Chapter 26: Little Stranger
"Then… before we part, could you give this witch a goodbye kiss?"
Aesc brought her lovely face close to Eikou, asking with eager anticipation.
Outside the window, the patter of rain fell softly, yet it could hardly cover the thundering heartbeats of the two.
Aesc's face was right before his eyes, her gentle green gaze fixed on him, her slender fingertips brushing him shyly.
"…Could it be… not allowed?"
Eikou gently wrapped his hands around her slender neck, pulling her closer, brushing aside the golden hair falling across her forehead.
He moved in and kissed her.
Aesc's beautiful eyes opened wide.
Her cherry-soft lips were sweet and tender; he could feel her tense, slightly hurried breath, and her skin flushed hot from embarrassment.
Though she had never experienced such feelings and was a little unsure of what to do, at this moment she boldly accepted his kiss.
At once shy and yet willing, she interlaced her fingers tightly with his.
"..."
Outside, the dense rain softly tapped the window frame, a misty curtain reflecting in their intimate kiss.
After quite a while, the two slowly parted from that sweet kiss.
"…Um, could we… maybe once more?"
Aesc's cheeks burned red, her voice so faint it was almost inaudible.
Eikou wiped the corner of his mouth and teased lightly, "So eager? I thought you'd be more reserved."
"Ah—ah, sorry…"
She quickly buried her face in the cloak's collar.
"Just kidding," Eikou chuckled, pressing his forehead to hers, "You can kiss me as many times as you like, as long as it makes you happy."
"Mm…"
Aesc looked at him with a moved, bashful expression.
"No, don't say such gentle things to a witch, because most witches are endlessly greedy—if you do that, they'll take advantage and devour you whole!"
"…Is that so."
At that moment he finally understood why he could never win against Morgan.
"But maybe that's fine too—it's you who made me this greedy. In other words, it's all your fault, Eikou…" Aesc said with a playful whine. "I still want to kiss you again. Since this is the second time, please be even gentler…"
They kissed again—then a third, a fourth, a fifth…
Aesc was obedient and gentle, yet inside she seemed even more greedy than Morgan.
Only after a long while did she finally rest against Eikou's chest, smiling in happy satisfaction.
The sound of wind and rain outside the window gradually subsided, leaving only a few soft droplets on the frame, while the clock's hour hand crept ever later.
That faint patter seemed to whisper the nearing end of a witch's fairy-tale night.
"..."
Aesc suddenly felt a heavy drowsiness sweep over her.
But she still opened those pure green eyes, looking at him seriously as she said:
"As you can see, my name is Aesc, a greedy witch, afraid of loneliness, not very worldly—but this is also a part of Morgan. From now on you must love me well and be patient with me."
She felt herself growing ever sleepier.
"But I'm still a little greedy, still not satisfied… About you, about Chaldea Academy, about the people I met today, I still want to understand this world more."
"But, maybe it's better to think of this as a beautiful dream… I-I will treasure it…"
Aesc yawned, feeling her eyelids grow heavier and heavier.
She naturally lay down across Eikou's lap, like a small kitten, curling up softly, softly.
"I'll treasure tonight as well," Eikou said quietly.
He carefully stroked her golden hair, the silky strands slipping through his fingers.
Aesc's beautiful green eyes blinked, unwilling to close just yet.
Eikou's hand rested on her hair, and that familiar gentle smile appeared.
"Sleep peacefully, don't be afraid. I'll be right here with you."
"Mm… good night."
Aesc smiled and nodded.
Amid the deep blue rain, noisy yet soothing, hazy—
the witch drifted into a sweet dream.
[Hey, little stranger][Truly an unpredictable one][All along the way I staggered][Could you know what the answer is][Hey, little stranger][Thank heaven, at last you came home][I feel you finally brought me to the land I've longed for][I need to wake myself from the perfect dream][Hey, little stranger][I think now I understand]
…
May 22.
The calendar slowly turned to a new page.
After a night of misty rain came a bright, sunny blue sky.
The radiant sunlight outside the window drew Eikou from the dream where he had slept all night in the living-room chair.
"..."
He slowly opened his eyes; the clear morning light was a little dazzling to him.
He remembered he had a beautiful dream last night.
Aesc had slept peacefully on his knees, and he had stayed by her side until late at night, eventually falling asleep himself in the living room.
He could still feel the warm, soft weight resting on his lap.
Lowering his head gently, he found Morgan sleeping soundly on his knees, curled up like a slightly chilly kitten.
Her long lashes lay quietly, her lustrous white hair still neatly tied, the end secured with the black bow, while golden sunlight brushed across the fair, lovely skin of her graceful face.
As if sensing Eikou's movement, Morgan slowly opened those beautiful blue eyes.
"My husband…"
"Did I wake you?"
"No, I just happened to wake up. I slept so well today," Morgan said softly. "My husband, did anything happen while I slept?"
"I had a wonderful dream."
"Is that so? As long as everything's fine."
Morgan smiled gently.
She interlaced her fingers with his, her pink lips planting a light kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you for giving me such a beautiful dream, my husband… I will cherish your gift and never forget it."
"Mm, I will cherish it too."
"Will you feel sad?"
"But aren't you always by my side?" Eikou said with a smile. "To me, all of you are the same."
[You feel the bond between the two of you growing ever stronger.]
[You notice a few subtle changes in Morgan, and they will become a great driving force for you to move forward.]
[From Morgan, you have grasped the new skill 「From the Ends of the World D」.]
[In this year-long journey, you have gained another precious memory worth treasuring.]