Before Yuri could say another word, Laverna stirred, her eyelids fluttering as though caught between wakefulness and a dream. A sharp gasp escaped her lips, her body tensing, fingers weakly clawing at the sheets.
Her breathing came in ragged, uneven bursts, and then, with half-lidded, panicked eyes, she choked out a single word:
"No!"
Tears welled up in her eyes as she whimpered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want them to die…" she murmured, her face contorted in anguish. "Momma… Pappa… I miss you…"
Her entire body trembled as she wept, the weight of her grief too much to bear even in sleep. It was a pain Shin knew all too well.
He had cried the same way, clutching at the ghosts of a past he could never reclaim. In that moment, it was as if he were looking into a mirror, seeing his own pain reflected in the fragile girl before him.
Without thinking, he reached out and took her hand in his own. The moment his fingers wrapped around hers, her breathing steadied, the tremors in her body easing as if his touch alone anchored her to reality.
The nightmares that plagued her seemed to retreat, her grip loosening as she slipped into a more peaceful slumber. A deep ache settled in his chest. He had done this for her, given her a second chance at life, but no one had ever done the same for him.
Yuri, having witnessed it all, studied Shin intently. In his eyes, she saw the truth, an unspoken bond, an unshakable resolve.
He had saved her, not just in body, but in spirit. And as she looked at him, she realized he had never had anyone to do the same for him.
Laverna stirred again, her fingers twitching in his grasp, and then, in a voice so small it was barely a breath, she whispered, "Don't leave me..."
Shin's throat tightened. The words hit him like a blade to the gut, cutting through the armor he had built around himself.
He had spent years walking alone, telling himself it was easier that way. But here she was, a girl who had suffered just as he had, clinging to his presence even in the depths of her nightmares.
He squeezed her hand gently, a silent promise that, at least for now, he would not let go.
As Yuri studied him, she realized something. She understood his predicament. It was like looking into a mirror. He had given Laverna a second chance at life, something no one had ever done for him.
Unlike him, who was a dead man walking, she still had a future ahead of her. And he had made sure she had the chance to grasp it.
Shin nodded, already bracing himself for the inevitable outburst from suddenly holding Laverna's hand. "It was the only way," he said quickly.
"She was dying, Yuri. If I hadn't done this, she wouldn't have survived. The crest stabilized her, keeping her connected to my mana until she could heal. Once she fully recovers, I'll remove it. I swear."
Yuri sighed, shaking her head. "Poor girl. She has suffered so much, only to wake up and find herself bound yet again."
Shin lowered his gaze. He knew the weight of his decision. He knew she would hate him for it. He gripped Laverna's hand, letting her sleep soundly.
"Yeah. I know," he admitted. "But it was either this… or let her die. I can't undo it until she stops leeching off my mana, but once she fully recovers, I'll set her free."
Yuri studied him for a long moment before placing a comforting hand on his back. "You carry the burden of your family's death. And she most likely carries the same weight."
She glanced at the sleeping fox-kin, her expression softening. "That's why you wanted to save her, isn't it?"
Shin nodded, relieved that Yuri truly understood. It wasn't just about survival; it was about giving someone a chance at life, one that had been stolen from him.
Yuri exhaled, folding her arms. "I get it now," she murmured. "You're looking at yourself in the mirror, aren't you? You gave her a second chance because no one ever gave you one."
Shin didn't answer, but the silence spoke volumes. Yuri's gaze softened further. "Unlike you, she still has a future. And you made sure she has the chance to grasp it."
She let out a slow breath, as if accepting the weight of the truth. "Alright then. I'll keep Guild Master Davis off your back for as long as I can. I'll make up excuses, misplace letters, whatever it takes to buy you time."
Shin's lips twitched slightly. "So I have your full support in avoiding this nightmare?"
Yuri smirked. "Of course. But that means you owe me."
Before he could protest, there was a loud knock on the door. Both of them turned to see another messenger waiting outside, looking determined. Shin immediately took a step back, glancing at the window as if contemplating escape.
Yuri rolled her eyes and, without missing a beat, stepped forward, blocking the messenger's path. "He's out on a mission," she lied smoothly. "Not sure when he'll be back."
The messenger frowned. "But I just saw him enter the Guild—"
"Did you? Or did you see someone who looked like him? It is dark outside," she said, tilting her head. "Maybe you should get your eyes checked."
Shin took the chance to slip toward the window, moving with the precision of a seasoned ninja. With a swift motion, he hoisted himself up, gripping the frame before expertly maneuvering his body to hang just outside, pressing himself against the wall.
His movements were silent, controlled, his breathing steady as he remained hidden from view. Inside, Yuri continued weaving her deception, keeping the messenger distracted just long enough.
The messenger, clearly thrown off, eventually sighed and turned away, muttering under his breath as he left.
Once the coast was clear, Shin pulled himself back inside with practiced ease, landing soundlessly on the wooden floor. Yuri turned just in time to see him straighten his posture. She blinked. "You know, most people would just hide behind a door."
Shin smirked, dusting off his sleeves. "Yeah. And most people get caught."
She deadpanned. "Really? You're that desperate?". Yuri rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress an amused grin. "Alright, ninja boy, let's just hope you don't have to start climbing rooftops next time."
Shin straightened and dusted himself off. "You did say you'd help."
She chuckled, shaking her head. "Alright, fine. But next time, you owe me a drink for every time I cover for you."
Shin sighed. "At this rate, I'll be broke."
"Then wake up your fox-kin faster," Yuri teased before bidding him goodnight. Shin nodded in return, offering her a quiet thanks before closing the door behind her.
Outside, the moon cast long shadows across the Lucky Sturgeon, its pale light seeping through the wooden shutters. Inside the room, the fox-kin stirred, her fingers twitching.
In the depths of her subconscious, something shifted. A voice, her own, yet distant, murmured, Wake up. The darkness around her wavered, rippling like disturbed water.
A presence loomed, familiar yet just out of reach. Then, a whisper, not just her own, but something else, something pulling her back. A warmth, a tether, an anchor to the waking world. Her breath hitched as the sensation grew stronger.
She wasn't alone. Not anymore.