The next few days in the Heavenly Blade Sect felt strangely calm on the surface, yet Zeref could sense that everything inside him had begun to shift. Ever since he entrusted his secret to Ren and Yuxin, something fragile but reassuring had settled in his heart. He no longer carried the weight alone. And now, whenever he trained, it wasn't just his own silent determination driving him forward—it was their presence, their laughter, their hands pulling him up each time he stumbled.
Miss Lin's teachings grew more intense by the day. The Celestial Breathing patterns she crafted specifically for him had begun to harmonize with the Aether inside him in ways even she struggled to understand. Every morning, she would stand with her hands behind her back, her long silver-black hair tied in a simple ribbon, speaking calmly while Zeref followed her movements with unwavering focus.
"Your energy flows too quickly," she said one morning, watching him exhale. "It responds before you command it."
Zeref forced the breath out slowly, sweat dripping down his neck. "It feels like… it wants to leap out. Like it's ahead of me."
"It is," she replied softly, stepping behind him. "Aether is not something you control. It's something you harmonize with. Let it lead just once."
Her fingers touched his back, light as feather-snow, and yet the moment they connected, Zeref's entire body stiffened. A warmth spread from her fingertips across his spine, and for a second, his breathing faltered—not because of the Aether—but because of her.
Miss Lin pulled her hand back quickly, clearing her throat. "Focus, Zeref."
He nodded, but the lingering warmth left a quiet ache beneath his ribs.
Ren and Yuxin stood nearby, pretending not to notice Zeref's subtle flustered expression. Ren whispered, "Bro… is it just me or did your ears just turn red?"
Yuxin elbowed him. "Shh! Don't tease him in front of Miss Lin!"
Zeref glared at them, and Ren grinned widely. It felt good—this normalcy, this banter—even in the middle of something as dangerous as his training.
Miss Lin resumed the session, demonstrating a new stance. Zeref copied her, but mid-movement, the Aether in him flared too strongly, throwing his balance off. Before he could fall, Miss Lin caught his arm. Their faces were close—too close. Her eyes, warm and steady, reflected a hint of something she wasn't ready to acknowledge.
"You're pushing yourself too hard," she murmured. "You're not alone in this."
Zeref swallowed. "I know."
He didn't pull away immediately, and she didn't let go either. The moment stretched long enough for a faint blush to creep over her fair cheeks. She released his arm abruptly and stepped back.
Ren mouthed dramatically to Yuxin, They're doomed.
Yuxin nodded, eyes bright with suppressed excitement.
Training continued until the sun dipped low, painting the sky in amber streaks. Miss Lin dismissed the three, reminding Zeref to meditate before bed. But instead of dispersing, the trio wandered toward the bamboo grove near the east hall. The wind whispered through the tall green stalks, and Yuxin lay on the grass, arms spread wide.
"I swear, Miss Lin is a genius," she groaned. "I felt tired just watching you train."
Ren laughed. "Yeah, but our Zeref's a monster. Bro didn't even take a break."
Zeref exhaled, settling beside them. "If I don't get stronger now, things might get worse later."
The words slipped out unintentionally, and both of them turned toward him.
"You're scared," Yuxin said, not accusing, simply stating.
Zeref stared at the sky. "A little. I don't want to lose control. I don't want to… hurt anyone."
Ren sat up. "Then we'll make sure you don't. If your power goes crazy, I'll punch you back to normal."
Yuxin nodded seriously. "And I'll drag you back if you disappear into some Aether weirdness."
Zeref laughed—softly, genuinely. "Thanks."
When they returned to their dorms, Zeref found Miss Lin waiting near the courtyard lanterns. She didn't speak at first—only watched the small flame flicker inside the lantern glass. Zeref paused beside her.
"You waited?" he asked.
"I had something to give you," she replied, handing him a small jade piece. "It's a stabilizing charm. It will help you steady your spiritual energy during meditation."
Zeref took it carefully. "Thank you."
Miss Lin's gaze softened. "Zeref… I know this path is overwhelming. And I know how much you've endured even without Aetherion's burden."
He looked away. "I'm used to enduring."
"I don't want you to be," she whispered.
