Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord

"Lyrassa?"

Atlas murmured her name softly as he looked up to see her kneeling gracefully before him.

"Am I interrupting your rest, My Lord?"

"No," he replied with a faint smile. "I've had enough time to rest. I just needed a moment to clear my mind."

He patted the space beside him. "Come."

With elegant ease, Lyrassa moved to his left, settling beside him with her legs tucked neatly to the side.

Atlas knew this was one of her favorite spots, so it wasn't surprising to find her here. As a Nature Spirit, her connection to the natural world was undeniable. Her talent, Forest Heartbeat, tied her to the forests and their energies, making this serene haven the perfect place for her.

He realized he hadn't spent much time talking with her lately, something he had been meaning to change. His intense training sessions were usually overseen by Kurogasa, and during his recent visit to the Lower Lands, he hadn't brought her along.

For a while, they sat in silence, shoulders lightly touching. The serene atmosphere of the area wrapped around them, as if the grove itself was cradling them in its peace.

The soft rustling of leaves, the vibrant colors of flowers, and the cool air made it feel like they were in a world apart. Even the distant sounds of the island seemed unable to reach this secluded haven.

"Do you have something to…" Lyrassa's voice gently broke the silence. "Something you'd like to share with me, My Lord?"

"Share?" Atlas echoed, tilting his head slightly toward her.

Lyrassa met his gaze. She gave a soft nod, patiently waiting for his reply.

It was just like her. Lyrassa always had a way of sensing what others couldn't. Whether it was buried emotions or thoughts left unsaid, she somehow managed to reach beyond the surface.

More than once, she'd even claimed she could hear what people were thinking.

Atlas had witnessed it firsthand often enough to believe her. Though this ability never appeared on her official list of talents, there was no doubt in his mind that it was real, and it never failed to catch him off guard.

"You've done your best for everyone, My Lord," Lyrassa said softly.

Atlas nodded in quiet acknowledgment, saying nothing.

Then, without a word, Lyrassa raised her hands and touched his cheek. The moment her fingers brushed his skin, Atlas instinctively closed his eyes.

A wave of calm swept over him, as though her touch had silenced the storm inside his head. The tangled web of thoughts unraveled and faded. It felt like floating, his body relaxing completely, wrapped in the stillness of her presence.

He let the sensation take over, her gentle hand tracing his face, offering a peace he hadn't even known he was searching for.

When he opened his eyes again, hers were waiting. Her face was calm, glowing with quiet warmth.

"You treat everyone with such kindness," she said gently. "And everyone loves you for it."

Atlas remained silent.

"You've carried this great responsibility with such strength," she went on. "And you've exceeded everyone's expectations."

Her eyes seemed to pull him in. Atlas felt himself drawn, as though hypnotized by the quiet intensity in her gaze.

"But," she said, her voice dropping into an even softer tone, "we can't navigate this kind of battle, this kind of world, with pure hearts alone."

Her right hand moved to rest on his chest.

"For some people," she continued, "killing is not natural. It's not something they can accept. It's not something they can see as right."

Atlas shook his head slowly.

Her words cut too close, echoing the turmoil that had taken root in his thoughts. The weight of the wars he'd fought, the lives taken, and the people who had died in service to him.

Could she feel the chaos in my mind?

The lingering doubts, the guilt of every life lost in these battles, of those who gave their lives for me?

Lyrassa's gaze softened as she drew her hand back slightly, resting it gently on her lap.

"My Lord," she began, "do you know what it truly means to exist as part of nature?"

Atlas tilted his head slightly, listening intently.

"It means to grow, to nurture, to protect," she continued. "But it also means to destroy, to take life when it is necessary. Nature thrives on balance. Between creation and destruction, between peace and war."

Her expression grew pensive, her eyes meeting him. "For centuries, I have fought battles of my own. I have stood by and defended every Lord who called upon me, giving my all. Even when it meant taking lives."

She paused, her words hanging in the air between them.

"It was not easy," she admitted softly. "Every branch broken, every blade of grass trampled, every life taken weighed on me."

Her voice faltered for a moment, then steadied as she went on.

"But I learned something valuable. To protect what is precious, we must sometimes become the storm that shatters the branches. We must be the fire that burns away the overgrowth. It is not an act of cruelty, but one of necessity. Nature itself abides by this truth. When a tree falls, its death enriches the soil, making way for new growth. When a predator hunts, it ensures balance in the ecosystem, keeping life sustainable for all."

Leaning in slightly, her tone grew even gentler.

"I have survived battles not by hardening my heart, but by accepting this balance. I do not fight for vengeance or glory. I fight for those who cannot defend themselves alone, for the future that deserves to be nurtured. Yes, I have taken lives, but I have also saved them, healed them, and guided those lost back to the light."

Her gaze softened even more.

"The burdens you carry now, no matter how heavy, are part of this balance. We do not take life without purpose, and we do not fight for ourselves alone. Every battle, every sacrifice, is for those under your care. And though it pains you, that pain is a gift. It keeps you human. It keeps your heart aligned with what truly matters."

She placed her hand lightly on his chest once more, the warmth of her touch grounding him in the moment.

"Even in the darkest of battles, you can still grow. Just as nature endures through storms and droughts, so will you. You are stronger than you realize, My Lord."

Atlas fell completely silent, entranced by Lyrassa's words. It wasn't just the way she spoke. Every word she chose struck directly at the weight pressing on his mind.

But more than that, it was how she wove those thoughts together, through her own unique perspective. It made him wonder… was he, as a human, supposed to start thinking like a nature spirit, like her?

Then again, what real choice did a Lord have, other than to grow stronger and keep moving forward?

Surely, he wasn't the only one burdened by this path. In fact, it had to be even heavier for someone like Lyrassa. Someone born with a purpose to protect, not to conquer.

"That's certainly a unique perspective, Lyrassa." he said with a quiet chuckle.

Lyrassa smiled back, shaking her head gently. "I only said what needed to be said. But remember, My Lord, it's you who has fought to reach this point. I know you have the strength to accomplish far greater things."

Atlas nodded slowly. "I sure do."

For a moment, their eyes met, and the serenity in her presence pulled Atlas in. Almost without thinking, he leaned forward, resting against her, letting himself be drawn into her quiet embrace.

In her arms, he found a warmth he hadn't realized he was missing. It was soothing, like a gentle balm that slowly stitched the fragments of his weary thoughts back together.

They stayed that way for a while, letting the minutes slip past unnoticed.

Bit by bit, the tension in his body faded, and a rare clarity began to settle in his mind.

At some point, without even realizing it, Atlas had laid his head in her lap. Lyrassa cradled him with patient grace, her touch soft and deliberate, as if she understood the depth of fatigue he carried.

All around them, the grove remained perfectly still, its peace holding them in a moment suspended from time.

Eventually, Atlas shifted, the calm fading as he remembered the meeting with Edrik and Kurogasa. To discuss his new class.