"So that's what happened…" Alice exclaimed in wonder as she nuzzled her nose further into Ashen's neck, raining light kisses on it, as if to confirm he was still there.
She was still sitting comfortably on his lap as Ashen had to explain how he was able to save himself and her in tow, in detail, at her request.
Thankfully, the setting changed from the interrogation room. They now sat beneath a vast night sky, the moon hanging full and pale above them, its light spilling across drifting clouds while stars scattered endlessly beyond.
The spot lay only a short walk from their assigned room, secluded enough to grant them this pocket of privacy.
"Yeah. More or less…" Ashen replied, his voice distant. His eyes stayed fixed on the sky, unfocused, while his fingers moved through Alice's hair in absent strokes that she seemed to enjoy nonetheless.
"Everyone died…" she whispered, her kisses slowing.
"...They did." He agreed quietly. A cigarette found its way between his fingers and then to his lips; the motion was empty of thought.
"But we survived…" Alice finished. The disbelief in her voice lingered, the words sounding more like something she was trying to convince herself of and less like a statement.
"That, we did." Ashen nodded once, the gesture small but firm.
Alice lifted her hand, almost lazily, and a tiny blue flame bloomed at her fingertip before kissing the cigarette's end. It flared, then vanished just as quickly, leaving behind a thin ribbon of smoke curling into the night sky and dancing among the starlight.
"You still don't believe it? I suppose your fully logic-driven thoughts can't process it immediately." Ashen smirked, trying to tease her.
But Alice shook her head seriously, "No, I believe it. I'm just so happy… that my boyfriend became such a strong and determined man. I'm still trying to process this happiness, I guess."
Ashen's face softened into a gentle smile. He kissed the top of her head before replying, his tone mirroring her serious one, "Well, you know what they say: Behind every great man there's a woman. You never gave up on me, so I was able to grow determined; you wholeheartedly trusted me, so I was able to grow stronger… Your mana was the fuel to my engine, you are the reason I'm not helpless, Alice."
Alice didn't answer with words, but opted to show her feelings by looping her hands behind his neck and smashing her lips onto his, allowing him to enjoy their delicious taste.
The kiss lasted until they were both short on breath, making them pull out just enough for fresh air to mingle between their intertwined breaths.
Ashen could see the fully flushed cheeks and the borderline obsessive look on his lover's face and was about to drag her back to the room for something more in-depth… but his body stiffened for less than a second, and she noticed it.
She barely managed to make the heat recede from her face, "...What's wrong?"
"Alice, can you go back to the room first, please?" Ashen's voice was eerily calm, but Alice saw the desperate look he was currently wearing on his face and trying to hide.
She simply nodded silently, then slowly slid off his lap and left.
The moment she was out of view, the furious ringing of his enhanced sixth sense in the back of his skull receded enough not to drive him mad.
The warning had arisen so suddenly that Ashen couldn't make any sense of how and why… the only thought that dominated his mind was that if he didn't separate himself from Alice right then, he was going to lose her forever.
…And he was so glad that she was quick to catch on to subtle cues and did as he said without arguing.
Ashen's temporary enhancement of his sixth sense had only a few days left before going back to normal, but he was determined to find enough mana to make the effect permanent somehow in the near future.
But for now, he had to think of a way to save himself next, because even though Alice was out of danger, judging by the persistent warnings of his senses, he, unfortunately, was not.
He picked up the spear that he never let leave his side, no matter where he went, and took careful steps forward.
Eventually, he found a lone figure standing under the shade of an ancient tree.
Ashen stiffened the moment he saw him. 'I guess I wished for too much when I wanted my last hours here to pass peacefully…'
Dressed in full black, with a large coat holding his frame, was Cassius Asta, the Astrologer himself, looking at him in puzzlement.
'Why the fuck is he here…?' Ashen felt his temple throb, now fully understanding where the danger came from.
"The fox queen did not come with you? Unfortunate. I wanted to use her to test a theory of mine. Well, no matter. I've got other ways to find the answer." Cassius spoke in curiosity; he looked like he was talking to himself more than to Ashen.
One thing was sure for Ashen, though, judging by the madness he barely held back by the fake exterior of casualness: The Astrologer was not in the right frame of mind… whatever that was supposed to be for him normally.
In any case, Ashen did not miss the little detail about Cassius's prediction turning out to be false in regards to the presence of Alice. 'Are his predictions not entirely accurate? Or is he trying to confuse me…?'
For now, Ashen opted for silence in favor of listening more. Perhaps he would spill some crucial information.
"Oh! Where are my manners? I should start by introducing myself first, even though I feel like we've already known each other for some time now…"
Unfortunately, Ashen's decision to stay passive, even when the other party was only talking, would cost him his last and only chance to turn this encounter around, and once again prove that hesitation against the Astrologer could only be fatal.
With a formal bow, he uttered, "Cassius Asta of the Wrath pathway—"
BA-DUM—
"Holder of the Keeper Of Secrets Thema—"
BA-DUM—BA-DUM—
"Granted the role of the Oathbound Confessor as my third step epithet, The Astrologer is at your service."
Ashen's heart beat so loudly that he felt it was about to pop out. Adrenaline surged, and he moved before he could even form the thought of why and how.
However, he was too late.
Strip away his need to respond for thirty minutes.
…And with that silent declaration, Ashen found himself staying motionless.