Peace In Danger

Sunny's shadow returned first, gliding across the crimson expanse. Moments later, two figures followed, stepping into the clearing where Ares and Sunny stood.

The sky stretched above them, dull and heavy, an endless sheet of grey. Below, the blackened mud swallowed everything it touched. And between the two, an ocean of crimson swayed like a dream given form—eerie, surreal, and infinite.

Against this otherworldly backdrop, two beautiful girls moved through the labyrinth.

One was delicate, almost fragile, with golden hair that shimmered in the dim light. Her cerulean eyes were unfocused, distant, as if searching for something beyond her reach. She wore a simple tunic, the fabric soft and modest, a sea-colored cloak draped over her narrow shoulders. Leather sandals barely shielded her small feet from the unforgiving ground. She was like a lost princess—ethereal and pure.

Beside her walked another, her presence a sharp contrast. Taller, leaner, her body moved with quiet strength, poised and deadly. Silken silver hair cascaded down her back, framing a face of striking cold beauty. Her grey eyes were sharp, alert—watching everything, missing nothing. Unlike her companion, she wore little, her outfit crudely fashioned from black seaweed. The rough, haphazardly woven material left much of her fair skin exposed, emphasizing the power in her slender frame. She walked barefoot, unbothered by the terrain.

A golden rope bound them together.

Sunny clicked her tongue, her irritation plain as she took in the sight before her.

Ares, on the other hand, let out a low whistle, his lips curling into an amused smirk.

His crimson eyes flickered between the two, taking in their contrasts.

Should he focus on Cassie, soft and fragile, with her doll-like presence that all but begged for protection? Or Nephis, with her cold grace, her fierce strength barely masking the awkwardness of her crude attire? She looked like a warrior who had forgotten what modesty was—or had never learned it in the first place, the thought made him chuckle.

The two girls halted as soon as they stepped into the clearing.

Nephis' hand tightened around the hilt of her sword, her posture shifting instinctively into one prepared for battle. But upon seeing him, Her grey eyes flickered for the briefest moment, widening slightly in recognition, before falling back into their usual unreadable stillness.

Cassie, blind to what had caused her companion's tension, tensed beside her. A hesitant whisper left her lips, barely audible.

"W-what is it? Is it a monster?"

Nephis hesitated. Then, with a flicker of sparks, her sword vanished.

"…It's him."

Her tone was flat, yet beneath that indifference was a raging flame.

Cassie frowned, clearly unsatisfied by the lack of explanation.

Before she could ask more, a voice she missed blessed her ears, filled with amusement...and something more.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite sparring partner… and my adorable little Cassie."

Cassie's breath hitched.

The moment she heard that voice, the hesitation melted from her face, replaced by something bright and undeniable—relief.

"Ares!"

His name left her lips in an exhale of pure emotion. Without thinking, she ran toward the voice, her steps hurried but clumsy.

She barely made it a few paces before disaster struck.

Blind as she was, she couldn't see the unevenness of the ground. Her foot caught on an unseen bump, and with a startled gasp, she tripped.

The black mud rushed up to meet her.

But before she could fall, Ares moved.

One moment, he was standing still. The next, he was there, catching her.

His armor shifted the instant her small frame collided against him. The hard metal softened, turning into a smooth and silk-like compression shirt,a thing he thought of in the spur of the moment, ensuring her fragile body wouldn't be hurt.

Cassie gasped softly, her fingers tightening instinctively against the newly formed fabric of his chest. For a moment, she simply breathed, her body trembling in his hold. Then, as if reassured by his warmth, she clung to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Her head pressed against his shoulder, burying herself in his presence.

A shudder ran through her body.

A single tear slipped from her eye. Then another.

She didn't speak. She didn't need to.

The way she trembled in his arms, the way she clung to him, said everything she couldn't put into words. The fear, the exhaustion, the quiet relief—how she had not given up.

Ares sighed softly, his lips twitching into something small and warm. His arms curled around her, pulling her closer, his embrace strong and steady.

"…You did well, Cassie."

Cassie exhaled, a breath of quiet acceptance.

She was small in his arms, weak in ways that were undeniable. But Ares knew—one day, she would be something else. Someone else.

The same helplessness she had once felt… one day, she would be the one to make others feel it.

A heavy silence settled.

Ares looked up.

Two pairs of eyes stared back at him.

Sunny, with her narrowed dark eyes and sharp scowl, arms crossed as she regarded the scene with obvious irritation. Nephis, her silver eyes glinting, expression blank yet somehow equally disapproving.

Though their faces were different, their thoughts were the same.

Bastard.

Ares smirked.

Without a care for the two glaring psychos, he ignored them entirely, shifting his focus back to the girl in his arms.

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As Cassie finally calmed down, she reluctantly pulled away from Ares's embrace, wiping at her eyes.

"That light last night... it was you, wasn't it?" Ares asked Nephis, his sharp gaze lingering on her face.

Nephis remained silent for a moment, then sighed. "...Sadly."

There was a weariness in her tone, subtle but present. Though she didn't elaborate, the exhaustion clinging to her posture and the faint shadows under her eyes spoke volumes. Producing light in a world consumed by darkness was like a beacon for its dwellers.

Before anyone could say more, Sunny spoke up, her voice carrying a quiet urgency. "We should move."

Cassie, eager to contribute, nodded. "Our place isn't far from here. Follow us."

Nephis simply turned and started walking without a word, her movements fluid but deliberate. The path was relatively safe—she knew the way well—but the journey was slowed by Cassie's unsteady steps. Her blindness made it difficult for her to move quickly, and each uneven surface or unexpected dip forced her to hesitate.

Ares, watching her struggle, sighed before stepping in front of her and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Wait a second."

