Amelia Thornheart Chapter 108: The Greatest Gift

“Hello!” Alia chirped, bouncing into Serena’s quarters.

“Mmm,” ca the response.

Her girlfriend was sitting in her captain's chair—now adorned with a string of carefully cut aetherlights—plotting and making notes on a map of the Southern Passage. Serena was focused, not even looking up as Alia stealthed her way into the bedroom and began moving presents into a neat pile.

“Dagon likes his new belt,” Serena said suddenly as Alia finished preparing the last gift. “Kept strutting about the bridge trying to get us all to notice.” Her girlfriend didn’t look up from her work, but Alia didn’t miss the subtle smile forming. “I almost had to halt the search so we could all stop and admire it, lest he continue being such a distraction.”

“How’s it going?” Alia asked. “The search?”

“Easier than I expected, considering the last few grid squares place us closer than I would like to the Shattered Isles,” Serena answered, flicking her eyes to Alia and then to her presents. Was it Alia’s imagination, or did she see a flash of excitent in Serena’s eyes?

Well, everyone loved receiving presents, didn’t they?

“It was unexpected, but the proximity to Rhaknam’s territory is making navigation easier, at least at the distance we’re trying to maintain.” Serena looked up at Alia and motioned a circle with her finger. “The weather of the Shattered Isle rotates clockwise, so it’s largely predictable. At least, more predictable than that damn tri-cone.” Serena tapped the map, saying, “Once Dagon’s shift is over in a few hours, I’m turning us back into the centre of the passage and then we’re heading straight to Ishaq. I’ll provide the South with the information we gathered and they’ll form their own search fleet.”

Serena sighed, placing down her pen. “I hope those are for ,” she said, nodding towards the pile of presents Alia had built. “Should I fear that I’m about to be spoilt?” she asked teasingly. “If you keep this up, I might turn into Lani.”

“Can’t have that,” Alia replied, grinning. She ran her hand over the presents, giving them a quick tap as she counted them out loud. So of Serena’s presents were tall and solid, almost reaching Alia’s height. Others were small and enticing. A few were soft and pudgy, practically screaming, “I am clothes!” Alia finished her count with a flourish and a wink. “And what about ?” she asked Serena. “Surely you haven’t forgotten my present?”

Serena gave her a sly smile in response. Reaching to her side, she smoothly opened a drawer and produced a thin, rectangular gift. Judging by the flex in Serena’s hand, Alia imdiately identified it as an envelope, similar to the one she’d just given Hinako. Serena placed the plainly wrapped gift on the table, giving it a few taps.

“You’re making feel like I’m compensating for sothing,” Alia said with a laugh. The comparison was almost comical; her towering pile of presents vs a single small envelope sitting innocently on Serena’s desk. Even if that was Serena’s only present to her, Alia didn’t feel a shred of disappointnt. In fact, her anticipation grew even more. She had absolute confidence that her amazing girlfriend would match her in every way.

“It’s not sponsorship, is it?” Alia half-jokingly guessed. When Serena tilted her head, Alia explained Hinako’s present.

“Ah, Johan ntioned you asked him about the process. If Officer Aikawa hadn’t accepted my offer on the Vengeance, I would have petitioned Father to sponsor her instead. I’m sure she’ll beco an excellent duellist and bring prestige to House Thornheart.” Serena scratched her chin thoughtfully, “And, now that I think about it, I reckon investnts like this will also help quieten those that will complain about your canonisation.”

“Maybe so,” Alia said with a nod. “But I didn’t do it for any of those reasons. I did it for Hinako!” she flashed a thumbs up. “You should have seen how happy she was! It’s amazing what a simple piece of paper can do!”

“It was a simple piece of paper that ended the war,” Serena mused. “And a simple piece of paper that gave you citizenship and removed Lord Kanamori’s title and estate. There’s a lot of power in paper.” Serena gave Alia a smile before continuing, “I do have other presents for you, but they’ll take so ti. Until then, this—”Serena tapped Alia’s gift—“will have to do.”

