CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 57 - INTIMATE AND DISTANT

Chapter 57 - Intimate and Distant

Lune’s arms tightened gently around Jack as she pulled him into her embrace, her hands sliding upward to cradle his head. Her fingers sank slowly into his hair, stroking with a care so delicate it felt as though she feared he might vanish at any moment. Normally, Jack would recoil the instant someone touched him. His body, conditioned by habit and instinct, never tolerated closeness so easily. Yet in this moment, something felt different.

Instead of pushing her away, he remained still. He let his eyes fall shut, allowing himself—if only for a fleeting span of time—to sink into the unfamiliar warmth of her touch. Her embrace carried a softness that seemed to peel away the rigid walls he kept around himself. Even though countless thoughts raced within him, whispering of caution and restraint, they slowly began to scatter like leaves caught in a gentle wind.

There was something beyond sight in her touch, something intangible yet undeniable. It wasn’t merely warmth. It was a subtle magic, reaching deeper than skin and blood, brushing against the core of his being.

The tightness in his chest eased. The tension bound in his muscles dissolved. Even his ever-restless mind, constantly dissecting and analyzing, seemed to loosen its grip on the world.

Lune, too, had her eyes closed. She didn’t speak. She didn’t need to. The silence between them carried more than words ever could.

Jack, sharp as always, understood her intent. He knew her better than anyone else did—or perhaps better than anyone ever could.

Time slipped away without either of them noticing. For once, the weight of their battles, their secrets, and their burdens receded into the distance. Together, they carved out a fragile peace neither had known before.

Jack could hear her heartbeat faintly through the closeness of their bodies—quick, almost nervous, yet steady. She was good at hiding her emotions, her expression calm and composed, but he could feel what her heart betrayed.

’What an odd person...’ he thought. A faint glimmer touched his mind, half amusement, half curiosity. ’Truly... an odd person.’

Gradually, his thoughts slowed. The relentless storm in his head dulled to quiet ripples. For two long days, he hadn’t slept. His body was worn down, his spirit stretched thin. Now, wrapped in Lune’s arms, the exhaustion crept back with overwhelming force. The more he fought it, the heavier it became, until resistance was no longer an option.

Before he realized it, his breathing evened out, and he drifted into unconsciousness.

Minutes ticked by in silence. Lune eventually opened her eyes, her gaze falling upon his sleeping face. For a brief moment, surprise flickered across her features. Then her lips curved into a soft, unguarded smile.

"My love?" she whispered, testing to see if he still stirred. But he was gone to the world, lost in a sleep too deep for whispers.

Her smile deepened. Carefully, she shifted, adjusting her posture so he could rest more comfortably against her. She wrapped her arms around him once more, holding him as though he were the most precious thing she possessed.

"You’ve worked hard, Jack," she breathed, her voice trembling with quiet affection. "These last two days... they’ve been brutal. And yet you endured. You showed me how truly extraordinary you are."

Her nose brushed lightly against his black hair, drinking in the faint scent of him.

"No one rivals you. Not here, not anywhere. You are unique... one of a kind. And you’re the best partner I could have ever wished for."

Her words softened into a vow. "I will never leave your side, not for as long as I live. We will remain together, forever and beyond. I’ll watch you shine, become the person you’re destined to be... and I’ll love you through it all, in darkness and in light."

Pressing her lips gently against his forehead, she closed her eyes again. "Sleep well, my prince."

***

CRUNCH

"Whaaaa—these chips are too damn good! What the hell did they put in these things?"

Sommeil stared at the bag in his hand with exaggerated disbelief, his cheeks already stuffed. He shoved another handful into his mouth like a ravenous beast, the sound of crunching echoing obnoxiously in the night air.

Above the sprawling city, he sat perched on the ledge of a towering skyscraper. The wind howled around him, sharp and cold, tugging at his clothes, but he didn’t seem to mind.

"A cold night, good snacks, and some peace... what more could a man ask for? Life’s desires really are simple." He leaned back and looked up at the sky with a lazy grin.

That sky, however, was far from ordinary. The veil of night shimmered unnaturally, its stars brighter, its darkness deeper. The Eternal Stone’s influence stretched outward, swallowing the heavens into a spectacle of eternal twilight.

"Changing this place to Eternal Night... well, the first trial’s been a success." His grin widened. "Beautiful, isn’t it? Feels just like home."

CRUNCH

He was reaching for another handful when something buzzed in his pocket. Groaning, he set the bag aside and dug out his phone. The screen lit with an unfamiliar number.

"Ah, damn it. Spare me the pain." He rolled his eyes. "Talk about ruining a man’s evening."

He tapped accept and held it to his ear. For a few long seconds, no one spoke. Only heavy, deliberate breathing filled the line.

"...Hello?" Sommeil prompted.

"Did you finish?"

The voice that answered was deep, guttural, and muffled, carrying a weight that pressed into the air like a phantom hand on the chest.

"Yeah, yeah," Sommeil replied with a shrug. "The Eternal Stone did its job beautifully. The night here is thriving. What about the others?"

"It is done. Several cities have already fallen under our control. The plan advances without flaw."

"Good, good." Sommeil smirked. "And the ’others’?"

"We don’t know what they’re planning. Not yet."

He let out a sharp laugh. "Didn’t you send spies? Where are they hiding now?"

"Dead."

That single word made him blink. Then his shoulders shook. A moment later, he burst into hysterics. "Dead? Hahahahaha! No way—don’t tell me those ’elite’ fools couldn’t last two months undercover? Hahaha! You’re killing me here!"

"Sommeil."

The voice snapped like thunder, its tone layered with such absolute authority that most people would have frozen where they stood. It was a command that demanded silence, obedience, submission.

But Sommeil was not most people. He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, still chuckling. "Ahh, sorry, sorry. That was just too funny."

"Know your place. You are nothing but a tool for the greater cause of Eternal Night. Do not overstep your bounds. Do your job."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Sommeil gave a mock salute, smirking. "So, when’s my little delegation arriving?"

"Two days. Ensure the city is completely secure before then. We cannot afford complications."

"Yes, sir."

"Good."

The line went dead without another word. Sommeil lowered the phone, sighed dramatically, and shoved it back into his pocket.

"Always the same grumpy old man routine. Boring." He stretched his arms lazily, then stood up from the ledge. "Well, time to check on that bunker. Tie up loose ends here, then... move on to the next city."

He leaned forward, letting himself fall freely from the skyscraper. His body plummeted through the darkness, and in an instant, he vanished into the void below.

***

"Hnnngh..."

Jack stirred, his groan muffled as his senses slowly dragged him back to consciousness. His body felt heavy, his mind fogged from unaccustomed rest.

The first thing he noticed was the scent—soft, floral, intoxicating, as though every flower in creation had been distilled into a fragrance no human hand could ever craft. The second was the softness against him, warm and inviting, unlike anything else he had ever known.

"..."

It took him only a moment to realize the truth. He was pressed against Lune’s chest, his entire weight leaned against her body. His eyes narrowed slightly in confusion before settling back into calm neutrality.

’...How did this happen? I didn’t intend to sleep... let alone in a position like this.’

Carefully, almost awkwardly, he shifted and began to pull himself free of her embrace.

The motion stirred Lune from her own light rest. Her lashes fluttered open, her gaze falling on him. For a brief moment, their eyes met in silence, faces close enough to feel each other’s breath.

Then she smiled—soft, gentle, radiant. Her hand came up, cupping his cheek with the same tenderness she had held him with before.

"Good morning, Jack," she whispered.