CHAPTER 230: AUCTION IV

Rhys sat there for a moment, letting the quiet morning sink in.

For once, nothing was exploding.

No one was yelling.

No one was charging at him with a sword.

No system notifications were trying to kill him with stress.

Just two small spirits and a rising sun.

Aqua shifted in his arms, mumbling in her sleep.

"Master... warm..."

Puddle smiled softly.

"She already loves you a lot."

Rhys scratched his cheek.

"I only met her twenty minutes ago..."

"Baby ancients decide fast," Puddle said proudly. "If they like your mana, they stay forever. If they don’t, they run away or... explode."

"Can we please stop talking about explosions...?"

Puddle giggled.

They watched Aqua sleep for a while longer.

Her glow softened with every tiny breath she made.

She looked peaceful—like a droplet dreaming.

Rhys felt something warm in his chest.

"...I guess she’s... cute."

Puddle gasped dramatically.

"Master admitted! Master admitted!"

Rhys rolled his eyes.

"I didn’t say anything else."

"Yes you did," Puddle said, poking his cheek. "You said she cute. That means you soft."

"I’m not soft."

Puddle gave him the look of someone who absolutely believed he was lying.

Rhys looked away.

"...Let’s go back inside. Before someone sees us like this."

He stood up carefully, cradling the sleeping Aqua.

They walked back toward the dorm.

The sky was lighter now, colors spreading slowly—orange, pink, blue.

Aqua snored quietly.

Like a tiny bubbling spring.

Puddle floated beside Rhys, her voice gentle for once.

"Master... this is good. Aqua will help you. Water bond is strong. She will grow fast."

Rhys glanced at the mark on his palm.

It still glowed faintly.

"...Do you think I can handle this?"

Puddle nodded without hesitation.

"Yes. Master handled me. And I was worse."

Rhys laughed weakly.

"That’s true."

They entered the building.

The hall was empty.

Quiet.

Safe.

Aqua tightened her tiny arms around Rhys’s shirt in her sleep.

"Master... stay..."

Rhys’s expression softened.

"...Yeah. I’m not going anywhere."

He stepped inside his room and gently laid Aqua on his pillow.

She curled up instantly, tail wrapped around herself like a tiny wave.

Puddle settled on the blanket beside her, guarding her like a big sister.

Rhys sat on the bed, rubbing his eyes.

"...Two ancients. One human. Zero peace."

But he smiled.

Because even if his life was becoming chaos...

...it felt like good chaos.

The kind that made him a little less alone.

The kind that made the room warmer.

He lay down beside them, finally letting his body relax again.

"Alright," he whispered, staring at the ceiling.

"Tomorrow... we figure out training. And you—" he pointed at Aqua "—no bouncing at five in the morning."

Aqua mumbled in her sleep.

"No promise..."

Rhys groaned softly.

But he smiled anyway.

Sleep finally came—slow, steady, and warm.

Because for the first time in a long time...

Rhys felt like things might actually turn out okay.

Rhys woke up late the next morning.

For once, no one screamed his name.

No explosions.

No shaking walls.

No emergency duels.

Just sunlight... and Puddle poking his eye.

"Master, wake up! We are leaving soon!"

Rhys sat up quickly.

Aqua rolled off his pillow like a sleepy droplet and landed on his lap.

"Uuu... morning..." she mumbled.

"Morning," Rhys said, rubbing her tiny head. "Try not to fall again."

Aqua nodded, then fell sideways again.

Puddle sighed.

"She is baby. Falling is normal."

Rhys got dressed, packed his things, and stepped out of the room.

Outside, the others were already waiting at the dock.

Caria stood with her hands on her hips.

"Took you long enough, Rhys."

Sophia crossed her arms.

"You overslept."

Aria smiled politely.

"Good morning."

Sitr sat on a crate, eating breakfast.

"You look like you fought a dragon."

Lyra, leaning on her staff, smirked.

"More like fought Aqua’s bouncing."

Aqua peeked from behind Rhys’s shoulder.

"Not bounce... sleepy..."

Everyone melted instantly.

"Awwww," Aria whispered.

Rhys groaned.

"Please. Don’t encourage her."

Their ship—a medium-sized vessel with white sails—was ready.

The group packed their things as the game system announced the end of the Moon Island event.

Players around them were gathering their loot, chatting loudly, or logging out to rest in the real world.

Rhys stepped onto the ship with Puddle on his head and Aqua hugging his collar like a small koala.

Sitr whistled.

"Bro... you really have a whole zoo with you now."

Rhys glared.

"They are not a zoo."

Puddle lifted her chin proudly.

"We are noble ancients."

Aqua tried to copy her pose... and fell again.

Lyra laughed.

"She’ll grow. Probably."

The ship’s horn echoed across the water.

A system voice rang out:

[All players: Moon Island event complete. Teleport ship departing in two minutes.]

Caria walked up to Rhys.

"So? Event’s over. You survived. No ranking rewards, but you’re alive."

Rhys shrugged.

"Honestly, I’m just glad I didn’t die."

Sophia nodded.

"That’s already a win."

Aria smiled softly.

"You did well."

Rhys looked at the sea as the ship pulled away from Moon Island.

The island shrank slowly in the distance.

The worst fights were behind them.

(Probably.)

Puddle sat on the railing, watching the waves.

"Master, new map soon. New quests. New danger."

Rhys groaned.

"Please stop calling danger ’fun’."

Aqua pointed at the ocean.

"Master! Big water! My home!"

"Yes," Rhys said. "But no swimming. You’ll drift away."

Aqua gasped.

"I no drift! I strong!"

She tried to make a water ball.

It splashed directly on Rhys.

He wiped his face.

"...Good attempt."

Everyone laughed.

Lyra stepped beside him.

"So now you have new pet, baby Aqua."

"And you," Rhys said.

Lyra flicked his forehead.

"I am not your pet."

"Okay, okay—sorry!"

She continued, now serious.

"You’re getting stronger fast. But this game’s community saw what you did. People will target you."

Rhys sighed and stared at his hands.

"...Yeah. I know."

Caria stepped up.

"Our party won’t let that happen."

Sophia nodded.

"Count on us."

Aria smiled.

"You’re not alone."

Sitr grinned wide.

"And if someone tries something, we beat them up!"

Rhys blinked.

"...That’s... actually comforting."

Puddle puffed out her chest.

"Master has party now."

Aqua hugged his cheek.

"And baby!"

Rhys tried not to smile... but he failed.