It had been a week since Layla's recovery.
During that time, Noah had begun taking guild quests again—but not once did he leave Layla unattended. Either Scarlett or Lyra would always stay behind, making sure she had company and comfort.
Layla was living like royalty now. Spoiled, protected, adored.
Noah's tender care, feeding her meals, gently helping her when she needed anything… it made her feel loved in ways she thought were only for dreams. The dark days of pain and solitude were fading, replaced by warmth. A rare peace had found its way into her broken heart.
She smiled more now. She blushed more too.
And just like that, this odd but beautiful little family had formed a rhythm.
Two of them would go on guild missions while one remained behind for Layla. It worked. But not everything was perfect beneath the surface.
It was on one such evening, after completing a quest, that Noah noticed something was off.
He and Lyra were walking back through a dusky cobblestone path, the sky painted with orange and fading blue. Yet Lyra's steps felt… heavy.
She wasn't speaking. Not teasing, not smirking—just walking with her eyes downcast, fingers nervously fidgeting with her cloak.
Noah frowned. His instincts kicked in. Something's bothering her.
Without hesitation, he reached out and grabbed her hand.
Lyra gasped slightly. "N-Noah?"
He didn't say anything—just turned, and gently pulled her off the main street toward a quiet park nearby. The cool breeze rustled the trees as the sun dipped further behind the buildings.
He sat her down on a worn wooden bench beneath a great elm tree. The silence between them stretched.
He didn't let go of her hand.
She stared at him, eyes flicking to their joined hands, but made no effort to pull away. Why don't I hate this?
Why does his touch feel like safety?
"Lyra," he began quietly, "what's wrong?"
She blinked. "Nothing. I'm fine."
"Don't lie to me."
His voice was firmer this time.
"You've been distant… quieter than usual. I know you, Lyra. You're strong, you're confident, but you're not heartless. And lately… you've been carrying something. I can feel it."
She looked away, lips pressed into a thin line.
"Talk to me," he said gently. "Please."
She forced a smirk. "Maybe I'm just bored of all this. Maybe it's nothing."
"Lyra," he said again, eyes narrowing, "you act like you're fighting the world alone. That's not nothing."
She didn't respond.
Noah stood up.
"If you really don't trust me… if you can't tell me what's hurting you, then I won't force it." His voice was soft but edged with pain. "I just thought… I was close enough to be someone you could lean on."
And just like that, he turned to walk away.
No…
Her heart twisted at the sight of his back.
Don't go. Don't leave like this.
"W-Wait!"
She grabbed his hand, her voice trembling.
He stopped.
She looked at the ground, teeth clenched, fists shaking. And then—
"I'm scared."
He turned back to her, eyes wide.
"I see Scarlett growing so fast. She commands an army of shadows now. She's terrifyingly powerful. And Layla—after what happened to her—she's become something else. Her powers, her presence… everything about her has changed."
Lyra's voice cracked.
"And you…" she looked up at him, pain etched in her eyes, "you can control multiple elements. You keep evolving. Your strength, your heart… you keep shining brighter."
Tears welled in her eyes.
"And me? I'm stuck. I try, I train, but I feel like I'm standing still while all of you race ahead."
Her hands gripped her dress tightly.
"I'm afraid that one day… you'll look at me and wonder why I'm still here. That you'll decide I'm too weak… too useless… and just leave me behind."
Noah was stunned. This was the side of Lyra no one ever saw—guarded, afraid, raw.
He stepped forward, kneeling in front of her again.
"Lyra," he said softly. "Look at me."
She hesitated… and then lifted her gaze.
"I would never leave you. Never."
"You don't have to be the strongest. You don't have to be perfect. You're enough, just like this."
She bit her lip. "But—"
"You're not useless," he interrupted. "You've helped me more times than I can count. You've protected Scarlett. You've watched over Layla. You've stood tall even with the weight of your past on your shoulders."
"I need you, Lyra."
Still… she trembled.
He could see she was still afraid. Still doubting herself.
Noah saw the pain buried in her eyes. The walls she built—brick by brick—were still standing tall, but they were trembling.
"I guess I have no choice…" he muttered under his breath.
He gently knelt in front of her, placed his hand on her cheek, and softly guided her eyes to meet his.
"Lyra," he said, his voice filled with quiet conviction, "I will never leave you."
And before she could even react, his lips met hers.
Her eyes widened. She instinctively pushed at his chest—weakly. But he didn't pull away. He kept the kiss gentle, sincere, honest. It wasn't demanding—it was reassuring.
It wasn't desire.
It was promise.
She stopped resisting.
Her heart raced in her chest. Her body trembled as emotions she had long buried started to surge up like a tidal wave.
When Noah finally broke the kiss, he whispered,
"Now I'm yours… and you're...mine. We'll always be together."
She stared at him—stunned, breathless.
Noah smiled softly, brushing away a stray tear from her cheek.
Then—she broke.
Tears flowed silently down her face. She lowered her head into his chest and hugged him tightly, as if afraid he might vanish if she let go.
And through sobs, her voice came out—raw and trembling.
"…I couldn't trust anyone, Noah."
He just held her tighter.
