In Another Realm
In a forgotten dimension, a palace stood in endless silence and darkness. It was not built from stone, but from bones. Walls were made of stacked vertebrae, archways were framed by ribs, and the floor was a carpet of finger bones that crunched with every step. The ceiling was a dome of fused skulls, with a thick, black ooze dripping from their empty eye sockets.
The only light came from a few ghostly purple candles, casting a cold, unnatural glow. The air itself was heavy with the chill of death.
In the center of this gruesome hall sat a single figure on a throne of bone. Below him, rows of soldiers in black armor knelt silently, waiting for his command.
He was a high-ranking demon, unnaturally handsome, with two curved horns framing his face.
"Time to depart, my lovely pets," he declared.
A swirling, gray portal opened before the throne. The demon and his army stepped through, vanishing from the bone palace. Time moved differently between realms; though he left late by his own world's clock, he would arrive in the human world days early.
His destination was a desert, where he planned to strengthen a Void Portal to its most dangerous level. A great storm was coming to Babylonia, and Leo had no idea.
•••
Back in the Park
As the evening sun painted the sky in soft colors, Leo and Rina sat together in a quiet park. After a long, comfortable silence, Leo finally spoke.
"Rina," he said, his voice steady and sincere. "You are truly beautiful."
Rina's breath caught. Her cheeks flushed a deep pink.
"W-what are you saying all of a sudden?" she stammered, dropping her gaze to her lap.
But Leo didn't laugh or tease. His blue eyes were serious. "I mean it."
He took a slow breath, his gaze never leaving hers. "I'm grateful you came into my life. You've always seen the real me, and you never walked away. You… accepted me."
Rina's heart began to pound. She could feel the weight of his words, the shift in the air.
This was different.
"You're irreplaceable to me," he continued, his voice soft but firm. "I thought I had all the time in the world, but lately… I realized I can't wait any longer."
He was thinking of Artur's confession, of the fear that he might lose her if he stayed silent.
"I love you, Rina." The words were clear and direct. "Not just as a friend. I love you as a man loves a woman."
The world seemed to hold its breath. The rustling leaves, the distant city sounds—everything faded away.
"You understand me better than anyone," he said. "I can't imagine a future without you in it. I want you by my side, through everything. I may not be perfect, but I promise I will always do my best to cherish you."
He leaned slightly closer, his eyes full of emotion. "Will you give me that chance, Rina? Will you be mine?"
For a long moment, Rina was silent. Her mind flashed back through all their years together.
She remembered meeting him as a shy five-year-old, and how he had boldly introduced himself. She remembered being twelve and realizing, with sudden clarity, that her feelings for him were changing. She remembered all the laughter, the teasing, the quiet moments—how his presence had become the most important part of her life.
She had been waiting for this. For him.
Her hands trembled, but a soft, radiant smile spread across her face. Tears welled in her pink eyes.
"Leo…" she whispered. "I love you, too."
She took a shaky breath, her voice growing stronger. "I've loved you for so long. Since we were twelve, maybe even earlier. My feelings never changed—they only grew."
She didn't look away. She wanted him to see the truth in her eyes.
"You're reckless, and shameless, and such a pervert…" she said, her smile widening through her tears. "But you're also kind, and warm, and you've always been there for me. I can't imagine my life without you. You're indispensable to me."
Her voice was full of emotion, clear and sure.
''So, yes. Yes, Leo. I'll stay with you, always. No matter where life takes us. Because… my heart has been yours for a long, long time."
As her tears fell, her smile shone brighter than the setting sun. In that moment, the world seemed to glow around them, as if nature itself was blessing their promise.
Two hearts, once separate, now beat as one. Their childhood friendship had blossomed into something deeper—a love that would shape their future.