A Journey That Changed The World.

Archer and Aeris got comfortable in the commander's office, but she handed him a sandwich stuffed with more meat and vegetables as he finished eating his meat wrap.

He was smiling as he took the sandwich before biting into it, loving every flavor that exploded in his mouth. As he took the first bite of her sandwich, his eyes widened in surprise.

The explosion of flavors tantalized his taste buds. She watched him closely, smiling small as she waited for his reaction.

He saw the happy expression on her pretty face as he started eating. "Mmm," Archer murmured appreciatively, savoring every mouthful. "This is incredible. Seriously, you sure you're not a sandwich wizard?."

She chuckled at his enthusiasm as she leaned against the desk, "Glad you like it, Arch. I can make another one for you if you want."

His face lit up with excitement, "Seriously? That would be amazing! I don't think I've ever tasted anything this good."

Aeris nodded, pleased by his reaction. "Coming right up," she said, walking over to where she had previously made the food.

Archer couldn't help but admire her skill and thoughtfulness as she worked. He never realized how caring she truly was. Even though her peers bullied and shunned her, she still treated him well.

When she returned with a freshly made sandwich, he eagerly took it from her with a charming smile, which caused the girl to go bright red as he stared into her crimson-red eyes.

"Thanks. You're the best," he said, taking a bite and savoring the familiar flavors again.

While eating, the two started talking. Aeris began the conversation by asking a random question that had bothered her for a while, '' How come you got with Kassandra so quickly? You haven't known her for that long.''

Archer raised an eyebrow when she heard her question but decided to be honest: ''Well, I see love differently from others, I guess.''

That's when he remembered a quote from Earth and repeated it, "Love is not about how long you've known someone; it's about how well you understand and connect with them.''

She nodded before he spoke. "Aeris," he began, his voice tinged with passion. " Do you ever feel like life is slipping through your fingers? Like every moment is a precious gem, shimmering in the palm of your hand, begging to be cherished?"

Aeris nods thoughtfully as she listens intently. "That's how I live," he continues, his words carrying the weight of his convictions. "Every day, I wake up with the knowledge that it could be my last. And I refuse to waste a single second."

He pauses, his eyes ablaze with resolve. "I don't know where life will take me," he admits, his voice growing softer yet resolute. "But I refuse to give up on the things that matter to me—the people who make my heart beat a little faster, who make me feel alive."

Archer finished off the sandwich before something caught his attention. His Dragon Senses kicked in and informed him that unknown creatures were swarming over the fort, which annoyed him.

Without wasting a second, he darted forward and embraced Aeris as he spoke, ''Hide us now! Somethings comething.''

When hearing that, Aeris reacted instantly, morphing into her Dark Wraith form and wrapping around his body before sinking into the shadows, where Archer notched that she was still in his arms.

"Don't worry, I can manifest myself here while maintaining the spell," Aeris reassured, just as something burst through the shadows she had conjured, eliciting a startled yelp from her. Archer instinctively tightened his grip around her, offering comfort and protection.

As Archer saw the creature, it sent a shiver down his spine. It had dark grey skin and glowing red eyes that seemed to pierce the veil of darkness while looking around. But what creeped him out the most was the unnatural movements and jerky limbs.

Aeris started panicking as it looked straight at them. He knew it couldn't spot them because they were completely hidden from the creatures, but its aura was seeping into their bodies.

He quickly scanned the monster as it approached their hiding place.

[Mutant Human]

[Level: 750]

[Rank: Sovereign Mage]

'Oh shit its stronger than me!' Archer panicked to himself but controlled it as Aeris started shaking.

She was only getting worse, and soon the creature would hear her. Unable to bear seeing her in such distress, Archer acted on impulse. Gently cupping her face in his hands, he leaned down, pressing his lips softly against hers.

At first, Aeris stiffened in surprise, her shock evident in the way her body tensed beneath his touch. But as his kiss enveloped her, a wave of calmness washed over her, easing the frantic beating of her heart.

Gradually, she melted into the kiss, her trembling subsiding as she found solace in the embrace of his lips. For Archer, the moment was surreal. As he felt Aeris's fear gradually ebb away.

