Chapter 112: Two Weeks Break [XII]
The waves crashed again, as if the world itself held its breath for his answer.
Gray’s throat felt dry.
Lyra’s hands were still clutching his coat, trembling like a fragile bird that refused to let go of the storm.
He could hear her heartbeat.
And yet... he still couldn’t say it.
Gray’s fingers twitched once, then lifted slowly, brushing away the tear rolling down her cheek.
Lyra froze slighly as her breath hitched, her golden eyes widening slightly as his cold fingertips touched her skin.
"...You’re cruel," she whispered.
"Yeah. I know."
For a brief moment, the two of them just stood there. motionless beneath the silver moonlight, the air thick with everything unsaid.
Then, almost against his own will, Gray lowered his forehead against hers.
Lyra’s eyes fluttered shut, her tears still falling.
He could feel her breath mix with his own.
"Gray..." she whispered softly.
"Don’t say anything," he murmured back.
"Just... stay like this for a second."
Her lips quivered, but she didn’t move.
She just nodded faintly, pressing closer.
He could smell the faint sweetness of her hair, the salt of her tears, the warmth of her body pressed against his.
And then, he lifted his hand and brushed a thumb across her cheek, wiping away the last tear that had dared to fall.
"Lyra," he whispered, his voice barely audible against the wind.
Her lips parted.
"Gray..."
And then he kissed her.
"Mhm...♡"
Her hands trembled before clutching the fabric of his coat, pulling him closer.
The world around them, the waves, the wind, the moonlight, all blurred into white noise as their lips met again and again, deeper each time.
Gray’s fingers slid to the back of her neck, tilting her head gently as he breathed her in, the scent of salt and warmth and faint sweetness.
When they finally broke apart, Lyra’s breath came out in shaky bursts, her cheeks flushed, her eyes dazed and glowing.
"Gray..." she whispered, her voice soft and fragile, like a prayer.
He just looked at her, a faint, rare smile curving on his lips.
Lyra smiled too, biting her lower lip shyly as she looked away.
"It’s... It’s getting late," she murmured, her tone light but hesitant. "We should go back to the inn before people start wondering where we are."
Gray stayed quiet for a moment before finally nodding.
"...Yeah."
She turned to leave, taking one step before pausing and looking back at him.
"You’re not coming?"
He chuckled softly at her words.
"Go on ahead," he said, eyes soft as he met hers.
"I’ll follow in a minute."
"You promise?" Lyra frowned a little, worry flickering in her golden eyes.
Gray laughed quietly and stepped closer again, cupping her face with one hand.Her skin felt warm under his touch.
"I’ll go back," he said softly, brushing his thumb along her cheek.
"Don’t worry."
And then, before she could reply, he leaned in and kissed her one last time, slower, deeper, and with a quiet tenderness that made her knees weak.
When he pulled away, Lyra could barely breathe.
"Go," he whispered, his voice low and calm.
"Before I change my mind."
"Okay..." Lyra gave him a small, flustered smile, her face red, her lips trembling slightly, and nodded.
She turned around and began to walk back toward the path, glancing over her shoulder one last time.
Gray stood there beneath the moonlight, his hands in his pockets, watching her until she disappeared behind the rocks.
The moment her figure vanished from sight, the faint smile on his face faded.
The night wind grew colder.
The waves sounded heavier.
[Heh... looks like someone finally got himself a REAL girlfriend~]
Jasmine’s teasing voice echoed softly in his mind, playfully drawn out.
[Honestly, I didn’t think I’d see the day. The scary, heartless Gray actually getting confessed to under the moonlight? That’s... romantic, in a very tragic way.]
She giggled faintly, clearly amused.
But Gray didn’t answer.
He didn’t even blink.
[Hmm? What’s with that look?]
Jasmine asked curiously.
[Shouldn’t you be happy? You just got confessed to by a girl who clearly adores you. You should...]
Gray’s lips moved slowly.
"I was tricked..."
Jasmine stopped speaking.
His eyes were empty now, completely void of emotion.
Like the sea after a storm.
"...again."
CRACK!
The air trembled.
The pressure around him shifted violently, as though something inside him had snapped.
The waves surged higher, crashing violently against the rocks as raw mana flared around his body, unstable and suffocating.
The cigarette ash scattered into the night wind.
[Gray—!
]Jasmine’s tone immediately turned serious.
