Eden Transmigration

The wind howled through the jagged cliffs of Glacivarn as Melinoe and Havvaris stood amidst the carnage left by the demonic beasts. Their breath came in rapid gasps, misting in the frigid air. Havvaris had shifted back into his human form, his white hair tousled by the wind as he gazed at her with sharp, piercing eyes.

Melinoe took a deep breath, grounding herself after the battle. She turned to the tall, imposing figure beside her. "So, what's your full name?"

Havvaris smirked, his sharp canines peeking out slightly. "Havvaris Snowfang," he said smoothly, brushing a speck of blood from his sleeve. "Duke of Fenrath, leader of the Northern Vanguard. And you, little human?"

"Melinoe Karma," she answered, this time adding her last name. "I'm... twenty-three." She hesitated before mentioning her age, unsure of the significance it held in this world. "And you and Nyxpanther know each other?"

Havvaris chuckled, his voice deep and rich. "You could say that. We've crossed paths many times. He would refuse to call me a friend, but he doesn't need to. I already consider him one."

Melinoe raised a brow. "He doesn't seem like the friendly type."

"Oh, he's not," Havvaris admitted with amusement. "But he's reliable. Just don't tell him I said that."

She found herself smiling at his ease, his warmth a stark contrast to Nyxpanther's brooding silence. But just as she relaxed, a tingle ran up her spine. The remnants of the battle still lingered, and something in the air felt... wrong.

She took a shaky breath, trying to shake off the unease when her vision blurred. A pulse, deep and ancient, awakened within her. It wasn't just the aftermath of the fight—something inside her stirred. A surge of raw energy spread through her veins, and before she could stop it, power erupted from her fingertips.

A blinding light tore through the battlefield, momentarily illuminating the darkened sky. The lingering traces of demonic energy in the air were burned away in an instant.

Havvaris stepped back slightly, his eyes widening. "What... was that?"

Melinoe looked at her hands, the glow fading. She felt... lighter. "I don't know," she murmured, shaken. But deep down, something told her this wasn't the first time. She had felt this power before—back when she had first arrived in this world.

Havvaris stepped closer, his gaze locked onto her. He inhaled deeply, a faint, almost imperceptible growl vibrating in his throat. "You... you smell different," he muttered, a mix of confusion and fascination in his tone. "Your presence... It's intoxicating."

Melinoe swallowed, suddenly aware of the intensity in his gaze. "That's—uh, not something I hear every day."

Before she could say more, the ground beneath her crumbled. She gasped as her footing slipped, the icy cliffside cracking beneath the weight of the battle's aftermath. Gravity pulled her down—but before she could plummet, Havvaris lunged.

Strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back just in time. The force sent them tumbling onto the ground, with Melinoe landing on top of him. His arms remained firm around her as the reality of how close they were settled in.

Melinoe's breath hitched. The tension between them was thick, and Havvaris wasn't letting go. "You okay?" he asked, his voice lower, rougher.

Before she could answer, a furious growl cut through the air.

A streak of black shot toward them, landing mere feet away. Nyxpanther, in his full beast form, his sleek black fur bristling, his golden eyes burning with barely restrained rage.

Melinoe froze. "Nyx—"

Before she could finish, Nyxpanther lunged at Havvaris with terrifying speed. Havvaris barely had time to roll away before Nyx's claws slashed through the spot where he had just been.

"Tch," Havvaris scoffed, shifting to his wolf form in an instant. "Figured you'd react like this."

The black leopard and the white wolf circled each other, the air thick with territorial aggression.

"Stop it!" Melinoe shouted, pushing herself between them. "Nyx! He saved me!"

Nyxpanther halted, his ears twitching at her voice, but his gaze remained locked onto Havvaris. After a tense moment, he shifted back into his human form, his expression unreadable. Without hesitation, he strode to Melinoe and pulled her into his arms.

His hands roamed over her shoulders, her arms, her waist, checking for injuries. "You're not hurt?" His voice was low, rough with concern.

"I'm fine," she assured him softly.

Nyxpanther exhaled sharply before hugging her tightly against his chest. His grip was possessive, his body warm despite the icy winds. Over Melinoe's shoulder, he shot Havvaris a death glare, his golden eyes gleaming with warning.

Havvaris, now back in human form, merely smirked. "Jealous, are we?"

Nyxpanther ignored him, focusing solely on Melinoe. He nuzzled into her hair, inhaling deeply as if to reassure himself that she was really there. His fingers tightened slightly on her waist before he whispered, "Never scare me like that again."

Melinoe swallowed hard. She had never seen him like this—so openly protective, so... vulnerable. The realization sent her heart pounding in her chest.

Havvaris crossed his arms, still grinning. "Well, this is going to be interesting."