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Chapter Text

The corridor of the Art Building buzzed with chatter, laughter echoing softly between painted walls and towering canvas racks. Leaning casually against the wall, Sylus stood like a shadow in a sea of noise, arms crossed, eyes sharp. A small group of classmates gathered around him, drawn to his charisma like moths to fire, despite the cool distance he kept.

"Sylus." 

one of them asked, 

"are you done with the project for the art submission? It's due tomorrow morning."

Without looking up, Sylus answered flatly, 

"Already submitted. Don't see what's so difficult about it that you lot need until the last minute."

A few chuckles broke out.

"Sylus, it's a full canvas painting. It's not easy for everyone like it is for you." 

one joked, shaking their head with a dramatic sigh. 

"To you, it's like breathing."

Sylus gave a low scoff, the corners of his lips lifting into a sly smirk. 

"Maybe you should all quit."

Laughter burst from the group, part amused, part exasperated. Sylus wasn't wrong. He never seemed to struggle, and that only made him more mysterious.
Just then, someone pushed gently through the group, carrying a massive canvas that nearly swallowed him whole. Rafayel.

The painting bumped into shoulders, brushing aside bodies as its quiet bearer muttered with soft urgency,

"Excuse me. Incoming. Sorry... Excuse me."

One of Sylus' friends nearly stumbled into him from the impact, catching themselves just in time.

"Woah there! Careful!"

Rafayel peeked over the edge of the canvas, his arms still wrapped around it like it was something fragile and precious. His voice was barely above a whisper.

"Oh... sorry. Didn't see you there."

And with that, he slipped past them, his footsteps quickening down the corridor, like he couldn't leave fast enough.

Sylus' gaze followed him. His usual cool expression cracked into mild curiosity. He turned to his friends.
Sylus murmured, brows slightly furrowed.

"His eyes... They're... special."

One of the others nodded.

"That's Rafayel. Kinda famous in our course, for being quiet and distant. Barely speaks, and when he does, you can barely hear him. But yeah, his eyes—pinkish blue. Kinda pretty."

Sylus kept watching the spot where Rafayel had vanished.

"Doesn't talk much, huh?" 

he asked. 

"He's in our class?"

Someone answered

"Yeah. Always sits in the far corner. You probably never noticed him. He sort of blends into the background. Tries to be invisible but somehow, he's... not. Like, you feel him there."

Everyone nodded, almost unconsciously.
Sylus smiled faintly. A rare smile.

His voice dropped just a little, like he was talking more to himself than the others.

"Hmm. I didn't realize someone like that was right under my nose. I must've been blind."

The morning sun poured through the tall windows of the studio classroom, casting golden light across unfinished canvases and the scattered chaos of brushes and paint tubes. The class buzzed with low chatter and frantic movements—students were scrambling to finish their last touches before the big submission.

But Sylus was already done.

He lounged in his seat, arms folded behind his head, eyes half-lidded with boredom as the minutes ticked by. Everyone else was either panicking or perfecting, and he had nothing left to do.

With a sigh, he rose from his chair, hands in his pockets, and wandered to the back of the studio where it was quieter—where the hum of nervous energy softened into something calmer.

And there he was.

Rafayel.

Hunched over a canvas, his brush gliding with soft precision, completely immersed in painting—not the class project, Sylus noticed, but something of his own. A personal piece.

Sylus tilted his head, curious.
He walked closer, his steps slow and deliberate.

"What are you painting? You already submitted the project?"

Rafayel jumped slightly, his brush pausing mid-stroke. He turned his head, blinking up at Sylus like he hadn't expected to be seen, let alone spoken to.

"Uhh?" 

Rafayel blinked again. 

"Just extra painting... I submitted the project long ago."

His voice was quiet, airy. He turned back to the canvas without waiting for a reply.
Sylus raised an eyebrow. Most people would've jumped at the chance to talk to him. Rafayel? He barely acknowledged it.

Interesting.

He said, trying again.

"My name's Sylus." 

Rafayel looked up, tense like a startled cat, and nodded quickly.

 "Uh? Oh... I know."

That earned a faint smirk from Sylus.

"You know me, but I didn't even realize you were in our class until yesterday. Heard your name's Rafayel."

Rafayel glanced down and mumbled,

"Erm... okay. Please go back to your seat and do your stuff."

Instead, Sylus squatted down next to him, peering at the painting.
He asked, voice teasing.

"Do you always talk to people like that when you're painting? That's kind of rude."

Rafayel froze, his eyes wide with guilt. He set his brush down and turned to Sylus slowly, his words stumbling out in a hush.

"I—I don't mean it that way. I... don't... erm... nevermind. I'm sorry."

Sylus chuckled lightly and reached out, ruffling Rafayel's soft purple hair.

"I was just kidding." 

he said, gentle for once. 

"Didn't mean to spook you. I guess I tense you up too much. I'll go back now."

He stood up and walked away without waiting for a response. Back at his seat, he leaned back and crossed his legs, a small grin playing on his lips.

"He's cute."

Meanwhile, Rafayel sat frozen, hand hovering over his head where Sylus had touched him. His chest fluttered in a strange, unfamiliar way.
Under his breath, barely audible even to himself, he whispered:

"Why... is he talking to me?"

The room buzzed with tired relief as the final bell rang, signaling the end of the submission period. Students stretched in their seats, let out deep sighs, and began chatting noisily, the stress of deadlines finally behind them.

"Ughhh, finally!"  someone groaned.
"I thought I wouldn't make it!"
"Time to feast—I'm starving!"

Amid the clatter of bags and brushes being packed, one of Sylus' classmates called out to him across the room.

"Sylus! Lunch together?"

Sylus was already halfway through slinging his black messenger bag over one shoulder. He didn't answer right away, his sharp eyes shifted briefly, almost instinctively, toward the back of the room.

There, Rafayel was quietly tidying his desk, folding a cloth over his brushes and gently sliding his sketchbook into his bag. He moved like he was underwater, slow, delicate, unaware of the chaos around him.

Sylus turned back to his group and replied coolly,

"No. Count me out today."

His friends blinked, surprised, but didn't question it.

"Alright, your loss!"

They waved and filtered out of the classroom in groups, leaving behind an oddly quiet tension. Just as Rafayel zipped up his bag and reached for his water bottle, a shadow fell across his desk.

He looked up.

Sylus stood in front of him, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable.
Sylus said casually,

"Hey, let's go for lunch together."

Rafayel froze.
His eyes widened, and without thinking, he hugged his bag close to his chest like it was a shield.

He mumbled, voice barely audible.

"Erm... I—I want to eat alone." 

There was a pause.
Sylus didn't move. He simply tilted his head a little, studying Rafayel like a puzzle that had just shifted.

"Is that a no because you hate people... or because it's me?"

Rafayel blinked fast, mouth slightly open.

"I—no, I don't hate... I just... always eat alone..."

Sylus smiled, the corner of his mouth lifting, not mocking, just faintly amused.

"Well, maybe today you don't have to."

Rafayel clutched his bag tighter.

"I don't know how to eat... with people like you."

Sylus chuckled softly.

"Then don't talk. Just eat."

Rafayel stared at him, conflicted.
Sylus smirked, eyes glinting with a playful edge.

Sylus said, voice low and casual, 

"If you're not coming. I'm gonna drag you."

Rafayel froze like a startled deer, hugging his bag tighter against his chest. His knuckles whitened. He didn't respond, just stared, wide-eyed and unsure.

Sylus chuckled softly, then stepped forward and gently wrapped his fingers around Rafayel's arm. It wasn't rough. Not demanding. Just firm enough to say I mean it.

"Let's go."

Rafayel's entire body tensed. The warmth of that touch,so sudden, so unfamiliar—shot through him like a ripple across still water.

His heart pounded.
He whispered, barely louder than breath,

"You don't have to touch me."

Sylus paused, turning his head slightly. He met Rafayel's eyes, those shimmering, pinkish-blue eyes that looked like the ocean at sunrise. His own expression softened, just a little.

Then he smiled. Not the usual crooked smirk But something gentler.

"But I want to know you more."

Chapter Text

The campus cafeteria was lively, filled with the clatter of trays and the hum of student chatter. Long rows of tables stretched across the open space, flanked by a dozen colorful food stalls offering everything from fried rice to ramen, curry to cakes.

Sylus strode in first, still holding lightly onto Rafayel's arm—not forcefully, but as if guiding something delicate through a crowd. Only when he found a small table by the window did he finally let go.

He dropped his bag into a chair and looked back at Rafayel, who stood awkwardly by the table like he didn't quite know what to do with himself.

Sylus asked casually, already pulling out his wallet.

"What do you want for lunch?" 

Rafayel blinked and slowly put down his bag, his expression alarmed.
He said softly, almost sounding unsure whether it was okay to say no.

"I can... buy myself."

Sylus shrugged, that same easy smile tugging at his lips.

"If you insist, then okay. But I'll be getting the same dish as you."

Rafayel stared at him, eyes growing wider.

"Why? There's so many stalls here..."

Sylus turned on his heel, already walking toward the food counters with a teasing grin.
Sylus called back over his shoulder.

"Okay, okay. Just teasing you"

The cafeteria bustled around them—voices echoing, trays clattering, chairs scraping against the tiled floor. But at the small table by the window, it felt oddly quiet. Calm.

Rafayel returned first, tray in hand, filled with seafood: grilled salmon, soft-shell shrimp tempura, and a warm bowl of clam soup. He placed it down gently, slid into the seat, and began to eat without a word—forgetting, for a moment, that he wasn't alone today.

He was used to silence. It was normal. Comfortable.

Thud.

Another tray landed on the table across from him. Rafayel flinched slightly, blinking up.
Sylus stood there, grinning.
He said, eyeing Rafayel's tray as he sat down.

"So, you like seafood." 

Rafayel tensed, chopsticks paused mid-air. He nodded wordlessly, then resumed eating, quiet and mechanical like he always did, head slightly down, gaze on his food.

Sylus started on his own lunch, miso cod and rice—but every few bites, his eyes flicked toward Rafayel. Observing.

He asked, leaning back a little.

"Do you always eat this silently?" 

Rafayel didn't look up until he finished the last bite of his salmon. He lifted his head just slightly, voice soft but clear.

"I always eat alone... so, silent is normal."

Sylus rested his chin on his palm, watching him with open curiosity.

"Why eat alone? You've got a good-looking face. People would flock to you if you let them."

Rafayel took a sip of water, his fingers curling around the cup.

"I don't like crowds,"  he replied quietly.

That earned a soft chuckle from Sylus.

"So you like seafood, but don't like crowds. Got it."

He grinned, as if checking something off in an invisible notebook. Rafayel blinked at him, unsure whether he was being mocked or simply... remembered.

Sylus leaned forward a little, his voice quieter now, more playful than teasing.

"What else? Do you like rain? Music? Do you draw better at night or in the morning?"

Rafayel stared at him, truly stared, for a moment.

"...Why do you want to know all that?"

Sylus shrugged, eyes half-lidded with a lazy charm.
He said simply, echoing his words from earlier.

"Because I want to know you more." 

Rafayel's heart thudded.
He lowered his gaze quickly and reached for his soup, trying to hide the soft flush rising to his cheeks.

Days passed, and nothing changed, except everything did.

Rafayel still painted in silence. Still sat alone during studio breaks. Still walked the quieter paths of campus, head down, footsteps soft. He didn't speak unless spoken to, and even then, his words came out in barely-there whispers.

But ever since Sylus started talking to him... he wasn't alone anymore.

Sylus didn't push. He didn't demand or force his way into Rafayel's space. He simply existed near it, hovering just close enough to be felt, yet never overwhelming. Sometimes he'd sit beside him during lunch without saying a word. Sometimes he'd ask small questions: "What are you drawing today?" or "Do you always frown while sketching?"

And Rafayel, tense as ever, would respond quietly, shyly.

But he never walked away.

He didn't understand it.
Didn't understand him.

And more than once, while washing his brushes or drying his hands under the art room tap, Rafayel would catch himself thinking:

Why does he keep approaching me?

He didn't dislike it. That's what made it worse.
He wanted to know—but didn't dare ask.

Meanwhile, for Sylus, it was entertainment at first.

He had seen a thousand faces across the centuries of his disguised campus lives. Confident ones. Loud ones. Flirty ones. But never someone quite like Rafayel.

So guarded. So quiet. So unwilling to connect, yet impossible to ignore.

There was something about the way Rafayel's eyes flicked away when Sylus stared too long. The way his hands gripped his bag when nervous. The way he paused before answering, like every word he spoke had to pass through a storm of hesitation.

But most of all— Those eyes.

A soft pinkish blue, like moonlight skimming the ocean's surface. Sylus had seen oceans, stars, and whole galaxies in his time—but Rafayel's gaze still made his chest tighten in a way that caught him off guard.

He sometimes caught himself staring and thinking:

"He's adorable, that's for sure."

Not just cute. Not just interesting.
Adorable because he tried so hard to remain unreadable.

And Sylus?
He loved breaking unreadable things wide open.

The lecture ended with the usual rustle of notes, the soft screech of chairs, and the sudden rise of noise as students poured into casual chatter.

As always, Sylus was the center of it.

Surrounded.

Dozens of classmates swarmed his desk, some curious, some bold, some trying a little too hard. Questions flew around, mixed with laughter and attempts to gain his attention.

One girl asked with a hopeful smile.

"Sylus! Want to come with us for lunch break?" 

Sylus gave a flawless smile in return, cool, polite, and practiced.

"No."

The reply was immediate, no hesitation. He didn't even look up from his phone.
The crowd laughed awkwardly, some already expecting the answer.

One of Sylus' friends, lounging beside him, chuckled and waved his hand dramatically.

"Ahhh, don't take it personally. Mr. Rich Guy here's picky with food and even pickier with people. He doesn't randomly go out with just anyone. So, ladies and gentlemen—please leaaave~"

More groans. More laughter. Some gave up and started leaving. A few lingered longer than necessary, still hoping for a change in his tone.

In the very back row, Rafayel watched silently, his bag half-zipped in his lap.

He hadn't moved since the lecture ended. The path to the door was blocked by the crowd around Sylus, and Rafayel had no intention of pushing through all that.

Instead, he just sat there, quietly observing, like a shadow against the wall.

He doesn't go out with random people? Picky with food?

His thoughts swirled, quiet and unsure.

But every time during lunch... he isn't like that. He eats anything I choose. He even waits for me.

What Rafayel  didn't know was this:
Sylus didn't care for the crowd. He didn't care for flattery, or attention that had no weight.

He only showed interest when something stayed on his mind, when someone was worth looking at more than once.

And Rafayel, without ever trying to, had captured him like light caught inside deep water.

Chapter Text

The noise in the lecture hall hadn't faded. If anything, it had grown louder.

Laughter. Teasing. Questions.
Sylus remained seated, still half-entertaining the crowd, though his expression had settled into something distant, like he was already elsewhere.

At the back of the hall, Rafayel quietly zipped his bag, stood, and clutched it tightly to his chest. He hadn't moved for the past ten minutes, hoping the crowd would thin. But now he realized something else:

They wouldn't leave.

Not until Sylus  did.

Sylus was the anchor of the room. As long as he stayed, the attention stayed too. Which meant... Rafayel would be stuck here for a long, long time unless he moved now.

He took a slow breath and began walking. Down the stairs. Toward the crowd. Toward him.
He paused just behind the outer edge of the group and tried, softly—

"Excuse me... I need to cross."

No one heard him. The voices swallowed his.

He gripped his bag tighter, his arms crossing more protectively, and stepped forward again. His voice rose, still gentle, but urgent.

"Excuse meee... Going throughhh—"

Still, nothing.
Someone bumped him accidentally. Another waved an arm over his head, laughing. Rafayel's shoulders curled inward like a shrinking wave. His heartbeat thudded hard in his ears.