"After my mom died, everyone… they all left. People who said they'd care for me… lied. I was tossed from one home to another like a burden. Some used me. Some ignored me. Others just… broke me."
She trembled against him.
"I kept thinking… if I don't let anyone in, they can't hurt me. If I don't love anyone, I won't be abandoned again."
She looked up, tears streaming.
"But then I met you. And Scarlett. And Layla. And you all kept staying no matter how distant or cold I acted. And it scared me more than anything else ever had."
Her voice cracked.
"I was so afraid you'd stop needing me. That I'd fall behind and you'd all leave. I just—" her voice faltered again, "—I couldn't handle it."
Noah cupped her face in both hands, forehead gently touching hers.
"I'm not going anywhere, Lyra. I choose you. Over and over again."
She let out a weak laugh through the tears, still holding onto him like her life depended on it.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "For doubting you. For doubting them. For thinking I had to face everything alone."
Noah simply smiled and patted her head.
"I won't break your trust," he said. "I promise."
And for the first time since she was a child—Lyra believed it.
[Ding!]
(Lyra's affection has reached 90!)
(Lyra has become your True Lover.)
The walk back to the inn was quiet, but not awkward. It was the kind of silence that felt right. Their fingers remained intertwined, and Lyra—usually so cold and reserved—was blushing like a schoolgirl the entire time.
Her walls weren't just cracking anymore. They were gone.
When they stepped into the room, the first thing they saw was Scarlett sprawled across the couch with a book in her hand and Layla—still pampered and queen-like—lying in bed with her usual playful smirk.
But when both girls noticed the subtle change in Lyra's demeanor and the fact that she didn't let go of Noah's hand even after they walked in… their eyes narrowed simultaneously.
Scarlett raised a brow. Layla's grin turned devilish.
"…So," Scarlett said, closing her book with a loud snap. "Something happened."
Layla gasped dramatically and sat up in bed. "Oh my GOD. Don't tell me—did you finally melt the Ice Queen?"
Lyra's blush exploded like wildfire. She tried to let go of Noah's hand, but he just tightened his grip and gave her a reassuring glance.
"I–It's not like that—" Lyra tried, but it was too late.
"Not like that? You're literally glowing, Lyra. You look like someone just confessed their eternal love and kissed you senseless." Layla giggled, pointing at her blushing face.
Scarlett stood and walked over, her arms folded. "You're not denying the kiss part either."
Lyra looked away, trying desperately to hide behind her curtain of black hair.
Noah scratched the back of his neck. "Okay, okay. You two got us."
Layla gasped again. "So it's TRUE?"
Noah laughed softly. "We talked. A lot. Lyra just needed to get some things off her chest."
Scarlett's expression softened. She turned to Lyra. "Did it help?"
Lyra hesitated. Then slowly nodded. "Yeah… it did."
Layla's teasing smirk dimmed for a moment as she leaned back against the pillows, her tone more honest. "You know, I get it. Being alone, afraid to trust... I lived with that too."
Everyone turned toward her.
"Noah stopped talking me when I was ten," Layla continued, eyes distant but smile still present. "I kept pretending everything was fine. I joked, flirted, laughed. But inside, I was just screaming for someone to care. To really see me."
Her amber eyes met Lyra's.
"So when I met you guys… and especially Noah, I couldn't help myself. I clung to you all. I didn't want to go back to being empty."
Her voice softened. "You're not alone anymore, Lyra. You never were."
Scarlett moved beside Layla and gave her hand a squeeze. "She's right. We're a mess, all of us—but we're together."
Noah looked at the three of them, his heart swelling with something warm and heavy.
This.
This was his family now.
Layla blinked and then smirked again, the serious moment passing like wind. "Also! Excuse me—but you better explain how this happened, Noah."
Lyra groaned. "Please don't—"
"Oh no, no," Layla said, already crawling toward him. "I want details. Where, when, how long—was there tongue?"
Noah backed up with a panicked expression. "Hey—calm down—"
Layla suddenly grabbed his ear and twisted it playfully. "You CHEATER! I was away for a week and you are kissing out there! And with my friend!"
"OW–! It was an emergency kiss! Emotional support!" Noah pleaded.
Scarlett cracked up laughing, holding her stomach. "An emotional support kiss? That's a new one."
Lyra hid her face in her hands, red as a tomato. "I hate all of you…"
Layla finally let go of Noah's ear and flopped down dramatically. "Ugh, you better kiss me double the amount at night before sleep!"
Scarlett shrugged with a smirk. " Don't forget about me as well "
"Wha—?" Noah was on the verge of a nosebleed.
Lyra shot them both a glare, then growled lowly. "He's mine now. I will literally freeze you both."
Scarlett raised an eyebrow. "Possessive already, huh?"
Layla giggled. "That's my girl."
Despite all the teasing, laughter echoed through the room. The tension that had haunted them for weeks finally melted into something light, something real.
And that night, as they sat together—Scarlett curled up with her book, Layla dozing off with a smile, and Lyra leaning against Noah's shoulder, their hands still entwined—he felt it again.
That warmth.
That peace.
He had chosen them.
And somehow, despite everything… they had chosen him too.
End of the chapter...