The tension in the treehouse was unbearable. The small room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the stars peeking through the cracks in the wooden walls.
Zack, hands trembling, focused every ounce of his energy into healing Safari and Angeleva. The gentle glow of his healing powers illuminated his sweat-covered face.
Beside him, Jen moved quickly, pulling out container after container of food she had prepared earlier. She handed him a warm stew, knowing Zack needed to maintain his strength.
Jen (encouragingly):
"You've got this, Zack. Just a little longer."
Zack nodded, his palms glowing brighter. Safari's muscles, once twisted with strain, slowly relaxed. The bruises and scratches covering his body began to fade. After ten minutes, the immense warrior's breathing steadied.
Safari (groaning as he opened his eyes):
"Back to normal, huh? Feels good."
Jen let out a relieved laugh, wiping her forehead. But as soon as Safari sat up, his gaze shifted to Angeleva. She was still motionless, her pale skin marred by the poison. Her wings twitched slightly, but her breaths were shallow.
Zack, though exhausted, immediately turned his attention to her.
Zack (determined):
"Hang in there, Angeleva."
Another ten minutes passed. The toll on the battle in Angeleva s body was gone, thanks to Zack's continuous healing. Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead, but he didn't stop.
Finally, Angeleva's eyes fluttered open.
Angeleva (weakly):
"I'm... still here?"
Safari let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. A strange sense of relief washed over him — one he didn't want to acknowledge.
Angeleva (smirking faintly, though her voice was weak):
"What's wrong? Were you worried about me?"
Safari scoffed, crossing his arms.
Safari (grinning to hide his relief):
"Worried? As if. I just think it'd be a shame if I didn't have any competition. Life would be pretty boring without someone to beat."
Angeleva chuckled softly, but her exhaustion was still apparent. She managed to push herself up, though her legs wobbled.
Without warning, Angeleva extended her wings, wrapping them around Zack and Jen. The fairy's wings were warm and soft, glowing faintly. This was something far more gentle.
Angeleva (smiling warmly):
"Thank you."
Zack blinked in surprise, his cheeks flushing.
Zack (flustered):
"I-It's no big deal!"
Jen laughed, touched by Angeleva's display of gratitude.
Jen:
"You're welcome, Angeleva."
Angeleva even ruffled Zack's hair playfully, as if he were her younger brother. The fairy warrior was now... simply kind.
Safari watched the moment in silence. For all their rivalry, seeing Angeleva act like this was strangely comforting.
"At least she's good with them," he thought.
But just as the peaceful moment settled — something clicked in Safari's mind.
His sharp eyes scanned the treehouse. Two faces were notably absent.
Safari (suspiciously):
"Where's Ian and Olive?"
Zack snickered, the mischievous sparkle returning to his eyes.
Zack (teasing):
"Oh, they went on a date."
Safari's brow twitched.
Safari:
"That's not a joke. Where did they go?"
Jen's smile faltered. She shifted nervously, avoiding Safari's gaze.
Jen (hesitating):
"Ian... rushed back to the castle. He wanted to get pictures of the battle."
Safari's fists clenched.
Safari:
"What?!"
Jen (quickly continuing):
"Olive was worried, so she went after him to make sure he didn't get himself killed."
The veins on Safari's forehead pulsed.
Safari (growling):
"That bastard is going to get us ALL killed one day!"
Without wasting another second, he stormed toward the castle. Angeleva, still exhausted, watched him go with a lingering gaze. She'd never seen this side of him before — the raw, protective anger.
Angeleva (softly):
"He really does care..."
The crumbling remains of the castle loomed once more. Safari's boots slammed against the dirt as he sprinted toward it, his curses echoing through the air.
Safari (grumbling):
"That idiot... I'll kill him myself if the zombies don't get to him first!"
But as he neared the entrance, he spotted two familiar figures.
Ian and Olive casually stepped out of the castle. Ian wore a triumphant grin, holding up his camera. Olive, on the other hand, looked thoroughly irritated.
Ian (excitedly):
"Big bro! You won't believe it! I got the most epic shots ever! Every explosion, every attack—it's all here!"
Safari ignored the camera entirely, storming up to Ian. Without hesitation, he grabbed the scrawny cameraman by the collar.
Safari (dangerously calm):
"Do something reckless like this again, and I'll kill you myself."
Ian blinked in confusion.
