Bliss

Bliss left the comfort of her cozy little book nook with a determined heart. She wasn’t built for the frontlines. But she was built to support the people who had helped her rediscover her voice and carve a space for herself in this chaotic, insanely dangerous world. Ciela and Wulfrin had done more for her than they probably realized, and now it was her turn to show up for them. As she stepped outside, she fired off a quick message to Astra, who was already off delivering the sword. She took a breath, gripping her huge wrench tightly. Time to be brave. Floor 29 wasn’t what she expected.

Bliss was separated from Cobean and Astra. She wasn't expecting a relaxing day at the beach to turn into being attacked by random mossy and water elementals. Acanthus swapped to helping everyone with the water elemental, but Bliss kept focused on the three boars the water elemental left behind. * * * Attack #2 with spear: Boar 1: ID: 247695 | BD: 7 | DMG: 3 Boar 2: ID: 247696 | BD: 6 | DMG: 3 Boar 3: ID: 247697 | BD: 1 | DMG: 0

Bliss only glanced away for a second, just one second, and when she looked back, the tall, blonde man had vanished like a ghost. She blinked in disbelief, scanning the area as if he'd somehow melted into the crowd. “W-What the…” she mumbled softly, peeking behind the NPC she’d originally been talking to. With a shrug and a confused expression, she accepted the quest and took a small breath. Welp, that was weird. Then, a familiar voice cut through the ambient hum of the forest town. She hadn’t actually spoken to him before, but she remembered his voice echoing across the beach on Floor 24.

Bliss felt her heart thumping as her own words echoed in her head, favorite person. Why did she say that? What if it was too much? She glanced at Astra, whose mouth hung slightly open in surprise. She couldn’t tell if he was stunned in a good way, or if she’d just scared him off. Her mind spiraled with doubt. She was never great at reading people, and the silence between them was growing unbearable. Then, he spoke. A wave of relief washed over her so fast she nearly exhaled a laugh. The tension melted from her shoulders, replaced with a bright, beaming smile. “I t-totally get w-what yo

"O-Okay. L-Let's h-head over there," Bliss said with a small nod, starting to walk beside Cobean with her lukewarm hot chocolate cradled carefully in her hands. She wasn’t really watching where she was going, her mind was still whirling from everything that had happened the other day at the beach. Then suddenly, WHAM. She walked face-first into something solid. Or rather, someone. Her mug went flying from her hands like a launched projectile, the contents erupting into the air and cascading down like a sticky chocolate waterfall. Both the person she'd hit and Cobean were instantly drenche

A soft blush rose across Bliss’ cheeks as Astra spoke, his words echoing in her chest, his heart felt stronger since they met. Her own heart skipped, thudded, fluttered. It felt like something inside her had shifted, as if everything was just… lighter now. No one had ever said anything like that to her before, not with that kind of sincerity. It was overwhelming and beautiful all at once. When Astra gently guided their joined hands to rest on the blanket between them, still laced tightly together, Bliss instinctively tightened her grip. She didn’t want to let go. Not now. Maybe not ever.

Bliss rocked on her heels, twiddling her thumbs as she waited for the ridiculously pretty man to respond. Her blue eyes flickered over his sharp features, tracing the way the sunlight played in his hair. Bliss stared at the scenery so that she wouldn't stare at the man in front of her. The silence stretched, making her fidget more. Is he gonna answer… or is he just kinda gonna leave me hanging? Guess so... She glanced away awkwardly, only to sneak a peek, this time at the elven man beside them. That’s when it hit her. He wasn’t ignoring them. He was waiting. Politely. Her stomach twi

Bliss eagerly accepted the lemonade from Astra, her fingers brushing his lightly as she took the drink. "T-Thank you," she said, smiling softly before taking a sip. The coolness of the lemonade was refreshing, but not nearly as much as Astra’s presence. There was something about being with him, in this moment, that made her feel at peace, like the outside world and all its dangers were nothing but a distant echo. She listened closely as he reassured her, his laughter easing the lingering worries in her chest. The sincerity in his voice made her want to believe every word, and yet… a small

"N-Not r-really," Bliss admitted, shifting the sand beneath her feet. "W-Well, I-I did f-find t-two c-crystals." She held up the small red gems for Astra to see, the sunlight catching their edges and making them gleam. But before she could even finish her thought, the crystals in her hands suddenly began to vibrate violently. "W-Wha—?" Bliss barely had time to react before an invisible force ripped through the air, sending her flying backward. The sudden yank stole the breath from her lungs as she was violently thrown across the sand, tumbling uncontrollably toward the tables in the main area.