“Not a problem!” Alia moved onto the balls of her toes and then back to her heels. “There’s sothing I should ntion before we start opening gifts. I had a talk with Finella earlier. I was giving her her present and then we ended up talking about a few things… such as why she hit you…”

“Oh?” Serena frowned before raising her eyebrows in realisation. “Oh.”

“You and her sister, eh?” Alia teased. “How scandalous! No wonder there were rumours at the academy!” Alia brought her hands to her cheeks, twisting her body in mock surprise. “Never would have thought I’d have such competition! Finella’s such a beauty… imagine how gorgeous her sister is! I have so much work cut out for …” Alia gave an exaggerated sigh, laughing at the flat look Serena was giving her.

“There’s no competition, idiot,” Serena replied, the faintest of flushing appearing on her cheeks. “It wasn’t… wasn’t…” Serena gestured between her and Alia. “You know.”

“Know what?”

Serena rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t in love. It wasn’t anything like what I feel with you. There were—”

Alia’s giggling cut her girlfriend off. Alia strode up to the desk, leaned forward and gave Serena a kiss on her forehead. “I’m just teasing,” Alia whispered. “You’ve already told you had a girlfriend then. I’m not jealous.”

And that was the truth of it. Alia had never felt more confident about Serena’s loyalty to her. There wasn’t an ounce of envy over Serena’s past experience. But she was a little curious…

“How did it start, out of interest?” Alia asked with a wide grin. “I want all the juicy details.”

“There are no juicy details,” Serena replied, flicking her on the forehead. “And she wasn’t my girlfriend. We were just close. She was the person who made realise I…” Serena trailed off, swallowing before continuing. “Made realise I didn’t like n in the way that other won did. Olivia—”

“Olivia? What a pretty na!”

“Olivia was being bullied, so I stepped in and that’s how we beca close.”

“Bullied? Why?”

“Have you noticed Finella’s face is heavily freckled?”

“Mmm!” Alia nodded. “I think it makes her look cute!”

“Well, her sister is much more heavily freckled. So much so that it made her stand out more than her Northern appearance did.” Serena sighed, continuing, “And you’ve already experienced how childish officer cadets can be. Rember how rude Miss Mori was in Kenhoro?”

“Right,” Alia affird. It had surprised her how immature the future leaders of the military were in the academy. l herself had been rather unkind to Alia when they first t in Kenhoro. Thankfully, l’s condition had rapidly improved after a session of Serena-style education, resulting in a broken arm. Then, a follow-up session of Alia-empowered education healing that sa broken arm had set l on the right path.

“Judging by our recent ti at the academy,” Serena began, “I think attitudes have relaxed since I was there. Samino society can be quite… exclusionary of different kinds of people. Back then, Olivia had trouble fitting in. I didn’t like how she was being treated, so I befriended her and used the prestige of House Halen to silence her bullies.” Serena frowned as her eyes took on a faraway look, as if rembering the past. Alia didn’t miss her girlfriend’s hands clenching montarily.

Suddenly, she was under no illusion regarding what thod of delivery the prestige of House Halen took during Serena’s ti as a student.

“At first, I saw it as a simple exchange,” Serena explained. “She was a talented mage, and I was still studying earth magic. She would help with my aether control, and I would ensure she wasn’t bothered by anyone. As ti passed… we beca close. But… it was awkward and ssy. I don’t think either of us understood exactly what was happening. And… uh…” Serena suddenly clicked her tongue. “I’m rambling, aren’t I?”

“Don’t worry,” Alia said. “It’s sweet. Hmm…” Alia placed a finger on her chin, humming softly. “I’ll have to thank this Olivia if I ever et her!”

“And why is that?”

“For sowing the seeds for my harvest! For—” Alia was cut off as her cheeks were pulled apart. “Hang on!” she mumbled as she received her massage. “I need to tell you sothing else!” After pulling Serena’s hand away, Alia nervously recounted how Finella had expertly deduced that Alia was responsible for the Asclepius embodint.

“Naturally, she would be curious,” Serena said. “She would have picked it up during her deploynt at the aetherscope installation. Still, you need to be careful you don’t let anything else slip. She might guess you had sothing to do with the Suijin event as well.”

