After waking from the dream, Yuder was left only with a vague feeling of having seen Kishiar from that day and the terrible sensation of wandering the corridors, without any new information or feeling that any gaps had been filled.

"Anyway, I didn't expect to see Peleta Castle's secret passages in such a way. So, it must have been that time in the dream."

Kishiar didn't elaborate on what 'that time' was, as the words alone were enough. Yuder, too, didn't feel the need to spell out the details verbally. He simply nodded, understanding that Kishiar was referring to the time in a previous life when Kishiar as Lord Orga was killed by his successor, Yudrain Aile, in a dream.

"Yes."

"Are you feeling alright? Not feeling unwell anywhere like last time?"

"I'm fine."

In reality, there was no physical pain. Unlike the times he had dreams featuring white gloves where he would experience adverse reactions or a sudden drop in appetite.

Though it was time for him to get up, Yuder merely looked down at the blanket that had slipped halfway off his body, making no move to rise.

There wasn't a problem. He was just recalling the last image from his dream where the man had firmly held his hand and moved ahead first.

Just like the last words that he wouldn't let go first, Kishiar was still holding Yuder's hand in the same way now. It blurred the lines between dream and reality and brought a nearly unbearable feeling.

He had saved Yuder from the nightmare. Knowing what the dream was about, he had not hesitated even a bit.

"Yuder?"

Noticing something off about Yuder's reaction, Kishiar called out to him. Instead of responding, Yuder lowered his eyes and spoke.

"If you permit it... may we just stay like this for a little longer?"

Kishiar's eyes widened slightly but he soon smiled.

"Of course, as long as you like."

He didn't ask why Yuder was making such an unusual request now. He simply caught the blanket that had slipped from Yuder's shoulder and wrapped it more snugly around him, pulling him in closer for comfort.

The two sat closely together for a long while, looking at the stove in a peaceful silence. Amidst the tranquility, Yuder suddenly became aware of the familiar scent enveloping him. It was different from the faint body odor he could usually detect when close; this scent was mingled with the will of a Tier 2 Awakener.

Normally, the scent, neatly contained within the owner's body, now caressed Yuder's entire body with gentle movements. Yuder responded by letting his own scent swirl freely without trying to contain it.

As their scents slowly mingled, Yuder felt as if an additional sense beyond the normal five had awakened. He could sense how the invisible scents carried intentions, how they mixed, and how they enveloped and touched each other's bodies. Throughout, a warmth began to rise in his body.

To an unawakened onlooker, they might seem to be doing nothing, sitting motionless. But it was not so. It was similar to the way animals comfort each other by grooming, and in another way, like a silent conversation.

Despite having had a busy and lively day, Yuder felt as if something that had been lying dormant within him was now beginning to stir to life.

"Ah..."

He felt as though he could truly [N O V E L I G H T] live now. It sounded strange, but it was true.

Responding to his breath, Kishiar pulled Yuder closer into his embrace. Yuder turned to look into his eyes.

His pale face, expressionless, reflected in his deeply set, red eyes.

After a moment, Yuder leaned in first, pressing his lips against Kishiar's in a daze. The slow kiss deepened as their tongues met, and after a brief pause, Kishiar gently cradled the back of Yuder's neck, his eyes softening.

As their heads tilted, intensifying the kiss, the sensation of fingers running through hair and the electric thrill made Yuder's body tingle. Yet, it was the feeling of being closer to Kishiar that he cherished more than the heat.

As their lips parted momentarily and their breaths mingled, the gaze they shared was deep, but again, no words were exchanged. And once more, it was Kishiar who drew Yuder in for a second kiss.

Like the mingling scents, their lengthy kisses continued without end. Occasionally, Yuder's breath would catch, and they would separate momentarily, but even then, their clasped hands and bodies did not part.

Each deepening kiss made their bodies lean further until they were almost lying across the armrest of the couch, yet neither expressed any discontent. In fact, such thoughts hardly occurred to them.

Even in the rising heat, all Yuder wanted was Kishiar before him.

And the same was true for Kishiar.

"Ah..."

As the relentless kisses continued, their clothes fell away, and their bare skins touched. The lower part of their bodies was already hotter than the upper. Yuder knew his body was already sufficiently softened without needing further preparation.

He no longer felt ashamed of his relaxed, drenched body. Instead, he was almost delighted.

"Even if we should think about tomorrow, you wouldn't want to, would you?"

A low question came unexpectedly. It wasn't meant to awaken reason and cool the situation as before, but rather, it was closer to a confirmation from someone who clearly knew Yuder's intentions.

Instead of answering, Yuder sucked on Kishiar's lower lip and gently bit it.

That was enough to convey his desire to have the man before him.

He wanted to embrace and consume him more fiercely than ever before.

Nothing else was needed, not the upcoming tomorrow, nor the days after that, nor anything else.

Responding to that intense desire, Kishiar's eyes softened and pained sweetly, as if there was nothing in the world more tender and lovely than Yuder.

And Yuder could now clearly see that his own expression was not much different.

"Ah..."

Soon, their bodies were completely overlapped. The invisible scents mingled around their naked bodies filled and vibrated the space as one.

Yuder, as if he would never let go no matter how much the world shook, embraced the man with his whole body and buried his head. The throbbing of their two hearts was distinctly felt through the skin they touched. Amid the uncontrollable surge of emotions that made his head dizzy and his belly feel like bursting, he was not in pain but desired even more fervor.

Never before had he felt more alive than at this moment.

As if there was no other way to be closer, yet if it were possible, he would have wanted just that.

Each time Yuder, unable to contain his emotions, pulled Kishiar close, the man responded by kissing him back. So deeply entwined that it was hard to move, yet they continued without stopping.

Unspoken emotions flowed between them for a long time, unable to be articulated in words.

"Ah..."

After a prolonged kissing, Yuder parted his swollen lips and exhaled. The dimming light from the nearly extinguished stove in the room flickered.

The man lying with him in his arms responded tenderly by brushing his lips just below Yuder's ear. Only the darkness filling the room and the blanket that initially wrapped around Yuder were hiding their joined bare state.

Even after the intensity ebbed, the warmth did not fade. And thanks to that heat, Yuder was finally able to let the words inside him flow smoothly.