The world was muffled, distant.
Kael drifted somewhere between sleep and waking, warmth and ache, silence and static. When his eyes finally opened, it was to the familiar white ceiling of Elandor's central infirmary. Soft sunlight filtered through the open window, painting warm lines across the sheets.
His body felt… hollow. Not weak, exactly — but drained. Like the very core of him had been wrung dry and left to mend itself.
The door creaked open.
Leiya's voice whispered, "Kael…?"
He turned his head slightly. She stood at the threshold, a cautious smile on her face, fingers intertwined in front of her. She looked relieved, exhausted, and radiant all at once.
"You're awake," she breathed out, rushing to his side. "You scared the hell out of us."
Kael tried to speak, but only a rasp escaped.
"Shh. It's okay," she said, gently brushing his hair back. "You've been out for two days. I've been checking on you every hour."
Kael managed a faint smile. "...How bad was it?"
Leiya laughed, then quickly wiped her eyes. "You mean the burnout or the aftermath? Because both were insane."
He chuckled softly, wincing. "Figures."
"You really did it, Kael." Her voice quieted. "You killed an Eclipse-tier Varnok."
He looked away, uncomfortable. "I didn't mean to be a hero."
"You weren't trying to be. That's why it matters," she said gently. "People are calling you 'The Tempest Flame.' Your name's all over Elandor."
Kael closed his eyes, exhaling. "That's… a lot."
A pause.
Then Leiya sat beside him on the edge of the bed, her hand finding his.
"You don't have to carry it alone," she said quietly. "None of it."
Her touch was light, but grounding. Kael opened his eyes, meeting hers. "Leiya… I've been thinking. About everything. You, me… this life we live."
She tilted her head, expression soft. "Yeah?"
"I don't know how long any of us have," he murmured. "But I know I don't want to waste whatever time I've got left. Not if it means pushing you away again."
Leiya blinked, then smiled. "So what are you saying, Flamebrain?"
Kael let out a breath, then reached up with his good hand and touched her cheek. "I'm saying I love you. I don't want to hold back anymore. If I'm fighting for anything in this world… it's you."
Leiya's eyes shimmered. "Good. Because I've been in love with you since the day you called me 'ice princess' and nearly fell off a cliff."
He laughed, hoarse and real. Then, without hesitation, she leaned down — and kissed him.
It wasn't wild or fiery. It was warm, slow, and full of everything they hadn't said until now.
When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together.
"No regrets," she whispered.
"No regrets," he echoed.
The moment stretched, quiet and perfect.
For now, there were no monsters. No rankings. No pressure.
Just Kael Fael and Leiya — two adventurers choosing to live for something beyond survival.
For each other.