Chapter 66 – Two Souls… become One

Chapter 66

Two Souls… become One

Date : Day 3 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

Both of them were silent. Eyes widened. Shock etched on their features.

"Hyoren. That was..."

Hyoren nodded. And smiled. The expression was knowing. Certain.

"Yes. It's definitely Her. It seems she was watching me..."

Elise shook her head in disbelief again, now in more frantic movement. Her silver hair swayed wildly. She stopped as her hair was tangled. And tried to comb her hair with her hands. The gesture was frantic. Overwhelmed.

"Hyoren, Goddess of Darkness hearing the declaration of you vowing to cleanse Her name. It was like a vow to Herself."

Elise smiled. Despite the weight of the declaration, it didn't make her scared. It actually made her awed. The magnitude of the moment settled over her. The significance of what had just occurred.

"You must uphold it. And based on what just happened. You received Her blessing to do that."

Hyoren smiled, and nodded. The promise was sacred. Binding.

"That was obvious, Elise. I will uphold it."

He looked up a bit, to the three moons. Before changing his gaze towards Elise's. His dark eyes now locked to her emerald eyes. The connection between them was palpable. A thread that tied them together.

"Before, on the grassland, I declared my goal was to get stronger. To reach platinum rank. That goal has not changed. But now it's not the end goal. It's a means to reach my other goal. I will get stronger. Gathering allies, party members, and backers. So I can get strong enough to eradicate these Voided Covenant. Permanently rooted them from this world. Destroy every cells. Arrest every ‘Head’ they had."

Elise shook her head. Disagreed with him.

Her gesture confused him. Hyoren tilted his head. Uncertainty flickered across his features.

Elise then leaned forward. Her left hand touched his right knuckles. The contact was warm. Grounding.

"No, Hyoren. Let me correct you... Not 'My'. 'Our' goal."

She smiled. The expression was determined. Unwavering.

"On the grassland, we vowed together. I will reach platinum rank with you. I will get stronger with you. Together."

She gripped his knuckles with both of her hands now. The touch was firm. A promise sealed through contact.

"Don't forget. I, Elise of the Silentwood, am your partner. I will support you. Let's get stronger together, and root out the Voided Covenant permanently from this world."

Hyoren's eyes widened by her declaration. It then melted. His opened lips closed, and curled upwards. The surprise transformed into warmth. Into gratitude. Into something deeper.

"Right. How could I forget about you, Elise?"

He put his other hand on top of their intertwined hands. The gesture completed the circuit.

"Thank you, Elise. Together, we will definitely reach the top!"

He smiled at her. Genuine. From the heart.

"I'm truly glad you are my partner, Elise."

The wind rustled again. The clearing regained its sounds. The crackle of fire. The gush of spring. The whistle of leaves. The world returned to normal. But something had changed. Something had shifted. The two individuals renewed their vow. Surrounded by ethereal scenery, and watched by three moons. The night embraced them. The forest whispered around them.

***

Hyoren and Elise sat in silence afterwards. Enjoying the ethereal scenery and the warm tea in their own mugs. The night stretched around them. Peaceful. Calm. A moment of respite.

Sounds of each sip and rustle of leaves became an orchestra of melody. The spring gurgled softly in the background. The fire crackled. The wind whispered through the Humming Pinewood. All of it blended together into a symphony of nature.

Their eyes wandered around. To the clearing. To the springs. To the ponds. To the glowing flowers. Each element of the landscape contributed to the surreal beauty of the moment. The blue light from the flora combined with the mixed glow of the moons. Painting everything in shades of ethereal luminescence.

The silence spoke for itself. They were enjoying the moment. No words were needed. Just presence. Just being together.

Hyoren did reflection during this silence. His thoughts turned inward. Contemplative.

His mind wandered to everything that happened since he was unreasonably thrown into this world. The chaos. The survival. The growth. The unexpected bonds.

His first day in the forest. His desperate survival for one month. His chance encounter with Elise. Each memory was vivid. Sharp. Etched into his consciousness.

He turned his head to see Elise. The firelight danced across her features. Her silver hair caught the glow of the flowers. She was beautiful. Ethereal.

She tilted her head. Her silver hair swayed with the motions, cascading to one side of her body. The gesture was curious.

"What's wrong, Hyoren?"

