[Cassius's POV]
"Because Duchess Eclipse has already declared her protection over this region a long time ago"
"Duchess?" I echo, frowning at her.
"That's right. Haven't you ever heard of her? The head of the ducal house of Eclipse"
Duke... I think that's the highest title just below royalty. I make a mental note, though I genuinely don't care much for this tedious aristocratic hierarchy.
"She's not just a Duchess, Cassi. She's also the strongest person on this continent!"
"Word has it she's a 9th-tier mage, and that no one can rival her power"
"Tier 9? Don't mana users max out at tier 10?" I blurt out.
"Exactly! That's why nobody dares to cross her"
I ponder for a moment, my practical mind instantly raising an unavoidable question.
"If she's that powerful, why doesn't she just crush that rumored war out there once and for all?"
Eliana pauses, tapping her chin with a finger. It takes her a few seconds to organize her thoughts.
"Because she doesn't want to"
"I don't really know what she's actually like either, but... the Eclipse family operates on its own set of rules. They only step in if someone dares to trespass on the territory under their protection"
"Has anyone ever been foolish enough to do that?"
"I've heard rumors of it, but who knows the details"
Eliana then claps her hands together with a sharp snap, cutting through my train of thought.
"Let's stop talking about dry politics. We came out today for a date, remember?"
I chuckle and nod, letting her lead me along.
Our walk through town drifts by in its usual gentle rhythm. Only when the sky begins to turn a deep violet dusk does Eliana shift direction, guiding me down a narrow trail far from the residential streets.
"Are you sure we're going the right way?" I glance at both sides of the path, where dense canopies swallow the fading twilight.
"Trust me" Eliana's voice sounds steady, her hand tightening around mine.
The dirt trail finally opens up into a wide clearing. Scattered across the ground are massive stumps left from long-felled trees, forming natural wooden benches.
"Here we are"
Eliana stops, taking a deep breath of the crisp air before pointing up at the sky.
"People say that after the loggers cleared this place, hunters and woodcutters realized the view here isn't blocked by anything. It's the best stargazing spot around once night falls"
I follow the line of her finger. The sky is still darkening into pure black, with only a few early stars faintly flickering to life. It is still a bit too early to catch the full Milky Way.
Eliana climbs onto a broad stump, brushes off the wood, and pats the empty space beside her. "Come sit here, Cassi"
I step over and sit right next to her. We are close enough that our shoulders brush together, sharing a cozy warmth against the early winter chill.
"After a few townsfolk told me about this place, I sneaked out here twice to watch the stars" Eliana says, gazing upward with a hint of nostalgia in her tone. "Every time, it's so breathtaking you lose track of time"
I turn away from the sky and shift my gaze toward the girl beside me.
The dimming dusk outlines the sharp contours of Eliana's face. Her golden hair falls over one shoulder, radiant against the encroaching dark. A high nose bridge, a delicate jawline, and long eyelashes that flutter softly. Familiar as I am with her features, looking closely at her still leaves me a bit dazed every time.
As if sensing my steady stare, Eliana turns her head. Her light brown eyes meet mine, carrying a playful smile.
"Why are you staring so intently, Cassi?"
I blink, my lips curving naturally into a smile. "I'm just admiring my girlfriend. Is there a problem with that?"
Hearing such a blunt, unexpected reply, Eliana's cheeks flush red. She giggles, reaching out to gently pinch my cheek.
"You smooth talker..."
She pinches my cheek for another beat before reluctantly letting go, slipping a hand into her cloak pocket. "As a reward for that sweet tongue, I have something for you"
Eliana pulls out a small, dark velvet box.
"Though honestly... even if you stayed quiet like a dummy, you'd still get it" she mumbles, shoving the box straight into my hands to mask her embarrassment.
"What's this?" I open the lid.
Resting inside is a pair of silver rings. The design is simple, yet the bands feature intricate grooves etched with strange patterns.
"Couple rings?"
"They're rune-engraved rings! I had professional jewelers custom-make them just for us." She lifts her chin, her face full of pride.
"What does rune-engraved mean?" Curious, I pick one up to inspect it.
"It means those patterns are enchanted with miniature mana circles. They allow the ring to cast a magical effect on its own, without the wearer needing to actively channel mana into it"
"Sounds fancy"
"So what does it do?"
"Give me your hand"
I obediently hold out my hand. Eliana carefully slips the larger ring onto my index finger, then slides the other onto her own. She holds her hand out in front of me, lacing her fingers through mine.
