The soft rustling of leaves filled the quiet night as she sat against his chest,He was in his human form , their fingers intertwined. Her long, light blue gown cascaded around them, blending with the silver moonlight. Her open hair carried the faintest scent of wildflowers, teasing his senses.

He pressed a lingering kiss to her head, his lips warm against her cool skin. She smiled at the simple affection, tilting her head to look at him. He smiled back-tender, unwavering.

Then, without a word, he moved.

She furrowed her brows as he stood, his gaze locked onto hers. He extended his hand.

"What?" she asked, her voice soft with curiosity.

He didn't answer. Instead, he grasped her hand, pulling her up in one fluid motion.

They stood in an open area now, the world stretching endlessly around them. The night was still, save for the whispering wind that played with her gown.

His golden eyes gleamed under the moonlight as he lifted their joined hands, placing his other hand gently on her waist.

Her breath hitched. "You want to dance?"

His lips curved into a teasing smirk. "What if I do?"

She hesitated for a second, then let out a small, amused huff. "There's no music."

He leaned closer, his voice a mere whisper against her skin. "Who needs music when I have you?"

Her heart skipped a beat.

And then, without another word, he led her into a slow, mesmerizing dance.

The stars above them bore witness as they moved in perfect harmony, their bodies swaying with an unseen rhythm. Each step, each touch, felt like a silent conversation-one only they could understand.

Their eyes locked, a silent promise passing between them before he led her into the dance. Their bodies moved in perfect sync, their steps unhurried, as if time itself had slowed for them. The night air carried the faint scent of earth and blooming jasmine, wrapping around them like a soft embrace. The only sound was the whisper of the wind and the distant rustling of leaves, yet in that moment, it felt as though the world was playing a melody just for them.

He guided her with effortless grace, his hands firm yet gentle. His fingers laced with hers as he spun her slowly, the fabric of her light blue gown billowing around her like a cloud. She laughed softly, the sound light and airy, as he caught her back in his arms, holding her close. Their hearts beat in unison, the warmth of his touch sending shivers down her spine.

With a playful glint in his eyes, he twirled her once more before effortlessly lifting her off the ground. A small gasp escaped her lips as he spun her in the air, his strong arms keeping her safe. Her hair cascaded around her shoulders, catching the moonlight, making her look almost ethereal. She gripped his shoulders instinctively, her breath hitching at the sheer closeness between them.

As he slowly brought her back down, his hands traced the curve of her waist, steadying her as her feet touched the cool grass again. But he wasn't done. His arms wrapped around her as he dipped her backward, his face inches from hers, their breaths mingling in the still night. Her pulse raced, her fingers tightening around his as she let herself melt into the moment.

Then, as if sealing the dance with an unspoken vow, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. A delicate smile played on her lips as she sighed, resting her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

"I wish this would never end," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

He held her tighter, his hand brushing soothing circles on her back. "Then let's stay like this a little longer," he replied, his voice deep and filled with something unspoken-something infinite.

And so they stood there, wrapped in each other's warmth, as the night stretched endlessly around them, their souls dancing long after their bodies had stilled.

A soft smile crept onto his face, but before he could fully embrace the warmth of it, a loud sound shattered the silence. His eyes twitched, his brows furrowing as he instinctively shielded them with his arm. The world around him blurred, fading into darkness-

And then, he woke up.

His chest rose and fell with steady breaths, but his mind reeled from the shock. He sat up, his gaze distant, the remnants of his dream lingering in his thoughts like an unspoken truth.

A thousand years. He had gone a thousand years without rest, without a moment of true peace. And yet, for the first time in what felt like an eternity, he had slept. Not just closed his eyes-but truly drifted, felt warmth, felt something real.

His fingers pressed lightly against his temples. What was that? he murmured to himself, his voice barely a whisper.

Every detail remained vivid in his mind-the way her delicate fingers fit perfectly in his, the way her laughter wrapped around him like a melody, the way she looked at him as if he was her entire world.

His eyes shifted toward the mirror, the thin glass reflecting a piece of the world beyond. He followed the reflection and moved toward the window, and that was when he saw her.

She was awake. The alarm clock still buzzed faintly before she reached out and silenced it. But she didn't move right away. She just sat there, unmoving, staring blankly at the wall as if lost in the depth of her thoughts.

And then, he saw it.

A tear.

A single, glistening tear rolling down her cheek. Another one had already dried against her skin, a silent testament to the pain she carried.

His chest tightened. Did she have a nightmare? he wondered.

-

The same dream again.

The same aching pain. The same unbearable sorrow. The same hollow feeling that refused to fade.

She ran a hand through her hair, inhaling deeply before finally swinging her legs over the bed. As she exhaled, her body shivered ever so slightly, as if releasing the weight she carried.