Hyoren shook his head. And smiled. The expression was soft. Warm.

"Nothing, Elise..."

He then looked up. Averting his eyes from her. The moons hung above. Silent witnesses to his turmoil.

Elise chuckled beside him. The sound was light. Knowing.

"Weird Hyoren..."

She then continued sipping her tea. In silence. She was not bothered by Hyoren's gesture. She had grown used to his peculiarities. His moments of distraction.

Hyoren then thought back about Elise. She was wary at first. Then they walked together, escaping the forest.

Their journey in the forest, then through grassland. How Elise started to open up. Her wariness slowly but surely replaced by warmth and trust. The transformation had been gradual. But undeniable.

Then he remembered the Alpha fight. The absurd fight which he already prepared to die when he stepped into it. His desperation when he thought Elise was going to die, attacked by the Alpha. Then his prayer was answered by Luminara and Noctynara. And they emerged victorious, despite the severity of their wounds afterward.

She has already become so important to me without me realizing, huh.

Elise started humming a familiar melody. Whistling. Her melody was harmonious with the sounds of the surrounding. She closed her eyes. Her body swayed left and right. Enjoying her own tune. The music blended with the whispering of the trees. A duet of voice and nature.

She always helped me. Answered my questions no matter how weird they are.

Hyoren thought about her again. Her behavior after the alpha fight had changed.

She became so... clingy...

He thought about how she kept insisting to sleep together. Snuggled with him. Shared a room and bed.

Then yesterday's kiss, after her breakdown.

He unconsciously touched his cheek where she kissed him. Her ethereal figure which was still burned on his mind. The sensation lingered. A ghost of warmth on his skin.

His mind was occupied by Elise. Her laugh. Her pout. Her anger. Her concerned face. Her teary eyes. Her determined expression. Every facet of her personality. Every nuance of her being.

All of his feelings coalesced in his mind. And finally he understood his own feelings. The words formed his thoughts. Unbidden.

I love Elise.

He looked at her. She was still humming the melody. Her posture was relaxed. At peace. Content.

She noticed his gaze, tilting her head slightly. Her pointed ears twitched. And mumbled.

"Hmm?"

She was asking him if he needed something from her with that gesture. A question without words.

But as Hyoren kept his silence, Elise nodded, and continued her whistling. Her body swayed left and right again with the melody. Enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

In stark contrast to Elise's peacefulness, Hyoren's mind was in chaos.

I love her. But should I tell her that? And risk making things awkward?

He was weighing his options.

We only know each other for about three weeks. It felt like too much happened. But three weeks is too short to fall in love for someone, right?

He only ever had one girlfriend. The one he really hated now. And she was his childhood friend. Their relationship advanced very slowly. Gradual through childhood, teenage years, till early adult life. He was not sure if this feeling of him towards Elise was rushed or not.

Then there was her fiancé. Kael.

He recalled her story. About her trauma. But thinking about her past lover actually awakened something in his heart. The feeling came unbidden. Jealousy. A possessive feeling for wanting Elise for himself.

All of these thoughts of him happened almost instantly. A cascade of emotions and memories.

Elise still hummed and swayed. Her peaceful posture finally broke the dam of his heart.

Hyoren clutched his chest. Decided.

He looked upwards. His gaze locked on the three moons hanging in the sky. His longing expression was like asking for an opinion from Noctynara.

The glow of three moons intensified for a split second.

He blinked. He was not sure if it was truly Noctynara or his own delusions. But that was enough to move him. Words came from his mouth. Unbidden.

"The moon is beautiful, isn't it?"

The clichéd words came out naturally. They were old-fashioned. Often used in literature. If he used it in Japan, he would get laughed at for being too old-fashioned. The phrase was only used in love stories nowadays.

Elise stopped her humming. Tilting her head. Then she looked up to the sky.

"Huh? Don't the three moons always look like that, Hyoren?"

She didn't know the phrase. It was a phrase which did not transcend worlds. The meaning was lost in translation. Hyoren knew, but still said it anyway.

Hyoren smiled. The expression was bittersweet. Fond.

"It's a poetic phrase from my old world, Elise."

Elise turned her gaze to Hyoren, and nodded. Understanding. Curious.

"I see... poetic phrase, huh... so what is the meaning?"