Too loud. Too many people. Too close.

Just as he was about to step back and retreat—
A voice cut through the noise.

"Move."

It was calm. Clear. And cold enough to freeze the conversation mid-air.

Everyone turned.
Sylus was standing.

His eyes locked not on the crowd, but just behind them, straight at Rafayel.
The students around him blinked in surprise, murmuring confusedly.

Sylus stepped forward, narrowing the distance between them. His tone didn't shift, but it didn't need to.

"I said, move."

The crowd began to part slowly, like a ripple slicing through still water. People backed away without question, making space. Some whispered. Some stared.

Rafayel blinked, frozen for a moment. Then Sylus reached out, not grabbing, not pulling, just lightly guiding Rafayel's elbow as if inviting him forward.

"Come on." 

he said, softer this time. 

"You hate crowds, right?"

Rafayel nodded silently, still shaken by the crowd. He followed Sylus out of the lecture hall, eyes downcast, bag held tight to his chest like it might shield him from the gazes closing in behind them.

But the crowd... didn't stop.

They followed.
Dozens of curious eyes trailed after them, not just because Sylus was Sylus, but because Rafayel was beside him. The reserved one. The mysterious one. The one who almost never spoke.

And now, suddenly, he was walking shoulder to shoulder with the most popular guy on campus.
It was like pouring oil on fire.

Rafayel turned slightly, his heart tightening when he saw them, students whispering, phones subtly raised, eyes darting between the two of them like trying to decode a secret.

Why are they still following us...? Are they... looking at me?

His breath quickened. He stepped closer to Sylus, nearly walking into his back, his arms hugging his bag even tighter. Eyes down. Body rigid. Like if he stayed small enough, he might disappear.

Sylus didn't miss it.

With a single glance over his shoulder, he saw Rafayel—shoulders hunched, face hidden, almost trembling beneath the weight of attention.

His jaw tightened.
Sylus muttered under his breath.

"This is getting on my nerves." 

Beside him, Kieran and Luke. Sylus' long-time friends, exchanged a glance. They didn't need words to know what that meant.

Kieran grinned. Luke sighed dramatically.

"Aight, we got it, friend."

The two peeled off casually, strolling backward to face the following crowd, hands behind their heads as if on a casual stroll.
Kieran asked loudly, voice sharp but still playful.

"Why are you guys still following Sylus? This is a big crowd, people. You know Sylus doesn't like crowds following him all the way."

Luke added with a grin that didn't reach his eyes,

"How about follow us instead? We're way more fun."

The crowd murmured, a few laughing awkwardly. But they didn't move.
Someone piped up from the back.

"We just think it's interesting... Sylus hanging out with the silent art student? They're polar opposites!"

Another chimed in, dreamy-eyed.

"They look good together, though..."

Kieran groaned. Luke's eye twitched.

"Alright, nope. Stalking. Creepy. That's what this is," Luke said, waving his arms in mock exasperation. "Disperse, disperse! Shoo! Sylus doesn't like being followed like a parade float!"

Finally, the crowd began to thin, reluctantly, but effectively. Some turned away. Some laughed and waved goodbye. Others kept glancing back until they disappeared around the corner.

The path behind them cleared.
The hallway was finally clearing as Rafayel and Sylus walked side by side toward the cafeteria.

Rafayel glanced back briefly, watching as the last of the curious crowd dispersed. His shoulders dropped just a little, finally able to breathe.

But just as the calm returned—

"HEY!"

Two figures rushed toward him suddenly—Luke and Kieran, grinning from ear to ear.
Rafayel jumped slightly, letting out a quiet yelp, hugging his bag tighter by reflex.

Before he could react further, a hand pulled him gently but firmly to the side, toward Sylus.
Sylus stepped in front of Rafayel protectively, his voice low with a sigh.

"Don't rush him like that."

Luke and Kieran skidded to a stop, holding up their hands innocently.
Kieran said sheepishly.

"Oops. Did we scare him?" 

Luke looked Rafayel up and down, amused.

"For someone this tall, you're surprisingly sensitive." 

he said with a friendly grin. 

"But hey, nice to meet you! I'm Luke, and this is my brother Kieran. We've known Sylus forever. Don't worry, we won't jump at you like that again. Sorry about it."

Rafayel's eyes widened, not from fear this time, but surprise.

People... being friendly?

Almost nervously, he raised one hand.
A soft, shy gesture for a handshake.

He said quietly.

"Nice to meet you two."

Both brothers gasped dramatically in unison.

 Luke shouted.

"OH!! THE SILENT POPULAR GUY GESTURED A HANDSHAKE!"

With childlike excitement, they grabbed Rafayel's hand and shook it with way too much enthusiasm.
Rafayel flinched at first, unused to touch but then something strange happened.

He chuckled. Just a small, quiet sound.

But it was there.

Sylus, walking beside him, turned his head in surprise. His crimson eyes blinked.
He said, sounding almost disbelieving.

"You... laughed." 

Rafayel tilted his head in confusion, pulling his hand back gently.

"Hm?"

Sylus didn't answer. Instead, he reached out and tugged Rafayel a little closer by the wrist.

"Never mind." 

he muttered. 

"Just... don't walk behind me. Walk beside me."

Rafayel looked up at him for a second, surprised again. Then, with a soft nod, he matched Sylus' pace.
Luke and Kieran grinned from behind them.

Kieran whispered to Luke with a smirk, 

"Look at him. Our cold-blooded dragon friend actually softening."

Luke snickered. 

"That quiet guy really is something."

Rafayel's thoughts swirled quietly like the ocean beneath a calm surface.
He walked beside Sylus, silent as ever, hugging his bag gently against his chest.

The warmth of the handshake with Luke and Kieran still lingered faintly on his fingertips.

So this... is what it feels like to be among humans. To be seen. To be spoken to.

But none of them knew.

Not Sylus with his ever-curious gaze. Not the friendly Luke and Kieran.
Not the classmates who stared at him like he was an art piece that didn't belong in the gallery.

None of them knew the truth:

That Rafayel, the quiet art student who always sat at the back of the room and spoke as softly as the sea breeze—was a Lemurian Sea God.

A being older than human memory, born from a kingdom hidden beneath the deep blue.

In stories whispered by sailors and told through ancient waves, he was described as fierce—cold—and emotionless, a guardian of balance and storms.

But the tales had it wrong.
He wasn't cold. He just... didn't understand people.

He had seen kingdoms rise and fall. He had watched civilizations crumble and reform like sandcastles washed away by tides.

And yet, it was this world, this messy, loud, impulsive world of humans, that stirred something in him he didn't recognize.

Something confusing. Something... warm.

Rafayel blinked as Sylus suddenly turned his head to glance at him. Their eyes met for half a second—Sylus's fiery crimson against Rafayel's soft pinkish-blue.

Sylus raised an eyebrow slightly, as if sensing something deeper—just out of reach.
Rafayel quickly looked away.

He can't know. Not yet.

The world wasn't ready to see the sea god for what he truly was.
Not while he himself still didn't fully understand what it meant to feel.

Chapter Text

Months had quietly passed, like the changing tides that marked the passing of seasons in the deep sea.

And somewhere along the way, something shifted, gently, naturally.

Rafayel and Sylus had become close. Not loudly, not dramatically, but in that quiet way people grow toward each other like ivy across an old wall.

Sylus remained the same magnetic presence in the room—popular, confident, a fire that drew attention. But his eyes always found Rafayel in a crowd. And if the world got too loud or pressed too close, Sylus would stand like a shield between Rafayel and the noise, without ever needing to be asked.

And Rafayel, he didn't change much either. Still reserved. Still soft-spoken. Still choosing corners over center stage.

But people began to notice something about him.

The way he greeted quietly, with a small nod.
The way his eyes focused with such devotion to his canvas.
The way he never once raised his voice, yet left a silence that made others want to listen.

Unknowingly, Rafayel had become someone people admired from afar—not because he tried to be, but because he didn't.

The campus adored him, quietly.

They all knew he wouldn't let them in easily, and maybe that was why they respected the gentle distance he kept. A mystery wrapped in silence, beautiful and unreachable.

Only Sylus seemed to cross that invisible boundary like it didn't exist.
And no one questioned it anymore.

"Of course Sylus can talk to him,"  some would say.
"He's the only one Rafayel doesn't shut down around,"  others whispered.

On one ordinary afternoon, the art studio was filled with the scent of oil paints and drying canvas. The soft scratch of brushes against texture was all that filled the air.

Rafayel, as always, sat at the back, his world made of muted colors and soft focus.
Sylus painted in the middle row, casually chatting with a few classmates. His canvas was already near finished. He rarely rushed, but he never struggled either.

And true to habit, once he was done, he stood, stretched lazily, and made his way toward the back corner.

Everyone knew where he was going. No one followed.

That space belonged to them now. Rafayel's quiet world, and the one person allowed to step into it without breaking it.

And Rafayel, without even looking up, felt the subtle shift in the air. He knew Sylus was there. He always did.

He didn't speak. He didn't need to.
Sylus sat beside him without asking.

Rafayel finally looked up, brush paused mid-stroke.
Sylus grinned.

"Don't need my help as usual?"

Rafayel blinked, then gave a tiny smile, barely there, but real.

"...Maybe."

The atmosphere in the classroom was unusually light that afternoon. With the pressure of the mid-year submission finally behind them, students took the rare chance to relax.

Some sketched lazily on blank pages, others lounged on stools chatting quietly. Laughter occasionally echoed through the space like sunlight between clouds.

And in the far corner, as always, Rafayel painted with unwavering focus.
No deadlines. No pressure.
Just the stillness of creation.

Sylus, meanwhile, sat in the center of it all, coolly relaxed, casually leaning against the table edge, talking with a few classmates who naturally orbited around him.

But the buzz of conversation shifted when a familiar figure began walking toward him, heels clicking confidently on the wooden floor.

Kasey.

The girl who turned heads without trying. Known for her beauty and equally for the sharpness of her tongue.

She stopped right in front of Sylus, arms folded, chin raised with that signature smirk that said she didn't hear no often.

"Sylus."

He turned to her lazily, one eyebrow arched mid-conversation.

"What is it?"

With all the grace of someone sure of her own appeal, she leaned slightly closer.

"Go out with me."

The room fell into a thick silence, an audible pause.

Even those pretending not to listen now subtly looked up, breath held.

Rafayel didn't move. Didn't flinch.
He just kept painting.

As if the noise of the room and the tension in it didn't exist in his world.

Sylus didn't answer right away. He studied her with a faintly amused look, lips curling into a cold smirk.

"That's bold."

 he said. 

"But thank you. So... no."

A few gasps slipped through the room. Kasey's smirk didn't falter but her eyes sharpened.

"No?" 

she repeated, stepping closer. 

"I'm one of the prettiest girls in the art cohort. You sure you're not rejecting me because of your pride?"

Sylus didn't even flinch. He turned his gaze away from her entirely, glancing toward the classmate beside him who looked too stunned to comment.

Kasey's expression darkened.

"Sylus." 

she said again, this time demanding. 

"Answer me."

He turned back to her, eyes cool, voice like still water.

"Answered."

Soft laughter bubbled around the room, uneasy, surprised. But Kasey wasn't finished.
She leaned in, invading his space with a smirk that now felt more desperate than confident.

"Stop denying it. I know you like me. Secretly. You just don't want to admit it."

Sylus tilted his head forward slowly, matching her closeness, not intimidated, but bored of the game.

"Stop being delusional."

 he said. His voice was calm, but sharp. 

"You are pretty. That's true. But your mouth—and that confidence of yours, ruin everything."

Kasey stiffened. The quiet turned heavy.
Even Rafayel paused for a moment, not in reaction, but to reach for a different shade of blue.

The rejection didn't sit well with Kasey.

No one had ever told her no—especially not in front of an entire class. The sting of embarrassment turned into something darker. And before long, whispers started floating through the halls.

"Kasey and Sylus are together."
"They're just low-key about it."
"He probably said no to protect their secret."

Sylus ignored it. He always did. People could talk all they wanted—words didn't matter unless they crossed a line. And if they did, Sylus wasn't someone who needed help to defend himself.

But Rafayel noticed the change.
More glances. More whispers. More tension.

Then came the day everything tilted sideways.

It was a regular lecture, one of the combined classes that included students from other cohorts. Sylus sat beside Rafayel, as usual. Luke and Kieran flanked them on the other side, quietly teasing each other while scribbling notes.

When the lecture ended, students began packing up. Conversations buzzed. The sound of zipping bags filled the room.

Until a different sound cut through it—heavy footsteps.

Four unfamiliar students from another cohort walked in with a sharpness to their gait, their posture stiff with intent. Their eyes were set on one person.

Sylus.

The room went still. Those about to leave paused, sensing something off. A few even sat back down slowly, pretending to adjust their bags, just to watch.

The tallest of the four stepped forward.

"You're Sylus, right?"

Sylus didn't even look up at first. He continued zipping his bag calmly. Rafayel, who had just finished packing his own, looked up instead, quiet but alert.

The lack of response irritated the guy.

"What's with the attitude? You think you're better than everyone? You steal Kasey and now you act like it's nothing?"

Sylus finally glanced up. His expression unreadable. Calm. Almost bored.
He turned to Rafayel instead.

"Let's go."

Rafayel nodded softly, standing up. But before they could leave, another presence stepped forward from the side of the lecture hall.

Kasey.

Her heels clicked against the floor with confidence. She walked toward them slowly, her smirk playing on her lips as if the scene unfolding was exactly what she wanted.
She said smoothly.

"Come on, Sylus. You can't just ignore me like we're not together."

The words landed like a pin drop in a silent hall.

Gasps.

Then whispers.

"So... it's true?"
"Wait, then why doesn't he sit with her?"
"That's messed up. Poor Kasey..."
"Is Sylus just using her?"

Sylus blinked once and turned his full attention to Kasey for the first time in weeks.

"Are you a bitch in heat?"

The room froze. A few students audibly gasped. Even Rafayel, silent as always, glanced up, eyes wide.

Chapter Text

The four guys from the other cohort tensed, fists clenched after Sylus's brutal verbal dismissal. One of them, angrier than the rest, stepped forward and raised his arm for a punch.

Without even looking, Sylus swung his bag up sharply, smacking the guy's wrist aside with practiced ease.

Sylus asked coolly, his voice calm, almost bored.

"Did I say something wrong?" 

The class gasped again.

Luke and Kieran exchanged an amused look, then glanced toward Kasey with a shake of their heads.

"You seriously called in these dudes just to mess with Sylus?" 

Kieran scoffed. 

"Can't handle being rejected, huh? Try a little dignity."

 Luke added.

"Stop spreading lies already."

Kasey's face twisted in frustration as she turned to the lingering crowd.

"We are together!"

That was when a quiet voice, almost too soft to hear, cut through the growing noise.
 Rafayel said, still hugging his bag close to his chest.

"You aren't."

All heads turned.

Kasey's eyes flared.

"Shut up, you mute. Just stay silent like always."

Rafayel's eyes widened in shock. His grip on his bag tightened.
Everything in Sylus shifted.

His smile vanished.
Sylus said, voice low and sharp.

"Apologise." 

Kasey blinked, thrown by the sudden change in his tone.

"What?"

One of the guys lunged again in her defense, fist aimed at Sylus's face.

Sylus caught it midair, twisted his body, and with a swift kick to the leg, brought the guy crashing to the floor. The room erupted in startled shouts. He stepped past the fallen student and stopped just in front of Kasey.

Two of the remaining guys stepped up protectively, but Sylus didn't even flinch.
His eyes were cold as winter.

"I said. Apologise to Rafayel."

Rafayel blinked out of his daze at the sound of his name. His voice trembled slightly, but he spoke.

