Kaiser’s senses slowly returned. The ethereal, bleeding glow of the Sanguine Tree faded, replaced by the cool moonlight spilling through the paper windows of his bedroom at the Aizawa Estate. The mechanical hum of the dirigible was gone. He was lying on a futon, his body heavy and aching.

Iselda’s sacrifice pressed suffocatingly against his lungs. He gasped, his entire body trembling as the enormity of what he’d witnessed settled into his bones. Tears spilled hot and unbidden down his face.

Suddenly, a warm hand seized his.

“Kin!” Kerisa’s voice cracked with raw, unfiltered fear. She was kneeling right beside him, her golden eyes red and glistening. Without a second thought, she threw herself forward, pulling him into a desperate, crushing embrace.

He clung to her, burying his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her familiar scent. “Soulsis…” he whispered, his voice shattering.

“I was so scared,” she sobbed, her fingers digging into his hair. “Shizuka brought you back unconscious. You wouldn’t wake up, and you were crying in your sleep—I’ve never seen you like this.”

He pulled back just enough to look at her, wiping a tear from his own cheek. “I’m okay,” he said hoarsely. “I didn’t mean to worry you.”

“I should have been with you. I’m your Guardian, I—”

Kaiser caught her face between his hands. “Stop blaming yourself.”

She pulled back slightly, her grip on his hand tightening. “Let me call Shizuka; she needs to check on you,” she said, quickly moving to stand up and head toward the sliding door.

“Kerisa,” Kaiser said, stopping her in her tracks.

She gently turned around. “Yes?”

Kaiser gazed at her, noticing the violent quiver in her lips, the unblinking wideness of her eyes, and the way she breathed—as if she were drowning and gasping for air.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked gently.

Kerisa’s composure finally cracked. She looked away, her entire body trembling as the adrenaline crashed out of her system. “No,” she whispered. “I’m not okay.”

He sat up slowly, his aching muscles protesting. “Kerisa…”

She took a shaky, desperate breath, her hands clenching into tight fists at her sides. “All my life, I’ve seen you as this invincible figure. The immortal Blood Phoenix who could overcome anything. But tonight…” Her voice broke, a raw, painful sound in the quiet room. “Tonight, I realized that I could lose you.”

Her shoulders shook violently as silent sobs wracked her frame, tears glistening in the moonlight. “The thought of living without you is just… terrifying.”

Kaiser felt his heart stop. Without hesitation, he pushed himself up from the futon and held her hands in his, facing her.

“Hey, look at me. I’m not going anywhere,” he whispered fiercely, holding her hands tight enough to ground them both.

She clutched his hands, but not finding the strength to look up at him.

He pulled back just enough to look into her tear-filled golden eyes. “I love you,” he said, his voice dropping to a firm, absolute vow. “Nobody and nothing will ever change that.”

Kerisa looked up, searched his gaze, desperately finding the reassurance she needed in his golden eyes. Slowly, her breathing steadied, the violent trembling subsiding. She nodded, wiping her cheeks. “Okay. I… I promise to be better, Kin.”

Just then, the sliding door clicked open. Shizuka peeked in, her usual aristocratic mask replaced by a look of profound, troubled exhaustion.

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” she said softly, stepping inside and pulling the door shut. “But the walls are thin, and I heard. Kaiser... how are you feeling?”

Kaiser glanced over, keeping one arm around Kerisa’s shoulders. “I feel fine. But, what happened back there?”

Shizuka stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind her. “Good. I was worried,” she admitted. “About what happened: I’m sorry. I should have told you not to attempt going in with a sleep-deprived mind. The Moon Tears are very taxing, requiring extreme focus.”

Kaiser took a deep breath, steadying himself before explaining everything. “I was there,” he began. “Inside Iselda’s mind. I saw everything—the sacrifices, the creation of the Blood Phoenix, the truth behind it all.”

Shizuka’s eyes widened. “That’s impossible,” she murmured. “The Moon Tears Tea should only allow you to view memories, not experience them firsthand.”

Kerisa squeezed his hand gently. “I believe you, Kin,” she said softly. “Tell us everything.”

He recounted the harrowing events—the ritual, Raelyn’s sacrifice, Iselda’s final moments, and the immense burden they carried for the future. As he spoke, Shizuka’s disbelief slowly turned into a troubled understanding.

“Unbelievable,” Shizuka whispered when he finished. “If what you say is true, then a major part of our history is built on lies.”

Kaiser nodded solemnly. Kerisa looked between them and asked, “So what do we do now?”

Shizuka sighed. “We can’t let this information spread—not yet. It would cause a massive divide.”

“But shouldn’t they know the truth?” Kaiser frowned.

“Eventually,” Shizuka conceded. “But we have to be careful. If this gets out the wrong way, it could lead to panic—as if this prophecy wasn’t enough.”

“We still don’t know much about that. The Gearshift Era didn’t show a single sign of this ‘prophecy,’” said Kaiser.

“At this point, I’m inclined to believe it’s a hoax,” said Shizuka. “Your vision must have been a coincidence—perhaps a sign of something else.”

