Acma's room. 2100.

After their cryptic deal in Fisherman's Horizon, Acma and Zyma fell back into their familiar pattern of snapping at each other, even when they were alone together, just like in the early days. They were quite skilled at it, so much so that at times Acma wondered if he had misinterpreted their deal and if he genuinely reciprocated her feelings.

She gazed at the window, expecting him to come up. She really wanted to observe this time what tools he used to fly to her dorm room on the third floor like that.

BAM!

"Good evening!"

"Ahhh…"

He burst into her room through the door, startling her.

"You almost gave me a heart attack!" Acma exclaimed. "Why didn't you knock? And why didn't you use the window like usual?"

"Come on, use your brain! It's before curfew, so there's no need for me to fly through the window," he explained casually, before sitting on her chair, opening his backpack while taking off his boots as if he owned the place.

"And a knock would have been nice. What if I was changing?"

"Oh, cut the crap. You were expecting me by the clear window. Obviously, you wouldn't be changing, especially since I'm always on time. Unless…" Zyma teased, "… you want me to see you…"

Pervert. Acma took a few deep breaths trying to calm herself down. Why do I like this jerk?

"Did you clear your schedule for tomorrow, like I asked?" Zyma inquired.

"Yes, but could you please respond to my texts next time? What exactly are we doing that requires the whole day?" Acma questioned.

"A field trip. Do you still remember everything from my GF notebook?" Zyma asked.

"Maybe. I read it cover to cover, but that was like a month ago," Acma replied.

"Good. It's time to test your memory. Wear your rain boots and get on," Zyma instructed, motioning for Acma to attach herself to a metal clasp around his waist.

"What is this?" Acma asked, curious about the unfamiliar contraption.

"It will help us escape through the window."

"Why can't we just use the stairs? And where are we going?"

"Acma..." Zyma furrowed his brow. "I have only one rule. What is it?"

Acma sighed. "Don't ask questions. But think about it from my perspective. You're asking me to follow you out of the school overnight, taking what seems to be a risky route, to an unknown destination."

"Come on, trust your sensei a little more. And as for the location, where else could it be to test your memory from my GF notebook? Isn't it obvious?"

"You... You're going to show me your Guardian Forces?" Acma gasped with excitement.

"Get on, babe," Zyma smiled warmly.

Five minutes later, they found themselves aboard an aircraft in the transportation area.

"Drink this," Zyma handed Acma a potion with the label that read "Sleep potion."

"What is it?" Acma asked, surprised.

"It has a label on it. Can you read?" Zyma responded.

"It says 'Sleep potion.'"

"Yes."

"What do you mean 'yes'? Are you trying to drug me?" Acma rolled her eyes in disbelief.

"Yes, I want to drug you by handing you a Sleep Potion for you to drink," Zyma giggled.

"Urghhh, you drive me crazy. Don't you understand how strange this is from my point of view?"

"Maybe a little. But do you trust me?"

"Of course, but there are limits," she took her time to explain. It was no longer a surprise to her that Zyma lacked minimal understanding of what could make a girl feel uncomfortable. "If you were a girl, you wouldn't drink anything from a guy, let alone a Sleep Potion that renders you unconscious for hours. And on top of that, you're involved in a shady trading business that could potentially involve human organs..."

Her voice trailed off as she came up with another possibility as she spoke.

"Wow, wow, wow. That's what you think of me?" He put up a hand to stop her imagination. "We won't be alone when we get there."

"That's not reassuring at all! My imaginary mom, if I even had one, would slap me repeatedly if she found out I was going with you," Acma retorted, shaking her head.

"Fair," Zyma sighed, and he stopped the engine.

Silence.

"What now?" Acma asked.

"Well, I want to make sure you don't know the location of the GF cavern," Zyma explained. "It's dangerous if too many people know about it."

"Right... who's the one with trust issues here?" Acma replied, a tinge of sadness in her voice.

"It's also for your safety," Zyma explained.

"What about my safety? Even if I trust you, what if we get ambushed and someone takes me?" Acma narrowed her eyes.

"Yeah, I'm sorry," Zyma said. "Look, I really want you to come with me, but I understand why you might choose not to."

They fell into silence, contemplating their options.