"Don't... it's fine. Let's just go..."

He turned slightly to Luke and Kieran, hoping they would back off too.
But Kieran frowned.

"Why let her off that easy? She just insulted you in front of everyone."

Rafayel whispered, voice barely audible, eyes dropping to the floor.

"I don't want... attention." 

Just when the tension seemed to settle, the crowd stirred again.

"Sylus, be a man! If you're dating her, why deny it?"
"We believe you, Kasey! Dump him already!"
"Ugh, such a turn off... I thought he was cool."

The noise built into a wall of judgment. Kasey lowered her head just slightly and put on a perfectly timed hurt expression.

"Sylus..." 

she said softly. 

"Don't be like this..."

Luke and Kieran stood frozen, then leaned toward each other, their expressions sour.
Kieran muttered.

"No wonder people believe her. She's pretty, that's why. And now Sylus is the villain."

 Luke said, shaking his head.

"Manipulation 101."

The tension escalated fast. Two of the guys lunged again.

"You're such a jerk!"

 one of them yelled. 

"You stole her from us, and now you're acting like a damn playboy?"

Sylus didn't flinch. He dodged smoothly, calm and unbothered. The crowd booed louder. Cameras were out now. Everyone wanted drama.

"That's the thing with pretty faces." 

Sylus said, eyes fixed on Kasey. 

"People believe whatever they say. But what's underneath?" 

His lips curled into a smirk. 

"Rotten as hell."

Gasps. Kasey flinched but quickly twisted her face into something more fragile. Her arms wrapped around herself.

The booing got louder. The crowd had clearly taken sides and not his.

Rafayel quietly beside Sylus, hugging his bag tightly. But his eyes were scanning everyone—watching the ones who had once fawned over Sylus now turn on him like flies to a new corpse.

Sylus turned again, ignoring the crowd.

"Kasey." 

he said coldly. 

"Apologise. To Rafayel."

Kasey scoffed.

"I don't want to." 

she spat. 

"I'm just stating facts."

That did it.

Sylus's expression darkened. He grabbed the fists of both guys charging at him, twisting them down, kicking them off effortlessly. The crowd gasped again. He stepped forward, eyes fixed on Kasey with dangerous calm.

But just as Sylus made a move toward her, a soft hand brushed past his arm.

Rafayel.

He walked forward quietly, passing his bag to Luke without a word. Luke and Kieran looked at each other—shocked.

Rafayel stood in front of Kasey, eyes calm but unreadable.
He asked, voice quiet.

"Why are you lying?" 

Kasey scoffed dramatically.

"I can't hear you. Speak louder, mute boy."

Rafayel stepped closer, his gaze sharp now.

"I said—why are you lying?"

The softness in his presence vanished. His tone didn't rise, but it cut through the air like steel.

"You and Sylus aren't together."

 he said.

 "And I don't understand why this crowd supports you... when just a few weeks ago, they were clinging to Sylus like bees to honey. Now suddenly, they believe whatever you say."

He turned slightly, looking at the students who had once called him mysterious, distant, even captivating.

"If you all turn faces that easily—like flipping a page or shitting—aren't you just like her? A liar?"

Gasps filled the lecture hall. Rafayel's voice was calm, but his presence was sharp like a knife. And cold. Much colder than anyone had expected from him.

He turned to Kasey again, standing close. His pinkish shade of blue eyes didn't waver.

"So. Why lie?" 

he asked. 

"Just to feed your pride? To protect your image?"

Kasey couldn't respond. Her expression faltered.
The crowd murmured, now with a very different tone.

"He actually spoke a full sentence..."
"He's kinda hot when he talks like that."
"Wait, so he's calling her out? Was she lying this whole time?"
"Damn. I think she is delusional."

Doubt spread like wildfire. Some students began stepping away from Kasey. Others whispered in disbelief.
And then, Rafayel turned toward the four guys on the ground who had been so eager to fight Sylus.

His voice remained soft. But his eyes—icy cold.

"Dumb,"  he said.

The lecture hall was dead silent.

All eyes were fixed on Rafayel—the once-silent figure now standing tall, radiating a chilling aura no one had ever seen from him before.

Rafayel leaned in toward Kasey, his voice louder than usual but clear, cutting.

"Don't spread rumors unnecessarily." 

he said, his tone ice-cold. 

"Because your face... might rot the next time you wash it."

Gasps whispered through the crowd.
Sylus blinked, momentarily stunned. Even he hadn't seen this side of Rafayel. Luke and Kieran stiffened in disbelief.

"Did he just say that?"  Kieran murmured.

Kasey's confident smirk was gone. She took a step back, visibly rattled.

Rafayel didn't relent. He straightened slowly, his expression unreadable. But his next words came quiet, sharp as coral under calm waters.

"It's either you apologize to Sylus..."

He paused.

Then leaned in again, just beside her ear, voice barely audible to anyone else but laced with a force beyond the mortal.

"Or... your face will rot the moment it touches water."

Kasey froze. She didn't believe him—couldn't believe him—but her chest tightened. The weight of his words... the stillness in his voice... something about it felt too real.

Unnatural. Unshakable.
Her breath caught.

Rafayel pulled back, his gaze like the depths of the sea: vast, quiet, merciless. His posture returned to calm, as if he hadn't just issued a curse.

But deep inside... Kasey felt it. Because what no one else in that room knew... was that Rafayel wasn't just quiet.

He is the Lemurian Sea God and he had just warned her in a language older than fear itself.

Chapter Text

Kasey took a reluctant step forward, brushing past Rafayel without meeting his eyes. A ripple of tension followed her like a shadow as she stood stiffly in front of Sylus.

She muttered, her voice barely steady.

"I'm sorry, Sylus... for making those false rumors." 

But her eyes flicked briefly, not to Sylus, but back toward Rafayel. She couldn't explain it. The soft-spoken boy hadn't raised his voice, hadn't touched her... yet her skin crawled with goosebumps from being near him. His presence lingered behind her like a ghost. Like the sea before a storm.

Sylus didn't soften.
He leaned forward, his voice colder than before—glacier sharp.

"Apologize to Rafayel, then I'll let it go. If not..."

He smirked without humor.

"I don't mind using my hands on a lady. Gender equality, remember?"

Kasey's face flushed with fury.

"You—!"

Sylus cut in calmly, ignoring her. 

"Rafayel. Come here."

Rafayel, who had taken a step away, turned around quietly and walked over. Before he could even stop, Sylus grabbed him by the waist, pulling him close.

Rafayel stiffened, breath catching.
He whispered, eyes wide, body tense, his heart pounding like crashing waves.

"Sy—Sylus?" 

Sylus didn't look at him. His gaze stayed locked on Kasey, expression unreadable, voice flat.

"He's here. Apologize."

Kasey scowled, but something in her gut twisted. She glanced at Rafayel again—then looked away.

She muttered, her tone tight.

"I'm sorry. For calling you... a mute boy."

Rafayel just gave a small nod, still stunned by Sylus' arm around his waist and the heat rising in his chest.

Sylus leaned in close to Kasey, his voice a venomous whisper.

"Now leave. You've already ruined my day, lady."

Behind them, Luke and Kieran finally stepped forward. They crouched beside the four guys still groaning on the ground.

"Disgraceful,"  Kieran muttered. "You really let a pretty face turn your brains off like that?"

Luke scoffed.

"Leave. All of you. Pathetic."

Embarrassed and beaten, the guys scrambled up and rushed off, avoiding eye contact. Kasey followed quickly, but not without catching the glares from the crowd around her. Whispers trailed after her like falling dominoes.

"She really made that up?"
"Can't believe we believed her."
"Rafayel though... that voice? That cold stare?"
"Man's hot when he speaks. Terrifying, but hot."

The crowd slowly dispersed, murmurs filling the lecture hall like static. But at the center of it all, Sylus still held Rafayel against him.

And Rafayel? He wasn't even thinking about Kasey anymore.

As the last of the crowd thinned out, murmurs fading into the echoing corridor, Sylus turned his full attention to Rafayel. Without hesitation, he cupped Rafayel's cheek gently, like the chaos hadn't just happened.

Sylus asked softly, his thumb brushing lightly against Rafayel's skin.

"You okay? Don't be bothered by what she said."

Rafayel froze. His heart thudded so loud, it was the only sound he could hear. His eyes were wide, blinking rapidly, and all he could do was nod, again and again.

Sylus let out a small laugh, a smirk tugging at the edge of his lips as he tilted his head, still studying him.

"First time I've seen you like that."

 he said.

"Threatening someone like that... honestly? Kinda cool."

He leaned a little closer, eyes narrowing playfully.

"Thanks for standing up for me. You didn't have to."

Rafayel frantically shook his head, still unable to speak. His throat was dry, his mind blank. Sylus' closeness was too much, too warm, too real.

Sylus just smiled, ruffled the back of Rafayel's hair lightly, and turned away, throwing a casual arm around Rafayel's shoulder as they walked out with Luke and Kieran.

The hallway was quiet, only the soft tapping of their shoes and distant chatter from other classrooms.

Kieran yawned.

"Well, that escalated."

Luke scoffed, glancing over at Rafayel.

"You've been hiding a whole different side, haven't you?"

Rafayel just stared ahead, flushed and quiet. Sylus didn't say anything either, until they reached a quieter part of the corridor. He glanced at Rafayel from the corner of his eye, his expression thoughtful.

That voice. That look. That warning.

It hadn't felt like a bluff. It had felt like a curse.

Sylus kept walking, one hand shoved in his pocket, the other resting protectively on Rafayel's back.
He thought to himself, brows faintly furrowed.

That wasn't just a warning.  There's something... more.

The aftermath of the Kasey incident rippled through campus like a stone cast into still water.

Kasey, once admired for her confidence and beauty, now found herself at the center of side-eyes and whispered judgments. Her charm had cracked, revealing something less graceful beneath. Students didn't openly call her a liar, but the shift was clear, conversations paused when she passed, eyes no longer lingered in admiration but in caution.

Sylus, on the other hand, became even more magnetic. The way he stood up for Rafayel so fearlessly, dodging fists, calling out a lie, and holding the quietest boy in the cohort like he mattered most—only solidified his presence as something untouchable. People whispered his name like he was a character out of a drama, someone too bold and too cool to approach without a reason.

And Rafayel?

He became... more intriguing.

The boy who rarely spoke, who once seemed like a background presence, was now someone everyone noticed. Students didn't dare approach him casually, they respected the space he kept. But now, they whispered about him too.

"I didn't know he could talk like that..."
"Why doesn't he speak more?"
"He's actually... kinda scary when he wants to be."
"He and Sylus... they look good together, huh?"

But no one dared say it out loud. Not after what happened. Not when rumors could spiral so easily—and not when it might earn Sylus' wrath.

Still, something shifted. And it started with a number.

That night after the lecture hall emptied out, Sylus casually messaged Rafayel.

[ Sylus | 8:13PM ]
"Yo. Saved your number. So I can check on you. You cool?"

Rafayel stared at the message for minutes, unsure whether to respond. His fingers hovered over the phone, then finally tapped out a reply.

[ Rafayel | 8:21PM ]
"I'm okay. Thank you."

Simple. Soft. Him.
But Sylus smiled at the screen like he'd just unlocked a treasure chest.

From that day on, Sylus made sure Rafayel was never left alone in crowded spaces. He walked him to classes. Sat near him, never too close but always there. And somehow, texting became a habit.

[ Sylus | 10:09PM ]
"You painting tonight?"

[ Rafayel | 10:14PM ]
"Yes. Helps me breathe."

[ Sylus | 10:16PM ]
"Send me a picture sometime. Wanna see how your breathing looks."

Rafayel didn't reply to that. But his cheeks were warm for the rest of the night.

And Sylus? He wasn't just being protective. He was curious. Obsessed with every layer Rafayel kept hidden under silence and soft glances.

He didn't need a reason to stay close anymore. He wanted to.

Chapter Text

It was a quiet weekend, clouds lazily trailing across the morning sky, the streets alive but not rushed. Somewhere in the breeze of city chatter and slow sunlight, Rafayel stood at the entrance of Linkon Mall, hoodie pulled over his head, sleeves covering most of his fingers.

He looked like a regular teenager. Ordinary. Unnoticeable.

Which was exactly how he wanted it.

His eyes scanned the road, avoiding the stares of passing strangers. He kept his head low, but inside, his heart was pacing faster than he wanted to admit. Not because of the crowd. Not because of the city noise.

Because he was waiting for Sylus .

Sylus had insisted on picking him up, but Rafayel softly declined through the phone. No way was he letting Sylus know where he lived—not yet. Whitesand Bay was a whole different life. A private studio with glass windows that watched the ocean, where millionaires bought his paintings without ever seeing his face. He lived quietly, anonymously. Just the way he liked it.

So he offered a compromise: meet at the mall.

And Sylus agreed.
Rafayel was still checking the time on his phone when he heard it—the soft roar of an engine. Not just any engine. A motorbike.

He looked up.

Sylus pulled in like something out of a movie. A black motorbike stopped just a few feet away, its rider wearing a sleek leather jacket, boots laced tight, sunglasses pushed slightly over his nose as he took them off.

He looked completely different out of uniform—cooler, older, effortlessly magnetic.

Rafayel blinked. His heart skipped.
Then panicked.

Then thumped too loud for a body that looked so calm on the outside.

Sylus swung his leg over the bike and walked up to him with that signature slow confidence, helmet in one hand, the sun glinting off his rings.

"You're early." 

Sylus said, a smirk tugging at his lips. 

"You always this obedient?"

Rafayel's ears turned pink. He looked down, mumbling, 

"I just... didn't want to be late."

Sylus eyed him from head to toe, oversized hoodie, slim jeans, those big shy eyes half-hidden under a fringe.

Sylus teased.

"You look like you ran away from boarding school."

Rafayel let out a breathy laugh, the corner of his lips twitching slightly. 

"You look... cooler than usual."

"Oh?" 

Sylus raised an eyebrow. 

"You checking me out, Raf?"

Rafayel stiffened. Looked away immediately. 

"N-No."

Sylus chuckled. 

"Don't worry. I like it when you lie."

Rafayel didn't reply. He was too busy pretending his heart wasn't trying to escape his chest.
Sylus handed him a spare helmet.

"Get on. I've got plans."

Rafayel stared at the helmet like it was something unfamiliar.

"I... I've never ridden one."

Sylus said, already walking back toward the bike.

"Then today's your first. Don't worry. I won't let you fall."

Rafayel hesitated, glancing at the helmet in his hand... then at Sylus's back.
He bit his lip, then took a small step forward.

As the engine revved beneath them, Rafayel instinctively wrapped his arms around Sylus's waist.

Not lightly. He held on tight.

Sylus let out a low chuckle, the sound vibrating through his chest. He didn't say anything at first, just smirked and twisted the throttle.

The bike roared to life, speeding through the open lane like a sleek black bullet.

Wind rushed past them in a blur of motion and color, but all Rafayel could feel was the warmth of Sylus beneath his arms, the hard lean lines of his body, the steadiness in his posture.

Sylus's voice suddenly came through, clear and low in his helmet.

"You can hug tighter. I'm going faster."

Rafayel's eyes widened. Without thinking, he squeezed tighter.
He asked softly, his voice surprised, shy.

"There's a in built mic in the helmet?" 

Sylus replied smoothly.

"Yes." 

Rafayel blinked behind the visor, heart hammering all over again.

Cool.

Sylus smirked to himself, weaving effortlessly between lanes. His thoughts?

He's cute.

As the bike slowed to a stop, Sylus parked it neatly in the carpark of a tall, sleek building. Rafayel climbed off, pulling off his helmet and blinking as he looked around.

Before he could ask where they were, Sylus casually reached out and took Rafayel's wrist. Not harsh—just firm and steady. Rafayel followed without a word, heart thudding as Sylus led him through the building, his fingers warm against Rafayel's skin.

