Chapter Text
Rumi’s golden eyes followed Zoey as she disappeared into the depths of the forest, tugging Jinu along with her. The sight made something strange stir in Rumi’s chest—a hollow ache mixed with an unexplainable yearning. She wished, for just a fleeting moment, that it was her being pulled away instead of Jinu. The thought startled her so much she nearly stumbled. Wait—what? Why would she even think that? Her stomach tightened, a guilty heat rising in her face. I already have a girlfriend. Mira is mine. Why… why would she wish otherwise?
Before she could gather herself, a voice snapped her back to reality.
“I wonder why Z chose that twink over us?” Mira’s teasing drawl carried from behind her.
Rumi stiffened, glancing over her shoulder. Mira stood there, wings folded neatly against her back, her sharp eyes fixed on the spot where Zoey had vanished. Something in her tone made Rumi pause. Does Mira feel the same?
Her mind drifted back to when Mira had first confessed something quietly to her—words that lingered even now. “It’s just… ever since you introduced me to Zoey, I’ve had this feeling that I need to protect her at all costs.”
Rumi swallowed hard, then muttered under her breath, “She’s up to something.” Her eyes were still locked on the forest, but she finally turned her head toward Mira.
“She’s hiding something,” Mira replied without hesitation, her gaze flicking back and forth between the shadows of the trees and Rumi’s tense posture. “I can see it.”
“Is it about the dragons?” Rumi asked cautiously.
Mira shook her head. Zoey had been acting strange since morning—ever since her run-in with that boy, no older than thirteen. Mira’s expression darkened at the memory. Just thinking about him made her blood boil. She wanted nothing more than to smash his smug little face into the dirt.
“Then what is it?” Rumi pressed.
“She got bullied by that little shit again this morning,” Mira said flatly, her words laced with venom. “That’s where her feelings started going down.”
“Bullied? Shit.” Rumi’s brows drew together, the realisation striking her like lightning. Her jaw clenched, and she cursed under her breath. “She has bad memories with bullying… I should go meet that boy.”
The words slipped out before she thought about them, and Mira let out a surprised laugh. “Rumi swearing? That’s new.” Her lips curled into a smug grin, the corners of her eyes glinting with amusement.
“Oh, shut it. I always swear,” Rumi rolled her eyes, though her playful tone betrayed her. “I’ll go talk to her later.”
“Hey, you two!”
Both girls turned at the sound, Mira already groaning as if she knew what was coming. Romance, Mira’s childhood friend, strode toward them with his usual annoying energy.
“Celine called,” Romance announced, “she said that we have extra training.”
Rumi sighed, placing a reassuring hand on Mira’s shoulder. “She’s going to be alright,” she murmured with a gentle smile before walking ahead. “She’s a strong girl.”
Mira raised her brow, scoffing under her breath. “Yeah, she is.” Reluctantly, she followed after.
As Romance led them, he explained, “Celine said some of the trainees aren’t taking things seriously, so this is punishment for all of us.”
“Okay, I get it, you horse. She’s being an ass today,” Mira muttered, rolling her eyes with irritation.
“Mira,” Rumi reminded her firmly, a subtle warning laced in her voice.
“What? It’s true. She’s always like that.” Mira nudged Rumi’s shoulder with her wing, smirking as if daring her to argue.
“You’re stubborn,” Rumi chuckled, shaking her head. She headed toward Celine. “Good luck, love.”
Mira’s cheeks heated despite herself. She smirked, crossing her arms. “You too.”
“Aww, is the big mighty Mira blushing?” Romance teased, forming a ridiculous heart shape with his hands.
Mira’s patience snapped. She swung her wing, slamming Romance straight into a tree. “I should have stopped Rumi from telling the whole village about us,” she muttered darkly.
Meanwhile, Rumi found herself face to face with Celine’s disappointed glare.
“Rumi, you’re the leader in your pack, and you can’t even make them behave during training?”
The weight of Celine’s words pressed down on her until she lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry… I’ll try next time. I promise.”
“You keep saying that, and failing,” Celine replied coldly. “Be better.” With that, she turned and walked away.
Rumi clenched her fists at her sides. She was only fifteen, yet the world expected her to carry the weight of her land, her people, and her loved ones on her shoulders. Sometimes, it was suffocating.
“You ‘kay?” Mira’s voice broke through her spiraling thoughts.
Rumi blinked, snapping her head up quickly. “I’m fine! Let’s do this again.” She straightened her shoulders, forcing a determined smile before rejoining the others. Mira frowned, her eyes lingering with quiet concern.
