After sex, I snuggle against Eris in the cozy bed, our bodies pressed intimately together, skin to skin. The warmth of her embrace soothes , her steady breath brushing against my hair as I rest my head on her chest.
The rhythmic thump of her heartbeat fills my ears, a comforting lullaby, while the soft glow of a scented candle flickers gently, casting dreamy shadows across the quiet room. For a mont, everything feels perfect—like nothing outside this little world of ours matters.
But even as I bask in her presence, I can sense it.
A weight clings to Eris, sothing unspoken, sothing that lingers despite the peace we've created here.
It has to be about Zehrak.
Taking a deep breath, I finally break the silence. "Were you… a Pillar of Shadowfang?"
Eris chuckles softly, her chest vibrating beneath my cheek. "Look at you," she muses. "Since when did you beco such a detective?"
"I-I just had a hunch!" I blurt out, pouting slightly.
"A hunch, huh?" she hums, amused.
Well, it wasn't that hard to figure out.
The way her entire deanor shifted when Korum and Darron ntioned Shadowfang—the anger, the sorrow, the unmistakable grief—it was all too telling. And her unusually deep knowledge of the guild? That only reinforced my suspicion.
What I don't know, though, is how deep her connection really runs.
To my surprise, Eris doesn't deflect. Instead, she exhales softly, her fingers idly tracing circles on my back as she finally speaks.
"My father was one of the top Pillars," she murmurs, her voice carrying the weight of old mories. "And after his disappearance… I trained relentlessly. I fought in dungeons, honed my skills, climbed the ranks. Eventually, I beca a Pillar too."
"Then why—"
"But I left a few years ago," she adds, cutting off my words.
Oh.
That explains why Korum and Darron didn't recognize her. If she left a long ti ago, it makes sense that they wouldn't rember her face.
"But why?" I ask curiously, tilting my head slightly to see her expression. "Why did you leave?"
Eris sighs, shifting slightly. "Being in Shadowfang was nice… but it also ca with a mountain of responsibilities. And," she smirks, "a lot of boring paperwork."
I let out a small giggle despite myself.
She pauses then, her smirk fading, replaced by sothing more serious. "But the real reason is… I needed to focus on finding my father."
"Ah, right…" I nod slowly, absorbing her words.
Of course—her father. It's always been about finding him. That's what drives her more than anything else.
But now that I have one answer, another, far more terrifying question creeps into my mind.
I hesitate.
I almost don't want to ask, because I'm afraid of what she'll say.
But the words slip out anyway.
"Eris…" I pause, swallowing hard. "Are you going back to Zehrak?"
The mont the question leaves my lips, I feel it—her arms tightening around , her hold becoming more secure, almost possessive.
She doesn't answer right away.
And the longer the silence stretches, the more my fear grows.
If she was a Pillar of Shadowfang, then after hearing about its downfall, there's no way she can simply sit still. A part of her must be screaming to return—to investigate the ruins, to uncover the truth, to avenge her fallen comrades.
I understand that.
But understanding doesn't make it any less terrifying.
Because Zehrak isn't the sa anymore. The Black Scorpion Guild reigns there now, ruthless and bloodstained, their strength undeniable.
Eris may be powerful. But even she can't take on a hundred A-rankers alone.
The image invades my mind before I can stop it—Eris, standing against an overwhelming force, her blade drawn, determination burning in her eyes. Outnumbered. Surrounded.
Bleeding.
My chest tightens painfully, a lump forming in my throat.
I can't lose her.
If she's thinking about going, then…
I have to stop her.
However…
"Actually, I won't," Eris answers, her words cutting through my spiraling thoughts.
"Eh? You won't?" I gasp, pushing myself up to search her eyes for truth, suspended between disbelief and relief.
Eris ets my anxious gaze with unexpected tenderness, a gentle smile playing at the corners of her lips. The moonlight catches in her eyes.
"What? You want to go?" she asks softly.
"NO!!!"
The word bursts from , raw and unfiltered, before I even think.
I throw my arms around her, clinging desperately as though she might slip through my fingers. My body presses against hers, seeking warmth, seeking proof—that she's here, that she's staying, that I'm not about to lose her. Her skin against mine is an anchor, grounding in reality. My fingers dig into her back, morizing the shape of her, as if holding her tighter will keep her safe. Keep her mine.
Eris exhales softly, her lips brushing my hair. "Relax," she murmurs, voice low and reassuring. "I'm not that reckless, you know? I understand my limits—what I can and can't do."
She shifts slightly, her arms winding securely around . "I won't be charging blindly toward death."
And just like that, the storm inside quiets.
"But still…" Her voice fractures suddenly. She pauses, and I feel the subtle tremor in her chest. A small, broken sound escapes her throat—a hitch of grief held carefully in check, like she's physically swallowing back tears that threaten to drown her. "Many guild mbers were people I knew intimately… friends who walked beside , trained with , laughed with … And now… to think they're all just… gone…"
Her pain radiates through , a shared wound.
"Eris…" I whisper her na, my heart aching as though pierced by an invisible blade.
"Either way," Eris continues, "I still have more important matters to attend to."
"More… important matters?"
"Yes."
"Your father?"
"Actually, there are more than that."
I lean forward, expectant, certain she'll elaborate.
But silence falls between us like a heavy curtain. Nothing more follows.
The desire to probe deeper burns within . Yet sothing holds back—a respect for boundaries, perhaps.
After all, everyone carries secrets close to their chest. If Eris truly wanted to share, wouldn't she do so freely, without my pressing?
Without her answer, my mind then races with possibilities.
Could it be sothing related to the Black Scorpion?
About how they suddenly get stronger to the point of completely wiping out other competitor Guilds?
From what I rember from the conversation earlier, Eris seed to know sothing, so secret.
And with that, a cold uneasiness spreads through my chest like frost across glass.
I hate this feeling, I hate it…
This helplessness.
Unable to do anything.
Unable to share her burden.
And yet, as much as it stings, a part of understands. Maybe she's not telling because she's trying to protect .
Right…
Knowing too much could put in danger.
I sigh, forcing down my frustration.
"Well, whatever you do," I murmur, tightening my hold on her, "just don't forget your promise, okay?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)