"I thought I told you to leave me."

"I did. I gave you some time alone to calm down," Crimson said, slowly approaching me, meeting my gaze.

I diverted my eyes, unable to meet hers. This time, I felt like I was the one at fault. "Sorry... I shouldn't have told you to continue."

"Why are you so afraid to show your body?" she gently asked as she got closer, forcing me back against the railing. "You were right..." she added, extending her arms to the railing, trapping me without an escape. "This isn't about you being shy. Something is holding you back, isn't it?"

I tried to ignore her, but she was too close, and her eyes, her voice... kept capturing my attention.

"I've noticed something about you," she continued. "Ever since the first moment, every time I reach for your back, you try your best to stop me... You don't want to get naked, even in bed..."

"Crimson..."

"And unlike many other ladies here, your dress covers your back... It's a scar, isn't it?" she figured out. "Scars on the back are a swordsman's greatest shame. Or so they say..."

Her words hit the mark, sending me flying back to the past, forcing me to confront reality. I slowly met her gaze. "You're right..." I replied. "But it's more than that... I just can't trust anyone, I can't allow myself to lower my guard. I can't give my back to anyone."

"It seems to me that you'd like to, though..."

"You're wrong."

"You wouldn't have asked me to continue if I were wrong," she replied, leaning even closer. "You want to trust me. That's why we've already spent a night together. You desire to get past this."

"You seem like the worst kind of person someone could ever trust..."

"See? You're even in a good mood when you're around me," she joked, but I didn't laugh. "It's just a scar, Snowflake..."

"It's not just a scar, Crimson," I retorted. "It's a mark. If I hadn't let my guard down, I wouldn't have it. It will remain, forever, reminding me and everyone who sees it how much I've been weak."

She fell silent for a bit. "Why don't you tell me what happened? Could you do that for me, Snowflake?"

I sighed, recalling the painful memories once again, thinking about it. "Fine... it's better than staying inside with the others anyway." I took a deep breath, searching for the right words. "When my mother died, things were harder than I ever imagined they would be..."

She intently listened, giving a slow nod.

"I was forced to join a guild to survive... I was young, and alone. Without my mother, I had no idea how to move on in life. It was extremely hard, and I couldn't trust anybody," I continued. "However, there was a guy in the guild; since the start, he seemed nice, lending me a hand from time to time. I found myself relying on him as time passed. I even started to consider him more than just a comrade, or a friend. And, slowly, I placed my trust in him, just like I trusted my mother..."

I stopped, feeling a sudden wave of disgust rising in my throat as I tightened my fists. "But I couldn't have been more wrong... One day, we were alone, just walking among the trees, far away from our town. I thought it would be a relaxing day, nothing else... just a relaxing walk while enjoying the breeze. But it wasn't. Out of nowhere, I was face down on the ground; he had sliced me with a knife, from my neck all the way down my back."

"Then, what happened?" she asked after a moment of silence.

"I felt anger... He was saying something while I was on the ground, losing blood, dying, but I couldn't hear a thing. I was just angry, blinded by rage. I just wanted to kill him, make him pay for what he had done. But at the same time, I was angry at myself. I hated myself, for being such a naive, stupid girl, trusting him..."

Crimson, sensing my rising anger, reached for my hands, holding them comfortingly. I steadied my breath, meeting her eyes. "Carry on..." she said. "I believe the story didn't end there. How did you survive?"

"After he sliced me, he ran away. Not long after, an old adventurer passed by. He saved me... Even I was surprised; I thought I would die there, unable to get my revenge. It took me months to heal. The adventurer took care of me, keeping me safe in his tent. During that time, all I could think about was revenge... 'I'll kill you,' I kept saying... 'I'll kill you, I'll kill you, I'll kill you'... But the adventurer told me to focus on recovering first, and I followed his advice... He was right."

"So, what happened to the man? Did you kill him?"

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

I nodded. "I did... It took me a lot of time to prepare, but I set fire to his whole house, personally stepping inside to kill him, along with his family... I watched as the light left his eyes. I was overjoyed... I felt alive again... but the mark he left remained."

Crimson gave me a warm smile. "That's what he deserved. I am so happy you got your revenge. And I'm happy that you're here now, Snowflake. I mean it."

Her words seemed genuine, and I found myself relaxing as she clasped my hands together. But why....?

"And you think I would do that?" she then asked. "That I would act like that man, betraying you behind your back, trying to kill you?"

I slowly nodded. "You could..."

She faintly shook her head with a smirk. "That would be such a waste... The only thing I would do from behind your back is kiss that scar you have to make you realize how it means nothing. On the contrary, I think it makes you sexier."

"Don't joke with me on this, Crimson... I hate it, okay?"

"I've never been more serious. You're the one who's not. You want to trust me, don't you? You want to proceed with all the things I've planned for the night. I can see it in your eyes... Don't lie to me, Snowflake," she softly whispered, lifting my chin.

