Location: Whispering Clearing

February 13th — 11:23 AM

Perspective: Elfie

The tip of my silver spear buzzed with celestial light.

Rigel swung his heavy iron broadblade. The wind whistled as the steel tore through the cold air, heading straight for my shoulder.

I didn’t panic. I stepped back, sliding my hands along the shaft, and parried the strike.

A loud clang echoed through the empty trees.

"Your stance is breaking, Rep." Rigel panted, his brown hair damp with sweat. "Keep your elbow tucked."

"It is tucked!" I swept the spear in a wide circle, aiming for his ankles. "You’re just cheating with that massive blade."

Rigel vaulted over the sweep, his heavy boots landing with a thud in the wet grass.

"In a real fight, nobody cares about the size of the weapon." He lunged forward, executing a swift horizontal slash.

"Good thing this is just practice then."

I leaned back, letting the cold steel slide inches from my nose, and tapped the flat of his blade with my spear.

We both backed away, breathing heavily, our breath forming white clouds in the winter air.

I’m actually having fun.

It was just us, trying to survive the mud, trying to get faster. My muscles ached, but the heavy dread that had settled in my chest yesterday was completely gone.

Rigel lowered his sword, wiping his forehead with his sleeve.

"When you slide your hands, grip it closer to the butt-end. It gives you 3 inches of extra reach. Like this." He demonstrated the stance, shifting his weight.

I mimicked his hand placement, thrusting the spear forward. The balance felt completely different.

"Oh. You’re right. That’s much better." I smiled, spinning the spear once before letting the tip rest in the grass.

"Do you want any advice?"

Rigel raised an eyebrow, a sarcastic grin spreading across his face. "What is a newbie going to give me?"

"I might be a newbie, but I have an idea." I crossed my arms, looking at his broadblade. "You should use magic during fights."

Rigel let out a dry laugh. "My magic is too weak to even cast, Elfie. You know that. I can barely form a spark."

"If you can’t cast it, empower it."

I stepped closer, pointing at the steel of his sword.

"Why don’t you focus the mana onto the blade and fuse it? The iron is dense. It can hold the charge even if you can’t throw it. Empower the steel directly."

Rigel went quiet.

He looked down at his broadblade. He closed his eyes, his knuckles tightening around the hilt. A faint, trembling hum of mana began to ripple along the edges of the steel, cracking the thin layer of frost.

He opened his eyes, staring at the sword in disbelief.

"Right." Rigel looked up, his expression serious. "I’ll try."

A soft burst of laughter echoed from the nearby trees.

We both turned our heads toward the wooden bench at the edge of the clearing.

Leena and Kaiser were sitting there, sharing a space that used to feel miles wide. Leena was leaning forward, her green eyes bright, her hands gesturing wildly as she spoke. Kai was sitting back, a small, relaxed smile on his face, listening to her with his head tilted.

"Look at them." Rigel murmured, leaning on his sword. "Just a few days ago, they were sitting so far apart. Now they look like they’ve been friends for 10 years."

"Maybe they have." I made a dry joke, resting the shaft of Hastam Caelestem on my shoulder. "In a past life where Kai actually paid for things."

We walked over, our boots splashing in the grass, our bodies exhausted from the hour of constant movement.

As we got closer, their voices became clearer. They were playing some game.

"Okay, would you rather only eat chopped antipasto salad for the rest of your life, or have to wear Milo’s weird spike belt as a collar every day?" Leena asked, giggling as she kicked her feet.

Kaiser didn’t even blink. "Antipasto salad is superior, but wearing Milo’s collar might make the instructors think I’m his pet beastkin. I’ll take the salad."

"Gross. You really love free salad."

"My turn. Would you rather have to translate 100 pages of High Elvian tax codes with Axel screaming ’Dark Alpha’ in your ear, or fight a Hydra with a butter knife?"

"Oh, the butter knife, definitely! At least the Hydra would end my misery in 10 seconds. Axel’s voice would haunt me for eternity."

"A butter knife has more profound respect."

"Shut up! Let me have my dream."

"I’m just protecting the butter knife’s honor."

"You’re ridiculous." Leena giggled, reaching over to pat his shoulder.

Kaiser caught her hand gently, letting it go after a second. "That is a factually correct statement."

