Seraphine and Kael Arisugawa left the seaside village immediately, guided by the cold warning and the new map from Yuzael Valestrian. Their destination was Velmitsu, the City of Hidden Archives.
The Ambush
The terrain was rough, a dense forest bordering the coast. Kael, relying on his training and instincts, walked ahead, alert and focused. Seraphine, still prone to being slightly careless, was right behind him, holding his hand tightly.
They were ambushed near a narrow, fog-filled ravine. A group of rough, heavily armed men—pirates—leapt out from the trees.
"The princess with the healing hands! We've found her!" one of them roared.
Kael instantly pushed Seraphine behind him, drawing a hidden, well-maintained dagger. His usual flirty ease was gone, replaced by fierce, protective resolve.
"Run, Seraphine! Go toward the ravine!" Kael commanded.
"No! I won't leave you!" Seraphine cried, her kind-hearted nature refusing to abandon him.
Teamwork and Devotion
The fight was intense. Kael was fast and agile, holding off two pirates at once. But the pirates were determined to capture Seraphine and her unique Herbal & Medicine Skills.
One pirate broke through Kael's defense and lunged at Seraphine.
CLANG!!
Kael intercepted the attack, taking a glancing blow to his arm, which immediately began to bleed profusely. He winced in pain but did not fall.
"Kael!" Seraphine screamed, her focus instantly shifting from panic to action. The sight of him hurt for her sake broke her heart.
Kael immediately saw the opportunity. "Princess, my side! Now!" he yelled, buying her a precious second.
Seraphine knelt quickly by his side. Her hands, usually so careless with maps and walking, were now steady and quick. She tore a strip of cloth from her own skirt and, using a powerful coagulant herb she had prepared (a rare ingredient found from their earlier side quest), she slapped the paste directly onto his wound and tied the bandage tightly.
The treatment was fast, effective, and completely stopped the bleeding. Kael felt the sudden relief and grinned, his eyes full of devotion for the woman who had just saved him.
"Perfect, Princess!" he said. "Now, hold this!" He handed her a pouch of irritant powder he carried.
With his wound stabilized, Kael launched a final, decisive counterattack. Seraphine, standing just behind him, tossed the irritant powder into the faces of the remaining pirates, causing them to cough and stagger.
This moment was the ultimate test of their pure love since childhood—it wasn't just sweet gestures; it was life-saving, devoted teamwork.
The Final Kiss
The pirates, defeated and scattered by the combination of Kael's skill and Seraphine's medicinal counterattack, fled into the fog.
Kael turned back to Seraphine, his chest heaving, his eyes shining with profound love. He was bruised and bloody, but victorious.
He pulled Seraphine into a tight hug.
"That was almost the end of the journey before we even got to our wedding day," Kael whispered, burying his face in her hair. "You saved me, Seraphine. You are incredible."
He pulled back, his hands cupping her face, his gaze warm and utterly sincere.
"I love you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. He didn't kiss her—he held true to his promise. Instead, he pressed a warm, loving kiss to her forehead. "We are going to make it, my star. We are going home together."
Seraphine nodded, tears of relief and love streaming down her face. Their bond was unbreakable. They knew, without a doubt, that their love could conquer any threat.