The night air was cold, sharp, and unnervingly quiet.
Their campfire crackled in the clearing, flames dancing in the reflection of Kuro's eyes. He sat on a fallen log, hugging his knees while Mika tended the fire and Lucien cleaned his rapier for what had to be the fourth time.
The carcass of the Voidfang had been left behind hours ago, but its presence lingered in the silence — like something still watching from the shadows.
Lucien looked up first. "Not bad for your first real mission, Kuro," he said with a soft smile. "You handled yourself well."
Kuro blinked, startled. "Oh, uh— thank you."He looked down, feeling a flicker of pride despite himself.
Mika glanced over from the fire, his tone sharper. "You almost got yourself hit because you hesitated."
Lucien gave him a look. "He still got the final blow."
Mika's jaw tensed. "That doesn't matter if he's dead."
Kuro bit his lip, glancing between them. "I'm fine, really—"
[Oh boy. Here we go again. 'Who protects Kuro better?' The never-ending competition.]
{Don't start, Elvastia.}
[I'm just saying — one of them's gonna stab the other before this journey ends. My money's on the angry one.]
{…Mika wouldn't.}
[He might. Out of love.]
Kuro stifled a small laugh, earning a confused glance from both men.
Lucien raised an eyebrow. "What's funny?"
"Nothing," Kuro said quickly, waving his hands. "Just… a memory."
Mika narrowed his eyes slightly, unconvinced but letting it drop.
The fire popped, sending sparks into the air. For a moment, the warmth was enough to make Kuro's shoulders relax.
Lucien leaned back against his pack. "You know," he said lightly, "it's rare to see someone channel that much mana raw like you did. You're lucky your body can even handle it."
Kuro nodded, gaze distant. "Yeah. Lucky."
Mika looked at him quietly, and something flickered behind his usually cold eyes — worry, guilt, something that didn't belong to the calm mask he always wore.
Lucien smiled faintly. "Still, impressive. If you trained with me—"
"You're not training him," Mika cut in, tone cold enough to freeze the fire.
Lucien chuckled. "Protective, aren't we?"
"Cautious," Mika corrected. "There's a difference."
[Jealousy check: rising rapidly.]
{Stop it.}
[You stop it. He's basically growling at Lucien right now.]
{Elvastia—}
[What? It's kinda cute. Like a dog guarding its favorite person.]
Kuro tried not to laugh again, burying his face in his knees to hide the smile tugging at his lips.
Mika sighed and poked the fire with a stick, muttering something under his breath.
Kuro finally spoke. "You're… mad at me, aren't you?"
Mika didn't look up. "No."
"You sound mad."
"I'm not," Mika said, a little too quickly. "I just— you keep risking yourself. It's reckless."
Kuro looked at him softly. "But if I hadn't, you could've gotten hurt."
That made Mika finally turn. Their eyes met in the firelight, gold and green reflecting against the flame.
For a heartbeat, Mika looked almost… vulnerable. "I don't care if I get hurt."
Kuro blinked. "You— what?"
Mika's lips pressed into a thin line. "Just… don't make me watch you get hurt again."
The silence that followed was heavy — the kind that said everything words couldn't.
Lucien, to his credit, stayed quiet this time, though a faint, knowing smirk tugged at his lips.
[Oh, there it is. The repressed affection. Delicious.]
{Elvastia. Not now.}
[I'm living for this slow-burn emotional crisis, Kuro. Don't ruin it.]
{…You're unbelievable.}
[Correct. Also, pass me a marshmallow if you're gonna keep sulking near a fire.]
Kuro actually snorted at that, shaking his head. "You're ridiculous," he murmured.
Mika looked at him again, eyes softening slightly. "Talking to your ghost again?"
Kuro hesitated. "Something like that."
Mika nodded once — slow, careful — then looked back at the fire."I don't know what that thing in your head is," he said quietly. "But if it ever hurts you… I'll destroy it."
Lucien chuckled under his breath. "You can't destroy a spirit."
Mika's gaze cut to him. "Watch me."
Lucien raised both hands in surrender, still smiling. "Fine, fine. I'll stay out of your… whatever this is."
Kuro sighed, but there was warmth in it. "You two are impossible."
[Correction: you're impossible. You attract chaos like a lightning rod attracts storms.]
{Maybe I like storms.}
[You say that now, Kuro, but you cry every time it rains emotionally.]
Kuro's quiet laugh broke the tension completely this time. Mika blinked, almost smiling himself — a real one, faint and fleeting, but real.
Lucien leaned back and muttered, "At least one of us is enjoying this."
Mika didn't reply — but his gaze lingered on Kuro for a moment longer than it should have.
By the time the fire burned low, Kuro was dozing lightly against the log, Elvastia muttering faint, half-sarcastic comments in the back of his mind.
Lucien pretended to sleep, and Mika… watched.Silent, tense, unreadable — but the way his eyes softened when Kuro shifted closer to the warmth said enough.
[He's staring again.]
{...I know.}
[You gonna say something?]
{No. Just… let him be.}
For once, Elvastia didn't argue.