Chapter 12: Beneath the Moonlight
The night was still. The campfire burned low, its glow now only a faint circle of light in the darkness. Lira's quiet snoring carried across the camp, broken by the occasional rustle as she shifted under her cloak.
Arjun lay awake, staring at the canopy of trees overhead. His body was tired, but his mind wouldn't rest. Every time he closed his eyes, he thought of the Shadowfang's claws, of the system's cold words, and… of Seris's wrist beneath his fingers.
He rolled onto his side. The fire cast long shadows across Seris's face. She hadn't moved in a while, her eyes fixed on the flames as if lost in thought.
"Seris," he whispered.
Her head turned slightly. "You are not asleep?"
Arjun shook his head. "Can't. Too many thoughts."
A silence passed between them. Then Seris stood, her movements quiet and graceful. She turned her gaze toward the forest.
Arjun frowned. "Where are you going?"
"To walk," she said softly. "The night air helps clear the mind."
Before he realized what he was doing, Arjun pushed himself up. "I'll come with you."
Seris hesitated, then gave a small nod.
They moved away from the camp, their steps light, careful not to wake Lira. The forest greeted them with cool air, heavy with the smell of pine and earth. Moonlight streamed through gaps in the branches, painting the ground in silver patterns.
They walked in silence at first. Arjun's sword tapped lightly against his side, but otherwise the world felt too quiet, as if holding its breath.
Finally, he spoke. "It's… beautiful at night."
Seris's eyes lifted to the moon, round and bright above the trees. "Yes. This world is cruel, but it has its beauty."
Arjun glanced at her profile in the moonlight. The pale glow touched her skin, highlighting her high cheekbones, her long lashes, the faint curve of her lips. She looked less like a prisoner of chains and more like a figure carved from light itself.
He quickly looked away before she caught him staring. "You, uh… you don't sleep much, do you?"
Seris shook her head. "Sleep is… difficult. Dreams bring memories I would rather forget."
Arjun's chest tightened. He wanted to ask what those memories were, but something in her tone told him not to push. Instead, he said gently, "If you ever want to share them… I'll listen."
She glanced at him, her eyes unreadable. "Perhaps one day."
They came to a small clearing where the moonlight fell more strongly, turning the grass silver. Seris stopped, her gaze lifting to the stars. Her long hair shimmered faintly in the light, swaying with the breeze.
Arjun stood beside her, unsure what to say. His heart thudded too loudly in his chest, and the silence stretched, heavy with unspoken words.
Finally, Seris spoke, her voice quiet but clear. "Why do you look at me that way?"
Arjun froze. "Wh-what way?"
Her eyes turned to his, piercing and steady. "As if I am something fragile. As if you must protect me."
Heat rushed to Arjun's face. He scratched the back of his neck nervously. "I… I don't mean to. It's just… I can't help it. When I see you fighting, when I see those chains on your wrists… I don't just see strength. I see pain. And I want to…" He trailed off, unsure how to finish.
Seris tilted her head slightly, watching him. Then she stepped closer, so close he could see the faint glow of her eyes in the moonlight. "And you believe you can carry that pain for me?"
Arjun swallowed hard. "I don't know if I can. But I want to try."
The space between them shrank. Arjun could feel the warmth of her body now, faint but undeniable. His pulse quickened, his thoughts scattering.
Seris raised a hand slowly. Her fingers brushed his cheek, light as a feather. Arjun froze, the touch sending shivers down his skin. Her eyes searched his face, calm but curious, as if testing the truth of his words.
"Your heart is loud," she whispered.
Arjun let out a shaky laugh. "Yeah… it does that when I'm nervous."
Her lips curved ever so slightly, the faintest ghost of a smile. "You are strange, Arjun."
He looked into her eyes, the words slipping out before he could stop them. "Strange enough to care about you?"
Her expression flickered surprise, softness, then the mask returning. But she didn't step back. Instead, her hand lingered against his cheek for another breath before slowly falling away.
"Care is dangerous," she said softly. "It binds. It weakens. In this world, it can be used against you."
Arjun shook his head. "Maybe. But it also gives you a reason to fight. To live."
For a long moment, Seris said nothing. The wind stirred the grass around them, carrying the scent of wildflowers.
Then she stepped back, her gaze turning toward the trees. "We should return. The night is not safe."
Arjun's chest ached, but he nodded. "Right."
As they walked back to the camp, the silence between them was heavy, but not cold. Something had shifted, fragile but real, like a thread stretched taut between them.
When they reached the firelight again, Lira stirred in her sleep but did not wake. Seris settled back near the flames, her face calm as always.
Arjun lay down on the ground, staring at the stars through the canopy. His cheek still burned where her hand had touched him.
The system's voice whispered in his mind.
[Bond Growth Detected: Seris.]
[Bond Level Increased: 1 to 2.]
[New Bond Skill Unlocked: Shared Resolve.]
[Effect: When fighting beside Seris, fear is reduced by 30%.]
Arjun's eyes widened. "Shared… resolve?"
He turned his head toward Seris, who sat quietly, her chains faintly glowing. She hadn't said a word, but he knew she had felt the shift too.
His lips curled into a small smile.
Maybe, just maybe, they were no longer just allies surviving together.
They were becoming something more.