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The forest canopy opened slightly as the group made camp near a bubbling spring. Shafts of twilight pierced through, painting soft colors on mossy stones. It was the first true moment of calm they'd had in days.
Yuki sat by the water, eyes half-lidded, wings draped lazily over his back. He could sense them around him—five distinct presences now, all orbiting his life like satellites caught in his gravity.
Lumi stretched with a dramatic yawn. "Finally! A moment to breathe. I was starting to forget what non-lethal air tastes like."
Elira sat beside her, casting a protective barrier around the camp. "You exaggerate."
"I do not. I'm a delicate flower, Elira. I need pampering, naps, and possibly snacks."
"A flower with blades for petals," Seiris remarked dryly, arms crossed from her perch on a low branch.
Lumi grinned. "Well, even roses have thorns."
Aeiris, still visibly shy, sat a bit apart, her gaze flickering between the others and then to Yuki. "It's… peaceful now."
Yuki gave a soft chuckle. "That's rare coming from someone who was mind-controlled by a soul parasite ten minutes ago."
She flushed. "Y-You don't have to remind me."
Sylvaeria floated over to Yuki and leaned against his shoulder—not out of necessity, but familiarity. "You handled it well. All of you."
"Tch," Seiris scoffed. "We're still too slow. I should've noticed she was being used."
"You were the first to act when the parasite revealed itself," Yuki said. "Don't undervalue that."
Elira, settling beside Aeiris, smiled. "Besides, it's over now. She's safe. And… welcome to the chaos."
Aeiris blinked. "You mean the group?"
"She means the harem," Lumi said far too casually, resting her head on Yuki's tail.
Aeiris squeaked.
"I—wha—huh?"
Sylvaeria's expression soured, lips puffing. "She doesn't need to know everything yet."
"I think it's adorable," Elira said, hiding a giggle behind her fingers.
"I think I need tea," Aeiris muttered, overwhelmed.
Seiris, still perched above, raised an eyebrow. "Don't think you're off the hook, Yuki. You're gathering girls like a collector hoarding rare artifacts."
Yuki sighed, but his voice carried a faint smirk. "It's not like I planned it. You all just refused to leave."
"Because you're interesting," Lumi chimed. "And dragon cuddles are *top tier.*"
Aeiris blinked again, flustered. "You—You cuddle with him?"
"Regularly."
"Elira too," Elira confirmed with a nonchalant nod.
Aeiris looked at Seiris in desperation. "You too?!"
Seiris didn't answer. Just looked away. That said enough.
Yuki cleared his throat. "Let's focus on what's next. The enemy base isn't far. And the final boss is definitely expecting us now."
Sylvaeria's expression turned serious. "We still don't know his full abilities. His last puppet was dangerous even without a complete link."
"Which is why we'll fight smarter," Elira added. "I've been studying his arcane patterns. He uses a mirrored soul matrix—it reflects our strongest traits back at us. Meaning we need to be ready to face ourselves."
"So basically," Lumi said, drawing her sword, "I'll be fighting an unfunny, super-serious version of myself."
"Terrifying," Yuki deadpanned.
Seiris chuckled. "Let's be ready. Tomorrow, we hit him hard. Together."
The camp fell quiet, but not with tension—just the comfort of shared warmth and growing bonds.
As the stars blinked to life above, Yuki looked at them all—warriors, witches, spirits, assassins, survivors.
His heart, once distant and dragon-bound, felt full.
And just maybe, a little bit human still.
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