[ 9:00 PM – Noah's Room ]
Noah's POV
After a warm, tender, and undeniably loving session with Layla, the room felt unusually peaceful. She now sat beside me, an innocent smile on her face that betrayed nothing of the earlier… intensity.
"Who would believe this girl was practically ready to devour me moments ago?" I thought, glancing at her as she leaned into me with a satisfied look.
"Noah," she asked sweetly, her amber eyes gleaming, "did it feel good?"
"…Ah—yes. Thanks to you," I answered honestly.
"Yes! I finally made him feel good—yes!" Layla was practically screaming with joy in her heart, even if her expression remained composed and loving. Her gaze burned with adoration.
I chuckled to myself. "I can't even deny it. That was… heavenly. No woman is as devoted as her. She'd be the perfect wife—as long as you don't make her mad, of course."
She had cleaned me with such care after the mess we made—like it was her duty, her joy. Not once did she complain. In fact, she looked happy. Maybe because it was a result of her love…
Thank the gods she stopped before things escalated even more, or I would've been completely wrecked by the time the others arrived.
Click.
The door opened. We both looked toward it.
Scarlett stepped in, her nightgown soft and silky, colored in deep red that matched her eyes and flushed cheeks. She looked stunning and shy all at once.
"I came," she said gently, walking toward me.
Behind her was Lyra, dressed in a midnight black pajama set that hugged her figure delicately. Her expression was cool as always, but the slight redness on her ears betrayed her calm demeanor.
She sat beside Scarlett at the edge of the bed. I was in the center, with Layla still curled in my lap, arms wrapped around my neck and face nestled on my chest, occasionally taking small sniffs like I was her favorite scent.
Nobody commented. This was just Layla. Everyone had gotten used to her antics—or at least accepted them.
"Now that everyone's here… shall we begin?" Lyra asked, her voice soft.
"Yes, Noah. We should start," Scarlett echoed, her voice filled with calm anticipation.
"I think we should first decide the position," I said, "to make it easier from tomorrow."
"'Position?'" all three asked at once, their eyes narrowing suspiciously.
I sighed.
"No—not that kind of position," I clarified, rubbing my temple. "I meant how we'll sit. For the soul link."
Their shoulders visibly relaxed. Lyra and Scarlett still shot me looks that screamed 'Is there really no other way?' while Layla, unsurprisingly, was all smiles.
After a few minutes of discussion and a bit of shifting, we finally settled in.
"Layla, can't you change position?" I asked, half-defeated.
"Nope. This one's perfect. I can feel you better like this," she replied without hesitation.
We all were lying on my bed together now, Scarlett on my right, holding my hand. Lyra was on my left, doing the same. And Layla?
Well, Layla had claimed her rightful place—on top of me. Her arms wrapped around my neck, her head resting against my chest, listening to my heartbeat like it was music.
My soul imprint glowed faintly at first… and then flared like a radiant flame, casting soft light across the room.
"Alright. Everyone ready?" I asked.
"Yes," they answered together.
I closed my eyes, focusing inward. The world around us shifted—like being gently pulled by a vacuum.
The next moment, we were inside the Soul Space.
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[ Inside the Soul Space ]
Noah's (POV)
"Whoa…"
The girls gasped as the radiant space came into view.
The shift was gentle, like floating into a dream. My eyes opened slowly, and the moment they adjusted—I saw it.
An endless sky above us, painted in soft celestial hues—swirls of violet, sapphire, and gold. Floating lights like tiny stars hovered gently in the air, illuminating the world with a warm, soothing glow. The ground beneath us was translucent, like a polished crystal lake that reflected the sky itself.
My soul space… it's changed again.
Layla was the first to gasp. Her eyes sparkled like a child seeing snow for the first time.
"It's so beautiful…" she whispered, tightening her hold on my neck for a moment, then letting go as she slowly stood.
Scarlett stepped forward next, her red eyes wide with awe. The lights reflected off her nightgown and hair, making her look like a crimson flame dancing in a divine realm.
