Pov: Kaelira
The stranger took off his helmet.
Silence followed. My wings fluttered softly behind me as I stood frozen, practically vibrating with the need to have my questions answered. I opened my mouth—
But Damian beat me to it.
"You better answer her before she bursts your eardrums with all the other questions she has," he muttered dryly. He still stood close, protective, but his fur had settled. Slightly.
The stranger blinked. "Auren," he said. His voice was low, hesitant. His eyebrows pulled together, like even his own name didn't quite make sense here.
"Auren," I echoed, testing the name on my tongue. It felt soft. Noble. I took a deep breath—
"Oh shit—"
I couldn't hold it anymore. Damian knew it too.
"That's such a nice name! Are you a celestial? Why did you fall? Do you eat flowers? Why do your eyes glow like that—D says my eyes glow sometimes too. Can you transport from anywhere? Are—"
Damian let out a long-suffering sigh. "You're freaking him out, featherbrain."
I glanced at Auren, who looked visibly overwhelmed. Stunned, even. His features were more refined than anything I'd ever seen. Almost too perfect. Like a statue carved from starlight and war.
There was something ancient about him. His presence buzzed against my skin.
I wanted to touch his hair. Or maybe ask if it shimmered naturally.
Was this what D meant by pretty boys causing trouble?
Auren raised a hand, voice calm but firm. "One question for one answer. Fair?"
I paused, then beamed. "Okay!"
"Me first or I might burst—are you a celestial?"
"…Yes, I am," he replied.
"Yes!" I spun to Damian, bouncing on my toes.
Excitement bloomed in my chest like fireworks. Finally—someone who knew something. Someone who maybe, just maybe, had answers. Or maps. Or keys. Or anything that led somewhere else.
"Calm down, Kae," Damian said through our link. "Let's wait. We don't know if he's good or not. Or why he's here. Before we ask for help, we need to figure him out."
"Okay," I replied, slightly deflated but understanding.
When I looked up again, Auren was watching us. His sword had vanished. So had his helmet, which he'd just been holding.
Huh.
Could he just summon and unsummon things like that? Swords, helmets—maybe snacks?
"My turn," he said, gaze steady. "What are you?" He nodded at Damian.
"I didn't agree to your deal," Damian said flatly. "I don't have to answer."
"Okay then, Kaelira," Auren said, turning back to me. "What is he?"
"Don't you dare, Ka—"
I ignored him.
Auren didn't pull away when I grabbed his hand, though he stiffened.
I yanked him to the ground and plopped down cross-legged beside him.
"How—"
"His name is Damian," I said, "he's my only family and best friend. He's a demon wolf. He can shift into smoke and shadow and claw things in half. He growls a lot, but that's just how he talks when he's annoyed. Which is most of the time."
Auren stared at his hand, still in mine. "You're quite strong, young one."
Oops.
I let go quickly. "Sorry. Sometimes when I get excited, I can be a bit rough."
"A bit?" Damian snorted and dropped beside us. I immediately got comfortable, draping half of myself across him.
Auren's eyes followed every movement. Observant. Calculating.
"A demon wolf," he breathed. "And you live here with a creature that isn't your own. But that raises another question." He looked at me again. "What are you?"
"Wait!" I sat up. "It's my turn."
He nodded. "Go ahead."
"Why did you come here—was it an accident or on purpose?"
"It wasn't an accident. I was sent." His jaw tightened. "A portal opened—using a power we haven't seen in a very long time."
His voice dropped slightly. Sharpened. Like a soldier spotting a blade in the grass.
Hmm. Didn't I open a portal the other day?
Auren looked between us. "Do you know anything about that?"
"Is that your question?" I asked brightly. "Because if it is, then yes. I do."
Auren seemed to weigh that. Damian turned back to me.
"With that said," he said, eyes gleaming, "Kae, go ahead."
I sucked in a breath and let loose.
"What do you mean by knight?
What's a rank and is it important?
What kind of information do you need? I don't know a lot unless it's about the portal. What would you like to know?
What's an oath? 'Cause it sounds cool.
Oh! Can you pull swords and helmets out of thin air? How many? Is it endless?
Do your eyes glow when you use your powers?
How heavy is all that armour? Doesn't it get sweaty inside?
