Under the dark sky, with a small campfire flickering nearby, a man sat on a large rock that dipped into the water. One hand rested on his knee while the other held something small and shining. He played with it for a moment, then closed his fist around it and sighed.
With slow, deliberate movements, he rose to his feet, turning toward the nearby hot spring. One by one, he slipped off his outer robes, letting the fabric fall quietly beside the flames, leaving only his lower clothes on. His long hair, once tied back, was released, cascading freely and catching the wind like strands of shadow and moonlight.
Then, his fingers moved toward the mask covering his face. He paused for a breath before gently lifting it away, eyes closed, and placed it on the rock.Quietly, he stepped into the warm water. The heat sank into his skin, pale as snow, washing away the cold he had been carrying. He leaned back, eyes closed, finally allowing himself to relax. He sank in slowly, allowing the heat to soothe every muscle, every thought.
After spending a good while soaking in the warmth of the spring, the man slowly rose from the water. The steam curled around his form as he stepped out, droplets trailing down his pale skin. He reached for his robes, now warmed slightly by the nearby fire, and began putting them on.
But just as he slipped one arm into a sleeve, he suddenly paused. Something shifted in the air.
A sound faint at first echoed through the trees. Voices. No… a voice. Growing louder with each passing moment.
Screaming.
His brows furrowed. He took a cautious step back, his posture alert. The calm was breaking, and instinct told him that something was coming straight toward him.
"WHERE'S THE WATER?! WHERE'S THE WATER?!!"
A ripple in the air, a cry in the night before he could take a full step back suddenly—
SPLASH!
Something crashed into him with full force, knocking him back into the spring.
SPLASH!!
Another SPLASH rang out as another figure followed, jumping in right after. All the while, his eyes remained closed.
Beneath the water, he felt a presence beside him bubbles rising between them as they both struggled to steady themselves in the warmth. His expression shifted, brows knitting as he sensed a hand suddenly gripping him. He moved to pull away, to stand up and break free, but the hand tightened. Before he could react, it yanked him back down into the water.
He tried repeatedly to stand, attempting to free himself, but each attempt was met with resistance only to be yanked back into the water, The struggle went on until, after a while, the pressure in their chest built unbearably. Then the hand finally released its grip.
Taking the chance, he quickly rose, water trailing down his body as he gasped quietly. The one who had been holding him surfaced too, coughing and splashing. The steam around them thickened from all the sudden movement, wrapping them in a cloudy veil. Through it he could hear the person grasping sharply and desperate, as though they were trying to inhale the entire mist around them.
Without wasting another second, he turned to step out of the spring. but before he could take a step, a hand gripped his wrist once more, halting him. He froze. Again he tried to pull away in silence, but then a soft, shaky voice broke the steam-filled air.
"Don't go… hiccup! The bees will sting you… hiccup! They're still out there… hiccup!"
Astra's voice was slurred, full of hiccups, and her breath shallow. Still, she clung to his wrist stopping him from leaving the water. While the man stood still, his back turned to her, remained quiet not speaking a word.
She inched closer, steadying herself against him. One hand still held his wrist while the other clutched at her neck, where a dull pain had begun to spread. Her head felt light. The air around them thickened with steam, blurring her vision.
She leaned in, trying to catch a glimpse of his face, eyes squinting through the thick steam when suddenly, a familiar sound sliced through the air.
That familiar buzz.
Astra's eyes widened at that sound. Within seconds, the buzzing grew louder angrier. A swarm of bees, hundreds of them, burst through the trees coming straight for them.
She tried to go into the water again, attempting to yank him down with her like before, but this time, it didn't work. He didn't budge at all. Still facing away, he gripped her wrist firmly, keeping her from slipping back under.
As the buzzing grew louder and the swarm drew nearer, Astra's expression shifted to one of horror and her hiccups came faster now,
"What are you doing… hiccup! The bees are coming hiccup! We should—"
Before she could finish, the man finally turned toward her. without a word In one swift motion, he pulled her toward him. The sudden movement caught her off guard her hiccups stopped, her balance faltered, and she fell straight into his arms, eyes wide, breath caught, vision beginning to blur.
"What are you—" she whispered, her voice fading as everything around her began to spin.
The man raised his arm, extended a single finger, and with a swift motion, the water around them surged upward rising several meters high. In a seamless flow, it spiraled around them, forming a perfect circular wall. The water froze mid-air, creating a shimmering barrier that sealed them inside.
The furious bees crashed against it, but not a single bee could break through. The sound of buzzing echoed outside the watery shield, but within, it was calm like the eye of a storm.
After repeatedly failing to pass through the barrier, the furious swarm finally gave up. The buzzing gradually faded, and one by one, the bees disappeared into the forest's shadows.
Then, without warning, the water came crashing down with a heavy splash, drenching them both though they were already soaked. The impact sent ripples across the spring and raised thick waves of steam, which twisted around them like clouds swirling heavily in the air.
Astra, her head spinning and body barely holding on, reached out instinctively to steady herself against him. But before she could find balance, he suddenly pushed her back.The force wasn't harsh but enough to create distance. He stepped away, putting a few inches between them.
Thrown off by the unexpected move, Astra stumble slightly, but managed to catch herself, blinking fast. Confused. She waved her hand through the thick mist, rubbing her eyes rapidly, trying to see through the haze. With slow, careful steps, she moved closer, squinting through the blur. But the moment she did, he stepped back.
She tried again, So did he. Every time she closed the distance, he created it again.
"Why are you r-running away?" Her voice cracked as she clutched her neck. "I'm not a demon..You saved me from those bees I just want to see your face." She said pointing toward him.
Just then, the mist around them began to clear, slowly revealing the figure in front of her. Astra blinked, her breath catching as her eyes finally locked onto his face.
He stood still chest rising and falling with each breath, water streaming down his skin. Droplets trailed from his sharp jawline, tracing the curve of his cheek, slipping over his lips, and falling from his chin with a soft drip into the water below a sound echoing in the heavy silence.
Astra swallowed hard, eyes fixed on his face. But what truly caught her attention…. his closed eyes, shut tightly, not opening at all.
"Are you scared? Why are you keeping your eyes shut?" Astra asked, stepping toward him.
But just as she moved, she lost her balance, slipping slightly when he swiftly reached out and caught her by the hand, steadying her before she could fall.
She blinked, surprised."He caught me… with his eyes closed?" she muttered, watching him.
Waving a hand in front of his face, she added with a small frown, "Hey, you can open your eyes. I'm not a demon, you know. You don't have to keep them shut just to avoid looking at me."
But he didn't open his eyes. Instead, he turned his back to her.
Astra blinked in disbelief, then huffed, "Fine! Don't open them then. Anyway thanks for setting up the barrier, it seems you got some spiritual power too? And I'm Astra, by the way.… what's your name?"
"…Astra?"