Training dragged on into the late afternoon, the air thick with the sound of heavy breathing and the rhythm of pounding footsteps. Abby groaned loudly as he slowed down, his wings drooping in exhaustion.
“Is this Celine’s idea again?” he complained, wiping sweat from his forehead. “Rumi, I’m about to die here.” His tone was dramatic, but his trembling legs betrayed how close he really was to collapsing.
“No complaining allowed,” Rumi called out, her voice cutting through the air with the authority of a leader. “This is an order. Let’s run down the mountain and back up—five laps.”
Abby let out a strangled noise of protest, but Mystery only gave a sharp nod, his loyalty shining through his tiredness.
“Is using wings allowed?” Mira chimed in, draping her arm lazily over Rumi’s shoulder. Her smirk was ever-present, clearly enjoying teasing her serious girlfriend.
“Except for Mira—because she’s running ten laps.” Rumi’s lips curled into a smug smile as she stepped forward, letting Mira’s arm slip from her shoulder.
Mira let out an incredulous chuckle, shaking her head. “Unbelievable.”
Soon the group was pounding through the trail. The wind was sharp against their skin, the ground rough beneath their boots. By the time the others had finished three laps, Mira was already nearing the end of her fifth. Her breathing was heavy, but that stubborn grin never left her face.
“You really like to punish me, huh?” she teased, closing her eyes for a moment as if savoring her endurance. That stupid grin widened.
“Do not,” Rumi shot back flatly.
“What? I was talking about training. What are you thinking about?” Mira laughed, clearly amused by Rumi’s reaction.
“You’re annoying,” Rumi muttered, though there was a faint smile tugging at her lips.
“You love me.”
“Unfortunately,” Rumi sighed, the word soft but affectionate. For a moment, silence fell between them, broken only by the sound of their footsteps. Then Rumi’s voice grew quieter. “You’d think Zoey will be alright here? Adapting to this new life looks pretty hard. It’s like how we had to adapt to the humans.”
“I never adapted to the humans,” Mira said truthfully, glancing at her. “Except for Z.”
Rumi let out a quiet laugh. “Right, you never listened that time.”
But then she stopped abruptly, her ears twitching as if catching something distant. Mira skidded to a halt ahead of her, turning back with confusion.
“What’s up?” Mira asked, scanning the trees around them.
“I hear Zoey.” Rumi’s voice was sharp, her focus unwavering. Her heightened hearing had never failed before, and Mira trusted it immediately.
“What? Why is Zoey here? I thought Jinu was bringing her back home.” Mira frowned, wings flexing in unease.
“You do know the temperature in this forest is low,” Rumi muttered, already taking a step forward before breaking into a sprint.
Mira swore under her breath before launching herself into the air, flying above the trees to keep pace. “Rumi! Where?” she shouted down, but Rumi didn’t respond. Her silence made Mira’s chest tighten with worry. Is Zoey in danger?
Ahead, Mira noticed Rumi slowing down, her gaze fixed on something looming in the distance. A tall, ancient building rose out of the mist, its stone walls weathered and silent. Mira stopped abruptly, wings flaring as she descended carefully to avoid crashing into it.
“Hey—” she landed softly beside Rumi, her voice hushed. “Isn’t this the restricted place?”
Rumi’s expression was grim as she nodded. “Zoey’s scent is here.” She approached a small, weathered pillar in the center of the ruins and stopped, staring at it intently.
“There’s supposed to be something on top of it,” Mira said, joining her side.
“A book, right? Celine told me about it.” Rumi’s voice was low, her mind racing.
“Did Z take it?” Mira’s brows furrowed.
“She’s the only one reckless enough to sneak into a restricted place… but how would she even know about this?”
“Jinu,” Mira spat, her tone sharp with irritation. The boy’s name was a curse on her tongue.
Rumi glanced at her, shaking her head. “Let’s not assume Zoey did this. Keep this between just the two of us.” Her eyes flicked back toward the shadows, her voice calm but commanding.
“Whatever you say, princess.” Mira shrugged, though her annoyance was clear.
They went back to the training ground together
Before they could dwell further, a familiar voice called out behind them.
“Rumi! Mira! Where have you two been?” Romance appeared, jogging toward them. “You disappeared earlier. Celine was worried.”
Mira didn’t even look at him, her jaw tight. As if my parents would care if I disappeared—or died. To them, she was nothing more than a weapon. She forced a smirk and placed a hand on her hip. “We took a longer route since our usual route is too easy for us.”
“Always with that little ego of yours,” Baby muttered, crossing his arms with a scoff.
