Rei's eyes widened as Narmaya leaned closer, her lips hovering just inches from his. Her warm breath brushed against his skin, and he could feel his heartbeat quickening.
"Narmaya?" he muttered, but before he could say more, she closed the distance between them, her soft lips capturing his in a tender kiss.
The initial touch was gentle, almost hesitant, as if testing the waters. But as Rei relaxed, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. He could feel her warmth against him, her soft skin brushing against his hands as they rested on her back.
Narmaya tilted her head slightly, deepening the kiss. Her lips parted, and Rei instinctively followed her lead, their tongues meeting in a slow, deliberate dance. It was an intoxicating mix of sensations—her taste, her warmth, the way their breaths mingled in the intimate space between them.
Her fingers slid up to his face, caressing his jawline as their kiss grew more passionate. Rei tightened his embrace, feeling the smoothness of her skin beneath his touch. His hands trailed up her back, holding her as if afraid she might disappear.
Narmaya let out a soft, almost imperceptible sigh against his lips, her body pressing closer to his. Their tongues moved in sync, exploring and teasing, each motion sending a wave of heat through him. The world around them seemed to fade, leaving only the two of them, lost in the moment.
When they finally broke apart, their breaths were uneven, their foreheads resting against each other. Narmaya's cheeks were flushed, her sky-blue eyes gazing into his with a mix of affection and desire.
"That… was unexpected," Rei managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper.
Narmaya chuckled softly, her fingers trailing along his cheek. "I've wanted to do that for so long," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly.
Rei smiled, his arms still wrapped around her. "You could have told me," he teased, leaning in to place another, gentler kiss on her lips.
"Where's the fun in that?" she replied with a playful smirk before resting her head against his chest, both of them savoring the quiet intimacy of the moment.
"Too bad we don't have enough time, so for now, this is enough," Narmaya said softly after a few moments of silence, her voice laced with lingering warmth.
Rei nodded, glancing at the window. Morning sunlight poured into the room, a reminder that their moment together wouldn't last much longer. He knew it wouldn't be long before someone knocked on the door—especially since he had told everyone he'd check on Narmaya last night but hadn't returned.
Narmaya stood up from the bed and Rei immediately could see her full figure as she stretched. The soft light caught the curves of her body, making her appear even more radiant. He couldn't help but stare.
When he used to play the game, he always thought Narmaya was incredibly beautiful and adorable. But seeing her in real life like this? It was completely different. She was far more stunning and captivating than he could have imagined—her every movement exuding both grace and charm.
"Are you just going to sit there staring at me?" Narmaya teased, turning to him with a playful smile. "I still need to see just how bad your katana skills are now. Let's head to the deck." She began walking toward her closet, her long hair flowing behind her like a shimmering cascade.
"Fine, fine," Rei muttered, standing up and stretching. "I just got back yesterday, but it looks like every day is going to be a grind."
But before he could leave the room, he froze in place. Narmaya had already started changing her clothes, slipping out of her nightwear with ease. Now, she stood there in just her bra and panties, her movements unhurried and casual as she rummaged through her closet.
Her skin looked impossibly soft, glowing faintly in the morning light, and her toned yet delicate frame was breathtaking. She didn't seem to mind Rei being in the room, continuing to change without a second thought.
Rei swallowed hard. "You know... You could at least wait until i go outside" he muttered under his breath.
Narmaya glanced over her shoulder, a sly smile curling her lips. "What's the matter? It's not like you haven't seen me naked before," she said teasingly. "Oh, are you getting into the mood~? Too bad, probably for later. But now your Onee-chan has a lot to teach you."
Rei shook his head, a faint blush creeping onto his face, but he couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips as he turned toward the door. "Right, right. Let's go" he said, his heart still racing from the sight.
And so, the two of them walked toward the Grandcypher deck. The moment they arrived, Narmaya appeared to revel in the fresh morning air.
"Ahhh, I always love the smell of morning," she said, taking a deep breath and looking toward the sunrise. "Add the warmth of the sun, and it always makes me feel so comfortable."
She turned toward Rei with a smile, her voice shifting into a playful challenge. "Are you ready, Rei?" she asked, pulling out her katana and taking a ready stance.
