Aesc lay amidst the soft sea of flowers, stretching out her limbs. Blooms taller than her ankles surrounded her, their refreshing fragrance enveloping her body. Aesc felt herself growing light and airy, the fatigue from the duet gradually fading away as she merged with this floral expanse.
She finally understood that even if she stepped on them, these flowers wouldn't be crushed. As if possessed of their own consciousness, they would spring back upright even when pressed down.
"I... I don't even know how to express this to you," Aesc Shiomi said to Shiomi, who sat beside her, a hint of distress in her voice. "We've only known each other for such a short time, yet you've done so much for me. Even the elders of the clan have benefited."
"No need for thanks. I did these things simply because I wanted to. I'm glad I didn't make you feel uneasy," Shiomi said, cradling her hat.
"Hmm..."
Aesc lowered her eyelids, pondering briefly before suddenly rising from the flowerbed. The witch's hat resting in Shiomi's hands was now adorned with a woven floral wreath atop its peak.
"I took the liberty of decorating it a bit." He returned the hat to her.
Taking it back and examining the beautiful wreath, Aesc spoke in a steady voice: "Do you remember? Before that calamity struck the clan, I mentioned my mission."
"To end Britannia?" Shiomi asked.
"I'm not entirely sure of the reason," Aesc said. "But this fairy island seems to bear some kind of sin, which is why it endures constant torment from calamities. Ever since I can remember, I've understood why I drifted from the Garden to Britannia."
"A mission born with you must be heavy," Shiomi acknowledged.
In some ways, he resembled Aesc. A human chosen by Mooncell, burdened from the start by a certain destiny. The only consolation was that when he learned these truths, he already possessed the mental fortitude to bear and process them.
"No, I don't actually feel it's heavy. I understand this mission," Aesc said, looking at his hat. "Unlike humans, all of us fairies essentially come into this world like phenomena suddenly appearing from nowhere. The 'purpose of our birth' is something we possess from the very beginning, and thus, we receive names that correspond to it."
She thought Shiomi might already know, but she still wanted to tell him herself, through her present self: "You know, Aesc is the name Mother gave me. But as a fairy of the Garden, I already had my own name before I came here." Aesc Shiomi whispered to Shiomi, "My original name... Morgan le Fay. That was the name I held as a fairy of the Garden."
"Hmm." Shiomi said little, only nodding solemnly.
"Purpose and name are the very essence of a fairy's existence. They are inextricably linked. Should a fairy lose its purpose for any reason, the only path awaiting it is a fate where even its existence cannot be sustained." She continued.
Aesc Shiomi understood why Morgana spoke these words. Unlike humans, she harboured no objections to the 'purpose' bestowed upon her, nor did she feel burdened by it as humans often did during their growth. Fairies of the Garden existed solely for that purpose.
"But..." Aesc Shiomi's brows furrowed slightly, her gaze softening. "Even if Britannia harbour errors that require my end. Father, Mother, Vivian, and everyone in the clan have all gently protected me, allowing me to become who I am today."
"So you wish to alter your purpose—not to bring Britannia to an end, but to find another way to correct its mistakes?" Shiomi asked.
Aesc was quite surprised. "How did you guess? Do you have fairy eyes too?"
"No, just simple experience," Shiomi replied. "Even without special eyes, humans can still perceive many things. Understanding the hearts of those close to us is just one part of that."
"Close...?" Aesc was delighted. "That's why I want to start anew—to save the fairies tormented by sin and calamity, to build an 'Ideal Country' where no fairy suffers again. I know it's difficult, but if... if..."
She understood better than anyone the hardship of this dream, but if Shiomi were by her side. His heart, his wisdom, his strength, everything about him... She knew full well how greedy this thought was.
But she had indeed developed such a "desire."
"Isn't that wonderful? Whether it's condemnation or redemption, as long as there's a way, keep searching—there will always be a path forward," Shiomi expressed his gentle agreement. "If you're willing, I'd like to stay by your side and explore it with you."
Whether or not they would ultimately face an ending like the King of Knights, whether that doomed future could be avoided.
At this very instant, he still wanted to be stubborn, to walk hand in hand with Morgan... with Morgan le Fay.
"Tenkei..." Aesc called his name.
Only this time, it sounded exceptionally soft, like she was both crying and laughing, her surrendered heart trembling.
"I'm here," Shiomi replied.
Aesc lifted the wreath-adorned hat and placed it upon his head. The mismatched ensemble with his clothes made him smile. A soft, warm spring breeze swept over the two amidst the sea of flowers. Her golden hair swayed in the wind, her sapphire eyes clear as sunlight-washed sea water, brighter and more captivating than ever before.
Like a kitten, she rose and crawled toward him, nervously yet determinedly studying his expression. This was her first time being so close to a member of the opposite sex, especially a human—a being utterly different from herself as a fairy. Aesc didn't fully understand how humans expressed affection, but watching the humans in her clan and observing the other fairies, she felt she didn't need anyone to tell her. She already understood.
The fairy girl spread her arms wide and wrapped them around Shiomi's neck. Only the last sliver of distance remained between them. Flustered yet earnest, she gazed into his eyes, seeking a definite response. A pair of firm, steady hands embraced her body, offering even greater reassurance than their previous embrace. For within that embrace lay the answer she sought.
Aesc's face drew slowly closer to Shiomi's, until they were so near she could almost count each other's eyelashes. Yet she could go no further, her movements inexplicably stiff as if bound by a restraining spell. She saw Shiomi close his eyes, the last fraction of distance erased, and felt the simple, supple touch of his lips against hers.
A taste she had never known, a warmth she had never known.
A suffocating sensation, like the moment of drowning. Only this time, the lake water had journeyed from beyond the heavens, laden with vibrant spring vitality—like the Orkney fields at this very second, suddenly bursting with an endless sea of blooming flowers.
"Do you like me?"
"I do. I like you more than anything in this world."
"...Mm."