CHAPTER 49…………………………………
It was dazzling enough that there was no need for magic light.
The ceiling, so high that its end couldn’t be seen, shone brightly like the midday sky.
“[This is… still inside that cave from earlier, right?]”
If they hadn’t entered after carefully examining the terrain, they might have mistaken it for having come back outside.
The pure white walls were completely covered in golden vines that resembled the leaves of a sacred tree.
Between them, faintly engraved letters could be seen.
Sierra noticed them first and traced them with her hand as she read.
Those who walk this path must make a choice.
“Ah.”
She must have scratched herself somewhere—blood slowly welled up from her finger.
“Are you okay?”
“Mm, I’m fine. More importantly, does this ‘choice’ mean the doors ahead?”
Before them were six branching paths, each with a door leading onward.
Those doors, too, were carved with intricate patterns.
“[This is… the symbol of a divine beast, isn’t it?]”
“[This one is the symbol of the earth.]”
“[Do we each go in according to our tribe?]”
“[But wouldn’t it be dangerous to split up?]”
In the end, there was no need to deliberate.
Doors belonging to tribes one did not belong to couldn’t be opened at all.
“[Then what about me…?]”
Ashur took Sierra’s hesitating hand and led her forward.
“[What are you hesitating for?]”
“[Yeah, obviously you’re coming with us. What are you talking about?]”
Kadiya backed him up.
The Sanctuary Alliance decided that each group would go inside, investigate, and then return here.
But the plan went awry from the very beginning.
The moment everyone stepped inside, the door closed on its own.
“[What the—!]”
They hurriedly tried to open it again, but an entirely new path appeared instead.
“[…It seems we have no choice but to move forward.]”
The group advanced slowly.
Without them noticing, mana began to fill the air little by little, like a creeping fog.
“Sierra.”
Ashur’s voice came not from beside her, but from below.
“What do you think?”
Rustle—
Why did the sound of lifting her skirt feel so loud?
Warm fingers brushed against her thigh.
Strange.
She’d seen this scene somewhere before.
‘Right. Then.’
When Ashur had massaged her feet in Sherzan’s quarters.
“Are you okay?”
“Mm?”
His touch gradually slowed.
“Am I really not getting in the way?”
“N-no… I, ah.”
Though his hand was gently caressing her, it felt overwhelmingly stimulating.
“…If it’s something like that, I can do it for you.”
A chill ran over her skin at the cold fingers grazing the soft flesh behind her knee.
“I-I didn’t mean to….”
“Then… should I stop?”
Ashur’s deep blue eyes burned with an unfamiliar heat.
The moment their eyes met, she forgot how things had ended up like this.
Startled, Sierra couldn’t even avert her gaze—she froze, mouth slightly open.
“Hm.”
Where had the Ashur who always shyly looked away gone?
This unfamiliar version of him moved closer.
“What’s wrong?”
His lips were so close that if she stayed still, they’d touch.
Without realizing it, she retreated backward.
Thump—
She was already sitting on the bed, leaving her nowhere to escape.
“Oh, did you want to lie down?”
Ashur curled the corner of his lips mischievously.
“N-no, that’s not it.”
Sierra tried to push herself up again, but Ashur had already come so close that she couldn’t stand or lie down—she froze in place.
Once more, his lowered gaze drew near.
“Hk.”
Sierra held her breath in surprise, but Ashur didn’t.
His soft lips touched hers.
“Mm, hn….”
Slowly, languidly, they exchanged warm breaths.
All the while, those vivid blue eyes staring straight at her made her heart race even faster.
Sierra could only squeeze her eyes shut.
Ashur’s large hand, which had been teasing behind her knee, gradually moved upward.
At the sluggish pace of his touch, her back arched on its own.
“Haah….”
As their lips parted slightly, Sierra looked up at him, exhaling a breath filled to the brim.
In Ashur’s eyes, she saw her own face, flushed more than she’d ever seen before.
“If you want me to stop, say so now.”