"This place… it feels alive," she murmured, holding my hand gently as if afraid to break the silence.
Lyra remained composed, but her usually sharp gaze softened. Her hand lingered on mine, and though she didn't say much, her slight smile said everything.
"This… is your soul?" she asked quietly.
I nodded. "Yeah. Or at least… a reflection of it."
The girls slowly began to explore. Everywhere they stepped, gentle ripples of light spread beneath their feet, as if my soul welcomed them.
Each of them radiated a different glow—Scarlett in warm crimson, Layla in deep amber, Lyra in icy blue. The colors mingled with the ambient light of the realm, swirling around me in intricate patterns.
Then, like a heartbeat, a soft pulse echoed through the space—and my soul imprint shimmered in the air above us. Threads of light extended outward from it, reaching toward the girls like vines seeking sunlight.
"This is the link," I said, feeling the warmth rise in my chest. "I called you here to connect with me… fully. Not just mana, not just power—but heart to heart. Soul to soul."
Scarlett reached out first, her fingertips brushing the thread of light. It glowed brighter.
"I trust you, Noah," she said softly. "No matter what comes next, I want to walk beside you."
Lyra followed, her touch cooler, but just as genuine. "You drive me crazy sometimes… but I believe in you."
Layla didn't hesitate. She pressed her hand against my chest again where the imprint glowed brightest, her smile tender.
"I'm already yours," she whispered. "Heart, body, soul. Always."
As they connected, I felt a surge within me—warmth, strength, comfort. Like each of them was pouring their essence into me, wrapping around the aching parts I didn't even realize were still there.
So this is… what it means to not be alone.
Tears nearly welled in my eyes, but I blinked them away and smiled.
"Alright," I said, my voice steady. "Let's begin the link."
Light engulfed us—gentle, powerful, pure.
[ System Notification ]
Soul Link Initiated: Scarlett, Layla, Lyra
The light dimmed slowly. We stood together in silence, hands still connected.
For the first time in a while… I felt truly at peace.
The light slowly faded, but the warmth lingered. I could still feel it—Scarlett's quiet devotion, Lyra's fierce loyalty, Layla's all-consuming love. Each of them had left a mark on my soul.
Scarlett was the first to break the silence, her fingers still entwined with mine.
"That… felt deeper than any spell I've ever cast," she whispered, cheeks flushed. "Like I could hear your heart calling us."
Layla giggled, still clinging to me with a smile too bright for this serene world. "Of course it did. Noah's heart is mine after all. I've just been sharing him with you two because I'm nice."
Scarlett and Lyra glanced at her, unimpressed.
"Really?" Lyra said flatly. "Last I checked, you were the one clinging to him like a koala."
Layla stuck out her tongue. "Don't be jealous just because he likes my cuddles the best."
I chuckled. "Okay, okay, no fighting in the soul space."
"But she started it," Scarlett muttered, though she smiled when I gently squeezed her hand.
Layla leaned her head against my shoulder again. "This place… feels like you, Noah. Calm on the outside, but deep, beautiful, and full of light inside. I could fall asleep here forever…"
Lyra crossed her arms, but there was a rare softness in her gaze. "You've changed a lot since I met you. Back then, you were more… distant. Now, it feels like your soul is finally opening up."
"I had to," I said quietly, looking around. "You three broke down my walls—piece by piece. I'm still selfish, still chasing power… but I don't want to be alone anymore."
Scarlett stepped closer and wrapped one arm around me from the side.
"You're not alone," she said firmly. "You never will be. We're here. Always."
Layla added, "And if you ever forget that, I'll remind you every single night."
Lyra smirked. "Sounds like a threat."
"It is," Layla said sweetly.
I laughed again, then closed my eyes as I felt their warmth surrounding me. Maybe… I didn't have to carry everything alone. Maybe it was okay to lean on them a little.
The sky above shimmered softly, reflecting the peace inside me.
"Let's stay here for a while," I said. "Just us."
They all nodded.
No training. No worries. Just four souls resting in the quiet glow of a bond that could weather anything.
To be continued…