Loon slowly opened his eyes, smiling as the warm light of the rising sun greeted him. He felt the urge to get up and step out onto the balcony for some fresh air, but he suddenly froze, realizing there was something heavy on his legs.

His eyes widened when he saw Ayren's body draped awkwardly across him, with his head resting on his lap and his legs still positioned as if he had been sitting throughout the night.

A soft blush crept across Loon's face as he wondered what had happened. The last thing he remembered was crying into Ayren's chest...

"Oh my... This is..." Loon tried to keep himself to then raise his eyebrow, surprised to see for the first time Ayren sleeping as it was always the other way around.

He was probably tired as well. Tired of the city.

And people.

Loon couldn't help but lean towards Ayren's face and finally could look at it without him threatening to kill. He smiled as he noticed how the swordsman was sleeping peacefully on his lap.

For the first time, he saw Ayren sleeping with his guard totally down.

He laid a hand on his cheeks to move some strands of his black hair and admire better his face, but Ayren grabbed his hand and opened his eyes.

"What were you trying to do?" Ayren's eyes locked on his to then notice the situation and stand up from the bed, feeling his body totally destroyed from the position.

"I... wanted to wake you up." Loon said as Ayren was fixing his shirt looking like a prince in that moment to the immortal's eyes "What happened?"

"You fell asleep on me... then I pushed you and you didn't even wake up." Ayren coughed as he didn't want to be completely honest about how he did lay him carefully on the bed

"Then I... I think... I fell asleep."

"You're usually awake earlier than me, I guess you were really tired." Loon smiled to then tilt his head "Thank you, Ayren."

Ayren crossed his arms and sighed. "Get ready. We need to grab my coat and head out. We'll be avoiding the main roads, which means we'll have to stay alert—those outer lands are filled with unexplored areas, and they're dangerous for a reason," he explained.

Loon, still yawning and gazing absentmindedly out at the balcony, barely seemed to register Ayren's words, as if what he was saying wasn't all that important.

"The day is amazing, it feels like a fresh spring is coming soon." Loon looked at Ayren, who raised his eyebrow "Oh... yes, got it!"

"I am sure you did" he said ironically, to then move towards the door "Oh, by the way... Fix your... clothes, you're an immortal" he said to then leave the room.

Loon tilted his head confused to then look how messy his clothes were. He cleared his throat as he noticed the upper coat almost showing half of his arms and even a little of his chest.

Once the two met again, they proceeded to go to the tailor, who luckily had the upper coat ready.

Ayren was back with his usual clothes and Loon almost did pout as he didn't mind the swordsman having the silk white shirt, or the clothes similar to Fenir's fine style..

"Are you ready for this journey?" Ayren asked the half dragon to then lay a finger on his nose like he was a kid "No complaints, no more questions about my past, if we meet people, do not be open and do not let them touch you. No pouting and no sounds when I am focused."

Loon's eyes crossed for a moment as he was looking at the finger on his nose. He then pouted and Ayren sighed, laying the hands on his own hips.

"You're already not respecting my rules, and we didn't even start the journey." he smiled insanely "I think I won't be able to reach the dragons' territory without losing my sanity completely."

"What rules? I am not planning to follow those. I don't know, can I breathe at least?" he asked and Ayren almost laughed at his irritated face, as he looked more adorable than actually irritated "It's not fair, is it a sort of punishment because you slept awfully? I can heal your sore body if that's so" he said as he was summoning his mana.

"Punishment?" Ayren arched his eyebrow "You're an immortal, no one can dream to punish a God and for your information... I do not hold grudge." he crossed his arms to then feel judged by those blue eyes, that were looking at him in a suspicious way "... I just murder those on

who I might hold it." he explained.

It's all about strategy after all.

"If you want to put it that way." Loon laid the hands on Ayren's cheeks as some blue mana was flowing through the arms till reaching the swordsman's skin "Then, as an immortal, I won't follow any rules a human made." he said with his blue eyes almost looking into his soul.

Ayren kept his eyes on him as he felt his body getting a lovely sensation like he was floating on a calm lake with just the sound of nature caressing him.

The swordsman sighed as he got back to himself and moved Loon's hands "Fine, but if you plan to do like we did on our first little journey, I can't assure my sanity."

"Oi oi! There they are!"

The two from almost fighting, looked at Fenir and Umi coming with Talon from the gates.