“Ah….”
No words came easily.
Ashur, who was always so reserved, wanted her this much.
Sierra couldn’t quite keep up with the situation.
Only one thing was certain.
‘Maybe… I wanted this too.’
The way Ashur’s gaze lingered on her lips, the longing on his face—
It swelled her chest with heat.
For a long moment, the two of them simply looked at each other in silence.
“Hup.”
After that, no one stopped.
They only lost themselves in each other.
Splash—
A basin tipped over, water spilling out.
Ashur paid it no mind as he moved onto the bed, over her.
“Haah….”
He tugged his clothes up and off.
“I can’t stop now.”
After that, a tempestuous time swept over them.
Sierra realized for the first time just how sensitive her body was.
Ashur’s smooth skin, the firm feel of his dense muscles—everything was dizzyingly seductive.
“Mmn, ah….”
She clutched his silver hair as he buried his face against her chest.
“Aah….”
When his lips traced up her neck and met hers again, she rested her hands on his solid waist.
When their eyes met once more, countless warm kisses rained down over her face.
“Thank you, Sierra… I’m sorry.”
“Hk!”
An unfamiliar sensation pierced through her entire body.
Without thinking, Sierra dug her nails into his back.
“Haah, ahh….”
It felt as though everything was filled.
Her mind went blank.
Again and again, she was swept up in the unfamiliar sensations, trembling endlessly.
It felt strange that her legs were hooked over Ashur’s shoulders.
He even carefully kissed her toes.
“Ah, mm.”
“Beautiful.”
As he continued moving, breathing roughly, he led Sierra into ecstasy.
At last, even her toes tingled, and her hips twisted on their own.
“Ashur… mmh….”
“Sierra. Hn.”
At some point, Ashur buried his face against her chest again.
Holding his head close, her gaze was drawn to the gem-like stones shimmering on the ceiling.
“Ah….”
If she sank into such a bewitching illusion, it felt like she’d never be able to escape.
But she couldn’t simply turn away from the worries of reality.
Her hollow heart ached.
The truth was, no matter what happened, she wanted to be with Ashur.
Now, she had no choice but to admit it.
Ashur seemed to have dozed off without realizing it.
“Where… am I?”
Before his eyes stretched out a lush green field.
He didn’t know when he’d fallen asleep, but he was leaning comfortably against a tree.
Soft grass brushed against his palm.
For some reason, his ear felt ticklish, so he raised a hand to touch it—there was a wildflower tucked there.
‘A flower?’
From afar came the cheerful sound of giggling laughter.
“Daddy!”
Ashur’s gaze was instinctively drawn to the small voice.
Of course, it couldn’t be calling him.
But then—why was it getting closer?
“Daddy! Why’d you take the flower out? Give it back!”
The child, as if trying to look angry, planted her hands on her hips—then quickly broke into a grin and ran up to Ashur.
With tiny, fern-like hands, she snatched the flower from his grasp and gently tugged at his ear.
Seeing her small face up close, it felt strangely familiar.
‘Did Sierra look like this when she was little?’
His heart nearly stopped at the shockingly cute sight.
Pale green eyes and silver hair glittering in the sunlight looked all too familiar.
“Ashur, did you fall asleep?”
Then came her gentle voice.
Sierra approached with a bright smile.
Behind her stretched the familiar forest of the Sanctuary.
A soft breeze blew, scattering Sierra’s hair.
The scene blurred his vision like a dream.
“So… our daughter?”
“Yeah! Daddy, why?”
At the child’s adorable reply, Ashur felt as though his breath caught in his throat.
“Uh… Sierra?”
His hand began to tremble.
Sierra answered casually.
“Hm? Honey, what’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”
“…What did you say? Say that again.”
The tips of Ashur’s ears instantly turned bright red.
“Hm? Are you not feeling well…?”
“No, before that.”
“Honey…?”
Afraid his startled heart might leap out, he pressed a hand to his chest.
