"Sometimes, the real awakening isn't when you open your eyes—it's when someone else's eyes start looking at you differently."
The scent of ashes still lingered in the air.
Lucien blinked slowly, his body numb yet tingling—like every nerve was waiting to scream but holding its breath. He wasn't in the burning forest anymore.
He was in a room filled with soft golden light, a large velvet curtain swaying with the breeze. His body lay under silk sheets, and a familiar warmth pressed against his right arm.
"Finally…" a soft voice whispered.
He turned his head, slowly.
It was Selene—her long silver hair falling messily over her shoulders, eyes tired but glowing. She sat beside him, her hand still wrapped around his fingers as if she hadn't let go even once.
"You were out for two days, dummy…"
Lucien tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through his shoulder. Selene instantly pressed him back gently.
"Easy. The demon beast hit you harder than we thought. You almost died—again."
His lips moved, voice rough. "...I saw fire. Inside me."
Selene looked at him. "You awakened something. I don't know what it is yet. But it wasn't just magic. It was… ancient."
Squad Meeting: Emotions in the Air
Later that evening, all six girls stood inside the temporary base.
Lucien sat in the middle, still bandaged. His squad stood around him like a circle of stars orbiting a broken sun.
Yui, the beastkin, crossed her arms and smirked. "About time you stopped being useless."
Iris, the mage, raised an eyebrow. "That burst of fire… wasn't listed in any elemental archive. What are you?"
Lyra, the swordswoman, remained silent but kept looking at Lucien's lips when he spoke.
Nerina, the demon girl, whispered, "You reminded me of someone from the ancient demon wars. Scary... but beautiful."
Lucien didn't know what to say. The weight of six intense gazes made his heart stutter more than the demon's blade ever could.
But then—Seraphina, the coldest of them all, walked in last.
She stood by the door, her voice soft and low.
"You awakened... and something changed in me too."
Everyone looked at her in surprise. Even Lucien.
Seraphina walked up to him, bent down—and softly touched her forehead to his.
A small glow passed between them.
Her cheeks reddened.
She whispered only for him to hear—"Don't die again, idiot. I hate how much I panicked."
Twist: The First Mission Arrives
Just as the moment grew heavier, a scroll burst into light near them — a system message burned into the air:
> ⚠️ SYSTEM QUEST — "Blood Bloom at Dawn" Location: Crythorn Valley
Objective: Investigate vanishing villagers and corrupt mana trees
Threat Level: High
Reward: Fire Core Fragment – Evolution Path Unlocked
Everyone fell silent.
Lucien looked at the mission.
"I'll go," he said.
Yui raised an eyebrow. "You're barely standing."
"I need to see… if what I felt was real. And—"
His eyes met all six girls, one by one.
"—I need to protect you this time."
Midnight: A Silent Confession
That night, before departure, Lucien sat under the moonlight alone. The wind played with his white shirt, and the silence comforted him.
A shadow joined him. It was Iris, the ice mage.
She didn't speak for a moment. Then softly:
"Back when we first met, I thought you were just another chosen idiot. But when I saw you burn yourself to protect us…"
She sighed, then turned.
"…You made me afraid. Because I realized I'd hate to see you die."
Lucien stared at her.
She turned, brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, and whispered, "That's all. Goodnight, Commander."
She walked away—but her ears were red.
As Lucien prepared for his first official mission post-awakening, he opened his status.
> [SYSTEM UPDATE]
🔓 New Title Unlocked: "Heartkind Flamebearer"
🔥 Effect: Allies within 5 meters gain +10% affection rate when near you.
Lucien blinked.
"…What the hell kind of system is this?!"
End of Chapter 6