Tatsuya's senses slowly came to life as he felt something pressed against him. Why do I feel something warm…? The question lingered in his mind, urging his eyes open to a soft, morning glow that poured through the cabin window. As he looked around, familiar objects came into view—the half-finished gauntlet on the floor, Yuki's steel katana leaning against her bed—but then his gaze dropped, and his eyes widened.
Nestled against his chest was Yuki, sound asleep, her tail wrapped around them both in a gentle embrace. Her head rested just below his chin, her breathing calm and steady.
That's right… last night wasn't a dream. He exhaled softly, a gentle smile forming as he gazed at her. His hand, almost instinctively, moved in slow circles along her back, his thoughts drifting.
Back at the temple, she always slept in random spots on the middle floor. Even bathing at night to make sure she didn't cross paths with me. There was this… antisocial aura around her that she never dropped. He felt his smile widen a bit. But I like this Yuki much better.
A few peaceful minutes passed before Yuki stirred, stretching her arms with a sleepy yawn. Her tail swished lazily behind her as she sat up, casting a tired look toward the window. The sunrise cast soft hues of light across her face, making her expression unreadable.
"Good morning… master," she murmured, her voice low and still heavy with sleep.
Tatsuya watched her closely. "Good morning, Yuki. Umm… how do you feel?" He scooted closer, sitting with her on the edge of the bed, unsure of what her answer might be.
"In my culture, before I met you, Nibbler Skulk like me would huddle together in groups to share warmth," she replied, her voice distant as if recalling an old memory. She kept her eyes on the sunrise, her gaze unwavering.
Tatsuya raised an eyebrow, momentarily taken out of his own morning daze. "So… what does that mean for us, exactly?" He looked over at her with faint curiosity.
Yuki's expression shifted from unreadable to a sly smirk, her silence stirring a growing impatience in Tatsuya. She glanced away without answering, clearly relishing the suspense. He couldn't help but rock back and forth, his curiosity bubbling over like a child waiting to open a long-awaited gift.
"So, you're giving me the silent treatment, huh?" he grumbled, standing up with a dramatic sigh. With a final, exaggerated shrug, he started toward his gauntlet on the floor. "Whatever! I wasn't waiting for an answer any—"
"It felt nice," she cut in, her voice carrying a firm, almost defiant tone that made him pause mid-step. "Compared to any Nibbler Skulk I've huddled with… you're something else. Though, they were practically rodents compared to what I am now, so don't take it too seriously."
Tatsuya's shoulders relaxed as a chuckle escaped him. "Now that's a Yuki thing to say." Shaking his head, he finally picked up the gauntlet, giving it a thoughtful look. Without adding another word, he moved toward the door, slipping outside into the morning light.
Yuki watched him go, a faint, confident smile lingering as she stood up from the bed. Moving around to the other side, she took her katana, lifting it to her chest. Her fingers brushed the cool steel as she peered into her reflection, a sense of calm washing over her.
In this reflection… I see peace.
***
By the afternoon, a strange energy pulsed through the lake. Kiyara stood on the shore, her axe in hand, her gaze fixed on the multicolored waves rippling out from the lake's center. Beside her, the leopard-tailed Sylas and black-furred wolf demi-human, Korrin, clutched their jagged metal spears, their eyes locked on the mysterious energy that seemed to come from deep below the water.
"It's never been this strong," Kiyara muttered, her grip tightening on her weapon. "Almost like something was triggered yesterday…"
Her contemplation broke at the sound of footsteps. All three turned to see Yuki approaching, her steel katana slung across her back instead of hidden under her cloak as usual. Walking beside her, Tatsuya seemed oblivious to the lake, focused entirely on his gauntlet. Metal pieces floated around him, attaching themselves to the gauntlet one by one as he walked.
"Let's see… the wiring should start here. And the retraction mechanism… it should activate when I push the lever up…" he mumbled, his finger acting as a makeshift welding torch as he used fire magic to fuse the pieces together.
Just as he was about to step into the lake, Yuki reached out and pressed a hand to his chest, stopping him in his tracks. Tatsuya looked up, a faint blush on his face as he noticed how close he'd come to walking straight into the water. Damn, that's embarrassing.
In near unison, Tatsuya and Yuki turned to Kiyara and the others, Yuki giving a respectful nod while Tatsuya waved. "Hey, Kiyara and friends! What's with the long faces?"
