CHAPTER 215: NIGHT OUTSIDE 2

Khione slipped out of her dress, folding it neatly before stepping into the water. The warmth embraced her immediately, drawing a quiet sigh from her lips as she sank deeper, letting the heat melt away the tension in her muscles. The contrast between her pale skin and the rippling water made her seem almost ethereal—like a snow spirit resting in a pool of starlight.

She leaned back against the edge of the tub, eyes half-lidded, letting the water trail down her arms. The soft hum of the whirlpool jets filled the silence, blending with the faint murmur of the television from the other room.

Khione stepped out of the bathroom a few minutes later, steam still clinging to her skin like morning mist. Her damp white hair, untied, shimmered faintly under the soft light of the room. She had changed into something casual—light, comfortable clothes that suited the calm evening atmosphere: a soft blue top and pale shorts that brushed mid-thigh. It wasn’t her usual elegant attire; this was something more relaxed, almost intimate in its simplicity.

Nero who was sitting lazily on the couch, looked up as she emerged. His crimson eyes flickered for a moment—amusement and admiration both present in his gaze.

"Wow so beautiful after bath," he said with that teasing smirk of his.

Khione, tying her hair into a loose ponytail, shot him a glance. "You should focus on your turn. You smell."

He chuckled, pushing himself up. "Fair enough."

When Nero disappeared into the bathroom, the faint sound of running water filled the air, mixing with the quiet hum of the city outside the glass walls. Khione found herself sitting by the window, staring out at the glittering Angel’s City skyline—towers piercing the night, the sky awash in stars and distant airships drifting lazily through the clouds.

She didn’t want to admit it out loud, but the peace of the moment was... pleasant.

When Nero finally came out, dressed in a loose black T-shirt and gray joggers, his damp hair slightly tousled.

"So," he said, running a hand through his hair, "what should we do before sleep?"

Khione blinked, then turned to the side table where a pair of sleek virtual visors rested—gifts from Lux, who’d insisted they try the latest entertainment tech.

"The game," she replied simply.

Nero grinned. "Perfect."

They each slipped on their visors, the world around them fading in an instant—replaced by a swirl of color, light, and sound.

The next moment, they found themselves standing side by side in a vast, vivid world—a forest bathed in golden twilight, rivers of crystal water flowing between ancient ruins.

Birds of light darted across the horizon, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of summer fields.

Khione looked around, her normally impassive expression softening in awe. This artificial world had its own kind of wonder.

Nero flexed his fingers, summoning a simple sword that shimmered into his hand. "Hmm, not bad. The graphics are insane."

"It’s a simulation, not just visuals," Khione replied, her voice calm but tinged with quiet excitement. She raised her hand, summoning an icy staff that materialized with a swirl of frost. "You can feel the prana flow here. It’s almost... real."

The game’s tutorial voice echoed softly through the air:

[Welcome, players. Begin your adventure.]

They exchanged a glance—and then set off together.

For the next hour, laughter echoed through the virtual forest. Nero, reckless as always, charged at a group of glowing wolves with his sword blazing. Khione followed behind, freezing the ground beneath their feet, creating crystalline barriers and launching shards of ice that exploded into mist.

"You’re supposed to coordinate, not rush in alone," she said, exasperated, as one of the wolves leapt at him.

"I’m testing our limits!" Nero replied, grinning as he countered the beast mid-air.

Khione sighed—but her lips twitched upward.

As they progressed, the environment changed—from the tranquil forest to ancient ruins filled with traps and puzzles. Khione’s intelligence shone; she solved each challenge with calm precision. Nero, on the other hand, triggered three traps in a row before finally following her lead.

By the time they reached the end of the stage, their avatars stood atop a massive cliff overlooking the ocean. The sun was setting again in the simulated world, its light casting soft gold across Khione’s silver hair.

She turned slightly, meeting Nero’s gaze.

"You’re terrible at teamwork in this virtual reality."

"And yet," he replied, leaning on his sword, "we make a good team."

The virtual wind swept through, carrying soft petals that drifted between them. For a long moment, neither spoke. The scenery, the colors, even the faint melody playing in the distance—all of it felt almost too perfect.

