By the time we were returning home from the Royal Palace, clouds had already begun to shroud the blue sky. When tomorrow rolled around, rain began pouring lightly. Still, I could hear the raindrops patter against the pathways outside and on the ceiling right over our heads. The soothing sound failed to alleviate my bitterness.

That bitterness stemmed from the role that Prince Arcite gave my father after that bold declaration of war against the dungeon master. Because my father had extensive research on the undead magic used by that dungeon master, he gave him the responsibility of handpicking a strike team to dive into the dungeon and either capture or kill him if possible.

On our way back, Father was already pondering on possible people he’d want to recruit, and I was pissed when he let his mind vocalize.

“What do you mean I can’t go?” I yelled at both Father and Lio, who’d both agreed on one thing: I shouldn’t go with them to the Dungeon of the Dead. The very first person Father had recruited was Lio, for obvious reasons. But they’d both come together to tell me that I shouldn’t come.

“I’ve seen how terrified you get when you talk about this dungeon, dear, which is why I’m not sending you back there. We’re dealing with the very thing that provokes your nightmares.” Father had his hands folded over his chest. His ocean blue eyes glared right into mine, penetrating them. He was serious and was not about to back down.

It was like the two of them were against me, both sitting on the couch opposite of where I sat, anxiously grabbing at its corners.

Lio leaned forwards and chimed in. “All we want is your safety. I also think you’re not ready to go back there yet.”

“But I’ll be fine if you two are with me. Trust me, I’m not the little coward of a girl you met in that dungeon anymore.” My voice was strained and watching the way their eyes squinted made me even more desperate. I wanted to come along to help them. I didn’t want to be useless to them anymore.

I was wearing Isla’s dress yet again while my Mage robe hung on a clothesline by my bedside, so I could feel the pain seeping from this very dress. It was that pain of leaving your allies in the dungeon, something Fiar felt all too well. I grabbed the ends of the dress and pursed my lips.

Lio’s hands wrapped around his knees and tugged at the fabric of his pants. Distress was overcoming him, and his breathing grew heavy. “I can’t guarantee your safety in there. I couldn’t completely protect you in the Treasure Dungeon, so what chance do I have in doing that in a more dangerous dungeon?”

He was wrong, he did protect me with all his strength. I was sure he’d do it again when the need came. He was strong, revered for his fierce Fire Magic, so he could burn through anything. Nothing could resist his heat. But he never saw it that way.

“Things will be different, I have water magic now. I can protect myself.”

Lio flinched at my response and shook his head. “You’re not strong enough. I’ve only been teaching you common spells, which aren’t nearly enough to survive out there. Please just stay here where you’re safe.”

My heart shattered right when the words left his mouth. That was it, I wasn’t good enough to stand by his side. I would just be dead weight to them. But something was tugging at my heart. Maybe it was the dress I wore, but the memory of a beautiful brunette with emerald eyes appeared in my mind. Something was telling me that I’d be abandoning them like how Isla was left to die in the Beast Dungeon. If only I could go, then I would not be abandoning them. I knew I was dead weight, but the fear of the worse case scenario scared me. I couldn’t do anything to benefit them, Lio made that clear, but I didn’t care. I was going to go with them no matter what.

Father had gotten up and made his way over to my room, where he had his luggage. “I’m getting my things together, so we’ll leave soon. You’re not coming, Charliette. That’s final.”

I bit my lip and grunted. It seemed like everything was stacked against me, my ineptitude to be useful and my lack of readiness tied my hands behind my back. I opened my mouth to contest them, but Lio did it first.

“I’m sorry, Charliette. It pains me to say all of that, but I’m doing this for your safety.”

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Lio had taken off his robe, which was sitting folded beside him. What was left was his shirt underneath, a crimson turtleneck, which I’d never seen before. He had never taken off his robe around me before, which confused me. Why would he just take it off? It hadn’t gotten soaked in the rain, so I was trying to connect the dots. Surely it was something more than just to relax. But the color of his shirt reminded me so much of blood.

