Phaenora finished her slow exploration of the cabin as she walked the length of the Praesit like someone conducting an inspection rather than sightseeing. The train was absurdly luxurious with wide seats that adjusted themselves, soft l light that responded to breathing patterns and the walls that occasionally shimmered with light but none of that held her attention for long.
What did stop her dead in her tracks was what she saw when she got back.
Vastarael was asleep. Actually, they were asleep.
He was seated slightly reclined, head tilted to the side and one arm wrapped loosely but protectively around Asenane. Asenane, for her part, had curled into him without even pretending otherwise. Her head was resting against his chest. Her horns were angled just enough that they didn't press uncomfortably into him. One of his hands—still faintly glowing with residual sapphire energy—rested atop her head with his fingers tangled gently in her hair as if he had fallen asleep mid-pat. Her dragon tail had looped around his leg.
Phaenora slowly pulled out her system interface.
"Oh, I am not letting this go undocumented."
She adjusted the angle, waited until the train's sunrise light softened just right and snapped a holographic photo. The image captured the contrast between Vastarael's usually sharp, guarded expression softened into something peaceful and Asenane's normally composed demeanor completely undone by sleep
She sent it immediately.
[Private Poly-Chat]
[ Image Attached]
And then, leaning casually against the wall across from them, she started typing.
---
[Phaenora:]
[Ladies. I would like to formally announce that I have just discovered the cutest thing in existence.]
[Narisva: If this is a joke I swear—]
[Elyonari: Phaenora, we are currently sprinting for our lives.]
[Adelasta: Send it. Whatever it is. Now.]
[Phaenora: Already did.]
There was ten seconds seconds of silence before the messages came in.
[Narisva: ...]
[Elyonari: Oh.]
[Adelasta: Wow.]
[Narisva: WHY IS HE ALWAYS LIKE THIS]
[Phaenora: Right??? Look at him. Look at them. He's literally head-patting her in his sleep. That's insane.]
[Elyonari: Asenane's tail is wrapped around his leg. Kind of strange seeing someone as mature as her being so clingy. What did you do, Phae?]
[Adelasta: She's claiming territory.]
[Phaenora: As she should.]
A loud crash echoed faintly through the chat, clearly picked up by someone's system audio. It was Narisva who was trying to make an audio update but got interrupted, so she focused on messaging instead.
[Narisva: OKAY SO FUN UPDATE: THE OCTOPUS LADY JUST TORE THROUGH A WALL.]
[Elyonari: The octopus is smiling. I do not like that.]
[Phaenora: Skill issue. You saw worse than that.]
[Adelasta: Focus. Are you all alive?]
[Narisva: Unfortunately, yes.]
[Elyonari: Mother-in-law training is intense.]
[Phaenora: Correction, your future mother-in-law.]
[Adelasta: Excuse you. I am legally Darling's wife. That makes me her daughter-in-law. She's my mother-in-law.]
[Narisva: You really like playing that card just to win an argument, huh?]
[Phaenora: This argument can wait. Back to the important topic: Darling looks unfairly soft right now.]
[Elyonari: He really does. He looks… safe.]
[Narisva: I hate that this is making me feel things while I'm being hunted by a primordial octopus woman.]
[Phaenora: For context, since you asked earlier but couldn't reply because I had to explore, we're on a Praesit inside the Hidden Citadel. Which is not a city. It's a Praesit station.]
[Adelasta: Of course it is.]
[Elyonari: That explains the bridges.]
[Narisva: That explains nothing, actually.]
[Phaenora: We're on a route to Shimmer and Runner. Train says it'll take ■■■■ hours.]
[Narisva: That's not a number.]
[Phaenora: Yeah. It censored itself.]
[Adelasta: I don't like that.]
Another distant impact rattled the audio feed as Elyonari tried to speak.
[Elyonari: We split up, by the way. Same general zone, different paths. Isabel—yes, that's her name—is apparently enjoying the chase.]
[Narisva: She called it "character building."]
[Adelasta: Be careful. Don't overextend.]
[Narisva: We won't. Also, tell Darling he owes us emotional support later.]
[Phaenora: Oh, I will. With interest.]
Phaenora glanced back at the seats. Vastarael shifted slightly in his sleep, pulling Asenane a little closer without waking either of them. Asenane made a soft, content sound and settled further into his chest Phaenora smiled to herself.
[Phaenora: Anyway. I'll let him sleep. He's been through enough.]
[Adelasta: Good. He deserves peace.]
[Elyonari: We'll survive. Probably.]
[Narisva: If we don't, tell him I said he's annoyingly perfect.]
[Phaenora: Duly noted.]
She closed the chat, slid back into a nearby seat and rested her chin on her hand, watching the two of them with an expression that was equal parts fond, amused, and quietly protective.