The crimson petal shimmers faintly under the starlight.

    I place it on my tongue.

    And I chew on it.

    …

    "Mmmmh!" I let out a delighted sound. "I can still taste it!"

    The petal melts in my mouth like silk spun into sugar. It''s sweet, but a delicate type of sweetness, with that faint floral warmth that spreads all the way down to my chest.

    Even outside the dungeon… the taste still remains!

    "It''s delicious!" I whisper, eyes wide.

    "Hmmm… interesting," Eris says, leaning forward with narrowed eyes like a curious scientist. "You still can''t taste anything else… but these work? How does that even make sense?"

    "Mmm… no clue," I say between chews. "But I''m not complaining!"

    "Good thing I brought more, then!" she says, beaming. "Ooh! What if you mixed them into your milk? Maybe you''d get, like… a super magical floral hot chocolate or something?"

    "Ooh!" My eyes go wide. "Eris… you''re a genius!"

    Without wasting another second, I grab the mug. Together, we carefully tear the petals into tiny pieces, letting them drift into the warm milk. They don''t melt completely, just float there like crimson confetti, some of their color spreads into the chocolate milk, making dark red swirls, before turning the liquid burgundy completely.

    The scent that rises up is enchanting. It''s sweet, earthy, and floral.

    The steam curls around my face.

    My hands wrap around the mug, warm and comforting. I can''t wait to taste it!

    Beside me, Eris watches closely, her eyes full of anticipation. She''s not even breathing, her tail flicking nervously.

    Alright! Let''s do it!

    I take a deep breath and lift the cup to my lips…

    Sip.

    …

    ..

    …

    "Mmmmmmhm!! Delicious!!"

    "This is wonderful, nyaaa!!"

    I let out a long, content sigh, my tail swaying back and forth in approval, completely won over by the new flower milk we just invented.

    "Really?" Eris asks, eyes sparkling with curiosity.

    "Nn!" I nod eagerly, raising my hand.

    "Yay!" she laughs, clapping her palm against mine.

    We high-five.

    I take another sip, closing my eyes to savor it.

    The flavor blooms on my tongue, just like the petals did before, but now it''s richer, gentler! Infused into the warm milk, the taste deepens into something softer, fuller. I still can''t really taste the milk itself, but I feel it: the creamy texture, the silky warmth wrapping around every delicate note of sweetness from the petals.

    It''s perfect.

    I sway gently where I sit, hugging the mug close. My tail flicks with contentment, lazy and happy.

    Eris leans a little closer, eyeing the cup in my hands. "Can I try?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Nn!"

    I nod and carefully hand it over.

    She brings it to her lips and takes a slow sip.

    Her eyes go wide.

    "Ooh…" she breathes. "It still tastes like regular chocolate milk to me, but the smell—it''s amazing!"

    "Hehe, so you like it too?" I grin, already feeling a tiny sense of pride.

    "Yeah!" Eris says brightly. "It''s got this… sweet, herbal, almost dreamy smell. Like drinking a garden under moonlight."

    She turns, rummaging into her pouch again. "Let''s see if I have any more—"

    But then her shoulders slump. "Aww man… I only brought a few petals. That''s all I had."

    "That''s alright," I say, sipping the last bit in my mug. "Now that we know they work, I''ll make sure to stock up. Every time we leave the mansion, I''m bringing a whole stash!"

    Eris perks up. "That''s a great idea!"

    She beams at me, proud and excited.

    Then I notice it.

    A faint shimmer of milk still clings to her lips. It''s just a trace, like a chocolate-milk mustache, glistening with tiny bits of red petal. It''s adorable. Irresistible.

    Hehe…

    Irresistible…

    And so…

    I shift closer.

    "Eris…" I say softly, smiling with mischief curling in my voice. "I want to taste something else now."

    "Huh? What is it?" she blinks, unsuspecting.

    But before she can react—

    I lean in and kiss her.

    Slowly, and deeply.

    Her lips part in surprise, then soften against mine. Warm and sweet, just like the drink, but layered with something else—her breath, her warmth, her essence, her love…

    "Mmmhnn…" Eris squirms a little as I press in deeper. Her mouth opens just enough for me to slide my tongue along her lips, brushing away the sticky-sweet remnants of milk and petal.

    I taste her.

    Not just the flowers.

    Her.

    The kiss lingers. Stretches.

    And I don''t want it to end.

    I hold her gently, savoring every moment, every small movement of her mouth against mine—until the sweetness fades.

    When I finally pull away, she''s breathless, gasping, blinking slowly.

    "Mmmh…" I murmur, lips tingling. "Flower-flavored Eris… delicious."

    Eris groans, laughing softly. "Dang it… I really should''ve brought more."

    I snicker, cradling my half-finished mug close again.

    "Good thing," I say with a wink, "I still have some left here!"

    Some more flower infused milk.

    And so, I lift the cup again, offering it to her with a small smile.

    "Want another taste?"

    Eris giggles and leans in, taking a gentle sip from the edge—right where my lips had been. Her eyes flutter closed for just a second, as if savoring more than just the flavor.

    And then I kiss her again.

    Softly.

    Just a brush at first, like the petals themselves.

    Then again, slower this time, deeper.

    A warmth spreads in my chest as our lips meet once more, the shared sweetness of the drink still lingering between us.

    And again.

    And again.

    No words. No need.

    Just us, lost in quiet kisses beneath the stars.

    Each one a little different. Some playful, some long and tender. Each time I pull away, we smile. Then lean in again, like it''s the most natural thing in the world.

    Time slips past like a dream. Mistvale''s sounds fade into a gentle hush.

    We forget the rooftop. We forget the town. We forget the world.

    It''s just us.

    Tasting the night on each other''s lips, holding each other close, letting the warmth of the milk, and the warmth of love, carry us through the hours.

    And long after the stars begin to shift in the sky, we''re still there.

    Kissing.

    Still tasting.