Consciousness returned slowly.
Not like waking from sleep... but like clawing his way out of deep water.
Gohn's eyes fluttered open, his vision fractured into blurred shapes and shifting light. A dull ache pulsed through his entire body, muscles still twitching faintly as if the lightning had never truly left him. Each breath felt heavier than the last, dragging against a chest that refused to fully cooperate.
Something hovered above him.
A hand.
Soft light spilled from it—gentle, green, and steady. A magic circle rotated slowly in the air, its intricate patterns glowing with a soothing rhythm that seeped into his body, easing the stiffness inch by inch.
"Please stay still."
The voice was unfamiliar.
Gohn flinched slightly, his instincts reacting before his thoughts could catch up. Turning his head with effort, he caught sight of a young girl beside him. Her figure was still hazy through his recovering vision, but her presence was clear. A robe draped over her shoulders, a book held carefully in one hand, and eyes...
Emerald green.
Sharp, yet kind.
It was non other than Elira. The C-rank mage whom had just escaped a fate of despair in this very day.
"Careful..." She whispered under her breath, almost as if reminding herself to stay composed.
"What... happened...?" Gohn managed, his voice dry and uneven.
Elira's expression softened the moment she realized he was conscious.
"Oh—thank goodness... I mean—" she stumbled over her own words, straightening slightly, "How do you feel?"
Gohn tried to push himself up.
The moment he did, his muscles betrayed him. A sharp, electric sting shot through his limbs, forcing a low grunt from his throat as he barely managed to sit upright. His teeth clenched, enduring the remnants of the paralysis still clinging stubbornly to his nerves.
And then—
It all came back.
The lightning.
The betrayal.
That human.
His eyes widened instantly.
"What happened to Verex?" he demanded, urgency cutting through the lingering pain.
Elira blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift.
"V-Verex? The other guard?" she clarified quickly. "He's fine! He woke up earlier. They treated him with spirit flowers before I got here, so he's already recovered."
The tension in Gohn's shoulders collapsed all at once.
He leaned back onto the bedding with a heavy exhale, relief washing over his expression.
"...That's good."
He opened his mouth to ask more—to confirm if anyone else had been harmed—but his gaze caught something.
A symbol.
On her robe.
His body reacted before his mind could process it.
He rolled off the bedding in a single motion, ignoring the pain screaming through his limbs as he forced himself upright. His stance shifted instantly, instincts sharpening, eyes locked onto her.
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!"
Elira froze.
The sudden hostility struck her like a physical blow. Her lips parted, words forming but never leaving her mouth. Her fingers tightened slightly around the book she held, her confidence slipping through the cracks of her composure.
Before things could escalate further—
A firm hand caught Gohn's wrist mid-motion.
He stiffened.
Slowly, he looked up.
Haruna.
She stood beside him, calm as ever, her grip steady, her gaze unreadable.
"...Haruna."
The tension drained from him instantly. He stepped back, then dropped to one knee without hesitation, lowering his head.
Haruna didn't respond to him immediately. Instead, her eyes shifted toward Elira.
"Did you get hurt?"
Elira shook her head quickly, forcing a small, nervous smile.
"N-no... He's just... recovering, I think."
Haruna let out a quiet breath before turning her attention back to Gohn.
"As a guard, losing control is not an option," she said evenly. "Be more mindful."
"Yes." His voice was firm despite the lingering strain. "I understand."
He turned to Elira then, lowering his head once more.
"Thank you for treating me... and I sincerely apologize for my behavior."
The shift in tone—so composed, so direct—caught Elira off guard.
Something about it felt... strangely disarming.
Her ears twitched slightly, warmth creeping up to them before she could stop it.
"I-it's fine! Really!" she replied quickly, waving her hands a little too eagerly.
Haruna, already done with the exchange, lifted the tent flap and glanced outside.
"They're ready."
She looked back once, briefly.
"Move out."
And with that, she stepped out without waiting.
Elira hesitated, watching her go, before letting out a quiet breath. When she turned back to Gohn, something about the atmosphere had shifted ever so slightly.