They stepped into the lift. It was silent except for the soft hum as the elevator rose.
Rafayel glanced at the glowing floor number.

"How tall is this building?"

Sylus, hand still in his pocket, answered coolly,

"Eighty-seven floors."

Rafayel's brows rose.

"Then why are we stopping at fifty-eight?"

Sylus only smirked as the lift dinged open.

They stepped out into a long, polished corridor. At the end was a large reinforced door—and behind it, the sound of gunfire.

Rafayel's eyes widened.

"...Is this a live firing range?"

Sylus didn't reply. He just walked ahead with that same effortless confidence. Rafayel hurried to keep up, still slightly dazed.

As they reached the entrance of the firing hall, a few uniformed staff noticed them. Without hesitation, they gave a respectful bow.

"Boss."

Rafayel froze.

Boss?

Rafayel stared at Sylus, still trying to process everything. His wide eyes hadn't blinked since the staff called Sylus

Boss.

Without missing a beat, Sylus gave a cold nod to the staff nearby.

"Clear out the firing range. I'm using it alone."

The staff bowed quickly and obeyed without question.

Rafayel remained frozen in place, completely stunned. Sylus turned to him and, with an oddly gentle hand, patted the top of his head.

"I own the entire building,"  he said simply.

Rafayel's mouth parted slightly.

"But... aren't you a student? How can a student own a whole skyscraper?"

Sylus leaned in close, lips near Rafayel's ear. His voice dropped into something smooth and smug.

"I'm just way too smart. Started my business early in life."

Rafayel blinked, still stuck between disbelief and awe.
Sylus stepped back with a slight grin. 

"Today, I want you to try something thrilling. Shooting. It's fun. I'll teach you."

Rafayel followed Sylus into the private firing range, his steps cautious and unsure. The place was sleek, glass walls, polished floors, and rows of high-tech gear. It didn't feel like a place for someone like him.

Sylus casually picked up a sleek black pistol from the counter and checked it with practiced hands. Then, he turned to Rafayel, holding it out.

"Don't worry, it's just a training model. No real bullets. Just enough kick to feel the thrill."

Rafayel hesitated, but took it carefully. His fingers trembled slightly as he held the cold metal.

Sylus stepped behind him, close enough that Rafayel could feel his warmth. He gently adjusted Rafayel's arms, steadying his grip.

"Here. Both hands. Lock your elbows a bit, don't let them bend too much. Line up your eyes with the sight."

Rafayel could barely focus. His heart thumped too loudly in his chest, not because of the gun, but because Sylus was so close. His voice was calm, low, right by his ear.

"Good. Now, when you're ready, squeeze the trigger. Don't jerk it."

Rafayel took a breath and pulled the trigger.

Bang.

The shot echoed through the room. The recoil pushed back into his hands, but he managed to hold steady.
Sylus chuckled behind him, clearly impressed.

"Not bad for your first try."

Rafayel blinked, surprised.

"That was... actually fun."

Sylus smirked.

"Told you. Wanna try again?"

Rafayel nodded, the smallest smile tugging at his lips.

Sylus walked over to the drawer beneath the firing range and pulled it open. From it, he took out his own sleek black handgun—a real one, loaded. Without saying a word, he moved to the next target lane and took position.

Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.

One by one, bullets hit the center of each target's head. Perfect headshots. Clean, fast, precise.

Rafayel stood frozen, eyes wide in awe. The way Sylus moved—the focus in his eyes, the smooth trigger pulls, it was too flawless. Too professional. Too... dangerous.

Without thinking, Rafayel muttered softly under his breath,

"Mafia..."

Sylus paused mid-reload, raising a brow. He turned to look at Rafayel with a small laugh.

"Did you just call me a mafia?"

Rafayel blinked, startled by his own voice, and nodded lightly. His ears slightly pink.
Sylus chuckled, walking over casually. He reached out and gently patted Rafayel on the head.

But what Rafayel didn't know, what no one on campus knew, was that Sylus wasn't just some rich genius student.

He is a mafia.

Not officially branded with the title, but close enough.

Behind his calm, cool smirk and elegant leather jacket, Sylus had a darker world he ruled from the shadows. While others studied for grades, he dealt with black-market information. He moved through underground networks with ease, trading secrets, silencing threats, and shaking down corrupt business owners who thought they ran the game.

They didn't.

He did.

And when negotiations failed, Sylus didn't mind getting his hands dirty. That's when his real power came into play, his Abyss dragon blood. Not something flashy. But terrifying.

When triggered, his aura alone was enough to make hardened criminals drop to their knees. His eyes turned darker, colder. Like a void swallowing the light around him. He didn't just scare people, he broke them. Quietly. Cleanly.

Like toys. And he enjoyed it.

Not for the chaos. Not for power. But because he hated how slow human justice was. So, he made his own rules.

Chapter Text

After they finished at the shooting range, Sylus brought Rafayel to the very top floor of the building.

When the elevator doors slid open, Rafayel stepped out and froze. His eyes widened as he took in the sight, an enormous apartment stretched before him, luxurious and elegant, with a full glass wall overlooking the city skyline.

Rafayel whispered.

"You..." 

Sylus looked over his shoulder with a small smile.

"As you can guess. Yes. I live here. The highest point in the building."

Rafayel wandered in slowly, eyes wide as he silently took in the room. The place was filled with antique pieces, rare collectibles, and things that screamed money but tastefully. Not gaudy. Cool.

Sylus casually gestured to the sofa and coffee table.

"What do you want to drink?"

Rafayel said softly, taking a seat.

"Grape juice." 

Sylus walked to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of grape juice and a bottle of rum for himself. He placed Rafayel's drink in front of him and sat across from him with his own glass.

 Rafayel commented, eyes on the rum.

"You drink alcohol..."

Sylus tilted his head, smirking.

"I'm not as innocent as you think, Rafayel."

Rafayel looked down quickly, sipping at his grape juice. He didn't dare respond.
Then Sylus leaned over and pulled out a card game from the drawer in the coffee table.

"Wanna play Kitty Cards? You know how this works?"

Rafayel paused, blinking at the cat-themed cards Sylus handed him.

"I know it... but I always lose at this game."

Sylus raised an eyebrow.

"You've played it before? With who?"

Rafayel took another small sip of juice.

 "With my family members."

Sylus looked intrigued.

"Oh? I can't wait to meet them, then."

Rafayel choked a little on his drink.

"W-why would you want to meet them?"

Sylus chuckled as he began shuffling the cards.

"Well, it's rare to see you talk to anyone. I want to see how you act around people you're close to."

Rafayel looked away, cheeks a little red.

What Sylus didn't know... was that Rafayel's idea of "family members" weren't human at all. He used to play Kitty Cards with fellow Lemurians under the sea and every time he lost (which was every time), he'd set the cards on fire in a quiet, grumpy tantrum.

He was not looking forward to losing again.

Sylus leaned forward on the table, shuffling the Kitty Cards smoothly between his fingers. With a sly grin, he looked at Rafayel.

"Alright. Let's make this interesting." 

he said. 

"If you win, I'll let you tour my apartment freely. I won't stop you, no matter where you go. But if I win..."

 He paused, locking eyes with Rafayel, 

"You tell me one of your secrets. Deal?"

Rafayel stared at his own cards, his lips curving into a pout already. 
He mumbled.

"I might lose already..." 

Sylus chuckled softly, amused. 

"Three rounds. I'll make it fair."

Rafayel brightened a little and nodded excitedly.

The first round began with Rafayel placing his biggest number—a five-kitty card—on the table. Sylus casually placed a six right after and after. All Six. Shocking Rafayel.

And just like that, it was over. Rafayel lost in two turns. He slumped back on the sofa, arms crossed, pout deepening as he grumbled under his breath.

Sylus laughed lightly. 

"You're adorable when you're mad."

Rafayel shot him a tiny glare and reached for his new set of cards.
They started the second round.

Sylus opened with a powerful six-kitty again. Rafayel stared at his hand and frowned.

"I don't have any big numbers..."

Sylus glanced at him and smirked. 

"Alright. House rule time. You get to pick two cards from my hand, and I get two from yours."

Rafayel's eyes lit up at that. He leaned over and carefully picked two from Sylus's hand, inspecting them with the seriousness of a scientist defusing a bomb. Sylus, in return, casually plucked two from Rafayel's hand.

A moment later, Sylus blinked and laughed. 

"You really do have bad cards."

Rafayel smirked smugly at the new cards he got. 

"Now I don't."

And true enough. Rafayel took the win for round two. He sat up straighter, eyes shining.
Sylus said, eyes narrowed playfully.

"One more round. Let's settle this."

Rafayel nodded, both nervous and excited, gripping his cards like a warrior holding a sword.

The third and final round began.

Rafayel's eyes scanned his cards, nothing impressive. He bit his lower lip, glancing at Sylus, who was sipping from his glass of rum, momentarily distracted.

Now or never...

Rafayel's fingers moved quickly, silently swapping two of Sylus's better cards with a few from the discard pile. His hands trembled slightly from the thrill of it, but he kept a straight face as he tucked the new cards into his own hand.

Sylus set down his glass, completely unaware.

"Your move."

A few turns later, Rafayel declared with a quiet but proud voice,

"I win!"

Sylus raised an eyebrow, looking at his own cards. He squinted at them, then at Rafayel's innocent expression.

He said with a half-laugh.

"You cheated." 

Rafayel sipped his grape juice and looked away, trying—and failing—to hide his small smirk.

  "But... I won."

Sylus couldn't help but laugh, raising his hands in surrender.

"Okay, okay. You won. Even if you cheated."

He leaned back against the sofa, eyes twinkling as he watched the reserved boy silently bask in victory.
Sylus thought, sipping his rum again.

He's too cute.

Sylus stood up, stretching slightly before turning to Rafayel with a smirk.
He said, gesturing around the spacious apartment, 

"Since you won, feel free to look around. Open any door you want. I'll be in the kitchen cooking dinner."

Rafayel blinked in surprise.

"You cook?"

Sylus chuckled and reached out to gently pat Rafayel's head.

"Normally I don't. I have a chef. But today, I'll make something myself."

Rafayel's eyes lit up with soft excitement. He gave a small nod before turning down the hallway with barely contained curiosity, his fingers brushing along the cool wall as he reached the corridor.

Door after door, all closed, all mysterious.
He felt like a kid in a candy store.

One hand on the first doorknob, Rafayel whispered under his breath,

"Let's see what secrets Sylus is hiding..."

Rafayel moved from room to room, each one more surprising than the last.

There was a sleek, minimalist office with four monitors and glowing keyboards—one entire wall was covered with whiteboards, scribbled with codes, equations, and strange maps.

Another room looked like a mini museum, stacked neatly with antique swords, glass-protected helmets, and weathered journals. Right next to it? A CD archive room—hundreds, maybe thousands, of labeled discs stacked in floor-to-ceiling shelves. Music? Surveillance footage? He couldn't even guess.

Then came a hallway with guest rooms, each styled differently: modern, vintage, even traditional Japanese. Rafayel blinked, whispering,

"Is he hosting royalty or something?"

He opened one last door and paused.

Inside was a large room... filled entirely with university campus uniforms. Neatly hung, ironed, labeled. All sorts of designs—from casual college wear to elite prep academy blazers.

Rafayel frowned, stepping in slowly.

"Why... does he have all university campus uniforms?"

He stared at the uniforms in confusion, a little chill running down his back.

Little did he know— Sylus had lived through too many campus lives.
Some under aliases. Some just to hunt someone down.
And some... just for fun.

Chapter Text

He frowned, curiosity bubbling in his chest. A mischievous glint flickered in his eyes as they began to glow softly with a pinkish-blue light. With a quiet hum of energy, he used a touch of his god power.

Click.

The lock released with a soft sound.

Rafayel's eyes widened. He glanced back down the hallway to make sure Sylus wasn't watching. Seeing no one, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The room was nothing like the rest of the apartment.

It was massive, much bigger than it should've been. The air felt different. Heavy. Ancient. Objects floated gently in the space—glowing relics, ancient rings, and a thick black necklace holding a dragon's eye-shaped gem. Everything hummed with power.

But what caught Rafayel's attention was the large claymore sword in the center of the room, suspended in midair. It pulsed, alive with energy. Not just magic—something deeper. Older.

And beyond it... floated an enormous portrait.

A dragon god.

The painting radiated a wild, swirling aura—shadows danced across it, dark flames flickering from the canvas. Rafayel slowly walked forward, drawn to the energy. He reached out and lightly touched the edge of the frame.

In an instant, a blast of power erupted from it, throwing his hand back with a gentle but firm force.

Rafayel stumbled a step. His eyes widened in shock.

That energy, he recognized it.
He whispered in disbelief, staring at the portrait. 

"Abyss Dragon..He's... the Abyss Dragon..."

Rafayel stood frozen, his breath caught in his throat. The room still pulsed with that overwhelming energy, the kind that made his godly instincts scream caution.

And then, footsteps.

Slow. Measured. Confident.
A familiar voice followed, calm but laced with something sharper beneath.

"I knew you weren't normal." 

Sylus said as he stepped into view, hands casually in his pockets. His gaze was colder now, unreadable. 

"No one just opens this room. It's sealed with my power. Only the owner... or another god could get in."

Rafayel flinched, stumbling a step back. His eyes were wide in horror, heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't speak. He didn't know how to speak.

That voice—still Sylus.
That face—still Sylus.
But the aura behind it... was ancient.

The Abyss Dragon.

He remembered the stories from his childhood under the sea. The lemurians spoke of a dragon god wrapped in shadows. Merciless. Untouchable. The bringer of silence to cities. The devourer of chaos. Cool-headed but cruel when provoked.

And now that very being stood before him.

A classmate. A friend.
Someone he had... started to care about.

Rafayel's mind raced. His lips parted slightly, but nothing came out.

Fear—yes. Awe—yes.
But something else stirred too. Something deeper.

He had never met another being as strong as him.
Let alone laughed with one.
Let alone... talked.

Sylus stepped forward, calm and composed, each footfall echoing softly against the strange floor of the hidden room.

"Rafayel."

Rafayel flinched, instinctively backing away, his hand gripping the edge of his hoodie tightly. In his panic, his fingers brushed against the floating Claymore.

A sudden surge of power flared, dangerous and wild.
The sword reacted instantly, its aura lashing out in defense.

Rafayel gasped, eyes wide, bracing for the strike—
But it never came.

Crimson light flashed in Sylus's eyes as he raised his hand, commanding the weapon to halt. The Claymore stilled, its deadly power vanishing like mist.

Rafayel's knees almost buckled. He squeezed his eyes shut, overwhelmed. This was too much. Too fast. Too terrifying.

He barely noticed Sylus closing the space between them until he felt a warm, gentle hand touch his cheek.

Sylus said. 

"Don't be scared. I'm not going to hurt you. Just... tell me the truth. What are you?"

Rafayel's eyes fluttered open, lips trembling.

"If... if I don't tell you." 

he whispered shakily, 

"are you going to kill me?"

Sylus tilted his head, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
He teased, his tone light but the tension still crackled in the air.

"Maybe?"

Rafayel's breath hitched and he tried to step back again—
But Sylus moved quicker.

He slid an arm around Rafayel's waist and pulled him close in one smooth motion.

Rafayel yelped in surprise, his hands pressed against Sylus's chest. His heart raced, panic fluttering in his chest like wild wings.

He didn't know what to feel anymore.

Fear. Confusion. Sadness.

And under all of it... something else. Something far more fragile.

Tears welled in his eyes, quiet and unspilled.
Not from pain. Not from the fear of dying—
But from the fear of losing this bond.

What if Sylus hated him for the truth? What if... this warmth was never real to begin with?

