Moments later, Mel stood at the edge of the pool, watching his cabinmates swim. "Fox! Come in!" one of the royals called out. Mel took a step forward but hesitated. "I can't! Every time I'm in Atlantis, I sink. I don’t know what’ll happen this time." Behind him, a familiar voice chimed in. "Since when did you get to camp?"

  Mel turned to see Sheika standing there, wearing a bikini and a wide-brimmed hat to shield her from the sun. "Hey," he greeted, glancing back at the pool before pulling off his shirt. Sheika eyed the water curiously. "Why is my magic the only one working?" Leaning on the diving board, Mel exhaled. "I’m trying to relax and avoid using magic. Your magic is fun to use."

  Sheika nodded before tilting her head. "Then why aren’t you in the pool?" Mel flinched. "Because I don’t know if I’ll come back up." Before he could react, Sheika shoved him in. "Enjoy your swim, buddy!" she teased. Mel flailed for a moment before realizing—he wasn’t sinking. He was floating.

  "Wait… it's like I’m flying underwater!" he exclaimed, wide-eyed. Sheika smirked. "Yeah, it’s called swimming. I forgot—you’ve never done that before."

  Suddenly, Rue jumped into the pool, her swimsuit shimmering under the sunlight as she swam toward Mel.

  “Didn’t know you could swim,” she remarked, raising a brow.

  Mel chuckled. “Me neither,” he admitted before effortlessly lifting her onto his shoulders.

  Rue let out a startled yelp, gripping onto him tightly as a faint blush crept across her face. “Put me down!” she protested.

  “Chicken fight!” someone shouted, and in an instant, kids started climbing onto each other’s shoulders, laughter and splashes filling the air as the game began.

  Suddenly, Koala blew his whistle sharply.

  “Fox!” he barked.

  Mel let out a sigh. “I’ll be back, everyone,” he said, gently setting Rue down before climbing out of the pool to face the counselor.

  “Yes, counselor?” he asked.

  Koala jabbed his clipboard for emphasis. “The campers should be swimming in an orderly fashion—one at a time! Not… whatever this is!” he scolded.

  Mel patted his shoulder reassuringly. “Relax, this is good for them. Helps make sure they don’t grow up to be evil kings and queens,” he reasoned with a grin.

  Without hesitation, Koala shoved him back into the pool.

  Mel yelped as he hit the water, sinking fast. “Worth a shot,” he muttered.

  As he glanced downward, expecting to see the pool floor, his stomach dropped—because there was no floor. When he looked up, the campers’ feet were impossibly far away, as if he had sunk miles beneath the surface.

  “What the hell?” he murmured.

  Then, from the abyss, a massive face began forming, its features twisting and shifting like liquid shadow.

  Mel’s eyes widened as the entity’s mouth moved.

  “Come with me, brother,” it intoned, its voice reverberating through the water.

  Before he could react, ethereal chains shot out, wrapping around his arms and neck, yanking him downward with terrifying force.

  Mel screamed, thrashing desperately as the darkness swallowed him whole.

  Koala yanked Mel out of the water and laid him on the ground. Mel coughed up water, his body trembling from shock.

  “W-Who used magic?!” he demanded, his voice hoarse.

  The royals exchanged confused glances, murmuring among themselves.

  Rue knelt beside him, concern etched on her face. “Mel, what are you talking about?” she asked, gently pressing a hand to his forehead, checking for any signs of a concussion.

  Mel sat up abruptly, his gaze locked onto the water. “Chains… something was pulling me down!” he insisted.

  Koala arched an eyebrow before stepping into the pool. He swished his hand through the water before looking back at Mel.

  “Fox, this pool is only six feet deep,” he said flatly.

  Mel’s breath caught in his throat. That didn’t make sense.

  Without hesitation, he scrambled to his feet and jumped back into the pool. His feet touched the bottom immediately.

  His heart pounded.

  But just moments ago, there had been no bottom at all.

  Mel rested his head on the edge of the pool, his wet hair clinging to his face as he let out a tired sigh. “Please, just let me relax,” he murmured, closing his eyes for a moment. The other campers exchanged glances, whispering among themselves.

  “Is he okay?” one of them muttered.

  “Did he really see something down there?” another asked.

  Rue swam closer, resting her arms on the ledge beside him. “Mel, are you sure you’re alright?”

