Night draped itself over Eryndra's mansion like a velvet curtain, its glow muted through tall windows that overlooked the quiet city. Inside the sitting room, the world felt smaller, warmer, softer than the battlefield only hours before. Cushions were scattered across a low round table, a small lantern flickering lazily in the center. The fragrance of herbal tea drifted in the air, blending with the crackle of a distant fireplace.
Mei sat between Vael and Eryndra, knees folded beneath her, a delicate porcelain cup resting in her hands. The warmth from the cup seeped into her fingers, but it did nothing to ease the lingering tremble inside her chest. Even now, flashes from earlier haunted her—Selene's laughter, Kaelith's flames, the moment she thought it was over…
And then him.
Reider cutting through the night like a blade of fate.
Eryndra raised her cup dramatically, trying far too hard to lighten the atmosphere. "Well," she said with an exaggerated sigh, "that was quite a day. Two enemies dead, several trees annihilated, and a terrifying husband who probably doesn't know he's charming. Cheers?"
Vael snorted into her cup. "Cheers," she muttered, but her shoulders stayed a little too tense. "If only the evening didn't involve murder."
Eryndra elbowed her. "Oh, come on. You've done more murder in your life than the average war."
"That's… not the point," Vael mumbled.
Mei didn't say anything. Her tea sat untouched, cooling slowly in her hands. Her eyes were distant, focused on the dancing lantern flame but seeing something else entirely.
Eryndra leaned toward her, grinning. "Earth to Mei? Thinking about your terrifying, stoic future husband?"
Mei jolted, cheeks warming. "I—no—I mean… maybe."
Vael narrowed her eyes, not unkindly. "You've been quiet since the fight."
Mei lowered her gaze. Her grip on the cup tightened. "Do you think he… knows what love is?"
Both women froze.
Eryndra blinked. "Whoa. Going for the deep stuff, huh?"
Vael leaned forward, expression serious now. "Why are you asking?"
Mei inhaled slowly, voice barely above a whisper. "Because… when he called me his wife today, it wasn't just him protecting me. I think—" She paused, gathering her thoughts. "I think he meant it. But I don't know if he understands what that means."
For a rare moment, even Eryndra's sarcasm died. She watched Mei quietly, softer than usual.
Mei continued, voice trembling as she stared at her reflection in her cup. "He's always been quiet. Cold. But when I was in danger, when they were going to kill me… he didn't hesitate. There wasn't even a heartbeat of doubt."
Vael softened visibly, resting her chin on her palm. "He would do anything for you. Anyone can see that."
Mei swallowed, eyes glistening. "But does he do it because he cares? Or because he believes it's his responsibility?"
Eryndra let out a sigh, leaning forward with a rare seriousness. "You love him."
Mei shook her head instinctively—but she knew the truth, deep down. "I… I don't know. Maybe. I can't stop worrying about him. I can't stop thinking about him. Even when he terrifies me."
Vael chuckled lightly. "You care more than anyone else."
Mei smiled weakly. "He's always been this strange, broken thing… and yet, I can't let him go."
Eryndra raised a brow. "Well, we're all worried about him. Even if some of us pretend we're not." She looked purposefully at Vael.
Vael scoffed and crossed her arms. "Speak for yourself. I'm not losing sleep over him."
Eryndra grinned. "Uh-huh."
Their playful bickering pulled a soft, genuine smile from Mei. It made her feel less alone.
"Maybe," she whispered, "I'm not the only one falling for him."
The room froze.
Vael sputtered, face flaring to crimson. "W-What?! No! That's—ridiculous!"
Eryndra glanced away, glaring at the wall like it offended her. "Pfft—falling? Me? For an emotionless guy who accidentally calls me his wife? Absurd. Totally absurd."
Silence settled heavily.
None of them were convincing.
Mei giggled softly. "It's okay if you are."
The other two groaned in unison.
Eryndra flopped back dramatically. "You're dangerous, Mei. Getting us to admit truths we weren't ready for."
Mei wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "Maybe he's not the only one who's broken."
A quiet understanding passed between Vael and Eryndra—a shared vulnerability neither would voice aloud.
The room dimmed further as clouds drifted across the moon. For a moment, the three women simply breathed in the peaceful atmosphere, each lost in their restless thoughts.
Finally, Mei leaned back with a soft smile. "I guess… we're all in this together now, aren't we?"
Eryndra grinned. "Don't get used to me getting all sentimental."
Vael muttered, "You two are hopeless."
Before they could continue, the door creaked open.
Reider stood there.
His presence changed the air instantly—still, steady, unreadable. His eyes shifted between the three women, scanning the room like he walked into a battlefield instead of a cozy sitting room.
"Are you three having a meeting without me?" he asked flatly.
All three women froze.
Mei choked on her drink. "W-What?! No! Of course not!"
Eryndra, who feared nothing in this world, suddenly laughed nervously. "Yeah, definitely not talking about you or anything. Nope. Not a chance."
Vael—who could face down armies—turned red to the tips of her ears. "Y-You're imagining things! We were discussing strategy!"
Reider blinked. "Strategy. About me?"
Silence.
Dead, incriminating silence.
Mei scrambled to her feet, flustered. "Reider! Are you feeling okay? You should be resting!"
"I'm fine," he replied, stepping fully into the room. "I heard my wife calling my name earlier. I wanted to check on you."
Mei's face went nuclear.
Eryndra leaned toward Vael. "Watch her. She's about to melt."
"You're still blushing from earlier," Vael hissed back.
Reider walked to them with calm, measured steps, clearly unaware of the chaos he caused simply by breathing near them.
He looked at Mei first, eyes softening by a fraction. "If anyone tries to hurt you again," he said flatly, "I'll kill them."
Eryndra raised her cup in salute. "Romantic. Terrifying—but romantic."
Vael rubbed her forehead. "Idiot… you can't just say things like that."
Reider blinked as if genuinely confused. "Why not? It's true."
All three women flustered in different, ridiculous ways.
Mei hid her face in her hands. "He has no idea what he's doing…"
Reider frowned slightly. "Did I say something wrong?"
Eryndra grinned. "Oh, so wrong, Reider. So, so wrong."
"Sit down already," Vael muttered, ears still pink.
"Alright," he said, sitting obediently.
Mei's expression softened as she studied him—worn clothes, faint bruises on his arms, but alive. "Just… promise me you'll be careful. I don't want to lose you."
Reider met her gaze without hesitation. "I'll stay alive. For you."
Vael looked away.
Eryndra smiled slowly.
Mei's heart fluttered helplessly.
"Yeah," Eryndra whispered to Vael. "We're screwed."
Vael didn't deny it.
"…Yeah."
The four of them fell into a comfortable, fragile quiet. For once, there was no danger, no blood, no screams—only the soft warmth of companionship and the promise of something more fragile and terrifying than any enemy:
The possibility of belonging.
Reider didn't speak again for a while. His presence was enough—solid, steady, grounding. Mei rested her head lightly against his shoulder, and he didn't move away. Vael looked everywhere except at the two of them, yet she stayed close, her fingers drumming on the table. Eryndra watched the three of them with a thoughtful expression, hiding it behind her usual smirk.
Outside, the night deepened, wrapping the mansion in quiet peace.
But inside that small room, something unspoken took root.
Something dangerous.
Something tender.
Something none of them were ready to face.
Yet somehow, they faced it together.