Storms, Salt and Skin.

The docks stank of salt, oil, and desperation.

Kaito shifted the weight of his pack as they waited at the far end of the pier, the shadows long and low in the pre dawn light. Lyria stood beside him, hood still drawn low, her sword strapped tight. Seren leaned on a crate nearby, arms folded, eyes sharp despite the early hour.

The ship which stood before them was no grand vessel. Nope, It was old, wooden, and vaguely leaning to the left like it had seen too many storms and too few repairs. The name had been scraped off the hull. Kaito was pretty sure that wasn't a good sign.

"This looks safe," he muttered.

Lyria gave a low grunt. "It's safer than staying."

The captain, a short man with a jaw like a cracked mug and a voice like inhaled breath, checked their papers without comment, and yes, it was forged. He gave Seren a once over that nearly earned him a fireball to the face, then waved them aboard.

The deck shook under their foot, not really reassuring. Everything smelled like wet rope and old dead fish.

Kaito looked out at the sea. The water stretched endlessly, painted orange - (ish) and silver by the sunrise. Wind pulled at his hair. He felt... unmoored. Floating. Not just from the boat, but from the past week.

Assassins. Temples. Shrines. System glitches. Even Gods. You name it.

And now, exile. Or maybe new beginnings.

The Error System pinged.

[New Destination Confirmed: Hallowrest] [Estimated Travel Time: 3 Days] [Risk Level: Moderate to Laughable]

He sighed. "Why does everything you say feel sarcastic?"

Seren brushed past him, clutching the ship railing. She already looked green.

"If I die vomiting, tell the gods they can have my corpse. I'm done."

Kaito raised a brow. "You get seasick?"

"I get reality sick. This just adds movement."

Lyria said nothing. She kept near the bow, eyes scanning the crew. Her fingers never strayed far from her sword.

As the ship pulled away from Emberfall, the city shrank behind them into nothing but smoke and towers. The wind picked up. The water grew colder.

Seren eventually vanished below deck, murmuring a curses in three languages.

Kaito stayed on the deck with Lyria. She was silent for a long time. Then she said:

"You looked back."

He blinked. "What?"

"At the city. When we left. You looked back."

"Yeah. Doesn't everyone?"

"No."

He leaned on the rail beside her. "Did you?"

She didn't answer.

Instead, she reached out, fingers brushing his. Not quite a hold. Not quite a warning.

Just connection.

The wind howled around them. The ship rocked harder.

And far behind them, on the edge of the horizon, the golden eye in the sky flickered one last time, then vanished.

[Surveillance Terminated. Divine Signal Lost.] [System Stability: Improving... For Now.]

Kaito exhaled. For now.

Few hours had gone.

The storm rolled in that night.

Winds howled. Rain battered the deck above. Somewhere, ropes had snapped and sailors cursed. The entire ship rocked hard enough that Kaito had to brace himself against the bunk walls to avoid being launched across the room.

Their quarters weren't much, barely enough room for two people standing close. So of course, the universe had decided to pack three of them in it.

Seren had vanished hours ago to the cargo hold, still murmuring about magical anchors and trying not to vomit. That left just him and Lyria, locked in a box sized room while the world outside drowned.

You are probably thinking what I'm thinking, right?****

Kaito sat on the edge of the bunk, wet hair stuck to his forehead, his soaked shirt sticking to his chest. The storm had left him jumpy, jittery.

Lyria stood with her back to him, undoing her sword belt. Her soaked cloak slid down her arms with a sound that made his heart skip.

She wasn't saying anything. Which was worse than her usual snark.

"You okay?" he asked.

No answer.

She turned slowly. The candlelight brushed across her skin, casting half her face in shadow. She tossed the cloak aside. Underneath, the shirt she wore was clinging to every inch of her, rain wet and thin.

Kaito stared. Then quickly looked away.

Too late.

Lyria stepped forward. He could feel her heat before she even touched him.

"You know what I hate?" she said softly, standing between his knees.

He shook his head, trying very hard not to look at her chest.

"Storms. Ships. People staring like they don't know what they want."

Her fingers brushed his chin, tilting his face up to meet hers.

"Do you know what you want, Kaito?"

He swallowed. "Right now? Maybe. But I'm afraid to say it out loud."

"Say it anyway."

Her voice was low. Steady. But her eyes were fire.

He looked at her, heart hammering. "I want you."

She smiled, just barely and climbed into his lap.

The kiss hit him like a blade. Not gentle. Not patient. Just raw, hard, hungry.

She kissed like she fought: teeth, control, dominance. Her fingers tangled in his hair, dragging him closer as her hips rolled into his. Her body, slick with salt and rain, pressed into his until he couldn't think straight.

