Faust enjoyed the sunlight on his skin as it had just risen behind him. He smiled happily as he had finally found the road. He didn’t know how far he was away from Caurium, but he knew he was walking in the right direction.

The plastered road led over a small elevation, and he made his way up that road.

‘I can’t wait to see Leona when I return to camp. She must be devastated by what happened…’ Faust thought and smiled gently when he thought how relieved she would be when she saw him.

‘I have so much to tell you, Leona…’ He gently walked down the road with the sun behind him.

His every step felt effortless. Elegant even. Yet beyond the happy thoughts was a gray cloud full of worry, confusion, and uncertainty.

‘What happened to me? Why does it feel like my body has undergone this change…’ He frowned and walked on with a light step. Soon he would be back in camp.

‘I have to think of a story… something I can tell Lucon and the others.’

As he pondered, he reached the top of the small hill and as he looked down, he froze in place.

“LEONA!” he called out, full of surprise.

‘What is she doing here? Why is she alone?’ he thought as he looked at her, kneeling on the ground.

Her face at first showed sadness, then surprise. Her mouth opened and closed again, but no words came out.

‘It can’t be!’ she thought as she struggled to stand. Her shaky legs barely kept her on two feet and her heart wanted to jump out of her chest. But there was no doubt. This was Faust.

He smiled at her gently, but as he saw her state, he felt awful.

‘I can’t imagine what she went through the past days…’ he thought and cocked his head when he smiled at her.

“It’s me, I’m alive. I made it out Leona ” He said and only then did he see tears streaming down her smiling face. Silent tears. She didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to. Faust understood her even without words.

Then Leona sobbed excitedly as she started running towards him. She stormed towards the man she had thought dead. The man she loved. She wanted nothing more than to be in his arms right now. Crawling under his skin and staying there, close to him.

Faust looked at her and took a few steps forward before Leona crashed into him and slung her arms around his body in a tight hug. She pressed herself against him, burying her head in his chest.

She started to sob.

‘Poor girl. I really scared her. She must’ve thought I was dead.’ He hugged her tightly and gently caressed her hair as she sobbed.

Without words, they held onto one another for what felt like a beautiful eternity.

Faust smelled her hair as her sobs slowly ebbed. He chuckled. He was so relieved.

That made her head jerk upwards and she glared at him, her eyes still teary.

She pressed herself away from him and hit his chest with her right hand. She looked hurt.

“Do you even know how worried I was???” she shouted and hit his chest again.

He just stood there. He knew he had to endure this. She continued her bombardment.

“Do you ever care about the feelings of others? Do you even care about me?”

Her voice grew more desperate as she hammered at his chest weakly.

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“I WOULD’VE GLADLY DIED WITH YOU!” she screamed, and her voice cracked. Her brave front was broken, and Faust recognized the pain in her eyes.

They just stood there, a foot apart, staring at one another. He couldn’t bear to look at her face as it was filled with pain, longing, and judgment.

“Don’t leave me ever again.” She muttered weakly and propped her exhausted body against his.

This made Faust snap. It brought him over the edge. He didn’t care anymore.

He took her face into both of his hands which took her aback. She looked him right in the eyes before slowly and hesitantly putting her arms around his neck.

Her heart beat wildly.

‘Is this really happening? Is that really my Faust? Please just kiss me!!’ she thought as she was mesmerized by his smiling face that promised so much.

‘It felt so good to be held in his arms…’ she took a step forward, closing the distance, and tried to speak.

“Faus- mmph!” she tried to speak but was muffled by a sudden kiss on her lips.

She tensed up in surprise before completely relaxing herself in his arms. He held her. She felt all the pain of the last days falling off her as she greedily returned the kiss.

‘Finally.’ She thought and grabbed his hair with one of her hands while their lips explored one another.

‘Finally.’ He thought as he pulled her hips closer, holding her tightly. He wanted to never let go of her. He wanted to protect her from all that might come.

Like hungry hyenas, they attempted to devour one another, not to escape from something, but to express their love that had remained suppressed for so long.

All the passion and all the intense emotions they felt in the past months were now unleashed. Leona pressed her body against his and only after a few minutes they slowly calmed down from their feverish passion.

“Promise me to never let me go again.” She whispered as their lips parted and their faces were only a few centimeters apart. Her face carried a cute blush.

To Faust, she was the most beautiful girl in the world at this moment.

“I won’t. I promise.” He cupped her face, and she nestled her cheek into his hand and smiled.

Faust’s face showed a conflicted facial expression. Of course, Leona noticed.

“Flora?” she asked with concern in her voice.

“Flora.” He replied and sighed.

“I don’t know how I should explain it to her. I doubt she would understand that we can’t be together. I know it’s unfair, but everyone kept telling me our relationship was probably toxic, but we were both blinded… It will not be easy to-“ he abruptly stopped as Leona placed a finger on his lips.

She looked at him and smiled sweetly.

“She will understand it in due time and see that it was better this way. It took us a near-death experience to see the obvious.” Leona smiled kindly and Faust lost himself in her eyes.

Then a shadow hushed over her face, and she felt conflicted.

“It won’t be easy on her. I dread this situation. It could break her if you’re not careful.” Leona said with a frown. She was pitying Flora.

“Yeah. The mere thought of telling her makes my guts wrench. As much as it pains me to hurt her it’s better for both of us… I think. It makes no sense to keep a relationship going only because of a bad conscience if there is no more love,” He paused before sighing. “Or where there has never been love.”

Leona shook her head.

“Don’t look down on your relationship too much. The time you spent together was real. You overcame your trauma faster than her-”

“I haven’t overcome the trauma.” He interrupted her which caused her to sigh.

“Right. But you have realized that continuing that relationship would be detrimental to both of you. I don’t think she has arrived at the same conclusion. It will completely shock her and throw her off. I don’t want her to be hurt.” She explained and Faust nodded dejectedly.

“I know. That’s why it hurts so much. But it needs to be done.” He replied and scratched his head. He was visibly uncomfortable.

Leona caressed his face lovingly.

“Just try to be considerate of her feelings when you tell her.” She said softly.

He was enchanted by her actions. Her kindness and empathy made him feel warmth in his heart.

“Of course, Leona. I never intended to hurt her in the first place.” He spoke calmly and smiled.

She could feel this wouldn’t be their last time talking about this topic. She didn’t mind.

‘It’s so uncomfortable… but the topic needs to be addressed. Faust will do the right thing. A relationship just for the sake of it without love…’ she briefly shook her head.

A sad smile appeared on Leona’s face as she caressed his face with her soft hands.

They remained silent for a few seconds before Faust bent forward and whispered into Leona’s ear.

“I love you.”

She immediately grabbed his head, furiously planting dozens of kisses all over his face before smiling at him brighter than she ever had before.

“Say that again.” She whispered.

“I love you.” He whispered with a shy smile.

She smirked.

“Again.”

“Oh shut up!” He chuckled and kissed her on the lips.

Her cheeks got even redder before she whispered:

“I love you too.”

As she spoke the words, they couldn’t help but tighten their embrace for a moment.

They looked into each other’s eyes as their foreheads connected. It felt so good to finally be with one another.

At this moment it hit Leona.

‘How did I not think of this? How did he even survive? Why is his shoulder healed?’ her eyes widened, and she grasped at his previously broken shoulder.

He noticed her reaction and sighed. He intended to explain everything to her. Truthfully.

He swore himself that there would never be any secrets between Leona and him.