"Seriously? I just wanted to spend one good morning with my wife! Is that too much to ask? Just one peaceful morning! Why does this world hate me?".
He glared at the ceiling as if it was personally responsible for his misfortune. Adelasta, flustered as she was by his earlier words, snapped out of it quickly, her eyes darting around the room as the vibrations intensified. The Obsidian Runic Spire groaned louder. She clutched the sheets tightly, her voice tinged with concern.
"Vastarael, what's going on? Is this... normal?"
"Define normal!" He shot back, waving a hand toward the shuddering walls. "If by 'normal,' you mean 'a complete disaster every other day,' then yes, absolutely normal!"
He groaned again, pressing his palms to his face before running them down in sheer exasperation.
"Vastarael," Adelasta said, her tone sharpening slightly as she tried to keep herself steady on the shaking bed. "I'm serious. What's happening?"
He sighed heavily, his frustration evident as he raked a hand through his tousled hair.
"Once in a while, here in the Halo Islands, that giant eye you saw during the First Implantation... you know, my memories I showed you, decides to wake up and throw a tantrum. It's probably crawling out of its pit or opening some random dimension or whatever it does to be annoying."
Her brows furrowed, concern flickering across her face. "The giant eye? The one that causes a freezing curse wherever it appears? That's the thing making the entire spire shake?"
"Yup," he said, popping the 'p' with exaggerated nonchalance. "And guess what? I'm the only one who can make it stop. Because why not? Why wouldn't it be my responsibility? Why wouldn't I be the designated 'giant eye babysitter' of the entire Halo Islands?"
Adelasta stared at him for a moment, unsure whether to be more concerned about the situation or amused by his theatrical complaining.
"So, what are you going to do about it?"
He groaned again, dragging himself out of bed with the air of a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"What I want to do is stay here, in this warm, comfortable bed, with my newlywed wife, and actually enjoy my morning for once," he shot her an almost pleading look. "But noooo, the universe has other plans. But it's fine. Totally fine. Fuck my Bane."
As the spire gave another ominous shudder, he stomped over to his massive wardrobe, yanking it open with more force than necessary. Inside was an impressive array of clothing, from princely attire to combat gear and everything in between. He stood there for a moment, staring at his options before sighing in defeat.
"Alright, fine," the muttered, pulling out a simple black T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. "No fancy armor today. I'm not giving that overgrown eyeball the satisfaction."
He tossed the shirt over his head, the fabric clinging to his well-toned frame, before slipping on the sweatpants and a pair of rugged boots.
"There. Casual combat chic. Perfect for beating the crap out of eldritch horrors."
Adelasta watched him with a mixture of amusement and concern, her arms crossed as she sat up in bed.
"You're really going to fight something that massive in sweatpants?"
He gave her a pointed look, his lips curling into a smirk.
"What? You don't like my outfit choice? Thought you said you were curious about your husband."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "I didn't realize you were this dramatic in the mornings."
"Oh, you have no idea," he shot back, summoning Calimostria and slinging it across his back. The weapon shimmered faintly, its energy resonating with his own. He turned back to her, his expression softening slightly. "You... uh, you don't have to come, you know. It's dangerous out there."
Adelasta raised a brow, a sly smirk playing on her lips. "And miss the chance to see my husband in action? Not a chance. But you'll have to leave the room so I can change."
She reached into her inventory, pulling out an outfit of her own-a sleek, battle-ready dress that somehow managed to be both elegant and practical. Vastarael blinked, caught off guard by her sudden assertiveness.
"Wait, you're serious? You're coming with me?"
"Of course I'm coming. Do you really think I'm just going to sit here while you fight some giant cosmic horror on your own? Besides, someone has to make sure you don't destroy the city in the process, especially with your tantrum."
He stared at her for a moment, his lips twitching as if he were trying to suppress a grin.
"You're... something else, you know that?"
"And you married me," she quipped, flashing him a cheeky smile. "Now, go handle the situation. I'll be right behind you."
He sighed, shaking his head as he made his way to the door.
"Fine, but don't blame me if that thing decides to throw a tantrum bigger than mine." He paused at the doorway, glancing back at her with a faint smile. "Be quick, alright? I'd rather not face the giant eyeball alone."
