★ INVISIBLE STRING ★
BOUND BY FATE

as chiaki sat in her room, she couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation pressing down on her. The Captain had just left to inform his most trusted officer, and Stelle was busy passing along the details of their mission. It was strange-only hours ago, she'd woken up with a mind full of questions, and now everything had escalated into something far more urgent. She glanced at Dan Heng, who was sitting quietly across from her, his eyes sharp, his posture tense.

The silence in the room stretched on, suffocating in its weight. Chiaki couldn't stand it any longer. The tension felt like it was building with every passing second, making the air thick and oppressive. She needed something-anything-to break the silence.

Finally, unable to resist, she spoke, her voice quiet but determined. "Dan Heng," she began, her eyes meeting his, "how did you and the others stop the Stellaron's... before? How did you deal with them?"

Dan Heng's eyes flickered to her, his calm, steady demeanor never wavering. He leaned back slightly in his chair, the weight of her question settling in. For a moment, he said nothing, as if measuring his words carefully. Then, with a slow breath, he began to speak.

"It's never easy," he said quietly, his voice low but firm. "Dealing with a Stellaron is like trying to fight a shadow. You can't simply defeat it with strength. The power of a Stellaron warps everything it touches-people, emotions, even entire worlds. The key is to find its source, the core of its influence, and cut it off before it spreads any further."

"So, you found the source?" she asked, her brow furrowing. "You stopped the Stellaron somehow?"

Dan Heng nodded slowly. "Yes, but it wasn't just a matter of finding it. The Stellaron itself was feeding off of negative emotions, despair, and chaos. The more people gave into those feelings, the stronger it became. We had to first calm the people, restore some sense of peace, before we could even begin to isolate the Stellaron's influence."

Chiaki's heart sank as she absorbed his words. "So, it's not just about stopping the voice... It's about stopping the fear and chaos it feeds on?"

Dan Heng's gaze softened slightly, though there was still a hint of the same focused intensity in his eyes. "Exactly. The voice controlling your mother... it's not just speaking to her. It's feeding off the fear and confusion it creates. If we can stop that, sever its hold over her, we might have a chance."

Chiaki looked down, her mind racing as she processed Dan Heng's words. After a moment, she lifted her gaze and met his eyes, a quiet but pressing question forming on her lips.

"What if someone is connected to the Stellaron?" she asked softly, as if to herself. "Would only that person be able to stop it?"

Dan Heng furrowed his brow, his expression turning more serious as he met her gaze. "It depends on how deep the connection runs. A Stellaron feeds on emotions and can extend its influence over both the body and mind of its host. If someone is directly connected to the Stellaron, they could have access to its core or its power... but they might also not be able to break free. The danger is that the connection could take full control over them."

Chiaki shook her head slightly, trying to grasp the concept. "So... could it be that only someone directly connected to it has the chance to stop it? But it could also be a trap?"

"Exactly," Dan Heng replied. "If the Stellaron has fully taken hold, the person might be able to stop it, but there's also the risk that the Stellaron controls them completely. It's a dangerous gamble."

Chiaki took a deep breath, her mind still swirling with everything they had discussed. Then, with a sense of clarity, she spoke, her voice steady but firm.

"The Stellaron doesn't have full control over me," she said, her gaze unwavering as she looked at Dan Heng. "I know this because I felt its pull, especially when I first arrived. But when you calmed me during the storm... I was able to regain control. I could feel the connection, but it didn't overwhelm me. Not fully."

Dan Heng's brow furrowed as he looked at her, clearly confused. "You mean, you were able to resist its influence?"

Chiaki nodded. "Yes. I know it's there, but I can still control myself. At least, for now. Maybe that's why my mother sent me away... so the Stellaron couldn't completely control me, like it has with her. Maybe she thought if I stayed away, I wouldn't be corrupted by it."

Dan Heng's expression softened as he considered her words. She could see the concern in his eyes, though he didn't speak.

"And maybe..." Chiaki continued, her voice dropping slightly, "maybe the Stellaron made everything worse on this planet as a kind of punishment. It took her, and now it's punishing everyone else, too. "

Dan Heng's gaze softened, a mix of concern and protectiveness creeping into his expression. He stood up and moved closer to Chiaki, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that felt like a quiet plea.

"Chiaki," he said, his voice low but firm, "this... this isn't something you have to do alone. It's not your responsibility to carry all of this by yourself. I won't allow it."

He placed a hand gently on her shoulder, his touch steady and reassuring. "You don't have to sacrifice yourself for this. I'll be here. We'll figure this out together, but I won't let you put your life on the line like that. Not without a fight. Not while I'm here."

Chiaki's voice was barely above a whisper as she looked down at her hands, the weight of her words pressing on her chest. "What if... What if there's no other choice? What if I have to do this? I'm the only one who can stop it. I don't want anyone else to suffer because of me."

Her heart ached at the thought, but the responsibility was still there, heavy and undeniable. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was the only way.

Dan Heng's eyes darkened, his grip tightening on her shoulder. He gently but firmly turned her in the chair to face him, his hands gripping her shoulders with an intensity that left no room for doubt.

"No," he said, his voice sharp and full of resolve. "You will not sacrifice yourself. Not on my watch." He leaned in slightly, his eyes boring into hers, a fierce protectiveness radiating from him. "You don't have to carry this burden alone. I won't let you. I refuse to let you give up your life for this, Chiaki. You're not the only one who can stop it. We'll find another way. But I swear, you're not doing this alone."

