Aurora - You are my light (Ateez x reader)

THIRTYNINE

The warm late-summer breeze gently swept across the deck of the Treasure, and the sea before us was so calm it almost seemed peaceful. Golden sunlight reflected off the waves, and for a brief moment, I felt almost at ease—if it weren't for the constant reminders of the death demon that had taken hold of San, the upcoming challenges in Dune, and the passage through the Siren's Gorge. I knew things would soon get even more serious, and after my training with Jongho, I had to gather every ounce of concentration to learn from Yunho.

Yunho stood beside me, examining my neck with a skeptical look. "That looks bad," he muttered, carefully touching the bruises left by San's choking grip. I flinched at his unexpected touch but stayed still. There was no point in hiding the red marks on my neck; everyone on board knew what had happened. Yunho's voice sounded concerned, but as usual, it carried that calm, soothing undertone.

"It's not as bad as it looks," I quickly replied, avoiding his scrutinizing gaze.

"Uh-huh, sure," he said, then noticed what was really missing. "But you know what is bad? You're walking around without your necklace."

Oh. The necklace. My neck suddenly felt lighter, and a wave of heat and cold washed over me at the same time. "Oh... uh, I must've... taken it off after the battle and forgot to put it back on." My attempt to sound casual fell completely flat, and Yunho raised an eyebrow at me.

"Forgot?" He shook his head, like I'd just admitted to losing the ship's rudder. "Aurora, you know how important it is. Without that necklace, you can't use your magic. What if we'd been attacked today? Or you needed it?"

"I know, I know!" I raised my hands in apology. "I'll go get it right now."

I rushed to my cabin and grabbed the necklace from my bedside table, where I'd tossed it carelessly after the battle and tending to San. The dream where the demon had appeared to me in San's form had left me so shaken that morning, I hadn't been able to think straight, leaving it behind.

Now the blue aquamarine sparkled like the sea as I clasped the golden chain around my neck. Instantly, the familiar weight brought a calming sensation over me, and I felt strangely safer.

When I returned to the deck, Yunho was still standing there, arms crossed, but with an amused glint in his eyes. "So, feeling like a powerful Light Mage again?"

"Yeah, hilarious," I grumbled, though I couldn't help but smile.

Yunho gave me a quick look, then his tone turned serious. "Good. Because we need to get serious now. Things are about to get real."

I felt my heart skip a beat. "What exactly are you planning?"

"We need to strengthen your magic," he explained. "When we go through Siren's Gorge, their song will incapacitate us. None of the crew will be able to use their magic. That means you're our only hope. And if you're going to pull this off, we need to practice. Now."

I'd heard these words a few times already, and every time they tied my stomach into knots.

"No pressure, right?" I raised an eyebrow, trying to defuse the seriousness with humor.

"Just a little." Yunho grinned, stepping closer. "So... hand to heart. Literally."

"Uh... what?" I blinked in confusion, and Yunho pointed at his chest.

"You need to put your hand on my heart. That's how we'll connect our magic."

My heart jumped. "Your... heart?"

"Yeah, we have to practice linking our magic. Don't worry, I don't bite. Unless you do it wrong." His grin was playful, but his eyes sparkled warmly.

"Linking?" I asked, eyeing him skeptically. The idea of connecting our magic sounded... intense.