“Ahem.” Alia coughed into her hand and gave Serena a long look.

“Really?” Serena tilted her head. “You told her?”

“I didn’t tell her anything!” Alia protested. “She used advanced interrogation techniques to deduce it! I was helpless!”

“...Anathor?” Serena intoned, casting her gaze to the stuffed moose’s head. “Did you witness this?”

“Hmm…” ca the gruff reply. “Officer Bright joked about Miss Liona being responsible for the Suijin embodint. In response, Miss Liona giggled uncontrollably, giving the ga away.”

“Anathor!” Alia exclaid. “You should have kept that a secret!” She glared at the traitorous Formless before slowly turning her head to see Serena giving her a look.

“Advanced interrogation techniques?” Serena asked sarcastically. “Otherwise known as asking questions?”

Any fear Alia might have had of Serena being angry was quickly pushed aside as she was instead rewarded with a satisfying amount of hair-ruffling. “You need to have more control over yourself,” Serena instructed as she ran her fingers through Alia’s hair. “I know you don’t like lying, but you need to learn how to deflect at the very least.”

“Sorry,” Alia replied. “You’re not going to be mad at Finella, are you?”

“No, but I’ll pull her in here and remind her of your importance to the Empire.” Serena sighed. “Anything else you’ve let slip?”

“Oh… Oh!” Alia couldn’t help but grin. “One little thing, but it’s good news, really!”

“Good news?” Serena took a breath. “Let’s hear it.”

“I might have made a tiny”—Alia held up her thumb and forefinger barely a centitre apart—”bet with Finella. She was adamant that nothing I could say could surprise her, you know, considering she figured out about Asclepius and Suijin and that we’re together. So she was—”

“Wait a mont,” Serena raised a hand, interrupting her. “Did you just say Finella knows we're together?”

“Hmm?” Alia felt herself frown. “Didn’t I ntion that already?”

“You did not.”

“Okay…” She took a breath before continuing, “Well, she figured that out first. It’s what led to the discussion about her sister. Don’t worry, she’s pretty accepting about the whole situation, if a little surprised.”

“A little surprised. Right.” Serena blinked before saying, “I’ll add that topic to my talk with her later. Now, what was this other thing you’ve let slip?”

“Not so much let slip,” Alia said, chewing her lip. “More like a tactical reveal of information to secure Finella’s coffee duty until we reach Ishaq! I made a bet that I could surprise her, so I might have told her about…” Alia tilted her head to the side and motioned with one arm at the other. “. Empress. Arm.” Alia looked at Serena before saying the final word. “Chop.”

Serena groaned, leaning forward.

“I got it!” Alia exclaid, quickly moving next to Serena and reaching with her arms to hold Serena’s horns for her. “See,” Alia said as she manoeuvred herself so that she was sitting on the chair’s armrest. “Isn’t this nice?” she asked, giving her girlfriend’s horns a nice squeeze. “Doesn’t this help?”

After a few seconds of silence, a small voice sounded.

“...It helps.”

I’m such a good girlfriend, Alia thought as she helped Serena through this latest ordeal.

“Any other surprises?” Serena eventually asked.

“Nope!” Alia replied, gently massaging her girlfriend’s scalp. Alia then proceeded to give Serena a quick overview of the presents she’d given out so far. From the Head Chef’s new knives to Tos’ notebook and pen and Arin’s top-of-the-range scope. From Noburu and Seonmi’s new clothing to Ido’s snappy gi and Daichi’s annotated textbook. Finally, she ended on l’s gifted insignia.

“You probably should have waited another year or two,” Serena said. “But I won’t criticise your judgnt. Officer Mori has grown trendously, both in her character and her capability. If anyone deserved House Thornheart’s first bronze insignia, it would be her.”

“Mmm,” Alia humd, moving her hands to Serena’s shoulders and giving her a massage. “She almost died, after all,” she muttered, using her thumbs to trace the muscles in Serena’s back.

“Keep doing that and I’ll forgive you…” Serena said softly.

“Forgive for…?”

“For being you.”

