Sin Rouge was loud tonight laughter, music, shouting the usual chorus of Lust Ring chaos.
But inside the training hall?
Silence.
Verosika struck the reinforced dummy again, breath sharp, hair sticking to her forehead. The energy pulsed through her palm strange, warm, instinctive something she never had before Malerion started training her.
It wasn't magic or demonic power.
Growing.
Changing her.
She hated how much she liked it.
She reset her stance.
"Again," she muttered.
And then
> "You're pushing past your limit."
His voice cut through the quiet.
She didn't jump she'd felt him before he spoke. The air always shifted when he was near, like reality made space for him.
Verosika kept her back to him.
"I'm training," she said sharply. "That's the point."
"You've been here for hours."
"Then maybe hours aren't enough."
She finally turned.
Malerion stood a few feet away, posture relaxed but gaze focused. Not cold. Never cold. Just controlled.
Too controlled.
"You should rest," he said.
"You should stop hovering."
"I don't hover."
"You're literally hovering right now."
A beat.
"…I stand with intention."
She rolled her eyes, but her chest tightened.
Because hovering or not he cared. And she didn't know how to handle that.
She walked past him toward the water table, grabbing a bottle.
"I don't want to rely on you," she said, voice quieter now. "Or your strength. I'm tired of being the one thing you have to slow down for."
Malerion's expression didn't change but something behind his eyes did.
"You are not slowing me down."
She scoffed.
"Please. The others? Dreg? Rafe? Even that gremlin Skit? They're all turning into walking artillery because of you. And I'm"
She gestured vaguely.
"Pretty."
"You're more than that."
"Yeah," she snapped, "but strength matters here, Malerion. Influence matters. Being able to defend yourself matters. And I'm not going to be just"
Her voice cracked.
"…someone standing beside you because she looks good in the picture."
Silence stretched heavy but not hostile.
Then he stepped closer.
Not enough to corner her.
Just enough to be heard only by her.
"You are not ornamental," he said quietly. "And if you think that's all I see when I look at you, then you're wrong."
Her breath caught.
She didn't step back.
"Then let me earn that place."
"You already have."
"No," she whispered. "Not the way I want to."
Something flickered in his expression not surprise. Recognition.
Understanding.
He lifted one hand slowly, giving her time to stop him.
She didn't.
His fingers brushed her jaw steady, grounding.
"You are changing," he said.
"I've noticed."
"You're adapting faster than the others."
"No explanation?"
"Not yet."
She exhaled hard half frustration, half relief.
"So what now?"
"Now," he murmured, lowering his hand, "we train without you trying to destroy yourself."
She huffed a laugh.
"That sounded dangerously close to affection."
"It was instruction."
"…Sure."
He didn't smile.
But the air between them warmed.
He lifted his hand again and the temperature shifted. Pressure thickened, wrapping around her body like invisible heat.
Her muscles loosened.
breathing steadied.
fatigue melted into focus.
It wasn't magic felt deeper.
Like her body was rewriting itself to match his rhythm.
Her voice softened.
"Every time you do that… it feels easier. Like something's waking up."
"It is."
"…Are you ever going to tell me what it is?"
"When I understand it fully myself."
She nodded slow, accepting.
"Okay."
He met her eyes.
"Ready?"
She smirked.
"Born ready."
They trained but now her movements flowed smoother, cleaner. Not perfect but purpose driven.
She failed.
Improved.
pushed snd dapted.
And when her knees finally gave out, Malerion caught her before she hit the floor.
Her breath was uneven.
from exhaustion.
From proximity.
His arm remained around her waist, steady and unshakable.
She didn't move away.
"…See?" she muttered. "Not fragile."
"No."
His voice dropped lower.
"Strong. Becoming stronger."
Her pulse skittered.
Without thinking without overthinking she leaned in and kissed him.
Not hesitant.
A real kiss the kind that said I'm done pretending I don't want this.
He kissed her back steady, controlled, but deep enough she felt it in her spine.
When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, breaths uneven.
Verosika whispered:
"…I don't know what this is."
Malerion answered softly:
"Neither do I."
She smiled small, real.
"Then I guess we figure it out."
"Together."
She nodded once tired but satisfied.
"Walk me back?"
"Always."
And as they left the training hall close, but not holding hands Verosika realized something:
She wasn't chasing power anymore.
She was becoming it.