Markus runs through the dark — but the halls of his parents’ house keep shifting.

  “Will you go with me?”

  He hears laughter as the hallway twists into a school. Lockers melt into stone walls. A hospital bed flickers into flame. Voices chase him — distant, sharp, familiar.

  Alexia’s voice — warm, teasing, a little unsure — says something he can’t make out.

  He turns toward it, but she’s gone. Smoke fills the air.

  Then:

  “It’ll be easier if I’m the one to go. You’ve already been through so much… would you really want to suffer more because of me?”

  Liddle.

  She stands in the firelight, arms open like she’s ready to fall.

  “No!”

  He tries to run to her — but the floor cracks beneath him. The sword in his hand shatters like glass.

  Then—

  He jolts awake, gasping for breath, sweat sticking his shirt to his back.

  The bedroom is quiet. The air is cool.

  “Markus?”

  Liddle sits up from the floor, her eyes wide with worry. “You’ve been tossing all night. You haven’t stopped panicking since you came back.

  She climbs onto the bed and places a cold hand gently on his forehead.

  “It’s okay, Markus,” she whispers. “You can rest now.”

  “The trials…” Markus murmurs, his voice cracked and shaky. “It’s like they were designed to get in my head.”

  “It’s okay. It’s over. You won,” Liddle says softly.

  She gently helps him sit up and begins unbuttoning his shirt. “Mind lying on your stomach?”

  As Markus rolls onto his stomach, Liddle carefully pulls the shirt from his back.

  “I didn’t know humans could turn that color,” Liddle says, trying to sound light, though her voice trembles with worry.

  She places her hands against his bruised skin, a soft glow of blue forming at her fingertips as she begins massaging his back with her ice magic — cool and steady, like an enchanted ice pack guided by care.

  Markus lets out a slow breath, tension melting under her touch.

  “That… actually feels really nice,” he murmurs, letting his eyes drift closed.

  “I hate that feeling,” Liddle says softly. “When pain is everywhere… and it only stops when the humans get bored.”

  She pauses, then adds, quieter, “I hope this works for you better than it ever did for me.”

  Her hands move lower on his back, magic cooling the bruises beneath her touch — steady, soothing, like she’s trying to undo what the world has done.

  “Thank you,” Markus murmurs. “It’s helping a lot.”

  “Of course,” Liddle says gently. “I’d do anything for you.”

  Markus tenses — then suddenly sits up.

  “What did you just say?”

  “Just that—”

  “Please don’t say you’d die for me,” he says, his voice rising. His shoulders are tight, his eyes wide.

  Liddle gently pushes him back onto his stomach, her hands cool and firm. “Shhh. You’re still sore. Breathe.”

  “I don’t want to think about you dying. Not again.”

  Liddle lies down beside him and presses a gentle kiss to his forehead.

  Markus pulls her into a hug, clinging to her like she might vanish. He buries his face in her shoulder, hoping she won’t see the tears slipping down his cheek.

  “Please,” he whispers. “Tell me you know better than to throw your life away like it means nothing.”

  “It didn’t mean anything… until I met you,” Liddle whispers.

  “That’s not true,” Markus says softly.

  “I’ve spent my life running — hunted in two worlds — waiting for someone to choose me.”

  She crawls up beside him, wrapping an arm gently around his waist.

  “Looks like you caught me,” Liddle says with a quiet smile. “So… what’s a human gonna do with a little old demon like me?”

  “Mind staying right there,” Markus murmurs, eyes shutting before he even waits for her response.

  Liddle stays close, waiting for him to wake again.

  “When you feel up to it,” she whispers, resting her head on his shoulder, “can I see your sword?”

  Markus blinks.

  “Well… we have been dating a while, but that’s kinda fast—”

  Liddle stares at him.

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  “Oh. You meant the Life-Giving Blade.”

  With a faint shimmer of light, Markus summons the sword. He grips the wooden handle, its golden hilt warm in his hand, and slowly draws the blade — a length of gleaming, carbonized steel that catches the room’s glow just right.

  “That looks amazing,” Liddle whispers, leaning her head against his shoulder. She reaches out and lightly pokes the blade with one fingertip.

  “No one would’ve thought I’d end up dating the wielder,” she adds with a small smile. “And not just any wielder… the universe’s best one.”

  “Very fitting for a girl such as yourself,” Markus says with a soft smile, sliding the sword back into its sheath.

  Liddle’s expression softens. “Of course. You do so much for me…”

  She hesitates, then adds quietly, “When you were gone, someone attacked me at the hotel. I didn’t realize until then how safe I’ve felt… just being near you. I think I took it for granted.”

  “That’s something most people take for granted,” Markus says softly.

  “It’s… sad that for you, it’s something rare. Something you have to learn to feel.”

  “Even now… with your body bruised and beaten,” Liddle whispers, “you still hold me tight.”

  The front door creaks open.

  “Markus?” Alexia calls. Her footsteps quicken — then stop short at his bedroom door.

  She stares.

  Markus, shirtless, is curled up in bed with Liddle, holding her close.

  “Okaaay…” Alexia says, raising an eyebrow. “Looks like I walked in at a bad time.”

  “Not really,” Liddle says without missing a beat. “Markus just showed me his sword.”

  Alexia laughs. “Okay, lover boy. Stay put until it’s time for your healing session.”

