The Devouring Knight

"Before anything else, let's rest for now," Lumberling said, stretching his arms and letting out a long sigh. "We've had a long day."

"You're sleeping? Really now?" Aurelya raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms.

"I am," Lumberling replied without hesitation, already suppressing a yawn. "After all, someone didn't let me sleep last night." He smirked, giving her a teasing look.

Aurelya's face turned red in an instant. "Wha...! Shut up!" she snapped, pushing him toward one of the rooms. "Go and sleep all you want! And stop saying weird things in front of everyone!"

Lumberling laughed as he stumbled a bit but didn't resist, clearly enjoying her reaction.

The others immediately glared at the two, their faces caught between disbelief and annoyance.

…..

Late in the afternoon, the sky outside had begun to dim, when Lumberling slowly stirred awake. His body felt rested, though a bit heavy from the long sleep.

As he sat up, he noticed Vaenyra quietly sitting on a chair near the window, her attention buried in a book. The fading sunlight touched her blue hair, making it shine, and her long strands nearly brushed the floor. Her calm presence filled the room with a quiet grace, elegant without even trying.

"What are you reading?" Lumberling asked, rubbing his eyes as he swung his legs over the bed.

Vaenyra looked up, her emerald eyes meeting his. "A story about a man who started with nothing," she said softly. "And his journey to becoming an Archmage." She closed the book gently, a faint smile on her lips.

"Sounds interesting," he said, stretching his arms. "Is it good?"

Vaenyra nodded. "It is. The story's simple, but… it feels real."

He glanced around the room. "Where are the others?"

"They went to explore the city," she answered. "Liraeth wanted to show them some places."

Lumberling tilted his head slightly. "And you? You didn't feel like going with them?"

Vaenyra's gaze softened. "I was waiting for you to wake up."

"Oh? You wanted some time alone with me?" Lumberling teased with a grin.

Vaenyra didn't reply. She simply closed the book in her hands and set it aside, her eyes never leaving his.

Then, without a word, she stood and began walking toward him. Her steps were slow but steady, her long blue hair swaying behind her.

Lumberling blinked, curious and amused. "What is it? What do you want?" he asked, his tone playful but uncertain.

She stopped right in front of him, so close that he could feel her calm, steady breath against his skin. Neither of them spoke.

Then, acting on instinct, Lumberling slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. Vaenyra didn't resist. Instead, she rested her hands gently on his shoulders, her eyes meeting his.

"You've been spending a lot of time with Aurelya these past few days," she said quietly, her voice calm but carrying a hint of something deeper. "Is she your favorite?"

Lumberling grinned, unable to help himself. "What do you mean? You're all my favorite," he said with a light chuckle. "Aurelya's just been… a bit clingy lately. I think she misses me."

Vaenyra didn't look away. Her emerald eyes stayed fixed on him, steady and clear. "That's not fair," she said softly. "It's not just her who feels that way. We all do."

Lumberling's smile faded slightly, replaced by a quiet warmth. "I see," he said after a pause. "Then I owe you all an apology… I didn't realize it."

"You shouldn't just focus on one of us," Vaenyra said softly, her tone calm but serious. Her hands slowly pressed against his chest as she leaned closer, resting her ear above his heartbeat. "Others might get jealous. That includes Thessalia… and me. Even Liraeth."

Lumberling looked down at her, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. He could feel her warmth through the thin fabric between them. "I'll keep that in mind," he said quietly, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tighter.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The room was silent except for the faint rustle of her hair and the steady rhythm of his heart.

Then Vaenyra finally broke the silence. "I've been holding myself back," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The others are always around… so I never had the chance."

Lumberling chuckled softly. "You? Holding back? That's a first," he teased, his voice light and amused.

Vaenyra lifted her head slightly, her lips forming a small pout. "You always flirt with Aurelya and Liraeth, even in front of everyone. That's not fair."

"Hehe," Lumberling grinned, brushing a strand of her hair away from her face. "So you want to be spoiled too, huh?"

"No," she murmured, her cheek still resting against his chest. "I just don't want us to do that in front of everyone."

"Why not?" Lumberling asked with a smile.

Vaenyra's answer came softly, almost shyly. "It's embarrassing."

Her answer made Lumberling burst into laughter, the sound filling the quiet room. Vaenyra's pointed ears twitched slightly, turning a faint shade of red, the first time he'd ever seen her flustered. The sight made his grin widen even more.

