Saria's steps, light on the snow-trailing road, drummed into Mel's thundering heart.

Fidgeting, Mel hung her head as she pursed her lips, mulling over the words she should say.

Yet as Saria's shadow loomed over, she merely squinted her eyes further before-

She jolted; as a hug, trembling and filled with relief, wrapped around her and Lila.

"Never," Saria breathed, her arms tightening over their necks. "Never scare me like that, would you?"

A breath hitched in Mel's throat as she merely tapped Saria's arm.

"Of course," Mel whispered, her gaze softening as she pulled back to meet Saria's. "Were you waiting for us all night here?"

Saria's brows knitted together as a sigh escaped her lips. "What do you think?"

Glancing at Saria's robes and the shoulder blades that caught bundles of snow, Mel chuckled a little.

She muttered a Whisper's Faith, revitalising her sis if only a little, before she grinned. "Must have been a long time."

Saria rolled her eyes. "It's only an entire night. Don't mind it."

"Aw... is my dear sis sulking?"

"I said, don't mind it."

A warmth carressed her heartbeat, as Mel's eyes glimmered with a bubbly affection.

"Thank you, Sis." She bowed a little, tone steadied. "I'm proud to have someone like you concerned with me."

Saria raised a brow; Mel's sincerity surprised her.

Her brat seemed to have... changed a little, at least when it came to her alone.

"Don't mind it."

Saria patted Mel's hair with a smile. "I promise to take care of you since I took you in, so try not to make me worry too much."

Though deep down in the Knight's heart, she expected her openness to be teased by Mel a little.

Yet Mel raised her eyes, her lips parted as she stared dazedly at Saria.

The Knight blinked, her thumb brushing over Mel's forehead. "Caught a cold?"

A faint blush spread across Mel's cheeks as she shook her head with a smile. "No, of course not."

Owing to being the first Witness of Lila's Awakening, Mel could sense herself... more sentimental when it came to non-powerful witches around them.

She observed Saria; the concern flickering in a tiny struggle to express it adequately.

Cute. She almost uttered, as she leaned more into Saria's pat.

"And you, Lila."

Saria's eyes then locked onto Lila's. "I understand Mel was a little too... hard to move sometimes, doesn't mean you've had to go along with her whims to... You know."

"Miss Saria..." Lila tilted her head, as her lips tugged to a sharp edge. "May I ask you to finish that sentence?"

Saria froze, then coughed twice.

Was it her feeling, or Lila's, that was a lot more terrifying today?

"Anyways..." She drew back her hand. "The city is under lockdown, but its daily operation has remained smooth. You're welcome to shop around still if you've the time."

The Knight then turned around. "Your Class Teacher planned to summon everyone within tonight. Try to manage your fun till then, safely."

The word 'safely' seething through Saira's teeth elicited a giggle from Mel.

"I will!" She waved as Saria headed off. "Thanks, Sis!"

The Knight waved back, as Mel's eyes locked onto Saria's back till she entered the gate.

A lingering regret, one Mel couldn't recognise, sparked as Mel clutched her beating heartbeat.

Still steady.

Yet it was so much comfort that Mel began to smile to herself.

Lila's emerald eyes swept over Mel; then narrowed a little.

"Mel." Her hand clutched hers. "Are you... Perhaps in love with Saria?"

Mel's shoulders hunched as she faced Lila's questioning gaze. "I don't know."

"That's... rare."

Swaying their hands idly, Lila grumbled. "You usually would have teased me back, or... maybe kissed me to shut me up."

"Oh? Are you asking for one right now?"

Lila scowled; then closed the distance between them. "Sure..."

They pressed their lips together; a slight tap was too short to be cherished and too long to be left behind.

"But still," Lila's hands curled inward as Mel embraced her. "You've always... seemed so confident, that it's surprising to see that you're unsure of your feelings."

"Hehe." She 'booped' Lila's nose. "Glad to still offer you a surprise. Even I know how much you understand me."

"..."

As Lila remained silent, Mel's brows loosened as she caught the emerald hair between her fingertips.

"Remember when I told you I was... suddenly thrown into this world?"

A confession was uttered through her as she admired the pureness of Lila's hair. "I... didn't exactly leave behind a bad life, yet not a good one either."