Rigel and I stopped a few feet away, just staring at them.

They’ve gotten so close.

How fortunate for them. I don’t like it. But it’s nothing bad.

I’m going to ensure Kai’s freedom. I want to grow beside him. That’s my goal.

I took a deep breath, pushing the possessive panic down. I didn’t want to cage him anymore. If he could smile like that with a friend, then I wanted him to have that friend.

"Hey!" Leena welcomed us, her face lighting up as she noticed our presence. "You guys are finally done? You look like you went through a war."

Kaiser looked at Rigel, a slow, trolling smirk forming on his lips.

"You were fighting like a girl out there, Rigel. Seriously, from here, I almost couldn’t tell who was Elfie."

Rigel’s face went red in a second. He pointed his wooden broadblade at Kaiser.

"I was focusing on speed, you magicless block of ash! I’d like to see you swing a heavy iron blade in the mud!"

"I don’t swing blades." Kaiser replied smoothly. "They are too heavy for my fragile arms."

"You—"

Leena quickly stepped between them, raising her hands to defuse the fight. "Alright, relax, you two. You both look exhausted and sweaty. I’ll go get us something refreshing to drink from the vending machine."

"I’ll accompany you." Kaiser stood up immediately.

I raised an eyebrow. Rigel did too.

Kaiser glanced at us, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "Don’t stare at me like that. You may fall in love."

"Keep dreaming, Kai." I rolled my eyes.

"I’d rather stare at a brick wall." Rigel muttered, crossing his arms.

Kaiser just laughed, walking after Leena as she headed down the path.

"Leenaaaa, wait up! Buy me a drink toooo~"

Rigel facepalmed, his hand slapping his forehead with a loud smack.

"So he went not to accompany her, but for a free drink. This guy..."

"That’s Kai for you." I laughed, the sound bright and clear. "Always loves free."

I sat down on the bench they had just vacated, my legs shaking slightly from the training. Rigel slumped down beside me, his broadblade resting against the wooden armrest.

"Your suggestion about the magic infusion." Rigel said quietly, staring at the path where Leena and Kaiser had disappeared. "I think it might actually work. If I can focus my dry mana into the steel, it might make the sword cut cleaner."

"It will." I nodded, looking at my hands. "You have great control, Rigel. You just didn’t have the capacity to throw it out. But the sword doesn’t care. It just holds what you give it."

"Yeah."

"Tomorrow is the 14th." I murmured, my voice dropping.

Rigel looked at me. "Valentines."

"Are you going to give Leena anything?"

Rigel coughed, his cheeks turning slightly pink. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking away. "I... bought a small ribbon. For her hair. It’s nothing special. Just something simple."

"That’s sweet." I teased, nudging his shoulder. "She’ll love it."

"What about you?" Rigel asked, trying to shift the attention. "Are you going to make something for Kaiser?"

My heart did a little flutter. My face felt warm, and I looked down at my lap.

"I’m still thinking..." I whispered.

I want him to see that I’m trying. That I can be his princess.

"Just make him some chocolate, I’m sure he’ll eat it." Rigel said, a rare, soft smile on his face. "Even if it tastes like dirt, that guy will eat it if it’s free. Especially if you made it."

"It won’t taste like dirt!" I pouted, hitting his shoulder.

Rigel laughed, and for the first time, the sound didn’t hold any of his usual bitterness.

We sat there in the quiet clearing, the winter wind blowing through the bare branches, waiting for our friends to return with the drinks.

I’m going to give you my heart, Kai. Not to trap you. But to show you that you are free to fly, and I’ll be the wind right beside you.

*

Asura Academy Central Path

February 13th — 12:05 PM

Perspective: Scarlet

Cocoa butter. Fine powdered sugar. Whole milk powder. Dark cocoa powder. The small heart-shaped molds from the corner shop.

I clutched my inventory bag closer to my chest, my braids bouncing against my shoulders as I hurried down the gravel path. My hands were trembling slightly against the leather strap.

Will he accept them? Or will he just throw them away when I’m not looking?

My throat tightened.

"You’re going to be okay, Scarlet."

The voice had been so quiet, so flat, yet it was the only thing that hadn’t burned when the poison was tearing my veins apart.

