Chapter 108: New Year’s Night

This took place months before the current story, back in Levinton at Levi’s place where kaiser was still recovering and Celia was taking care of him. These events took place after their visit to the village of soulmates, meaning Celia’s mind was already obsessed with him.

Celia’s Perspective:

I slowly took steps toward Kaiser’s room. The house was quiet, wrapped in the kind of silence that made my heartbeat sound too loud.

Levi and Emma were asleep — they had to be. I’d checked twice.

I wasn’t supposed to be awake either, but how could I sleep when he was just a few doors away? Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him—his calm face, the faint smirk he gave when teasing me, the way his voice lingered even when he was gone.

I pushed the door slightly. It creaked. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest.

Please don’t wake up… please don’t…

But he wasn’t asleep. He was sitting on the wooden table beside his bed, one knee up, staring out the window. The moonlight cut across his jawline, outlining his tired face. His eyes looked distant—like he was watching something I couldn’t see.

He looked… mine.

I pressed my lips together, trying to steady my breathing, but every second staring at him made it worse. I shouldn’t be here. I really shouldn’t. But I can’t stop looking at him.

Not after everything in the Village of Soulmates.

Ever since then… something inside me changed. I can’t stop thinking about him. His voice, his face, his scent. Every moment I spend away from him feels like a punishment.

Maybe I am in love. Or maybe… this is obsession.

Minutes passed. I just stood there, my fingers gripping the edge of the door.

Then his voice broke the silence—calm, deep, and annoyingly knowing.

“How long are you going to be staring at me, Celia?”

My blood froze.

He knew.

He knew!

I flinched, bumping the door as it squeaked louder. “W–Who said I was staring!?”

He turned slightly, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. “You’ve been there for about… what, ten minutes now? Maybe 12?”

“I–I wasn’t counting!”

“Oh? Then what were you doing?”

“…Checking! I was just… checking if you were okay!”

“By watching me through a slightly-open door?”

“Peeking helps me… uh, observe!”

He let out a low chuckle, the sound somehow both infuriating and… unfairly attractive.

“You really are terrible at lying.”

I puffed my cheeks and stepped in, arms crossed. “I wasn’t lying! I was just making sure you didn’t… die or something!”

“I see.” He tilted his head slightly. “And if I did?”

“Then I’d… uh… heal you! Obviously.”

“From death?”

“…”

“Yes. I’ll bring you back no matter the cost or sacrifice.”

He laughed softly, shaking his head. “You’re ridiculous.”

I huffed and turned away, but my cheeks burned so much it was impossible to hide. My heart was beating so fast I thought it might burst out of my chest.

Kaiser leaned back slightly on his palms, his voice softer now. “Come here.”

“What?”

“Sit with me.”

“I—It’s late! We should be sleeping!”

“If you’re already awake enough to spy on me, you might as well join me.”

“I wasn’t spying!”

“Sure, sure. Now come here before you start making more noise and wake Levi.”

I grumbled under my breath but finally walked over, sitting beside him on the wooden table. Our shoulders brushed for a second, and I almost forgot how to breathe.

The window was open, and the night breeze slipped through, brushing against our faces. The stars scattered above the forest, faint and trembling.

He pointed slightly. “You see that one?”

“The big one?”

“Yeah. When I was little, I used to think big ones used to grant wishes.”

“Really?” I smiled. “That’s kind of cute.”

“Don’t tell anyone I said that.”

“I won’t.”

Silence settled again — not awkward, but peaceful. I wanted to say something, anything, but the words caught in my throat.

Being this close… it hurt in a strange way. Every second with him felt like I was sinking deeper into something I couldn’t escape.

He glanced at me. “You were crying earlier, weren’t you?”

My body tensed. “W–What? No!”

“Your eyes still look puffy.”

I turned away, gripping my skirt. “Maybe I just… stayed up too long.”

