Side Chapter – Just Us
Kaze sat cross-legged on the wooden floor of his room, staring at the ceiling. A single candle flickered on the small desk beside his bed. Outside the window, the faint clatter of swords and distant shouting echoed from the training yard—but up here, it was quiet.
He tossed a small wind orb between his fingers out of boredom. Atlas had gone for an evening run. Kazuki, probably meditating again. Lyra… who knew?
Knock. Knock.
Kaze blinked. "Yeah?"
The door creaked open.
Lyra peeked in, already halfway hiding behind the frame. Her cheeks were a soft shade of red, and her fingers fidgeted around the hem of her sleeves. "Hey… um, you busy?"
Kaze raised a brow, then smiled. "Nah, just throwing wind balls at the ceiling. Come in."
She stepped inside slowly, closing the door behind her with a soft click. Instead of standing awkwardly, she walked over and sat on his bed, hands folded tightly in her lap, eyes fixed on the floor.
"You okay?" Kaze asked.
Lyra nodded, but didn't speak right away. Then: "I just… wanted to be somewhere quiet."
"Fair enough," he said, sitting up straighter. "This room's as boring as they come. Welcome to the quiet zone."
She smiled, small and nervous. "It's not boring when you're in it."
Kaze blinked. "…Was that a line?"
Her face turned a deeper red. "Maybe."
Kaze chuckled, leaning against the wall. "You're acting weird tonight."
"I'm not weird," she shot back, voice soft. "Just… I don't know. I feel like we never really talk. Like, really talk."
Kaze tilted his head. "We talk all the time."
"About swords. Monsters. Running from death. You know. The usual."
He let out a breath. "Alright. Real talk then."
Lyra looked up.
Kaze leaned forward, arms resting on his knees. "You scare me sometimes."
She blinked. "Wait—what?"
"Not in a bad way. Just… you're brave. You act like nothing bothers you. You fight like you've already decided you'll win. And I—" He looked away for a second. "I pretend a lot. Smile. Joke. But most of the time, I'm still scared. Of losing people. Of messing up. Of another storm."
Lyra's expression softened. "You think I'm not scared too?"
He looked at her.
"I've lost people too," she said quietly. "Every time I laugh or joke, it's because I'm trying not to cry. I'm still learning how to breathe without feeling like I'm drowning."
Kaze didn't speak for a moment. Then, gently, he reached over and took her hand.
It surprised her. But she didn't pull away.
"You don't have to act strong around me," he said.
"Same to you," she whispered.
A comfortable silence fell between them. Their hands stayed entwined, warm and steady.
Then Lyra shifted slightly, laying back onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. "You know… this bed's really small."
Kaze smirked. "Trying to say something?"
She patted the empty space beside her. "I'm saying there's room. Barely."
Kaze laid down beside her, shoulder to shoulder. It was close—almost too close—but neither of them moved away.
"I named my sword after a stupid message," she said suddenly.
Kaze blinked. "The ILove thing? Still don't get it."
She groaned. "You're hopeless."
He turned his head toward her. "Explain it then."
Lyra looked at him for a moment, then smiled sadly. "I named it that hoping you'd get the message. That maybe… you'd understand what I'm trying to say without me having to say it out loud."
Silence. Then—
"Oh," Kaze said quietly.
"Oh?"
He sat up on one elbow. Looked at her. "You mean like… you actually meant it?"
She nodded, nervous, eyes wide and vulnerable.
He looked down at her for a moment. Then leaned closer. Not fast. Not clumsy. Just… slowly. Like wind moving through tall grass.
Their foreheads touched.
"I think I've loved you for a while now," Kaze whispered. "I was just too dumb to realize it."
Lyra's eyes shimmered. "Took you long enough."
She closed the distance.
It wasn't rushed. It wasn't messy. Just quiet and warm—a kiss that felt like breathing for the first time after holding it in for too long.
When they finally pulled apart, Kaze smiled, resting his forehead against hers again.
"So… you staying here tonight?" he asked.
"I thought you'd never ask," she said, curling beside him.
Under the soft candlelight, they lay close. Not as warriors. Not as mages.
Just Kaze and Lyra.
End of Side Chapter – Just Us