I know. Maybe a friend."
Mark paused, searching for the right words — words that could express sothing he didn’t fully understand himself.
"But the two of you... you are part of my..."
Mark swallowed before continuing.
"We are literally connected in ways she could never understand. In ways no one could understand."
Ely and Yuki looked at him.
Then Ely spoke again.
"Do you an that, Master?"
"Yes."
"Can you promise it? Can you promise that you will never leave our side?"
"I promise."
And then both of them smiled.
"Thank you, Master." Ely’s voice softened. "Those words... they an everything to . And I believe they do for her as well," she added, clearly referring to Yuki.
Mark held them both, feeling the cold of their bodies against his as he wondered what kind of person he was becoming.
But as he held Ely and Yuki, Mark couldn’t help thinking that maybe being a bad person wasn’t so bad — if it ant not being alone.
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