She smiled softly. She was curious. The question was genuine.

Hyoren straightened his posture. Properly faced Elise. His jaw tightened. His dark eyes locked into Elise's emerald ones. He put his two hands on his own thighs.

His aura radiated seriousness which was so palpable. The shift was sudden. Noticeable.

Elise tilted her head. Bewildered. By his sudden change of his atmosphere. She thought the phrase was insignificant. Just a passing phrase.

"Huh? Why do you suddenly look so serious, Hyoren?"

Hyoren sat still. Before finally opening his mouth.

"Elise, the meaning is..."

He took a deep breath, then exhaled. The air was thick with anticipation.

"I love you."

Elise froze. The words hung in the air. Heavy. Profound.

Hyoren continued. Smiled.

"It's a phrase in my country, because saying 'I love you' is considered too direct by many people. So famous writer start popularizing those phrase. "

Elise's mind started to process what he said. Her eyes gradually widened bit by bit. Before stopping and the corners dropped instead. The realization crashed over her like a wave.

Seeing her frozen state, Hyoren opened his mouth again.

"I don't know since when it started. Maybe even since the first time I saw you in the forest, after I opened the burlap sack containing you, Elise. Afterwards, my feelings towards you keep growing, and growing. They keep growing stronger."

He smiled. The expression was warm. Sincere.

"I was captivated by you. You are so earnest but sometimes dishonest. How you easily got embarrassed and flustered."

His smile widened.

"How you always helped me. Patiently answering all my questions without giving me weird stares."

He gripped his hands. The emotion was building. Overflowing.

"Your gentle laugh. Your soft voice. Your silky silver hair. Your ethereal beauty. I love your everything, Elise."

Elise listened to his confession. Breath caught in her throat. Both of her hands covered her parted lips. Her eyes glistened. Shock. Joy. Disbelief.

Hyoren patiently waited without rushing her. He could feel his own face turn hot. If he looked in the mirror, he would laugh at how red his face was.

His heartbeat increased. Anticipated her answer.

After a while, Elise lowered her hands. Her expression softened. Her emerald eyes were clear. The tears threatened to spill.

She finally smiled.

"Hyoren, what do people usually answer to that poetic phrase?"

Her question hung in the air. She was not yet answering Hyoren's confession. The suspense slowly killed Hyoren. His urge to be buried alive grew stronger.

But he forced it down his throat. And answered Elise.

"There are two answers, Elise..."

He took a deep breath.

"It's either 'It's beautiful because it's out of reach.' Or… 'I can die happy.'"

He didn't elaborate which answer was which. The meaning should already be conveyed to her.

Elise took a deep breath and exhaled.

She straightened her posture. Determination settled over her features.

"I can die happy, Hyoren."

She smiled widely. She understood the meaning of the phrase. And she delivered her answer.

"I love you too."

Her answer hung in the air. It was Hyoren's time to freeze. His eyes widened, breath caught in his throat. He was expecting the worst.

But he received the best.

Elise then opened her mouth. Revealed her own feelings which she always suppressed.

"If I can be honest though, Hyoren. I want to scream 'why took you so long?' I was frustrated. Waiting."

Hyoren's eyes widened even more.

Elise then raised her hands. Telling him she wanted to say more.

She smiled softly.

"I already gave you hints of my own feelings. Subtly at first. But I tried to keep getting bolder and bolder."

Elise shook her head. Her silver hair swayed with the motion.

"But you were not even making any move towards me. You are as dense as rocks... I almost lost confidence in myself. And asked myself, did you truly not feel anything towards me? Am I so unattractive in your eyes that touching me is not even in your mind?"

Elise closed her eyes. Vulnerable. Honest.

"And I was afraid. If my feelings were one-sided. Or if you preferred someone like Ina. She also has eyes on you. That made me desperate."

Elise opened her eyes.

"I even mustered my courage to book one room for us. To share a bed. I kept snuggling at you. I even bought sleepwear, which took a lot of courage to buy. I try to pick most fashionable clothes I can.”

She smiled wryly.

“But you didn't budge. Didn't make a move on me. I was inviting you. I thought all men would gladly pounce on me when I did that. That was what Ina always said to me. ‘Just wear fancy clothes. Preferably revealing one. And just rub yourself to his arms! He will be yours in no time.’ But you didn’t do anything…"

She averted her eyes. Embarrassed by her own confession.

