Chapter 2. :Bonds of Fire and Fate

Chapter X: Bonds of Fire and Fate

As the night settled over the quiet wilderness, Lugos and Esha sat in deep cultivation, their bodies absorbing the surrounding energy. The warmth of their internal power surged, refining their strength as they reached new heights—Lugos stepping into the Ready Stage and Esha into the Advanced Ready Stage. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves as they finally opened their eyes, awakening to the sight of Izuki, who stood before them with a warm smile, tending to a modest yet heartwarming feast.

The aroma of roasted meat, freshly baked bread, and fragrant herbs filled the air, making their stomachs grumble in response. Izuki had worked tirelessly, gathering firewood and preparing food for them while they trained. As Lugos and Esha settled down to eat, Izuki handed them their portions before taking a seat beside them.

Between bites of food, Izuki's gaze landed on Esha. With an amused but curious look, she finally asked, "Lugos, who is this… Demigirl?"

Lugos, caught mid-bite, froze momentarily. His expression turned awkward as he realized he hadn't properly introduced his new companion. Swallowing hastily, he laughed sheepishly. "Oh, right! I completely forgot! This is our new—" He stopped mid-sentence, blinking in embarrassment before turning to Esha with an apologetic smile. "Uh… what was your name again?"

Esha stiffened at the sudden attention, her hands clenching the hem of her robes. She hesitated before standing up, her voice barely above a whisper. "My name is Esha…"

As she spoke, her body trembled, and her voice cracked slightly. Her fingers curled tightly, and despite her efforts to hold back, tears welled in her eyes.

Lugos noticed immediately. His brows furrowed with concern as he set his food aside and asked, "Hey… why are you crying? Did we say something wrong? If there's something bothering you, tell me."

Before he could react further, Esha suddenly threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his torso in a tight embrace. She buried her face against his chest, her voice choked with emotion.

"Please… don't leave me," she pleaded, her grip tightening. "I don't want to be alone again."

Lugos felt a pang of sorrow at her words. He could sense the weight of her past pressing down on her, the silent suffering she had endured alone. Without hesitation, he placed a comforting hand on her head, gently stroking her silver locks.

"There, there…" he murmured. "You're not alone anymore."

The warmth of his presence seemed to soothe her, and slowly, her trembling subsided. She clung to him for a moment longer before finally loosening her hold, wiping her tears away.

From a short distance away, Izuki watched the scene unfold, her heart suddenly whispering warnings she didn't want to acknowledge. Danger. Danger. A new girl has entered.

A strange emotion twisted inside her—something akin to jealousy. She bit her lip, shaking her head as if to push the feeling away. What am I thinking?

As the night deepened, Lugos gently escorted Esha to a tent, tucking her in with a warm blanket to ensure she rested well. He, however, remained outside, sitting by the flickering campfire to keep watch. The flames danced in his crimson eyes, lost in thought, when Izuki approached him.

She sat beside him without a word, her face unusually downcast. After a moment, she finally spoke.

"…Is she your girl now?"

Lugos blinked at the unexpected question and turned to face her. "What?"

Izuki let out a small sigh, hugging her knees to her chest. "You care for her a lot. I can see it."

Realizing what she was getting at, Lugos exhaled deeply. "It's not like that," he explained. "After you fainted, I found her. She was injured and alone, and well… I helped her."

Izuki's eyes flickered with curiosity. "Helped her… how?"

Lugos hesitated, but before he could form a response, she suddenly gasped, her cheeks turning crimson. "Wait… don't tell me—you kissed her?"

Lugos sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was an emergency! She was dying, and I had to share some of my energy to save her. That's all."

Izuki stared at him for a long moment before exhaling dramatically, hiding her face behind her hands. Then, with a small, teasing smirk, she peeked through her fingers.

"So… if it was just an emergency, would you kiss me too?" she asked, her voice laced with mischief.

Lugos nearly choked on air. "W-What?"

Izuki leaned closer, her expression softening. "You patted her head too, right?" she murmured. "Would you do that for me?"

Lugos hesitated for a moment before reaching out, his fingers gently brushing against her silky black hair. As he began to pet her head, a rare sense of peace washed over Izuki, making her sigh in contentment.

Then, with a sudden burst of courage, she whispered, "Can you… also kiss me?"

Lugos turned red but, after a moment of hesitation, leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. Izuki's heart raced, and when he pulled away, she covered her face with both hands, completely flustered.

The next morning, as the first light of dawn painted the sky, Esha slowly woke up. Blinking away the last remnants of sleep, she sat up and looked around the empty tent. A sudden panic gripped her chest.

"Lugos?" she called out, hurriedly stepping outside.

She scanned the campsite anxiously before spotting Izuki crouched by the fire, cooking breakfast.

"Where is Lugos?" Esha asked, her voice filled with worry.

Izuki turned to her with an amused yet unreadable expression. "You really can't function without him, huh?" she teased. "He went out to hunt and capture some monsters."

Esha let out a relieved sigh, placing a hand over her racing heart. Then, as if realizing something embarrassing, her face turned pink. "I… I think I have a crush on Master Lugos," she admitted shyly.

Izuki's playful smirk faltered slightly. She examined Esha for a moment before her gaze instinctively lowered to Esha's figure—her curvaceous body, her well-defined curves. A small frown tugged at Izuki's lips.

"…I don't think my body is as good as yours," she muttered, a hint of insecurity slipping through.

Before they could dwell on the subject further, the distant sound of hooves echoed through the air. Both girls turned their heads just in time to see Lugos arriving with a grand carriage, pulled by two massive bull-like monsters.

As he dismounted, he grinned at them. "Let's eat quickly. We're heading for the capital today."

The three of them gathered around, sharing a meal together before setting off once more—toward an uncertain future and heading to capital city.