Cassie tilted her head at him, innocent curiosity flickering across her face. "Hm?"

"Climb on my back."

His words were straightforward, but his tone was gentle. Cassie's breath hitched slightly. A light flush dusted her cheeks, but she nodded, carefully placing her hands on his shoulders. Her fingers lingered a moment too long, tracing over the hard muscle beneath his soft skin tight shirt, before she finally adjusted her grip.

Ares crouched down, securing her legs with ease before straightening. Cassie instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, her warmth pressing against his back. It was a strangely intimate gesture, but Ares acted as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

With a steadier pace, they soon arrived at the hill. The towering coral formation loomed ahead, jagged yet strangely beautiful in the dimming light.

Nephis, without hesitation, dismissed her golden rope before summoning it again. This act reset it, ensuring it was neatly coiled in her hands. Then, with a flick of her wrist, the rope extended, growing three times its original length.

She moved with practiced ease, tying both ends into loops before expertly tossing one into the air. The loop coiled around a sturdy protrusion near the top of the coral mound. Testing the rope for security, she swiftly climbed up, her movements precise and effortless. Once she reached the top, she looked down and waved for the others to follow.

From up close, the coral mound resembled a small island. It was far larger than the stone platform on the giant knight's neck. Hidden behind a curtain of coral blades, the girls had made their camp—a modest yet functional shelter. Piles of seaweed served as bedding, strips of scavenger meat dried under the sun, and a small firepit stood at the center.

Ares took in the sight before turning to Cassie. "Do you guys have water? We have a lot of meat, but we're kind of thirsty."

Cassie's face lit up at the question. Without hesitation, she extended her arm, and in an instant, a beautifully patterned blue glass bottle appeared in her hand.

"That's a Memory I have. It's always full."

Ares's eyes widened slightly. "Oh, that's really useful. Thanks a bunch, Cassie."

He took the bottle from her carefully, his fingers brushing against hers for the briefest moment. Without wasting another second, he tilted it back, drinking deeply. The cool liquid rushed down his throat, quenching the dryness that had settled there. Once satisfied, he handed the bottle to Sunny.

"Get to drinking, and stop giving me that disgusting look, will ya?"

Sunny scowled, taking the bottle from his hand while lightly smacking him in the process. She shot a sharp glare at Cassie before muttering under her breath, "Bastards, all of you..."

Despite her grumbling, she drank greedily. The water was refreshingly clean, almost unnaturally so. As she lowered the bottle, she gave Cassie a scrutinizing look. "Is it really endless?"

Cassie absentmindedly touched her hair, her expression thoughtful. "Uh… not really. If you let the water flow continuously, it stops after half an hour or so. But then it refills on its own pretty soon after."

At that moment, Nephis had already started making the fire. Without looking up, she reached for Ares and Sunny's rucksacks and opened them. Soul shards tumbled out, catching the fading sunlight.

Ares noticed the way Sunny stiffened, but she quickly masked it, resuming her conversation with Cassie as if nothing had happened.

"Still a great Memory. Getting drinkable water isn't exactly easy," Sunny said, nodding in approval.

Cassie smiled, pleased by the remark.

The rich aroma of roasting meat soon filled the air, the scent making Ares's stomach rumble in anticipation. As the sun dipped toward the horizon, a deep rumbling sound echoed from below. The first traces of the black sea began to seep into the labyrinth, the ominous darkness creeping in like a slow-moving tide.

Sunny shifted uncomfortably. "Do scavengers come all the way up here?"

Nephis flipped the meat over, nodding. "Yes. But… only at night. During the day, most of them disappear."

Sunny grinned, the realization dawning on her. "Oh, I know why—"

"That's because they all gather near where me and Sunny were staying at before we met." Ares interrupted, stealing the moment from her. He smirked at her glare before continuing. "You should have seen it. A tall cliff to the west of here—except it's not a cliff. It's actually a statue."

Cassie's eyes widened. "A… statue? But for you to survive there, it should be..."

"Yes," Ares confirmed. "A giant knight, at least two hundred meters tall. He's missing his head, so we hid on the neck. The day we were sent here, Sunny had front-row seats to a sea monster battle near the statue."

Sunny scoffed but picked up the story. "As he said, When the water receded, I saw an enormous carcass lying there, with hundreds of scavengers tearing it apart."

Nephis nodded, her eyes calculating. "That would explain the lack of Nightmare Creatures during the day. How long?"

Sunny blinked. "How long what?"

Nephis stared at her, unmoving. Cassie fidgeted beside her, and even Sunny looked a little uneasy under the intensity of her gaze.

"How long... until they finish devouring the carcass?"

"Oh. Two to three days more "

Nephis turned back to the fire, swiftly removing the meat before extinguishing the flames.

Ares barely managed to stifle his laughter while Sunny raised an eyebrow. 'Awkward princess strikes again.'

They ate in the fading twilight, the meat rich, tender, and unbelievably delicious. Hunger certainly made it taste better than anything they'd ever had before. From time to time, they passed the glass bottle between them, sharing quiet moments amidst the coming night.

As darkness swallowed the world, Ares felt a strange sense of harmony between them. It was luck that brought them together, a form of trust that bound him, Sunny and nephis together, born from Countless spars, bruises and understanding of each other's capabilities, even if they were not fully shown.

He knew Cassie as well, as he would always spend more than three hours a day accompanying her, and it seemed the blind girl formed bonds of her own with Nephis.

And so, in the heart of the harrowing dream realm, they slept as peacefully as they could.

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And that's it for this awesome chapter, I personally like it, mainly cuz of the romance scenes.

I really like writing them huh.

Anyway, I hope u guys enjoyed it as much as I did, peace out!