  He didn’t answer right away. The feeling of those chains wrapping around his arms still lingered, the weight of something unseen dragging him down. “I don’t know,” he finally admitted, his fingers gripping the pool’s edge a little tighter. For the first time in a long while, he wasn’t sure if he had imagined it… or if something was really waiting for him beneath the surface.

  The night air was crisp, filled with the soft hum of conversation and the occasional burst of laughter from the campers. Some were gathered around the fire, toasting marshmallows, while others played catch under the lantern-lit trees. It was a rare, peaceful moment—one Mel hadn’t realized he needed.

  He sat on a two-person swing, absently rocking back and forth, his thoughts drifting. The glow of the campfire reflected in his silver eyes as he stared ahead, lost in the events of the day.

  Rue approached, holding two cups of s’mores ice cream. She plopped down beside him, nudging his arm. “S’mores ice cream, your favorite,” she sang teasingly, handing him one.

  Mel smirked and took it. “Thanks.” He licked the ice cream, letting the familiar sweetness melt on his tongue.

  Rue took a bite of hers, looking around the lively campsite. “It’s never been this fun before,” she admitted, her voice softer now. “You have a way of bringing people together.”

  Mel chuckled, nudging her lightly. “Thanks,” he murmured, shifting a little closer. Their legs brushed, but neither moved away.

  After a pause, Rue glanced at him. “Did you really feel chains pulling you down earlier?”

  Mel exhaled, staring into his cup. “Yeah… but I don’t know. Maybe all this stuff about the Seven Deadly Kingdoms and creatures is messing with my head.”

  Rue studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, without warning, she leaned in, her green eyes flickering with something intense yet uncertain.

  Before Mel could react, her lips met his.

  The world around them seemed to slow, the crackling of the fire fading into the background. Rue’s lips were warm and soft against his, her breath mingling with his own. The swing beneath them barely creaked as she kissed him—gentle at first, almost hesitant, before deepening slightly.

  Mel’s fingers tightened around his ice cream cup, but after a second, he relaxed, his heart pounding. He kissed her back, just enough to let her know he wasn’t pulling away.

  When Rue finally broke the kiss, she lingered close, her face barely inches from his. Her cheeks were flushed, but her smirk remained. “Just in case your mind really is messing with you,” she murmured.

  Mel blinked, still processing. Then, a small, lopsided smile tugged at his lips.

  “…Noted.”

  Rue chuckled, taking another bite of her ice cream as if nothing had happened. But Mel could still feel the ghost of her lips on his, the warmth lingering like a secret between them.

  Moments later, Mel stood in the camp bathroom, gripping the edges of the sink as he stared at his reflection, his purple eyes wide with disbelief. His mind raced, his heart still hammering in his chest.

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  “SHE FINALLY KISSED ME!” he yelled, barely resisting the urge to punch the air. Instead, he tightened his grip on the sink—only to let go quickly before he accidentally shattered it.

  “What now?! Do I propose?!” He ran a hand through his hair, pacing in front of the mirror. “Our kids should be named Ruelanthius—no, that’s awful! Wait, is it? Damn it, Bimoth’s gonna try to fight me for this again!”

  He groaned, then spun back toward the mirror, his hands bracing against the sink as he stared himself down. Slowly, he reached up and touched his lips, as if confirming the moment had actually happened.

  “…Doesn’t matter.” His voice dropped to a whisper, a dazed grin spreading across his face. “Rue kissed me.”

  And for the first time in what felt like forever, nothing else mattered.

  Meanwhile, Rue sat on the swing, gripping the chains tightly as she rocked back and forth, her face burning.

  “AHH, I KISSED HIM!” she squealed, hugging herself before burying her face in her hands. She kicked her legs in excitement, then suddenly gasped. “Our child should be called Mue!”

  She paused, then groaned, slumping back against the swing. “That’s awful! What is wrong with me?” She exhaled sharply, covering her face with her hands before hesitantly touching her lips. The memory of the kiss sent a shiver down her spine.

  Then, reality hit her like a crashing wave. “Damn it! He’s immortal, he has way too many enemies, and if we actually start dating—” She sat up straight, eyes widening in realization. “I might be in danger!”

  Rue groaned again, dragging her hands down her face. “And yet…” She bit her lip, a small, helpless smile forming. “It was so worth it.”

  The next day, the campers stood in a neat line atop a tall ledge, the zipline stretching out before them. A warm breeze ruffled their hair as they peered down at the lush forest below.

