The two of them arrived at the stone formation set up in the forest, right on the outskirt of Lionarch City. The red sunset can be seen from the horizon.
The last ti they were here was during the invasion. Not knowing what will be waiting for them up ahead, he needs to be sure.? Fortunately, now that his spirit force had increased further, Ery could use his spirit reading even more accurately than before.
"You are right. I can sense only two dozen guards patrolling outside, a dozen guards inside, along with a maid."
He concentrated at one specific point inside and opened his [Spatial Gate]. Together, they walked into the void in space and, just like that, they were already inside the palace.
"No one is on the second floor at the mont," Ery whispered. "Just get whatever you need. I'll stand guard here."
Gwen stared at him with a gentle, loving gaze for a mont before breaking into a sweet, grateful smile.
"Your magic never cease to amaze , Ery… Thank you."
"Don't worry about it. Just be quick, alright?"
Because of Ery's training in Khaos Space, they could only see each other once a week, but after 6 months, Ery was able to get used to talking to Gwen casually.
First, Gwen decided to enter her father's room right at the end of the hall Ery was guarding. 6 months had passed and, of course, many things had changed. The massive bed was mostly destroyed, its valuable decorations looted and taken away by marauders and the sheets had been torn, just like the banners resting above the headrest.
The window leading to the ocean view outside was blocked by large debris and fallen wooden beams, as if to say the ruined kingdom could no longer have a future.
She walked around the room, careful to avoid stepping on anything and touched the familiar things she spotted. The walls were now stained with soot and dust, but it felt familiar beneath her fingers and so were the torn banners and sheets. Deep in her heart, she knew this would be the last ti she could co here.
After a few minutes, Gwen returned back to Ery's place and said.
"I am weird for asking you to do this, am I? Well, I suppose you won't bla for being a bit… sentintal?" Gwen gave Ery a teasing smile.
He could sense the intent behind the question and decided not to indulge her in that regard. "Is that it?"
If she knew Ery was avoiding her question, she gave no indication of it. "Of course not, Ery… Co, next, we will go to my room."
Now that she had seen her father's room, she decided not to be too cautious. There was a light spring in her steps and her body was no longer as tense, which Ery took as a sign she had obtained so closure.
They arrived in another hall, this one less spacious than the first; they walked towards one of the doors on the right side.
When she saw the room was mostly untouched, her expression turned into one of pure, unbridled glee.
"You know, Ery…" Gwen started, as the two of them walked inside the room. "If this was before… You coming inside this room could an a lifeti imprisonnt or even death." She said with a teasing smile.
"Well," Ery raised her eyebrows at her. "Actually, I did co to this room before."
"Really?" Gwen turned back and looked at him in surprise, before her eyes lit up in recognition. "Ah, yes! You're right, I did drag you here before for… What was it…"
"You once forced to carry the books from the palace library to here."
"Yeah… I can barely rember that… Why did I even force you to do that, again?"
"How would I know?" Ery shrugged.
The girl chuckled to herself when she thought about it.
She looked around with a cheerful smile, before stopping in front of a massive painting and taking it down from the wall.
"Oh, it's still here!"
Ery looked in Gwen's direction and saw storage hidden beneath where the painting once hung. She opened it easily and threw a few handfuls of jewelry onto her bed before she found the thing she was looking for.
He tried to look at the thing, but Gwen gave him an even more cheeky smile than before and tried to hide the thing behind her robes.
"Hey, Ery, close your eyes!"
"What are you even-"
"Co on, just a minute will do!"
Ery heeded her request and closed his eyes, after all with his spirit reading ability, he could sense his surroundings even with his eyes closed.
However, he did not expect her to grab his hand and drag him outside. She always did this many tis before, but sohow it always felt sothing for him.
Now that he was outside, with eyes closed, he could sll the salty scent of the sea carried by the night winds.
"Now, open your eyes!"
When he opened his eyes, Gwen placed sothing on his hand.
Seeing the object in his hand, his heart skips a beat. Under his touch, he could feel the grains of wood on the surface of the box. The feel in each corner of the box brought out a special mory he had buried deep inside his heart. He touched a part of the box and it opened, showing the carving of a girl.
The very sa girl who was now standing in front of him.
He was at a loss for words and his thoughts were jumbled into a chaotic ss.
"Why… is it here?"
This was the box he made for her as a gift for her 16th coming of age ceremony. But, the last thing Ery knew the box was most likely thrown out as garbage by the end of that day. So, why did Gwen still have the box?
Gwen chuckled at his reaction, but she turned serious right after when she said.
"Honestly, I didn't know whether the box was still here or it was gone after the attack. All I had were my hopes, but if it wasn't here… At least I could get a mont with you alone without all those other girls."
Ery stared at her in confusion, while Gwen continued speaking.
"Ery, I have known you since we were little. You are so dense, you can't tell that won have been trying to get your attention for months now."
She reached out, her hands holding the box and Ery's own. Her touch was soft and it stirred a feeling long dormant within his heart.
"I hope this box can be proof that… I…"
Gwen gulped, trying to gather her courage.
"I have been thinking about you all this ti, Ery. These past few months… I realized I have been seeking your attention, just like when we were little…"
Gwen stared at him, her eyes trying to show the very essence of her feelings.
"Ery… Do you feel… the sa?"
The box had triggered a flood of past feelings long buried. All the things they experienced together ca out like a broken dam, leaving him unable to even deny. This girl… She has plagued his mind for quite a long ti.
Ery could feel his heart thumping really hard, he walked a step closer towards the girl of his dreams. He braced himself and gently stroked her golden hair. Both eyes t when he said
"Yes, I feel the sa."
Ery could see her eyes suddenly glittering, followed by a smile as she jumped out her arms around him as the night winds gently caress the two of them.
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Written by Avans, Published exclusively by W.e.b.n.o.v.e.l,
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