Morning came quietly—too quietly.
The forest should have been full of birds, insects, distant animal calls.
But the air was still.
Heavy.
Waiting.
Zerrei sensed it first.
Even before his glow brightened.
Even before his fingers curled tightly around Lyra's sleeve.
He woke with a jerk—eyes snapping open, chest trembling with a sharp pulse of mana.
"…Lyra…"
Lyra instantly cupped his cheek.
"I'm here. What's wrong?"
His voice broke.
"…don't know… something… coming…"
Arden froze mid-step.
Oren's head whipped around.
"…Already?"
Zerrei clung to Lyra, trembling so hard she felt the vibrations through her bones.
"…Lyra… stay close… please…"
"I'm not going anywhere," she whispered, pulling him into her arms.
He melted instantly—
pressing his forehead to her chest,
arms wrapping around her waist,
glow flaring softly with panic.
"…don't let them take Zerrei… don't…"
"I won't."
He relaxed only slightly—
just enough for Oren to kneel beside them.
"We don't have much time," Oren murmured.
"Lyra, Zerrei, listen carefully."
Zerrei lifted his head, eyes dim with fear.
"…Oren… danger…?"
"Yes," Oren said plainly.
"Vessel Four is awake."
Zerrei trembled again—harder this time.
Lyra stroked his hair.
"Stop—don't think about them. Focus on me."
He stared at her.
Soft.
Lost.
Terrified.
"…Lyra…"
"I'm right here," she whispered.
He touched her cheek gently.
"…Lyra warm…"
OREN'S WARNING
Oren drew a glowing rune in midair.
"Vessel Four is different," he said.
"Unlike Two or Three, it is designed for tracking."
Arden paled.
"Tracking what?"
Oren didn't answer.
Instead—he pointed to Zerrei.
And Lyra understood.
"…Zerrei," she whispered.
Zerrei flinched.
"…why…?"
"Because you broke your chains," Oren said.
"Because you're evolving too quickly.
Because the Creator wants you back."
Zerrei buried his face in Lyra's shoulder.
"…don't want… don't want… don't want—"
His voice shook violently now.
Lyra held him tightly.
"I won't let anyone take you."
Oren's voice softened slightly.
"And that's why… we need to start the resonance bloom."
Lyra blinked.
"…Resonance bloom?"
Oren nodded.
"It's the second stage of Zerrei's evolution.
One that only activates during emotional stabilization."
Arden frowned.
"In plain words?"
Oren glanced at Lyra.
"He needs you."
Zerrei looked up—eyes wide.
"…Zerrei… bloom… because Lyra…?"
"Yes."
Lyra swallowed.
"What do we do?"
Oren gestured to the center of their clearing.
A runic circle—
complex, shimmering, glowing softly beneath leaves.
"I prepared this last night. It's a stabilization ritual.
It won't fully heal him—
but it will strengthen his ability to resist the Creator's influence."
Lyra's heart pounded.
"Will it hurt him?"
Oren hesitated.
Zerrei whimpered instantly.
"…hurt…?"
Lyra pulled him close.
"Tell me. Will it?"
"No," Oren said quickly.
"But it will scare him. Evolution bloom requires emotional exposure."
Arden blinked.
"Meaning?"
Oren sighed.
"He needs to share everything he feels."
Lyra froze.
Zerrei tensed.
"…everything…?" he whispered breathlessly.
Oren nodded.
"Yes."
Zerrei shivered.
"Lyra…" he whispered, lowering his head.
"…Zerrei… scared…"
She gently lifted his chin.
"Of what?"
His glow pulsed faintly.
"…showing Lyra… all…"
Lyra blinked.
"All what?"
Zerrei pressed a hand over his chest—over the cracks.
"…fear… sadness… feeling…
everything inside Zerrei…"
Lyra's voice softened.
"Zerrei. I've seen your fear. I've seen your pain. I've seen you cry."
He shook his head.
"…not all…"
Her heartbeat quickened as she touched his cheek.
"Then show me."
His eyes widened—
runic pupils trembling.
"…Lyra… not… hate…?"
"Never."
He blinked rapidly—
the closest a vessel could come to tears.
"…Lyra…"
He leaned into her hand, glow trembling softly.
"…then… Zerrei show… all…"
Oren nodded sharply.
"Good. Then into the circle—both of you."
Arden gripped his sword.
"I'll guard the perimeter."
THE RITUAL BEGINS
Lyra helped Zerrei to his feet.
He stumbled.
Badly.
"Slow," she whispered.
He wrapped both arms around her shoulders for support.
"…Lyra… don't let go…"
"I won't."
Together, they stepped into the glowing ring.
Immediately—
Zerrei's glow reacted.
Lines of gold raced across the runes—
connecting, intertwining—
forming a lattice of shimmering light around them.
Oren called out:
"Lyra—hold his hands."
She did.
Zerrei squeezed so tightly she gasped.
"…Lyra…"
"I'm here."
"Now," Oren said, "let the resonance bloom begin."
The ground pulsed.
A wave of light shot upward—
encasing Zerrei and Lyra in a shimmering cocoon of gold.
Zerrei shuddered violently.
Pain?
Fear?
Emotion?
"…Lyra…" he whispered.
"…it's… it's too much…"
She pulled him closer—forehead to forehead.
"Then hold onto me."
He whimpered—
soft and broken—
"…Lyra… Lyra… Lyra… don't go—"
"I'm right here."
His glow surged—
BOOM—
A burst of golden resonance exploded outward, shaking leaves from trees.
Arden shielded his face.
Oren shouted:
"He's starting to bloom!"
Inside the cocoon—
Lyra felt Zerrei's emotions pour into her.
Fear.
Loneliness.
Cold.
Chains.
Desperation.
Love.
Warmth.
Her name—
HER NAME over and over and over.
Zerrei cried out—
actual sound—
not pain—
but release.
"…LYRA—!"
She held him tighter.
"I'm here, Zerrei! Let it out!"
He pressed his face to her neck, trembling uncontrollably.
"…Lyra… mine… Lyra… stay… Lyra… warm… Lyra… everything…
don't go don't go don't go—"
The cocoon blazed with light.
Oren shouted:
"Almost there!"
Arden yelled:
"You're doing great, kid!"
The circle reached its peak.
Light swallowed everything.
Then—
BOOM—
A final pulse.
The runes dimmed.
The cocoon shattered into sparks.
THE EVOLUTION
Lyra blinked through the fading glow.
Zerrei collapsed into her arms—
breathing heavily,
glow steadier than before,
cracks faintly sealed with new golden lines.
His voice was soft—
Almost gentle.
"…Lyra…"
Lyra held him tightly.
"Zerrei—are you okay?"
He lifted his head slowly.
His eyes—
Brighter.
Sharper.
Alive.
"…Zerrei… feel… light…"
Lyra smiled through tears.
"Your resonance bloomed."
He placed a trembling hand over her heart.
"…because… Lyra…"
Oren stepped into the circle, eyes wide with scientific awe.
"This is remarkable.
His core resonance stabilized.
The cracks sealed partially.
His evolution progressed."
Arden nodded.
"Translation: he's stronger now."
Zerrei leaned into Lyra's shoulder.
"…because Lyra… held Zerrei…"
She hugged him, voice trembling softly.
"I always will."
He closed his eyes.
"…Zerrei… safe…
with Lyra…"