"Non, non. I won't let you look down on me, Crimson Incendiaria."

Crimson, having avoided falling completely, slowly rose to her feet, glaring at her.

"Admire, and observe the pink cloud above your head! You wish to fly? Then you have to face the consequence... death," Carolina declared with a bright smile.

Crimson scoffed. "Is that so?"

Just as the words left her lips, Carolina was already in front of her, the distance that separated them just a moment before as if it never existed.

"She's fast!" Caligo exclaimed in surprise.

Carolina swung her cane against Crimson, who retaliated by simply raising her arm, revealing the orb hidden behind it. "Waving Geyser."

Waves of fire erupted from Crimson's orbs, directed towards Carolina, who deftly jumped backward.

"Then, I might just have to bring the whole place down," Crimson threatened, letting the orbs hover above her head. "Archibugio Infernale."

Carolina darted rapidly across the area, gracefully evading Crimson's barrages at the sound of her heels tapping rhythmically.

"Otherwordly Genie," Carolina chanted as she ran, gently tapping her cane repeatedly to summon armored spirits armed with swords and shields ready to fight for her master.

Crimson was not impressed. "Fuoco Fatuo."

"Galaxy Soap!" Sweeping her cane in wide arcs, Carolina surrounded herself with mystic waves of bubbles. Each of Crimson's blue fireballs twisted and turned at the contact, until absorbed into nothingness.

Taking advantage of the temporary reprieve, Carolina stepped forward, but as she did, a sudden explosion erupted behind her, sending her hurtling toward Crimson.

I had already seen that spell before... Crimson used it to draw monsters to a thief once... Fiamma Magra!

Crimson rushed towards Carolina, still airborne, delivering a punch straight at her stomach. However, she hadn't realized that Carolina did not intend to only take, but also to give back. Holding her breath and steadying her nerves to take the hit, Carolina swung her cane once again, striking Crimson right in the face. Who, just as quick to respond, directed one orb against Carolina. Both were sent ultimately flying from the impact.

"Wuhahaha!" Carolina laughed, her feet finally touching the ground with a graceful somersault. "Not bad! Not bad!"

I gasped. "Oh... I had forgotten to breathe..."

"Ah, you're right..." Caligo breathed beside me.

"Not bad at all!" Carolina continued, her chest heaving from her heavy breathing as she pointed her cane at Crimson. "The Incendiaria never disappoint."

Crimson was not smiling, and while her hand rested on the swollen cheek, she was also not showing the weariness that Carolina, by contrast, was giving away.

"But you still have a long way," Carolina concluded, fiercely tapping her cane. "Come forth, Master Genie."

As Carolina chanted, clouds began to gather at her feet. Until, with another tap of her cane, the clouds surged upwards.

Steam billowed out, obscuring the battlefield in a dense fog. Though, through the mist, the silhouettes of Carolina quickly advancing on Crimson could be seen.

I shielded my eyes against the haze; what kind of spell was this? Carolina appeared to be faster. Was this an enchantment? The mist did nothing, really, aside from obscuring the view.

"Wuhahaha!"

I could still hear Carolina's laugh echoing through the air, punctuated by the sound of her cane striking. Until, with the same speed of lightning, a red light swallowed the area in a flash, banishing the mist in its wake. Crimson stood over her orb, glaring at Carolina, her codex radiating a brighter red than before.

"CRIMSON!"

Suddenly, a loud cry rumbled through Carolina's creation. A cry that could've very well shattered the entire creation. A cry that made everyone freeze on the spot, fighters included. A cry that stunned everyone, with no exception. A cry far deafening than any of the uproar the spells had caused, and far louder than any of Selena's squeals.

Nobody expected it, and nobody, except Crimson, dared to meet his glare, just as nobody dared to speak a word. We all observed the two exchanging their glares at each other. Crimson remained unflinching, undeterred by his sudden scream and his menacing eyes. And, absolutely, Leonard did not care.

"Cease what you were about to do," he continued, piercing through the silence that he himself generated.