Sylas's tail twitched as he gave Tatsuya a cold look. "My name is Sylas, and I'm not your friend." His tone was laced with a growl, the tip of his tail flicking against the sand.
Korrin gave him a hard look, his expression souring further. "Someone like you isn't worthy of my name, but…" He glanced at Kiyara, who nodded in silent insistence, and sighed. "It's Korrin. Regardless, don't say it casually, Soulborne."
Their introductions complete, Korrin and Sylas returned their attention to the lake, arms crossed as they observed the waves of energy pulsing from the water's depths.
"Is this… normal around here?" Yuki asked, her gaze lingering on the lake, her curiosity piqued. "Or is there something more going on?"
Kiyara moved beside her, close enough that Tatsuya couldn't help but feel a spark of jealousy. "It's definitely more… one of the Sovereignty's many flaws, probably." Her face turned bitter, as if the word itself was a poison.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Tatsuya inched closer, reaching up to pat her bear ears gently. Maybe petting really is the solution to everything… he thought, a grin tugging at his lips as he recalled the night before.
With a huff, Kiyara slapped his hand away, her glare narrowing. "Ow!" he muttered, rubbing the back of his hand. She looked ready to continue her tirade, but he cleared his throat, taking a serious tone.
"What is this 'Sovereignty' exactly?"
"And why is it flawed?" Yuki chimed in, the two sharing a look of satisfaction as their questions dovetailed seamlessly.
Kiyara sighed, crossing her arms. "The Sovereignty are people who came to our land over twenty years ago, back when I was just a kid. They looked like us… except with ears like yours." She nodded toward Tatsuya, who playfully covered his ears with mock indignation.
"They came offering peace, knowledge, and advanced technology, promising prosperity for our tribe. They even placed one of their machines in the center of the lake…" Kiyara pointed at the glowing waves that pulsed with unnatural energy. Each ripple seemed to grow stronger, as if responding to something unseen.
Korrin stepped closer to the lake's edge, crouching down to touch the water. He yanked his hand back, hissing as an arc of electricity shot from the surface. "The machine was supposed to purify our waters, make our crops yield better, even control the weather. And it worked… for a while, even after they left."
Sylas glared at Tatsuya, crossing his arms tightly. "But after that stunt you pulled—"
"Save," Tatsuya cut in, his expression hardening. "You and that little girl would've drowned without me." He crossed his arms, his frustration mirrored by Yuki as she threw Sylas a pointed look.
"After that 'save,' the lake started acting strange," Sylas retorted. "It's like solidifying the water disrupted something, triggered a reaction we don't understand."
"Well, that wasn't intentional," Tatsuya snapped. "There was nothing in the books about this."
"You're a mage, aren't you?" Korrin snarled, stepping closer, his face inches from Tatsuya's. "You should have foreseen this!"
Yuki's hand moved to her katana, her gaze sharp as she kept a close eye on Korrin, who reluctantly stepped back.
***
Far from the lake, in a frozen palace of ice, a man sat on a throne. He lounged back, his silver prosthetic fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest. His blue eyes snapped open, glowing faintly behind square-framed glasses as he sensed something unusual.
Someone tampered with my Soul Tapestry… by using magic? No… something more. One of my magical equations.
A shadowy form emerged, feminine yet monstrous, leaning in close. "If someone from the village discovered our plans, it might complicate things," the shadow murmured.
The man's grip on the armrest tightened, ice cracking under his hand. "Selene will understand the urgency," he said coolly, a gleam of resolve in his eyes.
***
Back at the lake, the energy around the group suddenly fell silent. The waves flattened, the vibrant colors sinking deep into the water as if retreating.
"Why did it stop?" Tatsuya whispered, glancing around.
"Wait…" Kiyara muttered, her face tense. "Something isn't right. I can feel it…"
Yuki's eyes narrowed. "Something… is coming."
Without warning, a colossal form surged from the lake's center, throwing a torrential wave of icy water that hammered down on the village. Buildings shook as the ground trembled beneath their feet.
Sylas and Korrin froze, faces pale as they took in the sight before them.
"Holy… shit," they breathed in unison, voices barely audible.
In the lake's center loomed a massive iceberg, the size of a fortress, with a single, glowing red eye staring down at them.