Sylus's eyes widened slightly as he saw the tears gather in Rafayel's eyes.

"Hey... don't cry." 

he said softly, his voice laced with concern. 

"I just want to know what you are. No one can open this room unless they hold the same kind of power."

But before Sylus could step closer, Rafayel panicked.

A sudden wave of divine energy burst from Rafayel, throwing Sylus back across the relic-filled room. The moment it happened, Rafayel turned and ran, heart pounding.

But he didn't get far.

A massive shadow engulfed the room as Sylus fully transformed. In seconds, his wings stretched wide, horns gleaming, and scales shimmered like dark steel. With inhuman speed, he reached out and grabbed Rafayel by the back of his hoodie, lifting him slightly before spinning him around effortlessly.

Sylus's voice dropped low and dark. 

"I never said you could leave."

Rafayel yelped, eyes wide in shock. The sight of Sylus's true form, his overwhelming aura, the immense pressure—made tears slip quietly down his cheeks.

Sylus froze.

His crimson eyes blinked, and in an instant, the terrifying dragon god vanished. Sylus returned to his human form, stepping closer and wrapping his arms gently around Rafayel.

"Okay. Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you,"

 he whispered, holding him carefully. 

"Calm down, alright? I'm not going to hurt you. It was a joke—really."

He pulled back slightly to look at Rafayel's face, his voice softer than before.

"I would've told you what I am even if you didn't tell me who you are."

He reached up and patted Rafayel's head gently.

"So... I'm sorry."

Rafayel slowly stopped trembling, his breathing evening out. He looked up at Sylus with wide, confused eyes, his tears beginning to dry.

Rafayel's fingers curled lightly into Sylus's shirt, his voice barely above a whisper as he looked up at him, still processing everything.

"So... those uniforms in your room... you really graduated from all those campuses?"

Sylus gave a small smile, warm and honest.

"Yeah. I did."

Rafayel's eyes lowered in thought, mind quietly connecting the pieces.

No wonder he handles rumors and crowds so well... he's been through it all before.

Chapter Text

Sylus glanced down and noticed small, glimmering pearls scattered across the floor beneath them. His gaze shifted to Rafayel's cheeks, now dry from tears.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, still gently brushing Rafayel's face.

"Lemurian... You're a Lemurian?"

Rafayel looked up, startled, eyes wide. But he didn't say a word.

Sylus knelt and picked up one of the pearls, holding it up between his fingers.

"Only Lemurians cry pearls." 

he said quietly.

 "And you just did."

He rose and wrapped his arms around Rafayel again, warm and steady.

"You're not just any Lemurian... are you?"

Rafayel's heart thudded in his chest. Words caught in his throat as Sylus whispered softly near his ear.

"The Sea God."

Rafayel's eyes flew open and he tried to push Sylus away in panic, but Sylus only tightened the hug with a light chuckle.

"So the legendary Sea God, rumored to be cold and merciless... turns out to be really cute in real life."

Rafayel froze. His hands stopped pushing. His face turned crimson, but still, he said nothing. Only the quiet pounding of his heart gave him away.

Sylus gently guided Rafayel out of the mysterious room, down the long corridor, and into the elegant dining hall. The atmosphere shifted, calmer, warmer.

"I won't reveal your identity." 

Sylus said as he helped Rafayel into a chair. 

"And I won't harm you. If that's what you're worried about."

He placed the dishes on the table, steaming plates of seafood, rich in scent and color.

"Eat. It's all seafood,"  he added with a small smile.

Rafayel rubbed his eyes softly, the redness still lingering, and quietly began to eat. For a moment, there was only the clinking of cutlery, then Rafayel whispered,

"What I'm worried about is..."

Sylus glanced at him, calm and attentive. 

"Is?"

Rafayel's face turned pink. 

"Is... that you'd hate me. After knowing who I really am."

Sylus blinked, then let out a soft laugh, setting his fork down.

"I was more worried you'd run away from me after learning I'm not human."

 he said. 

"I've suspected for a while that you weren't ordinary. I always planned to tell you the truth eventually, let you decide whether to stay or leave."

He paused, then smiled gently. 

"But I didn't expect you to be the Lemurian God."

Rafayel's eyes widened slightly. 

"So... you don't hate me?"

Sylus leaned forward, reaching out to gently wipe a smudge of sauce from Rafayel's lip with his thumb.

He said, voice low and sure. 

"No. In fact... it's the opposite."

Rafayel's face turned an even deeper shade of red, and he quickly looked down, focusing on his food. He poked at a piece of grilled fish with his fork, trying to hide his flustered expression.

Sylus, on the other hand, stayed as calm and composed as ever, his voice smooth as he spoke,

  "But I'm curious... Why did you disguise yourself as a human and enroll in university?"

Rafayel looked up briefly, then back at his plate.
He said quietly. 

"Because I wanted to know how humans study. I've been stuck in the sea for a thousand years. I wanted to learn... in their way."

Sylus raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"So it's the same reason as me then."

Rafayel shook his head slightly, eyes narrowing just a bit.

"No, it's not the same. You've clearly attended dozens of universities. You just love playing around."

Sylus chuckled, a rich sound that filled the dining room. 

"Guilty."  he admitted.  "But if I didn't play around... I wouldn't have met you."

Rafayel's eyes widened for a second, then darted away as he quickly returned to eating, trying to hide his shy smile. His ears were pink.

As the sun dipped below the ocean's edge and dusk settled in, Sylus brought the motorbike to a gentle stop in front of a stunning building by the cliffs of Whitesand Bay. It wasn't just a house—it looked like a private gallery. Towering windows glowed softly from within, revealing glimpses of sculptures, paintings, and walls lined with books. A quiet blend of luxury and creativity.

Sylus glanced around, raising an eyebrow.
He said, half-impressed, half-teasing.

"So this is where you live.You're rich too, huh."

Rafayel slowly removed his helmet, his hair falling back into place. He shifted a little awkwardly, unsure of what to say.

"Erm..."

Before Rafayel could stumble through an explanation, Sylus leaned over and gently ruffled his hair. 

"It's okay."

 he said with a warm grin. 

"Rest well. See you in school."

Rafayel's heart gave a soft jolt at the sudden affection. As Sylus started to pull back, Rafayel tightened his grip on the helmet and said quickly, his voice shy but sincere:

"When I'm ready... I'll invite you over."

Sylus paused, caught off guard for just a second. His eyes widened a little before softening. He smiled, genuine and patient and nodded.

"I'll wait."

With that, he slipped on his helmet, the engine hummed to life, and he sped off into the cool night, leaving Rafayel standing quietly at the gate. The sea breeze tugged gently at his hoodie as he watched Sylus disappear down the road, heart fluttering, lips curving into a soft smile.

Ever since their secrets were laid bare, something quietly shifted between Rafayel and Sylus.

On campus, they were nearly inseparable. Sylus, once known for floating between crowds with his usual charm and confidence, now spent nearly all his free time beside the famously reserved Rafayel. The contrast was impossible to miss, one a magnet for attention, the other a quiet mystery and students began to whisper.

Rumors spread fast:
Are they dating?
Why does Rafayel only talk to Sylus now?
Did Sylus finally fall for someone?
They even walk home together sometimes...

Sylus heard it all, and for once, he didn't mind the gossip. In fact, he kind of liked it. Let them talk.

But Rafayel? He was sensitive. Still adjusting. Still learning how the human world spun with whispers, eyes, and assumptions. So Sylus never told him. He made sure to steer conversations away when Rafayel was nearby, quieted crowds with a look when things got too loud, and threw his arm around Rafayel's shoulder with a smirk just to watch everyone else shut up.

To Rafayel, it just felt like safety.
To Sylus, it felt like the beginning of something real.

Rafayel began to change in little ways but only around Sylus.

He started to smile more, even laugh softly at times, especially when Sylus teased him or made dramatic comments over nothing. His quiet aura remained, but now there was a warmth to it, a sense of comfort that only appeared when Sylus was near.

One day, between lectures, Rafayel tugged lightly on Sylus's sleeve.
He asked, voice soft but expectant.

"Did you bring the kitty cards?" 

Sylus blinked, then grinned.

"Of course I did. How could I say no to you?"

And just like that, they found a quiet spot under the old tree by the library and set up a mini game. Rafayel's eyes sparkled with focus. He really wanted to win the game.

That scene—Rafayel actually initiating play—didn't go unnoticed.

Luke had just walked by with Kieran when they spotted the two. Both of them froze.
 Luke whispered, stunned.

"Is that... Rafayel asking to play cards? In public?"

Kieran squinted.

"And... smiling?"

The sight was almost unreal. The once-distant, silent student laughing over a round of kitty cards with the most unpredictable guy on campus. It was strange. It was wholesome.

It was them.

And Sylus? He looked like he'd just won the jackpot every time Rafayel pouted over a lost round or beamed at a win.

Chapter Text

It was just another slow afternoon in art class.

Rafayel sat quietly at the corner, focused on his painting. Sylus, as always, was right beside him, twirling a paintbrush lazily between his fingers. He hadn't touched his canvas yet. Clearly, he wasn't in the mood to paint today.

Then Sylus's phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen, sighed, and stood up.  "Be right back,"  he muttered, heading out to take the call.

The moment the classroom door clicked shut behind him, a few classmates sitting in the front turned around, their eyes lighting up mischievously as they looked at Rafayel.

"Rafayel~"

 one of them sing-songed. 

"I've been dying to ask you something. Since the popular guy's out for a minute, can you please clear the air? No hard feelings, okay?"

Rafayel froze, stiffening slightly as his hand paused above his canvas. He looked up, eyes wide and confused.

The male student leaned in with a cheeky smile. 

"Is Sylus interested in you?"

Rafayel's eyes grew even wider. He tilted his head, voice soft and unsure. 

"What... makes you think that?"

A couple of the students squealed quietly, grinning. 

"Oh my god—he talks!"

Another said.

"He's always with you. He doesn't do that with anyone else. It definitely seems like he likes you~"

Rafayel's brows furrowed slightly. He lowered his gaze and mumbled, 

"Erm... I don't think I'm suitable for him."

That only made the group react more.
One of them whispered dramatically

"Ohhh! So you do like him?"

Rafayel's cheeks turned pink as he looked away quickly, trying to focus on his painting again, heart beating a little too fast.

Rafayel froze at the question, eyes blinking softly as his brush paused mid-air.
He mumbled, voice barely above a whisper.

"I... didn't say that." 

The classmates leaned in closer from their desks, playful smirks on their faces.
One of them teased.

"But you didn't deny it either." 

Rafayel's cheeks turned a faint shade of pink. He lowered his gaze to his half-finished painting, trying to hide behind his bangs.

"I just think... he's too bright. I don't know why he's always around me."

One of the girls at the front leaned on her desk, chin resting in her palm. 

"Because maybe he likes you for who you are? You're not exactly invisible, Rafayel. You're the mysterious art prodigy with those dreamy eyes and ocean energy."

Another snorted. 

"Honestly, if Sylus didn't fall for you, I would."

That made Rafayel's eyes widen even more, startled.

The group chuckled softly, their teasing gentle and lighthearted. But then the classroom door creaked open, and the mood shifted.

Sylus walked back in, twirling his phone lazily in one hand. His sharp eyes scanned the room—and landed right on Rafayel.

"For once you're talking to the class?" 

he said, smirking. 

"That's good."

The room fell into an awkward silence. The classmates immediately ducked their heads, pretending to paint, though a few still giggled under their breath.

Sylus walked straight to Rafayel's side and leaned down slightly, his voice low so only Rafayel could hear.

"What did they ask you?"

Rafayel paused, hands still on his brush, face a little too pink. He didn't look up. 

"...Nothing."

Sylus raised an eyebrow. 

"Nothing?"

Rafayel gave a tiny nod and continued painting, avoiding his eyes. But his thoughts ran loud in his heart.

He'll never like me.  As for me... Lemurians, once we fall in love... we fall deep.  And I... might already be on that verge.

Sometimes, after classes, Sylus would head straight to the boxing club. It wasn't just training for him—it was fun, a way to release energy. And sometimes, on rare but treasured occasions, Rafayel would show up to watch.

Today was one of those days.

As Sylus boxed hard in the ring, focused and swift, some of the club members noticed movement at the entrance and turned.

"Oh!! It's Rafayel! Sylus' close friend!"
"He's so gentle-looking... and gorgeous."
"Think he'll ever join us?"
"Are you nuts? He's more into art than throwing punches!"

One of them waved toward the ring.

"Sylus! Your friend's here!"

Sylus looked up mid-swing, spotted Rafayel near the doorway, and leapt down from the ring without hesitation, sweat glistening on his skin. He jogged over with a grin.

He greeted, breath slightly heavy.

"Hey."

Rafayel smiled softly, holding a plain water bottle close to his chest.

"Here. I brought you something to replenish."

Sylus took the bottle and downed a few gulps, then paused, his brow arching. He lowered it and leaned in with a smirk.

"...Is this rum?"

Rafayel gave a small nod.

"I thought you'd prefer rum over plain water."

Sylus blinked, then burst into laughter.

"This is the first time I've had rum passed off as hydration."

Rafayel's eyes widened slightly.

"Is it... not good for energy recovery? I mean, you're not technically a student in age..."

Sylus grinned slyly.

"Aren't you also?"

Rafayel pouted faintly.

"It's my first time experiencing campus life. You've clearly done this before."

Sylus said with a soft chuckle, twirling the bottle in his hand.

"Guilty as charged. Well, thanks for the rum. I'll head back to boxing."

Rafayel chuckled, watching him go.

Sylus's clubmates wandered over toward Rafayel, careful not to get too close. They all remembered Sylus's warning—Don't get too chummy with him. It wasn't said with malice, just quiet protectiveness.

Still, curiosity got the better of them.
One of them leaned slightly forward.

"Rafayel~ Are you and Sylus a thing?"

Rafayel blinked, tilting his head slightly as he adjusted the strap of his bag.

"A thing?"

Another boy chuckled softly.

"He means—are you two a couple?"

Rafayel's face flushed a deep red. He glanced away quickly, voice barely a whisper.

"No."

A few of them exchanged surprised looks.

"No? Really? We honestly thought you two were dating. You're always together... that's kinda disappointing."

Rafayel reddened even more, flustered.

"I thought you all liked pairing Sylus with other girls. He's... pretty popular."

The group laughed lightly.

"Oh, he is popular with the ladies." 

One admitted. 

"But none of them get anywhere near him like you do. You're the only one he sticks with. So we figured, y'know... something was going on."

One of them nudged the guy who spoke, whispering under his breath,

"Shh! I don't think Rafayel knows..."

Rafayel's eyes darted downward, his fingers tightening around the strap of his bag.

"I—I think you're mistaken about him. He doesn't like someone like me... we're just friends..."

One of the girl boxers frowned in confusion.

"Doesn't like someone like you? What's that supposed to mean? Just 'cause you're quiet?"

She tilted her head and gave a teasing smirk.

"For your info, that's totally backwards. I've got almost the same taste as Sylus... and honestly? If I were him?" 

She grinned, pointing a finger playfully at him. 

"I'd definitely be after you."

Rafayel's eyes widened in alarm, cheeks burning. Before anyone could say more, he turned, clearly ready to flee the scene but the girl reached out, gently catching his wrist with a light laugh.

"Okay, okay, sorry! Don't run, I was just—"

Suddenly, a voice cut through the gym, sharp and cold like a blade drawn in silence.

"Hands off."

Chapter Text

Suddenly, a voice cut through the gym, sharp and cold like a blade drawn in silence.

"Hands off."

The room froze.

Sylus stood just a few steps away, gaze hard and unreadable, still slightly glistening with sweat from training. His crimson eyes locked on the girl's hand holding Rafayel's wrist. It wasn't loud but everyone felt it.

