The halls of Everhart smelled of smoke and fear. Servants whispered in corners, their eyes darting to the stretcher that carried Andy's blood-soaked form. Knights stepped aside in silence as Nia walked beside him, her hands still pressed against his chest, silver light flowing desperately into his wounds.
Every face carried the same question, though none dared speak it aloud: If the Dragon Warrior bleeds like this, can he truly protect us?
Whispers hissed in the shadows. Nia heard them all, each word a dagger. He draws danger… He is cursed… He will bring ruin. Her jaw tightened. She wanted to scream at them, to burn their doubt away. But all she could do was keep walking, her eyes fixed on Andy's pale face.
He stirred faintly as they reached his chamber. "Don't… let them… see me like this," he rasped.
Nia blinked back tears, pressing a trembling hand to his cheek. "Let them look. Let them whisper. I don't care what they see—as long as you're still here."
The healers came, but even they hesitated, bowing low before stepping back. "My lady… his body rejects ordinary healing. The System's power resists our touch."
Nia's heart clenched. She lowered herself to his side, eyes burning with defiance. "Then I'll be his healer. His shield. His everything."
They left her alone with him.
The chamber was quiet save for his shallow breaths. Moonlight spilled through the window, painting his battered form in silver. Nia sat by his bed, never releasing his hand. She fed her mana into him steadily, refusing to let exhaustion win. Her eyes burned, her head ached, but she didn't care.
Hours passed. At last, Andy stirred, his golden eyes flickering open. "Nia… still here?"
She let out a choked laugh, tears slipping free. "Where else would I be, you idiot?"
He tried to smile, though pain twisted the expression. "You should rest…"
"Don't you dare tell me to rest," she snapped, then softened, her thumb brushing his cheek. "I almost lost you tonight. Do you think I could sleep knowing that?"
Silence stretched between them, heavy and fragile. Andy swallowed, his voice hoarse. "I'm sorry. Every time… it's you who suffers. You're dragged into my battles, my curse. If I were stronger—"
"Stop." Her voice cracked, but her eyes blazed. "Don't you dare blame yourself. I chose this. I chose you. If I suffer, then let it be with you. If I fight, let it be beside you. If I die…" Her voice trembled, but she didn't look away. "…then let it be in your arms."
His breath caught. For a moment, all the pain, all the fear, all the whispers outside the chamber faded. There was only her.
"Nia…" His hand rose weakly, cupping her cheek. "I don't deserve you."
She leaned into his touch, tears glistening. "Then spend the rest of your life proving me wrong."
Their lips met—soft, trembling at first, then fierce, desperate. It wasn't the clumsy, nervous kiss of two souls still uncertain. It was fire meeting starlight, a vow sealed not in words but in breath, in touch, in the pounding of their hearts.
Clothes tangled. Fingers clutched. Bodies pressed close, not in reckless hunger, but in aching need. Their first union had been hesitant, fragile—a step into the unknown. This time, it was certainty. It was devotion. It was the refusal to let go, no matter how the world tore at them.
The System stirred faintly, responding to their bond.
> [Eternal Oath: Resonance deepened]
Shared Affinity enhanced.
They lay together afterward, breathless, hearts racing in unison. Andy's wounds still ached, but the warmth of her body, the glow of their rings, dulled the pain.
Nia rested her head against his chest, listening to the rhythm of his heart. "Promise me," she whispered. "No matter what comes next, you'll keep fighting. Not just for Everhart. For us."
His arms tightened around her. "I promise. For us."
The rings pulsed, their glow brightening faintly.
> [Bond Progression Increased: 80% → 90%]
Intimacy shared. Trust unbroken.
Andy pressed his lips to her hair, closing his eyes. For the first time since the Trial, peace wrapped around them. Outside, the whispers of nobles and the looming shadow of the Hunter still lingered. But within this chamber, there was only light, only warmth, only the vow they had sealed with body and soul.
And for a few fleeting hours, the world could wait.
---