Khione looked away first, hiding the faint warmth on her cheeks.

"Log out," she said.

"Yeah," he replied softly.

The world dissolved again, fading into a haze of light—until they opened their eyes and were back in the hotel suite.

Nero removed his visor, smiling faintly. "That was... surprisingly fun."

Khione nodded, her tone quiet. "It was."

They sat there for a while, side by side on the couch, bathed in the warm glow of the city lights filtering through the glass wall. No words were needed. The silence wasn’t empty—it was peaceful.

It was the kind of silence that said this is enough.

"Let’s play a fun game, a game of Monopoly."

Nero, who had recently discovered the game, had grown quite fond of it—enough to suggest it for their evening together. The idea caught Khione slightly off guard, but her curiosity soon outweighed her hesitation. She regarded him thoughtfully, the faintest hint of amusement glimmering in her icy-blue eyes.

"Very well," she said after a moment, brushing a strand of silver hair from her face.

"But let’s make it interesting."

Nero raised an eyebrow, already sensing mischief. "Oh? What do you have in mind?"

"The loser," Khione replied with that calm, composed tone of hers, "will have to obey one command from the winner. Within reasonable limits, of course."

A grin tugged at Nero’s lips. "Deal."

Her expression didn’t change, but her eyes sharpened ever so slightly. "Don’t regret it."

He chuckled. "I won’t. I’m feeling lucky tonight."

With that, the game began.

At first, it was casual and lighthearted. Nero played boldly, buying every property he could land on, laughing as he began stacking up his empire of colored squares. Khione, however, played with the same quiet precision she used in battle—analyzing, waiting, calculating.

Every roll of the dice was like a small tactical decision. Every purchase, a subtle move on a grand chessboard.

Nero didn’t notice it at first. He was too absorbed in his growing wealth, celebrating each successful deal. "Ha! Park Place is mine! You better watch out, Khione—I’m building my empire!"

Khione only smiled faintly, calmly moving her token and purchasing a few modest properties. "An empire built too fast crumbles faster," she said lightly.

"Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?" he asked, suspicious but still grinning.

"Nothing," she replied smoothly.

The turns continued, laughter filling the room as their friendly competition deepened. Nero teased her every time she landed on one of his properties, and Khione would quietly roll her eyes, paying without complaint. But somewhere along the way, the tables began to turn.

Her strategy revealed itself slowly, elegantly. She started trading—small at first, then decisive, connecting her properties with almost surgical precision. Nero’s once-booming empire began to shrink under the weight of her growing monopolies.

Within an hour, his money pile dwindled while hers flourished.

"Wait—what? How did you even—?" Nero leaned forward, staring in disbelief at the board. "You had nothing a few turns ago!"

Khione looked up at him, expression serene, though her lips curved in a faint, knowing smile. "Patience is a virtue, Nero."

He groaned dramatically, leaning back in defeat. "I walked straight into that one, didn’t I?"

"You did." She began collecting his properties one by one, her calm movements contrasted by his exaggerated frustration.

Finally, Nero’s last money fell to the board.

"...Checkmate," Khione murmured softly.

"That’s not even the right game," he muttered, sulking half-heartedly.

"Perhaps," she replied, resting her chin on her hand, her smile deepening. "But the meaning fits, doesn’t it?"

He exhaled in defeat, though amusement sparkled in his ominous red eyes. "Alright, alright—you win, my dear Ice Queen. So... what’s your command?"

Khione tapped a finger against her lips thoughtfully, pretending to ponder, though the glint in her gaze said she already knew.

"Hm... since I won," she began, her voice as smooth as silk, "I think I’ll save my command for later. It’s more fun that way."

Nero’s eyebrow twitched. "You’re enjoying this way too much."

"Perhaps," she said again, standing and brushing off her dress. "But a win is a win."

She turned to look at him, her usual cool composure softening with a touch of warmth.

"You’re not a bad opponent, though. For a beginner."

He laughed under his breath. "You mean, for your next victim."

"Maybe," she said, glancing back with a rare playful glint in her eyes. "You’ll see soon enough."

His heart skipped a bit wondering what she was going to ask him to do.