“I need to tell Sachi,” Kaiser said firmly. “She deserves to know.”

Kerisa leaned closer to Kaiser. “Kin, I thought you said her family reads her letters.”

He paused, realization dawning. “You’re right. It could be intercepted.”

Kerisa nodded. “Let’s wait until she comes over next year.”

Shizuka leaned forward. “Kaiser, you said you were inside Iselda’s mind? Are you sure?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know, but it felt so real.”

“The Moon Tears Tea, combined with Chrononfi, allows you to navigate through memories and temporal motions. But actually traveling back in time should be impossible.”

“Then how do you explain what happened?” he pressed.

She tapped her chin with her index. “Perhaps when your soul snapped from my control in the memory, it latched onto the closest compatible body—Iselda’s. Through the Blood Phoenix’s connection to you, you were able to relive her emotions, maybe even communicate with her essence.”

Kaiser’s eyes widened. “So I wasn’t actually there, but I experienced everything as if I was?”

“Something like that,” Shizuka agreed. “It’s complicated, and frankly, it’s a side effect of the Moon Tears Tea I’ve never seen before. You’re lucky to have come out of it alive.”

Kerisa wrapped her arms around Kaiser’s torso and murmured, “I’ll be there next time.”

Kaiser sat back down—his mind racing as he considered the best course of action. “I’ll send a different letter to Sachi then,” he said, a plan forming. “I’ll ask her to head to Chuun and gather information about this Cryolite Gaian girl. It could be important.”

Shizuka gave him an approving nod. “That’s a good idea. I’ll keep looking for anything that can help on my end.”

Kaiser glanced at her with a smile. “I’m really glad to be allied with you, Shizu. Over these past few days, our alliance has grown stronger than ever. I don’t know what I would’ve done without your help.”

Shizuka huffed in amusement as her expression softened. “Likewise, Kaiser.”

Kerisa, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. “Kin, don’t forget the Xaviers are still allied with the Council of Faelyn.”

Kaiser blinked, the reminder pulling him back. “Right… how could I forget that?”

But then, as the realization hit him, his eyes narrowed slightly. He turned toward Shizuka. “Wait… you weren’t supposed to know that.”

Shizuka giggled, covering her mouth with a hand. “Oh, I already knew. It wasn’t exactly a well-kept secret.”

Kaiser shook his head. “Of course you did.” He crossed his arms thoughtfully. “I’ve never actually been to Faelyn myself or spoken with their leader. I only hear about our alliance through the Advisors in passing.”

Shizuka leaned in playfully with a whisper. “The leader of Faelyn is named Daelyn. She is the Ascendant of Phononfi, and some even say the strongest in Terrarium.”

Kaiser’s brow furrowed at the name. “Daelyn? That sounds an awful lot like Raelyn. Do they have a last name or something?”

Shizuka shook her head. “Faenins don’t typically use last names. And if they do, they don’t tell anyone outside their kin, so I wouldn’t know.”

Kaiser sighed. “Then I guess I’ll have to find out myself when I visit Faelyn. Maybe I can look around for anything related to that dahlia mentioned in the memory.”

Shizuka’s expression grew a bit more serious. “Let’s stop the Tea n’ Time session here for today. After everything you’ve been through, I’m worried about what might happen if we keep going.”

Kaiser nodded in agreement. “You’re right. We’ll leave it here. Tomorrow, we’ll head back home.”

Shizuka smiled and gave a respectful bow before turning toward the door. “Goodnight, Kaiser. Goodnight, Kerisa.”

“Goodnight,” Kaiser and Kerisa echoed, watching her leave.

As the sliding door closed behind her, Kaiser exhaled deeply, feeling the tension slowly ease from his body.

An uneasy silence settled in the room as the door slid shut behind Shizuka. Kerisa stood completely still, her gaze fixed with dark suspicion on the wood where the Viceroy had just stood.

“Did something happen between you two?” Kerisa asked, her golden eyes burning as she turned back to him.

Kaiser ran a hand through his hair, the exhaustion warring with his honesty. “We kissed. Last night.”

Kerisa’s entire body went rigid. “You kissed her?” she hissed, the betrayal cracking her voice. “Why would you do that?!”

“It was a test. To see if the prophecy would trigger,” Kaiser said, though he knew how hollow the excuse sounded. He stepped closer, his voice softening. “But after that last memory… it made me realize something. I have spent years twisting myself in knots trying to play by Enfa rules. Denying my own nature. Denying us.”

Kerisa took a step back, her frustration bubbling over. “If you can kiss her for a test, then why can’t you—”

She didn't get to finish the sentence.

Kaiser closed the distance between them. Watching Iselda and Raelyn die had taught him exactly how fleeting a Dirvah’s life could be. He cupped the back of her neck, pulling her flush against his chest, and brought his lips down on hers.

It wasn't like the desperate, blood-soaked triage in the carriage. This kiss was deep, intentional, and intoxicatingly slow. He poured all the unspoken longing, the fierce loyalty, and the sheer, primal weight of his Bionfi into the touch. Kerisa melted against him instantly, her anger evaporating into a soft, surrendered sigh as her hands slid up to grip his shoulders.