  She pulls out her Mahoishi stone, its glow flickering softly as she channels magic into Markus’s body.

  After a few minutes, her shoulders slump slightly, and she braces herself against the bedframe.

  “I’ve never seen so many bruises and wounds on one person, Markus,” she says, her breath catching. “It’s a wonder you made it back in one piece.”

  The healing light fades as her energy wanes.

  “That should help a little… but it’ll take a few days before you’re fully patched up. Don’t push it.”

  “Sorry,” Alexia says, sliding her Mahoishi back into her bag. “I have to head out again. Liddle, can you make sure he doesn’t go anywhere?”

  Liddle nods seriously — then immediately climbs on top of Markus, sitting on his chest like a weighted blanket.

  “I’m not sure this is what she meant,” Markus mutters.

  “I can’t hear you. You’re asleep,” she replies with mock innocence.

  She rests her head on Markus’s chest and wriggles slightly to get more comfortable.

  “Alexia,” Markus asks weakly, “are you like this with Sid?”

  Alexia laughs. “Nope.”

  She walks toward the door, still giggling. “Liddle’s love is something special.”

  “I’ll see you two later,” she says as she turns to leave. “Hopefully, once my mana recovers, I can get you walking again.”

  With that, she slips out of the room.

  “Sorry,” Markus says quietly after her, “I thought getting the sword would make me more powerful… but I just feel weaker than ever.”

  Alexia pauses in the doorway, glances back over her shoulder.

  “You’re never going to be immortal,” she says. “Just rest for once.”

  And then she’s gone.

  “Come on, Liddle… I just got back,” Markus groans, not even trying to sit up.

  “Exactly.”

  Liddle pokes his nose. “I missed you.”

  “Can I at least go to the bathroom?” Markus asks.

  Liddle sighs, climbing off him.

  Markus pushes himself up — and immediately collapses to the floor with a heavy thud.

  “Markus!”

  Liddle rushes to his side and helps him up, draping his arm over her shoulder.

  “One sec,” she says, easing him back onto the bed.

  She darts out of the room, then returns a minute later holding a crooked stick in both hands.

  “Here,” she says proudly. “Cane.”

  Markus blinks. “You brought me a tree branch.”

  “You’re welcome,” she says with a grin, handing it to him like a sacred artifact.

  Markus limps his way into the bathroom, one hand gripping the stick Liddle gave him, the other braced against the wall. Every step feels like dragging an anchor, but he’s too stubborn to ask for help again. Not for this.

  The bathroom light flicks on—cool, clinical.

  He looks up—and freezes.

  His chest and shoulders are wrapped in deep, mottled bruises, ranging from dark violet to sickly yellow. Cuts he barely remembers trace thin lines across his ribs and arms. The skin around his neck still bears faint marks from the trial. He looks like he’s lost ten pounds in a week. His eyes are sunken, rimmed with shadows. His lips are cracked. His hair clings to his forehead in damp, uneven strands.

  He runs a hand over his ribs and winces.

  Turning on the faucet, he cups cold water in his hands and splashes it over his face. It doesn’t wash away the bruises. But the sting reminds him he’s still here.

  Still breathing.

  Still him.

  When Markus finishes and steps out, the stick creaks under his weight. He makes it halfway to the bedroom before it snaps with a sharp crack.

  He stumbles—

  —but Liddle is already there.

  She catches him under the arms and guides him gently back to the bed, easing him down like he’s something fragile.

  “There you go,” she says softly. “Nice and easy.”

  She reaches for his hand, lacing her fingers through his.

  “I’m glad you’re back.”

  Markus lies back, slowly curling into himself. His body aches, but not as much as the doubt gnawing at him from the inside.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispers. “I really thought I could be a hero. But… just look at me.”

  He doesn’t look up.

  A moment later, Liddle climbs back into bed and gently cuddles up against him, laying her head on his chest.

  “What I see,” she says softly, “is someone who ran into the Alien Department to save me.”

  She leans in and presses a gentle kiss to his lips.

  “That sounds like a hero to me.”

  Markus pulls her closer against his chest and absently pets her horns.

  “Did you know,” Liddle murmurs, curling closer, “that touching a demon’s horns is basically a promise to marry her?”

  Markus blinks. “Oh, really?”

  “Mhm. Though usually it’s more forceful… and there’s a whole chase involved.”

  Markus smirks, then slowly reaches up and cups both of her horns in his hands.

  “Like this?”

  Liddle blushes, her voice soft. “Yeah… like that.”

  He hesitates. “Sorry. I should’ve asked first.”

  Liddle smiles, eyes warm. “I told you for a reason.”

  “We can talk about the wedding after we stop the dragon,” Markus says, a small smile tugging at his lips.

  Liddle gently grabs the hand still resting on her horns and holds it in place, her eyes never leaving his.

  “You know,” she says with a perfectly serious face, “as my husband, you’re required to give at least an hour of cuddle time. Demon law.”

  Markus blinks. “Okay… I know that’s not true.”

  “Prove it’s not.”

  “I’ll ask Demono and—”

  Liddle cuts him off with another kiss, silencing his protest with a smug smile.

  Markus chuckles, his face flushed.

  “Well… lucky you’re cute.”

  Liddle giggles and curls into his side.

  Markus smiles, forgetting the trials, the pain, and how his body can barely move.

  None of that matters.

  Because together, they know—everything is going to be okay.