“Hmm.” He looked back at the stars. “Don’t push yourself so much, Celia.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

His voice carried a quiet weight, a warmth that made my chest ache.

I wanted to tell him. Everything. How I can’t stop thinking about him. How every heartbeat feels heavier when he’s near. How I’d give anything — anything — for him to look at me the way I look at him.

But instead, I said softly, “You’re the one who shouldn’t push yourself.”

He turned slightly. “Me?”

“You act fine, but I can tell you’re not. You’re always pretending you’re okay.”

A faint smile crossed his lips — the kind that hides something deeper. “If I wasn’t okay, I wouldn’t be sitting here with you, would I?”

I bit my lip, trying not to blush. “You always know what to say, don’t you?”

“Not always.”

“Then right now?”

He looked straight at me. The moonlight caught in his eyes, and for a moment, I thought my heart stopped.

“Right now,” he said softly, “I think you look beautiful when you’re trying not to smile.”

I blinked. My mind went blank.

“I—I wasn’t trying not to smile!”

“Sure you weren’t.”

He chuckled again, and I turned away, hiding my burning face.

Inside, though, my thoughts were spiraling — He said I’m beautiful. He actually said it. I could die right now and be fine. No, not fine. Happy. Blissfully, stupidly happy.

I glanced at him again, his calm profile lit by the stars, and thought — Please… don’t ever look at anyone else like that.

Only me.

Just me.

But out loud, I just said, “…You’re not bad-looking either, you know.”

“Oh?” He smirked. “Are you flirting with me?”

“Don’t get used to it!”

“I won’t.”

He didn’t stop smiling. And I didn’t stop falling.

“You’re ridiculous, you know that?” he said, low.

“I am not!” I snapped, though my voice bounced out thin and high. I pressed my palms flat on the wood of the table, pretending not to notice my face burning.

He laughed, the sound warm enough to warm the chill off the window. “You’re cute when you try to be fierce.”

Stop. Don’t call me that. Call me yours, my stupid heart begged. I kept my mouth shut. Say it, don’t say it—my thoughts spilled over like a river with no dam.

“What was that?” he asked, cocking his head.

“Nothing.” I pretended annoyance. “Don’t tease me.”

“I won’t stop,” he said, smiling. “You’re too cute.”

My insides melted and sharpened at once. He could do that—turn me into glass and steel with a look. I hated him for it and loved him for it at the same time.

He pointed at the sky. “Guess my favorite star.”

I blinked and looked up, searching. The sky was full of them—bright, faint, steady, winking. I picked the prettiest ones by habit: the clear, steady one near the horizon, the tiny cluster that flickered like a necklace, another that shone cold and proud.

“Wrong,” he said, shaking his head.

“Wrong?” I repeated.

“How are they wrong?”

He reached over and tapped my chin with the back of his knuckle, ridiculously gentle.

“Because they’re not you.”

“You’re my favorite star.”

I slammed my eyes shut. “Stop saying—” I started, heat flooding my face.

He laughed, plainly pleased. “You hide your face so well.”

My chest hurt in that good way like someone had squeezed it. I wanted to tell him to stop and also to speak only in this way forever.

“Celia—what’s your birthday?”

My mind flailed. I hated my birthday after my awakening… until his question made it matter.

For a chaotic moment, panic rose—what if I couldn’t remember? What if I said wrong and he felt sad, and I had to live with that? The very idea twisted me.

No. I couldn’t tell him I didn’t remember. He would feel upset… or even sad!.

I forced my face to calm and looked up at a bright, cold star, pretending to think.

“The end of the year,” I said at last, barely a whisper.

“The last day—December thirty-first.”

He whistled softly. “Wow. A year-ender. Dramatic.”

“Of course,” I said, trying to make my voice casual. Inside, I was turning the date over like a talisman. Even if it wasn’t my real birthday, I hope he remembers it.

“What do you want for it?” he asked, eyes leveling on mine.

