The stars shimmered above as Mavuika shifted closer to Zaryth, her crimson eyes soft yet burning with emotions she could barely understand. Her face lingered just inches away from his, the warmth between them palpable. Her breath brushed against his lips, and her hand lightly touched his arm, trembling.
"I've never felt this way before..." she whispered, her voice fragile, as if saying it aloud made the feeling real.
Zaryth's purple eyes locked onto hers. For the first time, he could see something other than strength in Mavuika—vulnerability, confusion, desire. And yet, in that moment, all the words that could have been said seemed meaningless.
His hand reached up, resting gently on her neck. Their breaths mingled, shallow and uneven. Neither of them moved, yet they both knew what was about to happen.
Mavuika's lips parted slightly. "I don't know anything anymore," she whispered, almost like a confession.
Then, it happened. Their lips met—soft and uncertain at first, but quickly deepening as they melted into each other, their emotions pouring out through the kiss. Her hands found his shoulders, and his grip on her neck tightened slightly, pulling her closer, as if to keep the moment from slipping away.
The night was perfect—until it wasn't.
"Well, well, well... Look at the weakling with his little fire girl."
The mocking voice cut through the quiet night like a dagger. Sirus.
They broke apart abruptly, the magic of the moment shattered. Zaryth's expression darkened instantly, and Mavuika's face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and frustration.
"What do you want, Sirus?" Zaryth's voice was low, dangerous, like a warning rumble before a storm.
Sirus leaned lazily against a nearby tree, wearing a smug grin. "What, did I ruin your romantic moment?" he sneered. "Pathetic. I guess even failures get to kiss someone, huh?"
Mavuika's fists clenched, but Zaryth's hand rested lightly on her arm, holding her back. His eyes narrowed at Sirus. The calm in them was more terrifying than any rage.
Sirus continued, reveling in his role as the antagonist. "You think you can just waltz back here after a year and play hero? Don't make me laugh." His grin widened maliciously. "You're still the weak, useless brat who couldn't even stand against a training dummy."
Zaryth's patience snapped. In an instant, his aura shifted—a cold, dangerous presence that suffocated the air around them.
"Say that again," Zaryth whispered, his voice like ice.
Sirus sneered, oblivious to the warning signs. "You're nothing. You'll always be nothing—just a waste of space."
---
The Fight: Over in a Flash
Before anyone could react, Zaryth moved—too fast for the eye to follow. One moment he stood in place, and the next, Sirus was sent flying through the air with a single devastating strike. He slammed into the ground, skidding meters away.
The ground shook slightly from the impact, and Sirus coughed, gasping for breath. His expression twisted from arrogance to disbelief and fear.
Zaryth took a step forward, his gaze colder than ever. "The next time you even think about insulting me or my family, I won't hold back. You can tell your brother that, too."
Sirus tried to sit up, his body shaking from the blow. Zaryth's presence loomed over him like death itself. "Stay out of my way, or I'll ruin you before you can even blink."
With that, Zaryth turned, leaving Sirus lying in the dirt, humiliated and beaten.
---
The walk back to Mavuika's estate was quiet, the tension from the fight still lingering in the air. Mavuika glanced at Zaryth from the corner of her eye, her heart racing for reasons beyond the fight. She hadn't expected him to defend her so fiercely—or to kiss her, for that matter.
When they reached the gate, her family members were waiting, their faces full of confusion and concern.
"What happened?" her father demanded, eyeing the two of them suspiciously.
Mavuika gave a small, tired smile. "Nothing you need to worry about, Father."
Her father scowled, clearly unsatisfied with the answer, but Zaryth cut in smoothly. "I made sure she was safe. That's all you need to know."
Her mother gave Zaryth an amused glance, clearly picking up on something between him and her daughter. "You seem to enjoy sneaking into our house."
Zaryth grinned, unbothered. "What can I say? I like making entrances."
Mavuika rolled her eyes, but the warmth in her gaze betrayed her affection. "Good night, Zaryth."
He gave her a small smile. "Good night, Mavuika. See you soon."
With that, he turned and disappeared into the night, leaving Mavuika standing at the gate, her heart still racing from everything that had happened.
---
Back at the Silverlight Estate
By the time Zaryth returned home, the moon was high in the sky. He quietly slipped into the house, expecting everyone to be asleep—but Elysia was waiting for him in the living room, her arms crossed and a knowing smile on her face.
"Late night, huh?" she teased. "Let me guess—you were out with a girl."
Zaryth gave her a tired grin. "You know me too well."
Elysia laughed softly, patting the seat next to her. "Come on, sit. Tell me everything."
He sat down beside her, resting his head on the back of the couch. "There's not much to tell. Just... things are complicated."
"Love always is," Elysia said with a playful nudge. "But you look different, Zaryth. Happier. I'm glad."
Zaryth gave her a sidelong glance. "And you? Still playing holy knight, keeping the kingdom safe?"
Elysia grinned. "Always. Someone has to protect little brothers who pick fights."
Zaryth chuckled, the tension from the night slowly melting away. "Thanks, sis."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the bond between them unspoken but strong.
"Get some sleep," Elysia said softly, ruffling his hair. "You've had a long night."
Zaryth smiled, feeling a rare sense of peace. "Good night, Elysia."
"Good night, Zaryth."
As he made his way to his room, he couldn't help but reflect on the night's events—the kiss, the fight, the festival. Life was far from simple, but for the first time in a long while, he felt like he was exactly where he needed to be.
---