We glanced at Lilith, peacefully asleep, her chest rising with each soft breath. Then, as if pulled by something unspoken, Zeyna and I looked at each other. The flickering light of the campfire danced in her eyes, and I saw the blush rise on her cheeks… just as I felt the heat bloom in mine.
Neither of us said a word.
Slowly, like we were sharing a secret only our hearts could understand, we leaned in. Our lips met—soft, tentative at first, then deeper, warmer. The world quieted around us. Her breath mingled with mine, and for a moment, there was nothing else but the feeling of her kiss.
Our bodies moved on instinct, the kiss deepening with each second, breaths growing heavier as warmth spread between us. My hands found her waist, and hers trembled slightly as they rested on my chest—then slid lower.
Zeyna's fingers traced the line of my abdomen, slow and deliberate, before slipping beneath the waistband of my pants. My breath hitched. She paused, her gaze meeting mine—blushing, uncertain, yet burning with curiosity and desire.
"I... can stop," she whispered, her voice barely a breath.
I shook my head, voice low. "No… I want this. I want you."
Without a second thought, I slowly pushed her down, gently guiding her to lie back on the blankets. My hand slid down, feeling the warmth of her thighs beneath my palm, and her body trembled beneath my touch.
Her breath caught as I brushed over the sensitive curve of her inner thigh, and a soft, unexpected moan escaped her lips. She looked up at me, blushing furiously, but instead of pulling away—she pulled me closer, arms wrapping around my back, holding me against her.
I slowly slipped my hands beneath her outfit, removing it piece by piece with care, savoring every inch of her warmth revealed. She didn't stop me. In fact, her hands reached for mine, helping me out of my own clothes—gentle, wanting, like she didn't want it to end.
There was no hesitation in her touch. No words. Just the shared rhythm of breath and heat, and the unspoken truth between us: she wanted this as much as I did.
A few quiet moments passed, our bodies close under the soft cover of shared warmth. Zeyna pulled the blanket up, shyly covering her chest and between her thighs. Her eyes met mine—nervous, wide, and unexpectedly soft.
In a small, almost trembling voice, she asked, "Are you… really sure about this? This is my first time…"
She looked beautiful like that—vulnerable, flushed, and real. Not the fierce warrior I'd seen in battle, but the girl beneath all of it, showing me her heart.
After that, the quiet rustle of fabric whispered through the air. Her blanket slowly slid down, revealing the sculpted lines of her body bathed in soft moonlight. Every curve, every inch of her skin seemed to glow—strong, beautiful, breathtaking. She covered herself instinctively, arms crossing over her chest, but her eyes stayed locked with mine.
"I-Is it really okay…?" she whispered, a faint tremble in her voice.
I stepped closer, heart pounding. "You're perfect," I said, voice low.
Her cheeks flushed pink, and in that vulnerable silence, the world seemed to disappear.
Her breath hitched as I leaned closer, our foreheads touching, eyes searching one another in the silence.
"I trust you," she whispered again, barely audible.
The night wrapped around us like a blanket, the crackle of the distant campfire the only witness. I gently pulled her closer, our bodies fitting together with a tenderness that made my chest ache. Her fingers clung to my back, her breath soft against my neck.
And in that moment—quiet, trembling, perfect—we stopped thinking.
The world faded. Only warmth, whispers, and soft gasps filled the space between us. Our bodies moved together, unspoken words passing through touch, through glances, through the kind of connection that said more than anything else could.
No need for words. Just feeling. Just us.
Morning had come, golden light slipping through the cracks of the ruined building, warming the makeshift blankets around us. I stirred first, my arm still draped across Zeyna's waist, her breath soft against my chest. Her warmth was still there—comforting, real.
I leaned in gently, brushing a kiss on her neck. She let out a soft sound, almost a purr, and snuggled closer without opening her eyes.
"Well, well…" a voice came from the side.
I turned my head—and there was Lilith, sitting cross-legged near the fire, wearing a mischievous grin. "Heh… lovebirds," she said, her eyes gleaming with playful teasing.
I flushed a bit, rubbing the back of my neck while Zeyna buried her face into the blanket, clearly awake now but pretending to sleep.
Lilith gave a light chuckle, resting her chin on her hand. "Nice legs, huh? Bet they feel even better now, Seo Joon."
Lilith stretched her arms with a yawn, eyes gleaming with mischief as she looked between the two of us. "Or wait—she can't feel them right now, huh?"
Zeyna let out a muffled squeak from under the blanket, burying herself deeper as if that could hide the crimson spreading across her cheeks. "L-Lilith…!" Her voice was small, muffled, and absolutely adorable.
Lilith just laughed, flicking a tiny spark of magic into the fire to make it crackle louder. "Relax, I'm just saying… the battlefield wasn't the only place someone got wrecked last night."
I groaned, dragging a hand across my face while my other arm instinctively pulled Zeyna closer, like I could shield her from the teasing. "Lilith… give it a rest."
But she was already grinning wider, standing up and brushing off dust from her thighs. "Alright, alright. I'll get us something to eat. You two stay warm... or, you know, recover."
Zeyna peeked out finally, just her eyes showing from above the blanket. "She's so dead," she whispered to me, but she was smiling now—shy, soft, and glowing in that way people do after crossing a line they didn't know they were ready to.
I brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. "You okay?"
She nodded slowly. "Yeah. Just… don't move yet."
"Why?"
Her face turned red again. "Because I can still feel everything, you dummy."
The morning sun filtered through the cracks of the ruined building, casting long shadows over the ash-streaked floor. I sat up slowly, my body still warm from the night. Zeyna shifted beside me, her hair messy and her cheeks tinted red as she reached for her clothes with trembling fingers.