Without thinking—because thinking was slow and dangerous and might let the real thing slip out of me—I breathed, “You.”

He blinked, amused. “Me?”

I shook my head, uselessly, cheeks flaming. “No—don’t be ridiculous.” My lips quivered. Say it, say it, say you’ll be mine.

But I said, “Don’t be stupid.”

“And if you can’t have me?” He grinned, leaning closer as if to share a private joke.

I felt my fingers clutch the table.

You can’t leave me,You’re mine.

No one else.

He laughed softly and the sound was a threat disguised as amusement.

“What if I spend that day with someone else?” he asked, leaning in until his breath feathered my cheek.

Something in me snapped into a fine, sharp focus. The world narrowed until there was only him, his question, and the hot, violent pulse in my throat.

“I’ll kill them,” I said.

The table under my hands felt suddenly too real; my nails dug into the wood. He froze mid-smile, eyes widening for half a heartbeat—then he laughed, the sound bright and something wild.

“Oh? Is that a promise or a threat?”

“You don’t get to make fun of me.” My voice came out flat, small—too controlled.

Inside, everything was ice-sharp: the image of anyone who might touch him, the heat of blood I would gladly spill if it kept him safe.

“You can’t even hurt a fly,” he said, voice amused as if he’d found a particularly entertaining insect.

“I’ll kill anyone who comes near you,” I said, flat. The words tasted like iron but I said them without a laugh.

He raised an eyebrow. “That’s… dramatic.”

“You think it’s funny?” I ground my teeth. The muscles in my neck tightened. I swallowed over the heat pooling in my throat. “I’ll become stronger than you. Just watch me.”

He reached out and patted my head, the motion casual and oddly gentle. “Yes, you will. But you won’t go that far. You won’t actually kill people.”

“A few days ago Levi asked me to get groceries,” he said, as if telling a story. “A kind woman helped him with directions and carried his things to the door. I saw you staring at her for so long you didn’t blink.”

“I was looking at you, not her,” I said, voice plain and calm, the kind of answer that should be believable.

That bitch should be dead. Six feet under the ground. If I were stronger—if I were strong enough—I wouldn’t hesitate.

He smiled.

We were quiet then, the stars pressed thin and sharp through the window. The night was only the hush between breaths.

“On my birthday,” I muttered, not certain why the words needed to be said, “you’ll be with me.”

He looked at me, amusement softening to something that looked like interest.

“Hmm. You make it sound like a demand.”

“Maybe it is.” The sentence felt small in my mouth, but it held a weight that folded me inward.

“Okay,” he said after a moment. “I’ll look forward to it.”

He didn’t see the map of madness that unfurled behind my eyes — every face that might smile at him, every shadow that might cross his path. He didn’t hear the litany that rose like a tide in my chest: you are mine; I will not let anything take you.

If I were stronger — stronger than the trembling in my hands, stronger than the fear that made my throat close — I would tear anyone from his side and show them the price of touching what belonged to me.

If someone smiled at him the wrong way, I would kill their smile. If someone reached for his arm, I would break that arm and burn the hand that touched him.

I kept those things silent, folded like knives beneath my ribs, because saying them would make them real. Saying them would make him watch me differently.

Out loud I only breathed, “You’ll be mine.”

It was not a plea. It was a promise.

———————————————————————————————–

Back to the present:

9:21 PM – 31/12/2017

Celia’s Perspective:

I slowly opened my eyes, taking in the soft light that bathed the room.

The ceiling above shimmered faintly, like a constellation of tiny, floating fairies, their wings catching the light and scattering it across the walls in delicate patterns. The air smelled faintly of herbs and warmth, mixed with the subtle, sweet scent of magic. The room was rectangular, simple yet elegant—crafted for rest and recovery. Along the walls, small shelves held bottles of glimmering potions, glowing faintly with green and blue hues.