He became aware of the softness of her lips beneath his, the gentle warmth that radiated from her as their breaths mingled in the stillness of the night. In that fleeting moment, amidst the chaos and uncertainty that surrounded them.

Archer found himself lost in the sensation of her kiss, the world around them fading into insignificance as he savored the sweetness of their connection.

But even as he reveled in the moment's tenderness, he realized that this kiss, born out of desperation to calm her fears, had stirred something much deeper within him.

Something that he couldn't ignore nor deny. As they pulled away, their eyes met in silent understanding, the unspoken emotions between them hanging heavy in the air.

However, the creature unleashed an ear-splitting scream, sending Aeris another jolt of fear. Reacting instinctively, Archer hugged her even closer as the monsters searched the commander's office, unable to locate them.

Soon, the monsters left the office, causing them to release breaths of relief as they waited ten more minutes before the creatures left the old fort behind when they couldn't find their prey.

As the last echoes of the creature's footsteps faded into the distance, Aeris felt a rush of relief. Yet as the adrenaline subsided, embarrassment followed.

She couldn't believe she had allowed fear to overtake her in his presence. Though he noticed her embarrassment, Aeris gently but firmly pushed him out of the shadows, her cheeks burning with shame.

"Sorry," she muttered, avoiding his gaze as she tried to calm down.

Archer smiled at her reaction, his eyes softening with understanding. He reached out to gently grasp her hand, offering silent reassurance.

"No need to apologize," he said softly, his voice gentle. "We all have moments of vulnerability. You don't have to face them alone."

With a grateful smile, Aeris looked up at him and gently squeezed his hand before releasing it. As they settled back into the dimly lit commander's office, Archer felt the need to assess the situation outside.

Exiting the office, he scanned the surroundings to ensure their safety. His eyes widened as he noticed the door to the wide-

open walkways. Archer guessed that the mutants entered through there.

Frowning with concern, he glanced around cautiously before returning to Aeris, happy as he knew they wouldn't return unless they gave away their positions.

When Archer entered, he spotted Aeris setting up two makeshift beds before spotting him. She quickly avoided eye contact, causing him to laugh as he spoke, ''Good idea. I'm tired and need to rest as these injuries haven't stopped hurting.''

After sorting that out, the two settled down and started relaxing; while doing that, Aeris's concern for his well-being couldn't be ignored any longer. Despite his attempts to downplay it,

She knew he must be hiding wounds from their recent encounter with the creatures. "Aeris," he began, a hint of pain in his voice that she sensed, "I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me."

But Aeris wasn't convinced as she gently urged, "Archer, show me your wounds. I need to make sure you're okay."

Reluctantly, he nodded, slowly unbuttoning his shirt to reveal his toned torso. As the fabric fell away, Aeris's breath hitched in her throat, and she gasped in shock at the sight before her.

Several gruesome wounds decorated his skin, oozing with blood and pus, a stark contrast to his normally pristine appearance. The injuries were far worse than she had imagined, each one eating at the skin around it, causing it to flare up.

Aeris couldn't tear her eyes away from the sight, a mixture of horror and concern washing over her. She felt a wave of nausea rising in her throat, but she forced it down, steeling herself to tend to his wounds.

With trembling hands, she reached out to touch the injuries, her fingers hovering over the torn flesh. He watched as she recoiled from seeing the wounds, but he could see she wanted to help.

Archer winced at her touch, his jaw clenched in discomfort, but he didn't protest. Instead, he watched her with gratitude and trust, his eyes softening with affection.

As Aeris tended to his wounds, she realized just how much he meant to her. Despite the gruesome sight before her, her feelings for him grew stronger as she tended to him.

As she tended to his wounds, her hands paused their gentle movements, hovering uncertainly over the torn flesh. The severity of his injuries weighed heavily on her mind, but another question, one she had been wrestling with for some time, demanded her attention.

Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, her eyes searching his face for any hint of his reaction. "Archer," she spoke nervously, "would you ever consider courting a Dark Wraith?"

[Please let me know if you spot any mistakes, and I will edit them. Thank you]