They moved fast.
Faster than Zerrei should have been able to.
But adrenaline, instinct, fear, and the lingering warmth of Lyra's hand in his fueled him like nothing else.
He held her hand tightly, fingers wrapped around her own as if even the wind might snatch her away.
"…Lyra… don't let go…"
"I won't."
Arden jogged ahead with sword drawn, scanning every shadow.
Oren followed behind, muttering detection spells under his breath.
But the forest didn't behave like a normal forest anymore.
The branches were too still.
The air too cold.
The shadows too thick.
Zerrei flinched at every sound, glow sharp with tension.
"…they're close…"
Arden hissed, "How close?"
Zerrei's head snapped toward a cluster of trees.
"…there."
Arden lowered his stance.
Oren gripped his staff tighter.
Lyra held Zerrei's arm protectively.
"Stay behind us—"
But Zerrei stepped in front of her.
"…no.
Zerrei protect Lyra."
She touched his back softly.
"And I protect you."
He blinked—softly, confused, touched.
"…together?"
"Yes."
Before they could move another step—
A scout from the guild burst through the trees, panting and wide-eyed.
"LYRA! OREN! ARDEN! YOU NEED TO—"
He froze mid-sentence.
His eyes widened.
He paled to the color of bone.
Because he had just seen Zerrei.
Standing there in humanoid form—
cracked with glowing lines,
carved runes pulsing,
eyes bright with unnatural blue light.
The scout dropped his weapon.
"Is that—? Is that the vessel—?! The monster from the forest—?!"
Zerrei stiffened violently, stumbling back.
"…monster…?"
Lyra grabbed his hand instantly.
"No—don't listen to him—!"
But Zerrei's glow flickered.
"…monster…?"
Arden growled.
"Oh for—HE'S NOT A MONSTER!"
The scout shook his head, trembling.
"We—we heard screaming last night! The sky lit up—there was an explosion—everyone said it must have been the s-s-same thing that attacked Arnvale weeks ago—"
Zerrei trembled, stepping backwards again.
His hand slipped from Lyra's.
"No—Zerrei—!"
He stared at the scout in horror.
"…monster…?"
Lyra grabbed his face between both hands.
"Zerrei. Look at me."
He blinked rapidly, like trying not to cry.
"…Lyra…"
"You're not a monster. You're Zerrei."
The scout shook his head vigorously.
"That—THAT THING nearly tore apart Vessel Two in the woods—AND the forest cracked when it screamed—"
Arden snapped.
"That's because it was SAVING LYRA!"
Zerrei's glow pulsed uncontrollably.
He covered his ears like the words physically hurt him.
"…stop… please… stop…"
Lyra's heart shattered.
"Zerrei—look at me—don't listen to them—!"
"…Lyra… Zerrei not… monster…"
"You're not."
"…then… why… they say…?"
"Because they don't know you."
The scout backed away—and made the worst mistake possible.
He lifted his staff.
At Zerrei.
Zerrei froze.
His glow spiked with fear.
"…Lyra… protect…"
Arden roared, "PUT THAT DOWN!"
But it was too late.
The scout's fear triggered a knee-jerk reaction.
A blast of mana shot from the staff—straight at Zerrei.
Lyra screamed.
"NO—!!"
And something inside Zerrei snapped.
ZERRI'S FIRST POST-BLOOM ABILITY
A wave of pure golden resonance exploded outward.
Not from his core.
Not from his runes.
From his emotion.
From fear.
And protectiveness.
And love.
The blast didn't push outward like a shield.
It bent.
It shaped itself.
It formed a dome around Zerrei and Lyra—
a shimmering, translucent barrier of golden light.
The scout's attack hit the dome—
BLAANG—
The spell dissipated instantly.
Arden nearly fell backward.
Oren gasped.
"…A resonance barrier…?!
But that's a human technique—vessels can't—Zerrei shouldn't—"
Lyra cupped Zerrei's shaking hands.
"Zerrei! You shielded us—!"
He stared at his own hands.
Shocked.
Terrified.
"…Zerrei… made… light…?"
"Yes!"
"…to protect Lyra…?"
"Yes."
He blinked slowly.
His glow softened.
"…Zerrei… protect…"
Lyra smiled through tears.
"You did."
Arden whirled on the scout.
"AND YOU ALMOST GOT US KILLED!"
The scout fell to his knees, dropping his staff.
"I—I—I didn't know! I swear—I thought it was attacking—!"
Lyra snapped:
"He was terrified! You pointed your weapon first!"
Zerrei trembled behind her.
"…Lyra… they scared…"
"I know. And they're wrong."
The scout bowed repeatedly, shaking.
"I'm sorry—I'm sorry—please—don't let it—don't let him hurt me—"
Zerrei flinched at the word "it."
"…it…"
Lyra grabbed his face again, forcing him to look at her.
"You are not an "it."
You are Zerrei.
You are mine.
You are real."
His glow steadied.
Oren stepped forward, analytical fire in his eyes.
"Zerrei. That barrier you formed—it wasn't accidental. It responded to Lyra's fear."
Zerrei blinked.
"…Lyra… scared…?"
"Yes."
He reached out and pressed his forehead to her sternum.
"…don't… want Lyra scared…"
"That's why the light came."
Arden nodded.
"And why it protected both of you."
Zerrei looked down at his hands again—awed and confused.
"…Zerrei… stronger…?"
Lyra nodded.
"You're growing. Evolving.
Becoming something new."
His glow brightened submissively.
"…for Lyra…"
Arden groaned.
"Oh gods he's adorable—SO ADORABLE—and dangerous."
Oren muttered:
"Emotion-born abilities… fascinating…"
But Lyra cupped Zerrei's face gently.
"I'm proud of you."
Zerrei relaxed—eyes soft and warm.
"…Lyra…"
He took her hand.
Held it.
And didn't let go again.
BUT SOMETHING ELSE WAS WATCHING
From afar—
A figure crouched in the treetops.
Unmoving.
Silent.
Eyes glowing with deep crimson—
Watching the dome.
Analyzing Zerrei.
Studying Lyra.
The voice that whispered from its mouth wasn't human.
It wasn't even alive.
"…Resonance bloom confirmed…"
"…Target Zerrei awakened…"
"…Proceeding to Step Two…"
It tilted its head—
A perfect mirror of Zerrei's head movement.
Except empty.
Lifeless.
"…Awaiting Master's arrival."
The shadows swallowed it whole.