  “Everyone ready for zip-lining?!” Mel called out, grinning.

  One camper yawned, rubbing their eyes. “How is he still this hyped after nearly drowning yesterday?”

  “I heard Rue kissed him,” another whispered.

  “And now he’s acting like a lovesick puppy,” someone scoffed. “Honestly, a guy like him should have tons of girlfriends.”

  Mel, who had been adjusting his harness, scratched the side of his face, where the black and gold markings still trailed down his arm. He cleared his throat. “Okay, full disclosure—I’ve never ziplined before, but…” He secured himself to the line, smirking. “Just have fun with it!”

  Without hesitation, he leaped off the ledge, soaring through the air with the wind rushing past him. The campers watched as he reached the other side, then zipped right back, landing smoothly on the ledge with a triumphant grin.

  “See? Easy!” He dusted off his hands. “Now who's next?”

  “I’ll go,” Rue finally said, stepping up to the ledge.

  Mel nodded, his movements a little too stiff as he helped her secure the harness. “Just hold on tight. It’s a breeze,” he said, focusing on the straps and ropes, anything but the way her presence made his heart hammer.

  His hands instinctively went to her waist, steadying her as she prepared to jump. The warmth of his touch made Rue’s breath hitch, and before she could stop herself, she mumbled, “Do you just want to touch my waist?”

  Mel immediately flinched, jerking his hands away as if burned. “Of course not! Just—just being safe!” he stammered, his face heating up.

  Rue nodded quickly, her own face burning, and without another word, she took off down the zipline, soaring to the other side.

  The Rest of the Day

  If the campers noticed how weirdly Mel and Rue were acting, they didn’t say anything—at least, not to their faces.

  During lunch, Rue sat at one table while Mel sat at another, both stealing quick glances when they thought the other wasn’t looking.

  “Why is Rue sitting all the way over there?” one camper asked.

  “Why is Fox eating his sandwich like it personally offended him?” another whispered.

  “Do you think they fought?”

  “Maybe she rejected him?”

  Meanwhile, Mel nearly choked on his food when Rue laughed a little too loudly at a joke someone else made. Rue, on the other hand, dropped her spoon when she heard Mel’s voice across the field. They were both an absolute mess.

  Later, during archery practice, Mel tried to show a camper how to hold the bow properly—only for Rue to accidentally walk by, making him let go of the arrow too soon. It barely hit the target.

  “Wow, great aim, Fox,” a camper teased.

  Rue, overhearing, turned red and quickly scurried away.

  By the time evening rolled around, the tension was unbearable. Rue and Mel kept bumping into each other, mumbling awkward “sorrys” and practically sprinting in opposite directions.

  It wasn’t until the bonfire, when they accidentally reached for the same marshmallow, that they finally locked eyes for longer than two seconds.

  “…We need to talk,” Rue muttered.

  Mel swallowed hard. “Yeah. We do.”

  As they walked through the forest, the only sounds were the soft crunch of leaves beneath their feet and the distant chirping of nocturnal creatures. Mel, lost in thought, absentmindedly crocheted a small doll using his webbed lightning magic, his fingers weaving strands of energy together like a nervous child fiddling with a Rubik’s cube.

  Rue glanced over and noticed the intricate movements of his hands. “What are you making?” she asked, her voice quiet in the cool night air.

  Mel flinched, as if caught doing something embarrassing, and quickly held up the half-finished doll. “I—I don’t even know. I don’t usually crochet,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “I think I’m just nervous.”

  Rue leaned in slightly, inspecting the doll—and then her eyes widened. It had her hairstyle, her features, even the faintest hint of a smirk.

  “…Is that supposed to be me?” she asked, her face warming.

  Mel fumbled with the tiny figure, nearly dropping it as he turned away. “Yeah, I think,” he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Rue’s lips curled into a small smile. “I want it,” she said, reaching over and taking the doll from his hands. She turned it over in her palm, admiring the delicate details. “It’s cute.”

  Just then, a tiny spark of electricity jolted from the doll, zapping her fingers.

  “Ow!” she yelped, shaking her hand.

  Mel stiffened. “Oh—uh, yeah, I guess it still has some of my lightning in it.” He winced. “Sorry.”

  Rue pouted at the doll, then smirked. “So, you literally made an electrifying version of me?”

  Mel groaned. “Please don’t say it like that.”

  But Rue just hugged the doll to her chest, her smirk softening into something more genuine. “I like it,” she murmured. “It’s… special.”

