~Chapter 108~
Calix’s face was a mess.
He looked like a man who had died with his eyes open. His pupils were empty, nothing reflected inside them, and his pale face showed no emotion at all.
‘He must think I’m dead!’
This was terrible. My heart raced in panic. What if Calix made the wrong choice because of it?
“Please, I have to go back! Send me back! How do I return?”
Frantic, I asked the dragon. To my surprise, it blinked slowly, as if speechless, almost like a grandfather watching his foolish granddaughter.
[Calm yourself. Not much time has passed.]
But even one second was too long!
The dragon sighed as it saw my near-teary face.
[Very well.]
The next moment, light flashed before my eyes.
“Puh-ha…!”
I opened my eyes in Calix’s arms.
“Calix!”
The instant I woke, I sprang up like a spring and grabbed him.
“I’m fine! I’m not dead! I’m okay!”
“……”
Fear stabbed me. Calix didn’t respond right away. I held his arms tightly and shook him until the blur in his eyes finally cleared.
For a moment, time seemed frozen. Calix wasn’t even breathing—his eyes wide, staring straight at me.
“Rena…?”
His trembling voice called my name. His pupils shook violently, as if he couldn’t believe it. I quickly nodded.
“Yes, it’s me! I’m totally fine!”
“Ah…”
A sound came out of him, like a horrible groan scraped from the bottom of an abyss.
Tears welled in Calix’s eyes. Seeing that, I realized just how cruel I’d been. My chest ached.
I nervously placed my hand on his cheek, not knowing what to say.
“D-Don’t cry. I’m sorry…”
“…Rena.”
His rough, broken voice called me again—and then, as if on cue, a tear slid down from one of his eyes.
I gasped, my mouth wide.
“I-I’m fine. Did I scare you? I’m really fine, it was just for a moment…”
But Calix reacted as if I had truly died and come back to life. The look on his face was unbearable. My own chest hurt as I pressed a hand to my heart.
Calix’s trembling hand touched my cheek.
“You… you…”
Even his voice shook. I was suddenly terrified he might break.
‘That lying dragon!’
It said not to worry. It said it would only be for a moment!
Calix’s breathing turned ragged, mixed with sobs, like a beast crying out in pain. He kept rubbing my cheeks over and over.
His breath grew quicker and quicker, like someone who had run a long distance, gasping for air.
“You… are you okay…”
Then, choking, Calix suddenly covered his mouth.
“Ugh…!”
He turned his head and gagged. I couldn’t just watch anymore. I grabbed his arm and forced magic into him.
Warm healing light filled his chest. Slowly, his hyperventilation calmed.
When I saw him relax a little, I asked softly:
“Are you okay now?”
But instead of answering, his lips jutted out.
“…Hic.”
‘Oh no.’
I quickly began soothing him.
“D-Don’t cry. It’s my fault. I’m sorry.”
Calix glared at me with a twisted expression. His eyes were wet, his face full of sorrow and resentment.
Yet, in those same eyes, there was burning desperation. He kept searching my face, making sure I wasn’t hurt anywhere. My heart sank.
After checking me over, Calix finally exhaled deeply and pulled me into his arms. His grip was crushing, as if to prove I was alive.
His strength slowly weakened as he held me.
“You… you have no idea how much I…”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would happen. I swear, I…”
“You, you, you… really, I…”
He stammered, gritting his teeth, groaning as if holding back sobs. His hand clutched my clothes desperately, like a drowning man clinging to straw.
With a choked voice, Calix asked:
“Why are you doing this to me?”
“I’m sorry…”
“Are you doing this on purpose? Do you enjoy watching me break, seeing me act so pitiful because of you?”
“You’re not pitiful at all!”
I tried to pull back in shock, but his grip only tightened.
“Stay still.”
“…”
“What am I supposed to do with you? What should I do…”
Calix lifted his head and locked eyes with me. His gaze trapped me in place.
“Rena, Rena…”
He rubbed his nose against mine tenderly, then let out a shaky laugh. Looking into my face, he sobbed softly and hugged me again.
“Because of you, I’m going insane.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“You know and still do this? Rena, how can you, knowing that?”
‘His eyes look unhinged.’
But since I was the one driving him mad, I had no right to complain.
“You’re trying to crush my heart, aren’t you?”
“That’s not true.”
“Then crush my brain instead…”
“Don’t say such scary things!”
His words broke my resolve. I cupped his cheeks and kissed his eyelids. He obediently closed his eyes.
I kissed his face here and there. Calix exhaled slowly, as if enduring a storm of emotions.
When he opened his eyes, he warned me:
“If I lock you away, you can’t say anything against it.”
“Of course not.”
“If I tie you up tight so you can’t go anywhere, and make you live your whole life only looking at me…”
“That sounds perfect.”
“You’ve ruined me.”
“…Maybe I have.”
I could only admit it.
When I answered honestly, Calix lost control again, caressing me desperately. His lashes were wet, with tears hanging from them.
He leaned close, about to kiss me—when he suddenly froze.
“…What?”
I had closed my eyes, expecting his kiss, but his gaze wasn’t on me. He was looking over my shoulder.
I turned, following his line of sight—and jumped in fright.
Huge yellow eyes were staring at us.
“Ah! You scared me!”
But the dragon just swayed its tail calmly.
[Are you finished?]
“When did you start watching?!”
[From the beginning.]
Calix said nothing, even with the dragon speaking before him. He didn’t look surprised or shaken—too calm, in fact, which made me more anxious.
Feeling responsible, I quickly tried to explain.
“Calix, this is the dragon. The one we once…”
But I choked on the words.
‘What do I even say?’
The god we once betrayed together? The god we plotted against?
Whatever I said felt wrong.
Luckily, Calix spoke first.
“I greet the highest being, the Dragon.”
[Hmph. You speak well.]
‘He’s angry!’
I grabbed my cheeks nervously.
[I’m not angry.]
‘Really?’
I peeked carefully. The dragon truly didn’t look upset.
‘Thank goodness.’
If we had earned the dragon’s anger now, we would’ve been doomed.
“Rena.”
Calix’s sharp eyes turned to me. He still held me tightly.
“Explain.”
If I didn’t give him a convincing explanation, he looked ready to attack the dragon right here. I tried to get up to stop him—only to realize he was still hugging me tight.
“Say it as you are now.”
Calix’s tone was a polite warning.
Like this, clinging together? In front of the dragon?
But with Calix’s piercing stare, I didn’t even dare resist.
He was satisfied once I stopped struggling.
So I began:
“This one is—”
“No, not that.”
“…Not that?”
“Start with you. Tell me why you were like that. Your pulse…”
Calix’s face twisted in pain, like he had swallowed fire.
“Your pulse stopped. For a full minute.”
‘A whole minute?!’
Startled, I snapped my head toward the dragon. Its great yellow eyes blinked as it explained:
[The moment she touched me, we were connected. Her heart runs on magic, so while she was with me, it had no need to beat. Naturally, it stopped.]
“Why did it connect this time? Last time, nothing like this happened.”
‘That’s right.’
The last time I touched the dragon, nothing like this happened. Sure, I fainted and bled a little from the nose—but that was just magic overload. There had been no connection.
So why did it only happen now?