I remembered opening my eyes, just for a millisecond, before the darkness took everything. The dungeon was blurry, but I saw his face. His blue eyes weren’t empty like they always are in class. They were focused, looking down at me with a quiet, fierce intensity.

My heart won’t stop pounding when I think about it. My chest felt hot, a sudden flush rising to my cheeks.

I had thought I was just a stranger to him. I had thought he didn’t care if I lived or died, especially after he told me that everyone else was a stranger he didn’t think about.

But he saved me. He used his own blood.

I rounded the corner near the gym, and my feet froze.

Near the stone wall, a vending machine stood glowing in the shade of the tall pines. Kaiser and Leena were standing right in front of it. Kaiser was holding a small silver coin, pointing at a selection on the glass panel.

My face instantly turned a dark crimson.

Kaiser turned his head, his blue eyes locking onto me.

"Hello, Scarlet."

"H-Hello, Kaiser! I-I mean... hi! Good afternoon! I-I didn’t think I’d run into you here!"

I clutched my bag tighter, my ears flattening back in embarrassment. My voice had pitched way too high, and I could feel my braids shifting as I shrank back slightly.

"I was just getting some juice with Leena." Kaiser said, his tone patient, his expression calm. "Are you feeling better?"

Leena stepped back from the machine, a bubbly smile on her face. "Are you Kaiser’s friend? I recognize you... Scarlet, right?"

I nodded rapidly, my ears twitching. "Y-Yes... I’m Scarlet."

Leena reached down, retrieving a chilled bottle from the dispenser slot. She handed the bottle to Kaiser, her green eyes crinkling. "Here’s your watermelon juice, Kaiser."

"Thank you, Leena." Kaiser took it, a soft smile showing on his face.

"It’s no biggy." Leena waved her hand.

The way her fingers lightly brushed his palm as she passed the drink felt like an intrusion, a quiet claim on a space that shouldn’t belong to anyone else. It made my stomach tighten, a cold, sharp needle of irritation stitching itself into my heart.

I swallowed hard, forcing my fingers to loosen their grip on my inventory bag.

"Kaiser... c-can I talk to you about something? Just... for a minute?"

Kaiser looked at the bottle in his hand, then back at me. "Sure."

Leena’s smile widened, her eyes shifting between the two of us. "Well, I should be heading back to the clearing anyway. You two enjoy your chat!"

She waved and trotted down the gravel path, her green hair swaying.

Kaiser took a sip of his juice, leaning his shoulder against the stone wall. "What is it, Scarlet?"

"I... I wanted to thank you properly." I looked down, my eyes focusing on his leather shoes, my fingers fidgeting with the bag strap.

"For what? The exam?"

"No... for saving my life in the dungeon. I... I know Axel took credit, but I remember."

"Axel was the one who carried the cure, Scarlet. He’s the class hero."

"But I remember your voice, Kaiser. And... I remember you holding me. I remember opening my eyes and seeing you."

"That was probably a hallucination from the chemical shock of the poison."

"And... the creature that attacked me? I remember Axel was the one who sent that creature toward me in the first place..."

"Axel does friendly fire a lot. He has terrible sense of direction."

I looked up, my green eyes wide with frustration. "You’re doing it again. Downplaying it. Why do you always do that?"

"It’s just the truth. I’m the deadweight, remember?"

"You’re not. You’re the one who kept me from disappearing. And... I heard I wouldn’t let go of you. Even for a second."

Kaiser paused, holding the juice bottle halfway to his mouth. A slow, teasing glint appeared in his blue eyes.

"Yeah, you were quite a clingy girl. I had to carry you down many Floors because your grip was like iron."

"I-I was? I’m so sorry! I... I don’t remember that part!"

My face flared hot, and I stepped back, my heels hitting the grass. My words scrambled together in a panic.

"I-It was just... the poison! I wasn’t... I didn’t mean to be a burden! I really didn’t!"

"It’s fine. Do you like me that much?"

"N-No! I mean, yes, as a friend! I-It’s not like that! Please... please stop teasing me, Kaiser!"

Kaiser let out a quiet, soft chuckle, setting the bottle down on the ledge of the vending machine.

"Alright, I’ll stop. I was just teasing. You’re welcome, Scarlet."