Do you sing? Humans sing, right? I think I'd like music.
What's the weirdest creature you've fought?
Have you ever met another demon wolf?"
Auren blinked. "You are a very curious creature, young one."
"Yup. I've lived here for as long as I can remember. D's the only one I know."
Then my stomach growled.
"I'm hungry. You, D?"
"Starving," he replied.
I turned to Auren. "How about you, Ren? I'll even show you our special spot. But only if you agree to answer all my questions."
Auren blinked again—then exhaled through his nose, the faintest sound of amusement. "…Sure."
He stood, shaking his head slightly like he still wasn't sure if this was a dream or a fever.
I grinned. "Great! Let's go. I hope you like glowing fruit."
We walked through blooming trees, barefoot on soft moss. The air was warm and thick with the scent of flowering vines. Birds chirped above us, their songs weaving with the gentle rustle of leaves. Damian stayed beside me while Auren trailed behind, scanning everything like it might vanish if he blinked.
"You'll like it," I called over my shoulder. "It's my favourite place. We call it the Mirror Lake."
The trees opened to reveal a shimmering lake reflecting the sky perfectly. Petals floated lazily across the surface, and the pink clouds above rippled with each breeze. Sunlight painted everything gold.
"Pretty, right?" I grinned. "You two get comfy—I'll grab us some fruit."
Damian arched a brow but didn't object. I darted toward the berry trees, humming under my breath.
It only took a few minutes to gather a small armful—bright golden fruits shaped like teardrops, sweet and fizzy on the tongue. I also grabbed a few lizardberries—small, spiny, and guaranteed to turn your lips purple.
Damian hated them.
I brought extra.
When I returned, I paused at the edge of the trees.
Damian had shifted.
He was in his humanoid form now, sprawled near the water with his hands behind his head, shirtless, smirking like a Wil-o-cub in the sun. Auren sat beside him, less tense, though still composed. But his eyes—
They were locked on Damian.
I stepped out and raised an eyebrow.
Auren didn't look away.
"You know," Damian said, lips twitching, "it's rude to stare, celestial."
"I wasn't—" Auren cleared his throat. "You're not what I expected."
"That's a nicer version of 'I didn't think demon wolves came in hot,'" Damian replied, grinning wickedly.
I dropped the fruit beside them laughing.
Auren pointed to the pile. "What… is that?"
"Oh!" I plopped down between them. "These are sunsap fruits. They taste like honey and lemon with a little sparkle—don't eat the seeds unless you want hiccups for hours. And those," I pointed to the spiny ones, "are lizardberries. They stain your mouth purple. D hates them."
"I do not—" He bit into one and made a face. "Okay. I do."
I tossed one into my mouth and smirked at him with purple lips.
After a moment, Auren began unclasping his armor.
I watched, fascinated, as layers of silver and white peeled away. He moved with practiced ease, revealing a fitted shirt beneath, damp with heat. He set each piece aside with care, like it mattered.
"Much better," he muttered.
"You looked like a walking statue," I said, already scooting closer. "Do you always wear that much metal? Does it make you stronger? Can you fly with it on? Do you have a favorite piece? Why does it glow sometimes? Do you name your weapons?"
Damian groaned. "Kae, pace yourself."
I leaned against him and ignored the warning. "Do celestials sleep? Have you met any gods? What's the weirdest mission you've ever done? Have you ever seen a planet explode?"
Auren actually smiled—just barely—but it made my chest warm.
"You're relentless," he said.
"Mhmm," I hummed, popping another fruit in my mouth. "But I learn fast."
Soon the warmth of the fruit, the sun, and the lull of the lake made my eyes heavy. I yawned, stretched across Damian's lap, and blinked up at the sky.
"I like your voice," I mumbled.
Auren blinked. "Thank you."
Damian ran his fingers through my hair absently, and I curled up beside him my eyelids getting heavy.
Auren was quiet for a while. When I peeked again, he was watching us—not like a threat—but like someone trying to solve a puzzle.
"You shouldn't stare at D," I whispered, barely awake. "His head will swell." I said yawning.
Damian chuckled, low and smug. Auren glanced away, clearing his throat.
I let sleep pull me under.
The scent of sunsap and starlight all around me.