"What were you doing outside the city?" Ayren asked and Fenir smiled evilly almost, making Loon feel like for a moment the two looked like brothers just for the insane smile that would come out randomly after a little talk.

"Nothing much." he clapped for a moment "I hope you did sleep well in my manor; it feels so wrong to bid farewell at the gates." He sighed dramatically.

"It feels so right for me, bye."

Ayren began to walk under Fenir's flaming eyes. Loon stayed a little behind so the swordsman planted his feet to then look behind and get back, waiting for the immortal to reach his side.

"Thank you for everything." Loon did a little bow under Fenir's serious gaze.

He had many questions, but he knew he couldn't ask more. The vampire smiled a little "I won't apologize for the truth I have spoken yesterday, but Ayren is known to always be on the right side despite his... beautiful and terrifying sword art." Loon tilted his head "Take care, the journey ahead is going to be interesting, I shall wait to meet you again under more friendly circumstances."

Umi moved Lord Fenir aside, turning his attention to Loon. "You're still on time."

"No, he's not," Ayren interjected, placing a firm hand on Loon's shoulder. Umi clenched his teeth beneath his unnerving smile. "We made an oath, in case you haven't noticed."

Umi's gaze flicked to the matching earrings the two wore, his eyes widening. "So... you've chosen." He chuckled briefly, then nodded. "I understand now."

Loon averted his gaze, feeling a bit shy under Ayren's red-eyed stare. "I'm glad you're proud of this oath."

Ayren smirked, whispering, "Using what I can since I can't use my sword."

Loon sighed heavily—he'll never change.

"Don't get yourself killed, and take care of the city," Ayren instructed Fenir before mounting his horse, with Loon seated in front of him.

Fenir and Umi looked at the two slowly disappearing from their sight.

The vampire laughed as he crossed his arms, to then get back inside the city. Umi looked at Talon who gave the sign to close the big gates of the city, feeling like those two won't be anywhere close for a long time.

"Of course, I will protect the city..." Fenir said once he was walking through the main park of the city, standing in front of the statue of the founder. He smirked as he looked at it, playing with one of his blood strings.

"After all, that was your last order, Ayren."

******

"I could have learnt."

"Oh my... Can you please stop complaining? It was the first rule," Ayren groaned, nearly exasperated as he guided the horse along the road. He knew he'd release it once they reached the borders of Aresta's city, but Loon's constant grumbling was wearing him down.

Loon crossed his arms and closed his eyes feeling literally Ayren's chest constantly pushing against his back "I told you I am not planning to follow any of your useless rules."

"Useless rules? Seems like crying helped you get back some attitude, I wish you had it with everyone else, you know." Ayren teased him apathetically.

Loon flinched and actually felt like blushing as he did remember the night and the morning they had like it was something to feel ashamed of "Uhm.." he sighed then leaning a bit to look at Ayren "I am just stating facts."

Ayren couldn't help but look at him for that little span, like he was just attracted to those two ponds of clear water the immortal had. His eyes were something Ayren felt like he could have never been tired to look at.

"One day you will learn to ride a horse, but it's not that day. I do not have time to waste and it's just for a little time till we reach the borders, from there we will walk through the forests and mountains." he explained, making the immortal nod a little.

"Do you think we're going to... fight soon?" Loon asked and Ayren smiled.

"I hope."

Loon looked at him again to then laugh a little under his confused stare. "No matter the time, I think I will never get used to you, you're a very interesting human, Ayren."

Ayren tilted his head as he noticed the immortal looking at him with almost a sweet stare. He felt annoyed by his lovely stare. "Silence." he said to then lay a hand on his face to cover that damn smile, and he almost laughed as he noticed the immortal getting annoyed by it.

Once the two arrived at the borders, they took the travel bags from the horse and let it free in the wilds.

"Be free." Loon smiled, watching the horse run away.

"Do not be food for the next two hours." Ayren commented, ruining the emotional farewell Loon felt.

The Immortal laid the hands on his hips, looking at Ayren, who was keeping the two bags of them on his back. "What?" the swordsman asked, tilting his head and the immortal shook his to then walk in front of him through the forest.

"Ok, this is officially the start of our journey, I actually feel pretty excited." Loon smiled happily, as the pet water dragon was flying around them, reflecting the happiness of his owner.

Ayren on his side was just a mix of death wish and curiosity.

The way Loon was able to get back to a good mood was always surprising to him.

