Rhys sat there for a moment, letting the quiet morning sink in.
For once, nothing was exploding.
No one was yelling.
No one was charging at him with a sword.
No system notifications were trying to kill him with stress.
Just two small spirits and a rising sun.
Aqua shifted in his arms, mumbling in her sleep.
"Master… warm…"
Puddle smiled softly.
"She already loves you a lot."
Rhys scratched his cheek.
"I only met her twenty minutes ago…"
"Baby ancients decide fast," Puddle said proudly. "If they like your mana, they stay forever. If they don't, they run away or… explode."
"Can we please stop talking about explosions…?"
Puddle giggled.
They watched Aqua sleep for a while longer.
Her glow softened with every tiny breath she made.
She looked peaceful—like a droplet dreaming.
Rhys felt something warm in his chest.
"…I guess she's… cute."
Puddle gasped dramatically.
"Master admitted! Master admitted!"
Rhys rolled his eyes.
"I didn't say anything else."