"What do you suggest?" Acma asked. "Is there any way to ease the restrictions from your end?"

"I don't want you to know the length of the trip or which direction we're heading."

"I can wear a bandana, and you can take me on a random route?" she suggested.

"That could work."

Sensing some hesitation in his voice, Acma reassured.

"I'm really sleepy, too. I'll sleep for real."

"Okay."

"Any other concerns?" she asked. Something in his eyes told her she had not totally convinced him yet.

Zyma found it difficult to answer her question. He had never let his guard down this much before. He had feelings for her, but trusting someone he had only known for less than half a year was not typical, especially considering she was secretive about her time in Trabia and her high-level magic casting abilities. His instincts told him there was more to her than met the eye.

"No, babe. I'm sorry you have to go through all of this," he gave in regardless.

"No problem. I can't wait to see the dark GFs in real life," she smiled.

"Good. Here, take my bandana. Have a good sleep. I'll wake you up when we arrive."

"Acma, we're here," Zyma gently woke her from her slumber. As she blinked her eyes open, she realized they were still inside the aircraft, but the cacophony of crashing waves and the smell of salt in the air indicated they were in close proximity to an ocean.

Stretching her limbs, Acma followed Zyma as they disembarked from the aircraft and made their way toward a massive cavern situated on an island in the heart of the sea.

The ocean swirled with a violent energy, its dark waves churning and crashing against the rugged cliffs surrounding the island.

The cavern itself loomed before them, its entrance resembling a gaping maw leading into the depths of the earth. The sound of dripping water echoed within, creating an eerie melody that sent shivers down her spine. As they drew closer, she could see the faint glow emanating from within, casting an otherworldly light that danced upon the jagged walls.

Stalagmites reached up from the cavern floor like ancient sentinels, their sharp tips gleaming ominously in the dim light. Crystals of various sizes and hues adorned the cavern walls, their vibrant colors contrasting against the darkness. They sparkled and glimmered, as if holding secrets and untapped power within their crystalline structures.

"It's beautiful," Acma exclaimed, her eyes widening in awe as she took in the sight of the cavern's radiant crystals. "What are these crystals? Can they store magic, like the ones Galbadia uses instead of GF?"

"You know about Galbadia's technology?" Zyma asked, surprise flickering across his face.

"Of course. Crystals aren't as effective as GF junctioning, but they're definitely safer," Acma replied.

"Right... Anyway these crystals are just normal crystals. The presence of GF energies does accelerate their formation process, though," Zyma explained.

"Magical. Thank you for showing me this," Acma expressed her gratitude.

"You haven't seen the GFs yet," Zyma said, reaching out a hand to offer her reassurance as they prepared to enter a narrow passage. "Be careful. These crystals can be sharp."

As they descended to a lower level, a familiar voice greeted them from afar.

"Zyma! Acma! We're glad you two can make it!" Sean's voice echoed through the cavern, and to Acma's surprise, he seemed unfazed by her presence.

"Sean? Tatulia! Thank Hyne, I was worried someone might butcher me here," Acma couldn't contain her joy at seeing familiar and welcoming faces.

"Really? We really need to work on your trust issues," Zyma chided, shaking his head.

"He tried to drug me with a Sleep Potion," Acma explained to the couple, her tone tinged with amusement.

"Tried? I had to drink the Sleep Potion myself," Tatulia chimed in, playfully jabbing Sean's ribcage with her elbow.

"Arhhh... I guess you're not as persuasive as Acma. Look at how she's softened Zyma," Sean teased.

"We're trusted teammates, that's all," Zyma interjected, ushering Sean toward another passage. "Now give them a tour, mate."

Acma blushed as she realized Zyma had invited her to explore his sanctuary in the company of a real couple. She followed Sean and Tatulia as they led her through the cavern, showcasing the areas where they prepared food and shelter for the GFs.

"Do the Dark GFs eat food?" Acma inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"Didn't I write that down in my notebook?" Zyma replied with a mischievous grin.

"No. I wouldn't have missed that interesting fact," Acma confirmed.

"I see. Well, you can help me add that detail then. While Dark GFs don't necessarily need food to survive, they certainly wouldn't mind a treat. After all, they were once living creatures of flesh and blood," Zyma explained.

