I was back in my body. But it all felt so real. I felt the way my temperature had risen, the stinging sensation of the explosion, and now the only evidence that I had done something was the sweat that trickled down my face.

Was this the pain he carried all alone all these years? It made me sad and made me want to cry. I had been that same way, and I remembered the amount of times I had cried myself to sleep, trying to forget it all, but they always ended up coming back, the way they hurt and made me tremble. But after being ridiculed for crying... I just hated it. I hated myself for crying and being weak every time, yet I couldn’t stop who I was.

I wanted to hug Ryker so bad, tell him he wasn’t alone, but my body wouldn’t stop shaking.

It wasn’t just trembling, it was violent, like something inside me was tearing itself apart and my body had no choice but to follow. I curled my fingers around the chair, my knuckles turning white, nails digging in as if I could hold myself together by force.

His emotions were really intense... it felt like my skull was splitting apart. My lips parted, yet I dared not make a sound. It was suffocating, like heavy iron drove straight into my heart.

"Was this the feeling of losing a loved one?" I had never felt this way before. In fact, I had no one in my life whom I cared for that had died... every one of them gave me neither memories nor warmth. I couldn’t help it, the tears slipped down.

Although I was loved here, I couldn’t help but think of my real self, the life I had lived before. I had been hated and cursed by my own parents and colleagues, belittled to the extent I wanted nothing but death. I was hanging on because of my fiancé, but even him... he turned out to be a devil. The tears I tried to hold back slipped down from my eyes. I wasn’t only thinking of myself... I was thinking of Ryker. He must have been cursed on by others for killing his master. Was that why all these years no one wanted him, and he ended up alone?

Even my chest was being crushed from pain and a heavy burden.

"Time’s up, the bonding trial has ended," the soft voice echoed around. I felt my body relax softly, and the air-conditioned breeze soaked in cold. I sighed, breathing heavily, licking my lips and panting softly.

"Raven, are you okay?" I heard Ryker’s worried voice as he walked toward me staggeringly. His hands landed on my chair, gently caressing my hands... I tried to snap my eyes open, but they felt heavy... and just like that, my breathing slowed. I passed out, but before that, he carried my body in his arms, princess style.

"Raven, D-rank, has passed the Bonding Chambers test," Lysanadra’s voice echoed outside. The students who were done didn’t say a word. I heard a soft hush as the door opened.

I could even feel the bright burning sun resting on my face, and moved in Ryker’s arms, he gently arranged me and softly caressed my hair. Just then Azrael and Veyra walked toward them... I could see them, no but I could feel them, and their soft voices that hummed.

After that, everything went totally blank.

When I opened my eyes, I was in the pool. I gasped in shock, but then Thyrian’s hands rested on my shoulders.

"You are okay!" he said, and I calmed down, inhaling softly.

"Why in the world am I in the pool?" I asked Thyrian, and he sucked on his bottom lip and stared behind me... I instinctively turned, and there Veyra and Azrael stood staring down at me.

"You did good today," Veyra commented, and I flashed a smile, but the pain lingered.

"Are you okay?" Thyrian asked, and my lips parted.

"Where’s Ryker and... what happened to me?" I asked, and Azrael’s lips parted.

"You were injured, and you had burn marks everywhere. Ryker is asleep, he clearly used up his energy," he said, and I sighed.

"I tried," I blurted out, and Thyrian chuckled.

"I’ll heal you up," he said, and turned to them. "Shoo," he said to the others. It made me laugh. They didn’t say a word and turned to leave, but Veyra stopped in his tracks.

"Thanks for staying alive, Raven," he said, and my eyes shimmered.

[Veyra affection level 30%

Ryker affection level 27%

Azrael 16%

Thyrian 35%]

Staring at the panel, I felt a sense of accomplishment, not for the affection levels, but they were finally starting to trust me. Seeing me smiling at nothing, Thyrian stared in that direction, totally confused.

He didn’t wait a second and reached for my waist. The second he dragged me straight into the water, I gasped for air, but then he shut his eyes and I suddenly felt the water ripple. What was happening?

Before I could say a word, his eyes snapped open. His eyes shimmered silver and his gaze fixed on me. I felt his hand around my waist tighten, muscular and firm... I gasped inside the water.

Why could I breathe underwater?

His eyes gazed into mine, and I felt mesmerized. I reached and gently touched his cheeks. His pupils reacted to my touch, and I felt a small tingling sensation. I stared down at my exposed tummy. The scars left behind started to sparkle silver and moved upwards... just like that, they vanished.

I couldn’t help but be in awe.

I had heard in mermaid stories they had amazing healing abilities, but I always believed they were myths... I didn’t think they would be this powerful and magical. I felt excitement in my veins, and finally I swam to the surface. I was shaking, but my body didn’t hurt anymore.

Just then I saw Ryker outside, and my eyes widened. Was he okay? I hurriedly reached out to him, but I lost my balance and fell back into the pool.

"He isn’t going anywhere," Thyrian said, and I giggled. Ryker reached out his hands. I stretched out mine to meet his, he held them and pulled me out of the water.

I hugged him once I was out.

"It’s okay, you can cry or talk however you want. I’ll be here with you," I said, and he hugged me back. Thyrian splashed water, and my other beastmen walked in, hugging me. I could feel their cold hands... but I lifted my head gently to peek out.

Thyrian was staring, left behind, and my smile faltered. I pulled away from them and rushed to Thyrian. I crouched down and hugged him.

"Everyone gets a hug," I said and...

"Even me?" I heard Liora’s soft voice from behind, and my eyes widened.

"Yesssssss."