Silence wrapped around them like a thin veil. The lantern's soft glow illuminated the edges of her face, highlighting the gentleness she tried so hard to hide. Zeref had no idea how long they stood like that—two figures in the quiet night, the distance between them thinning with each breath.
"Goodnight, Zeref," she finally said, stepping back.
"Goodnight, Master."
Yet even as she walked away, neither of them missed the faint hesitation in each other's voice.
The next day, Miss Lin introduced a new routine: synchronized cultivation. Zeref sat opposite her, knees folded, palms facing upward. She placed her hands near his, not touching, but close enough that their energies grazed each other like trembling threads of starlight.
"Breathe in," she whispered.
He did.
"And listen."
At first, all he heard was the wind and his own heartbeat. But then something else drifted in—faint vibrations, like tiny bells ringing far away.
Zeref's eyes snapped open. Miss Lin's eyes widened too.
"You heard them," she breathed. "Already?"
"The whispers…" Zeref muttered. "They're clearer today."
Miss Lin leaned forward unconsciously, voice tight with both awe and concern. "Zeref, this speed… how are you adapting so fast? Your compatibility is surpassing what the Codex described."
"I'm not doing anything special," he answered. "It's like the Aether moves on its own."
"That's what worries me."
She placed her palm on the ground, gathering a small orb of pure spirit light. "Show me your flow."
Zeref exhaled, releasing Aether through his meridians. The moment the energy spread, Miss Lin felt the ground hum beneath them. She looked at him with a startled expression.
It's growing again. Faster than before.
He controlled it better now, but she could see the strain in his eyes. Without thinking, she reached out and grabbed his hand, grounding his energy with her own. Their energies merged for a moment—two streaks of light crossing paths.
Zeref inhaled sharply, the stabilizing force easing the wild surge inside him.
Miss Lin's heartbeat quickened at the contact. She pulled her hand back slowly, trying to hide her reaction. "Good," she said softly, though her voice wavered just a little. "You did well."
Zeref looked at his hand, where her warmth still lingered. "You always help me," he murmured.
Her eyes lifted to his, her expression softer than the dawn. "And I will continue to."
The days passed like this—quiet moments woven between training, laughter with Ren and Yuxin, and the subtle yet undeniable bond pulling Zeref and Miss Lin closer each day.
Sometimes, Zeref would catch her watching him during breaks, her gaze gentle but unreadable. Other times, he found himself turning to look at her first whenever something surprising happened, as if instinctually seeking her reaction.
Ren hated how obvious it was.
Whenever Miss Lin walked by, he nudged Yuxin. "Look at them. They're glowing."
Yuxin whispered back, "No, the Aether is glowing. They're just… blushing."
But even they knew something was changing—quietly, tenderly—between their teacher and friend.
One evening, after an especially difficult session that left Zeref dizzy, Miss Lin walked him back toward the dorms, insisting he needed rest.
"Zeref," she said softly, "promise me something."
"What is it?"
"Don't push yourself to the point of breaking." Her eyes shone with a mixture of fear and something deeper. "Your power is extraordinary. But you… you're just one person. Don't carry everything alone."
Zeref stopped walking. For a moment, neither spoke. Then he lifted his head, meeting her gaze fully.
"I'm not alone," he said. "Not anymore."
The lantern lights reflected in her eyes, turning them into shimmering constellations.
Something fragile tugged between them again—like a thread of starlight pulling two hearts closer.
Miss Lin exhaled shakily and looked away. "Get some rest."
Zeref nodded, but he lingered for a heartbeat longer, unsure if the warmth inside him belonged to the Aether… or her.
As he entered the room, he found Ren and Yuxin waiting, grinning like devils.
Ren pointed at him. "Zeref. Sit. We need to talk about your romance progression."
Yuxin nodded. "Your face is glowing more than your Aether."
Zeref threw a pillow at them. "Shut up."
But the softness in his smile betrayed him.
Outside the sleeping quarters, Miss Lin paused briefly before returning to her own chambers. Her fingertips brushed her necklace—an old relic she always wore. She whispered to herself, "He's growing too fast… and I… I need to stay focused."
Yet the faint tremble in her voice revealed everything she refused to admit.
And under the quiet night sky, two stars—one hidden, one blooming—continued drawing closer without either fully understanding the gravity of their fate.
---
To be continued...