As soon as I finished the last spoonful of soup, savoring the lingering warmth, Allmer rose from his seat. His ruby eyes softened as they met mine. “Come,” he said, his voice calm yet firm. “I have something to show you before I leave.”

Curious, I followed him inside the house, Felix trailing lazily behind us. Allmer stopped near a corner where several large cloths were covering something. With one fluid motion, he pulled the fabric away, revealing three enormous pots—each filled to the brim with shimmering emeralds.

My jaw dropped. “What… what is this?” I stammered, stepping closer. The emeralds caught the morning light streaming through the window, casting brilliant green reflections on the walls.

“They’re emeralds,” Allmer said matter-of-factly, as if it were no big deal.

“I know what they are,” I said, still trying to process the sheer number of them. “But… this many?”

Felix let out a low whistle, clearly just as stunned as I was. “This is insane. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get even one of these? You’d have to take down a colossal to find emeralds like this, and only the four-striped beastmen—could even attempt it. Just where are you hiding your stripes huh?”

Allmer crossed his arms, unbothered by our disbelief. “I’ve collected these over the years.”

“Years?” Felix scoffed. “What are you, ancient?”

Allmer shot him a sharp look. “Older than you, clearly cub.”

Felix smirked, unfazed by the remark. “Well, no wonder the colossals are practically extinct. Did you leave any for the rest of us, or did you single-handedly wipe them out?”

Ignoring Felix’s teasing, I turned to Allmer, still in awe. “And you’re just… giving these?”

He nodded. “Use as many as you want. There are plenty more in my cave.”

“Plenty more?” I echoed, blinking in disbelief.

“Hundreds of pots,” he said simply.

Hundreds. I couldn’t even begin to fathom it. No wonder he fed me these on drop of a hat. These weren’t just valuable—they were rare, dangerous to obtain, and a testament to his incredible strength. The sheer effort it must’ve taken to gather so many…

Felix, still leaning against the wall, muttered under his breath, “Spoiling her, huh? No wonder she's so pampered up.”

I shot him a glare.

He shrugged, grinning. “Just saying.”

Allmer let out a low growl, clearly done with Felix’s antics. “Come,” he said, turning to Felix. “We need to talk.”

Felix groaned but followed him outside, grumbling something about not needing another lecture. I stayed behind, though my curiosity burned. Whatever Allmer was about to say to Felix, I was sure it wasn’t a casual conversation.

I busied myself tidying up the space, though my mind kept wandering to the pots of emeralds. Hundreds of pots, I thought again, shaking my head. Just who was this man I’d ended up with? He was like a puzzle I couldn’t quite piece together—ancient, powerful, and yet so gentle with me.

When Allmer returned, his expression was calm but firm. He didn’t say what he’d spoken to Felix about, but I could guess. It had to be some kind of warning—a reminder to behave and to take care of me while he was gone.

“All ready to go?” I asked softly, the knot in my stomach tightening.

He nodded. “I’ll leave now. The sooner I go, the sooner I can return.”

I stepped closer, hesitating before reaching out. “Wait,” I said. “Turn around.”

He raised an eyebrow but complied, turning his back to me. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the hair tie—the last thing I had from my world. It was worn and stretched out, but it was mine. Carefully, I gathered his long, silvery-white hair and tied it back.

“You’ll look ridiculous if it gets in your way,” I said, trying to sound casual, though my voice wavered slightly. Was it insecurity? I don't know.

Allmer glanced back at me, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “I’ll bring it back,” he said.

“You better,” I muttered, folding my arms. “I need it. My hair’s impossible to manage without it.”

He turned fully to face me, his eyes warm. “I’ll take care of it, little one. I promise.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “And you’ll come back before the first snow,” I reminded him, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I will,” he said firmly.

Before Allmer turned to leave, he hesitated for a moment. His ruby eyes softened, and he reached into the pouch hanging at his side. When his hand emerged, he held a small necklace—a simple but beautiful pendant made from one of his scales. It shimmered faintly in the morning light, its silvery-white hue gleaming like a precious gem.

“This,” he said softly, stepping closer, “is for you.”

I stared at the necklace in surprise, my fingers brushing lightly over the smooth, cool surface of the scale. It was no bigger than a coin, yet it seemed to hold a certain weight—both literal and emotional.

“Must have been painful to remove your scale,” I murmured, looking up at him. “It’s beautiful.”

He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he stepped behind me and gently fastened the necklace around my neck. His hands lingered for a moment, his touch warm against my skin.

Then, leaning in close, his lips just brushing against my ear, he whispered, “I hope you never have to use it.”

A chill ran down my spine, and I turned to face him, confusion etched across my face. “Use it?”

His expression was serious, though his eyes held a flicker of something tender. “The pendant contains my venom,” he explained quietly. “You’re my mate, so it won’t harm you. But if you’re ever in danger…” His voice trailed off, and his gaze dropped to the necklace. “Break the scale. It will release enough venom to incapacitate most threats.”

My chest tightened, a mix of emotions swirling within me—gratitude, fear, and something deeper, something I couldn’t quite put into words.

I nodded, clutching the pendant tightly in my hand. “You better come back soon so I don't have to use it. Because I’m not watching the first snow alone.”

He chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “You won’t have to.”

And with that, he pulled me into one final embrace, his arms enveloping me in warmth and reassurance. When he finally stepped back, I felt the emptiness of his absence immediately.

“Allmer,” I called out as he walked toward the door.

He paused, looking back at me.

“Be safe,” I said softly.

He nodded once, a promise in his eyes. “I’ll talk to Ace on the way out. He’ll be around if you need anything.”

And with that, he was gone, leaving the house feeling emptier than I’d expected.