She tried to stand but winced, wobbling slightly.
"You okay?" I asked, already slipping my shirt back on.
"I'm fine," she muttered, blushing hard as she steadied herself. "Just… sore. A little."
I chuckled under my breath, not teasing her—just... warm.
Zeyna pulled her top over her head, but her hands fumbled and her hair got caught. I stepped in to help her gently untangle it, and for a second, her eyes locked on mine. Her lips parted like she wanted to say something—then she looked away, flustered.
We were still fixing ourselves when footsteps echoed behind the broken doorway.
Lilith emerged, yawning, a grilled fish skewered over her shoulder and a smug look already forming on her face.
"Well, well," she said, tossing the food onto the crate beside us. "Rough night, huh?"
Zeyna almost dropped her boot trying to put it on.
Lilith didn't stop. "How many rounds did you two manage before someone tapped out?" Her grin stretched ear to ear.
Zeyna buried her face in her shirt and groaned. "Lilith!!"
"Hey, I was asleep the whole time," Lilith said, shrugging. "But these post-battle cuddles are loud." She winked, clearly enjoying herself.
I rubbed the back of my neck. "We didn't mean to wake you."
"You didn't," she said. "But Zeyna's walking like she just fought a boss raid with no armor." She raised an eyebrow. "Respect."
Zeyna let out a little noise and threw her scarf at Lilith, who just laughed and caught it midair.
We gathered around the small campfire again, the wreckage of the city still quiet around us. The smell of grilled fish mixed with the smoky air as we passed around portions. Lilith was still humming, biting into her food like the teasing never happened.
Zeyna, though, was quieter than usual. She barely touched her breakfast, her gaze fixed on the flames, lost in thought.
Then, without warning, she spoke.
"I'm going to find my sister."
The air shifted—just like that, the warmth of the morning faded, replaced by something heavier.
I blinked, caught off guard. "Your… sister?" I asked gently, setting my bowl aside.
Zeyna nodded, her fingers tightening around the edge of her scarf. "I haven't seen her since… everything happened. Since the cities fell, since people started vanishing and monsters appeared. She was taken—or maybe she ran—but I know she's still out there."
Lilith's playful smirk vanished, replaced by a rare seriousness. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "You sure she's alive?"
Zeyna's eyes burned with quiet conviction. "I feel it. Call it instinct, or hope, or something more… I know."
I stared at her for a moment. The confident warrior I'd seen just hours ago now looked like a sister, a girl carrying something deep. And suddenly, everything felt different.
"I'll help you find her," I said before even thinking.
Zeyna looked at me, surprised—then softened. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Lilith rolled her eyes and stood. "Guess the party's got a new quest. Better be a cute sister."
Zeyna tossed a pebble at her. "She's mine, not yours."
"Relax," Lilith grinned. "I already have my hands full watching you two."
The early morning sun filtered through the wreckage of the city, casting long shadows over the ruined streets of Seoul. The campfire crackled softly, a stark contrast to the tension in the air. We'd barely spoken a word after everything that happened, but now, Zeyna's voice broke the silence.
"I'm going to find my sister," she said, her tone unwavering but carrying an undercurrent of worry.
I raised an eyebrow, glancing over at her. "Your... sister?" My curiosity piqued. "What's her name?"
Zeyna paused for a moment, her gaze distant. "Her name's Jin-a," she replied, her voice softening slightly. "She's older than me... always been the serious one. Always watching out for me, keeping me from doing something stupid." She let out a breath, her expression hardening. "Right now, I need to find her. She's the only person I trust."
Lilith, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like she's your anchor," she mused, a teasing grin on her face. But even she couldn't fully hide the concern in her eyes.
Zeyna nodded, the weight of her words settling heavily. "Yeah. Jin-a always looked out for me. She's strong, smart, and she doesn't take nonsense from anyone. If she's still in Seoul, I need to find her."
I nodded, my gaze focused on Zeyna as I processed what she'd said. "Alright, Zeyna. We'll help however we can."
Zeyna straightened, brushing dust off her clothes as she glanced between me and Lilith. "I'm going to head toward Namsan Seoul Tower. It's a place we used to go to when we were kids, to meet up if we got separated. She might be there... or someone might know where she went."
I nodded, looking at her intently. "I'll check out Gyeongbokgung Palace. It's central, and there's a chance she's hiding out there, or maybe someone there's seen her."
Zeyna's eyes softened for a moment, before she gave me a serious look. "Stay safe, alright? Don't do anything reckless."
Before I could respond, she suddenly stepped forward, wrapping her arms around me tightly. My heart skipped a beat at the unexpected closeness. Her warmth and the soft pressure of her embrace made me feel like time had slowed down for a moment.
"Thank you for everything," Zeyna whispered, her voice a bit shaky. Then, before I could even react, she tilted her head up and kissed me gently on the lips. It was brief, but it held so much meaning—more than just a kiss. It was a promise, a bond shared between us.
When she pulled away, I looked into her eyes, and she gave me a small, almost shy smile. "I'll be back soon. Just… take care of yourself, okay?"
I smiled back, hugging her tightly around the waist as I pulled her close for one last moment. "I'll be waiting for you, Zeyna. Be careful, alright?"
She gave me a final look, then nodded. "I will. Take care, Seo Joon."
With that, she broke away, and I watched as Zeyna and Lilith headed toward the streets leading to Namsan Seoul Tower. As they disappeared into the distance, I turned to head toward Gyeongbokgung Palace, the mission ahead clearer than ever. This wasn't just about finding Jin-a anymore—it was about everything we had just shared and the bond we were still building.
The search had just begun, and there was no turning back now.