Apparently, the less people were around him the easiest was for him to be safe and feel good.

Even so, to his eyes, Ayren thought Loon liked to be around humans, but it was risky as he was too kind to them.

In the end he thought that maybe the immortal was better off in the forest alone, but he couldn't anymore since people were on his tracks.

Ayren sighed as he felt weird. As soon as the mages were dead, their oath would have been broken, this means there would have been no more strings that tied their lives.

He planted his feet as he looked at Loon looking around. His long black hair was loose on his back in his usual and particular robe, that would make everyone feel like nothing was next to him. The aura he naturally had was mighty and... warm... like a Spring day.

His mind was getting back the conversation with Fenir about him and the Emperor and that was at the same time recalling his madness and irritation.

Loon looked at him from a distance and tilted his head "Ayren?" He almost ran to reach him, appearing even cute. Honestly, a God running with a little water dragon chasing him was kind of hilarious to his eyes. "Handle me one of the bags, we're traveling companions, I want to do my part."

Ayren shook off his hands to then walk "No, you're an immortal and I can handle the weight. I was a soldier, I used to carry dead bodies, this is nothing."

Loon and the water dragon had a puzzled stare as Ayren was walking, ignoring them.

"Sometimes I wonder if he has something else in his mind other than death and his sword." Loon mumbled to his little pet, who did a twirl to then follow his master.

"By the way..."

Ayren sighed and almost cried as he turned and looked at Loon speaking once again "What?"

"How do you know exactly where to go? This forest looks really... dense." he asked and Ayren sighed.

"Take the years of your imprisonment and imagine them as time I did wander doing commissions... Don't you think I would know two things or two about these places?" he looked at the half dragon, who nodded a little to then walk next to him.

"I know but she's laughing at you." Loon shrugged and Ayren tilted his head confused.

"What are you talking about?"

Loon crossed his arms "There are so many magical forests in the world that work as a gate to heavens, others keep secrets and some others protect artifacts... Haven't you noticed there's no wildlife?"

"I think it's normal considering you just came back and the way I remember this forest was..." Ayren looked around, and actually Loon was right.

The forest was dense, so dense there was barely any light. The way the swordsman did remember the place was... dead trees and an awful fog every human would die inside from starvation, imprisoned in never-ending holes on the ground.

"Different..." he continued to then look at the immortal "Well, better like this, the mages will have a hard time to... find us." he stopped "This is terrible." he told himself to then laugh a little "Ah... This is seriously hilarious."

Loon looked around as he felt the ground underneath them moving. Ayren looked at the immortal who closed his eyes for a moment as he was focused on his mana.

"Do you know its name?" Loon asked in a whisper and Ayren raised his eyebrow as he noticed him smiling nostalgic "Her name is Veira."

"Veira?" Ayren halted, watching as Loon summoned his golden orb, mana rippling through the ground. "The forest's name is Veira?"

"Indeed." Loon's hair floated slightly, his blue eyes glowing. "I think she's... trying to tell us something."

Ayren's eyes widened as he noticed massive roots snaking toward Loon. "Loon!" he called, reaching out, but before he could act, the roots twisted around his own arms and body, lifting him off the ground.

"What the actual hell!? Stupid, useless roots," Ayren muttered, hanging midair as the roots constricted around him, tightening to the point of suffocation. "I preferred you when you were dead, useless forest," he cursed, struggling to reach his sword.

"Uhm... interesting."

Ayren turned toward Loon, who was hanging upside down, suspended by his legs in the roots, yet completely unbothered by the situation.

"Are you serious?" Ayren growled, gnashing his teeth. Loon, utterly calm, seemed to be enjoying the view from his upside-down position. "Are you planning to do anything, or what?"

"Well, I'm listening," Loon replied with a soft smile, crossing his arms as if proud of his response. Ayren could hardly believe it—he wanted to kill himself in that moment.

"She's happy I'm alive, but she's mad I almost let her die, like all her brothers and sisters," Loon added with a casual shrug. "Fair enough, I can't really blame her," he continued, still upside down, gently swaying from side to side like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Ayren had a puzzled stare "Very well, I am glad you're being her psychological doctor, but

can't you see we're actually in danger? She doesn't look like she's hugging ugh... Why, Why" he kept repeating as he managed to reach his sword "Why do I even talk like she's human." He mumbled to then strike the roots and fall on the ground.