"...Um..."
She fidgeted, an unfamiliar hesitation settling into her movements.
"Do you want me to set up a barrier? To keep you warm, I mean."
Gohn was already gathering the remaining supplies, his movements slower than usual but steady.
"There's no need," he replied. "I've recovered enough—"
He turned.
And stopped.
Elira was suddenly right there.
Far closer than expected.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
His ears twitched faintly as his gaze instinctively shifted away, landing somewhere behind her as if that would somehow stabilize the situation.
"Don't be stubborn..." she said, though her voice came out softer than intended.
Then her attention shifted.
"...Wait... these—"
She leaned in slightly, fingers brushing against the leather on his shoulder. The texture caught her interest immediately.
"Sabertusk leather...? These are high quality."
Her curiosity got the better of her. She pressed lightly against it—only to realize a second too late that she was also... very much touching him.
Both of them froze.
Then—
"I-I'M SORRY!"
They spoke in perfect unison.
Both instinctively bowed.
And knocked their heads together.
A dull thud echoed inside the tent.
"...Ow."
Elira rubbed her forehead, blinking rapidly as she tried to recover.
Gohn, momentarily stunned, immediately leaned forward in concern.
"A-are you alright?"
She paused.
Then laughed.
A light, genuine sound that seemed to dissolve the awkwardness lingering between them.
"You look more hurt than I do," she teased, a small smile forming. "Relax, I'm fine."
A faint glow flickered in her palm as she cast a small healing spell on herself, the discomfort vanishing almost instantly.
Without making a big deal out of it, she moved on, picking up the rolled bedding and securing it neatly.
"You're brave, you know," she said casually, glancing at him. "Not everyone would stand their ground like that."
Gohn's expression dimmed slightly.
"...No," he replied quietly. "I wasn't."
He tightened the straps on his gear, his voice carrying a hint of bitterness.
"I failed to see through him."
Elira shook her head, stepping closer again, this time with a bit more awareness.
"You still resisted," she said, lightly bumping her fist against his shoulder. "That wasn't normal paralysis. Lightning magic forces your muscles to lock instantly. Fighting against that... even for a moment... isn't easy."
Her words weren't empty.
She had seen the signs herself—muscle strain, internal resistance, the subtle damage left behind from someone trying to fight their own body.
But Gohn only bowed his head again.
"...Thank you."
After a brief pause, he added,
"And... forgive me. The crest on your robe—it's the same as the one that man wore."
Elira blinked.
"...Huh?"
She looked down at her robe, fingers brushing over the emblem.
"But this is the crest of Leonhart's Magic Academy."
That only confused him further.
"Magic... academy?"
She nodded, then pointed at him with a small pout.
"Don't go attacking people just because you see this again, okay?"
He stiffened slightly at the proximity again, flustered despite himself.
"I-I understand—"
She broke into laughter.
"I'm kidding," she said lightly. "But still, be careful. A lot of people come from the academy. Some of them are... not exactly friendly."
She handed him the packed bedding, her tone returning to something more practical.
"Let's go. Everyone's already moving."
Gohn nodded, stepping out of the tent.
And then—
He froze.
The sight before him stole his breath.
The massive serpent loomed ahead, its obsidian scales gleaming under the pale sunlight, its enormous body coiled like a living fortress. Bags and supplies were secured along its length, while the others sat atop it with surprising ease, as if this absurdity had already become normal.
Gohn stood there, stunned.
Elira, stepping out behind him, let out a small, awkward laugh.
"...Yeah. I had the same reaction."
He glanced at the abandoned tents scattered behind them, a flicker of hesitation crossing his mind. Resources left behind. Effort wasted.
But he said nothing.
Because in a group like this...
There was probably a reason for everything.
Even if he didn't understand it yet.
---
They walked side by side across the frostbitten ground, boots pressing into snow that whispered beneath each step. The wind had softened since the earlier chaos, but the cold still lingered like a quiet predator, brushing against exposed skin with a patient, biting touch. Gohn kept his pace steady, his senses still sharp despite the lingering ache in his muscles, while Elira matched him with surprising ease, her robe fluttering faintly behind her like a banner of green against white.