I clutched my bag, my heart melting at the gentle tone. I looked at the grass, my voice dropping to a small whisper.

"Why... why did you help me? If I’m just a stranger..."

"You’re my friend. And you’d do the same if our roles were reversed."

My ears perked up instantly, my cheeks tingling.

He called me his friend.

Not a stranger. A friend.

I squeezed my inventory bag, my thumb rubbing the leather strap.

"Kaiser... are you free tomorrow?"

"The 14th?"

"Yes... do you have busy plans with Elfina?"

"No, I don’t. But I’ll be busy with something."

"Oh... okay." A dull, cold weight settled in my stomach.

"Do you need something, Scarlet?"

"No... it’s nothing." I forced a small, bright smile, shaking my head. "Just... wanted to ask."

Kaiser picked up his juice bottle, waving his hand as he stepped back onto the main path. "I gotta go now. See you again, Scarlet. Take care."

"Goodbye, Kaiser."

I waved back, watching his dark hair fade into the distance until he was completely gone.

He’s so patient with me, even when I make a complete fool of myself. I want to work twice as hard so I won’t just be a burden he has to carry. I want to thank his kindness...

But Aeverin forgot Ashlynn’s warmth once he found the sun. He shouldn’t forget who held his sleeve in the dark, or the ice might find its way back into his chest.

*

Academy Shoreline

February 13th — 2:14 PM

Perspective: Elfie

The sea breeze was freezing, whipping my pink hair across my face.

I stood by the wooden railing, looking out at the grey waves crashing against the rocks below. The sky was still overcast, but the air felt clean, carrying the salty tang of the open water.

I once spent 3 sleepless nights trying to create a spell to make Kai fly.

A soft smile touched my lips as the memories of the orphanage came back. I had fallen on the grass so many times, scraping my knees, crying because I wasn’t strong enough. But Kai had solved the equation and held my hand.

I wonder if he’d like it again.

The crunch of footsteps on the gravel broke my thoughts.

I turned around to see Serena and Mira walking toward me along the path, their heavy coats wrapped tight. Serena was giving me a sharp, cold glare, her arms crossed firmly, while Mira walked slightly behind her, looking nervous.

Instead of bracing for a fight, I took a deep breath. I wanted to be responsible. I wanted to be a partner he could rely on, not a child who lashed out.

I spoke first, stepping away from the railing.

"Serena. Mira."

Serena stopped, her sharp glare fixed on me.

"I wanted to talk to you, Serena. About yesterday." I said, keeping my voice steady. "You were right about my jealousy. I’m sorry for how I acted, and... thank you for the advice."

Mira blinked, her mouth opening slightly. "Wait, really? Elfina is saying thank you to Serena? Is this a trick?"

Serena’s sharp expression faltered, a look of sheer surprise crossing her face before she let out a dry laugh.

"Apologizing? To me? Did the rain wash your brain away, Rep?"

She stepped closer, leaning her back against the railing next to me.

"I accept the apologzy and all... But you know, Kaiser is like a whole green planet. If more people find out about his other side, of course they’ll want him first. You should possess him as soon as possible."

"Possess him?" I raised an eyebrow, confused. "That won’t be necessary. I trust Kai."

"Trust is a good thing, Rep, but you never know." Serena giggled, twirling a lock of her hair. "If I were you, I’d tell him you’ll be getting a lot of chocolates tomorrow."

"I will?!"

"Of course. You’re first on the beauty list now. Just tell him you can’t spend time with him, and that should make him jealous and chase you instead."

Mira let out a soft gasp, her eyes shining. "Oh, wow. Reversing the dynamics! Serena, you’re a genius."

Kai chasing me... that would be a dream.

But no. I don’t want to cage him. I don’t want to play mind games with him.

A real partner doesn’t play games. I just want to stand next to him.

I took a deep breath, the cold sea air calming the flutter in my chest.

"Thank you, Serena. But I don’t want to play games with Kai. I just want to spend tomorrow with him."

I gave them a small, polite nod. "I should get back. See you later."

I walked past them, heading toward the dorms.

Mira sighed, looking at my retreating back. "She really has matured, hasn’t she?"

Serena’s smirk widened as she watched me go. "His calculative moves are quite precise."