Ian (pouting):
"Why am I getting scolded?"
Safari's glare darkened.
Safari:
"Because you call me 'big bro' — and as your big bro, it's my duty to take responsibility for your stupid decisions."
Ian's mouth opened as if to argue, but he quickly shut it when he saw the burning fury in Safari's eyes.
Olive (crossing her arms):
"He didn't listen to me once. I had to drag him out of the castle half the time. He even said the ruins would make a 'perfect galactic horror theme' for some cinema shoot."
Ian beamed.
Ian:
"Exactly! This place could make millions in the galactic horror industry! Zombies, dark kings, cursed castles — it's all prime material!"
Safari's eye twitched.
Safari:
"I swear, Ian. If I didn't have a crew to take care of, you'd be decorating this horror film right now."
Olive (grinning faintly):
"I'd help."
Despite his frustration, Safari gave a long sigh.
Safari:
"Let's go, you two."
With Ian sulking and Olive rolling her eyes, they started their trek back to the treehouse.
Safari didn't say another word, but somewhere deep down, he was glad they were safe.
Safari stormed back into the treehouse, dragging Ian and Olive behind him. His frustration from their reckless antics hadn't faded, but before he could scold them further, he was met with an entirely different concern.
Zack rushed forward, his face pale with worry.
Zack (grabbing Safari's arm):
"Wait, big bro. You need to see this."
Safari tensed. Without another word, he followed Zack inside.
The treehouse, once filled with laughter and relief, now held a heavy silence. Angeleva lay on a makeshift bed, her body unnaturally still. Beads of sweat lined her forehead, and her skin had taken on a faint sickly hue. Beside her, Jen carefully dabbed a damp cloth across her face, her own eyes clouded with fear.
Zack (whispering):
"She suddenly collapsed again after you went off. She seemed fine for a while, but... then it hit her all at once. It's like she was poisoned."
Safari clenched his fists. The memory flashed through his mind — Devil's cursed blade stabbing into Angeleva's back. The dark king had grinned with malice as the venom seeped into her veins. Safari had seen it. He knew.
But in the chaos of battle, he had no choice but to focus on the fight.
And now, she was paying the price.
Safari (gritting his teeth):
"I should've stopped it. I should've—"
Jen (softly):
"This isn't your fault, big bro."
But the guilt remained.
Without hesitation, he lifted Angeleva into his arms and carried her back to their spaceship. Everyone were surprised by his change of attitude. No one commented on that knowing the seriousness of the situation.
Inside the spaceship, Zack set up the medical equipment.
Zack: "I can completely heal her in two days. But she needs constant care."
Safari stayed near, watching as the crew took turns helping.
Despite her not being part of the crew, they genuinely cared about her.
Jen (smiling softly): "We owe her a lot."
Ian: "Yeah, she's like our big sister!"
Safari didn't say anything, but he silently agreed.
Zack nudged him.
Zack: "You should help too."
Safari (grumbling): "Fine."
As he placed his hand over Angeleva, channeling his energy to assist in healing, a thought crossed his mind.
I owe you one, Fairy.
_ _ _
A day passed, and Angeleva slowly opened her eyes.
Ian (grinning): "Angeleva, you should've seen how worried big bro was for you!"
Angeleva acted as if she never heard that and turned her gaze towards everyone else.
Safari shot him a deadly glare.
Jen noticed that Angeleva was trying to be distant from Safari.
Safari: "Shut. Up."
Angeleva turned to Jen, who curiously asked:
Jen: "Why are you acting cold towards Safari?"
Angeleva sighed.
Angeleva: "Because fairies and devils don't get along."
Safari (nodding): "Exactly."
That was the end of that discussion.
However, the rest of the crew easily bonded with Angeleva.
She laughed with Jen.
She exchanged witty banter with Zack.
She was encouraging to Olive as she was fine tuning her weapon.
She even playfully teased Ian.
They already considered her family.
Zack (grinning): "Hey, Captain, how about tying the knot with her? That way, we'll see her every day!"
Safari (deadpan): "Never happening."
Zack (laughing): "C'mon, man, don't you think she'd make a great addition?"
Safari (crossing his arms): "I don't care if you guys interact with her. But me? It's just the devil-fairy ego and competitor relationship. That's all."
Angeleva smirked at him.
For the first time in her life, she didn't completely disagree.
And with that, they set course for their next planet.