Faceplanted on the ground, Azure stared at the smoldering landscape, watching as the fire receded and the molten obsidian statue sank back into the earth—like it had simply finished a long shift and decided to take a nap.
"Why now?" he muttered, voice hoarse.
He scanned the battlefield for the hundredth time. No movement. No survivors.
"So they're really gone?"
The silence pressed against him, thick and suffocating. He turned away from the wreckage for maybe the fifth time today, as if refusing to look would change reality.
"How did this even happen?"
Frustration bubbled up. Without thinking, he bashed his forehead against the cold stone floor—once, twice. A bruise bloomed instantly.
"Why can't you remember?!"
His head swam. He sighed and gave up before he concussed himself.
With another deep breath, he shifted his attention to the only lead he had left.
"That dragon girl."
His gaze flicked to the entrance of the cave—empty.
"When is she coming back?" he muttered, tugging at his bound wrists. His eyes drifted to the pile of discarded weapons behind him—swords, daggers, even an enchanted spear—all of which had failed to cut through the damn whip.
"...Who gives an E-rank child a B-rank whip?"
His stomach growled.
He groaned, finally acknowledging a problem he could actually solve.
"I really should have eaten yesterday," he muttered, attempting to sit up.
His arms trembled. His core protested.
"Almost there—yes—no!"
He flopped back down with a defeated exhale.
"Maybe if I just—" He adjusted his angle.
"No, wait."
A long pause.
"One last time."
...Nothing.
Silence.
Then, with an air of resigned misery, he mumbled:
"Well, I actually liked the rocky hard floor anyway."
The ground beneath him trembled slightly, followed by the soft crunch of approaching footsteps.
Azure's eyes brightened for half a second—then dimmed just as fast.
Oh. Right. I'm a prisoner now. Or… a captive? Either way, not ideal.
"Baby bird, still alive down there?"
Why does she always sound so happy?
He turned his head just enough to glare. "I thought you forgot you left me here."
A light chuckle drifted from behind him.
"Sorry, I didn't realize you'd miss me this much. I'll try to come back earlier next time."
"Actually. Never mind. But can I get food now?"
Before Alexia could answer, a new voice—smooth, velvety, and entirely too amused—cut through the air.
"So you don't feed your pets?"
Azure stiffened. His eyes widened in slow horror.
Wait… Someone else is here? Oh no.
And then, as the words truly sank in—
Did he just call me a pet?!
Jaw tightening, he forced himself to respond, even as his face warmed ever so slightly.
"I am a decorated soldier of Queen Nerissa's empire. I am not a pet. Or a baby bird. My name is Azure."
Flat. Calm. Dignified.
A pause.
Then the voice returned, smugger than before.
"Azure, has anyone ever told you you'd look good in a dress?"
He choked on air.
"You're right, Helian," Alexia added way too quickly, her voice laced with fake realization. "I see it now!"
Azure froze.
WHAT? NO.
Azure tried to turn back and protest, but black leather boots appeared in his line of vision. His gaze lifted—gold and black armor, a masked face. But those glowing golden eyes? A dead giveaway.
"Sorry, baby bird, but I don't have food," Alexia said, voice teasing. Then, just as he opened his mouth to argue—
She waved a piece of bread in front of him.
"Surprise!"
Azure involuntarily gulped. Bread. It wasn't much, but it was better than the nothing he had now.
"You want it, don't you?" she cooed, waggling the loaf just out of reach.
Before he could snap back, a smooth, velvety voice cut in.
"I bet he wants something even tastier. Like myself."
Silence.
Azure turned red. Then redder. Then crimson.
Alexia cackled.
Helian simply smirked.
Azure, bound and humiliated, did the only thing he could.
He face-planted into the dirt.
"Oh, stop that. I'll give you the bread."
Azure's head snapped up, eyes shining with hope.
"Being cute won't save you. I have... CONDITIONS."
His eyes dimmed instantly. Alexia laughed.
"The condition is that Helian has to carry you out of here."
Helian?
Azure slowly turned to look at the red-clad menace behind them.
Helian winked.
Azure immediately turned back to her. "Why? Who is he?"
"Someone I found in the ruins," Alexia said with a teasing grin. "Trust me, you're probably too weak to walk out on your own. I'm doing this because you have to live, not flop."
Azure shot her a glance, then eyed Helian and the tempting loaf of bread dangling just out of reach.
He gulped, his eyes glued to the bread as Alexia brought it closer, then snatched it away just as his lips parted.
He swallowed hard, his eyes locked on it. "Fine. Just untie me... and maybe... give me the bread." He mumbled, his voice barely audible as he refused to look at her.
"Good choice, baby bird."
Alexia smirked, moving to remove the whip from his wrists. The moment his hands were free, they shot straight for the bread.
A grin spread across his face as he stuffed the loaf into his mouth, barely pausing to chew.
" Mmm!" Azure protested, his mouth full of bread as Helian picked him up effortlessly.
"Darling, I would've carried you on my back, but you look much better this way," Helian chuckled, effortlessly sweeping him into a princess carry.
Alexia pretended she didn't see a thing. "Well, let's go," she muttered, her voice a touch too calm. Sorry, Azure, but I don't like being teased. You're on your own with this one.
"Helian, make sure he doesn't look around," Alexia ordered, her back turned as she marched forward.
"Okay!" Helian chirped, completely too happy with this. He shoved Azure's face into his chest. "No biting or licking, darling."
Azure, in total denial, decided his best strategy was to ignore reality itself.
See no evil. Hear no evil. I am not here.