“Okay!” Alia laughed and continued to massage Serena.

Several minutes passed in relative quiet as Alia did her best to lt away any stress Serena might have been feeling. Despite nothing being said between them, there was an odd feeling of intimacy in the air, and Alia was content to bathe in it while she massaged Serena’s shoulders. She had no fear of being intruded upon, for Anathor would warn them of anyone approaching the door.

“Feeling better?” Alia asked.

“Mmm…” Serena humd.

“Present ti?”

“Present ti.”

“This one first,” Alia said, hopping off her chair and moving her presents onto Serena’s desk. She handed her girlfriend a small box-shaped present and could barely stand still while Serena took her ti guessing and opening it.

“Oh? Planning ahead for the next moonrain festival?” Serena said, picking up the thread embedded with mooncrystal and holding it to the light. It was the sa kind of thread Alia had dressed Serena’s horns in while they attended the Kenhoro celebrations with Aiden. This ti, Alia had managed to find thread incorporating gold thread and red moon crystal to produce an accessory that matched both Serena’s eyes and her military uniform.

“Planning for right now,” Alia replied with a grin. “Can I put this on you now? You don’t have to be on duty till next shift, right?” Seeing that Serena had a look as if she wanted to dismiss it as inappropriate, Alia quickly countered, “Please!? You can take it off if you have to go sowhere, and I’ve been practising in secret! I didn’t know wrapping horns had so many patterns! There are entire books about hornweaves in the library!”

Serena relented, and Alia positioned herself on the chair’s armrest. “Just a mont,” Alia muttered. “The start is the trickiest.” She began the initial wrapping of Serena’s horns, rembering to position her fingers and hold the thread just as the instructions had indicated for the particular hornweave she was going for.

Alia’s ga character had been a mighty archdemon—Dreadmage Thornheart. Along with her character’s tall body, she’d boasted four arms, mighty black wings, a wicked tail, and most importantly of all, a trendous set of horns that were engraved with a pattern that had jumped out to her in character creation.

She’d found a similar pattern—or in this world, a hornweave— in one of the library books. After practising on her leg for a while, she’d managed to adjust it so she would be able to recreate on Serena’s horns the sa engraving her ga character had. Only this ti with beautiful red and gold thread.

This feels nostalgic, Alia thought as the familiar pattern began to erge on Serena’s horns.

“Don’t wait for ,” Alia assured. “Open the next one! The big one!”

“I’m very curious as to what this is…” Serena muttered, reaching over and picking up the hard present that was almost as long as Alia was tall. “If I had to guess… a sword?”

“Close enough,” Alia answered, doing her best to split her focus between Serena’s unwrapping and her fingerwork.

“Aha,” Serena exclaid, as the present beca clear. “I wondered what happened to this! I thought this was left at the academy, but you must have snuck it out at so point! This brings back mories…” She held up the ornate wooden mount that bore the marble sword Serena had created and used when saving Lord Yulan from his manipulative nephew in Kenhoro.

“The only reason I asked for it was to get it off the ship! It was such an exciting and morable ti, I thought it should be honoured in so way!” Alia thought back to the ti in Kenhoro. Her first experience being in a demon city had quickly turned into a rescue mission for a friend of House Halen. They’d forced their way into the elevator of the Highguard hotel and rode to the penthouse suite. There, Serena had decided she needed a weapon and ford a sword from the walls of marble.

That very sa sword had followed them as they’d leapt from the hotel. It had defended Serena in the Speaker fight in the cafe, and it had been there when Alia had broken down and confessed her true origins and love for Serena. That marble sword only existed because Serena had lost her captain’s sword in the fight with Korvus, and it wasn’t until Shimashina that she had a replacent delivered.

While Serena had been content to let the marble sword collect dust in the corner of their bedroom, Alia couldn’t help smiling whenever she saw it. Once she figured out Christmas was a thing in demon society, she’d hatched a plan. Under the guise of providing Hinako and Daichi with an example of earth-magic weaponry, Alia had managed to persuade Serena to have the sword delivered to the academy. Once there, she’d snuck it off to a local branch of the Asamaywa Carpenter’s Guild and had a beautiful wooden mount carved and polished out of a single chunk of ironwood.