Crimson kept looking at him with the same neutral expression; she wasn't scared. If anything, she looked like she was challenging him.

"This is an order, Crimson!" he shouted once again; his eyes did not dare to close for an instant, unlike his fists, which stood dangerously clenched the entire time.

Crimson's subtle sigh did not escape me, and she complied. The pages of her codex turned rapidly before it shut closed as she landed gracefully on the ground. The tension quickly wore off, unlike the surprise, still in the face of everyone.

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Carolina smiled, and stepped toward Crimson, extending her hand. "That was a nice duel," she said warmly, her tone surprisingly normal.

Crimson stared at her before glancing at the outstretched hand for a good moment. Eventually, although without a smile, she reciprocated Carolina's handshake. "Yeah."

With that handshake, Carolina's creation faded, and a relieved sigh escaped Caligo's lips. "I-I'll heal you two!"

Their injuries weren't severe, fortunately. And everyone returned enjoying a conversation around the cozy campfire.

"That was a good match," the Prince remarked with a satisfied smile.

"I'm on fire! I would love to have a duel right now!" Mereoleona exclaimed, her fist clenched around her sword's hilt.

"Don't," Melissa deadpanned.

"I'm going to rest in my tent," Crimson said after a while, rising to her feet.

"I'll give you a hand," I followed after her.

She nodded, and we moved away from the others, the campfire's glow slowly fading as we walked into the shadows of the trees. Some time later, the crunch of the leaves alerted us to someone approaching. It was Carolina; she probably likes to approach from the shadows. She showed up behind us with a bright smile.

"My, my! That was a wonderful fight!" she exclaimed.

Crimson stared at her for a moment; I couldn't decipher her expression even with my best efforts. "You've already said that."

She chuckled, her eyes softening as she reached out to brush a strand of hair from Crimson's face. "You've really grown in these last few years. You remind me of your mother," she said tenderly. "And now you even have a gorgeous girlfriend by your side!" she then cheerfully exclaimed, her eyes sparkling to me.

The secret didn't last long, apparently, and I felt my cheek burning a little after that.

"You realized?" Crimson asked her.

"Oh, of course I realized! Do you really think that I, the great and incontrovertible Carolina Spinosella, would not notice such things? Non, non, Crimson," she quipped, winking, sticking out her tongue.

"Keep it a secret. She still doesn't want to let others know," Crimson said in a menacing tone.

Now, in a way, I felt bad...

"Yes, yes. Not a problem!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she spun her cane. "I'll leave you two lovebirds alone!" she then said, hopping off.

"Ugh... this felt embarrassing," I murmured to myself, bringing a hand to my hair.

Crimson stepped inside the tent, and I followed, the flap closing behind us. If there were a love etiquette, it would likely say that it was time for me to bring some comfort, since she seemed a little upset. However... I had no idea how.

She sat on her sleeping bag, shoulders slumped. I settled beside her. "Do you want to talk a little?" I asked her.

"What do you want to talk about?" she replied.

"What do you want to talk about?" I countered.

"You should know by now that I'm more into action than words," she murmured, leaning in and reaching for my shoulder, deliberately easing me down as she positioned herself over me.

"Oh, I know," I replied as she caressed my cheek, looking deep into her eyes as her hair cascaded around like a silken curtain, drawing my focus solely to her gaze. "But don't you want to talk about that fight a little? I see you... troubled."

"What about that fight?"

"Well... I don't know. What about what Leonard shouted? Or how you feel about Carolina..."

"There's not much to say," she shrugged. "I could've won the fight, and he stopped me."

"What did he mean by... cease whatever you were about to do?"

"He was referring to a spell of mine."

Somehow, her eyes looked sad now.

"What about that spell?" I asked her.

She sighed deeply before putting herself into a more comfortable position, still over me. "I have a spell that... Leonard forbade me to use."

I nodded. "You can go on, Crimson. I'm here to listen."

She gave me a soft smile. "You should know that... not all mana is the same... And there is a theory according to which mana can influence its surroundings and its wielder."