Before they reached the others, Elira slowed slightly, lifting her staff with a subtle flick of her wrist. A soft hum followed, and a translucent barrier shimmered into existence around Gohn, wrapping him in a faint glow that pulsed gently like a heartbeat. He paused, glancing at her with quiet confusion, only to be met with a warm, almost playful smile.
"I forgot something important," she said, her tone lighter now, as if deliberately brushing away the tension from earlier. "If we're going to be friends, introductions come first."
She straightened just a little, tapping the end of her staff against the snow as though punctuating her words. "I'm Elira. A mage. C-rank adventurer from the Leonhart Guild." Her lips curled into a smug little grin. "And… I'm in the middle of a promotion to B-rank, just so you know."
Gohn blinked, clearly not grasping the weight of what she had just declared, but he nodded anyway, trying to mirror her sincerity. "I am Gohn. I…" His voice faltered for a moment, searching for something more, something worthy. "I do not have anything else to say."
Elira's brows lifted, a small pout forming as she tilted her head. "That's it? Nothing interesting?"
He shook his head faintly. "Nothing worth mentioning."
For a brief second, she caught the shadow behind those words, something heavier than he let on. The kind of silence that didn't come from emptiness, but from things buried too deep to casually offer. She didn't push it. Instead, she smiled again, softer this time.
"That's fine," she said, nudging his arm lightly with her elbow. "We'll just make better memories from now on."
He nodded, though quietly.
Then, as if struck by a mischievous thought, she slowed again. Her fingers tapped lightly against her staff as her lips curled into something far more playful. "Actually…" she began, dragging the word just enough to make it suspicious, "I'm kind of weak right now."
That was a lie so smooth it barely left a ripple.
"I used almost all my mana just trying to stay warm up here," she continued, placing a hand dramatically over her chest. "So since we're friends now…" Her eyes gleamed, sharp and teasing. "You'll protect me, right?"
There it was. The hook.
Gohn didn't even hesitate.
"Yes."
The answer came out firm, almost reflexive. No hesitation, no doubt. Just quiet resolve.
For some reason, that made her smile widen just a little more than expected.
By the time they reached the others, the scene before them was something out of a fever dream. The massive serpent loomed like a living mountain, its obsidian-black scales catching what little light filtered through the clouds. The faint metallic sheen made it look less like flesh and more like something forged deep beneath the earth. Bags were secured along its body, and the others had already taken their positions along its length, gripping the outward ridges of its hardened scales like riders atop a moving fortress.
Haruna stood near the front, her presence calm yet commanding as always. When she noticed Gohn approaching, she spoke first, her voice steady but not unkind.
"Be careful," she said. "I know this isn't easy for you. But we don't have time to slow down. Lord Haruto is waiting. We need to deliver the spirit herbs before anything goes wrong."
Gohn nodded without hesitation. "Understood."
Elira watched the exchange, her eyes lingering on the way he responded. There was no fear in him when he spoke to Haruna. No hesitation. Just discipline and trust. It stirred something quiet in her thoughts.
Then Haruna turned to her.
"Elira… do you want to come with me?"
She blinked. "With you?"
A nod.
"I figured you might have trouble holding on."
Elira opened her mouth to respond, but before she could even form a proper sentence, the world shifted.
Literally.
Haruna had already moved.
With ease that defied logic, she lifted Elira into her arms. The sudden motion forced a startled squeak out of her, her fingers instinctively gripping onto Haruna's shoulder as her face flushed instantly.
"W-wait—!"
"What?" Haruna asked, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Embarrassed?"
Elira shook her head rapidly, though her burning ears betrayed her immediately.
Haruna didn't press further. Instead, she walked forward and stopped beside Gohn, raising Elira toward him.
"Take her," she said simply. "Keep her safe."
Gohn reached out instinctively, catching Elira with surprising care as he settled her onto the serpent's back. When she finally opened her eyes, the realization hit her all at once.
