It did not take long before Hunter came out of the overgrowth, a bit scared and sweaty.

Alisa put her game face on, “Hunter? Is that you?”, she asked, patting her skirt and pockets.

“None, just walking around, trying to calm myself down," Hunter replied with a tense, high-pitched voice.

“Be sure to get some sleep; we might have a very long day tomorrow. Do you have a match? My lamp died." She went closer, closely examining him with a smile while making sure that he really was the one he saw.

“Oh, here, you can keep it. I’m going to sleep”, he handed her the matches before hastily leaving for the cave.

“Great, thanks. Be careful on your way, we can’t actually say but there might be some moles on our side”, she waved him goodbye before lighting the lamp, “I’ve decided to put my trust in you, Hunter, please prove to me that what I’m thinking is wrong”.

It was her thoughts until she finally entered the cabin. Deciding to keep what she saw to herself until she’s certain. She couldn’t help but sigh as she laid down the bed, spreading her arms while still contemplating what she saw.

Her mind won’t stop drifting that when the cabin’s door suddenly creaked and opened, she almost had a heart attack.

“What’s up with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost”, Nicolas did his best not to laugh at the frozen Alisa.

“You startled me; that’s why!” she exclaimed. “But no, I was just worried for tomorrow.”

“Sleep then; I know you must be tired," Nicolas suggested, dropping his bag to the table before sitting on the benches.

“How did the talk with the Lord go?”

“The Lord of this land was quite stingy. Do you know what he said when your Uncle told him the plan? He rejected it, saying that it’s his territory and if he wanted help, he’d ask it from people that have power, not some old man and a puny kid.”

Alisa laughed, “They’ve always been like that, feeling almighty and powerful after they forcefully evicted Uncle Donnor from his position.”

“Well, that’s news for me. That explains why that Denver jerk can’t sit still. We managed to at least make him fortify the defense of Yggdryas.”

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“That’s good news then," the girl sat up. “We have a problem though.”

“Did something happen?”

“No, nothing to be worried about. I’m just wondering where you would sleep?” Alisa asked, getting up from the bed. “I slept beside you when you’re asleep, but now that you’re awake, it now feels wrong to do so.”

They avoided each other’s eyes before Nicolas cleared his throat. “Don’t worry about that; I already took my stuff to the clock tower, and since I’m doing fine now, you can have the bed; I’ll sleep on the floor.”

Moments later, they are both settled. The silence was deafening, their backs towards each other as they were left to their own thoughts. Nicolas wondered what happened during the two days he was asleep, and Alisa’s blushing face from recalling those same days, changing his clothes and wiping him from the name of the father, the son, and the holly spirit.

“I hope we’ll succeed tomorrow”, Alisa whispered as she brushed away her thoughts.

“We will, unlike the last time we had people that could help us. No matter what happens, I’ll keep you safe.”

Alisa calmed herself down, holding her chest before turning around. Only to meet Nicolas watching him, his elbow to the bed supporting his head with a gentle smile. She wanted to turn around but she pushed through.

“Hey Alisa”, he uttered, “Do you think I changed?”

“What kind of question is that?”

“You know I can now remember my past lives. Needless to say, I’m not the boy you grew up with anymore. I have spent all of those lives finding a reason to live, but all I did was kill people to survive; I was a monster.”

She scuffled his hair. “Maybe you are; maybe you are an entity that already had countless lives, countless experiences that made you who you are today. I won’t deny it; I got a little scared knowing the possibility that I really don’t know you at all, but...” she sat up and placed her palm on his cheeks. “I’m betting everything to the fact that in this world, you were my friend, the friend to whom I shared laughter and smiles, even punishments”, they both laughed.

“I’m betting everything on what I feel—that you are still that Nicolas that I knew. You might look at yourself as a monster, but you can always count on me to call your name and tell you who you are; you are my Nicolas," she slowly leaned down, her eyes locked with his before holding her in a tight embrace.

The boy could only return the favor, “Thank you.”

“You’re quite heavy, you know," she chuckled, struggling to pat his back while lying down. Holding him tightly over her as she waited for him to stop, “Do you remember what day it is?”

“No, why?”, the boy finally laid down and wiped his tears.

“Tomorrow is August first; does that ring a bell?”

Nicolas laughed, “Really? it’s that time of the year already?”

"Yeah," Alisa said, holding his hand and facing him. “Advance happy birthday.”

“Uh huh, to you as well. By the way, when I met you, did you really robbed the apples?”

“You seriously fell for that lie? I saw a kid who took the apples; he was almost caught in the act. I pitied him, so when the owner noticed, I took the blame and ran.”

“All those winning, that was all an act?”

“Not really; I got hungry from all the running.”

They could only smile at each other as the light they lost that night started to rekindle. It’s warmth basking them both with ease and tranquility, a warmth they nurtured within each other’s hearts now growing into a flame enveloping their bodies and souls. And finally, with everything that’s been said and done, they finally succumbed to the night.