“I didn’t suspect a thing…” Serena muttered after Alia finished describing the execution of her plan. “Look at you. To think you can be discreet when you want.”

“Hehe,” Alia giggled.

“If only you could be as discreet when it ca to matters of Imperial security,” Serena intoned coolly.

“Hey!” Alia complained. “Hey!” she repeated. “Stop moving, I’m almost done with one horn!”

“It’s a lovely gift, Lia. Was this commissioned during the reconstruction efforts?” After Alia confird that it was, Serena continued, “That must have cost you a lot. All the workshops were fully booked, weren’t they?”

“Cost three tis more than usual,” Alia said, rembering the negotiation she had to do with an exhausted and short-tempered workshop owner. “It wasn’t until I emphasised my nobility that they let place the order in the first place!”

For a few minutes, they discussed their mories of Kenhoro and where Serena would mount the marble sword. Eventually, Serena settled on displaying it behind her chair, high up on the wall between the two reinforced windows. Alia was about to proceed with the next present when Anathor interrupted.

“Miss Liona…” the formless said, his masculine voice filling the room. “That hornweave… that pattern… where did you…?”

“Do you like it?” Alia said happily, tapping Serena’s right horn. “I’ve been practising!”

“I never thought I would witness…” Anathor trailed off before seemingly collecting himself. “Apologies, Miss Liona. I was distracted. Wonderful handiwork, if I may say so myself.”

“Thank you!”

“How’s the bridge, Anathor?” Serena asked.

“Running smooth, Captain,” Anathor replied.

“Next present!” Alia declared, reaching over and passing Serena one of the soft presents. “I don’t think you need to be a genius to figure this out.”

“I hope it’s appropriate…” Serena mumbled, turning her head and giving Alia a side glance.

“Very appropriate,” Alia answered honestly. What did her girlfriend think she was going to buy her?

Lingerie!?

Now that she thought that…

Must buy her lingerie, Alia thought.

As much as Alia liked seeing Serena blush, she wasn’t so cruel as to make Serena unwrap anything inappropriate under the all-seeing eyes of Anathor. Serena’s soft presents were instead a tasteful range of sleepwear and loungewear. In the Samino language, they were called nemaki and yukata clothing, consisting of lightweight Fengra wool kimono-style robes.

“I know you’re determined to sleep in your uniform on the ship,” Alia said as Serena examined her new clothing. “But we’ll be in Ishaq soon, so you can try these then!”

“There are two pairs of everything,” Serena stated. “Not the sa size… are these…?”

“Matching pairs, mmm!” Alia nodded. “I know you like red, so I got one. Oh, rember the peeka-patterned sash I wore to the award ceremony? Well, I went back and had so more made! I can’t wait to see you in it!”

“You’re…” Serena dug through the clothing to find the sash boasting colourful and—in Alia’s opinion—adorable peekas. Serena turned to face Alia, holding up the high-quality sash. “...In private, alright?”

“Alright!” Alia nodded, already daydreaming about the future.

While she busied herself with weaving Serena’s remaining horn, her girlfriend opened the final present Alia had for her on the ship. It was a smaller box, only a bit bigger than the box that carried the insignia ring l received.

“Given the request I made, I don’t think I need to guess,” Serena said, lightly shaking the box. “I can already tell from the weight.”

“I’m glad you asked,” Alia said. “It was a great idea. They only just finished on ti.”

“May I?”

“Go ahead.”

Serena slowly unwrapped the present, revealing a fine leather box with gold foil and thread tastefully elevating its presentation. “Even the box would be worth a fortune…” Serena muttered. She turned to face the box towards her and, with Alia peeking over her shoulder, opened it. As the gift revealed itself, she heard Serena breathe out slowly.

“I’m not normally one for fine things,” Serena mused, delicately picking up one of the items and examining it. “But I’ve always appreciated a good pocketwatch. I think it’s due to my upbringing. Nobility like to signal their status and wealth, and this is one of the ways they do it.”