"So that's how you look when you're embarrassed," he teased gently. "Cute."

Vaenyra huffed, giving his chest a light push, though she didn't pull away.

After a moment, Lumberling's tone softened. "Let's go on a date."

Vaenyra blinked, looking up at him in surprise. "A… date?"

"Yeah," he said with an easy smile, already taking her hand. "Come on. You've been waiting for me to wake up, so let's go somewhere nice. My treat."

Before she could protest, he gently pulled her along, their hands interlocked as they stepped out into the evening light.

...

The streets of Stonehaven glowed softly under the orange light of the setting sun. Paper lanterns began to flicker to life one by one, bathing the wooden roads in warm colors.

Lumberling and Vaenyra walked side by side, their hands still loosely joined. The air was filled with the smell of roasted meat and sweet bread from nearby stalls.

"This place feels so alive," Vaenyra said with a small smile, her eyes reflecting the lantern light. "It's… peaceful."

"Yeah," Lumberling agreed, glancing around. "A lot different from the battlefields we've seen."

They stopped by a stall selling small round dumplings brushed with sauce. Lumberling bought two sticks and handed one to her. "Try this."

Vaenyra took a small bite and her eyes brightened. "It's sweet… but smoky too. What's it called?"

"Not sure," Lumberling chuckled, taking a bite from his own. "But it's good, right?"

"Mhm." She nodded, taking another. "Maybe I should learn how to make this."

They kept walking after that, visiting small gardens, trying strange snacks, even stopping by a stall where a man painted portraits. When the artist offered, Lumberling insisted on getting theirs done together.

Vaenyra blushed at the idea, but she didn't say no. When the painting was done, she looked at it and smiled, the two of them captured side by side under the glow of paper lanterns.

"It's beautiful," she said softly.

"Yeah," Lumberling replied, his tone gentle. "It really is."

…..

In a quiet corner of the city, away from the busy streets and glowing stalls, Lumberling and Vaenyra sat on a stone bench under a lone lamp.

"That was fun," Vaenyra said with a gentle smile, her eyes still sparkling from the night's laughter. "I haven't enjoyed something like this since I was little."

"Hm?" Lumberling tilted his head. "Why not? Aren't you a noble in your empire? I'd imagine there's a lot of beautiful things there you could enjoy whenever you want."

Vaenyra let out a small breath, shaking her head. "Life as a noble isn't as wonderful as it looks."

He glanced at her, curious.

"The only time I truly had fun," she said softly, "was when I used to play with Sylra when we were children. Back then, things were simple. But for nobles… freedom is a luxury."

Her voice grew quiet. "We're always expected to compete, to stand above others. To be perfect. Every mistake, every weakness, it's judged. We have to develop our talents early and be skilled enough to impress everyone, even when we don't want to."

Lumberling listened in silence. Her words carried a mix of tiredness and honesty that made his chest feel heavy.

"I understand," Lumberling finally said, his tone calm and sincere. "That's really a rough way to live."

Vaenyra looked at him, her expression softening. The way he spoke, no pity, just quiet understanding made something inside her loosen,

He smiled faintly. "You don't have to carry that kind of weight anymore. You're not in that world right now. You can just be you."

The wind brushed past them, carrying the faint scent of flowers from somewhere nearby. Vaenyra leaned back, looking up at the stars. "You know," she said quietly, "I think… this is the first time in a long while that I felt free."

Lumberling smiled at her side. "Then let's make sure it's not the last."

Vaenyra turned to him, her expression warm. "But that doesn't matter now, I already left that kind of life behind." Her smile deepened as her gaze lingered on him. "And honestly… I'm happy where I am, especially now that I'm with you."

Lumberling stared. That smile, genuine and soft, made him forget the rest of the world for a heartbeat. He lifted a hand, cupping her cheek, ready to close the gap.

"Wait." Vaenyra's voice was quiet but sharp. She leaned back and narrowed her eyes. "I think someone's watching us."

"Someone's spying on us?" Lumberling asked, surprised. She gave a small nod.

"I've felt eyes on us since we left the Duke's office," she said. "I'm sure he put someone to keep an eye on our group."

Lumberling clicked his tongue. "Now that ruins the mood." He rose, voice low, amused and annoyed. "Where is that bastard? Let's make him pay."