Her chest heaved and blew a soft air upon Lila's closed eye.

Teasing her lover a little more, Mel then muttered. "But if there's one thing I missed, it would probably be my family."

She carressed Lila's cheek, the heat of her skin grounding her sense here, not allowing her to drown in memories.

"So Saria... hehe, she probably filled that hole for me." Mel nodded to herself. "But to be honest, now... I'm not quite sure."

Once in the airship, Mel has told herself to wait for Saira's advance first.

Yet the always flirty her... was not quite sure.

Her instinct as a Witch told her to pursue Saria as a cherished possession, yet her past life as Mel told her to respect Saria's wish till then.

"Mel..."

For now, however, as Lila shook at the unexpected vulnerability shown by Mel, the Witch of Lust merely chortled.

"Alright! That's enough being depressed for me!" Mel's nose tapped at Lila's before she trailed left and right to feel the smooth skin.

"Mmm..." A whimper of comfort slipped from Lila as she gulped back her words.

Her stare paused Mel's lips, and resolution came, as her hands were raised to lock on Mel's neck.

Mel paused at the flushed Lila, her lover tip-toeing as she kissed her again.

Lila's tongue invaded Mel's without a word this time, as Mel gasped a little in their kiss.

An active Lila! So precious!

Mel's hands slithered before clasping around Lila's back, steadying her kiss as Lila tilted her head timidly for every angle.

Then, as Lila pulled away with a bated breath, her watery eyes narrowed, then widened again in resolution.

"Don't forget," Lila smiled. "You promised to lend me all week."

Glancing at Lila's puffy red face, Mel's heart lightened and melted as she cupped Lila's cheek.

"I did." She uttered. "Do you plan to have a date first?"

At an instance, Lila's face beamed. "Yep! Let's do what we missed out on when we first came to this city!"

"Hehe... you're still bothered by that?"

"Absolutely."

Lila took the lead as her grip remained firm on Mel's. "Let's go! We've got a couple of moments left before lunch!"

As Mel gazed at the small hand slipped between her fingers, a small smile tugged at her lips.

She has made a mistake.

Her heart initially thought the feeling of being 'content', 'protected', and 'cherished' only belonged to Saria alone, as her one and only family in this World.

So, Mel breathed out, her hand tightening on her lover's and her second family's.

"I love you, Lila."

Lila's shoulder briefly shook before continuing her steps like normal.

Yet even without looking at the panel, their tenderness for each other sang silently in the cool breeze.

[ Envy favourability: 83% - 91% ]

--------------

As Mel and Lila arrived in the city, they witnessed an unexpected sight.

Even as the snow fell, the citizens of Voltunus still went on like normal.

Busy crowds shuffling, stalls buzzing with new products, and restaurants putting up signs readied for business.

"Hm...."

A conflicted frown flickered on Lila's face. "I'm not sure if I should be the one to say this, but... they sure recover fast."

Mel's thumb drew a circle idly on Lila's palm. "Even I'm a little surprised. I wonder if the Church has something to do with the recovery."

Seeing the Holy Knights, and only Holy Knights patrolling the street, Mel couldn't help but think a certain Saintess has been keeping herself busy.

[ You're welcome to repay me afterwards, then, Mel! ]

'Mmm...' Mel grumbled in her Telepathy. 'So eager after our first time, huh?'

[ Need you ask? You're so equally cherishing our moments that you even forgot to take off my panties! ]

'Ma-Maria...'

[ Hehe. Don't whine, don't whine! I promise to leave you and Envy alone this time. ]

[ Ah, but there's one thing.]

Mel raised a brow as Lila led her to a snack stall. 'Feel free to ask of me, Partner.'

[ It's a small favour; don't ask Envy to deactivate the snow for a long while. ]

Blinking, Mel watched as Lila bought a mini-sandwich with fried cheese and ham. 'Sure? What do you have in mind?'

Mel frowned as she read the panel, as golden hairs intruded upon her reading instead.

The ruby eyes stared at Mel's with interest, as her head darted up to meet a smirky gaze.

"You seem to be doing well, my prey."

Rosana's eyes narrowed, then swept over the crowd before meeting Lila's cautious eyes.

"You two... seemed to be busy."

She grinned as her nose tingled at a snowflake dropping at its tip.