"We try to keep them separated as much as possible," Sean chimed in, leading Acma into an empty room. "But some of them are quite social and friendly. They come out and interact with each others regardless."

"Zyma mentioned that they speak different ancient languages," Acma recalled, her memory sparked by their conversation at Master Miyagi's house.

"You'll have to ask the expert here," Zyma pointed to Tatulia. "Tatulia has helped us decipher some ancient scripts and locate a few stranded Dark GFs. They're overjoyed to find their own kind."

"It's been an honor contributing to this preservation work. It's disheartening to think that some GFs have been left to slumber in loneliness for thousands of years," Tatulia said, her voice filled with a sense of purpose as she held Sean's hand.

"That's awesome! Can you speak their languages then?" Acma asked in excitement. "How to say hi to a GF?"

"Um…" Tatulia suddenly stammered, "it's quite a shame. I don't know what came to me, but my mind is kind of blank for a few weeks now. I forget a lot of things…"

"That's alright, dear," Sean wrapped his arm around his girlfriend's shoulder, "side-effects of GF usage are not thoroughly studied. This could be a temporary one like you said."

The group kept venturing through a long passage of crystals changing colors until they reached an intersection, where Sean turned to Acma and Zyma.

"Let's split up here," Sean suggested. "There are two chambers, each housing groups of GFs from different elements. It's easier to create suitable environments for them that way. Tatulia and I will head down the ice path."

Zyma guided Acma along the Fire path, their footsteps echoing through the dimly lit cavern. As they reached a higher platform, they stood at the edge, overlooking a vast chamber below. Acma's breath caught in her throat as her gaze settled upon the majestic form of a Dark GF in the shape of a dragon.

"This is Drakarion," Zyma whispered.

Drakarion perched upon a massive obsidian rock, its scales shimmering with an iridescent blend of crimson, gold, and midnight blue. Its body was sleek and muscular, exuding a sense of power and grace.

Acma noticed its eyes, orbs of intense emerald green that seemed to hold the wisdom of ages. Its snout was adorned with sharp, gleaming fangs, hinting at its ferocious nature and the potential devastation it could unleash. Wisps of smoke curled from its nostrils, carried by the gentle breeze that swept through the chamber. Acma could almost feel the heat radiating from its body, a testament to its affinity for fire.

As if sensing their presence, Drakarion unfurled its wings, stretching them to their full span, revealing intricate patterns etched into the membranes. The sudden action startled Acma, and she instinctively backed off, her eyes widening in awe.

"Don't worry, she's with me," Zyma assured Drakarion, his voice calm and soothing.

Acma watched in wonder as Zyma spoke to the dragon, amazed that he seemed to understand the creature's language. She leaned closer to Zyma, whispering, "Does it understand us?"

"That's a he," Zyma smiled, his eyes sparkling. "And yes, love is our mutual language. They respond in their own ancient tongues though."

As if in response, Drakarion let out a deep rumble.

"What did he say?" Acma asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

Zyma's smile widened. "He said, 'You're beautiful.' Drakarion was a knight in his previous life and has an eye for true beauty."

A blush spread across her face. She turned to Drakarion and greeted him with a respectful bow. "Nice to meet you, Drakarion. I'm Acma. It's an honor to meet you."

Drakarion extended his wing once more, as if acknowledging her greeting, before gracefully retreating to his nest.

Seemingly content with Acma's respectful approach, Zyma led her further into the cavern. They walked through several chambers, glimpsing at GFs of different shapes and sizes, until they reached the end of a passage where a small lake shimmered in the dim light.

"Basilisk, come meet my friend," Zyma called out, his voice echoing through the void.

Suddenly, a creature emerged from the depths of the lake. Its scales glistened with a myriad of colors, shifting between shades of emerald green, cobalt blue, and amethyst purple. Basilisk's eyes, deep pools of golden light, fixed upon Acma and Zyma with an intensity that sent shivers down Acma's spine.

Zyma gestured for Acma to approach. "Open to touch her?"

Surprised by the offer, Acma's eyes lit up with excitement. "I can do that?"

"If you dare to," Zyma replied with a playful glint in his eyes. "Just a heads up, she can sense any hostility."

