Do you want to spend the night with your sister?

After several fierce rounds of confrontation, Letia sat beside Lily, feeling strangely hollow inside.

Though their clash had been intense, Letia had always avoided causing true harm.

Neither of them had truly claimed victory, leaving both drained yet unwilling to yield.

“Heh, looks like you’re the one running out of strength,” Lily taunted with a faint smirk.

“I’m still holding up better than you, you know. You’re the one wasting all that energy attacking.”

“Hmph, if you could be honest with yourself, you wouldn’t suffer so much from the silver mark.”

“I’m not afraid of the mark—much less of you!”

“Then let’s see how long that confidence lasts. Round two begins now!”

“Fine by me! Come on then!”

Letia braced herself, placing her hand near Lily’s head, ready to strike again—when she suddenly noticed a thin line of red on Lily’s lip.

Even through exhaustion and confusion, Lily had bitten her lip until it bled, refusing to give up.

Letia’s anger faded, replaced by a flicker of concern.

She reached out gently, brushing her fingers against Lily’s cheek.

“What’s this? Growing soft already?” Lily tilted her chin upward, trying to sound defiant.

“Don’t think that’ll work on me. No matter what trick you use, I won’t surrender—”

Her words broke off in surprise as Letia took a small vial from a swirling black vortex.

Inside it shimmered a deep crimson liquid.

Before Lily could react, Letia uncorked it and raised it to her lips.

Lily’s eyes widened. “Wait—what are you doing—”

Letia placed a hand on her shoulder and gently transferred the potion’s glow to her.

A warm light spread through Lily’s body, washing away the sting of her wounds.

Her breath steadied as her trembling subsided.

The bleeding stopped, the pain dulled, and her mind floated between calm and confusion.

Still, she clenched her jaw, unwilling to appear weak.

“Why… why are you doing this?” she whispered.

“Because you’re mine to protect,” Letia replied softly.

“From top to bottom, inside and out—you bear my mark, and I won’t allow you to harm yourself.”

“You… you’re such a tyrant…”

Her thoughts spun, her will shaking under the pulse of the mark.

If she lost control now, Letia would win completely—she couldn’t let that happen.

“Lily,” Letia said suddenly, “let’s call a truce.”

“Huh?”

The unexpected gentleness in Letia’s voice left Lily speechless.

Why a truce now, when victory was within reach for Letia?

Was this some trick—some way to see her despair deepen?

“You can’t think clearly right now, can you?” Letia whispered near her ear.

“My pride as a dragon won’t allow me to take advantage of your weakness. Even if you begged me for mercy, it wouldn’t satisfy me. I want you to face me with your mind unclouded—only then will victory mean something.”

“That’s impossible. When I’m calm, you’ll never win,” Lily shot back.

“Then let’s test that,” Letia said, her voice carrying a playful challenge.

“But for now, let’s rest. Let me ease your pain. Or… do you refuse peace and wish to continue until one of us falls?”

Her teasing tone left Lily torn between defiance and exhaustion.

Letia’s composure returned completely, her earlier frenzy now hidden behind calm eyes.

If this went on, Lily knew she might be the first to falter.

Reluctantly, she nodded.

“A… a truce, then,” she murmured. “Letia… please… just hold me for a moment. I can’t bear this pressure alone.”

“If only you were this honest more often,” Letia replied with a faint smile.

“When I’m calm… I can be gentle too,” Lily said weakly.

The silver mark dimmed, its glow fading into peace.

The storm within both of them finally subsided.

Later, when the air grew still, Lily rested quietly against Letia’s shoulder, her breathing soft and even.

Letia gazed down at her, a rare warmth softening her expression.

“If only you could always be this open,” she whispered.

She brushed her hand over Lily’s hair.

Lily didn’t stir—she was lost in a deep, dreamless sleep, her lips curved with the faintest smile.

“You really are my chosen one,” Letia murmured.

Under the fading moonlight, she traced the now-stilled silver mark on Lily’s stomach.

It was calm—its light no longer pulsing, its influence fading away.

For the first time in a long while, peace filled the room.

Letia smiled faintly.

“You’re always the most beautiful when you’re at rest.”

She placed her fingers gently on Lily’s forehead, casting a soft spell of sleep.

The magic deepened her rest, blanketing her in tranquility.

Letia stood and looked down at her once more.

“Rest well, Lily,” she said quietly. “Tomorrow, we’ll face whatever comes together.”