Cassian and Lumine didn't do much that night. After some heavy conversation—kept lighthearted with humor—it wasn't quite enough to lead to anything more intimate.
So, they simply slept, undisturbed, as the once-peaceful village-turned-army-post remained quiet through the night.
Cassian was only woken by a soft rustling against his chest. He could feel two heartbeats—one strong and steady, the other faint and barely noticeable, as if it belonged to something small resting right on top of him.
Blinking away the haze of sleep, his vision gradually cleared. He glanced down and found Lumine sleeping soundly on one side of his chest, her warm body pressed against him. On the other side, nestled against him, was a tiny, furry kitten.
Its dark purple fur shimmered under the dim morning light as it nuzzled into his chest, lost in deep sleep. Cassian smiled, reaching out to gently stroke its soft fur.
"Hey there, little buddy…" he murmured, his other hand instinctively rubbing Lumine's shoulder. In response, both she and the kitten snuggled closer, making him chuckle softly.
Seeing them so peaceful, Cassian didn't really want to wake them—but they had to leave. If they stayed any longer, his team at the main camp would start worrying.
With a soft sigh, he reached out and gently brushed a few strands of hair from Lumine's face, revealing the smooth, radiant skin beneath. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly before her eyes slowly opened.
"Good morning, beautiful…" Cassian murmured with a smirk.
"Good morning, handsome…" she whispered against his mouth before finally opening her eyes fully.
As she adjusted to the morning light, a soft mewing sound caught her attention. Their movements had roused the tiny kitten, which weakly lifted its head and blinked at them with deep blue eyes that seemed to glow with a soft light.
With slow, wobbly steps, it made its way toward Lumine and licked her face, earning a bright smile from her. Giggling, she scooped the kitten up and cradled it gently.
"Good morning to you too, little one…" she cooed, stroking its soft fur.
Still half-asleep, Lumine smiled and, without hesitation, reached for his face. With her eyes barely open, she pulled him in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
Cassian watched with a smirk as Lumine cradled the kitten, her silver lashes fluttering as she smiled down at the tiny creature. The kitten let out a soft purr, nestling into her warmth, clearly enjoying the attention.
"You're already spoiling it," Cassian chuckled, propping himself up on one elbow.
"And?" Lumine shot him a playful look before rubbing her cheek against the kitten's soft fur. "She deserves it. Just look at her—so tiny, so precious."
Cassian shook his head with an amused sigh. "You're going to turn it into a spoiled little princess at this rate."
"I wouldn't mind if it gets a little spoiled," Lumine said softly, cradling the tiny creature. "This little one lost its whole family when that monster razed the village…"
She placed a gentle kiss on its tiny head, but the kitten, looking slightly annoyed, mewed and tried to push her away.
Of course, that didn't stop Lumine from showering it with even more affectionate kisses.
But the lighthearted moment didn't last long. As they stepped out of their tent, the mood around the camp had shifted. Tension hung in the air as news spread—high-circle warriors, some as strong as sixth-rank, had joined the battle in the jungle. The reason? Reports of a giant monster going on a killing spree, wiping out an entire village and the stationed guards sent to defend it.
Cassian's thoughts immediately went to Cassandra.
And before he could dwell on it further, he spotted her approaching.
Her worried gaze flickered over them before, without hesitation, she wrapped her arms tightly around Lumine, surprising both her and the kitten caught between them.
"You're safe…" Cassandra murmured in a relieved tone.
Lumine smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I am."
"Me too…" Cassian grinned, watching the two embrace. Spreading his arms wide, he playfully added, "I'm safe too. No hugs for me?"
He was immediately met with Cassandra's furious glare.
"No," she snapped, her voice sharp with anger. "Because if she had died last night, it would have been your fault."
Cassian blinked, caught off guard by her sudden outburst.
Before he could respond, Lumine stepped in, her tone calm but firm. "Don't be like that, sister. I chose to do this on my own."
Cassandra's expression didn't soften, but Lumine wasn't finished.
"And so what if I was in danger?" she continued. "You're in danger all the time."
Cassandra looked frustrated, watching Lumine take Cassian's side. In her eyes, he had carelessly let her dear little sister spend a night in the jungle—something she wouldn't have allowed even in normal circumstances. But now, with the dangers lurking in this region, she wouldn't have been surprised if Lumine hadn't survived the night without suffering.
"It's different for me, Lumine, because—"
"Because you're strong," Lumine interrupted, cutting her off.
Cassandra fell silent. She couldn't argue—Lumine was right. The only reason she could handle danger was because she had the strength to survive it.
"Well, guess what?" Lumine continued, her tone unwavering. "You became this powerful by facing those dangers. Now it's my turn. How else am I supposed to become as strong as you?"
Cassandra's expression softened, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes at Lumine's words. She looked away for a moment, as if struggling with her emotions, before letting out a slow sigh.
Lumine noticed and sighed as well. "Don't make that long face now," she said, reaching out to squeeze her sister's hand. "I'm not asking you to stop worrying about me. I just want you to know that I'm a big girl now—I can take care of myself."
Cassandra exhaled deeply before nodding. "I know that," she admitted, her voice quieter. "And… I'm sorry."
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she turned to Cassian. He had wisely remained silent through their conversation, not wanting to provoke another outburst. But as soon as Cassandra locked eyes with him, he tensed.
"And you…" she said, crossing her arms. "I'm sorry too. I overreacted."
Cassian blinked, surprised.
"But," she continued, her tone dropping into something far more dangerous, "just remember—if anything happens to Lumine while she's with you…" She took a step closer, lowering her voice.
Cassian chuckled nervously, "Duly noted."
Cassandra stared at him for a second before nodding, her fingers gently stroking the kitten nestled in Lumine's lap. "And who's this little guy?" she asked.
"She's a girl," Lumine corrected with a smile. "We saved her from the village last night."
At the mention of the massacre, the mood instantly grew heavier. Silence lingered for a moment before Cassandra finally spoke again, her tone more serious.
"Speaking of that… the giant monster you saw last evening? Others have reported sightings of similar creatures all over the jungle," Cassandra said, her expression darkening. She took a deep breath before continuing, "The higher-ups who investigated the cult's ritual site came back with even worse news. And now, disturbing reports are pouring in from the surrounding territories near the jungle… some of them really bad."
She hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "I'm afraid the Cult of Silas has declared war—and they've chosen the Arcadian Forest as their base."