Guardians of Immortal Keys

Chapter Eight: Fates Unveiling

Even though both are still bewildered from the disappearing key, the two managed a late-night modest dinner from Liana's belongings, with the simplicity of only bread and water. Moments moved so fast, that Iñigo found himself abruptly yanked back into a stark reality as he now lay in his bed, enveloped in the darkness that seemed to swallow the edges of his room - making it feel more like a cell than a place of rest. The chill in the air was more than physical; it was a reminder of the isolation that had crept into his life. Sleep eluded him - it was chased away by the relentless replay of the recent events - from the devastating attack on his home, the heroic sacrifice of his father, whose final moments haunted Iñigo ceaselessly, and the ever-present threat of the Obsidian agents to their life.

A heavy sigh escaped him as he sat up, the weight of their situation pressing down on him. We'll never find peace again, he thought grimly. The idea of safety and freedom seemed like a cruel joke now. With a restless energy driving him, Iñigo stood and ventured out of his room, seeking a brief escape from all of his thoughts.

The hallway was very silent - almost deafening, only his own footsteps can be heard. Each step was a reminder to him of his father's last words, and each creak of the wood beneath his feet was a stark reminder that he was now alone - no one to depend to but himself. Tears are about to streak, but he tried hard to fought them back, especially when he noticed Liana's door was slightly opened. He didn't want her to see him like this - vulnerable, and on the verge of breaking, since they just met only few days ago. He doesn't want to look weak.

Peeking inside and finding the room empty, Iñigo's concern deepened. Was it the Obsidian again? He thought to himself. He moved quietly through the house, led by a sliver of moonlight to the open balcony door. There, in a scene that seemed almost otherworldly, he found Liana staring at the horizon. She was sitting in the moonlight, her hair - as dark as the raven's feather, flowing in the gentle night breeze, a stark contrast to the turmoil that had enveloped their lives.

For a moment, Iñigo forgot the chaos - drawn to her charm. Approaching her, he couldn't help but notice as well the serene beauty of the scene - the perfect view from the balcony overlooking the outskirts of the village. It was a moment of tranquility amidst the storm.

Liana was startled in Iñigo's presence, but quickly turned at his approach, a slight smile touching her lips. "Oh. Hey," she greeted softly.

"What are you doing out here?" Iñigo asked, his voice low, not wanting to disturb the peaceful night.

"Oh. Just thinking. Can't sleep. You too?" Liana's reply was equally soft, a shared confession in the silence of the night.

Iñigo nodded, joining her gaze towards the horizon. They stood together in silence, a comfortable yet electrifying tension building between them as the first light of dawn began to break, painting the sky with shades of orange and pink.

"Pretty," Liana whispered, her eyes fixed on the emerging dawn.

"Yes," Iñigo replied, his gaze inadvertently shifting to Liana. The moment their eyes met, there was a palpable shift - a mutual recognition of something more. It was like one of those moments when children had their first crush - pure and innocent. Iñigo's heart raced, while Liana's gaze held a mixture of compassion and something deeper, unexplored.

The moment was fleeting, breaking under the weight of their reality. Liana shifted the topic to the Immortal Device, an attempt to steer away from the tension. "Umm. About the Immortal Device," she started, breaking the silence.

"You mean Immortal Data?" Iñigo corrected, a smile breaking through the awkwardness.

"Yes, haha. Let's just call it Immortal Device, since it has changed now somehow," Liana said with a light laugh, easing the atmosphere.

Back inside, they focused on the Immortal Data or so the Immortal Device, moving yet still calibrating. Liana's theory was that it now responded solely to Iñigo when he initially broke it - triggering its change, a hypothesis she was eager to test. So she guide his hand to the device, both of them felt a sudden spark at their touch of their skin - making them shiver. They shrug it off by proceeding - disregarding the thought. As soon as Iñigo's fingers brushed the circular plate in the middle of the device, they watched it in awe as something in its middle mechanism opened, then a mystical glowing blue core reveal itself.

"Oh sh*t, I knew it!," Liana said, a mix of triumph and wonder in her voice. Iñigo was bewildered with Liana's reaction, but just laugh it off. "Okay, here we go." Liana added. Shakily and still unsure - she gently then touched the core, then the device responded with an intense light, marking her hand with a scar similar to Iñigo's, but her is different instead of glowing red, its bluish white.

The device now moves wildly and then a hologram appear in front of them - it's as if it can now acknowledge Liana's presence. It then spoke, cutting the serenity, a voice resonating with ancient power, "Ice Guardian." The words hung in the air, a declaration of a new reality for them.

Then a frozen glazed key appeared in the air - moving in swift motion. The air around them suddenly drops temperature - coldness blanketed the living room. Liana's look was too amazed, but Iñigo's, on the other hand, does not, as his body reacts differently from aura of it. More like feverish.

As they stood there, the dawn casting a soft glow around them, they realized the depth of their connection and the journey that lay ahead. Bound by fate, marked by the device, they were no longer merely fugitives but guardians with a shared destiny. The moment was intense, filled with a mix of uncertainty, newfound purpose, and an unspoken promise of what might be between them-a cliffhanger on the cusp of a new day.