Nephis, immediately after a darkly resigned Sunless, descended from the broad branch with the aid of the Evertwine.
Her two other companions still lingered before following...
-
--
---
Pausing in a silent moment, Cassia leaned forward, touching the elegant youth's arm before asking:
"Aria, are you all right?"
He paused another second, watching the other two working over the monstrous giant's corpse, searching for fragments of soul as they stripped steaks from its flesh.
"Hmm... all right? All right is subjective... How good are you at solicitude and, if you're comfortable, could you offer me a bit of support?"
A small sound escaped Cassia, somewhere between a huff and a short laugh. Concern flickered across her refined features, subtly marked by hesitant amusement.
"Ehh... I... hum..."
Ariandel snorted in satisfaction at that display of endearment.
"Some people have the habit of chewing a pencil or brush for a while in the morning. It keeps them with a 'smile', tricking the brain into believing there's a reason to smile, releasing endorphins into the bloodstream... Thus, the illusion of joy eases the heart's pain, effectively manifesting a real sense of well-being..."
The sweet, gentle girl smiled with painful compassion. The forgotten youth then turned to those eyes he found so beautiful.
"I... When I arrived in this world... with no memories... no one—"
His voice faltered, and he hesitated. Furrowing his brow slightly, his handsome face became subtly marked by confusion... and, for a moment, he lingered under a strange numbness.
"You are beautiful, you know? And I don't mean your appearance, not in that moment. As I stood among the Dreamers of the Awakened Academy, observing their desperate attempts to face the imminence of the Spell trial, I felt a... void?"
Ariandel paused for a second. Then, in the same fluent tone:
"I wanted to find some companionship... someone with whom to share the first—and very likely the last—days of my life. But all the options felt somewhat insincere, or reducible to sophistry. I acknowledge, however, that the odd one out in that context was me."
Cassia gripped his cold hand firmly. He returned the attentive gesture, gently.
"All but yours... You are strong, you know? Any other Dreamer, in your situation, would have succumbed to madness... but I saw you—hiding in that shunned corner—persist against abandonment and despair... Even after that, you did not relinquish your dignity. A beautiful young woman, smiling, so considerate, so refined... Truly respectable... A truly laudable strength..."
She trembled. The girl bit her lip, fighting to hold back tears. Her voice wavered with anxious emotion:
"Shouldn't it be me comforting you?"
Ariandel raised his other hand and, lightly, plucked a single pale-blond strand from Cassia's graceful, wavy hair between his fingers.
"Ah, I'm doing my best to lay my heart bare."
His shapely lips twisted into a smile.
"But what can I do, when the first thing it overflows with is my genuine admiration... for my dearest and truest friend?"
He laughed, genuinely amused.
"Take responsibility!"
Cassia trembled and—whether from shyness or anger—it was unclear—blushed, her soft cheeks sweetly dyed with color. She stamped her foot against the broad trunk.
"Oh, heavens! This man!!"
"Ahaha~"
"Don't laugh!"
Ariandel snorted in contentment at that adorable outburst.
Soon, silence settled between them again... And with it, the numbness returned to the forgotten youth's expression.
In that moment, the delicate girl moved, doing her best to meet his gaze—guided only by the sound of his quiet breathing and the faint warmth around him.
She felt, then, a careful hand brush aside the strands that subtly veiled her face. A swirl of feelings gripped Cassia's heart; a tumult of bold ideas churned her mind.
... Certain things could not be conveyed by words, nor by mere human vocabulary.
Then... she embraced him.
The broken heart gradually quickened... then faltered... His body began to waver.
At last, the forgotten youth managed to spill the pain he carried in his chest.
Cassia felt warm tears flow over her.
He knelt—and she knelt with him.
He began to weep softly—and she wept with him...
---
--
-
Fearing that the winged beast they had seen devour the slain Carapace Centurion might return—this time to claim the remains of the Carapace Demon—the four Sleepers moved to a distant point on the island and hid behind the massive trunk of the Soul Tree.
Only when they were sure nothing above could spot them did they finally light a crude fire—made of fat, bone, and dark seaweed—for breakfast. Before long, the savory aroma of chuck steak, enriched by the essence of an awakened demon's soul, hung in the air.
Thick slices of steak sizzled in a large nonstick steel skillet, conjured by Ariandel—Illustrious Artisan of Fantasy—using some magic trick... or some bizarre sorcery inherited from his Aspect Legacy. There were even onions and other simple yet tasty condiments complementing the meal.
Nephis remained silent, unable to fully grasp the paradox before her. This surpassed the limits of her imagination.
She... let the bewilderment drip from her thoughts. The Star of Change could not afford neglect—not now.
'This is an excellent opportunity to be assassinated,' she thought, diverting her gaze from fairy-tale beauty—and avoiding thinking of her name.
'But it would be even better if they had never told me about the Soul Tree... or perhaps that is precisely what I must believe, so that the arrangement becomes inevitable.'
Informing her of the dangers only to convince her that there is no alternative but to expose herself to them—with all survival guarantees provided by others—would suffice to ensnare her under the spell of awakened terror until the Immortal Flame extinguished.
A stratagem worthy of a meticulous heart and calm powers of observation.
A talent inexplicably trained, unsettlingly charismatic, with resources at its disposal worthy of a Legacy.
An enigmatic youth, with no memories, no past, no bonds.
All to be the perfect assassin, secretly created by one of the three Domains, sent to give her no chance of survival.
'Could he have ties to the elusive Asterion, even be his son?' Nephis continued her doubts, though part of her mind believed she might simply be overthinking.
'Cassi could tell. But she would never give up her prince charming. How convenient that he was the only one to rescue her when I was nearby. Could he have foreseen that we would meet this way? Was that why he spent his last days on Earth befriending the two?'
The sumptuous portion of meat was ready. Plates and utensils appeared in the elegant youth's hands like a mirage.
'We're not far from reaching the castle... In the vision, there were only Cassi, Sunny, and "Mist",' she recalled, noticing once again that only she had not been present when the group finally arrived at the destination they had so long pursued.
... A exquisitely prepared meal was generously presented to Nephis:
Three succulent, buttery steaks, divided into seven equal pieces, arranged like the petals of a Cecília;
A portion of fruits and vegetables, laid out like grass and trees in a miniature landscape.
... In that dream-world, she circles painted walls, follows brown alleys, and enters the orange castle.
The sweet, tender taste blooms like a flower unfurling.
The Star of Change opens her eyes.
The white-haired prince watches her with a smile.