*

Kaiser’s Dorm Room

February 13th — 8:15 PM

Perspective: Elfie

Click.

The deadbolt gave way under my magical lockpick. I slid the wire back into my pocket, pushed the door open, and stepped inside.

Kaiser was lying on his bed, staring at his phone. He didn’t even look up as I shut the door behind me and turned the lock.

"Is my door public property?" Kaiser asked, his voice flat.

"No. You are my property."

I walked over and sat down on the edge of his mattress, leaning close enough to block his light.

"What are you reading?"

"It’s about wood carving." Kaiser replied, showing me the screen.

I blinked at the detailed diagrams of chisels and wood grain patterns.

Why is he reading about wood carving?

I shook my head, deciding it didn’t matter. I leaned forward, resting my chin directly on his chest.

"Kai, look at me."

"I am looking. You are very close."

"I want to be closer. I didn’t see you all day."

"You were sparring with Rigel. I saw you from the bench."

"And you didn’t even come to cheer for me."

"Cheering requires vocal energy, which is what I am lacking today. Besides, you were doing fine."

"You’re so annoying. But you’re my annoying." As I squeezed him.

"I am made of bones and muscle, not clay. You are squeezing too hard."

"I don’t care. Let me hug you!"

"Fine." Kaiser let out a quiet sigh, then his hand patted my head, his fingers smoothing my pink hair.

I snuggled closer, my cheek resting against his shirt, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest.

"Kai... how do you want to spend tomorrow together?" I asked, looking up into his blue eyes.

"Tomorrow is the 14th." Kaiser noted. "Isn’t your #1 rank on the beauty list going to make everyone chase you? I might get lost in the crowd."

"You’re my priority. I don’t want to accept any chocolates from anyone else."

"But you love sweets."

I pouted, my lips puffing out. "I do. But I only want them if they are from you."

Kaiser stared at me for a second, then looked back at his phone.

"I’ll be busy with something tomorrow. I can’t."

I froze. My hands tightened around his shirt, my eyes growing sharp as the old panic flared for a split second.

"Are you going to spend tomorrow with another girl?"

Kaiser raised an eyebrow. "I’m not. I have work at the tavern, and then I have something else to handle."

He’s not with another girl.

I promised myself. I won’t cage him.

I took a deep breath, circulating my mana to calm my heart. Instead of pulling away or demanding answers, I crawled further up the mattress, shifting my weight until I was sitting astride his lap. I pinned his arms down with my hands and leaned over, burying my face into the crook of his neck.

Before he could speak, I leaned down and bit his collarbone gently through the cotton of his shirt, leaving a small, warm mark.

"You’re mine, Kai." I whispered, my voice muffled against his skin. "So I’ll just hold you like this now. You can’t go anywhere until tomorrow starts."

Kaiser didn’t try to push me off. He just let out a soft, defeated sigh, his fingers slowly wrapping around my waist to hold me in place.

"This is unnecessary possessiveness." he murmured.

"I don’t care."

I closed my eyes, resting my forehead against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

A quiet moment passed. Then Kaiser spoke.

"Your biting habits haven’t changed at all."

"What about them?"

"You bit my arm 3 times in the last minute."

I pressed my lips together, looking away. "That’s because you keep trying to move."

"You also bit my hand when I was 8. And my neck once. Do you remember that?"

"You deserved that one."

"You bit me because I went to help Matron sort the donated food boxes."

"You were supposed to be spending that time with me." I crossed my arms. "You kept leaving to play games with the younger kids. Helping Matron with the laundry. Reading to the ones who couldn’t sleep. You gave all your time to everyone else."

"And you were upset?"

"I don’t like it when you give everyone else what belongs to me."

"Which is?"

"Your time."

Kaiser was quiet for a second.

"I recall you being overly territorial for an 8-year-old."

"I was perfectly reasonable."

"You hid my shoes so I couldn’t leave the room."

"Those were tactics, not tantrums."

"You are the same person." Kaiser said, something soft and fond sitting underneath his flat tone.

I hid my face against his shoulder. "No I’m not. I’m more mature now."

"You literally just bit me like a kid again."

"That’s different."

"How?"

"Those are just warnings. Not actual bites."

