We''re back on the rooftop of the Gilded Horns.

    The night sky stretches above us, broad and endless, a deep shade of indigo dusted with stars. They twinkle quietly, as if listening. Below, Mistvale is still alive with light and motion. Lanterns glow along the streets, windows flicker with warm gold, and the sound of distant laughter drifts up from all the taverns, restaurants, and night shops below.

    Somewhere, someone plays a lute, soft and slow.

    I lean my head against Eris''s shoulder, feeling the familiar comfort of her warmth beside me.

    "…Eris," I whisper, barely louder than the wind.

    She hums, low and soft. A sound that says, I''m here. Go on.

    "I still can''t believe it," I murmur. "Just a few days ago… I showed up in this world. You grabbed me out of nowhere and brought me up here. We sat right here. It was the first place I ever felt… grounded."

    My eyes drift to the stars above.

    "And then the next day… you confessed to me."

    My breath catches as I say it out loud. Even now, it feels surreal.

    "And now… tonight''s our last night at the Gilded Horns."

    Eris shifts a little, just enough for her voice to brush close to my ear.

    "Hey, you getting sentimental on me, Felicia?"

    "…Yeah," I admit with a small, shaky laugh. I wipe at my nose with the edge of my sleeve. "No matter where we go after this… I think I''ll always remember this place. This rooftop. This inn. This… moment."

    She snickers gently. "Heh. You mean the place where you tried to hit me with a chair?"

    "Hey!!" I sit up with a pout. "I had to be careful! What if you were dangerous?! What if you had… weird intentions?!"

    "Oh?" She leans in, grinning. "And what kind of weird intentions are we talking about here?"

    "I—I don''t know!" I fumble. "Like… like trying to kidnap me! Or cast a spell! Or—or—eat me alive!"

    She raises an eyebrow. "Mmm… what if I did try to eat you alive, Felicia? Would you let me?"

    My cheeks ignite. "N-NO!"

    "Really?" She chuckles, voice dripping with smug delight as she pokes my cheek with a fingertip. "You sure?"

    "W-well… you are sexy and gorgeous and all," I mutter, trying to look away, "but no way I''m that thirsty!"

    "Pfffft!" Eris breaks into laughter, nudging me with her elbow. "Alright, alright. I''ll spare you this time."

    I bury my face in my hands with a groan. "You''re the worst."

    But I''m smiling.

    And her laughter, the sound of it echoing under the stars, makes everything feel okay.

    We fall into a quiet, gentle silence.

    The kind that doesn''t need to be filled.

    Just the stars above, the cool breeze drifting past, and the warmth of her beside me.

    Now that I think about it… even though things have been hard at times—confusing, frightening, overwhelming—not once have I ever felt regret. Not even for a moment.

    Every twist, every stumble… somehow, all of it led us here. And somehow, every step we took only pulled us closer together.

    "I''m glad…" I say softly, my voice barely more than a breath. "I''m really glad it was you who walked into our room that day."

    She doesn''t answer right away. sea??h thё novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Instead, she just reaches for my hand, her fingers curling around mine. A slow, steady squeeze. Her thumb begins to move in slow circles along the back of my hand gently.

    Even now, after everything… after all the times she''s touched me, held me, kissed me… Even though I''m used to her touch by now…

    My heart still melts. Just like that.

    Every time.

    "I''m glad I met you too," she whispers finally, her voice warm enough to make my chest ache.

    She takes a slow sip from her mug, the chocolate milk steaming faintly in the cool air. Then she sighs, long and dramatic.

    "Mmmhm… I''m gonna miss this," she murmurs. "No more chocolate milk under the stars. Huhuhu…"

    "Right?" I say, lifting my own cup. "Me too."

    I take a big sip, and immediately let out a wail.

    "Huuhuu! I still can''t taste it!"

    Eris nearly snorts into her drink. "Wait, seriously? I thought your sense of taste already came back!"

    "N-no…" I mumble, slumping a little. "Not really…"

    She tilts her head. "Then how did you taste those flowers the other day?"

    "I—I don''t know…" I sigh, burying my face in my scarf.

    "Huh. Weird," she says, furrowing her brow.

    "Yeah…"

    She leans over and rubs my back in small, soothing circles.

    "Poor Felicia," she coos with exaggerated pity. "Don''t worry. I''ll drink your share too."

    "Unfaaaiiirrr!" I groan, slouching against her shoulder again.

    And she just laughs, her voice rising to the stars above us.

    "Anyway… look what I brought!" Eris suddenly says, her voice slipping into that mischievous lilt I know so well.

    I glance over, blinking in surprise as she starts digging into the small pouch tied to her belt. Her fingers disappear inside it for a moment—and then she pulls her hand out, tightly clenched.

    "Here," she says, grinning. "For you."

    "Huh? What is it?" I ask, leaning in curiously.

    "Hehe… it''s a surprise."

    "O-okay…" I murmur, holding my hand out beneath hers.

    She opens her palm slowly, like she''s unveiling some sacred treasure.

    And then, soft shapes tumble into my hand, light as feathers.

    Crimson petals.

    My breath catches.

    "The flowers…" I whisper. "Wait… you brought them?"

    "Of course I did," Eris says, puffing out her chest a little. "You really seemed to like them, so I thought… why not bring some back? Figured you might want a midnight snack."

    She says it so casually, like it''s no big deal at all.

    But my heart flutters.

    "Alright," she says, turning to face me more fully, "try one again. Let''s see if the taste still works outside the dungeon."

    I nod, already picking one up between my fingers. The crimson petal shimmers faintly under the starlight.

    I place it on my tongue.

    Chew… chew…