"Go," she said, waving him off with a dismissive hand. "I'll catch up. Just try not to get yourself killed before I get there."
He chuckled softly, stepping out into the hallway as the spire groaned once more.
"No promises, my lovely wife."
Adelasta watched him go, her smile lingering as she quickly changed into her battle attire. Whatever awaited them outside, she knew one thing for certain: life with Vastarael was going to be anything but boring.
°°°°°°
The streets of the city were in chaos. People ran in every direction, their faces pale with terror. Merchants abandoned their stalls, leaving goods to scatter across the cobblestone streets. Children clung to their parents, sobbing as they were hurried to shelter.
And looming above it all was the source of their panic-the eye.
Vast, unblinking, and eerily silent, it hovered in the sky like a malignant god. Those who dared to glance at it for too long froze. The memory of what this monstrous entity had done before-the freezing of nearly the entire population into statues-was still fresh in the minds of those who had survived. No one wanted to relive that nightmare.
Not after Vastarael freed them from the curse.
From the entrance of the Obsidian Runic Spire, two figures watched the chaos unfold. Siranna, a calm yet perceptive presence, leaned against the railing, her emerald eyes scanning the streets below. Beside her stood Phaenora, the ever-spirited companion of Vastarael, though today her usual spark was nowhere to be seen.
"He married someone. I can feel it. A foreign bond. That idiot actually married someone without telling me."
Phaenora muttered. She stared at the eye in the sky, but her thoughts were far from the chaos outside. Siranna turned her head slightly, her soft features marked with a hint of concern. She had known Phaenora long enough to recognize when her temper was boiling over, and this was certainly one of those moments.
"Phaenora," she began gently, "I don't think now is the time-"
"Oh, it's exactly the time," Phaenora snapped, rounding on her. "Do you have any idea how insulting this is? We've been companions since birth. I've been by his side through everything. Everything, Siranna. And he didn't even bother to tell me he was getting married?!"
Siranna sighed, folding her hands neatly in front of her. "I understand how you feel, truly but you know how Vastarael is. He doesn't always think things through when it comes to relationships. Maybe he-"
"Oh, don't you dare defend him," Phaenora interrupted, pacing back and forth like a caged lioness. "This isn't just some oversight. I can feel the bond, Siranna. It's not just some vague connection. It's permanent. He's tied himself to someone else without so much as a word to me! And I don't even know who she is. What if she's... awful? What if she's unworthy of him?"
Siranna tilted her head, a small, patient smile tugging at her lips.
"Phaenora, you've always been protective of him. But maybe this is something you need to trust him on. If he chose her, there must be a reason. Vastarael isn't reckless about matters of the heart."
Phaenora scoffed, crossing her arms tightly.
"You say that, but have you met him? The man's idea of a romantic gesture is probably handing her a glaive and saying, 'Congratulations, you're stuck with me.'"
Siranna let out a soft chuckle. "You're probably not wrong. But still Phaenora, he cares about you. You're important to him, and that won't change just because he's married."
"It feels like it's already changed," she admitted quietly, her voice losing some of its edge. "He didn't tell me, Siranna. He didn't even think to tell me. How am I supposed to feel about that?"
Siranna reached out, placing a gentle hand on Phaenora's shoulder.
"Maybe, instead of focusing on what he didn't do, you should focus on what he will do. He'll come back and when he does, you can talk to him about it. Let him explain. Knowing Vastarael, he probably thought he was protecting you somehow."
Phaenora exhaled sharply, the tension in her shoulders easing just a fraction.
"Protecting me," she muttered, shaking her head. "What a ridiculous excuse. He's going to hear it from me when he gets back, mark my words."
"I don't doubt that. But for now, maybe we should focus on the more immediate problem." She gestured toward the eye in the sky, its ominous presence casting long shadows over the city. "Whatever that thing is planning, we're going to need Vastarael to handle it. And I'm guessing he'll need your help too."
"Fine," she said grudgingly. "But this conversation isn't over. Not by a long shot."
Siranna nodded, her voice warm with reassurance. "Of course it isn't. But for now, let's make sure this city doesn't fall apart."