Kaiser made a sound like he was trying very hard not to react. I tilted my head and watched his ear turn the faintest shade of red.

"You’re embarrassed." I beamed.

"I’m not."

"Kai... is sitting on your lap right now a problem for you?"

Kaiser looked down at me with his usual unreadable expression. "You are using my legs as a chair. Yes, it is a problem."

"But I’m cute."

"You are." He said it so quietly and without thinking that it slipped out before he could catch it. "But that doesn’t make you less of a nuisance."

"I’m the cute nuisance!" I smiled so wide my cheeks hurt.

"Elfie."

"Yes, Kai?"

"Stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you won something."

"I did win something."

He sighed, pressing two fingers to the bridge of his nose. "You’re a menace, Princess."

Princess.

The word landed softly in my chest, the way it always did. My eyes drifted upward, past the ceiling, past the roof, out toward the sky I couldn’t see yet.

A princess needs a sky.

A thought flickered — small and bright like the first star appearing at dusk. My fingers moved before the idea was even fully formed, tracing a thin thread of celestial mana up from my palm. I shaped it slowly, carefully, the way I used to shape frost flowers in the orphanage windows.

A single ribbon coiled into existence. Pink, soft, pulsing faintly with warm light.

"Hold out your wrist."

Kaiser looked at it. "What is that?"

"Wrist, Kai."

He held his wrist out with the long-suffering patience of someone who had learned that arguing wasted more time. I looped the ribbon around once, twice, and tied it in a neat bow, watching it settle against his skin.

"This is my ribbon." I folded my hands in my lap, meeting his gaze. "Tomorrow, if any girl tries to give you chocolate, show them that. And don’t accept any."

Kaiser raised an eyebrow. "I can just refuse. The ribbon isn’t necessary."

I fixed him with a look. The kind that came from somewhere very deep and very old in my chest.

"Elfie..."

I leaned forward and bit his shoulder.

"Ow."

"Don’t accept any chocolate from any girl tomorrow."

"I said I can just refuse—"

I bit him again, lower on his arm.

"Ow. Stop that."

"Promise me."

"This is not how normal people negotiate—"

A third bite. Slower this time.

"Okay, okay!" Kaiser pulled his arm back, rubbing the spot. "I’ll show them the ribbon. I promise."

I sat up immediately, my posture perfect, my expression bright. "Good."

Kaiser stared at me with the look of a man who had just lost a negotiation to a five-year-old in a seventeen-year-old’s body. He looked down at the pink ribbon on his wrist.

He didn’t take it off.

"Get off my lap." he said after a moment. "I’m cooking dinner."

"No."

"Elfie."

"Five more minutes."

"I’ll make your favorite."

I went completely still. "...the mushroom cream pasta?"

"Yes."

I was off his lap in under a second. Standing, straightening my skirt, tucking my hair behind my ear with full dignity.

"I’ll be back in an hour."

"Come back in an hour and 20 minutes. I need the sauce to rest."

"Okay." I was already halfway to the door. "I’ll finish something in my room."

"Don’t pick the lock again when you come back."

"I’m not promising that."

"Elfie—"

I shut the door behind me.

*

Elfie’s Dorm Room

I locked my door, dropped my bag on the chair, and pulled out my phone. The screen glowed in the dim room.

I opened the browser and typed slowly, my fingers deliberate on the tiny keys.

Stars. Constellations. Light refraction through atmosphere. Celestial mana resonance with visible spectrum.

I navigated the pages carefully, pausing on one diagram of a star chart, then another of mana diffusion in high-altitude air. I grabbed the notebook from my desk and uncapped a pen, turning to a fresh page.

Elfie’s New Spell — February 14th.

I underlined it twice.

I’m going to make a new spell tomorrow.

Just for Kai.

I want to show him the stars the way I see them — up close, enormous, alive. I want him to float alongside me, the way he supported me all those years ago and held my hand while we flew.

Tomorrow’s sky is going to be so beautiful that I already love it. Every galaxy, every cold patch of dark between the stars, every bit of light that traveled a thousand years just to reach us — I want us to see all of it together. The way we always did. The way we always will.

He calls me Princess. Tomorrow, I’m going to show him the entire universe is his.

I clicked the pen and began to write.