Chapter 302: Keep Warm.

Chapter 302: 302: Keep Warm.

"What is it?" Nyx immediately stared up at the sky to see what she was talking about.

"Oh..." Ayra blinked as she gazed into the distance. "It wasn’t a shooting star..."

Nyx found himself smiling as he watched her. "What are we waiting for again?"

Ayra smiled. "Hmm. It’s a flying star that moves across the sky every once in a while. Really fast... And there’s a theory that if you make a wish while it passes, your wish will surely come true."

As she explained, Nyx slowly nodded while staring at the sky. "That’s interesting. So it’s something like... the Beast Gods’ intervention?"

"...."

Ayra blinked at him before slowly nodding. She guessed that was the best way to explain it to him. "That’s about right..."

"So what are you going to wish for?" Nyx asked, turning his gaze toward her.

Ayra kept her eyes on the sky as she shrugged. "Hmm, I’ll probably use my wish for you. I’ll wish that you’ll be able to stay happy for as long as you’re here." She smiled.

Nyx was deeply moved as he sat there staring at her, his heart warming at her words.

"So what are you going to wish for?" she asked.

Nyx hesitated, blinking as he stared into the sky as well. "Eh... I’m not sure..."

She smiled. "Okay, then. You can make your wish in your mind."

With that, they both turned their gazes toward the sky and waited for the shooting star to appear.

They sat there quietly, but nothing came. They waited for a long time, yet the sky remained unchanged.

Before long, Ayra began feeling sleepy. Exhausted from waiting, she yawned and struggled to stay awake, determined not to miss the shooting star. However, their wait seemed to be in vain.

Soon, her head began to droop as Nyx continued staring persistently at the sky. Ayra was already dozing off, and before long, her head fell onto Nyx’s shoulder.

Nyx stiffened, almost shocked, as he looked down at her face. Her eyes were shut, and she was already fast asleep on his shoulder.

"You... Wake up..." Nyx tried poking her forehead, but she was already out cold. He sighed, trying not to move and disturb her.

He was forced to sit there as still as possible while she slept peacefully against him. "Aren’t you supposed to be waiting for some stars or something...?" he muttered, glancing back up at the sky.

After a while, Nyx finally caught sight of something moving across the stars. A shooting star was making its way through the sky, and he instantly felt excited.

With a smile, he turned toward Ayra to wake her up, gently tapping her side. "Hey... Wake up... You’ll miss it..." He tried several times, but to no avail.

Ayra remained fast asleep on his shoulder. Nyx stared at her, watching her sleep peacefully like a baby.

He sighed and shook his head. He didn’t want to disturb her, so he turned his attention back to the shooting star.

Recalling what she’d told him, Nyx slowly closed his eyes and silently made a few wishes. As the shooting star flew across the sky, he opened his eyes again and gazed up at the stars.

"Mmmm..." Ayra groaned as she shifted in her sleep. Still fast asleep, she wrapped her arms around Nyx’s shoulders and leaned closer to him.

"...."

Nyx was speechless as he looked down at her. "What are you...?"

Before he could finish, Ayra snuggled closer against him, like a baby seeking comfort from its mother.

Nyx paused, saying nothing. Instead, he sat there looking down at her as she slowly cuddled up to him, her arms moving around his body as she sought warmth.

Nyx stiffened as her arms wrapped firmly around his bare torso. He could feel his heart fluttering wildly at the unexpected closeness.

"Hey..." he tried speaking, but Ayra only pressed closer, resting her head against his chest with one hand around his waist as she continued sleeping.

"Hold me..." she mumbled in her sleep. "So cold... Hold me..."

Her voice was soft and soothing as she clung to him.

At that moment, Nyx felt an overwhelming urge to protect her. "Let’s go inside..." he murmured, trying to help her up, but she only hugged him more tightly.

"No... So cold... Keep me warm..." she mumbled in her sleep, clinging to him like a child refusing to let go of their mother.

Nyx couldn’t stop his heart from fluttering. He stared at her for a while before slowly bringing himself to hug her back.

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a full embrace to keep her warm. Ayra melted into his warmth, her delicate body nestled against his broad chest.

He hesitated for a moment before tightening his arms around her, holding her securely as she breathed softly against him.

At that moment, Nyx struggled to suppress his racing heart as he held her close.

"So warm..." Ayra mumbled, still fast asleep in his embrace. "So warm..."

Nyx looked down at her, feeling the urge to cover her up even more. He then brought his tail around her and wrapped it gently around her body, keeping her warm.

And so they remained beneath the tree, wrapped in each other’s warmth as the night settled around them.

---

Nyx awoke to the feeling of something tugging at his side.

He groaned softly, still lying there with Ayra nestled firmly in his arms. He was holding her securely, and she remained fast asleep against him.

However, something was tugging at him from the side. And it was close around him.

Nyx tried to ignore it, hoping to continue sleeping, but the tugging came again and again, growing more persistent with each pull.

By then, he could tell that someone was nearby.

Alertness washed over him. And without hesitation, Nyx snapped his eyes open and turned to see who or what it was that was pulling close to his side persistently.