Bliss took a bite of the sandwich Astra had handed her, her eyes lighting up immediately. “Th-This is amazing!” she exclaimed between bites, her stutter softening in her excitement. “I agree, C-Ciela really o-outdid herself!” She savored each mouthful, enjoying the rich flavors and the care that had clearly gone into preparing it. By the time she finished, she wore a satisfied smile. “C-Could I have s-some lemonade?” she asked, her tone warm and grateful, her eyes meeting Astra’s as she waited for a drink. When Astra smiled and reassured her not to worry, Bliss felt her concerns ease, eve

Bliss was lost in her thoughts, her mind running in circles about the daunting climb ahead, when a familiar voice pulled her back to reality. She turned to see KnightinGale approaching, relief and apprehension flickering across her face. “O-Oh. I-I… Uh…” she stammered, her gaze dropping nervously to the ground. Finally, she looked up, her eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and unease. “I-I’m t-terrified of h-heights,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. KnightinGale’s presence was comforting, a reminder that she wouldn’t have to face this alone. “I-I t-think I c-can d-deal wit

As Bliss settled beside Astra on the soft picnic blanket, she felt a wave of nostalgia wash over her. The crisp breeze, the serene lake, and the thoughtful setup brought back memories of simpler times she hadn't experienced in so long. “I-I’m very c-comfy. Thank y-you,” she said with a soft smile, her voice laced with gratitude. She bit her lip through the smile, her gaze shifting to Astra as he dug into the picnic basket. “Oh w-wow,” she remarked, her stutter momentarily fading as surprise took over. “That’s a lot o-of st-stuff. It’s a-amazing t-that it a-all fit in th-that l-little basket.”

“Oooh… I-I enjoy m-mushies!” Bliss exclaimed with a cheerful tone, picking up one of the mushrooms and flashing a sweet smile at Astra. Her fingers twirled the little fungi as she spoke, her voice growing softer. “Of c-course I w-wanna keep y-you c-company!” As the words left her lips, her cheeks tinged pink, and her voice grew even quieter. “I-I’ll always have t-time for you. Y-You’re l-like m-my favorite p-person to h-hang out with.” The moment the words escaped, her brain caught up, and she mentally facepalmed. DUMMY! Why did you have to say that? He’s totally going to think you’re a spaz n

Upon seeing Astra blush, Bliss’s lips curved into a gentle smile. Is he as nervous as I am? She wondered, the thought sending a flicker of warmth through her chest. Her fingers instinctively reached for a strand of her hair, twirling it in a familiar, calming rhythm. Her mind buzzed with questions, her thoughts a tangle of hope and uncertainty. Does he feel the same way I do? The idea lingered in her mind, growing with every sweet and thoughtful gesture Astra made. Do… do I have a crush on him? The thought hit her like a wave, making her heart race. It was a terrifying yet exhilarating thought

Bliss could feel herself slowly returning to a state of calm. Her breathing was steadying, no longer shaky and shallow. The weight in her chest had begun to lift, allowing her to think more clearly. “I-I h-hope t-to o-one d-day h-hear the r-reason,” she said softly, glancing between Astra and Cobean with a grateful but timid smile. “T-Thank you b-both f-for b-being here. I-I d-do l-like b-being a-alone s-sometimes, b-but h-having b-both of y-you h-here seemed t-to c-calm m-me down f-faster t-than usual.” The words tumbled out of her mouth with her usual stammer, but there was warmth in her ton