"Darling, don't worry," Helian purred, adjusting his grip with infuriating ease. "I'll make sure you get comfortable in my arms. One day, you'll realize it's the best place to be."
Azure blinked. Deep breath in.
"Shh." Helian leaned in, voice dropping into something far too smug. "Save your voice for later. I might just make you scream."
Azure jerked back so fast, he almost gave himself whiplash. "LET ME GO!"
Up ahead, Alexia picked up the pace. She refused to turn around. If she didn't see it, it wasn't happening.
She looked toward Thrakos—the slumbering, terrifying statue—and exhaled, shoulders slumping. "This place has made me cry, blush, and break down."
Then, after a brief pause, her lips twitched into a smile. "There is no way in hell I'm ever coming back."
***
"Calm. Collected. Safe."
The words echoed through the dungeon, bouncing off damp stone walls like a lullaby meant to soothe a caged beast. Under the dim glow of the red moon filtering through the iron bars, a blue-haired man muttered, his voice strained.
"Safe."
"Yes. Safe. Calm. Everyone's a liar."
Aqua's breath hitched. His chains rattled as he lunged forward, wrists wrenching against the bloodstained shackles.
"Liar!" he snarled, raw fury contorting his face. "She lied to me!"
The scent of blood thickened as he yanked harder, metal biting into his torn skin.
Bubbles flinched. She curled her fists, nails digging into her palms, but kept her voice steady.
"Who lied?"
Aqua's head snapped up. His crimson eyes burned with betrayal.
"Bubbles!"
Silence.
For a moment, Bubbles just stared.
Then, she exhaled slowly, her expression unreadable.
"Bubbles didn't lie, Aqua." Her voice was softer now, deliberate. "Nerissa did."
Aqua stilled. A tremor ran through his body, his ragged breath turning uneven.
Then he convulsed—spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Aqua!"
Bubbles darted forward, catching him before he collapsed. His body was burning, muscles coiled tight as if fighting something unseen.
"Liar!" His voice cracked. "The Queen wouldn't lie!"
He shoved her back, shaking his head so violently his damp hair whipped against his face. He looked lost—like a child whose entire world had just crumbled.
And then, the fight drained from him. His hands trembled as he stared at his bloodstained fingers, his voice barely above a whisper.
"She wouldn't… she wouldn't lie to me."
Bubbles swallowed hard, watching the war behind his eyes.
"Why do you trust her so much?"
Her voice was quiet. Almost… sad.
But Aqua didn't answer. He just clutched his chains, his whole body trembling—not with rage this time, but with something far worse.
"You trust her. Why?"
Aqua's breath hitched. His fingers twitched against the cold iron binding his wrists. He shouldn't answer. He wouldn't answer. But the words came anyway, spilling from his lips like a confession he never meant to make.
"She saved me. Saved me from them."
"Who?"
Silence. His throat tightened. A metallic taste coated his tongue.
"She saved me."
"But you betrayed her."
His entire body jerked as if struck. No. He hadn't—he wouldn't.
"I didn't."
"You did."
"I didn't." His voice cracked, barely more than a rasp.
"Aqua, you did." Her tone was gentle, almost sympathetic. The kind of voice used to soothe a dying animal, right before the blade fell.
"You trusted a traitor."
He sucked in a breath. The chains rattled as his hands clenched into fists.
"I didn't."
"But you did. And now? She'll never forgive you."
Something in his chest caved in. A cold, hollow void replaced it. No. It wasn't true. It couldn't be true.
"I didn't." His voice was barely audible now. A whisper drowning in blood.
"Give up."
His body tensed.
"Don't resist."
The weight of her words pressed down on him like an anchor dragging him into the abyss.
"Open up to me, Aqua."
The air felt thinner. His vision blurred at the edges.
"You have no one else."
His breath shuddered. The iron restraints dug into his skin, but he barely felt it.
"This is for the best."
Silence.
Then—Aqua stopped struggling.
Bubbles cupped Aqua's face, staring into his vacant, glassy eyes.
Slowly, she ran her fingers along his cheek, her touch featherlight.
"What's your name?" she murmured.
For a moment, silence. Then—
"Aquafina."
Her lips twitched. A laugh almost slipped, but she swallowed it down.
"Why do you have a girl's name?"
Aqua blinked, sluggish. "Queen Nerissa thought I was a girl when she found me."
Bubbles' hand stilled. "Why?" she asked, voice softer now.
His jaw tensed.
"Why, Aqua?"
His breath hitched, his throat working around the words.
"Because she found them using me."
Bubbles' fingers curled slightly against his skin.
"For what?" she whispered.
Aqua's eyes drifted past her, unfocused. "To relieve themselves."
Bubbles froze. A heartbeat passed.
"…How do you know?"
"I shouldn't have remembered." His brows furrowed. A muscle in his jaw twitched. He shook his head, as if trying to shake loose the thoughts. "I don't remember."
But his voice cracked.
Bubbles inhaled slowly, pressing her thumb against his cheek. She tilted his face up.
"Don't worry," she murmured, her voice turning gentle. "Do you like Bubbles?"
Aqua's tense shoulders loosened slightly. His lips parted.
"Yes. She's… special."
Something flickered in Bubbles' gaze—a brief, genuine surprise.
"Good." Her tone smoothed, coaxing. "We're together now. And you're going to listen to me."
"…Okay."
Her fingers slid down to his chin, tilting his head just enough to meet her eyes.
"Call me wife."
A single, empty pause. Then—
"Okay, wife."
"Sleep."
"Okay, wife." His voice was soft, almost childlike.
And then, his body sagged, his breathing evening out.