Aren did not release her hand.
His grip was firm, warm—almost burning—but not painful.
It felt like a force pulling her forward, something older than memory and deeper than instinct. Elena stumbled to keep up with his long strides as he guided her through the glowing hallway.
"W-wait," she whispered breathlessly. "I don't understand—please slow down—"
Aren halted immediately, turning back to her with a sharpness that startled her… yet he loosened his grip the moment he saw the panic in her eyes.
His voice softened.
"Did I frighten you?"
Elena opened her mouth to answer—but her tongue refused to form words. His concern, so sudden and out of place on a man who looked carved from war itself, stole her breath.
Aren studied her for a moment—his gaze moving over her face, lingering as if he was memorizing every detail.
Or… reacquainting himself with something precious he thought he had lost.
He drew a slow breath.
"Come," he said gently this time. "You're shaking. You need to sit."
He resumed walking—slower, matching her pace. His hand remained around hers, warm and protective, as he led her back toward her room.
---
THE RETURN TO THE CHAMBER
When they entered the chamber, Clara was waiting, flushed from running, eyes sparkling with excitement and a little fear.
"Commander!" she squeaked, bowing so fast her hair bounced. "I—I didn't know you would arrive this soon!"
Aren's voice was cool, controlled. "You did well. Leave us."
Clara blinked. "But Elena—"
"I'll take care of her."
Clara hesitated.
She glanced at Elena as if to ask silently, Are you alright?
Elena gave a tiny nod.
Clara exhaled in relief and scurried out, closing the door behind her.
Aren released Elena's hand only to walk across the room.
With a single motion of his palm, the wall shimmered.
His armor peeled away from his body—smooth, seamless—dissolving into the wall storage.
Elena's eyes widened.
His upper body was left bare.
Broad shoulders.
Corded muscle.
Skin marked with faint glowing lines—energy veins pulsing beneath the surface.
He looked like a creature sculpted from storm and flame.
Elena jerked her gaze away, heart racing.
Aren didn't seem to notice her fluster at first.
He walked toward a shelf, retrieving a thin cloth and wiping residual battlefield dust from his arms.
Then he turned toward her again—slow, controlled, as if worried she might vanish.
"Elena," he said quietly. "Tell me… what do you remember?"
Her throat tightened painfully.
She clasped her hands, nails digging into her palms.
"I… remember my name," she whispered. "Nothing else. Not this world. Not you."
A flicker—pain, sharp and quick—crossed Aren's eyes before he masked it.
Then he nodded once.
Calm. Accepting.
"As long as you're here."
He took a step closer.
Then another.
Elena backed up instinctively until her back hit the edge of the bed.
Aren stopped immediately—not too close, not too far.
Respectful distance.
Controlled restraint.
He raised his hand slowly—giving her time to stop him if she wanted.
When she didn't pull away, he gently brushed her hair behind her ear.
The touch sent a ripple down her spine—like electricity waking beneath her skin.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Your Core… was silent for so long. I thought I'd lost you."
Elena's breath trembled. "Do you… do you know me?"
Aren's gaze softened with aching sincerity.
"I knew your soul."
Her lips parted.
His voice remained deep but quiet, as if sharing a truth he had guarded for years.
"You appeared at the edge of our Valley half-conscious, your soul form glowing like a star. You called my name before collapsing into my arms."
Elena froze.
"S-soul form?"
Aren nodded.
"You were not in a physical body. You were… light. Energy. Your Core pulsed the same frequency as mine. No one had ever seen it before." A faint smile touched his lips. "Everyone thought it was a trap. That you weren't human."
"What did you do?" she asked softly.
His eyes darkened.
"I held you. And I brought you home."
Elena's heartbeat raced.
He continued, voice low:
"The Council demanded I throw you out of the Valley. They feared you. They wanted proof of your existence, your origin, your loyalty."
Aren stepped closer once more, now close enough that she could feel the faint heat radiating off his body.
"And I told them this—"
He raised her wrist, brushing his thumb over her glowing bond mark.
"This Core chooses only one in a lifetime."
His eyes locked onto hers.
"I told them I would marry you."
Her heart stopped.
"You—married me?" she whispered.
"Yes."
His voice held no hesitation.
"No one could touch you after that."
Elena's knees weakened.
"And when your body finally appeared at the Valley border today…" His voice shook faintly for the first time. "I knew my wait was over."
Silence filled the room—thick, heavy, intimate.
Then Aren suddenly turned to the door.
His posture changed—tension sharpening his shoulders.
One of his commanders approached in full armor.
"Commander," the man said, bowing. "Urgent message from the North Wall—"
Aren lifted a hand without turning.
"Not now."
The soldier bowed deeper, stepping back. "Understood."
When the door shut again, Aren turned back to Elena—his gaze lingering on her as if she were the only thing in the room that mattered.
He spoke with quiet finality.
"I waited for you once."
He reached her again.
"I will not lose you again."
Elena's breath hitched, emotion storming inside her chest—fear, confusion, and something warm she couldn't name.
"Aren…" she whispered.
He bent slightly, his forehead almost touching hers, breath warm against her lips—
But he didn't kiss her.
He stopped just close enough to make her heart race uncontrollably.
"My role is to protect you," he murmured. "Not claim you before you remember me."
His restraint hit her harder than any touch could.
He pulled back gently.
"You are safe," he said, brushing her cheek lightly. "Everything else… we will figure out slowly."
Before she could respond, her knees buckled slightly from the flood of emotion.
Aren caught her instantly, arms around her waist.
"Elena—"
"I'm fine," she whispered, though she wasn't.
He lifted her effortlessly—one arm beneath her knees, one supporting her back.
"Elena."
She clutched his shoulder, voice trembling. "W-what are you doing?"
Aren looked down at her, stormy eyes softening.
"You're overwhelmed. And exhausted."
He carried her to the bed with careful precision.
"You will rest."
He placed her gently onto the sheets and carefully arranged the blankets around her.
Then he knelt down, leaning close.
"I'll stay right outside the door," he murmured. "Call for me if your Core aches or if you feel afraid."
She opened her mouth to argue—
But a warm hand brushed her hair back, and her breath caught.
His final whisper before he stood made her heart ache in a way she couldn't understand:
"I've waited too long to lose you again."
He stepped back, eyes lingering one last moment.
Then he turned and left quietly, the door sealing softly behind him.
Elena lay frozen, clutching her racing heart.
She didn't remember Aren.
But her body…
Her Core…
Her soul…
All responded to him as if she had known him for lifetimes.