Robin did not look up, nor did she pull her hand away.
Tears welled up in her eyes without warning, blurring her vision, but she bit down hard on her lower lip, stubbornly refusing to let them fall.
A child of Ohara does not cry easily, especially... in the face of parting.
She couldn't let Seraphilia leave with more worry and guilt.
She turned her hand and gripped Seraphilia's hand tightly. Very tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white.
Then, she slowly raised her head. Her sapphire-blue eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she forced her lips into a calm curve, even one carrying a hint of encouragement.
"Mhm," she nodded, her voice still light, but perfectly clear, "I know. Go."
No crying, no questioning, no pleading for her to stay. Only a brief "I know" and "Go."
The immense understanding and restraint beneath this calm cut into Seraphilia's heart like a red-hot blunt knife, hurting her more profoundly than any cry of anguish.
Seraphilia could no longer hold back. She opened her arms and pulled Robin tightly, tightly into an embrace.
Robin's body was stiff at first, then completely softened, burying her face deep into Seraphilia's shoulder hollow. She hugged her back with a force as if trying to embed herself into the other person's bones and blood.
Seraphilia could smell the faint scent of books in Robin's hair and feel her thin back trembling subtly in her arms.
There were no sobs, only their own violent heartbeats and the extremely suppressed, faint gasps for air, infinitely magnified in the dead silence of the darkness.
In the darkness, the two girls who had depended on each other for two years embraced with all their might, as if trying to carve the temperature, scent, and heartbeats of this moment into the deepest part of their memories, to resist the long and cold separation that was about to arrive.
---
The next three days were an extremely luxurious yet agonizing time steeped in a countdown.
Seraphilia canceled almost all non-essential tasks, dedicating all her time to Robin.
She no longer just brought back food; instead, she clumsily learned recipes and cooked a rich seafood paella.
Watching Robin eat small bites, her eyes curving as she said, "Delicious," Seraphilia felt a sour ache in her heart.
She wished she could feed Robin to be much stronger, so she could withstand the storms of the future.
She also spent an entire afternoon teaching Robin how to use the'Skylark' she was leaving behind—a cloud creation infused with her spiritual power, more stable, capable of transmitting short messages unilaterally.
"If you encounter danger, crush it, and I will know," she repeatedly instructed, watching Robin diligently memorize every detail.
On the last night, neither of them slept. They sat side-by-side on the edge of the bed, watching the sky outside change from pitch black to inky blue, and then to the pale white of dawn.
Seraphilia took off a very thin silver chain she always wore around her neck. Hanging from the chain was a small, faintly glowing blue cloud-shaped stone pendant.
She gently fastened it around Robin's neck.
"This is the only thing I had on me when I escaped from that hell," Her voice was very soft. A fleeting memory showed cold chains and this pendant as the only point of warm light, "It's not valuable, but... wearing it is like having me beside you."
Robin touched the smooth, slightly cool stone pendant. It rested against her skin, as if she could feel the other person's heartbeat.
She nodded. Then, she also took out a small item wrapped in a clean handkerchief and carefully handed it to Seraphilia—it was a small amulet carved from some kind of white hardwood, shaped like a Robin. It was slightly rough but clearly recognizable as a Robin, and the initials "S & R" were carved on its wings with the tip of an extremely fine knife.
"I... made it secretly," Robin's voice was light, carrying a hint of shyness, "It took a long time to carve... I hope it keeps you safe."
Seraphilia tightly clutched the amulet, still warm with Robin's body heat. The wooden grain pressed against her palm. Her throat tightened so much she couldn't speak; she could only nod forcefully, and then nod again.
The morning light finally completely dispersed the darkness.
The moment of parting had arrived.
Seraphilia took one last look around the small house, her gaze sweeping over every familiar corner, finally resting on Robin's face, which was trying hard to look calm but couldn't hide its paleness.
"I'm leaving," she said, every word weighing a thousand pounds.
"Mhm," Robin stood by the door, watching her, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes.
Seraphilia stepped forward and placed a light kiss on Robin's forehead, like a feather brushing past, yet carrying the weight of farewell.
Then, she turned resolutely and did not look at Robin again, striding into the brightening morning light.
She was afraid that one more glance would cause the dam built by her reason to collapse instantly.
When she reached the alley entrance, she stopped as if compelled by fate, hid behind a wall, and quietly looked back.
She saw Robin still leaning against the doorframe, gazing in the direction she had gone.
The girl who was always strong and composed finally couldn't hold on after confirming Seraphilia was far away. She slowly slid down to the ground, burying her face in her knees. Her thin shoulders shook violently.
The cloud stone pendant at her neck rested against her skin, sending a faint coolness.
The spot on her forehead that had been kissed seemed to retain a trace of moisture.
The tears, finally, when she was alone, poured out torrentially, silently soaking her clothes.
Seraphilia at the alley entrance bit her lip so hard she tasted blood.
She deeply etched all her fragility, reluctance, and tears, along with this scene, into her heart.
From now on, she had to become harder, stronger.
She did not look back.
The wooden Robin in her hand was burning hot from how tightly she gripped it.
Towards the port, the silhouette of Vice Admiral Tsuru's warship gradually became clear in the morning mist, like a silent steel behemoth.
This was for the day she could return here openly, or take that person to a place where they would never have to separate again.
The cloud journey had begun; leaving the nest was for a more powerful return.
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