"Yeah," Rei replied calmly, raising his right hand in front of him.
"Katana of Repudiation," he called out. Lightning sparked from his hand, quickly forming a glowing, golden katana that crackled with energy.
Narmaya's eyes gleamed as she observed the weapon. "Looks like your power really has increased. The aura I feel from you now is completely different from what I'm used to," she said with a proud smile.
Rei gripped his katana firmly and mirrored her stance, holding the weapon with both hands and positioning it on his shoulder.
"Straight into Dawnfly Stance, huh?" Narmaya mused, adopting the same stance. "Alright then."
The two stared at each other, tension building between them. Rei's expression turned serious, and around Narmaya, butterflies began to materialize. This time, a few of them glowed blue instead of their usual purple.
Without warning, they both leapt toward each other. Their katanas clashed mid-air with synchronized movements.
"Butterfly Effect: Ame-no-Uzume!" they shouted in unison, their katana meeting with a bright flash of light.
---
A Few Days Later
Rei floated high above Golonzo, hidden behind the clouds to avoid detection. Below, the bustling port city continued with its daily activities, completely unaware of his presence.
"Mithra, come out," he commanded, channeling his Astral power.
In moments, Primal Beast Mithra materialized before him, a surreal amalgamation of spinning gears and glowing green magic circles that barely held its form. Mithra, the Primal Beast of contracts and promises, radiated an aura of pure, unshakable resolve.
[IMAGE]
Rei extended his hand forward. "Lend me your power, Mithra."
Mithra responded with a resonant hum. Its form dissolved into shimmering particles, which flowed into Rei's body. As the last traces of Mithra vanished, Rei opened his right hand, revealing the map piece they needed to reach the Nalhegrande Skydom.
[IMAGE]
"Map piece, huh…" he murmured, inspecting it. "Not long now until we hit Arc 2 of the game's story. The Great Wall and the True King."
He smirked slightly. "It's not going to be that dangerous with the power I have now. But for everyone else? It's going to be tough—especially with the Seven Luminary Knights in the way."
With a shrug, he absorbed the map piece into his body. "Oh well, doesn't matter for now."
Satisfied, he turned back toward the Grandcypher, flying swiftly through the sky.
As he approached, he noticed Orchid sitting alone on the deck, her gaze fixed on the horizon. The sight brought a wave of nostalgia, reminding him of when he and Lyria see her aboard the Erste Empire's airship a year ago.
Back then, Orchid had been like a lifeless doll—emotionless, obedient, and hollow. Now, she was entirely different. Her long white hair swayed gently in the breeze as she swung her legs playfully over the edge of a barrel. She looked so much more alive.
Without hesitation, Rei landed in front of her.
"Hello, Orchid. What are you doing out here alone?" he asked with a soft smile.
Orchid glanced at him, her expression as calm as ever. "Rei. I'm just watching the sky," she replied simply.
"I see. Then I'll keep you company," he said, dismissing his six dark wings as he approached her. Without waiting for her response, he picked her up gently and sat down, placing her on his lap.
Orchid didn't protest—she was already used to this. Over the past year, Rei had done this often enough that it felt natural.
The two sat in silence, staring out at the horizon together.
"You don't have to worry about losing this, Orchid," Rei suddenly said, breaking the quiet.
"...What do you mean?" Orchid asked, though her tone suggested she already knew.
Rei began stroking her long, flowing hair, his touch light and comforting. "I know you're planning to return your body to Orchis. You've been thinking about it for a while now. After all, this body isn't truly yours—it's borrowed. You're just a creation of the Primal Beast Deus Ex Machina," he said gently.
Orchid's shoulders tensed for a moment, but she quickly relaxed, letting out a soft sigh. Her hair, now untied and flowing freely, glimmered in the sunlight.
"...I see you know me well," she murmured. "Even though it's only been a year since we've known each other."
"A year…" Orchid echoed, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "It went by so fast. An entire year where I had so much fun with you and the others in the other timeline."
Orchid closed her eyes, her voice soft as she continued, "It's strange. I used to be nothing but a doll, following orders without thought or feeling. But now… I'm just me. Orchid. Not someone's doll, not anyone's tool."
She paused, leaning her head against Rei's chest as he continued to stroke her hair.
