Shu Tai woke up shortly before dawn.
It wasn't a sound, nor a sense of danger…
It was a feeling.
A nearby warmth, calm breathing, and the weight of an arm resting behind his waist, as if it had been there since the beginning of time. He opened his eyes slowly, hesitantly, as though even the smallest movement might shatter a fragile moment that would never repeat itself.
Rider was asleep.
His blond hair lay loose, his features softer than they were under the sun, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. He looked different—more human, less of a "hero."
Shu Tai swallowed.
He wasn't used to this kind of silence.
In his previous life, closeness always ended in emptiness.
But now… there was staying.
He shifted slightly, and the arm around him tightened unconsciously, as if Rider refused to lose that closeness even in sleep.
System Notification (Silent):
Emotional Bond: Stable
Trust Level: 32%
Shu Tai closed his eyes again.
"Strange…"
he whispered inwardly.
"I don't want to run away."
A Different Morning
When Rider woke up, he immediately realized he wasn't alone.
He didn't move.
He stayed where he was, absorbing the sensation.
Shu Tai's presence behind him wasn't unsettling… it was reassuring.
Something he hadn't felt in years.
"Good morning."
A soft voice reached him.
Rider turned slowly, their eyes meeting.
There was no embarrassment.
No pretense.
Just a long, honest look that carried an unspoken question:
Is this still real?
"Good morning."
Rider finally replied, his voice lower than usual.
They sat up, a small space between them—too small to be called distance.
"I…"
Rider hesitated, then exhaled.
"I'm not used to… staying."
Shu Tai smiled lightly.
"Neither am I."
Another silence followed.
But this time, it wasn't heavy.
On the Road
They continued toward Val-Orin.
But something had changed.
Rider no longer walked two steps ahead.
He walked beside him.
And whenever travelers passed by, he would subtly place his hand in front of Shu Tai—a small motion no one else noticed. Silent protection.
"Why are you protecting me?"
Shu Tai asked suddenly.
Rider looked at him, then back at the road.
"Because this world doesn't forgive those who draw attention."
Then, after a moment, he added:
"And you… draw attention without trying."
System Notification:
Advanced Positive Interaction
+10 Points
Shu Tai laughed softly.
"Then I guess you're my problem."
Rider smiled.
A small, rare smile.
Val-Orin
The city was noisy, alive, overflowing with sounds, scents, and faces.
Yet amid the crowd, Shu Tai felt something strange—less alone.
"You'll need a name,"
Rider said as they entered.
"And an identity."
"Shu Tai is enough,"
he replied calmly.
Rider shook his head.
"Here, names tend to chase their owners."
Then he looked straight at him.
"Stay close to me."
It wasn't an order.
It was a promise.
Night
At the inn, the room was small but warm.
Shu Tai sat on the edge of the bed, watching the dim light while Rider silently removed his armor.
"Rider…"
Shu Tai finally spoke.
"Yes?"
"What happened between us… was it a mistake?"
Rider stopped.
Then turned around.
He stepped closer, slowly, until he stood directly in front of him.
"No."
He said firmly.
"But it means something. And that's why I don't want to ruin it."
Their breaths mingled.
Nothing else happened.
Yet their hearts were closer than ever.
System Notification:
Core Bond Established
Path Unlocked: Developing Relationship
Shu Tai closed his eyes, smiling.
This world…
hadn't just given him a new body.
It had given him a chance.