“Ahem,” Alia cleared her throat, pausing the hornweaving for a mont. “May I introduce you to a pair of the finest pocketwatches this side of the Empire? Not only do we have solid gold and platinum casing, but if you examine the front and sides, you’ll see the highly tasteful application of moon crystal and ornate engravings that bring out the status of its owner. At least…” Alia felt herself laugh as she resud her handiwork with the thread, “that’s what the salesman said when he realised I had the money to purchase them.”

“Do I dare ask how much they were?” Serena asked, turning the pocketwatch this way and that. On the back of one, the initials S.H. were engraved along with the insignia of House Halen—a howling wolfhound. Alia’s piece bore the sa, her initials along with her insignia—the overlaid symbols of human and demonkind.

“By far the most expensive thing I’ve purchased so far,” Alia responded. “Hinako’s sponsorship might cost more after a year or two, but I’m going to try and not think about it too much. After all, I’m being paid by House Halen, so in a way you’re buying them for yourself.”

“In a way…” Serena mumbled. “But it’s you who commissioned them and you who paid for them. It’s very much your gift, Lia. Your gift to us. Thank you.” Serena turned in the chair and gave Alia a kiss on the lips that lingered for an intimate mont.

Oh really? Alia asked with her eyes. Anathor’s here, you know?

Serena shrugged and turned back, continuing to examine the pocket watches. “Eighteen jewels to reduce friction and increase accuracy. It looks like they adjust for temperature, and it even tracks the five moon cycles if calibrated. Hmm…” Serena held the pocketwatch closer. Alia could hear the subtle ticking. “Enal dials. Blued steel hands. Titanium gears and gold chains. Looks like you didn’t skimp on us at all.”

“Ha…” Alia rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. “To be honest, I was so tired of salesn at that point. I had already gone through it all with Tos’ notebook and pen, Dagon’s rannar belt and everything else… I sort of just kept saying yes to get it over and done with.”

“Expensive decision.”

“Mmm.”

“But worth it. This is sothing that you’ll hand down to your family for generations. I didn’t expect sothing of this quality when I told you I wanted matching pocketwatches.”

“I hope… I hope you don’t feel awkward,” Alia said.

“Why would I feel awkward?”

“Sotis people find it uncomfortable when they know soone spent a lot of money on them.”

“And are you?”

“Am I what?”

“Are you soone who would get uncomfortable if I spent a lot of money on them?”

Alia felt herself smile. “Not if it’s you. I can take anything you can give .”

“Ah,” Serena mumbled. “That’s a relief,” she continued, reaching out and tapping the envelope that was Alia’s present. Alia watched the motion, feeling her eyes grow wide.

What had… what had Serena got her!?

“Now I’m doubly intrigued,” Alia said, barely holding a grin. “What is it?”

“Finish your hornweaving and find out,” Serena retorted.

Alia had been taking her ti with Serena’s horns, but with such a tempting reward being dangled in front of her, it only took a few seconds for her magic-enhanced fingers to finish the job. “All done!” she declared, popping up from the chair’s armrest and circling the desk, admiring her handiwork. “What do you think, Anathor?”

“Wonderful work, Miss Liona…” the Formless replied after so hesitation.

Serena stood up and examined herself in the mirror. “What an interesting hornweave. Did you find it in a book?” she asked.

“So of it, but I practised and adapted it to make my own! I’ll tell you more later!” Alia said cheerfully, aware that she and Serena weren’t the only people in the room. While Anathor knew Alia was from another world and the origin of her powers was a shard of the Vengeance’s soul, the sa soul that powered the Empress herself, he didn’t know of the strange connection between Alia and her experience playing the ga.

Alia was sure there was a final piece of the puzzle to link it all together, but she hadn’t been able to figure it out yet. Until then, she and Serena had agreed to keep that part of her background secret.

“Well then,” Serena intoned, striding over to the desk and picking up the envelope. “Sothing small, from , to you. Thought I’d dig into my personal savings for a little treat. No need to guess. Go on”—Serena nodded—“open it.”

