As Lyra's eyes slowly fluttered open, she found herself sitting on a bench. The air around her was gentle and crisp, and the scent of flowers drifted faintly in the wind. Warmth pressed against her back—an unfamiliar comfort.
She blinked, dazed. Her vision cleared… and there he was.
Noah.
Sitting beside her, back straight, sword sheathed and resting on his lap. His white hair flowed like silk, streaked with black from the shadows of recent battle. His gaze was fixed on her—calm, unwavering, and filled with concern.
"You're awake," he said, voice quiet but firm.
She sat up quickly, wincing. "Where…?"
"You passed out. Too much mana strain," he explained, not moving closer. "You're safe now."
She tried to push herself up further, but her body trembled.
"Don't," he said, reaching out. "Just rest."
"I don't need—" she began, instinctively brushing his hand away. But he didn't withdraw.
"You don't need help?" he repeated, not unkindly. "Or you just don't want to accept it?"
That struck a chord. She froze.
Lyra's POV:
I hate this. This feeling of weakness. I've trained so hard… I didn't come this far just to collapse in the middle of a fight.
No one helped me back then. Why now? Why him?
His hand was still there—steady, patient.
"I'm not here to look down on you," he said softly, as if reading her mind. "I'm here because I want to be. Because you don't have to keep freezing yourself just to stay strong."
Her breath hitched.
Why does he talk like that? Like he sees right through me.
Her eyes drifted to his hand. She wanted to reject him—to protect the last fragments of pride she had left—but something inside her cracked. Not from weakness… but from the quiet truth in his voice.
Slowly, hesitantly, she placed her hand in his.
His fingers curled gently around hers. They were warm—far too warm for someone who wielded the cold.
"I'll stand on my own again," she muttered, not meeting his gaze. "Just… not now."
A small smile tugged at his lips. "I know."
[System Notification!]
Lyra's affection has increased.
+40 affection points
**Current affection level: 65/100 — She's beginning to open up to you. **
" Ohhh , that's surprise me " I thought looking at screen.
Their fingers remained intertwined for a moment longer than necessary. Lyra's hand trembled faintly in his grasp, whether from exhaustion or something else, even she wasn't sure.
Noah rose to his feet and extended his other hand to her.
"Come on," he said. "We should head back before anyone panics."
She hesitated again. Letting him hold her hand was one thing. Letting him help her up, walk beside her, see her stumble? That was something else entirely.
Still… her legs felt like stone. She would fall if she tried to walk alone.
"Just this once," she murmured under her breath, gripping his hand tighter as she allowed him to pull her up.
He steadied her by the waist as she swayed, and her cheeks flushed ever so slightly at the closeness. She quickly looked away.
Noah didn't say anything about it. He just supported her silently, adjusting his pace to match hers, step by step, without making her feel lesser.
Lyra hated how comforting that was.
"...You didn't have to stay," she said after a long silence.
"I know," Noah replied.
She frowned. "Then why?"
"Because I wanted to."
She looked up at him, eyes searching. "Why do you care so much?"
Noah's gaze remained forward, but his tone softened.
"Because I've been there. Powerless. Pushed to your limit, forced to act strong because no one else will." He paused, then added, "And because… no one should have to be alone in moments like that."
His words dug deeper than she wanted them to. She turned her face away, biting the inside of her cheek.
"You're… annoyingly kind," she muttered.
"I've been told worse."
Despite herself, a faint breath of laughter escaped her lips.
They walked in silence again. But this time, it was not awkward. It was… peaceful.
A few minutes later, they reached the edge of the training field, where faint lights shimmered in the distance.
"Let go now," Lyra said suddenly, stopping.
Noah blinked. "You sure you can walk?"
"Yes. I can manage from here."
He didn't argue. He slowly released her hand, and as he did, her fingers lingered for just a heartbeat longer than they needed to. She noticed it. So did he. But neither said anything.
She took a few steps ahead on her own, back straight, proud as ever.
Then, she glanced over her shoulder. Her voice was low, almost shy.
"Noah."
He met her gaze.
"Thank you… for not treating me like I was broken."
His crimson eyes glowed slightly under the moonlight, and he gave a small nod.
"You're not broken, Lyra. You're just not used to being held."
Her breath caught in her throat. She turned quickly, hiding her expression.
No one's ever said that to me before…
And just before she disappeared into the shadows of the path, the system chimed again.
[System Notification!]
Lyra's affection has increased.
+100 affection points
Hidden Bond Path Unlocked:
"Fractured Frost, Gentle Flame"
Special Interactions Enabled with Lyra.
"Umm , Why do I a have bad feeling about this ."
- to be continued...