Soft mats and pillows were scattered on the floor for smaller fairies, while the beds at either end of the room were large and inviting, carved from smooth wood and lined with silk sheets that seemed to hum with restorative energy. Lanterns floated lazily in the corners, their light steady and comforting.

And then I noticed the other bed, on the far side of the room.

Kaiser was lying there, still as the night, chest rising and falling in even breaths. My smile widened, a rush of happiness flooding me despite the cold still lingering in my bones.

“Aww… you’re asleep, my Kai,” I whispered, unable to stop the soft coo from escaping.

I tried to get out of bed, but my body protested. My hands were still pale, fingers trembling faintly from the hyperthermia after being “swallowed” by the frost crawler. My skin felt tight, almost burning under the surface.

“Ascend—” I started, my voice trailing off as the door opened before I could finish.

Lucas stepped in, casual as ever, leaning slightly on the doorframe. “Morning, actually its night,” he said with a grin. “How are you feeling?”

I blinked at him, trying to force a normal tone. “Still… recovering. Fighting that frost crawler took more out of me than I thought.”

He nodded, walking further in and brushing some floating light particles out of the way as he passed. “I figured. That’s why I put both you and Kaiser in a deeper REM sleep for a few hours. Added a little medicine to reset your hyperthermia. You should feel more stable now.”

I blinked, a mixture of relief and embarrassment flooding me. “You… you did that?”

“Of course. I’m just that cool of a guy,” Lucas said, grinning and shrugging.

“You really just said that?” I raised an eyebrow at him.

“Yep. Just that cool.” He gave a laugh, the kind that made the room feel lighter.

I couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at my lips. “Unbelievable,” I muttered, shaking my head.

He chuckled, eyes glinting with mischief. “So, besides almost dying and being icy-stiff from fighting a frost crawler…how are you really doing?”

“Honestly… still shaken. But… I’m hoping everyone is safe.”

Lucas nodded. “The labyrinth’s fine, mostly. Fairies are healing well. No major casualties beyond much. You did your best.”

I let out a small breath, feeling the tension in my shoulders loosen slightly. “Thanks, Lucas. Really.”

He grinned, the kind of grin that makes you forget your aches for a moment. “Hey, saving people is kind of my thing. And don’t forget—while you were busy asleep, I had to keep the chaos from turning into actual chaos.”

I laughed lightly, shaking my head. “Of course. Someone has to keep you in check too.”

He tilted his head, smirk softening into something warmer. “Exactly. Now… go rest a bit more. Kaiser’s still asleep, and you’re not exactly healed either.”

I nodded, settling back into the pillows, feeling a little safer knowing Lucas was here, knowing that while Kaiser slept, someone was looking after us all.

“You really are just that cool,” I muttered under my breath, a small smile tugging at my lips as I finally let my body relax.

Lucas only chuckled, leaning back against the wall. “I know. Too much cool.”

Lucas’s smile faded a little, his eyes shifting toward the floor. “Unfortunately,” he said quietly, “a few didn’t make it.”

My heart sank. “You mean… the fairies?”

He nodded once, his usual humor gone. “Yeah. One of them we actually knew… somewhat.”

“Who?” I asked, my voice steady—too steady, maybe.

“It was Linne. The pink-winged fairy.”

I blinked. “Who?”

Lucas sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I guess it wasn’t that important for you to remember, huh?”

“Hey,” I said, forcing a small pout. “I just woke up from hyperthermia, maybe enlighten me a little?”

He looked at me, half amused, half tired. “We saw her the day we arrived, remember? She was playing with the other fairies when we were entering the palace. Pink wings, always laughing—kind of hard to miss.”

I tilted my head slightly. “Hmm… can’t recall anything, Lucas. My mind’s fuzzy.”

He shrugged, though his tone softened. “Yeah, that’s fair. You need more rest anyway. Just one more thing, though…”

He leaned a little closer, his expression growing serious. “When we found her… her arms were missing. Even if she died from the virus, we don’t know where they went.”