Acma nodded, her curiosity outweighing any apprehension. "I'll be gentle. Thank you for offering. I really appreciate it."

Zyma felt pleased, seeing Acma open to the experience. As they drew closer, Basilisk flickered its forked black tongue.

"Hello, Basilisk. I am Acma. Nice to meet you!"

Acma's hand trembled slightly as she reached out. Sensing her genuine intentions, Basilisk closed its eyes, its scales gently grazing Acma's palm.

"She was a loving mom and a powerful soldier in her previous life," Zyma said, joining her with petting Basilisk.

"She's beautiful," Acma smiled wider as she couldn't contain her happiness for this magical touch.

Basilisk said something.

"Yeah. You're right." Zyma replied to Basilisk.

"What did she say?" Acma asked.

Zyma looked at her with a smile but decided not to answer. Instead, he glanced back at Basilisk. "We'll be back," he said, leading Acma back to the intersection to meet with Sean and Tatulia.

As they approached, Acma's suspicion grew as she noticed the couple tightly holding each other and swaying in happiness.

Tatulia proudly displayed her hand adorned with a beautiful ruby ring. "We're engaged!" she announced.

"Aw, congratulations!" Acma exclaimed, moving towards Tatulia with open arms.

"Winter wedding, and we hope you two can make it," Sean offered, his voice filled with excitement.

"Of course, mate. We'll…" Zyma began to respond, but he stopped midway, realizing he hadn't confirmed with Acma.

"We'll be there," Acma blushed, glancing back at Zyma for confirmation and then turning to Sean and Tatulia. "It's our honor. Thank you very much."

Zyma handed Acma his bandana as they returned to their aircraft.

"Are you sure you don't want to rest before flying all the way back? You haven't slept in a day," Acma asked.

"Nah... I'm fine," Zyma replied.

"You don't trust me to stay here alone, do you?" Acma questioned.

Zyma simply smiled. "Sleep potion? Only if you need it."

"Fine," she agreed, taking the bottle and drinking it, both to reassure him and to fall asleep in the middle of the day. She pressed a button to recline her seat slowly.

"Wait," Zyma stopped her just as she was about to lay down.

She sat up and looked at him. Zyma squatted on the floor, bringing their faces dangerously close.

"I've shown you one of the most hidden treasures on earth, babe. A little show of gratitude would be great," he smiled and winked, expecting something in return.

Blushing, Acma looked down. "I... I've never done that before," she hesitated.

Zyma teased, "I don't believe you. I'm pretty sure you've done that many times."

"No, I haven't," she frowned, slightly annoyed by his accusation.

"Whatever. I'm waiting," he continued smiling, adjusting to be at eye level with her.

She breathed quickly. Her first kiss. Whatever.

She quickly planted a kiss on his cheek and looked away, wondering what would happen next.

To her surprise, Zyma put his head down and placed his knuckle on his forehead. He giggled. Hard.

What on earth? She thought, then rolled her eyes at him in disbelief. Jerk.

"I was expecting just a simple 'thank you,' but... okay," he explained then laughed.

She scrunched up her face and covered it with both hands. This jerk. He got her again. She hoped there was a hole in the aircraft to jump into.

She felt him grab her wrists, but she resisted, not wanting him to see her embarrassment.

"Hey, I'm sorry. Are you mad?" he asked.

She didn't reply but squeaked in embarrassment and anger. She could tell from his voice that he still found her mistake funny.

He gently stroked her hair and planted a kiss on the top of her head. "Here, you know I don't like owing anyone."

She stopped moving as she processed what had just happened.

"Sleep tight, babe," he said, stroking her hair one last time before walking towards the control panel.

Quickly, she lowered his bandana, laid down, and covered her entire body with a blanket.

"And you always say your mom taught you not to force women?" she spoke up after safely covering her blushing face.

"Babe, I didn't force you to do anything. You kissed me..." Zyma began.

"Urgh... Lalala…" Acma squeaked, not letting him finish. "If I ever meet your mom, I'll ask her whose side she's on."

"Please do," he smiled, starting the engine.

Just moments later, the sleep potion took effect. He turned around to see her covered in the blanket and snoring soundly in her slumber.

"She already likes you," he murmured.