The Spark

The aftermath of the battle left the group weary, yet determined. The air was still, the silence broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves as they set up camp for the night. The dense forest, though ominous, offered a momentary reprieve.

Kai sat by the fire, his sword resting across his lap as he cleaned the blade. His mind replayed the fight, searching for weaknesses, strategies—anything to prepare them for the battles ahead.

"You're always so serious, Kai," Aelira's soft voice broke through his thoughts. She approached, her steps light, her ethereal glow casting a faint aura around her. She knelt beside him, her silver hair shimmering in the firelight.

Kai glanced up, offering a tired smile. "Someone has to be. We can't afford to let our guard down."

Aelira chuckled, her laughter soft and melodic. "Even heroes deserve a moment to breathe." She leaned closer, her hand brushing his as she reached for his sword. "Here, let me help."

Their fingers touched briefly, and Kai felt a spark—whether from her blessing or something deeper, he couldn't tell. Aelira's eyes met his, her gaze lingering.

"You've been carrying so much on your shoulders," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Let me share some of that burden."

Kai hesitated, his breath hitching at the intensity in her eyes. Before he could respond, Lyria's voice cut through the moment.

"Share the burden? Last I checked, Kai's been handling himself just fine," Lyria said, striding into the clearing with her usual confidence. Her sharp eyes flicked between Aelira and Kai, narrowing slightly.

Aelira smiled sweetly, not missing a beat. "Of course, Lyria. But a little support never hurts, does it?"

Lyria crossed her arms, her tone cool. "Support is one thing. Smothering him is another."

Kai sighed, standing and sliding his sword into its sheath. "You two don't have to argue about this."

Aelira rose gracefully, stepping closer to Kai. "We're not arguing," she said, her voice laced with innocence. "Just discussing who's better suited to… assist you."

Lyria scoffed, her fingers tightening on her weapon. "As if this is a competition."

"Isn't it?" Aelira teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Kai ran a hand through his hair, feeling the tension rise. Before he could diffuse the situation, Seraphina and Isolde joined the group, their presence adding to the charged atmosphere.

"What's going on here?" Seraphina asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing," Kai said quickly, but Aelira interjected.

"Just a friendly discussion about how best to support our fearless leader," she said, her smile unshaken.

Isolde frowned, sensing the undertone of rivalry. "Maybe we should focus on resting instead of... whatever this is."

"Agreed," Kai said, his voice firm. "We've got a long journey ahead."

Later That Night

As the others settled in for the night, Aelira found her way back to Kai's side. She brought a small bundle of herbs, her expression soft.

"These will help with the soreness," she said, kneeling beside him. Without waiting for permission, she began applying the herbs to his arms, her touch gentle and deliberate.

"You really don't have to—" Kai started, but she interrupted him.

"I want to," she said simply. Her hands lingered a moment longer than necessary, her gaze fixed on his.

Kai felt a warmth rise in his chest, the closeness of her presence both comforting and distracting.

From the shadows, Lyria watched, her jaw tightening. She stepped forward, clearing her throat. "Aelira, if Kai needed a healer, he'd have asked. He's fine."

Aelira glanced over her shoulder, her smile unfaltering. "And yet, he hasn't told me to stop."

Lyria opened her mouth to retort but stopped herself, her eyes narrowing. She turned and walked away, the tension palpable.

Kai sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Aelira, you're not making this any easier."

She tilted her head, her smile softening. "Maybe it's not supposed to be easy. Maybe it's time you let yourself feel something other than duty, Kai."

Her words lingered as she stood and walked away, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

The Next Day

Morning came with a renewed sense of purpose, but the undercurrent of tension remained. As the group trained, Aelira found every opportunity to position herself near Kai, her presence both protective and playful.

"Your stance needs adjusting," she said, stepping behind him to guide his arms. Her hands rested on his shoulders, her breath warm against his ear.

Kai stiffened, his heart racing. "I think I've got it."

Aelira laughed softly. "I'm sure you do."

Lyria's patience snapped. "Aelira, if you're done cuddling him, maybe we can focus on actual training."

Aelira turned, her expression calm. "Why so defensive, Lyria? Afraid he'll notice me more than you?"

Lyria's eyes flashed, and she stepped forward, her weapon in hand. "You're distracting him."

"And you're overreacting," Aelira shot back, her tone sharp.

Kai stepped between them, raising his hands. "Enough. Both of you."

But the tension was too thick to be quelled. Lyria leveled her gaze at Aelira, her voice low. "If you think you're so capable, let's see how you fare in a sparring match."

Aelira's smile turned wicked. "Gladly."

The two women squared off, their weapons drawn, as Kai watched helplessly. With no further hesitation, he stopped the two women from sending themselves to the afterlife. "It's enough, no need for any of you to sparr because of me. End this fight between you two and apologise". Lyria looked at him for a while before apologising, so did Aelira and the rising tension dropped.