I blinked, letting my eyes widen the perfect amount. “That’s… odd. You should look into it. I’d help if I was healed, but…” I let my words trail off, acting surprised, even a little scared.

Lucas nodded slowly, straightening from his spot by the bed. “Yeah, we’ll figure it out. Anyway, Sylaphine’s hosting a New Year’s celebration in the palace. You should stay here and rest. Kaiser will probably wake up tomorrow.”

“His dose is stronger. Nothing can wake him up for now.”

I tilted my head toward the sleeping figure across the room. “Why’s he still asleep?”

Lucas took a step closer, resting his hand on the bedframe. “You don’t remember?”

I shook my head. “Not really.”

He exhaled, eyes flickering to the window before meeting mine again.

He then explained everything to me.

How after the frost crawler swallowed me, Kaiser went after it. Straight to its layer. Pulled it out himself using my cursed chains—made Lucas finish it off before it could get to him.

I felt my breath hitch, eyes falling back to Kaiser.

He went that far… for me? My lips curved slightly, a small, quiet smile that didn’t quite reach my heart. “I thought you two took it down immediately after I was swallowed.”

Lucas chuckled softly. “Guess you passed out before the fun part. You were already unconscious when we dragged you out.”

He looked over at the clock on the far wall, the soft golden hands moving lazily under the shimmer of fairy light. “Anyway, I should go. Rest up, alright?”

I nodded, lifting my hand in a lazy wave. “Enjoy your party—and… thanks for everything.”

Lucas flashed a grin as he opened the door, pausing in the faint glow of the hallway light. “Don’t mention it.”

The door shut behind him with a soft click.

The silence that followed was warm and heavy. I turned my gaze back to Kaiser—his chest rose and fell, slow and calm, his expression unreadable even in sleep.

A faint smile tugged at my lips again.

You always do too much for me, don’t you… my Kai?

“Ascend,” I whispered.

Slowly, from the cracks in the ground, a form began to take shape — a demonic silhouette built from smoke and ember, rising like a nightmare that remembered beauty once belonged to it.

Wings unfolded first.

Once soft and translucent — fairy wings, pink and delicate — now charred, veins glowing red as molten threads pulsed beneath the torn membrane. Her body followed, marred and graceful, stitched together by faint traces of cursed light. Even her face still carried traces of what she once was… a fairy who once smiled. Now she trembled beneath the dark radiance that made her my slave.

“Yes, my queen?” Her voice, when it came, was soft and reverent.

I smiled wider, stepping down from the bed. The air grew colder. Shadows bent to follow my feet.

“Bow your head down to the ground,” I said, my tone sweet — almost playful. “And stay there.”

The demonic fairy — Linne — lowered herself slowly, her once-angelic hair falling like strands of ash. She pressed her forehead against the stone floor, her burnt wings trembling as she whispered,

“As you wish… my queen. Please… command me more… I am your slave.”

A laugh touched my lips. “Ahh, good. You’re better when you remember who you belong to, Linne.”

Her body twitched at the name.

“Good thing Crownless tortured you till you were crying tears of blood,” I murmured, circling her bowed form like a serpent admiring prey. “I should’ve been there to see it happen. But… I was in the middle of things, you know.”

“If you wish, my queen,” Linne said, voice cracking with devotion and fear, “I can cry tears of blood again… again and again…”

“That won’t be needed,” I said softly. “Just bow your head like a good little slave.”

I crouched beside her, my eyes half-lidded, my voice dipping into something almost tender.”This is what you get,” I whispered, “for being close to my Kaiser.”

“M-my queen, f-forgive me— I— I didn’t— I s-swear—” Her entire form convulsed. The air shuddered.

Her words died in a strangled gasp as I looked at her. The look alone was enough.

Then I turned my gaze toward Kaiser — still asleep — and felt my smile stretch, the happiness in my chest twisting into something dark and possessive.

“Mine,” I breathed.

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