"Okay, I'm following."

"I have a spell that, you could say, guarantees my victory whenever I use it. However, the mana emanated by it, is... overwhelming and dangerous. And... I become dangerous as well," she explained. "You know me. I love to fight, I am a sadist. However, with that spell, I feel a fire burning inside me... The mana pulsates within me, and I don't fight it... I use it to let off steam, abusing it."

"So you think the mana of the spell affects you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know, Snowflake. It's just a theory; I don't know if it's true. It might be, or it might not be. All I know is that spell enrages me. And if Leonard hadn't stopped me... perhaps I could've put you in danger as well," she murmured, her fingers playing with my hair. "And that's why I stopped."

"You... were worried about me?"

She leaned in closer, her lips tenderly brushing against mine. "You really are a mystery to me, Snowflake... I really don't know how I should feel about you anymore, or what I'm supposed to do," she whispered, cupping my cheek with her hand. "You know I enjoy giving pain, to watch people struggle. The more I look at your cute face, the more I feel this burning desire in my heart. Just the thought of your face twisting in ecstasy and pain only I can provide is enough to make me lose control. I want to make you miserable. I want to break you, to see your face wet with tears, to hear you murmur my name in agony with your eyes devoid of light. And yet, at the same time... I don't feel the need. You're so beautiful I can't allow myself to do any of that... You're like an ice sculpture; one so fragile and perfect that needs constant care and attention, lest it slip away. One that I cannot bring myself to destroy." She stopped, sighing deeply as her eyes grew softer. "Just what are you doing to me...?"

Our eyes locked, and at the same time, they even trembled slightly. "I don't know, but... if it makes you feel any better, like you once told me already... you're not alone in this," I murmured. "Your stupid lips are enough to make my head dizzy."

She looked at me with wide eyes before chuckling.

"But I don't understand," I continued. "Are you holding back? You're the one that said I should do what I feel like doing. Why aren't you doing the same?"

"I've already told you. I'm afraid to show you the real me, Snowflake... You'd run away, and I don't want this."

"Maybe I won't."

"I know you will," she replied, sliding her hand behind my back, touching my scar.

"But, then... are you really fine with this? I mean, if the way you want to love me is not the way you like... How are you going to be happy with this?"

I felt guilty, for various reasons... I wasn't being honest with Crimson, since the beginning. It wasn't fair of me to demand she act with honesty, when I was the first one to hide sides of me and my spells. Once again, she seemed the one to truly take this relationship seriously. And yet... even now, I couldn't bring myself to open up.

"Like this," she murmured, her lips meeting mine. She fiercely made her way in with her tongue, stealing my breath away without care. Both her hands cradled my face. Gently, at first, until it grew fervently, her fingers sliding into my hair with such fervor that strands became caught between our lips as she pulled me impossibly closer; an act so careless that did nothing but heighten the heat, making my heart race even faster.

Her kiss showed no sign of abating; utterly overwhelming, everlasting, and each attempt to grasp for air was thwarted by her insistence. Her tongue delved deeper, everywhere, leaving no space untouched, and me dizzy. In the end, I couldn't hold on, and completely surrendered to the poison.

Her stupid, intoxicating taste, and the heat of her body pressing against mine. I could do nothing but let my hands clutch at her shirt. I couldn't think. I couldn't afford to think; I couldn't even remember how to breathe! She gave no reprieve, no break, no escape, no mercy. Her kiss took everything, not caring in the least how desperate I was for air. Her lips barely left mine for a moment, and it was just enough for me to gasp before she was at it again.

When she finally pulled away, I was shivering, and a delicate, glistening trail of saliva connected us briefly before breaking, leaving me breathless. "Does this answer satisfy you?" she soothingly whispered as her crimson eyes gazed into my soul.

It took a while for my thoughts to make sense through the haze of her kiss; my chest rose and fell catching the breath it craved, and I nearly choked on my words trying to form a response. Using my elbow, I pushed myself from the tent floor, pulling her along with my movement. "No, Crimson... Let's talk."