"Yes... you're right," I admitted, feeling flustered once more by the memory of her words. "You're able to ignite a fire in me, you have your way with words, you make me excited... But I can't. You may say you can't take your eyes off me, but how can I believe it? How can I be sure you won't just stab me in the back the first chance you get?"

Crimson slowly brought my hands to her neck, wrapping them around it as she smiled. "You're an assassin, aren't you?" she confidently remarked. "You can kill me whenever you want if you truly wish. Even if I can sense your mana, you're way faster than me. And I already told you I'd be listening to you. You can tell me to stop whenever you want, and if I don't, you can have your way. Strangle me, suffocate me, slice me. Whatever you desire."

"I... I don't know..."

"I want your love, Argenta," she said, sounding sincere once again. "And I want your revenge. It's fine if you're afraid. But if you stick around, you'll find out I'm serious. Come on, be sincere with yourself and just answer my question. What do you say about those plans for the night?"

I pulled away my hands from her neck, only for her to hold them once again.

"We can't anyway... There's still a problem," I murmured.

"What else?"

"I don't want to be considered a witch because of you."

She widened her eyes in confusion, tilting her head. "A witch?"

I nodded.

"What do you mean?" she asked, genuine curiosity in her voice.

"Girls are expected to bear strong warriors and mages. If people see us together, being two girls, we would be labeled as witches and persecuted... I definitely don't want that."

She stood silent, blinking as she processed my words. Then, she chuckled. "I'm sorry, but I really don't understand what you're talking about."

"Huh?"

"Please, explain."

"Ah, well..." I groaned, gathering my thoughts for yet another tale. "Okay... You know... not long ago, I found out that my mother loved a girl when she was alive."

"Hmm, good taste," she remarked with a click of her tongue. "Like mother, like daughter."

Of course she had to make me roll my eyes! At least once a day! "Anyway... she couldn't. Apparently, they couldn't be together because, otherwise, they'd run away from their duty to bear strong warriors and mages. So, when they were discovered, they were labeled as witches and persecuted to be burned alive," I explained.

Crimson looked at me with a perplexed expression before letting out a small laugh. "I'm sorry... I just never heard of something so bizarre!"

"Huh?!"

"Snowflake... I don't know where your mother lived, but nothing like that could ever happen here," she said, still partially laughing.

My expression must have been incredulous, as she started laughing even more. "Huh... really?"

"Of course! Were that true, I would've been burned a dozen times already!" she chuckled. "Ah... Ignore the last part, I've got eyes only for you," she said, tightening her grip on my hands.

I ignored the last part, but due to my confusion; I couldn't shake off my doubts.

Was my mother's story actually just a story?

No way it was...

I don't believe it. I just can't.

"Are you telling me the truth? Nothing I said is real?" I asked Crimson.

"I would never lie to you," she replied, her tone serious. "I can imagine those sorts of things happening between nobles, to tell the truth. But I can assure you, Snowflake, nothing like that would ever happen to us. And if it does, I would be the one burning whoever persecutes us alive."

"Hmm..." I stood still, my eyes roaming around as I lost myself in thoughts.

Crimson could surely do what she said...

I shook my head. That wasn't the point.

The point was: to this day, my mother was still a mystery...

"So..." Crimson said, leaning in closer, our bodies pressing against each other. "Is there anything else stopping us?" she whispered, her warm breath grazing my lips.

"Crimson, I don't know... I'm still not sure."

I was trapped; she kept getting closer while I tried to back away, but I couldn't escape anymore.

"Just close your eyes," she softly commanded.

"No..."

"I won't do anything to harm you. I don't have my codex, nor my orb, and there are people nearby. I can't do anything to harm you. Just... close your eyes."

I looked into her eyes, finding myself lost once again in their depths. After all, she was right...

With a grumble, I relented. "Fine..."

I closed my eyes, surrendering to the darkness enveloping me, heightening my awareness of every sensation. The distinct sound of my heartbeat, the sensation of Crimson's fingers against my cheek, sending tingling warmth through me, while her firm grip at my waist quickened my breath.

Slowly, I felt her presence draw nearer. Then, a gentle and warm pressure... a soft brush of her lips against mine in a tender kiss. I could feel the warmth of her breath melding with mine. On this night and occasion, her lips were coated in lipstick as well; I could savor the sweet taste entirely.

It was a slow and quick kiss, but for some reason, it felt long and lasting.

When she finally pulled back, I gradually opened my eyes, feeling an odd sense of loss as the cool air filled the space between us.

"See?" she said, her voice gentle and reassuring, though tinged with mockery at the same time... "You're still in one piece, and nobody is trying to burn us."

"Hm..." I managed, still caught in the afterglow of the kiss.

"Do you want more? In my room, tonight...?" she asked, softly, seductively...

"Hmm-hm..."