His words were so forceful, so sure, that they cut through the tension in Chiaki's chest. For a moment, she couldn't speak, the raw emotion in his voice settling deep within her. She had never seen him like this-so determined, so adamant.

"Dan Heng..." she began, her voice faltering as she met his gaze.

"I'm serious," he interrupted, his voice steady but full of conviction. "I won't let you sacrifice yourself. Not while I'm still standing here. We will figure this out, together. Do you understand?"

Chiaki looked up at him, her eyes searching his face, as if trying to understand the depth of his words. Her voice was small, hesitant. "Why... Why does this matter so much to you? Why are you so determined to stop me?"

Dan Heng's expression softened, and for a moment, he seemed lost in thought. He let go of her shoulders, his hands falling to his sides. "Because I can't lose you, Chiaki," he said quietly, his voice low but filled with a quiet intensity. "I've already lost too much in my life... too many people, too many things I couldn't protect. But you... I won't lose you. I can't afford to lose you."

"Why?"

Dan Heng took a deep breath, his usual composure slipping for a moment as his eyes locked with hers. "Chiaki," he began, his voice uncharacteristically soft, "you're important to me... more than I can explain. I've tried to push it away, tried to focus on what needs to be done, but the truth is, I care about you in a way I've never cared about anyone before."

He paused, as if searching for the right words, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "I... I can't stand the thought of losing you. Not to this Stellaron, not to anything. You've become someone I can't imagine my life without. And it scares me, the idea that you might sacrifice yourself. I'm afraid... I'm afraid of losing you, Chiaki. I care about you too much to let you walk into this alone."

Chiaki stood frozen, her heart pounding as she absorbed every word he said. Her mind swirled with a mix of emotions-shock, confusion, and something deeper that she had never quite allowed herself to acknowledge. His confession hit her harder than she expected, each word sinking into her chest like a weight she hadn't known she was carrying. The sincerity in his voice, the raw vulnerability, made her breath catch.

She wanted to say something, to respond with the same honesty, but her thoughts were a mess. She was scared-of the situation, of the Stellaron, of the idea of losing everything she held dear-but most of all, she was terrified of the feelings rising inside her. The connection she'd felt with him, the way he'd always been there, the quiet moments, the shared glances... it was all too much, and yet, it made perfect sense.

Before she could stop herself, before her mind could catch up to her impulses, her body moved. The urge was sudden, overwhelming. She didn't think, didn't analyze-it was just something in the air between them, the tension, the words that had been left unspoken. Without warning, she stepped forward, closing the small distance between them, and kissed him.

It was impulsive, desperate almost, as if her heart had taken control and forced her to act. The kiss was everything she couldn't say, everything she had kept hidden deep inside. She felt his warmth, the way his breath quickened, and it pulled her further into the moment. For a brief second, the world outside of them disappeared-the fight, the danger, the weight of what was to come-everything faded as they shared this fleeting moment of raw emotion.

The moment was shattered by the sound of the door flinging open. Stelle stormed into the room, her usual playful energy still lingering, though her expression quickly shifted when she saw what was happening. She blinked, taking in the scene before her, and then, with a mischievous grin tugging at the corner of her mouth, she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Well, well," she said, her voice light but with an undeniable smirk. "Finally. Took you long enough."

She leaned against the doorframe, clearly amused by the scene unfolding in front of her. "I take it everything's ready, then?" she added, her tone now shifting back to business, though the glint of humor never fully left her eyes.

Dan Heng and Chiaki both turned to look at Stelle, a mix of surprise and mild exasperation on their faces. Dan Heng cleared his throat and gave her a questioning look.

"Is everything settled with Welt?" he asked, his tone still a bit serious, despite the momentary shift in atmosphere.

Stelle gave a quick nod, a grin spreading wider across her face. "Yep, everything's in order," she replied with a wink. "Welt's got things covered. We're ready to move. But," she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement, "I must say, I didn't expect to walk in on this." She gestured between the two of them playfully. "What happened, did you two finally figure things out?"

She leaned in a little closer, her teasing tone never fading. "I was beginning to think you two were going to leave me hanging. But hey, better late than never, right?" She grinned, clearly enjoying the moment a little too much. "I'll let you get back to your... moment," she teased, holding up her hands as if to give them some space, though the smirk on her face said she was far from done poking fun at them.

Dan Heng shot her a sharp look, though the faintest hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Stelle, not now," he said, trying to reign in his growing embarrassment.

But Stelle only laughed, clearly not backing down. She turned her attention to Chiaki, her grin widening mischievously. "Still within Dan Heng's reach, huh? Or should I be asking why you're not saying anything?" she teased, her voice playful, but with that edge of curiosity.

Chiaki felt her face heat up, a deep blush creeping up her neck as the words hit her. She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Her thoughts tangled, and the last thing she wanted was to explain herself now, especially with Stelle pushing her buttons.

Before she could gather the courage to say something-anything-a voice interrupted the awkward tension in the air.

"Stelle," the Captain's voice rang out, firm and calm. He stepped into the room, his presence immediately shifting the atmosphere. "Are we ready to move?"

The timing was perfect, and Chiaki couldn't help but feel relieved. Stelle raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, but with a knowing smirk she gave a short nod. "All set, Captain," she replied, not missing a beat.

Chiaki quickly looked away, her face still red, silently thankful for the interruption.