She wasn't with Haruna anymore.
She was sitting directly in front of Gohn.
Close.
Way too close.
Her back brushed against his chest with every small shift, and the steady warmth of his body bled through the layers between them. Her ears twitched violently as they turned a deep shade of red, her thoughts scrambling into chaos.
Haruna, already walking away, didn't miss it.
"Looks like you two are getting along," she called back, voice laced with amusement. "Might as well stay together."
Elira could've melted into the snow right there.
Meanwhile, at the front, Haruna approached Ray, who stood confidently atop Glaciron's head.
"Ready?" she asked.
Ray grinned. "Always."
Glaciron let out a low, almost pleased hiss as Haruna reached out and gently ran her hand across his head. The massive serpent leaned slightly into the touch, a strange, almost affectionate gesture that made her sigh.
"Man… I'm jealous."
Ray chuckled. "Really? Because we're the ones jealous of you."
She blinked. "What?"
His grin widened, turning sharper, teasing. "You're practically glued to Lord Haruto. The way he treats you… anyone would think you've already secured a special place."
He didn't say it outright.
He didn't need to.
The implication spread like wildfire.
Whispers stirred among the others. Kael, seated behind Ray, narrowed her eyes slightly, her thoughts beginning to piece things together with unsettling clarity. Everything she had seen, everything she had experienced since meeting them… it all pointed to one truth.
Haruto wasn't just strong.
He was something else entirely.
Someone who could command beings like Ray. Someone Haruna followed without question. Someone who could shape monsters into forces that bent the natural order.
A figure like that… wasn't just a leader.
He was a phenomenon.
And Haruna… stood closest to him.
That realization lingered longer than she expected.
Meanwhile, Haruna herself had completely frozen for half a heartbeat before her entire expression snapped into something far more dangerous. Her ears twitched violently, burning red as she shot Ray a glare sharp enough to cut stone.
"Do you have a death wish?"
The air dropped ten degrees.
Ray immediately raised his hands in surrender, though the grin never fully left his face.
Without another word, Haruna crouched slightly…
…and vanished.
No sound. No trail. No blur.
Just gone.
Ray exhaled, shaking his head. "That girl…"
Then he tapped Glaciron lightly. "Alright. Let's move."
The serpent responded instantly.
Its massive body began to slither forward, each movement deliberate and controlled despite its size. It navigated the uneven terrain with eerie precision, coiling and extending with calculated grace as it descended the mountain path. Snow shifted beneath its weight, rocks cracked softly under pressure, yet its motion remained stable enough for its passengers to hold on without being thrown off.
The riders adjusted quickly, gripping onto the hardened ridges and protruding scales along its back. The wind picked up again as they moved, brushing past them in cold streaks, carrying the scent of ice and distant stone.
At the very back, Elira clung tightly at first, her fingers digging into one of the outward spines as the serpent shifted over a jagged incline. The sudden tilt caught her off guard, her balance slipping for just a fraction of a second.
That was enough.
Her body tipped sideways—
—but before she could fall, an arm wrapped firmly around her waist, pulling her back.
Gohn.
The motion was quick, instinctive. Solid.
For a brief second, she just stayed there, pressed against him, her heart pounding far louder than the wind around them. Then reality crashed back in.
She was hugging him.
Tightly.
Her face went completely red.
"I-I'M SORRY—!"
She immediately pulled away, spinning around to face forward again as if that would somehow erase what just happened. Her hands scrambled to grab onto a spine again, this time with far more determination.
Behind her, Gohn exhaled quietly, trying to steady his own breathing. His ears twitched faintly, a hint of color creeping in despite his attempt to remain composed.
Neither of them said anything after that.
The serpent continued its descent, cutting through the mountain path with steady, relentless movement as the sky above slowly shifted. The sun had begun its descent toward the western horizon, its light dimming into a softer gold that stretched across the snowy peaks like a fading promise.
They moved forward.
Faster than before.
And for the first time since entering the mountains… it truly felt like they were heading home.
...