After Shyla offered them a place to stay, she stood with a soft smile and gathered the dishes. "Thank you both," Hatku said quietly, almost shyly. "That was… the best meal I've had in ages."
"Same," Tashina added with a warm nod.
Shyla gave a small bow of her head, her red-black hair falling over one shoulder as she carried the plates out of the room.
The moment she disappeared, Tashina leaned closer to Hatku, voice low and sharp. "Hatku. This is your chance. She's off guard. Kill her—before it's too late."
But Hatku wasn't listening.
His eyes were locked on the doorway she had exited through, watching the gentle sway of her hips as she walked. Something stirred deep within him—not the green flame, but something more dangerous.
Emotion.
By the time Shyla returned, her expression was puzzled. "Can I ask something?" she said. "Are you here for a battle? It's the only way someone can travel between realms unless… unless there's something else."
Hatku hesitated. He couldn't tell her the truth—that their father's map had led them here, in search of the myth, the legend… her.
So he lied. "Yeah. I've got a match in a few weeks."
Tashina tensed beside him but didn't argue. She played along.
Shyla sat beside them again, curious. "What's it like, being twins who share the same power? Green flame… that's rare. Even among bloodlines."
"It's... complicated," Tashina said with a half-smile. "But also comforting."
A yawn escaped her lips not long after, and Shyla chuckled. "Alright. That's my cue. Follow me."
She led them through the stone corridors to a guest room with soft beds and warm blankets. "You'll stay here until you're ready to leave the realm."
Tashina muttered a thank-you and collapsed onto the nearest mattress, asleep almost immediately.
Shyla gave Hatku one last glance before walking away toward her meditation chamber.
Hatku, though, wasn't ready for sleep.
The stars were out. The moonlight stretched across the sea, casting silver glints on the surface as Hatku stood barefoot on the sand. Green flames flickered over his arms as he trained silently, controlling the energy, focusing it with breath.
He extended his hand.
A dark orb hovered.
He turned, summoned an ice spear, then shattered it mid-air with a nightmare chain that snaked from his wrist like a shadow beast.
Then he reached for something new—something he'd never used.
"Water Burst," he whispered.
Water lifted from the sea in a spiraling column and shot upward like a geyser.
That's when he heard it—a scream.
"Hatku!"
He spun, green fire already forming in his palm… until he saw her.
Shyla stood drenched, her clothes soaked and clinging tightly to her skin. The thin shirt she wore was practically transparent now.
Hatku froze, his flame flickering out in stunned silence.
Her chest rose and fell with each breath, the wet cloth outlining her curves. He tried to look away—but his gaze lingered. He felt heat flush through him. The raw beauty of her soaked form made his heart pound in his ears.
He looked at her face again—Shyla's eyes wide in shock, yet she said nothing.
"I… I didn't know you were there," he muttered.
Her lips parted, about to speak—but then something strange happened. His hand moved before his mind caught up. Without realizing it, his fingers gently lifted toward her chest.
Shyla didn't stop him.
Her breath hitched as his hand touched her, softly, uncertainly. He traced the curve, pausing.
Eyes closed, he whispered, "So soft…"
His powers stirred. His green flame shimmered faintly—but this time, he controlled it. He stepped closer, drawn by instinct, by need.
He leaned in, and his lips brushed against her neck. She shuddered.
Hatku froze, pulling back. "I… I'm sorry," he said quickly, the spell broken. "I didn't mean to—"
Shyla's voice was husky, playful. "Did I ask you to stop?"
He hesitated, then lowered his head again, pressing a soft kiss to her shoulder. He could feel her pulse quicken beneath his lips. A quiet moan escaped her, surprising them both. His actions became bolder, more confident.
Shyla reached out, her fingers tangling in his hair, urging him closer. The air crackled with unspoken desire.
He deepened the kiss, his arms wrapping around her waist. Shyla moved against him, a silent invitation.
The moment stretched, suspended between hesitation and surrender.