Yomi collapsed onto the massive, lifeless body of the water serpent, his katana dissolving into wisps of smoke that curled and faded into the damp air. His chest heaved with strained breaths, blood spilling from his cracked lips as his body quaked from exhaustion and the toll of chaotic Ki.
Lirien, standing at the edge of the pool, watched in horror. Without hesitation, she plunged into the water, the cold biting her skin, and swam toward him.
Her fingers found the hilt of a dagger strapped to her thigh, and she began scaling the beast's slippery, iridescent scales. Each handhold was treacherous, the slick surface making her ascent perilous. The jagged ridges tore at her hands, leaving trails of red against her pale skin, but her focus never wavered. With a final push, she reached Yomi's limp form.
"Hey!" she cried, voice trembling as she crouched beside him. His chest was sunken, each breath a painful rasp. Blood stained his chin, and his normally sharp, storm-like eyes were dulled, half-closed in a battle against unconsciousness. Lirien's breath caught in her throat. He's dying...
"No, no, no..." she muttered, shaking him lightly, but his body didn't respond. Panic surged through her veins, and without another thought, she looped an arm under his shoulders and jumped back into the water.
The icy depths wrapped around them, but Lirien's strength and resolve guided them to the shore where Aeloria and the beast girl waited. The beast girl's ears twitched at the sound of Lirien's splashing approach, and she turned to see Yomi's limp body being dragged onto the rocky ground. Tears welled in her large, golden eyes.
"Please, save him!" the beast girl cried, clutching Lirien's arm as if the older woman alone held the power to mend the impossible. "He can't die! You have to save him!"
Lirien looked at the girl, her own heart sinking at the plea. She opened her mouth but no words came. How could she save him? She was a swordswoman, not a healer. Her skills were in battle, not mending wounds as grievous as these.
Her gaze fell on Aeloria, who was still unconscious, her face pale but her breathing steady. A pang of despair clawed at Lirien's chest as she realized she might lose not just the Dra'kesh, but also Aeloria.
They had both fought so valiantly, and for what? This wretched Aeon that cursed their world with suffering and despair? The gods, the powers—none of them had ever helped. It was always mortals who bore the cost.
Her fingers trembled as she brushed Yomi's blood-streaked face. She cursed under her breath, the helplessness cutting her like a blade. But then, a memory flickered in her mind—Yomi kissing Aeloria before the battle. She had dismissed it at the time as something crude, but the outcome had been undeniable: Aeloria's wounds had begun to close.
Lirien's breath hitched. Could that really be the answer? She looked down at Yomi, whose life was slipping away with every shallow breath. The idea felt absurd, but in this moment, absurdity was all she had left.
"Hold on," she whispered, determination settling in her eyes. "Just hold on."
Lirien hesitated, her heart pounding like a drum against her ribs as she crouched beside Yomi's motionless body. His face was pale, streaked with blood, and his chest barely rose with labored breaths.
Her hand trembled as she brushed her damp pink hair behind her ear, swallowing her doubts. She leaned closer, her lips quivering as they hovered just above his, whispering a silent prayer for his recovery.
The metallic tang of his blood reached her tongue as their lips met. It was a lifeless touch, cold and unresponsive, and despair clawed at her insides. This isn't going to work, she thought bitterly, tears welling in her eyes. Her hope was slipping, her belief in this desperate act crumbling.
A single tear rolled down her cheek, falling onto Yomi's. Suddenly, his hand moved, wiping the tear away with surprising tenderness. Lirien gasped, her eyes wide with shock as his fingers grazed her face. His touch was weak, but it carried an unmistakable message: Don't stop.
Before she could pull away, Yomi's hand moved to the back of her head, firm yet unhurried. Her heart raced as she understood his silent plea. She hesitated for only a moment before pressing her lips back to his.
This time, the response was immediate. Yomi's lips came alive, claiming hers with an almost ravenous hunger. His movements were unrefined yet commanding, his desperation bleeding into each kiss as he devoured her hesitant, amateurish attempts. Lirien's mind spun, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of his actions.
A strange warmth began to radiate from Yomi, an energy that thrummed with life and vitality. It coursed through her, making her skin prickle and her heart race. His strength was returning, palpable and electric, as if he were drawing life not just from the kiss but from some deeper connection forged in that moment.
Yomi sat up, his movements fluid despite the injuries that should have left him incapacitated. His arms wrapped around Lirien, steadying her as his fingers brushed against the edges of her partially leather armor. His touch sent tingles coursing through her, making her shiver despite herself. His hands traced the contours of her armor, the contact both protective and intimate, and her breath caught in her throat.
She pulled back slightly, her lips parted, her eyes wide with confusion and something she couldn't quite name. Yomi's storm-gray eyes locked onto hers, blazing with an intensity she had never seen before. He didn't say a word, but the faint smirk tugging at his lips said everything. He was alive, fully, undeniably alive.
"You…" she started, her voice barely a whisper.
But Yomi only leaned closer, his presence commanding, his energy radiating like a crackling flame. "I told you not to give up on me," he murmured, his voice low and rough, sending a shiver down her spine.