Morning sunlight filtered through the linen curtains of Akina's cottage, casting a golden hue across the room. Birds chirped in the distance, and for a moment, it was as if the chaos of the raid, the looming quests, and Kenzo's otherworldly past had faded.
Kenzo stirred beneath the sheets, blinking against the light.
Akina was already awake, lying beside him with her head propped on one hand, watching him. Her red hair spilled across the pillow, and her green eyes shimmered with something that made his chest ache in the best way.
"Morning, hero," she said softly.
"Morning…" Kenzo replied, smiling as he reached up to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. "Last night wasn't a dream, right?"
Akina leaned forward and kissed the corner of his mouth. "Nope. Real."
They stayed like that for a while, tangled in warmth and silence, until Kenzo sat up and pulled his stat screen open, curiosity gnawing at him.
[Kenzo – Level 7]
Skills:
Reconstruct (Memory-Limited) Bond Expansion Memory-Shard BladesEternal Devotion (1 Marked: Akina)
Something new shimmered below the skill list:
[Bonded Bonus Unlocked: Memory Sharpening – Akina]
When near Akina, all memory-based skills increase in precision and strength. Emotional resonance boosts weapon speed and control.
[Reconstruct Sync: You may now recreate certain basic tools or structures Akina has described, even if not fully remembered.]
Kenzo blinked. That's… new.
He turned to her. "I think the mark… changed how I use my powers. Your memories, your feelings... they're syncing with mine."
Akina's eyes widened. "Wait, really?"
"Yeah. It's like… the deeper our bond, the more my skills grow." He paused, looking at her seriously. "I wasn't sure before, but now I know. This skill and it doesn't just make someone love me. It deepens what's already there. That's the real power."
Akina smiled and placed her hand over the glowing symbol on her chest. It had dimmed slightly since the night before, now resting like a warm ember on her skin. "Then I'm glad I gave it to you. Because I really do love you."
Kenzo swallowed hard, overcome with a quiet wave of emotion. He pulled her into his arms.
"I've never had this before," he whispered into her hair. "Back in my world, I never even left my room. No one ever really looked at me. Not like this. Not like you do."
Akina leaned back just enough to look at him. "You have it now. And I don't care who you were before. You're Kenzo here. You saved us. You saved me."
A knock sounded faintly at the door, reminding them the world outside still existed. The village needed rebuilding. People would be waiting.
They rose together, sharing a quiet laugh as they helped one another clean up, dress, and prepare for the day.
In the small washroom, they stood under a stream of enchanted spring water. Akina leaned against him, tracing her fingers along the mark once more.
"You're not going to mark anyone else, are you?" she asked playfully, but there was an undercurrent of vulnerability.
Kenzo turned her gently toward him. "I don't know what the future holds. But I know this: You're the first. And no matter what happens, you'll never be replaced."
That seemed to reassure her. She nodded, and after drying off, they stepped into the daylight hand-in-hand.
As they walked back toward the heart of the village, Kenzo's screen pulsed again.
[New Quest Available: The Ruins of Veyra – Investigate the Source of the Beasts]
Recommended Level: 10+
Danger: High. Take someone you trust.
Reward:??? + Potential Bond Unlock
Kenzo glanced at Akina, who was already glancing at him with an arched brow. "Another quest?" she asked.
He smiled. "Looks like it."
"Then let's go," she said, her fingers tightening around his. "Together."
And for the first time in this new world, Kenzo didn't feel like he was wandering anymore.
He had direction.
He had purpose.
And he had her.