'I deemed myself failed because of weakness of affection. If this time I could make up for that mistake. I would gladly cut myself off from such affections, bonds, or loves.'

'Even after I died. The pain still lingers. Something that I couldn't take on again for the second time.'

Yet, there was still a spine-chilling thought that Ervian had about Lika.

'Then again, if I was raised from the dead by the Necrolyte. Then Lika might have suffered the same fate as it was the same monstrosity that we fought and died with together ....'

The night air seemed to be getting heavier and colder. Even the young lass who breathed it was having a long sigh on the balcony, feeling every coldness it carried while gazing at the passing by soldier after dinner.

'Maybe ... I was too pushy ....'

'It feels like ... I am barely able to control myself when I'm around him ....'

A small, yet forced-giggle left her lips.

Her mind went into a trip down memory lane about a few days ago. Pondering how would Ron—the half-elf that tried to get close to her—deal with rejection. It was quite ironic.

'It sure hurt .... I never had the chance to say that like this to Luso. He had already gone the moment I understood this feeling.'

She once again breathed out every air in her lungs before turning away from the light of the crescent.

Inside the room, silence was what remained between them. Ervian just stood behind the window, as if he was able to look through it. He didn't. But standing there gave him some space he needed.

Ervian had every right to be upset about her being like that.

Thinking about breaking the ice, Adelle breathed in.

'I knew that to start something, it needed a higher amount of activation energy, a push. Like what Gramps had told me, a small setback is nothing compared to prolonged consistency and persistence.'

"So ... Ervy, I am sorry for ... being inconsiderate ... and going too far, I guess ...."

'Darn it, why am I lost for words now?!'

"You surely went too far." That boy did not even bother to turn around. Keeping his back facing her.

"You ... still upset?"

He did not answer right away. Making Adelle feel anxious on each second pass. She had prepared for the worst to come.

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"I was. But it's fine now. Let's just ... forget about it."

Adelle's tangled heart began to uncurl from uneasiness after hearing his answer.

"Umm, okay. I am off to sleep then."

Adelle prepared herself before going to bed. She avoided saying anything more. She had met her small goal tonight by Ervian accepting her apology. How fortunate it is that he was not a person that liked to complicate things, unlike a certain someone whom she knows of.

Not long after, Ervian joined the bed. The bumping between the two of them was unavoidable.

The awkward silence just got heavier around them. Adelle leaned on her side. Her reddening face was at the wall. But Ervian was capable of remaining unruffled.

Discreetly admitting it, they both enjoyed the physical company of each other. But none had the gut to go beyond that. As if they were oblivious to what happened between them.

***

Deep in the forest, where night was at its darkest, a lonesome horse carriage traversed the dirt path of King's Road that the tall trees surrounded.

A small fire—channeled through Vis of Ardor from the carriage coachman's hand—barely able to light up the horse's next route ahead. But it was all they had in terms of lighting.

Below the moon-eclipsing clouds, far above the crossing horse carriage, an unusual-sized eagle followed their route. The said being was adorned with leather clothing. Its sharp vision locked onto the carriage just before it started to glide down.

As the eagle penetrated through the air, it formed a spark in front of its firm beak and quickly condensed into a fiery blaze that engulfed it.

The bird streaked the dark sky like a falling star, crashing down to its prey along with a blast of liquefied flame from high Ardor concentrations.

The crash killed one of the horse pairs and flung the whole escort into disarray.

"What's happening?! Anthony!" Teres—the lean young bodyguard—carefully sticking his head out of the carriage door.

Teres' eyes widened as he scanned his surrounding. He had a hint about whose the technique of such liquefied flame attacks belong. "Leriat, I want you to stay here with Mrs. Claire for the moment."

The boy that Teres talked to nodded quickly as he held his grandma's hands. The impact had shaken the whole carriage.

Teres swiftly leaped out from the shadows and joined Anthony, who was skillfully manipulating the liquid flames with his Vis of Ardor.

Together, their coordinated efforts were focused on the horse that had caught fire. Teres contributed by channeling his Vis of Ordo, effectively neutralizing the raging blaze.

"Where is the attacker?!" Teres asked.

"I don't know yet! We should split up n—"

"—AGHH!"

Another blast of fire was fired towards the two bodyguards. They both had seen it coming and lunged, but their reaction time was quite off the mark.

"Heh, so it was you two that helped the young master to escape. What a pity."

Emerging from the dark trees, a young man in his early twenties approached with a wide grin spread across his face.

The impressive pair of eagle wings slowly retracted against his back, concealed by the brown coating of Venevisium.

The wings seamlessly blended with the space around his leather clothing, adding an intriguing and captivating element to his appearance.

Teres hissed as he got up after rolling on the ground. "Aron ...."

"You okay, Teres?" Anthony caught up beside him. That young coachman then unsheathed his sword.

The two men stared grimly at Aron. "Yes, just a scratch," he confirmed. Teres mirrored the same action, understanding what kind of maniac they were about to face.

Aron grin got bigger and has his white-teeth showing. "Relax! You'll just die. Nothing is scary, right?"