The sun peeked over the horizon as they stepped out of the dungeon's mouth.
Never doing that again.
And for the first time, Kaito saw Hallowrest in daylight.
It was... different.
Gone was the fog that had clung to its crooked rooftops and cracked towers. Now the city stretched across the Valleys. It was kind of..... beautiful, really.
hundreds of voices filled the air. Merchants shouting prices. Smiths hammering steel. Somewhere, a man played an instrument off key.
Kaito paused in the middle of the road, turning slowly. "It's bigger than I thought."
"Maybe too big," Lyria said behind him.
She scanned the crowd like a wolf. Her fingers twitched near her sword, and her jaw was tight. She hadn't stopped watching their surroundings since.....well forever.
"They're not staring, Lyria," Kaito said lightly, "they're just... people existing."
"They're watching us. It's not the same."
"She's not wrong," Seren added, stepping beside them. Her eyes glowed in the sunlight. "There's old magic here. Subtle. But old."
Kaito blinked. "So they city is... watching us?"
"No." Seren smirked. "Just something within it."
Well that wasn't comforting.
They found new lodging away from their old corner of the city, but still a run - down inn called The Hollow Lantern. They were still quite broke for luxury. The windows were cracked. The floor creaked. But the beds were soft atleast, and the water hot, the barkeep looked too tired to ask questions. That was good.
Kaito dropped his gear in the room and let out a sigh as they entered their room. "Ten out of ten. Would get stalked again."
Lyria kicked the door shut behind her. "We're not staying long."
"Again?"
"Then why even get the room?"
"Because you pass out if you don't sleep, idiot."
He grinned. "So protective. You sure you're not catching feelings?"
She didn't answer. But her ears turned pink.
"Just go clean yourself up, I think they have warm water atleast." She fired.
---
The Hollow Lantern's bathhouse wasn't fancy. The walls were cracked, but the waters were warm, thank god. The wooden stool by the door wobbled when you sat on it.
But after everything dungeons, fights, blood, golems. Kaito wasn't complaining.
Let's not also forget thirsty ghost Lyria.
He slid into the big tub with a quiet groan, muscles loosening bit by bit as steam curled around his face.
"For once," he muttered, "no monsters, no system warnings, and no.. "
The door opened behind him.
"....surprise visits," he finished.
Lyria stepped in like she owned the place, towel wrapped loosely around her. Her long silver hair were tied up, and steam moved along the lines of her neck.
Kaito froze.
"Don't stop on my account," she said casually, kicking the door shut behind her. "You've seen me naked before."
Of course he had, but this felt different.
"Yeah, but this....feels... different."
"Different how?"
She let the towel fall.
Kaito nearly drowned.
Lyria stepped into the water across from him, sitting down without flinching. "Relax. I'm not here to jump you."
"Well you're naked."
"So are you."
True ...
He gave her a look. "You're really bad at comfort zones."
She smirked and moved closer until her knees bumped his under the water.
"Tell me something," she said. "Do you think I'm pretty?"
Kaito blinked. "Uh. What?"
The question caught him off guard.
"Simple question. I hsve been together few times..... Might as well know if you enjoy the view."
Enjoyed the view? Only if she knew.**
"You're... stunning. Obviously."
"Good. Then don't act like I'm a trap about to explode every time I sit near you."
He swallowed. "You are a trap about to explode. Just a hot one."
She chuckled.
And then, slowly, she moved again, closer this time. Her thigh pressed against his under the water.
Kaito's heart thudded.
Her fingers drifted to his chest. "You're warm," she said. "Even when you're shaking."
"I'm not shaking."
"You're definitely shaking."
He was definitely shaking**
She leaned in, lips brushing his ear. "Do I scare you?"
Kaito exhaled slowly. "Maybe..... yes, ln a good way?"
"Good."
She kissed his neck. Light. Teasing. Then pulled back, watching his eyes.
"You're thinking too much," she whispered.
"I'm trying not to pass out."
"Let me help."
Her hand slid lower, slow and deliberate under the water. He tensed but didn't stop her.
And then—
The door creaked again.
"Figures," Seren's voice said dryly. "You two can't even bathe without starting foreplay."
Lyria was annoyed. "Can we have one moment without you walking in?"
"System spiked," she said, already stepping in. "It lit up like a mana flare. Maybe came to check?"
"Besides, I also need a bath after everything."
She wore a thin wrap that clung to her body. Her hair was damp, skin glowing under the light.
Lyria stiffened. "Get out."
Seren ignored her. "Kaito, how's the feedback now? Stable?"
"I really don't know," he said, voice tight.
Seren tilted her head, eyes narrowing as she scanned him. "His aura's flickering. It's syncing again."
She moved forward, kneeling behind him in the tub. One hand touched his shoulder. Light. Cold.
And that was when it happened.
The interface in Kaito's mind snapped with light.
[FRAGMENT INTERLACE: COMBAT + MAGIC DETECTED]
[MEMORY FEEDBACK INCOMING...]
The bathhouse vanished.
FLASHBACK...
Fire. Smoke. Screaming.
Kaito—no, Aureos—stood in the center of a battlefield, armor cracked, blood running down his arms.
Lyria stood before him. Ragged, wild, her blade dripping divine fire.
"Hold the gate!" she shouted.
To his right. Seren. Her hand glowing with a golden glyph. Her voice was tense.
"I can still rewrite the spell. But if I do… you'll disappear."
A voice, his own, echoed from deep inside.
"They already betrayed me."
And then— it was gone.
Darkness.
Back in the Bathhouse...
Kaito jerked upright, nearly knocking both girls into the water.
Lyria grabbed his arm. "Kaito?"
He blinked. "What... the hell was that?"
"You tell me," Seren said. "The system spiked again."
He leaned against the side of the tub, heart racing. "I saw something. A war. You. Both of you were there. And I had another name."
Lyria stared at him. "What name?"
"Aureos."
She went still.
For once, even Seren had nothing smart to say.
Later That Night
Kaito lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Lyria sat beside him, legs crossed, quietly sharpening her dagger.
Seren sat by the window, pretending not to watch.
Kaito rubbed his chest. "It's not just the system anymore. It's like... memories. Stuff from before this life maybe?"
Lyria glanced over. "Whatever you or they system were then... you're still you now."
"And if I'm something dangerous?"
She sheathed her dagger. "Then I'll kill anyone who tries to use it against you."
He smiled faintly. "Even if that's you?"
Her eyes locked on his. "Especially if it's me."
Seren scoffed. "Dramatic idiots."
But she didn't leave the room.
And when Kaito finally fell asleep, he did so with one hand held in Lyria's… and Seren's quiet magic warding the door.