But before she could finish, his knees buckled. He crashed down into the sand, clutching his chest. His face twisted, not from physical pain, but from something much deeper.
"...I really thought she..."
His voice trembled, fading between breaths.
"I thought she... might’ve been different."
Jasmine went quiet.
[Gray, what do you mean?]
He didn’t answer.
His vision blurred as he stared at the sea, the same sea where Lyra’s words still echoed inside his mind.
I just wanted to see if you’d stop me.
If those looks were real...
Gray laughed bitterly.
"I was tested," he muttered under his breath. "She wanted proof that I cared. She played me... even if she didn’t mean to."
He looked at his trembling hands, the same ones that had just touched her tears moments ago.
"...It’s always the same."
[Gray...]
He shut his eyes.
"Jasmine... don’t talk."
The waves roared again as his mana flared stronger, the sand beneath him scattering like dust in a storm.
And as the moonlight reflected off his dark eyes, a faint crack appeared in the air beside him, the thin fracture of energy that signaled his unstable heart spreading into his core.
"...I shouldn’t have let her get that close."
BAAAM!
Another breakthrough.
"Late Advanced Realm..."
He looked at these unfamiliar hands. The stronger he got, the more Gray’s memories surfaced in his mind like a loop.
"One more minor stage and we can finally fuse..." Gray looked at the sky and, surprisingly, saw a small falling star.
"This..." His voice trailed off.
"Hopefully, when we fuse... I hope that I can forget this annoying feeling of love."
He turned away and walked back to the inn.
It took him about fifteen minutes to reach the door to their shared inn room.
The faint orange glow from the hallway lamps followed him as he turned the handle and stepped inside.
"...I’m back."
The quiet words left his lips just as his eyes caught sight of her.
Lyra was standing by the bed, wearing only her underwear. Her long silver hair fell messily over her shoulders, and she gasped softly when she saw him.
"G-Gray... you’re back," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her cheeks turned pink, and she tried to cover herself with her arms, even though it didn’t help much.
Gray blinked, surprised, but didn’t look away.
"...Yeah. I’m back."
The simple answer made her breathe out in relief.
For a second, neither of them said anything. The only sound was the faint crackle of the oil lamp beside the bed.
"S-so... should we go to sleep now?" she asked awkwardly, looking down.
Gray gave a small nod and sat on the edge of the bed.
He pulled the blanket over himself and leaned back, clearly tired. Lyra just stood there, unsure of what to do, her hands fidgeting nervously.
He noticed this, causing his lips to curve slightly, a teasing glint in his tired eyes.
"What’s wrong? Did you think I was going to make you sleep with me tonight?" he asked lightly.
Lyra’s face went red in an instant. "W-what?! N-no! I just didn’t know where I was supposed to—"
"You’re too easy to tease." Gray let out a quiet chuckle.
"I-I’m not!" she said, pouting a little, which only made him laugh more.
He moved over a bit and patted the space beside him.
"Come here. You can sleep next to me. I won’t bite."
She hesitated, staring at him for a moment, before slowly walking closer. The bed creaked softly as she climbed in, keeping her distance at first.
Gray shifted slightly, pulling part of the blanket over her, too.
Then, without saying anything, he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her gently closer. She tensed at first but didn’t resist.
"Relax," he said quietly.
"You’re shaking."
Her voice was small.
"I-it’s just cold..."
"Mm. Sure," he murmured with a small smile.
Lyra hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding fast.
She could feel the warmth of his chest against her back, the slow rhythm of his breathing. Then, slowly, she turned around to face him.
Gray looked down at her, a little confused.
"What is it?"
Her eyes met his, soft but nervous.
"You just... look tired," she whispered.
"And I don’t like it."
Before he could reply, she leaned forward and pressed her lips gently to his cheek. It was quick, warm, and a little clumsy, but it made him blink in surprise.
"W-what was that for?" he asked, voice low.
Lyra’s face turned red immediately.
"Nothing... I just wanted to."
"You’re hopeless," Gray chuckled quietly, shaking his head.
"Maybe," she said softly, hiding her face against his chest.
He smiled faintly, resting his chin on her hair.
"Close your eyes. You need rest."
Lyra nodded and did as he said.
Her breathing slowed, and soon she was drifting off, her head resting comfortably against him, his arm still holding her close, as if he didn’t really want to let go.
However...
Gray was restless.
’...If I kill her...’
His eyes glinted dangerously.
’Would this emotion go away?’