Hyoren finally snapped from his stupor. And opened his mouth.

"Elise... I actually noticed it. I truly did. But I didn't want to make assumptions... as I am still learning about this world. I thought our custom is different.”

He took a deep breath

“I saw all your advance and sign. But, I was afraid all the signs you gave were just different customs compared to mine."

Elise faced his eyes again. He could see her eyes glistening with tears. Happy tears down on her cheek. Half happy half exasperated.

"Of course not! Idiot Hyoren!"

But then she shouted and pouted. She was frustrated that all her hints went through his head.

"I always felt irritated when you never actually took my hints!"

She shook her head. Exasperated.

"I thought you were as dense as a rock for not noticing all my obvious and blatant advances..."

Hyoren scratched his cheek. He didn't realize. His assumption was wrong. He thought this world had different customs. Had different values about love. He didn't want to make assumptions and offend Elise.

Love is a universal language. Romantic gestures transcend worlds. Affection could be felt without a single word spoken between two lovers.

Then he remembered another reason he tried to bury his own feelings.

"I was also afraid... you have your trauma. I was afraid pushing through with my feelings would trigger your trauma again. That's why I was holding back my feelings."

Elise heaved an exasperated sigh.

"Your mind is genius when you analyze things. But you are actually an idiot, huh, Hyoren."

She smiled, tucked a strand of hair behind her pointed ears.

"Yes. My trauma still surfaced often. I sometimes still have nightmares of what happened on that day with the Arachnes. But... not anymore..."

She pointed her index finger at Hyoren.

"Ever since I met you. They are gone."

She leaned forward.

"Ever since we slept together. I stopped having nightmares. I always felt your warmth. It gave peace to my mind."

She exhaled.

"And that's when I decided. This is my future. You are my future. I won't forget my past. But I need to move forward. And Hyoren, I decided you are my future..."

Breath caught in Hyoren's throat. He was lost for words.

Elise smiled, then continued.

"And the dread of losing you is what actually gave me nightmares last night. After days of not having nightmares, seeing you attacked by wraiths made me remember our fight with the Alpha. How wounded you were. Your soul-shattering screams."

For Elise, her past trauma with Kael was already buried in the past. Remembered, but moved on.

Now the thought which triggered her nightmares was the dread of losing Hyoren.

Her heart had already changed. Unknowingly to them.

Hyoren finally found his words.

"Elise... I'm sorry I didn't realize it sooner."

Elise moved closer to him, and put her index finger on his mouth.

"Sssh. Wrong. Wrong... Wrong Answer."

Hyoren's eyes widened a little. It was not the words she wanted to hear. She wanted to hear different words from his mouth.

She lowered her finger.

"Please start over."

Hyoren nodded. Understanding. He then moved closer. His dark eyes locked into Elise's emerald eyes.

"Elise, I love you. From the bottom of my heart."

Elise gazed back deep into his eyes.

"I love you too, Hyoren. From now on, and forever."

Elves, when they found their partner, would stay loyal to their partner until one of them was dead.

Her words felt heavy. But for Hyoren, he accepted everything from her.

Both of them moved closer. Their faces inched closer.

And then finally their lips met.

They spent a long time sharing their first romantic kiss. The spring gushing sounds and rustling leaves surrounded them. The moment stretched. Timeless. Perfect.

After a few minutes of shared kiss, Elise's lips finally parted from his.

Her glistened eyes, watered by tears of happiness, locked on his.

Their breathing was ragged. Their faces flushed.

Elise opened her arms. Inviting.

"Hyoren... Please..."

She closed her eyes.

"Embrace me."

Hyoren, not hesitating anymore. He didn't need to ask for confirmation again. He finally made his move, slowly but surely hugged her. Both of them then embraced each other. The warmth spread between them. A fire that had been kindling for weeks. Finally allowed to blaze.

The spring continued gushing out water. The sounds of water merged with the sounds of their ragged breath.

The Humming Pinewood leaves continued whistling, in harmony with the sounds of rustling clothes being discarded.

Azure, Crimson, and Ebony hung in the sky, watching them. Their lights shone towards two bodies and souls, which finally became one tonight.