When he finally pulled back, resting his forehead against hers, they were both breathless.

“Because I don't want to test anything with you,” Kaiser whispered, his golden eyes locking onto hers. “I want you, Kerisa. But we are Ascendant and Guardian… it has to be our secret.”

Kerisa’s eyes widened, her chest heaving. “What… what about Sapphire?”

“Sapphire is my future. My duty. My heart,” Kaiser said firmly, the truth of his Dirvah culture finally settling into place. “But you are my Guardian. My soul. I won't lose either of you. Can you accept that?”

A brilliant, breathtaking smile broke across Kerisa’s face. “Why even ask?” she murmured, her voice vibrating with pure devotion. “We’ll keep it between us. Always.”

“Alright then. I'll try and tell Sapphire about it next time we meet. But you have to be careful. If anyone finds out about me and you…”

“I know,” she assured him. “We’ll keep it between the three of us.”

A comfortable silence settled between them, the tension easing. Kaiser felt a weight lift off his shoulders, relieved to have shared his feelings. After a quiet hour of chatting, all the previous tension and emotions slowly melted away.

Kaiser had expected the night to be calm and quiet, but clearly, Kerisa had other plans, especially after getting such news from Kaiser.

Kerisa moved closer, her lips brushing against his neck and her hands slipping beneath his shirt to feel the heat of his skin. The room was still, but the tension between them was anything but.

Her lips grazed his ear, her breath warm and teasing. “Kaiser…” she whispered, her voice filled with a kind of sultry submission that sent a pulse of heat straight through him. Her fingers trailed his chest, then lower, her body pressing against him in a way that made him ache with need. “Why wait? You can have every inch of me. Right here, right now. Tonight’s all ours.”

The scent of her skin—faint traces of something sweet and earthy—intensified as she moved closer. He breathed her in, letting her body’s fragrance settle into his lungs.

Kaiser swallowed hard, the fire between them igniting with terrifying speed. She always knew exactly how to push his buttons—how to play to the primal, dominant parts of his soul. Her golden eyes were heavy-lidded with raw need, her lips parted just enough to show how much she craved him.

“The floor can take it,” she murmured, her lips brushing against his jaw in a teasing, open-mouthed kiss. “Just you and your 'dirty little Lustrael.'”

The words sent a violent thrill through him. He captured her lips again, kissing her with unrestrained desire. She tasted faintly sweet, like the last trace of honey. She moaned softly into his mouth, her body arching flawlessly into his touch as his hands roamed downward, gripping her hips.

“Feel me,” she breathed, her breath hot against his ear as she guided his hand over her curves. “Every inch of this Guardian belongs to her Ascendant.”

Kaiser’s mind blurred, his Dirvah instincts roaring to life. He wanted to. Really wanted to.

But then, a brutal sliver of guilt cut through the fog of lust.

Sapphire’s tear-stained face flashed in his mind—the way she had cried under the fountain in Xa'nia, begging him not to forget her. The thought of fully crossing this physical line before he even had the chance to truly be with his fiancée made his chest seize.

His grip on Kerisa faltered. He pulled back, breaking the kiss, his chest heaving as he fought a losing battle against his own biology.

“Kerisa…” His voice came out as a hoarse, strained rasp. “Not like this. Not tonight.”

Kerisa blinked, her eyes still clouded with heavy desire. “Why?” she asked, her tone teasing, utterly devoid of anger. “I thought you liked submission.”

He sighed, resting his forehead against her shoulder, trying to force his racing heart to slow down. “I do. Gods, I do. But I can’t. I need to tell Sachi first. I need to be honest with her before we cross the point of no return. It’s only fair.”

He braced himself for the argument. He expected her to push, to pout, or to use her intoxicating scent to break his resolve.

Instead, she simply smiled. A slow, cheerful, entirely unaffected smile.

“You really care about her, don’t you?” Kerisa murmured, her tone suddenly brisk and airy. “You’re sweet.”

Kaiser froze. He blinked, completely taken aback by the sheer lack of emotional friction. She leaned back, casually brushing a hand through his hair as if they had been discussing the weather, rather than stopping mid-seduction.

“You’re right, Kin,” she said brightly. “We shouldn’t. It wouldn’t be fair to her.”

Kaiser stared at her, a cold prickle of unease washing down his spine. There was no trace of frustration. No lingering lust. No disappointment. Just a hollow, perfectly compliant acceptance.

“I… appreciate that,” Kaiser said slowly, his golden eyes searching hers for any crack in the facade.

Kerisa leaned down, pressing a quick, sanitized kiss to his cheek. “Of course,” she whispered playfully. “You know I’m always looking out for you.”

As she settled back onto the futon, pulling the blankets up, Kaiser’s instincts screamed. It was exactly like the day she had hugged him and Restella outside the tent—as if the tension, the lust, and the heavy emotions simply didn't exist in her mind.

It felt like a carefully calculated move in a game he didn't understand. Or worse... like someone else was playing the pieces inside her head.

He kept the dark, terrifying doubts to himself, staring at the ceiling long after she fell asleep.