"But everything has an end," she said quietly. "And the fun I've had with everyone… it's going to end too. Like you said, this body isn't mine to keep. Once we've saved Orchis and Black Knight, I'll return this body to Orchis. That's how it has to be."
Her voice wavered slightly, sadness creeping in despite her calm demeanor.
"True," Rei said, agreeing with her.
"Your body is just borrowed; it's better to return it."
"...I know," Orchid replied softly. She hadn't expected Rei to agree so easily, but she couldn't deny the truth in his words. This body wasn't hers to keep—it never had been.
"And then, after you return it, you'll become a brand-new you," Rei added, pulling her into a tight hug.
"Huh?" Orchid blinked in confusion, tilting her head up to look at him.
"You don't need to worry about disappearing, Orchid. Yes, you should return this body, but that doesn't mean you'll stop existing."
"What do you mean?" she asked, her ruby-red eyes widening slightly, a hint of uncertainty flickering within them.
Rei smiled, his tone calm and reassuring. "You know how I spent months and months in the Gran timeline, reading journals and books about Astrals, right?"
Hearing this made Orchid pause. She remembered that time well—how Rei keep disappearing from their shared room after they discovered that hidden room inside a shrine. He had been completely consumed by his research, always said that it was important.
"You barely came back to our room after that," Orchid said quietly.
"Exactly," Rei continued. "Even when Lucifer and I went to Canaan, I didn't stop researching. I kept digging deeper—learning how to use my power as an Astral properly."
"Training, experimenting, researching… those were months of busy days," Rei admitted, his voice growing softer. He loosened his hold on her, allowing Orchid to look up at him more clearly.
Her gaze met his, her ruby eyes locking onto his sky blue ones. For a moment, the world felt still.
"And finally," Rei said with a gentle smile, "I found it. A way to create a body using my Astral creation power."
Orchid's eyes widened in shock. She instantly understood what he meant, her breath catching as the realization hit her.
"You…" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
"That's right," Rei said, his smile never wavering. "After you return this body to Orchis, I'll make a new one for you—a body of your own. One that's truly yours, Orchid."
Orchid froze, her ruby eyes shimmering with a mixture of disbelief and emotion. "You… you can do that?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Rei nodded, his smile gentle and filled with warmth. "Of course, Orchid. I told you, I've been researching for months. I'd never let you vanish—not after everything we've been through together. You're not just a doll or someone's shadow. You're Orchid, and you deserve to live your own life."
For a moment, there was only silence as Orchid processed his words. Then, her expression crumbled, tears welling up in her eyes.
"You idiot…" she murmured, her voice breaking as the first tear slid down her cheek. "You've been working so hard… just for me?"
Rei didn't say anything, but the way he looked at her, his soft gaze full of determination, was enough.
Orchid couldn't hold back anymore. She flung herself into his arms, wrapping her slender arms around him tightly as her tears began to flow freely.
"I… I thought it was over for me," she sobbed, burying her face into his chest. "I thought I'd have to say goodbye to everyone… to you. I was trying so hard to accept it, but I didn't want to leave. I didn't want to lose this happiness."
Rei gently wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. He rested his chin atop her head, his fingers lightly brushing through her long, silken hair. "You don't have to say goodbye, Orchid. Not to anyone, and especially not to me."
Her grip on him tightened, her tears soaking into his clothes. "You don't know how much this means to me," she said between sobs. "I never thought… I never thought I could have something like this—a real chance to live. Not as Orchis, not as a tool, but as me."
"You deserve it," Rei said softly. "You've always deserved it, Orchid. And I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you can stay with us. With me."
Orchid pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him. Her face was tear-streaked, but the faintest smile graced her lips. Her red eyes, glimmering with both tears and newfound hope, locked onto his.
"Thank you… Rei," she said, her voice full of raw emotion. "Thank you for giving me this chance."
Rei smiled, reaching up to gently wipe her tears away with his thumb. "No need to thank me. Just promise me you'll keep smiling, Orchid. That's all I want."
She nodded, her smile growing wider despite the tears still falling. Without thinking, she hugged him again, resting her head against his chest, her heart finally feeling light.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Orchid allowed herself to hope—to believe that she could stay by everyone's side. Most importantly, by his side.