The girl quickly let go, hands up.
 She teased smirking.

"Geez, alright! Protective much?"

Sylus ignored her completely, stepping up beside Rafayel and placing a hand on his back, gently guiding him away.

Rafayel whispered, flustered,

"I-It wasn't anything serious..."

 Sylus kept his hand on Rafayel's back as they walked out of the gym, not sparing another glance at anyone behind. His tone stayed composed.

"I know. Let's go. I'm done with boxing. I'm sending you home."

The boxing club members exchanged knowing looks. A few grinned, nudging each other silently. When Sylus briefly turned and shot them a glare, they quickly looked away, though stifled chuckles still lingered.

The girl from earlier crossed her arms, smirking softly as she watched the two leave. She muttered under her breath with a small shake of her head,

"Just confess already..."

Rafayel, confused and flustered, allowed Sylus to guide him. Before stepping out the door, he turned back briefly. His eyes met the amused glances of the club. He gave them a quiet, unsure wave.

The late afternoon sun filtered in through the tall studio windows, casting golden streaks across the paint-splattered floor. Most of the students had packed up and left, their laughter and footsteps fading down the hall. Only a few remained, their brushes tapping quietly against canvases. Among them, Rafayel and Sylus sat side by side, as they often did.

Sylus twirled his brush idly, dragging lazy strokes across his half-finished canvas. He stared at it without much interest, his posture relaxed, almost too casual.

Rafayel glanced over at his work, noting the lack of energy in the lines.

"No inspiration?"  he asked gently.

Sylus shrugged.

"Not exactly. Just laze. You seem to have inspiration all the time."

Rafayel returned his focus to his canvas, where soft colors bloomed into the form of waves and moonlight.

"Because I find it hard to communicate with people directly."

 he said after a moment. 

"So I paint instead. It's easier not having to say everything out loud."

Sylus stilled his brush and glanced at him. 

"So... what is it now you're finding hard to say?"

Rafayel hesitated, his eyes never leaving the canvas. 

"I don't know, actually."

But deep inside, his thoughts stirred quietly.

I don't know how to tell you how I feel. And if I did... would you start to look at me differently? Would you pull away? Would you still sit beside me like this?

He dipped his brush into a lighter shade, covering up the trembling thoughts with another gentle wave of color.

Sylus broke the silence with a low chuckle.

"You know... I don't want to bring it up, but the rumors about us are spreading like wildfire."

Rafayel paused, his hand stilling slightly.

"About me liking you," 

Sylus continued, 

"or us being a couple." 

He tilted his head with a light smile. 

"Do you dislike it?"

Rafayel hesitated, he said softly, glancing at Sylus.

"I—I'm not sure... Do you?"

Sylus set down his brush and looked at him fully, a small grin playing on his lips.

"I don't dislike it."

Rafayel's heart skipped. 

"...Why?"

Sylus teased, his voice warm.

"You want to know why?" 

Rafayel gave a small nod, but almost instantly recoiled, his eyes darting away. 

"Never mind. I don't want to know."

Sylus raised an eyebrow. 

"Why not?"

Rafayel kept painting, his voice barely above a whisper. 

"Because... I know we're just friends. And you probably don't care about rumors. Someone like you... cool, popular... you'd never be interested in someone like me."

Sylus leaned back, studying him. 

"Is that how you see me?"

Rafayel gave a slight nod, still not meeting his eyes.
Sylus smiled faintly, though his gaze darkened with something more serious.
Sylus said gently,

"Well. I don't feel the same way you say it."

Rafayel finally turned to him, confused, paintbrush frozen in mid-air.

 "...What do you mean?"

Sylus leaned his elbow on the table, resting his chin in his hand as he watched Rafayel carefully. His voice lowered, soft but steady. He said gently,

"I mean, you think I'm just brushing off the rumors... and that I don't see you that way."

Rafayel's hand stopped mid-stroke, the tip of his brush hovering above the canvas. His breath caught, but he didn't lift his gaze.

"But I do see you that way."

The words hit like a jolt. Rafayel's heart jumped, and the brush slipped from his fingers, clattering softly to the table.

He finally turned, wide eyes locking with Sylus's. There was no teasing smile this time, only a calm, steady gaze filled with something deeper. Honest. Grounded.

Sylus went on,

"I didn't say anything, because I didn't want to scare you away. You always looked like you might vanish if someone got too close."

He reached down and picked up Rafayel's fallen brush, carefully placing it back into the tin beside them, as if it were something precious.

"I don't know how you feel about me,"  he said gently,  "but one thing I'm going to clarify—"

His eyes never left Rafayel's.

"I want the rumors to be true."

Rafayel's wide eyes remained locked on Sylus, his face burning red. He didn't speak, he couldn't. His feelings bubbled just beneath the surface, too tangled for words.

Sylus watched him with a small smirk, voice calm but warm.

"You don't need to answer me. Even if you feel we should just stay friends... I'm okay with it."

But Rafayel's thoughts were loud and fast.

No... I like you too... But I don't know how to say it...

Just as Sylus turned back to his painting, Rafayel reached forward and gently tugged on the hem of his uniform, fingers trembling.

Sylus paused mid-motion, looking down, surprised by the soft grip.
Then Rafayel looked up at him, red-faced and determined, both hands now holding onto his shirt. He nod his head slightly, unable to say the words but speaking volumes all the same.

"...Mhhhmm..."

It was barely a sound, but it hit Sylus like thunder. His heart skipped. For a moment, he forgot the studio, the canvas, the world. All he wanted to do was close that small space between them.

He didn't.
Instead, he took a breath and offered a gentle smile.

"I understand. I'll give you time."

Then he turned back to his painting but this time, his hand gripped the brush with so much force that it snapped in half.

"...Tch."

Rafayel blinked, startled.

"Uh...?"

Sylus grit his teeth with a strained smile.

"I'll get a new paintbrush."

But Rafayel reached forward and quietly offered his own.

"...Use mine."

Sylus took it slowly, breathing in to steady the heat rising in his chest.

"...Thanks."

Sylus thought to himself. 

He needs to stop being so adorable.  At this rate, I might actually pounce on him.

Abruptly, Sylus stood.

"I need a breather." 

he said quickly. 

"You keep painting. I'll be back in ten minutes."

Rafayel watched him go, confused, cheeks still glowing red.
He had no idea that his shy little gesture had almost unraveled all of Sylus's control.

Chapter Text

During the days that followed Sylus's quiet confession, nothing seemed to change on the surface. They still shared quiet moments in the art studio, still walked side by side in the halls, still teased each other over kitty cards and boxed lunches.

Sylus didn't expect a response. Not right away. That shy little nod Rafayel gave him back then, it was vague, delicate, not quite a "yes," but not a "no" either. And Sylus respected that. He was patient. He was already grateful just to have gotten that far.

But what Sylus didn't know... was that Rafayel had meant it as a yes.

He just didn't know how to say it out loud yet.
That weekend, as the sun hovered gently in the afternoon sky, Sylus's phone buzzed.

Rafayel: Can you come to Whitesand Bay? Now, if you're free.

Sylus didn't hesitate. He grabbed his keys, threw on his red coat, and rode off on his motorbike without a second thought.

No questions asked.
If Rafayel was reaching out. Sylus would show up.

Sylus arrived at Rafayel's house, the wide gate already open as if expecting him. Without hesitation, he stepped inside. The large art studio stood grandly before him, and from its doorway, Rafayel appeared, wearing a plain white tee, his smile soft and quiet.

Sylus smiled back instantly, the kind of smile he only ever gave Rafayel—and walked toward him.

Without a word, Rafayel took Sylus's hand and led him through the back of the house toward the sea, where the gentle sound of waves echoed from Whitesand Bay just beyond the property.

Sylus raised a curious brow.

"What's the sudden meet-up for?"

Rafayel said softly.

"I want to show you something." 

Sylus smirked but didn't press further.

When they reached the back steps, Rafayel looked down at Sylus's designer shoes.

"Can you take those off? We're going down to the beach."

Sylus chuckled, slipping off his shoes and leaving them on the steps.

"You really picked a nice island to build this giant art house. Whitesand Bay's right at your doorstep."

Rafayel only smiled again and gently pulled Sylus toward the sand, leading them all the way to where the waves met the shore.

Then, suddenly, Rafayel asked,

"How much do you know about Lemurians?"

Sylus blinked.

"That's random."

 he said, thinking. 

"Not much. Just that their civilization was powerful, their tech hard to use. I've heard their tears turn into pearls, and the softest part of their scales is the strongest for weapons."

 He paused.

 "And... when a Lemurian kisses a human, the human can breathe underwater."

The soft waves brushing against their feet. The sea breeze tousled Rafayel's white tee, and for a moment, he just stared at the horizon, silent, thoughtful.

Sylus glanced sideways at him, noticing the way the light caught in Rafayel's eyes, that nervous glint barely hidden beneath his soft smile.

Rafayel finally spoke, his voice just loud enough to be heard over the gentle crashing of waves.

"Most humans only know fragments about us."

 he murmured. 

"Legends. Facts twisted into stories. Half of them exaggerated."

Sylus tilted his head. 

"So... what part's true?"

Rafayel turned to him slowly, eyes searching Sylus's face. 

"You mentioned the kiss."

Rafayel stepped into the sea, the gentle waves brushing past his ankles. He turned back to Sylus, eyes bright, expression a mix of nerves and excitement, and held out his hand.

 He asked quietly.

"Let's go for a swim?"

Sylus blinked at him, confused but amused.

 "I mean, I don't mind—clothes can be replaced. But... what is this about?"

Rafayel blushed, gaze dropping.

"Try drowning."

Sylus raised a brow, startled.

"Are you saying you want to drown me or save me?"

Rafayel mumbled, face turning even redder. 

"N-Neither. I just... I wanted to show you something."

Sylus tilted his head, laughing softly.

"Show me what? I mean, I am an Abyss Dragon, sure—but that doesn't mean I'm immune to drowning."

Rafayel looked away again, clearly flustered.

"Do you... trust me?"

Sylus watched him for a moment, then sighed with a smile.

"Fine."

With no further questions, he waded into the water, letting it rise until it reached his chest. The sea was warm, gentle, glowing faintly with late afternoon light. He turned back to Rafayel and smirked.

"I'm expecting to see you underneath, y'know. You're acting weird, Rafayel."

Rafayel nodded silently, still blushing, and followed him in, his heart thudding wildly in his chest.

Sylus chuckled again, completely thrown off by how adorably awkward Rafayel was being. Even without knowing what was happening, he found himself trusting him anyway.

Sylus took a deep breath and dove headfirst into the sea, letting the water swallow him whole. The ocean around him turned cool and dark as he sank deeper, his eyes squinting through the blur of blue.

From the surface, Rafayel watched, heart pounding. Then, with a quiet gulp, he dove in after Sylus.

The moment Rafayel entered the water, everything changed.

Light wrapped around him as if the sea itself greeted his return. His hair grew longer, floating around him like silk threads, shimmering with magic. His legs melted into one fluid shape—his tail, grand, graceful, and radiant with hues of deep blue and violet that sparkled like stardust. His eyes glowed softly, glowing pink and blue like gems under moonlight.

With practiced ease, Rafayel swam toward Sylus, who was now suspended underwater, looking around with calm acceptance, though he hadn't expected anything beyond the physical challenge of holding his breath.

Rafayel swam to him with ease, gliding through the water like a whisper. He reached Sylus, placing his hands gently on either side of his face, and without hesitation, kissed him.

Sylus's eyes widened in shock, stunned by Rafayel's transformation, by how ethereal and godlike he looked. But even more shocking was the sudden ease in Sylus's lungs. He could breathe. The ocean welcomed him.

Rafayel pulled back just enough to speak, his voice soft and clear beneath the waves.

"When a Lemurian kisses someone they love."

 he said, 

"the ocean recognizes them too. And now..." 

His gaze held Sylus's. 

"The Sea God gives the Abyss Dragon his answer."

Sylus stared at him, stunned.

Then, without a word, a grin tugged at his lips and he leaned forward, kissing Rafayel back with all the warmth in his heart.

Rafayel looked up, cheeks glowing faintly even beneath the water. His lips were slightly parted, still tingling from the kiss, his eyes wide with vulnerability.

 He murmured, almost too softly to hear.

"...That nod the other day...It was a yes."

Sylus let out a quiet laugh, warm and low, the kind only Rafayel ever got to hear. He swam closer, his movements calm and unhurried, then reached out to cup Rafayel's cheek with a tenderness that made the sea itself seem to still.

"I figured."

 he said, eyes locked on Rafayel's, voice filled with quiet affection. 

"But this?" 

His thumb brushed lightly over Rafayel's skin. 

"This is the best yes I've ever gotten."

Chapter Text

After they came out of the sea, the salty breeze still lingered in their hair. Sylus hung his wet clothes on the railing just outside Rafayel's art studio, toweling off before slipping into a pair of pants Rafayel had lent him, a little too tight for Sylus, sitting tight on his hips, exposing the lean lines of his torso. He didn't seem to mind.

Rafayel, still barefoot and wearing his own loose pants, moved quietly in the open kitchen space. The smell of garlic, butter, and fresh seafood filled the room. His cheeks were still faintly flushed from earlier, and he didn't say much as he plated the dish.

He set the plate down softly on the low table in front of Sylus, then sat opposite him with a quiet smile.

Sylus glanced at the dish, then up at Rafayel, grinning with a lopsided smirk.

"Didn't expect the sea god to cook." 

he teased. 

"I'm definitely remembering this."

Rafayel looked away shyly, brushing a bit of hair behind his ear.

"I'll cook more next time..."

Sylus chuckled warmly and picked up a fork.

After dinner, the quiet evening air was filled with the sound of waves and distant seabirds. Rafayel had just stepped out of his bathroom, towel-drying his damp hair, wearing a soft oversized shirt and lounge pants when Sylus, lounging lazily on the studio couch, spoke up coolly.

"Mr. Cute Sea God." 

Sylus called, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. 

"Do you want to fly?"

Rafayel raised an eyebrow, blinking. 

"Fly? Like... real fly?"

Sylus gave a slow, confident nod. 

"Yes."

Rafayel's eyes lit up instantly, his expression shifting to excited as he nodded eagerly. Sylus chuckled, rising to his feet and extending a hand.

"Then let's go."

Rafayel took his hand, then glanced down at Sylus's current state, still shirtless, wearing only the tied pants he'd borrowed earlier.

Rafayel asked, blinking at the tied pants.

"Are you, erm... flying with that?" 

Sylus grinned, his voice smooth.

"No. I can transform."

Rafayel nodded again, quietly thrilled, and followed Sylus out through the back doors of the studio into the moonlit backyard. The sea shimmered in the distance.

Sylus turned to him with a smirk.

"Grab tight."

Rafayel reached for his arm, but before he could brace himself properly, Sylus's form shifted — dark, iridescent wings burst from his back, his features sharpening, glowing faintly with divine energy. His Abyss Dragon God form was imposing and graceful all at once.

And with just one strong arm, Sylus scooped Rafayel up into a perfect princess carry.

"My meaning of grab tight, my Sea God,"

 he said with a wink, 

"wasn't by the arm."

Rafayel's eyes widened as they lifted into the air, his hands clinging to Sylus's neck now, face flushed a deep red. His heart pounded in his chest, from both the flight and the way Sylus held him like he weighed nothing.

The stars stretched out above them, and the sea glimmered below but to Rafayel, the most dazzling thing in that moment was Sylus.

As they soared higher, the coastline and city lights sparkled like scattered jewels far beneath them. Rafayel clung gently to Sylus's neck, eyes wide in awe, wind brushing through his hair. His heart should have been racing with fear, but instead, it beat with something warmer, calmer.

Sylus glanced down at him, shifting his hold slightly to cradle Rafayel more securely in his arms. His voice was soft, teasing.