  Mel worked his fingers over his magic, absentmindedly weaving another webbed shape as his mind churned. His heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to speak.

  “So… about the kiss.” His voice was quieter than usual, almost hesitant.

  Rue’s face turned scarlet, and she instinctively stuffed the crocheted doll into her pocket. “What about it?” she muttered.

  Mel gulped, his hands tightening around his creation. “How was it?”

  Rue hesitated, then slowly looked up at him, her green eyes searching his. “It was… amazing.” He responded.

  Rue’s lips parted slightly before she dropped her gaze, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Thanks,” she murmured. “I liked it too.”

  Mel nodded, feeling warmth spread across his face, his nerves buzzing more than his lightning magic.

  Then, before he could second-guess himself, Rue tilted her head. “Wanna kiss again?”

  Mel’s eyes widened. “Yeah,” he breathed.

  Without another word, he turned to her, his hands instinctively finding her waist. Rue placed her hands over his, her touch sending sparks down his spine as she leaned in—

  “VEXERIUS!”

  Multiple voices rang out at once, followed by the sharp crackle of magic.

  Ten spells hurtled toward them.

  Mel snapped his head toward the incoming attack, instincts taking over. In a flash, he flung out his hands, conjuring a massive web of lightning to intercept the spells. The moment they made contact, he manipulated the web, wrapping it around the magic and hurling it back at their attackers. The force sent dust and debris flying, shaking the forest around them.

  As the air cleared, Mel’s eyes narrowed at the figures emerging from the shadows.

  The Magisterium.

  Silver Cross. Franky Arbutus. Aubrey Primrose. Gail Kelpis. Christopher Hatch. Howard Pegas. Axel Candlelight. Emmett Fingerling. Judas Olive.

  And leading them—Titian.

  The older man’s expression was nothing like the cold arrogance Mel was used to. This time, his face was twisted with something different. Something Mel had never seen from him before.

  Fear.

  “Melanthius! Did you see him?!” Titian’s voice thundered as he strode forward, his urgency cutting through the air like a blade.

  Mel immediately moved in front of Rue, his eyes flashing. “Titian?! What the hell are you doing here?!” He reached into Sheika’s pocket, pulling out a sword forged from water.

  Before he could react, Titian warped in front of him, gripping his shoulders with a force that nearly knocked the breath from his lungs.

  The look in his eyes was frantic. Desperate.

  “ANSWER ME, BOY!” Titian bellowed, his fingers digging into Mel’s arms.

  Mel gritted his teeth, trying to push him off. “What are you talking about?!”

  Titian’s gaze locked onto Mel’s eyes, searching them with an intensity that made Mel’s stomach churn. Seconds passed before his expression shifted slightly, his grip loosening.

  “You must be telling the truth,” he muttered under his breath.

  Rue took a shaky step back, gripping Mel’s hand tightly. “What is going on?!” she demanded, her voice sharp with confusion.

  Mel didn’t have an answer.

  But whatever it was—whatever had Titian and the Magisterium in this state—he had a feeling things were about to get a lot worse.

  Mel’s foot tapped against the ground, and a sharp clang echoed beneath the layers of dirt and foliage. His brows furrowed. “Wait… is that metal?”

  Curious, he crouched down, brushing aside leaves and twisting away stray roots to reveal a smooth, metallic surface beneath them. His fingers traced over the cool steel.

  “No, you fool!” Judas’s panicked voice rang out, but it was too late.

  Mel had already kicked the metal.

  A deafening clang followed by a violent shift beneath their feet sent them all plummeting into darkness.

  Mel’s instincts took over. He grabbed Rue, wrapping his arms around her protectively as they free-fell into the unknown.

  With a sharp inhale, he shot a web from his mouth, latching onto the cavern walls. The force of their descent slowed, and they swung slightly before landing on solid ground.

  Rue coughed, waving a hand to clear the dust clouding the air. Mel gently loosened his hold on her, glancing around at their surroundings.

  “Whoa,” he breathed.

  The walls were covered in glowing, ethereal drawings—bunnies, panda bears, and other soft, innocent creatures, their luminescence casting an eerie yet mesmerizing glow around the hidden chamber.

  His gaze drifted lower, where millions of tally marks stretched across the walls, meticulously etched into the metal. His stomach twisted as realization set in.

  These weren’t just random carvings.

  They represented years.