"Try holding my hand, Cassi"
The moment our fingers interlock, the rune carvings on both rings cast a soft, soothing blue glow.
"Whoa..."
"Its function is quite simple" Eliana says, pointing at the light wrapped around our fingers.
"They glow whenever both wearers hold hands. The light burns even brighter when we stay close"
She lowers her head to inspect it, her brows suddenly knitting in confusion. "That's strange... Why is your ring shining brighter than mine? They're supposed to glow equally"
Could it be the mana inside my body reacting to it? I wonder silently, keeping the thought to myself.
"Well, never mind that" Eliana brushes it off quickly, her gaze softening as she squeezes my hand tighter. "This light won't fade even if we let go, so long as the bond between us remains"
She hesitates for a beat, her voice dropping with a quiet pang of worry. "I just wanted... to have a meaningful keepsake between us before I have to leave for the academy"
The word "academy" hits me like a bucket of freezing water. Even though we have tried to ignore it all this time, the deadline for her departure draws nearer every day. These carefree days of wandering by the stream, sharing meals, and sitting together like this will soon come to a halt.
A heavy lump rises in my throat. I am a child with no past, no family; my entire world was once confined to that small garden with Thomas and Emily. Eliana's arrival pulled me out of that isolated shell, teaching me what it feels like to have my heart flutter, what it means to care deeply for someone.
Unable to hold my emotions in check, I suddenly lean forward, throwing both arms tightly around her shoulders.
"Cassi?" Eliana gasps in surprise.
I bury my face into the crook of her neck, breathing in her familiar, gentle scent. My voice sounds hoarse, thick with undisguised vulnerability.
"I really don't want you to go..."
Eliana is taken aback by my sudden reaction. She freezes for a second, then softly brings her hand up, stroking my back with tender care.
"Silly boy..." she whispers beside my ear, sounding half-amused, half-heartbroken.
"Thank you, Eliana" My grip tightens, my voice trembling as tears begin to spill without warning, soaking into the fabric of her coat. "I don't know where my life would have drifted if I hadn't met you... You changed everything for me. I'm really... terrified of the days without you by my side"
Warm tears stream down unchecked. In front of this girl, I no longer care about pride or putting on a brave face.
Hearing these childish yet raw, honest words, Eliana's expression completely softens. She doesn't scold me, nor does she tease. She pulls my trembling body tight against hers, holding me firmly as if pouring all her reassurance into me.
"I don't want to leave you either, Cassi" she whispers, planting a gentle kiss on my hair. "But I have to study. We'll see each other during the holidays, I promise"
It takes a long while for my breathing to settle. Eliana pulls back slightly, using her thumb to gently wipe away the tear tracks on my cheeks, offering a soft smile.
"There now, stop crying. Look up at the sky; it's gorgeous"
Sniffling, I lift my head toward where she points.
The night sky has turned an absolute, deep void, dazzling and overwhelming. Countless stars, large and small, scatter like diamonds strewn across a vast black velvet sheet, shimmering with a dreamlike radiance. Reigning right at the center is a full, rounded moon, casting silvery light that carpets the quiet clearing.
"It's beautiful..." I murmur, my eyes wide.
"Right?" Eliana smiles with satisfaction.
Yet my gaze shifts away from the night sky almost immediately. I turn back to Eliana. Bathed in the bright moonlight, her profile glows radiantly; her golden hair and gently smiling lips form a scene far more breathtaking than any galaxy above.
The space between thought and action dissolves. Drawn by an irresistible pull, I lean closer.
Eliana notices my movement. Her eyelids flutter faintly before slowly closing, her long lashes casting soft shadows over her cheeks.
The distance between our faces narrows to nothing.
Lips touch lips.
It is an utterly clumsy first kiss, yet it carries every ounce of sincerity, warmth, and emotion long held inside. Neither of us knows how to find the right angle or coordinate gracefully; we only know how to hold on tight, pressing close as if longing to melt into one another.
Time stands still in the quiet of the woods.
Only after quite a while, when the breath in our chests runs thin, does Eliana gently push against my chest. We part amid ragged breaths. A delicate thread of silver glints beneath the moonlight between our lips before it breaks.
Eliana's face burns crimson, her swollen lips parting slightly. Suddenly, she nudges me backward onto the flat surface of the massive stump, sliding over to straddle my chest with both hands planted on either side. Her golden hair falls loose, shielding out the moonlight and framing my entire field of view.
Looking down at me, her brown eyes shimmer with tears, reflecting only my silhouette within them.
She leans down, whispering close to my ear in a voice so sweet and remarkably steady
"I love you, Cassi"