"Like the view?"

Rafayel nodded, his gaze still captivated by the sight below.

"It's beautiful."

He paused, then added quietly,

"I can fly too, but... not that high. And I don't like the feeling of being up this far."

Sylus raised an eyebrow.

"Then now...?"

Rafayel turned his eyes toward Sylus, cheeks glowing pink.

"With you, it doesn't feel scary at all."

Sylus's smile deepened, the corners of his lips curling with something gentle, something proud. He tightened his arms slightly around Rafayel, letting the wind carry them higher, not just into the sky, but into something unspoken between them.

Sylus flew swiftly through the night, carrying Rafayel across vast stretches of sky and land until the sea disappeared behind them. Eventually, he slowed, descending gently into a hidden field bathed in moonlight. The ground was blanketed with glowing red flowers—roses and Daturas—that shimmered softly in the dark like embers floating on velvet.

As soon as Sylus set him down, Rafayel's eyes widened in awe. The glow reflected in his gaze, making them seem even brighter.

He whispered, stepping forward.

"It's... beautiful. These flowers... they glow."

Sylus landed behind him, his voice cool but touched with softness.

"These roses and Daturas have grown with me since I first arrived here... a thousand years ago. They carry some of my power. All they do now is shine. Quiet, but constant."

Rafayel crouched, brushing his fingers gently across a glowing Datura bloom, mesmerized by the soft warmth beneath his touch.

"I've heard stories of the Abyss Dragon. They don't fall in love easily. But why me?"

Sylus watched him for a moment, his eyes unreadable. Then, as Rafayel stood and turned toward him, Sylus stepped closer.

"We don't fall in love easily." 

he said. 

"But once we do, it's forever." 

He gave a small smile. 

"Same as Lemurians, isn't it?"

Rafayel nodded lightly, his face flushing pink. Sylus reached out, brushing his fingers against Rafayel's cheek with a tenderness that contrasted his usual cool demeanor.

"If you're asking why... Let's just say, after a thousand years, I finally found someone who truly intrigued me." 

He leaned in a little. 

"And it just so happens to be the Lemurian Sea God."

Rafayel's heart thudded. His hands moved up, fingertips brushing Sylus's horns with quiet curiosity. Then, as if drawing in courage, Rafayel took a breath and from that breath, a luminous pearl formed in the air. It hovered between them, glowing with soft, shifting colors of the sea.

Rafayel said quietly, eyes not leaving Sylus.

"I give this pearl to you. It holds all the feelings I have for you. Lemurians... we can store our emotions in pearls. So this—" 

he took Sylus's hand and placed the pearl gently in it, 

"—is me. How I feel. Because... I'm serious."

Sylus stared at the pearl in his palm. The moment his fingers closed around it, warmth flooded through him, not just physical warmth, but emotion. Love. Admiration. Shyness. Hope. It was everything Rafayel had kept tucked away in his heart. His eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the purity of it.

And then Sylus smiled, that cool, quiet smile that belonged only to Rafayel.

Chapter Text

Ever since that night, Sylus kept the pearl Rafayel gave him in a hidden chamber deep within his home, his private sanctuary filled with ancient relics, powerful artifacts, and his legendary Claymore sword. He placed Rafayel's pearl in the center, just in front of the floating blade, as if it were the most sacred item among treasures from forgotten ages.

It became his quiet reminder, glowing faintly with the warmth of love wrapped in the stillness of time.

But of course, Sylus being Sylus, couldn't resist bothering Rafayel a few days later.
He said one lazy afternoon, nudging Rafayel with a grin, 

"Hey, give me another pearl. I wanna hang one on my phone. You know, something small and sparkly."

Rafayel blinked at him.

"As a... phone charm?"

Sylus gave a casual shrug.

"Yeah. Something real."

Rafayel hesitated. Then he turned away quietly, and minutes later, returned with another pearl—delicate, glowing faintly.

Sylus took it from his hand, but his smirk faded the moment his fingers touched it.

"...Wait. Did you cry to make this?"

Rafayel rubbed his eyes shyly.

"Just a bit... You said 'something real'."

Sylus stared at the pearl for a long moment. Then let out a sigh and gave it back.

"I didn't expect you to cry just to give me a pearl," 

he said softly.

"I'm not asking for another one again."

Rafayel looked at him, puzzled.

"But I already gave it to you..."

Sylus smiled faintly, shaking his head.

"And now if I hang this on my phone, I'll just keep thinking about how you cried to make it."

Rafayel pouted.

"I didn't want to give you a fake one. Real ones mean more."

Sylus laughed, ruffling his hair.

"You trying to get me robbed?"

Rafayel crossed his arms.

"I don't think anyone's dumb enough to rob an Abyss Dragon."

Sylus folded his arms too, smirking.

"In disguise, Sea God. In disguise."

During art period, the room was quiet save for the soft scratching of brushes and the occasional hum of the air vents. Rafayel, seated quietly at his usual corner, painted with steady, delicate strokes. Beside him, Sylus had grown lazy and was now scrolling through his phone with one hand, completely relaxed. 

One of their classmates passed by to dry his canvas and suddenly paused, eyes landing on the object dangling from Sylus's phone.

 He asked, pointing at the charm hanging off the corner of Sylus's phone.

"Sylus?? Is that a real pearl on your phone? It looks... way too real to be fake."

Sylus didn't even look up from his screen.

"Yeah, it is."

At that, more students turned around, curiosity piqued. A small crowd started to gather around Sylus's desk.

"Why the hell are you using something that expensive as a phone charm?"
"You could sell that and get, like, three Rolexes!"
"That color... it's stunning."
"Sylus, this is really not like you. Since when do you flaunt stuff?"

Rafayel, still painting quietly, flinched slightly at the sudden attention nearby. His brush paused mid-stroke, eyes flicking toward the group. His grip on the palette tightened just a little, though his expression remained carefully neutral.

Sylus, sensing it, didn't miss a beat. Without looking up, he reached under the table and gave Rafayel's thigh a gentle pat, a silent reassurance. Then he finally looked at the crowd, cool and unfazed, smirking.

He said smoothly

"Expensive things should be seen, not sold. Especially when it's a gift from someone special."

He held up the phone slightly, letting the pearl catch the light.

"Of course it's pretty. It's real."

A few of the classmates blinked, clearly surprised.

"Someone special?"
"Wait, who gave it to you?"
"Did your girlfriend give you that?"
"...Or boyfriend?"

Sylus raised a brow slightly, nonchalant.

"You ask too many questions."

Then he pointed to the tense boy next to him with a tilt of his head.

"And guys—back up a little. You're stressing out our famously reserved classmate here."

That made the group pause. Some flushed, awkward. Others chuckled sheepishly and took a respectful step back, glancing at Rafayel with softer expressions.

One muttered.

"Sorry, Rafayel."
"Didn't mean to startle you."
"It's just—man, that pearl really is pretty..."

During the combined lecture, the large hall was filled with quiet scribbles and occasional murmurs. Sylus sat between Luke and Kieran, his legs stretched comfortably, looking as laid-back as ever. Rafayel was on Sylus's left, focused on the lecture notes, but occasionally sneaking glances at Sylus's phone charm glinting subtly under the lights.

Luke leaned over slightly, raising an eyebrow, and whispered across Sylus to Rafayel,

"Rafayel... that pearl phone charm. You gave it to him, didn't you?"

Rafayel's eyes widened, and he blinked, surprised that Luke noticed. He whispered back nervously,

"H-How did you know?"

Kieran chuckled softly from the other side, smirking.

"We're not exactly human either, y'know."

Rafayel looked between the two, even more confused now.
Sylus, without missing a beat, tilted his head slightly toward Rafayel and spoke coolly under his breath,

"They're crow entities."

Luke and Kieran smirked, proud and unbothered, waving their lecture notes as if showing off.

Rafayel blinked in disbelief, whispering to Sylus in a softer voice,

"So... how many entity friends do you actually have?"

Sylus laughed quietly and patted Rafayel's head gently.

"Just them. For studies."

Rafayel squinted, a suspicious pout forming on his lips as he returned to his notes.

"Just them for studies...?"

He didn't say it aloud, but his thoughts ran wild.

That wording... 'for studies'... so there are other entities he knows? For what? Fighting? Tea time? Concerts? Kisses??

Rafayel's cheeks puffed up slightly as he kept glancing at Sylus, who, of course, was pretending not to notice at all.

As the lecture continued, Sylus leaned over casually, using his arm to shield the view from the lecturer and other students. With the smooth confidence only he possessed, he kissed Rafayel softly on the cheek.

Rafayel froze, his breath catching, cheeks instantly blooming bright red.
Sylus whispered close to his ear, low and reassuring,

"I know other entities. But for Dragon Bride... you're the only one. And never anyone else."

Rafayel's lips parted slightly in shock, eyes darting to Sylus before quickly looking back down at his notes, trying and failing, to hide the huge blush across his face.

Sylus sat back in his seat coolly, arms folded, one leg crossed. He didn't need to look at Rafayel to know the effect of his words. He just smirked faintly to himself.

He thought, amused.

Jealous Rafayel?  That's cute.

Chapter Text

It had been a few quiet days without Sylus. He hadn't shown up to campus, and he hadn't answered any of Rafayel's texts or calls. The silence gnawed at him.

During the combined lecture, Rafayel sat beside Luke and Kieran. Unable to keep it in anymore, he leaned over and whispered softly, his voice laced with concern.

"Where's Sylus? He hasn't picked up or replied to me in days..."

Luke and Kieran exchanged a glance. Luke leaned back toward him and whispered just as quietly,

"Well... Sylus is dealing with something physical this week. He'll be back next week."

Rafayel's eyes widened, worry flashing across his face.

"Is it something serious? Why can't he even call?"

Kieran gave a small shrug and offered a vague smile.

"It's... not dangerous. He's just resting. Don't worry too much."

But in their thoughts, they knew the real reason.

It's Sylus's heat cycle. If he so much as hears your voice or sees your name pop up, he'll lose control and fly to you. He's doing everything he can not to break down and pounce. He's trying to protect you, Rafayel.

They kept their expressions calm, while inwardly sighing.

After class, Rafayel couldn't take it anymore. He left campus straight away and went to Sylus's building.

The moment he walked in, the building staff noticed him. No one stopped him—everyone had been instructed long ago that Rafayel was the only one allowed to reach the top floor.

Without hesitation, Rafayel stepped into the private elevator and pressed the button for the 87th floor.

The elevator hummed quietly as it climbed, floor by floor, toward the 87th. Rafayel clutched the strap of his bag, anxiety prickling down his spine. His chest felt tight with worry. The vague excuses from Luke and Kieran didn't ease his thoughts—they only made it worse.

Why wouldn't Sylus reply? Was he hurt? Sick? If he's just resting, why is he hiding?

The lift chimed softly as it reached the top floor. The doors opened to the quiet, familiar corridor bathed in warm lights and lined with clean marble. It smelled faintly of incense and something wild beneath it, like salt air and burning embers.

Rafayel stepped out, heart thumping.

He moved to the large double doors at the end, the ones that always opened for him without resistance.

He hesitated, hand raised. Then, slowly, he pushed the door open.

Inside, it was dim. The curtains were drawn, letting only slivers of light seep through. The usually polished space was cluttered—a few blankets on the floor, a glass on the coffee table, and a faint trace of heat in the air. The atmosphere felt heavy, almost magnetic.

Rafayel called softly.

"Sylus...?" 

There was silence.
Then, from the other room, a deep voice—hoarse, restrained—called back.

"Rafayel... What are you doing here...?"

Rafayel stepped in further, alarm rising at the sound of Sylus's voice. It was nothing like usual—it sounded like he was barely holding himself together.

"You haven't replied for days. I—I was worried."

From the bedroom doorway, Sylus appeared.
His eyes were glowing faintly crimson. His skin glistened with sweat. His breathing was shallow, restrained, Sylus was half nake.

Sylus said, voice strained.

"You need to go. Now."

But Rafayel didn't move. He stared, wide-eyed.

"Are you hurt? What's wrong?"

Sylus gritted his teeth and turned his face away.

"I'm not hurt."

 he growled softly. 

"But if you stay here... I won't be able to hold back much longer."

Rafayel shook his head quickly, his eyes full of worry.
Sylus let out a long sigh, looking away.

"The reason I didn't reply... didn't answer your calls." 

he said quietly, 

"My dragon heat has started. I need you to leave."

Rafayel's eyes widened. He had heard of it before, how painful and dangerous a dragon's heat could be. But seeing Sylus like this, struggling and alone, he couldn't just walk away.

"I'll help you. " he said softly.

Sylus's hands clenched into fists. His jaw tightened.

"You don't know what I can do, Rafayel."

Rafayel swallowed nervously, but his gaze didn't waver.

"But... we're lovers... aren't we?"

And that's it.
Sylus snap and pulled Rafayel towards him, rough. His teeth grazed Rafayel neck, a sharp bite that sent a jolt of pain and heat through Rafayel.

Rafayel yelped, his fingers digging into Sylus shoulders. Eyes widen in shock.

"ARGHHH!"

Rafayel gasp.

"Sylus! Argh!!"

In one swift motion. Sylus kissed Rafayel—deep, desperate, unrestrained.

In seconds, a surge of heat rippled through the air.
His body shifted.

Scales shimmered across Sylus skin, his eyes glowing with primal crimson, and his breath came heavy. Wings burst free behind him, his dragon form surfacing as he lost the last thread of sanity he'd been clinging to.

Sylus kiss deepened, his claws tearing Rafayel shirt off, ripping it open to expose Rafayel chest to the cool air. Rafayel skin prickled, nipples hardening under Sylus molten gaze.

Rafayel face flushed hot, eyes wide as he pushed weakly against Sylus chest but the kiss was too overwhelming to push Sylus away.

"mphmm—! mmmmph—!"

Sylus fingers pinching it with a sharp, deliberate twist on Rafayel nipple.
 A moan broke free from Rafayel, muffled in the kiss.

Rafayel body arching into Sylus touch as heat flooded his core. Rafayel legs buckled, trembling, but Sylus caught Rafayel instantly, his massive arms lifting Rafayel effortlessly. His dragon form floated, wings beating softly, holding Rafayel whose arching his back involuntarily.

 Sylus thumb rolled over Rafayel nipple again, teasing it to a stiff peak, each touch sending jolts of fire through Rafayel.

Sylus finally let go of the kiss and speak lowly and dangerous.

"You can't run now even if you want to."

Rafayel gasped for air, still breathless from the kiss. His chest rose and fell quickly, his eyes glazed in a daze of heat and surprise. Sylus, captivated by the sight, couldn't hold back any longer. With a swift, hungry motion, he tore Rafayel's pants away, baring him completely.

Lifting him effortlessly, Sylus pinned Rafayel's wrists above his head, holding him just off the floor. Rafayel hung there, slightly suspended, his body tingling from the intensity. His eyes widened, cheeks burning with a deep blush.

"Sy—!" 

Sylus stroke his manhood fast, resulting in Rafayel, dangling moaning, blushing red.

"arghhhh—! hnnngghhh—!"

Sylus went faster and faster. And Rafayel can only moan.

"hnngggghh—!"

Rafayel's body arched, tension flowing through every limb. Sylus's grip remained firm on his wrists, holding him aloft with ease and Sylus uses his powers to keep Rafayel floating—vulnerable, exposed, beautiful.

Sylus uses his power to make sure Rafayel both hands are lock up in the air.

With slow, deliberate steps, Sylus descended, his eyes locked on Rafayel's trembling form. One hand never stopped its fast, rhythmic strokes along Rafayel's manhood. The other hand guided Rafayel's body to tilt just right.

Then, with a deep breath and a low hum of satisfaction, Sylus leaned in and ran his tongue to the hole, licking intimately—delicately at first, then deeper, more demanding.