I leaned forward so much that my butt had risen from my seat, and I planted my hands firmly on the coffee table between us. “Please, just take me! I’ll be useful in any way—”

“Do you want to end up like Isla? Helpless? In pain? Dead?”

I gasped, hearing the words come out of his mouth. I was wearing Isla’s dress too. “No… I don’t. But—”

Lio lunged for me, snatching me by my waist and pulling me closer to him. With his eyes closed, he pressed his lips onto mine. It was warmer than any fire he’d ever conjured up, softer than anything I could ever imagine. I was paralyzed and dropped my arms to my sides as he kissed me. All of this caught me sorely off guard, and I was sure my face was red, just like how his was like a tomato.

He hugged my waist tighter and finally opened his eyes when our lips had separated and I was left breathless again. “I don’t want to end up like Fiar,” he said softly. His eyes were glued to me and he was blushing. Lio had dropped off the couch and was on his knees in front of the coffee table. His arms still hugged onto my hip.

I was still unable to catch my breath and was panting even minutes after our first kiss. My heart was racing and all I could think about was Lio. It was strange, my heart kept screaming his name over and over again unending. I grabbed my chest just to get my bearings straight, feeling the rapid thuds of my heart pounding against flesh. I didn’t know what to say back to him, but there was one thing I knew now:

I was just like Isla in the account the healer gave of that incident. I cried to be there with the people I loved the most, only to realize my hopelessness in the moment. As much as I fit her dress perfectly, I didn’t want to be her. I didn’t want to lose people or even lose myself. Most of all, I didn’t want anyone to be burdened by me, being dragged down by my ineptitude, my desperation. I breathed in harder than before, realizing that what they were saying was the truth. I wasn’t fit to go back in the dungeon, but they weren’t letting me go because of that. Lio and Father were stopping me because they cared for me. They loved me. And I loved them. And a good person respects the people they love, so I finally came to my senses that perhaps it was best for me to stay. I didn’t want to disrespect them by disrespecting their wishes.

I nodded my head, although I wanted to go so bad, not everyone gets their wishes answered. I was no exception. So… there was another way of respecting the people I love, and I knew exactly how to express that.

Lio was still on the ground staring at the floor and holding tight to me. I got on my knees over the table and reached for his face, grabbed his cheeks and pulled his face up to me. Then I dove into a loving embrace, a kiss of my own. I pinned his face to mine and felt as our lips interlocked yet again in loving harmony. It was cold and wet outside, but the warmth of our love negated it all.

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Lio stared back at me, his gold eyes wide open and his hands shaking. They released from my hips and went up to my arms. He grasped them tenderly, and I went in more in response. His cheeks were smooth like a baby’s and not even a hint of facial hair was growing, but his smooth skin was like magic to my fingers as I rubbed against it. I wanted to make sure I portray that sense of respect, trust, and love that he showed to me. Perhaps I went too far? Maybe I was a bit too aggressive or wild, but I didn’t care. All that was in my mind was making sure he understood my feelings.

After a few minutes which felt like an eternity, I pulled my lips away from him and gasped for air. I hope I was able to show what I wanted to show. But I wanted to be absolutely sure.

“Lio,” I said between breaths, “I understand. I won’t let that happen to you… so I’ll stay.”

He replied with a nod of his head, he still looked to be in a state of shock.

“Stay safe though. Watch over Father for me, okay?”

He nodded his head without a word uttered yet again.

“And… and… and…” I was left speechless as well. I couldn’t think of anything else.

“Charliette, I love you.” Lio finally pushed out words through his tightly closed lips. Those sweet words made my eyes go soft, and I reciprocated.

“I love you too.”

Lio wrapped his arms around me and hugged me. It was clear he didn’t want to let go, but Father would be departing soon, and he would too. But I didn’t have to worry anymore.

“I’ll bring us both home safe, Charliette.”

“I know you will.” Out of anyone who could have said that, I felt most at ease with Lio uttering those words. He was my master after all, and a powerful mage whose limits I didn’t even know fully. I knew he’d keep Father and himself safe out there.

Our hands interlocked and we sat together on the same couch, side by side and shoulder to shoulder. They were going to leave soon, might as well indulge in this blissful feeling of love one more time.