The stranger

The morning sun filtered weakly through the dense canopy, its light struggling to break through the lingering mist. The forest was still, as if holding its breath after the chaos of the night before. Kuro stirred awake, his muscles aching from the fight. His grip on The Eminence had loosened as he dozed, but he was keenly aware of its comforting weight nearby.

Aurora sat by the fire, adding another log to the embers. Her silver hair glowed faintly in the soft light, and her focused expression betrayed the thoughts racing through her mind. Alice, leaning casually against a tree, inspected her dagger while sneaking occasional glances at Kuro.

"Morning," Kuro said, his voice hoarse as he sat up.

Aurora turned, her face lighting up with a warm smile. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

"As well as I could," he replied, stretching. "Thanks for taking over the watch."

Alice snorted. "You looked ready to collapse. Figured we'd let you recharge since you're carrying all that mysterious abyss power." Her teasing grin softened the words, though there was an edge of concern in her tone.

Kuro chuckled, shaking his head. "Appreciate it."

Aurora walked over, a waterskin in hand. "Here, drink this. We need you at full strength." She crouched beside him, her gaze lingering on his face longer than necessary. "You're pushing yourself too hard."

Kuro accepted the waterskin, his fingers brushing against hers briefly. The touch sent a spark through him, and he noticed a faint blush dusting Aurora's cheeks as she quickly looked away.

"I'm fine," he said, though her concern warmed him in a way he hadn't expected. "We all are."

Alice rolled her eyes dramatically. "Alright, lovebirds, save the sappy moments for later. We've got to move before the forest decides to throw another oversized beast our way."

Aurora shot her a glare, but the blush on her face deepened. "Shut up, Alice."

Kuro smirked, amused by their exchange. "She's not wrong, though. We should get moving."

As they packed up camp, the atmosphere lightened. Aurora seemed to stay closer to Kuro than usual, offering quiet encouragement whenever his steps faltered. Alice, ever the rogue, watched their interactions with a knowing smile but kept her comments to herself—for the most part.

The group made steady progress through the forest, their earlier tension easing into a comfortable rhythm. Kuro found himself walking beside Aurora again, her presence grounding him amidst the chaos in his mind.

"Hey, Kuro," she said, her voice soft. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," he replied, glancing at her.

She hesitated, her fingers fiddling with the strap of her quiver. "Back there, when that… thing attacked, you stood in front of me without a second thought. Why?"

Kuro frowned, puzzled by the question. "Why wouldn't I? You were in danger. I couldn't just let it hurt you."

Her steps faltered slightly, and she looked away, her cheeks flushing. "I guess I just... I don't know. I've never had someone do that for me before."

Kuro stopped, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. She froze under his touch, her eyes wide as she looked up at him.

"You're important to me, Aurora," he said, his voice low but firm. "Both of you are. I don't know what I'd do if I lost either of you."

Aurora's lips parted, but no words came out. Her heart hammered in her chest, and for a moment, the forest around them faded away. Kuro's hand lingered, his warmth grounding her in the present.

Alice's voice cut through the moment like a blade. "If you two are done making goo-goo eyes at each other, we've got company."

Startled, Kuro and Aurora stepped apart, their weapons at the ready. But as Alice pointed to the edge of the clearing, it wasn't a beast they saw. It was a figure cloaked in black, leaning casually against a tree.

"Well, well," the stranger said, their voice smooth and laced with amusement. "Looks like I've stumbled upon an interesting little group."

The trio exchanged wary glances, their earlier moment forgotten. Kuro gripped The Eminence, his eyes narrowing. "Who are you?"

The stranger chuckled, their hood falling back to reveal a sharp, mischievous face framed by dark hair. "Call me Lucien. And let's just say I know a thing or two about the abyss."

Aurora and Alice tensed, their weapons drawn, but Kuro hesitated. The whispers in his mind grew louder, almost eager.

"I think you and I have a lot to talk about," Lucien said, his gaze locking with Kuro's. "Shall we?"