Rafayel cried out, his head thrown back, his purple hair spilling in midair like silk. His thighs trembled, body twitching with every stroke, every lick. Eyes wide, lips parted in breathless gasps, he couldn't hold back the trembling that overtook him.

"Ah—!" 

Pleasure surged through him, swift and overwhelming.
Rafayel shook his head softly, trembling.

"Sylus stop— I'm cumming— hnnggh—! please—!"

Sylus didn't stop and he continue deeper, and stroking faster. Hitting the good spot with his long fingers and stroking Rafayel manhood fast.

And Rafayel cum, squirting from it.

"AHHHHH—! HNNGGGH—!"

Chapter Text

Sylus gave no warning, no pause. With a commanding shift of his power, he gently lowered Rafayel's body, aligning them in one seamless motion. Then, he entered him in a single, deep thrust with his manhood.

Rafayel's body arched in midair, his breath caught in his throat. The sensation was overwhelming, thick, sudden, and so deep it sent a sharp jolt through him. Sylus struck that sensitive place within, perfectly, deliberately. A visible bulge pressed beneath Rafayel's stomach as he took all of him.

Rafayel gasped, voice caught between shock and pleasure. His legs trembled where they dangled, suspended, toes curling in the open air. His eyes flew wide, glistening with tears, lips parted in a helpless moan.

"A-ah—! SY —LUS—! "

Rafayel's voice came in gasping cries, shaking his head as his body trembled helplessly in midair.

"N-No... don't move.."

he begged, tears welling at the corners of his wide eyes.

"It's too deep... too big... please..."

But Sylus only pressed closer, his breathing heavy, a low growl of desire rising from his throat. He slid one hand up, fingers tracing the delicate line of Rafayel's neck, his touch both possessive and tender. Then he leaned in, his voice husky with restraint.

He murmured darkly. 

"Too bad. I can't breed the Sea God..."

And then, he moved.

A slow, grinding thrust at first, then deeper. Rafayel's moan tore free, raw and high. His eyes rolled back, his body convulsing in Sylus's grip. The bulge in his stomach shifted with every motion, a living testament to the depth Sylus had reached inside him. Suspended, trembling, overwhelmed. Rafayel could only cry out in waves of unbearable pleasure, his body no longer his own.

"Ahhh—! harrghhhh—!"

Rafayel's head shook again and again, his purple hair whipping through the air with every tremble. His body quaked under the flood of sensation, his voice breaking between gasps and helpless moans. Each time Sylus thrust into him, hitting that same devastating spot deep inside, Rafayel's own release from his manhood came in small, uncontrollable pulses, spilling, squirting

He cried, his voice fragile, lost between sobs and panting.

"P-please... stop... let me breathe... h-harghh—!"

But Sylus was no longer holding back.

The dragon heat within him, ancient, powerful, and fiercely possessive, had fully awakened. His breathing was ragged, sweat beading across his skin as his eyes glowed faintly with heat. He gripped Rafayel's wrists tighter with the power, his power still holding Rafayel suspended in the air. Then, with a deep growl, he began to move faster—deeper—each motion filled with a raw, primal rhythm.

Rafayel let out another cry, his back arching beautifully in the air, stomach still bulging from the fullness inside him.

Then Sylus brought his hands to Rafayel's chest. With deliberate pressure, he pinched both nipples at once, rolling them between his fingers. The response was immediate. Rafayel's eyes flew wide open, his entire body jolting, moans rising in pitch as he gasped hard, choking on the overwhelming pleasure.

His legs dangled, weak and trembling, toes curling as his body spasmed in bliss.

"S-Sylus—ahh... I can't—!"

But Sylus only leaned in, lips brushing Rafayel's ear with heat and reverence.

"Yes, you can..."

Time blurred for don't know how long.

Sylus's power held Rafayel aloft like he was the most sacred thing in the world, his body flushed, trembling, every nerve hit hard. Crimson light burned in Sylus's eyes, primal and unwavering, 

Rafayel gasped and moaned, his voice broken into helpless sounds, words lost somewhere between bliss and disbelief. His body pulsed, still squirting, overstimulated and utterly surrendered.

The rhythmic plunges deep inside him struck that same place again and again, his belly rising visibly with each deep thrust, a living proof of just how much Sylus cum inside—and how much Rafayel took.

And still... Sylus moved.

His hands never stopped toying with Rafayel's chest, fingers teasing those sensitive peaks, keeping Rafayel's body in a state of pure, relentless pleasure. The moans grew weaker now, not from pain, not from resistance—but from surrender and pleasure. His lips parted moaning, his eyes hazy, body suspended in a daze so deep he could no longer speak. 

"hnnggg—! mhmmmm—! harghhh—!

Sylus's breath came hot and heavy against Rafayel neck.

"Oh mine. How beautiful My Sea God is right now. Look at the belly buldge. So enticing."

And Rafayel, helpless in the air, trembling from waves of pleasure that had long surpassed reason, could only melt into it.

Two full days.
Not a single message from Sylus. Not even a flash of Rafayel's purple hair in the school halls.

Whispers ran wild.

"Did you hear? Both of them are sick."
"Like... really sick?"
"No, Luke said they caught something."

Kieran added coolly,

"Yeah, a virus. Probably bedridden. Don't pry."

But Luke and Kieran knew the truth or at least enough of it. The truth wasn't fever or flu. It was a night so intense, so overwhelming, that Rafayel had collapsed into unconscious pleasure by dawn. His divine body, usually indomitable, had simply... shut down.

But far from the world's noise, Rafayel lay curled beneath silk sheets, deep within the quiet warmth of Sylus's room. His body still bore the signs of what had happened, soft bruises where hands had held him too tightly, and a faint bulge in his belly, still lingering from the relentless cum Sylus had poured into him again and again.

By the second day, Rafayel had regained enough strength to move on his own—but not enough to face the outside world. Wrapped tightly in Sylus's oversized blanket, he lay curled up in the middle of the bed, only the top of his purple hair peeking out.

He grumbled softly, voice muffled by the warmth of the blanket.

"I almost thought I'd get pregnant... if you kept shooting inside me like that..."

Sylus—who had been lounging nearby, a book in one hand, his gaze never far—barked out a low laugh. He set the book aside and moved to the bed, wrapping his arms gently around the bundled Rafayel.

Sylus teased, pressing his lips to the side of Rafayel's head.

"You're not exactly helping your case hiding like a blushing sushi roll." 

Rafayel let out a soft whine and burrowed deeper into the fabric.

"Don't look at me..."

Sylus chuckled again, resting his chin atop the thick blanket wrapping.

"I told you to leave that night."

 he said with a hint of smugness. 

"But you still chose to walk over."

Rafayel mumbled, voice nearly inaudible now,

"I wanted to help you... But I didn't know dragon heat was that bad..."

Sylus smirked, stroking a hand slowly down the shape of Rafayel's wrapped back.

"You helped more than you know. I just didn't expect you to be so sweet when you cry."

Rafayel whined, his face now red as a flame, hidden entirely under the blanket.

"Shut up," 

Rafayel thought to himself, cheeks warming all over again.

It was too good... So good I actually fainted... A Lemurian Sea God, descendant of royal tides and storm-tamers... fainting from pleasure like a delicate maiden...

There was a strange blend of embarrassment and pride blooming in his chest.

Chapter Text

Lemuria Sea.

Beneath the shimmering waters of the deep blue, in the heart of the Lemurian civilization, whispers passed quickly from one curious voice to another. Glowing coral towers stood tall, and jellyfish lanterns floated lazily above the streets of the underwater kingdom.

"You heard?"
"I heard the Sea God has found his bride!"

Gasps rippled like currents.

"Who? Who?"
"Is it a human?" one whispered in disbelief.

A group of Lemurians gathered around, their fins fluttering with excitement. But before the rumors could spin any wilder, an elder glided down from the crystal hall above, her silver hair trailing behind like a stream of starlight.

She said calmly, her voice strong and clear.

"Enough gossip. The Sea God's chosen is not a mere human. It is another god."

A collective gasp burst from the crowd.

"A god?!"
"The Sea God's bride is another god?!"

One younger Lemurian wobbled mid-swim, nearly fainting.
Someone whispered, eyes wide with awe.

"But then... who is it exactly?"

The elder only smiled.

"You'll see at the Sea God's Temple ceremony"

And with that, she vanished into the light currents, leaving only stunned silence and a sea full of wild imaginations.

On the day of the Sea God's Temple Ceremony,

The entire Lemurian Sea came alive with celebration and awe.

The waters shimmered with divine energy. Schools of dolphins danced in spirals, whales sang deep hymns of old, and majestic sharks glided through in disciplined reverence. Lemurian royals stood tall in their formal finery, adorned with coral crowns and flowing sea-silk, forming rows of honor outside the ancient Sea God Temple.

No one, mortal or divine—could step beyond the temple's sacred threshold except the Sea God himself... and his chosen lover.

And then, the waters pulsed.

Rafayel appeared from the depths, emerging slowly, surrounded by a radiant aura. His form glowed with celestial light, soft yet powerful, his mermaid tails flowing like living tides. His long hair floated around him, eyes glowing with a soft pinkish shade of blue—his divine energy gently enveloping the entire seabed. All Lemurians bowed instantly, their hearts trembling in reverence.

Behind him followed a presence equally commanding—yet darker in hue.

Sylus.

The Abyss Dragon God.
Dark power rippled from him like shifting currents in a storm, powerful and restrained. His crimson eyes glowed with silent pride, and yet... within that power, there was calm. Control. Devotion.

He moved with ease in the water—not gasping, not struggling—and the Lemurians instantly understood. There was only one explanation.

"He can breathe underwater..."

"Only a Lemurian's kiss can grant that..."

"Then it's true. The Abyss Dragon is his mate."

Even the royal council bowed their heads in recognition. Respect mingled with astonishment.

Inside the Temple of Promise, silence reigned, divine, sacred, and deep as the ocean itself.

As the massive temple doors closed behind them with a resonating hum, the sacred space lit softly with ethereal blues and golds, the light pulsing like a heartbeat from the ancient stone walls. The water stilled within, heavy with ancient energy.

Rafayel floated forward with elegance. He reached out his hand toward Sylus, his voice a soft melody.

"This is the Temple of Promise." 

he said. 

"Where the Lemuria Sea God makes an eternal vow with his destined one. Only you and I can step within these walls."

Sylus moved without hesitation, his dark wings trailing behind him like ink bleeding through water. His eyes never left Rafayel's, and with a confident smile, he reached for his hand.

The moment their hands touched, a school of small golden fish appeared from the temple's altar, circling their joined hands, glowing gently. Magic stirred in the water—soft, ancient, pure.

Rafayel's voice turned solemn, eyes closing with reverence and joy.

"Are you willing to be my most loyal believer... and the only lover of the Lemuria Sea God?"

Sylus didn't hesitate. He brought Rafayel's hand to his lips and kissed it, the gesture firm, tender, eternal.

"Yes." 

he said, his voice resonating through the sacred space. 

"I give you my heart and all that I am. To the Lemuria Sea God."

The golden fish swirled faster around their hands, glowing even brighter. In that moment, both gods radiated with divine light. Rafayel with soft sea-gold and blue, Sylus with deep crimson twilight. The bond sealed in energy, glowing symbols etched themselves faintly over their joined hands, the divine pact complete.

Then, a gentle pulse, like a heartbeat made of light, rippled out from the altar, through the walls, and beyond the sea temple itself.

Outside, the entire Lemurian Sea felt it. Every creature paused.

The water shifted shades—blues tinged with warm, glowing pink—responding to Rafayel's emotions. He was happy.

And so, the sea danced with him.
The Lemurians, young and old, royals and citizens, bowed their heads in quiet awe.

Inside the Temple of Promise, the waters grew still, so still, it was as though time itself had paused.

Sylus gently brushed aside a strand of Rafayel's flowing hair, his crimson eyes glowing steadily as his hand cupped the Sea God's face. His voice was firm, deep, and filled with the weight of something eternal.

"From the Dragon Abyss God." 

he said slowly,

"will the Lemuria Sea God bind his soul to me... for eternity?"

Rafayel's eyes widened. The air—no, the very sea around them—tightened at Sylus's words. It wasn't just a vow. It was a divine challenge.

To speak such a binding promise, not of Lemurian origin, within the Temple of Promise? Bold. Reckless. Powerful.

And yet—Rafayel didn't flinch. His lips curled softly, lovingly. He reached up, fingers brushing over Sylus's hand on his cheek, then interlaced them with his.

Rafayel whispered, the corners of his eyes glowing faintly with emotion. 

"Bold move Abyss Dragon. And... yes."

The moment the words left his lips, a surge of ancient energy erupted from between their joined hands.

A blinding crimson glow, powerful and wild, poured from the Abyssal Vow—clashing, then harmonizing with the Temple's sacred sea-blue light. The waters vibrated, and the temple shook, as if the building itself recognized and responded to the intensity of the oath.

Their vow—raw, divine, and binding—did not just tie them together.
It tied their futures, their fates, their rebirths. It sealed them across realms.

Outside the temple, the tremor reached the Lemurian crowd.

The ocean stirred unnaturally for a moment. Some gasped, others looked toward the temple with wide eyes.

One of the elder temple guardians shook his head, lips pursed with restrained disbelief.

"The Abyss Dragon dares to make a vow of his kind... within the Temple of Promise."

Another murmured beside him, eyes still fixed on the glowing structure.

"Bold, yes. Dangerous too. But look—our Sea God accepted it. Anyone else who tried would have been obliterated on the spot."

The elder gave a soft hum, thoughtful.

"At least we know now—there will be no war between dragonkind and Lemuria. Only a bond strong enough to shake gods."

And the sea, once again, turned pink. A heartbeat of joy radiating from its god.

Rafayel leaned in gently, his soft lips brushing against Sylus's in a tender kiss. The glow of their joined powers still shimmered faintly between them, but in that moment, it was only about the two of them—no gods, no vows, just Rafayel and Sylus.

Rafayel whispered softly, his voice filled with emotion.

"I never regret meeting you in school. You taught me how to handle humans... how to open up."

Sylus smiled, eyes warming as he pulled Rafayel into a tight embrace. He kissed him back with affection, his fingers resting gently on Rafayel's lower back.

 Sylus murmured with a small laugh

"And for once. I actually enjoyed the endless cycle of campus life. This time was different. This campus gave me you."

He looked into Rafayel's eyes, brushing his thumb over his cheek with care.

"I found someone I truly love." 

he added with a teasing smirk, 

"and it turns out to be the irresistibly cute Lemuria Sea God."

Rafayel blushed, but didn't pull away, only smiled, resting his forehead against Sylus's chest as the light of the Temple slowly settled into calm.

The tides of destiny had shifted, not just beneath the ocean waves but within the world above.

The Sea God's lover was no longer a mystery. It was Sylus, the Abyss Dragon God—known for his power, feared for his past, but now recognized as the one who held the Sea God's heart.

And the Abyss Dragon God's bride? None other than Rafayel, the Lemuria Sea God, soul-bound and eternally linked to Sylus by vows forged in the sacred Temple of Promise.

Though gods of different realms, they now walked the human world once more, side by side, hand in hand.

At Linkon University, they resumed their quiet lives, cloaked in human guise. Sylus, the ever-popular, effortlessly cool student. Rafayel, the reserved, graceful artist with a presence that couldn't be ignored.

To most students, they were just two handsome guys who seemed inseparable. No one would guess the truth: that a dragon god and a sea god were attending class, laughing quietly between lectures, sharing lunch under the trees, and walking the halls like any other couple.

Their story wasn't over, it was only beginning.

Gods among humans. Lovers among legends.
And campus life? It was simply the world where they chose to fall in love again and again.

END