The swordsman looked back at Loon, slowly getting more roots around him like the forest wanted to cage him.

Loon smiled as he touched the roots that absorbed his mana as he was getting back the forest one. The roots kept entangling around him, creating a cage.

"Don't worry!" Loon smiled at Ayren "I am sharing the mana, she's just taking back what's hers and giving back what's mine." he explained and the swordsman gnashed his teeth.

"She doesn't look like she wants to let you go... ahh" he laid a hand on his face "Why do I keep talking like she's a human." he asked himself feeling insane.

Loon didn't want to worry Ayren, but the forest in that moment was shouting and connecting him to all the wildlife that suffered his absence. He could understand the madness as the forests around the world were like refuge for so many creatures, animals and mystic creatures.

"You don't need to hurt him." the immortal whispered, as Ayren was trying to reach him, but the roots were trying to keep him on the ground and attacking.

The immortal smiled, laying his hand on his water dragon pet, who flew outside the roots' cage and became bigger.

Ayren kept striking the roots to then shout at Loon "Can you please free yourself and get back on the ground?!"- and by my side? he asked, avoiding the last part as he just couldn't really understand how the half dragon looked like he was enjoying it.

Loon smiled innocently "Well, we share the same mana, I can't use it to hurt her in any way" he felt embarrassed as he noticed Ayren almost losing it "Don't worry! I think she will calm down in no time."

"No time?" Ayren kept running as his red eyes were glowing along with his sword "I've had enough."

Loon saw his dragon roaring around the root cage as it was becoming more dense. The Forest looked like it was actually trying to separate him from Ayren, why?

"He's not bad," Loon whispered softly, laying his hands on the roots. "He doesn't want to hurt me."

Ayren, still struggling against the tightening roots, glanced over just in time to see the water dragon shield him from further attacks. The roots recoiled, unable to touch him with the dragon's protection in place.

"I can't believe I'm fighting..." Ayren grumbled, slashing through another set of roots. His sword sparked with energy as it shattered them. "...a stupid..." He spun, unleashing a powerful strike that severed three more roots. "Forest!" he exclaimed, panting from the effort. to then look up and see the immortal almost sleeping on the cage "I swear, I am going to lose it." he told himself.

Loon was growing visibly weaker, drained by the effort of absorbing the negative mana flowing from the forest. He was trying to balance the energy, but after fifty years of absence, the weight of the death mana was overwhelming. His eyelids felt heavy, and his focus wavered as if he were about to fall asleep.

Meanwhile, Ayren noticed how the roots were relentlessly attacking, attempting to push him back from the central tangle that caged Loon. A grin spread across his face as he recognized the forest's desperation.

"How hilarious," he whispered darkly, dodging a lash of roots before charging straight toward Loon. "He's with me," he declared, his red eyes locking onto the roots that aimed to block his path.

Leaping forward, Ayren allowed the thorny vines to pierce his arms, but he didn't falter. With sharp precision, his sword slashed at the roots forming the cage around Loon, determined to free him.

"You're not keeping him from me with your useless roots," he growled, smiling wickedly as his strikes tore through the enchanted barrier.

"Huh?" Loon stirred, feeling as though he had just been snapped out of a dream as the connection with the forest abruptly broke.

As Loon began to fall, Ayren moved swiftly. Both he and the water dragon lunged forward, racing to catch the immortal in midair. Ayren raised an eyebrow as the large water dragon flew behind him, shielding him from another attack by the roots, allowing him just enough time to reach out and grab Loon.

His feet touched the ground and Loon's eyes were locked into his red ones with the cheeks being a little bit flushed. As things got back to balance, Ayren's body was relaxed and his stare was back to being calm with his eyes looking at the immortal in his arms.

"Got you." Ayren smirked, making Loon tilt his head to then show a puzzled stare as the swordsman smiled evilly towards the forest "Next time, I will burn your roots and make you suffer."

Loon couldn't help it but laugh at how the swordsman was talking seriously and actually threatening a whole forest out of nowhere.

"Do not laugh.". The immortal felt his own body trembling as Ayren tightened the grip "You were about to be imprisoned again, I could start thinking that you like to be chained or caged." he said as his red eyes were looking into his blue eyes.

Loon turned his head away, a hand coming up to cover his face as if to hide the flush spreading across his cheeks. "I don't..." he mumbled, voice barely audible, confused by the sudden flutter in his chest. His heart pounded harder, and despite the situation, he couldn't seem to mind the fact that his body was cradled securely in the swordsman's arms. The warmth of Ayren's hold unsettled him, but in a way he didn't entirely dislike.