“Alright, let’s continue the training,” Rumi cut in quickly, clapping her hands. Her eyes scanned the group. “Where’s Jinu?”
“He told me earlier he was getting something,” Mystery replied. “Said it was important.”
“When was that?” Rumi asked, tilting her head slightly.
“Five minutes ago. He came out of nowhere and immediately ran off,” Mystery answered.
Rumi’s eyes narrowed slightly. Five minutes ago… yet she had caught Zoey’s scent here twelve minutes ago. That meant Jinu could have escorted Zoey home before running here. She shook her head quickly, forcing herself to push the suspicion away. She didn’t want to assume the worst about Zoey.
“Alright,” she said firmly, “this training won’t take long—maybe twenty minutes or more.”
The group resumed, their bodies moving through drills with weary determination.
From a distance, Rumi noticed Mira being summoned by her parents. She winced, sympathy tugging at her chest. Mira always carried herself with such confidence, but around them, the weight was different.
“You don’t have to remind me,” Mira muttered when she caught Rumi’s glance. She rolled her eyes, trying to shield herself with sarcasm.
Her mother’s sharp voice rang out. “Always with that attitude, you’re embarrassing our family, Mira. Can’t believe you have that little girlfriend of yours.”
The words were a dagger. Mira froze, the air thick around her. Then slowly, she turned her head, glaring. “Say that one more time.”
“I’m your mother. I can say anything I want.” Her mother bared her fangs slightly, a warning. To Mira, it was nothing but laughable.
“You will never be my mother.” Mira’s voice was like steel, her jaw tight. “Say that about my girlfriend again and you’re done.”
“Mira! What is wrong with you, speaking to your mother like that?” her father snapped, immediately rushing to defend his wife. “Can’t you be like your brother?”
The word brother almost made Mira laugh aloud. That pathetic fraud? The ‘perfect son’ only in your eyes? The one rejected by the squad, who steals, manipulates, and causes fights wherever he goes? Weak. And yet—you still see him as flawless.
Before her anger could explode further, Rumi appeared between them, stepping in as a barrier. “Let’s not fight right now, okay? I’m sorry, Mrs. and Mr., she has to take a break from training. I’m really sorry.” Her voice was calm but firm, already dragging Mira away before the tension escalated.
Once they were alone, Rumi’s eyes softened. “Are you okay?” she asked quietly.
Mira said nothing, but Rumi understood anyway. She squeezed her hand. “Okay… let’s go back home and check on Zoey, yeah?” Her smile was gentle, coaxing Mira back from the edge.
Mira furrowed her brows, then finally nodded.
The walk back home was quiet. The tension from training and Mira’s clash with her parents lingered like a heavy fog between them. The path was dimly lit by the fading sun, and Rumi’s hand stayed wrapped around Mira’s, grounding her with every step.
By the time they reached Rumi’s house, the silence inside felt almost eerie. Rumi tilted her head slightly; her ears twitched. She could hear faint murmurs behind one of the doors—Zoey’s voice. But the words were too muffled, too soft to make out.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Rumi asked gently once she guided Mira into the dining room. She motioned for her to sit at the table. Her voice was calm, coaxing, but not demanding. “I’m not going to force you to say it all, Mira.” She reached across the table and squeezed her hand lightly. “But if you want to… I’ll listen.”
For a while, Mira just sat there, her jaw tense, eyes fixed on the wooden surface of the table. Finally, her shoulders dropped, and she exhaled shakily.
“I didn’t mean to say that,” she muttered, her voice quieter than usual. “My parent… doesn’t even want me. They only care about my stupid brother. If I die? They wouldn’t know or care. I don’t know, Rumi. Mother told me I’m not her daughter anymore if I keep embarrassing us— them.”
The crack in her voice nearly shattered Rumi’s heart. She moved instantly, kneeling down so she could wrap her arms tightly around Mira.
“Mira, listen to me.” Her voice was steady, though her chest ached. “I’m sorry you’re feeling this way. You don’t deserve to be treated like you don’t matter, because you do matter. You’re important. I care about you, and I’ll be here for you—so you don’t have to go through this alone. Whatever anyone else says doesn’t change the fact that you’re valuable. And loved. In your own right.”
Mira’s sharp gaze softened, the fire in her eyes dimming into something more fragile. “Rumi…” she whispered.
“Don’t deny it,” Rumi said with a small smile. “You’re important to me. Don’t listen to your mother, okay?”
A faint laugh escaped Mira, breaking through the heaviness. “You’re such an idiot.” She made a fake sniffle, then chuckled softly. “I love you.” She leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to Rumi’s lips.
