Time passed as the group continued their journey to Aurora to retrieve a woman named Melody. The days and nights went by without a single still moment. For the last three days, Krista and Damien couldn’t find a moment alone together. Between the lessons, Shix’s challenges, Cleo and Raven’s fighting, Jikan’s nagging, and Dante’s prying, caused each of them to fall asleep at night before information could be traded. Lucky for them, Phive woke up, and Shix was busy tending to him.

“Hey, this is the first time we’ve been alone for a while,” They were laying next to one another on top of a high dune as the evening sun began to set, “Anything you want to talk about?”

Even though today would have been considered light compared to these last few days, Krista was still tired. She had spent the last few hours in a nonstop verbal brawl with Dante, debating whether a griffin could beat a basilisk in a fight. She won the debate… with a little pressuring from Fierce.

“Absolutely! I mean have you seen Amelia. She’s been spending all her time with Dmitri, and have you seen their chemistry? Dmitri’s a good man, but he does have a bit a history. I told Amelia, but apparently, she already knew. It’s kind of adorable, but do you think we should intervene?”

“I was mostly referring to Shining Twilight’s possible weaknesses or strengths. Any information I- we could use against them. Like the fact that Shix is ambidextrous, or Dmitri being unable to drink milk, or even Cleo hating the cold. Like that thing you wanted to tell me a few days back, are you ready to tell me what that was about?”

“I already told you that it was nothing; the problem got solved.”

“After that day, you’ve been spending an awfully long amount of time with the Shining Twilight members, especially Dante.”

She avoided eye contact with Damien, “No, there’s nothing, nothing at all. We just talk about… things.”

“Things? You’re hiding something from me Krista, and I don’t know what, but that’s fine. I trust you, so just stay safe.”

Krista felt her heart skip a beat, he did it again. She took a long look into her eyes and prepared herself to say something she’d been wanting to talk about for a while, “Damien… let’s talk.”

“Hey, codenames only Krisha, but I’m serious. If what you want to talk about is something you don’t feel comfortable sharing right now, then it’s fine if you want to keep it to yourself. I don’t want to be told something you’ll regret telling me.”

Damien felt that it was good and all that she wants to talk, but only a bit ago, she was so adamant about not telling him. He didn’t want there to be a rift in their relationship because she told him something he shouldn’t know.

“Let’s go back to the tent, I want to talk there,” Krista spoke seriously and looked adamant about divulging whatever she needed to say.

“Sure, okay,” Damien responded almost absentmindedly.

“Turning in for the night?” asked Dante as the two walked towards their tent, “You guys should star gaze for a bit longer; I’m pretty sure the Eclain’s Arrow will pass by tonight. You guys should join me, Cleo, and Raven.”

Krista answered before Damien could even form a thought, “Can’t tonight, we have some important business to talk about. If it hasn’t past by the time we finish, maybe we’ll join you.”

Dante nodded them off, “I’ll make sure no one bothers you two then.”

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

The two made their way back to the tent where they could have some privacy, “So what’s up?”

Even if Damien said that he was okay with the secrets, in the situation they were in, information was paramount, so he’s appreciated any he could receive. Especially, whatever information Krista seemed so adamant to hide and then reveal.

“Actually, before you tell me, I think I’ve figured out a few of the Shining Twilight members affinities. Jikan has a Relativity affinity. I’ve spent a good bit of time watching how his ability works, and it looks like his clones are past versions of himself that can repeat an action he does. I also know that Dmitri has an elemental affinity. Apparently, Amelia saw him use his synthesis to materialize small amounts of water out of thin air.

“Phive has a life affinity just like his sister, it’s what let him animate his dolls. Also, Dante told me a couple nights ago that Cleo was a wave wattiez user, but she can’t control her powers very well. Those bracelets of hers are actually repurposed anti-wattiez cuff to restrict her abilities, but here’s the main thing…”

Damien sat silently as he started at Krista. Learning all of this was more than enough for him, he knew each of their affinities except for Dante’s. Based on his actions, Damien felt Dante having a mental or Relativity affinity had the highest probability. Dante said that he liked to gamble, so maybe he had an ability to make sure the odds are in his favor. Possibly the ability to read minds, maybe see into the future. It would explain why he lasted so long again Acumenos’s armies.

You’ve already told me more than enough, Krista. It looks like you don’t feel too comfortable with sharing this information, especially when I intent to use it to-”

Krista put her finger on lips again, “That’s not why I brought you in here. When I was fighting Shix, she got a hold of me and was sapping my energy away, except… I sapped back.”

“Sapped back? What do you mean by sapped back?”

“Remember a while back when we were coming to New Dawn, back then, something similar happened when you tried to heal me. You grabbed on to me and couldn’t let go, then your eyes went black, and your energy flowed into me. It was also then that I got this.”

Krista held out her hand and the black blade appeared in her hand, “I’d have to say I can’t remember it happening, but I do remember falling unconscious and waking up in New Dawn.”

“Well, the same thing happened in my first fight with Shix. Her eyes went black, and all of her energy she had stored flowed into me, and I got this.”

She pulled out another smaller black weapon and handed it to Damien. It was a dagger this time that looked similar to his own if not slightly more curved and a bit larger, “Wow, mind if I keep this one? Actually, could you make me a bow next time?”

“Yes, no, maybe? I really don’t know. I mean what can I do? What does this mean for me? I’ve spent my entire life as an untethered, why did my abilities only start appearing now?”

Damien was startled to see Krista, the same Krista who fought a griffin with him, the same Krista who gave up her life of luxury to chase her dream start breaking down, “Krista, you need to calm down. I get it, this is all strange and new to you. I felt the same way when I first saw wattiez, but think of it this way, you aren’t untethered!”

He tried to place his hands on her shoulders, but she pushed him away, “You don’t get it Damien, it’s still different. You’ve lived your entire life not knowing what wattiez was, and then suddenly learned you could use it. I was born and raised here, in a place where wattiez is the norm. Being untethered, I was effectively locked away for most of my life! I ran away. I said that I left, but I ran away, and I was happy. I was content being untethered, based my identity around the fact. Now… now I have no idea who I am.”

She was shaking, barely able to hold herself up; Damien hugged her tightly from behind held her close, “You’re Krista Knightley.”

“D-Damien, what are you?”

This time Damien put a finger to her lips, “You are Krista Knightley, a royal, a warrior, and my friend. I don’t care about what a lost little girl you were in the past. I just know that my friend is worried about some stupid bullshit, and she needs someone to hug her.”

She hugged him back tightly, and when they let go, Krista spoke frankly, “I love you. Would you be mine?”