“How impatient,” Alia teased, unable to stop herself from shifting her weight to the balls of her feet and then back to her heels. She felt herself continue tippy-tapping her feet as she carefully unwrapped the present, revealing an envelope made from luxury, thick paper. There were only two words written on the front. Two words in familiar handwriting.

Alia Thornheart, Serena had written.

“Here,” Serena said, handing Alia a letterknife.

Was it Alia’s imagination, or was Serena starting to look nervous?

Slicing through the envelope, Alia slipped her fingers inside and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper. Casting one final look at Serena, she unfolded the paper and read its contents.

For a mont, ti seed to stand still.

“Sotis…” Alia said slowly. “Sotis I forget. I forget, even knowing how much House Halen pays …”

“Forget?” Serena asked, a note of worry appearing in her voice. “Forget what?”

“Forget how unbelievably rich you are!” Alia exclaid, throwing her arms around Serena and pulling her into a firm embrace. “I can’t believe you,” she muttered into Serena’s chest. “Sothing small, my arse.” After complaining a bit more, Alia stood back, feeling her cheeks flush and unable to stop herself from grinning, she asked, “Are you seriously buying another estate?”

“Well, technically, it’s already purchased. I’m just gifting it to you and—” Serena was cut off as Alia pulled her into another hug. “You’re ridiculous,” Alia murmured. “And amazing. And completely ridiculously amazing.”

“Completely ridiculously amazing. That’s good, right?” Serena asked. Alia felt Serena’s hand gently rub her head.

“A pocketwatch can’t compete with this,” Alia mumbled. “When did you do this?”

“Rember when we sailed over Nai? You said you thought Nai looked like a, what was it, a cosy place to live?” Serena’s voice beca quiet as she explained, “It’s a gift to you, but it’s quite selfish of , really. I thought then that it would be nice if we could have a place together, so I started making enquiries in the background. I imagine whenever we return to Asamaywa, you’re going to get a lot of visitors at your estate. I figured it would be nice to have a place so that whenever it beca too much, we could… you know…” Serena gently pulled away from Alia and looked at her with soft eyes. “Spend so ti alone. Get away from it all. It’s not… It’s not too much, is it?”

“Ren,” Alia said.

“What?”

“I’m going to kiss you.”

“Pfft!” Serena laughed. “I take it you’re accepting—” Her words were cut off as Alia used all her natural and supernatural dexterity to slip into Serena’s arms and steal her lips.

Anathor or not, her girlfriend deserved this.

“Of course, I accept,” Alia said once she needed to stop for air. “It’ll be our ho. Just for us.”

“That was what I hoped,” Serena said. “If you read the details, you’ll see it’s in a quiet location, with a rather large amount of land for privacy. It’s near a fishing village, so we’ll easily be able to have fresh fish every day. There’s also—” Serena was cut off as Alia shut her up with another kiss.

“It’s perfect, idiot,” Alia said. “It’s the best gift I could have gotten. A place with you? For us? It’s the absolute greatest gift anyone could have gotten!”

“Ahem,” Serena coughed lightly. “That’s good to know. I—”

“Captain,” Anathor took his turn interrupting Serena. “Situation on the bridge.”

“What—” Serena cleared her throat and continued, “What is it, Anathor?”

“It’s…” Anathor trailed off for a mont. Checking the Shimr, Alia could see Anathor’s attention move away from their location before returning. “It’s the observers, Captain,” Anathor said. “We’ve found them. I don’t know if they’re from the Myrmidon or the Indefatigable, but we’ve found survivors.”

“I’ll be up in a mont!” Serena declared, quickly shifting from softy-girlfriend mode to competent-captain mode. “Let them know, Anathor.”

“Yes, Captain,” ca the reply.

Serena strode to the door, flinging it open, she stepped as if to leave and then paused. Eyeing Alia, she said, “A rescue on Christmas day. Perhaps we’re about to give those n the only Christmas gift that could be greater than what we’ve just given each other.”

“W-wait!” Alia cried, but it was too late. Serena had run off, determined to reach the bridge in as little ti as possible.

Serena, you idiot! Alia thought.

Your horns are still dressed up!