She pushed him down onto the bunk, crawling over him. Her mouth moved from his lips to his neck, biting gently, then not so gently. His breath hitched.

Kaito moaned into her mouth. "Lyria… we should..."

"What?" she whispered against his lips. "Stop?"

Her hand slid under his shirt, nails scraping gently down his stomach.

"Or maybe," she added, her voice had a dangerous purr, "you want to beg first."

Her hands roamed with purpose one down his chest, the other slipping under the hem of his shirt and yanking it up. She sat back to strip it off him, eyes devouring every inch of skin.

"You talk a lot," she muttered.

"Sorry—"

"Don't apologize. Just shut up."

He did. Instantly.

She kissed down his chest, her teeth teasing at every inch of skin, sending sparks through his nerves. His hands went to her waist but she caught his wrists and pinned them above his head.

"You don't get to touch unless I say so," she whispered.

His breath caught. The look in her eyes wasn't teasing, it was serious. Commanding.

And it turned him on more than anything else ever had.

She kissed lower. He gasped.

She took her time. Every move was slow, deliberate, and meant to break him apart. Her tongue, her lips, the way her teeth grazed his skin, it was too much. He bucked under her, but she held him still with one hand and a growl that echoed in his ear.

Her mouth moved lower, trailing heat and tension, and when her fingers brushed over the front of his pants, he almost lost it. She unfastened them slow, steady, taking in his reaction with a smug smirk.

She took him in her hand and began to stroke him slow, deliberate movements that had him gasping. She watched every twitch, every breath, like she was studying him.

"You're easy to read," she murmured. "Every part of you answers to me."

He whimpered. She squeezed, thumb teasing the tip, and he bit his lip to hold in a moan.

She climbed back over him, grinding her hips against his in a maddening rhythm. Still fully clothed above, she rolled her hips like she was punishing him and he loved every second.

Finally, finally, she undressed fully. Every inch of her was breathtaking. Powerful. Beautiful. She straddled him now, aligned them both, and then—

She sank down, slowly, fully.

Kaito gasped like he'd been punched. His hands flew to her thighs but she caught them again and pinned them to the mattress.

"No," she said, breath hot in his ear. "You don't move until I say."

She rode him hard and slow. Her body moved like a storm, strong, fluid, unstoppable. She took her time building the rhythm, rolling her hips in deep, mind breaking waves that left him trembling.

He tried to hold on. She wouldn't let him.

"Let go," she growled.

He did. With a choked groan, he let himself fall apart under her. She followed with a sharp gasp and a full body tremble that rocked through them both.

They collapsed together, breathing heavy, skin damp with sweat.

Lyria draped over him, kissed his neck, and whispered:

"Mine."

[System Sync Strengthened: Combat Fragment] [Buff Applied: Enhanced Reflexes] [Warning: Soul Bond Approaching Critical Heat Threshold.]

It was beautiful...

Morning came slow.

The storm had passed, leaving only silence and the soft creak of old wood as the ship swayed gently over calm waters.

Kaito stirred in the narrow bunk. His back ached in the good way, his legs tangled in warm limbs, and his brain felt like pudding. He didn't open his eyes yet, mostly because he didn't want to ruin the peace.

Lyria lay over him like she belonged there. Her hair smelled like salt water and metal. One leg was hooked around his, her fingers resting lightly against his bare chest.

He grinned like an idiot.

Then the door creaked open.

"Oh, for f...." Seren stopped mid curse. Her voice was flat. "I see you two discovered new forms of physical training."

Kaito cracked one eye open.

"Morning."

"I leave you alone for one storm, and you start a romance novel." Seren rolled her eyes, then pointed a glowing finger at Lyria. "Don't think I didn't notice the magical spike last night. You overloaded the ambient mana field, you hormonal berserker."

Lyria yawned. "You're just mad it wasn't you."

Seren raised an eyebrow. "You think I want to be squished under him like a pancake?"

Kaito blinked. "Hey."

Lyria smirked, propping herself up on one elbow. "If you'd like a demonstration, Seren, we can arrange turns."

Seren's face turned an odd mix of pink and fury. "That's not how magic research works!"

The Error System dinged softly.

[New Sync Detected: Flirtation Fragment? ...No? Damn. Worth a shot.]

Kaito groaned. "Can I go back to sleep before my harem burns the boat down?"

Seren huffed. "We're almost to Hallowrest. You better get dressed. And hydrate. And stretch. You look like you just ran a marathon with your hips."

He blinked. "You were checking out my hips?"

"No. Shut up."