She didn't dwell on it. She never did. Instead, she forced herself up and stepped out of the room.

-

He watched her leave, his gaze lingering on the closed door.

Why was she crying?

He clenched his jaw, a mix of frustration and helplessness washing over him.

He leaned back against the bed, his thoughts drifting again to the dream. An unfamiliar warmth spread through him, melting the icy numbness he had grown so used to.

And then, she returned.

She was moving quickly, her steps hurried.

She must be late for something, he guessed.

He watched as she grabbed a dress and disappeared into the bathroom. The faint sound of water running filled the silence, and for those ten minutes, he simply waited.

When she emerged, she was dressed simply-a modest outfit that covered every inch of her, concealing her from the world.

His gaze softened as he watched her pack her bag, collecting her things with practiced ease. She moved around the room swiftly, pausing only to tidy up.

He didn't speak. He just watched.

And before he even realized it, a tear slipped from his own eye.

A longing so deep, so raw, clawed at his chest.

He wiped the tear away quickly. He wasn't supposed to feel this way. He wasn't supposed to want-

Her phone rang, breaking the silence.

She picked it up, her voice steady, masking whatever emotions still lingered beneath the surface.

"I'm almost ready, Crystal," she said.

She walked toward the mirror, setting her phone down and switching it to speaker mode as she reached for her small makeup kit.

"I know, I know," Crystal's voice echoed through the speaker, teasing. "But if you don't reach on time today, I swear I'm coming to drag you out myself!"

A small chuckle left her lips, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I'll be there in ten minutes, I promise."

She reached for her compact, dabbing lightly at her skin, brushing away the exhaustion and sadness.

He took a step closer.

"You don't need it," he whispered, his voice so soft, so tender.

For a moment, she stilled.

Her hand hovered mid-air, her fingers frozen against her cheek. A crease formed between her brows as she glanced around the room, an unspoken question flickering in her eyes, a shadow of uncertainty passing through her expression.

But just as quickly, she shook her head and continued, brushing it off as nothing.

His heart ached.

Then, she turned back to the mirror. For a brief second, something in her gaze shifted-like a crack spreading across glass, fragile and barely noticeable, yet impossible to ignore.

She reached out.

Her fingers traced the cold surface of the mirror, hesitant at first, as if searching for something-someone-hidden beyond its reflection.

And then, she wiped away the tiny droplets of water clinging to the glass.

"Are you crying?" she joked lightly, her voice laced with amusement, though a lingering sadness still clung to the edges. She had no idea where the droplets had come from, but she cleaned them away as if they didn't belong there.

She didn't know.

She didn't know that on the other side, someone had shed those very tears.

-

He closed his eyes the moment her fingers touched the mirror.

His breath hitched.

For a fleeting second, he felt it-her warmth, her touch, soft and careful, as if she were wiping the tears straight from his face.

His lips parted, but no words came. His entire being stilled, frozen in that fragile moment where reality blurred, where the impossible felt real.

Could she sense him?

Could she feel him the way he felt her?

His fingers twitched at his side, aching to reach for her, to hold her hand against his cheek-to tell her that, yes, he was crying. .

But before he could process any of it, she glanced at the clock.

"I'm late. I should go."

And just like that, the moment shattered.

She grabbed her things quickly, slipping on her bag, her mind already elsewhere. Without another glance at the mirror, without another pause, she rushed toward the door.

And then she was gone.

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving only silence in its wake.

He remained standing, unmoving, his gaze still locked onto the mirror.

His reflection stared back at him, but all he saw was her.

What was this? he wondered, his chest tightening. What was that moment?

***

Leon sat outside the ruined shop, the flickering flames painting his face in shades of gold and crimson. The fire had devoured everything, reducing the once-thriving place to nothing but ash and embers. Yet, it still burned-as if refusing to die, as if it carried the same rage that simmered inside him.

His fingers curled into fists.

You were never supposed to meet her again , brother. His voice carried the weight of a promise, an unshakable resolve.

His golden eyes darkened, glowing like molten gold beneath the smoke-filled sky. He could still hear the crackling of the fire, the remnants of betrayal burning along with it. The shopkeeper had made a mistake-a grave one. He had unleashed something that should have never seen the light of day.

And now, the mirror was in her hands.

Leon exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening.

Not in this life. Absolutely not.

He rose to his feet, his long coat billowing as a gust of heated wind rushed past him. He stared at the flames one last time, watching them dance wildly, uncontrolled-just like the chaos that was now set in motion.

But it wasn't too late.

Not yet.

I will send you far, far away from her this time.

His hands clenched at his sides, the air around him humming with something unseen, something ancient.

So far that even fate die there - no one will be able to bring you back.

His eyes burned as he turned on his heel, stepping away from the wreckage.

Because this time, he wasn't just stopping his brother.

He was ending this war before it even began.