"Then..." the swordsman leaned closer to his face, making the immortal stare into his red eyes "Do not let anyone or anything else get you like that or as I am holding you right now, understood?" he asked and Loon tilted his head.

"So, you're saying you can, but the others can't?"

"I am holding you right now because I had to get you before falling to the ground. I take oaths seriously and you should too." he mumbled, feeling a little nervous from the talk, as the immortal was smiling in a sweet way in his arms "Why are you smiling like that...?" he asked as his eyes got lost in his ocean ones

"Because I am glad I made this oath with you." Loon laid the hands on his cheeks, pinching them a little.

And really, Ayren didn't know how to react to that spontaneous smile and his touch on his own cheeks like he felt no fear to do that. His red eyes were looking at the blue ones to then focus on the lips of the immortal.

"Reckless." the swordsman whispered and Loon at that point looked at him and felt weird. The red eyes were almost glowing like he was looking at his next prey.

"Ayren?" the immortal called him as it felt like he was in a trance.

Ayren sighed, as he let him free to stand next to him to then tickle his forehead "Are we going to get more attacks like these?"

Loon called his dragon, who laid the legs on the ground and pushed his muzzle against his hand, while Ayren was getting his sword back to its cover around his hips, to then look at the immortal and sigh in relief he was fine.

He almost punched himself for that thought.

"For some reason, the forest doesn't like you."

"Oh, I feel my heart broken." Ayren smiled evilly and the immortal crossed his arms "It's a shared feeling at least, you can tell her but I think she knows."

"It's weird..." Loon said after some time, making the swordsman turn towards him, who looked apathetic and back to his serious aura "Enemy."

Ayren tilted his head "Enemy?" he repeated as he was walking towards the immortal, who was still cuddling the dragon's muzzle "Those roots were about to swallow you."

"To protect me from you." Loon tilted his head "You got... the Emperor's mana in you... and after what he has done to me I think... she got worried you would be another danger, but... opened up his eyes when Ayren took his hand.

"Let's go."

Loon let Ayren pull him for a while and smiled a little as his eyes were looking at their hands "Did you get mad because I talked about the Emperor?" he asked and the swordsman sighed a little.

"I got cursed by him." he kept walking, leaving the hold on the immortal hand "I've learnt to live with it, but it makes me insane to think I'm related to him. We are not. We are nothing alike."

Loon smiled as the water dragon got back to being little in order to be always with them "I know, Ayren, you're... nice."

The swordsman laughed a little "If you think of me as nice... Then you really must have just had awful experiences with other humans... " he blocked himself to then turn towards the immortal "I apologize."

"No, you're right." he smiled and the swordsman felt actually mad at himself "But even so... I still think you're not evil, I don't see you like that at all."

The swordsman looked at the immortal with a calm stare, his eyes looked sad "You do think everyone in this world is not evil, Loon." he said as he was reaching out his cheek to caress it under his surprised blue eyes "See? You don't even listen to me, you shouldn't let anyone touch you, you trust too easily."

"You gave me no reason to not trust you." Loon smiled warmly and Ayren almost felt like he was burning, his red eyes were focused on his own hand touching the fair skin of the man in front of him.

"You're lucky I was the one who found you." the swordsman said once he managed to gather the energy to withdraw his hand, as he wanted to actually get closer, or get him back into his arms.

Why why why? Ayren couldn't really understand why sometimes he would get that awful feeling that would push him closer to Loon and embrace him to hide and protect him from everyone.

He kept feeling like that was maybe exactly how the Emperor felt at the start as well and he didn't want to get there. He didn't want to end up like that.

He wasn't him.

Maybe it was because of the curse that he felt like he was walking on the path of insanity that would lead him to be exactly like the person he hated the most?

"Indeed." Loon said as he was following him "I wish you found me back then in the forest where I was living and stopped me from helping the Emperor.... I think he was... the worst mistake I have made in my life." his voice got nostalgic "Even so... I feel mad sometimes but also sad whenever I think about him...As a part of me still excuses him and believes he wasn't bad... I truly believed in him."

Ayren came to an abrupt halt, causing Loon to bump into his back. The immortal, slightly dazed, reached up and touched his horns. "Why did you stop all of a sudden?" he asked, his fingers brushing the smooth surface of his horns. His blue eyes widened with concern.