Rumi kissed her back, pulling her closer before whispering against her mouth, “Love you too.” She ruffled Mira’s hair with a grin. “Okay, you softie, we should make dinner.”
“You mean me making dinner?” Mira huffed playfully, rolling her eyes as she stood up. “Go get Z, love.” She moved toward the kitchen, pulling out pans and ingredients like she’d done it a hundred times before.
“Don’t forget to cook food for Zoey! She can’t eat it raw!” Rumi called out as she headed toward Zoey’s room.
She stopped in front of the door, listening to the sound of hurried rustling inside, as if Zoey were scrambling to hide something. After a pause, Rumi knocked gently.
“Come in!” Zoey’s voice called from inside, slightly rushed.
Rumi opened the door and leaned against the doorframe casually. “Hey, you okay? Mira told me what happened this morning.”
Zoey turned in her chair, smiling in a way that seemed too practised. Her elbow rested on the desk, her chin propped up by her knuckles. “Hi! Oh—that. It’s fine! You knoww, teens these days!” Her laugh was light, almost careless.
But Rumi didn’t buy it. The smile didn’t reach her eyes, and something about her posture screamed avoidance. Rumi tilted her head, stepping further into the room. “Really? Is there anything you want to say? Then tell me, Zo.”
She closed the distance until she was standing right in front of Zoey, leaning down slightly so their eyes met.
Zoey froze. Her eyes widened, and the tips of her ears turned a deep shade of red. She hadn’t expected Rumi to lean so close, and for a few long seconds, she couldn’t even breathe.
Finally, she managed to stammer, “I’m telling you I’m fine, Ru. Things have been fine since I have you lovebirds… and a twink.”
Rumi smirked at her attempt to deflect, though her gaze drifted downward for just a second. That’s when she spotted it—a familiar-looking book peeking out from the trash can near Zoey’s desk.
Her eyes narrowed. So she really did find something earlier. But she forced herself not to assume, not yet.
She knew Zoey did something earlier, but she didn't want to assume that she did it first. "If you say so... but really, tell me if something is wrong, yeah?" Rumi gave her a small smile. "Dinner is ready, we'll be waiting for you," she added before leaving her room.
Back at the dining table, Mira was already setting plates down, steam rising from the freshly cooked food. She hadn’t forgotten to prepare fish for Zoey, perfectly cooked the way she liked it.
“Are you staying here tonight?” Rumi asked as she sat down.
Mira shrugged, resting her chin on her knuckles again. “Hm? Maybe, if Celine is okay with it. You know how she is if someone lives under her roof.”
“But she’s okay with Zoey living here,” Rumi pointed out, settling beside her.
“I think because she’s never met her,” Mira replied dryly, raising a brow.
“She didn’t come home yesterday?” Rumi asked, her tone sharpening.
Mira scoffed. “You know how busy Celine is. Obsessed with wars, obsessed with training—you were barely more than a kid when she started drilling you. She can’t even take care of you.”
“Mira.” Rumi’s voice cut through the air, sharp as a reminder. “She probably won’t come today either. So—you can stay over, you know?” She slid her hand over Mira’s, squeezing gently.
Mira’s features softened, and she gave a small nod. “Sure. Alright.”
They both noticed Zoey still hadn’t come down. Mira leaned back in her chair, raising her voice. “Zoey! Dinner! Don’t forget.”
“Yeah! Coming!” Zoey’s reply rang out as she hurried down the stairs. She darted into the dining room and slid into the chair across from them, slightly out of breath.
“How’s training?” she asked cheerfully, trying to break the silence.
Neither Rumi nor Mira answered right away, and Zoey immediately wilted, thinking she had said something wrong.
“Sorry—” Zoey began quickly, but Rumi cut her off with a shake of her head.
“No, it’s fine. Don’t be sorry,” she reassured gently.
“We just had a long day, that’s all,” Rumi added, offering her a small smile.
The three of them ate together, but the mood was heavier than usual, words left unspoken lingering between bites. The silence stretched uncomfortably.
Zoey finished her food first and excused herself, heading back up to her room with quiet footsteps. Rumi watched her go, guilt twisting in her stomach. She hated how distant dinner had felt.
“I’ll apologise to Z tomorrow,” Mira said softly, standing with her plate in hand.
Rumi raised an eyebrow but nodded.
“I’ll be in our room then,” she said with a faint smile. “Goodnight, love.” She leaned in, brushing her shoulder against Mira’s before turning away.
“Night,” Mira replied quietly.