Morning light filtered softly through the curtains of Room 45. Kairos woke first, his body still heavy from the deep, dreamless sleep the system had forced on them. The single large bed felt even bigger now that the effects of the chocolate had worn off.
He turned his head slowly.
Aria was lying beside him, still asleep, her raven-black hair spread across the pillow like silk. The faint cut on her lower lip was visible — a small reminder of what had happened last night. Kairos touched his own lip and felt the matching mark.
His face heated up instantly.
Oh no… what did we do?
Aria stirred a moment later. Her violet eyes opened, blinked once, then widened as the memories flooded back. She sat up quickly, pulling the blanket higher around herself, cheeks turning bright red.
For almost a full minute, neither of them spoke. The silence was thick, awkward, and painfully funny at the same time.
Kairos cleared his throat, trying to sound casual.
"So… good morning?"
Aria stared at him, then looked away toward the window, clearly embarrassed.
"Good morning," she muttered.
Kairos rubbed the back of his neck.
"About last night… the chocolate… I didn't know it was—"
"I know," Aria cut in quickly, still not meeting his eyes. "It wasn't your fault. Or mine. It was that stupid hotel dessert."
Kairos nodded rapidly.
"Exactly. Just a mistake. A very… strong mistake."
Aria finally glanced at him, her expression a mix of annoyance and amusement.
"You kissed me back, you know."
Kairos's face turned even redder.
"I… uh… yes. I did. But only because you started it first."
Aria's eyes narrowed, but the corner of her mouth twitched like she was fighting a smile.
"So it's my fault now?"
"No, no! I'm just saying… we both… lost control for a minute."
They both fell silent again, staring at opposite walls.
Kairos finally let out a nervous laugh.
"This is the most awkward morning of my life."
Aria let out a small, reluctant chuckle.
"Mine too. And I've dealt with Reck's pranks for years."
Kairos sat up straighter, trying to change the subject.
"Anyway… are you hungry? Should we order breakfast here?"
Aria shook her head immediately.
"No. Not here. Let's eat at the next hotel on the road. I don't want to stay in this room any longer than necessary."
"Fair enough," Kairos said, relieved. "Let's get ready and leave."
They got dressed quickly — avoiding eye contact as much as possible — and packed their things in silence. The tension was still there, but it had shifted into something lighter, almost playful.
As they walked out of the hotel, Kairos couldn't resist one last teasing comment.
"By the way… you look really nice even without the mask."
Aria shot him a glare, but her cheeks flushed again.
"Shut up and drive."
The car rolled smoothly along the coastal highway. The sea glittered on their right, sunlight dancing on the waves. For the first few hours they talked about normal things — the weather, the road conditions, small details about the upcoming hunt.
But every now and then the previous night would sneak back into the conversation.
At one point Aria said, "If Reck ever finds out what happened last night, he will never let us live it down."
Kairos grinned. "Then we take that secret to the grave."
Aria smiled despite herself. "Deal."
After several hours of driving, they spotted another hotel ahead — a clean, mid-sized place called "Coastal Rest." It looked perfect for a stop.
"Let's eat here," Aria suggested.
They parked and walked inside. The lobby was bright and welcoming.
As they approached the entrance, Kairos noticed a small boy sitting alone on the steps outside. He looked about eight or nine years old, clothes torn and dirty, face smudged with dust. He was hugging his knees, looking lost and hungry.
Kairos stopped.
"Wait here a second," he told Aria softly.
He walked over and crouched down in front of the boy.
"Hey there," Kairos said gently. "Are you okay? Are you with someone? Your parents?"
The boy looked up with big, tired eyes.
"My name is Orwen," he said in a small voice. "I haven't eaten anything for two days. I was with my mom and dad… but we were on the road and some Crystos started fighting. There was a big explosion. I got separated from them. I don't know where they are."
Kairos's heart tightened.
The boy's situation hit him hard. It reminded him of his own childhood — standing alone outside a hotel, no money, no parents, no one asking if he was okay. Back then, no one had stopped to help him either.
He smiled kindly and held out his hand.
"Come with me, Orwen. Let's get you something to eat first. Then we'll find your mom and dad."
Orwen hesitated for a second, then took Kairos's hand.
Aria watched from a distance, her expression softening as she saw Kairos helping the child.
Inside the hotel restaurant, Kairos ordered a full meal for Orwen — rice, vegetables, grilled fish, and fresh juice. The boy ate like he hadn't seen food in weeks.
While Orwen ate, Kairos asked gently, "Where did you last see your parents? Do you remember the place?"
Orwen nodded between bites. "It was near the old bridge… the one with the broken tower. We were driving toward the coast."
Kairos nodded. "We'll take you there. Don't worry."
Aria sat quietly, watching Kairos interact with the boy. In her mind she thought:
This man… he really has a good heart.
After Orwen finished eating, they all got back into the car. The drive to the old bridge area took a couple of hours. During the journey, Orwen slowly opened up, telling them small stories about his parents.
When they finally reached the location, they spotted a small group of worried people searching the area. Orwen's eyes lit up.
"Mom! Dad!"
He jumped out of the car and ran toward them. His parents cried with relief, hugging him tightly.
The father looked at Kairos and Aria, tears in his eyes.
"Thank you… thank you so much for bringing our son back."
Kairos smiled. "Just glad he's safe."
As they drove away, leaving the reunited family behind, Aria glanced at Kairos.
"You didn't have to do that," she said softly. "But you did anyway."
Kairos shrugged, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Someone once told me that kindness costs nothing… but it can change everything."
Aria looked at him for a long moment, a small, warm smile on her lips.
The car continued down the coastal road, the sea sparkling beside them.
To be continued...