"Huh, did I hurt you with my horns?"

Ayren turned, a hint of surprise in his expression as he glanced at Loon.

"Loon," Ayren called out, his voice tinged with hesitation. "I shouldn't really care, but my mind keeps—" He paused, running a hand over his face in frustration. "May I ask what your... deal was with the Emperor?"

"Deal?" Loon tilted his head slightly, his innocent gesture making Ayren want to shout, frustrated at how effortlessly distracting the immortal could be with his being adorable.

"Yes." Ayren crossed his arms, trying to maintain focus. "Of course, he got close to you... but Fenir made me start thinking. It would make sense if..."

"If...?" Loon had already looked away, clearly anticipating this conversation.

"If he was... intimate with you," Ayren pressed, his red eyes locking onto Loon's face. "Did he manage to get something more from you?"

"That's not important for the mission," Loon replied, his gaze still avoiding Ayren's, the response adding more weight to the doubt in the air.

"You know that by saying this, you're answering me already, right?" Ayren muttered, turning away and resuming his pace. "You're right. I apologize. It's not important for the mission."

Ayren opened up his eyes once he felt Loon's hands holding his arm to stop him "No, wait! Ayren..."

Do not... put distance between us... I hate being alone.

Loon gnashed his teeth as his thoughts were making him even more fragile. Ayren turned to look at his hands around the arm and then his blue eyes looking at him full of

sadness "It's not like that... I was the one who said we should know each other better, as we're going to be together for a while so... The Emperor.... Huh?" the earth beneath them

started trembling and the immortal fell in front of the swordsman's eyes.

"Loon!" Ayren shouted, feeling the ground shake violently beneath him, sending him tumbling into what seemed like a chasm straight to hell. It was a deep, dark void adorned with various symbols glowing with blue mana from the forest. As he descended, he noticed the ground closing in above him, as if the earth itself were swallowing them whole, plunging them into darkness, illuminated only by the faint, ethereal light of the symbols surrounding them.

He didn't care.

His red eyes were focused on the figure of the immortal that had still his hand towards him as he was falling.

He wasn't sure how to protect both himself and the immortal during the long fall, but his priority was to reach Loon. He intended to catch him and cushion the impact with his own body, unwilling to break his oath to protect him at all costs. He suspected Loon was too drained to react properly; the forest had bombarded him with all the death mana he hadn't been able to exchange for all those years. With that thought in mind, the swordsman felt a surge of urgency to act quickly.

Loon's eyes widened as he noticed the determination in Ayren's red gaze. A warm smile spread across his face as he watched the swordsman stretch out his hand to him.

How fool can mortals be...?

Ayren flinched as Loon pulled him into a tight hug, shimmering blue droplets forming around them.

"What are you doing?!" Ayren exclaimed, feeling Loon's warmth envelop him.

You... You are... someone special... I want to believe... I want to...

Unlike what the creatures of that world may think, Immortals couldn't explain many events, sometimes even a whole chain of it, as if there was always... there had to be always something unknown to all living beings in that universe.

Golden strings pulsing with their own life energy would tie with other, creating new melodies in the vast void nobody has ever stepped in. The only one who was singing was an entity now slowly dancing, endlessly, on the solid nothing, floating between the worlds, the moons and suns...

"Loon! Stop... Stop that, now! Do you hear me?!" Ayren's body was trembling for how tight the immortal was embracing him. It felt like he didn't want to let go of him in any way.

You actually care so much... Ayren...

He wanted to fall in that void, knowing he wouldn't have lost at least the only human who showed him new colors in his long yet tragic, lonely life...

It makes my heart pound...

The swordsman found himself frozen, captivated by Loon's smile and the way he held him close. The immortal's long black hair floated gently, and his jade horns glimmered alongside the fur of his dragon tail. In that moment, it felt as if they were no longer falling but floating in a serene space. Loon held him tightly, his arms wrapped around Ayren as he tenderly caressed the swordsman's hair, as if he were the one providing comfort this time.

It was a long fall, but Ayren felt his own body relax, impossible to react and get some distance from the immortal almost singing an unknown melody, as the dragon made of his mana was slowly surrounding them with his long body as if the master silently ordered him to save both, to protect both, to keep them together, no matter the outcome, the place they would end up...

It makes me happy...