That clash of ice and fire tore through Emma's senses, heightening everything to an almost unbearable pitch. When the largest golden meteor streaked across the sky, its brilliant tail flooded the captain's cabin with light as bright as day. As water rippled, life stirred. Inside Marcus' mental consciousness, the ice thorns began to melt, causing a wave of unearthly, exquisite bliss to surge through him. A low, contented sound rumbled from his throat. It was a sigh of both relief and reverence. Then, the light faded, and the galaxy outside sank back into stillness. The meteor shower dwindled, one streak after another, until the last vanished from sight. Inside the cabin, only their mingled breaths and pounding heartbeats filled the silence. He held her close, his chin resting on the crown of her head, breathing her in greedily… which reminded him of ripe peaches and warm milk, faintly sweet and dangerously addictive.Marcus tightened his hold, as if he could somehow mold her into his very bones. Emma shifted in his arms until she found a comfortable spot. When she lifted her gaze, she met his. And she froze. Gone was the dull, desolate gray that used to cloud his eyes, that hollowed-out look of a man already half dead. Now, those silver-gray irises gleamed like they'd been rinsed by the brightest stardust in the cosmos. They were clear, luminous, and impossibly deep. If his gaze had once been a frozen sea of death, it had now completely thawed. Beneath the ice, the long-suppressed undercurrents had softened into ripples of tenderness. The surface reflected the boundless starry sky, and in the center of that glittering expanse, only one image shone—hers. It was a light so pure that it almost hurt to look at. Like an ancient, dying tree at the brink of ruin, suddenly touched by spring rain, sprouting anew overnight, bursting with fierce, radiant life.The brilliance in his eyes eclipsed even the meteor shower. It was more dazzling, more breathtaking. Emma's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't help but reach up, her fingertips brushing the corner of his eye. "It's so beautiful," she whispered, awe spilling into her voice. He blinked, then understood. He caught her wandering hand, brought it to his lips, and pressed a reverent kiss against her fingers. His voice came out low and husky from heat, yet gentle enough to melt glass. "You've filled my eyes with light, Ms. Tibarn." Emma was his light—and the reason he wanted to keep living. … Outside, dawn began to creep in. The airship veered away from the galaxy, gliding back toward the manor. Marcus carried Emma down from the airship and straight into her room. Soon, the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom... When Edric returned, the airship was already parked in the yard, but the living room was empty. There was no sign of Marcus or Emma. He had just reached the third floor when Marcus stepped out of Emma's room. Marcus was heading to make breakfast as he didn't want her to wake up hungry. Seeing Edric, he immediately fished out a Rank 11 beast core and offered it. "I'll stay with Ms. Tibarn. Could you make her something? Something she likes." Edric didn't take the core. Taking care of Emma was his duty anyway. He could tell easily enough. Marcus and Emma had bonded last night, and Marcus himself was utterly changed. "Stay with Emma," Edric replied. "I'll handle breakfast. When she wakes, just let me know. I'll bring it up." "Thanks." Marcus watched him head downstairs, then slipped back into the room.Inside, Emma wasn't sleeping soundly. She dreamed of a glowing sphere chasing her through endlessly. When she finally opened her eyes, exhaustion weighed her limbs. The room was pitch-black. How long had she been asleep this time? Marcus sensed her stirring and immediately caught her hand. "Ms. Tibarn, you're awake." He covered her eyes and flicked the lights on with his ability. When she adjusted to the brightness, he lowered his hand. "Marcus, how long was I out?" She'd been running in her dream. No wonder she felt so drained. His voice was honey-soft. "Just one day this time, Ms. Tibarn." His Ms. Tibarn was getting stronger by the day. Only a day?No wonder her body still ached with fatigue. She draped an arm around his narrow waist, nuzzling against the firm plane of his chest. "Bring me a vial of nutrient fluid. I'm a little hungry. I'll drink it and go back to sleep." At that, he murmured, "Would you rather eat real food? Edric has already cooked. I can ask him to bring it up." "Food?" She touched her stomach thoughtfully, then asked, "Do we have sea beast? I'm craving that." Marcus nodded right away. "We do!" Edric had messaged him earlier, informing he had already made sea beast for Emma.