"Because Duchess Eclipse has already declared her protection over this region a long time ago"
"Duchess?" Cassius echoed, frowning at her.
"That's right. Haven't you ever heard of her? The head of the ducal house of Eclipse"
'Duke... That's the highest aristocratic title just below royalty' Cassius thought, though his practical mind genuinely didn't care much for this tedious social hierarchy.
"She's not just a Duchess, Cassi. She's also the strongest person on this continent!" Eliana's voice brimmed with enthusiasm. "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?" he blurted out.
"Exactly! That's why nobody dares to cross her."
Cassius pondered for a moment
"If she's that powerful, why doesn't she just crush that rumored war out there once and for all?"
Eliana paused, tapping her chin with a slender finger as she organized her thoughts.
"Because she doesn't want to" she finally answered. "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 clapped her hands together with a sharp snap, effectively cutting through his train of thought.
"Let's stop talking about dry politics. We came out today for a date, remember?"
Cassius chuckled and nodded, letting her pull him along.
Their walk through the town drifted by in its usual gentle rhythm. Only when the sky began to turn a deep violet dusk did Eliana shift direction, guiding him down a narrow dirt trail far from the residential streets.
"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Cassius asked, glancing at both sides of the path where dense canopies were actively swallowing the fading twilight.
"Trust me" Eliana's voice sounded steady, her hand tightening around his.
The trail finally opened up into a wide clearing. Scattered across the ground were massive stumps left from long-felled trees, forming a set of natural wooden benches.
"Here we are"
Eliana stopped, 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"
Cassius followed the line of her finger. The sky was still darkening into pure black, with only a few early stars faintly flickering to life. It was still a bit too early to catch the full Milky Way.
Eliana climbed onto a broad stump, brushed off the wood, and patted the empty space beside her. "Come sit here, Cassi"
He stepped over and sat right next to her. They were close enough that their shoulders brushed 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 said, gazing upward with a hint of nostalgia in her tone.
"Every time, it's so breathtaking you lose track of time."
Cassius turned away from the sky, shifting his gaze toward the girl beside him.
The dimming dusk outlined the sharp contours of Eliana's face. Her blonde hair fell over one shoulder, radiant against the encroaching dark. She had a high nose bridge, a delicate jawline, and long eyelashes that fluttered softly in the cold breeze. Familiar as he was with her features, looking closely at her still left him a bit dazed every time.
As if sensing his steady stare, Eliana turned her head. Her light brown eyes met his golden ones, carrying a playful, knowing smile.
"Why are you staring so intently, Cassi?"
Cassius blinked, his 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 flushed crimson. She giggled, reaching out to gently pinch his cheek.
"You smooth talker"
She held the pinch 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 pulled out a small, dark velvet box.
"Though honestly, even if you stayed quiet like a dummy, you'd still get it" she mumbled, shoving the box straight into his hands to mask her sudden embarrassment.
"What's this?" Cassius opened the lid.
Resting inside was a pair of silver rings. The design was simple, yet the bands featured intricate grooves etched with strange, flowing patterns.
"Couple rings?"
"They're rune-engraved rings! I had professional jewelers custom-make them just for us" She lifted her chin, her face full of pride.
"What does rune-engraved mean?" Curious, he picked the larger 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" Cassius smiled. "So what does it do?"
"Give me your hand"
Cassius obediently held out his hand. Eliana carefully slipped the larger ring onto his index finger, then slid the smaller one onto her own. She held her hand out in front of him, lacing her fingers through his.
"Try holding my hand, Cassi"
The moment their fingers interlocked, the rune carvings on both rings flared to life, casting a soft, soothing blue glow in the dim clearing.
"Whoa..."
"Its function is quite simple" Eliana said, pointing at the light wrapped around their connected hands. "They glow whenever both wearers hold hands. The light burns even brighter when we stay close"
She lowered her head to inspect the glow, 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 the runes?' Cassius wondered silently, deciding to keep the thought to himself so as not to ruin the moment.
"Well, never mind that." Eliana brushed it off quickly. Her gaze softened as she squeezed his hand tighter. "This light won't fade even if we let go, so long as the bond between us remains"
She hesitated 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 academ."
The word 'academy' hit Cassius like a bucket of freezing water.
Even though they had actively tried to ignore it all this time, the deadline for her departure was drawing nearer every single day. These carefree days of wandering by the stream in disguises, sharing meals with Thomas and Emily, and sitting together like this would soon come to a halt.
A heavy lump rose in his throat. He was a boy with no past, no memories before waking up in a forest; his entire world had once been tightly confined to a small garden. Eliana's arrival had pulled him out of that isolated shell. She had taught him what it felt like to have his heart flutter, and what it meant to care deeply for someone outside of his small family circle.
Unable to hold his emotions in check, Cassius suddenly leaned forward, throwing both arms tightly around her shoulders.
"Cassi?" Eliana gasped in surprise.
He buried his face into the crook of her neck, breathing in her familiar, gentle scent. His voice came out hoarse, thick with undisguised vulnerability.
"I really don't want you to go"
Eliana was taken aback by his sudden, intense reaction. She froze for a second, then softly brought her hand up, stroking his back with tender care.
"Silly" she whispered beside his ear, sounding half-amused, half-heartbroken.
"Thank you, Eliana" His grip tightened. His voice trembled as tears began to spill without warning, soaking into the thick 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 streamed down his face unchecked. In front of this girl, he no longer cared about his pride or putting on a brave, practical front.
Hearing those childish yet raw, painfully honest words, Eliana's expression completely melted. She didn't scold him, nor did she tease him for crying. She simply pulled his trembling body tight against hers, holding him firmly as if trying to pour all her reassurance directly into his soul.
"I don't want to leave you either, Cassi" she whispered, planting a gentle kiss on his black hair.
"But I have to study. We'll see each other during the holidays, I promise."
It took a long while for his breathing to settle. Eliana pulled back slightly, using her thumb to gently wipe away the tear tracks on his cheeks. She offered him a soft, encouraging smile.
"There now, stop crying. Look up at the sky, it's gorgeous"
Sniffling, Cassius lifted his head toward where she pointed.
The night sky had turned into an deep void, dazzling and overwhelming. Countless stars, large and small, were scattered like diamonds strewn across a vast black velvet sheet, shimmering with a dreamlike radiance. Reigning right at the center was a full, rounded moon, casting a silvery light that carpeted the quiet clearing.
"It's beautiful" he murmured, his golden eyes wide in awe.
"Right?" Eliana smiled with satisfaction.
Yet Cassius's gaze shifted away from the night sky almost immediately. He turned back to Eliana.
Bathed in the bright moonlight, her profile glowed radiantly. Her blonde hair and gently smiling lips formed a scene far more breathtaking to him than any galaxy above.
The space between thought and action dissolved. Drawn by an irresistible pull, he leaned closer.
Eliana noticed his movement. Her eyelids fluttered faintly before slowly closing, her long lashes casting soft shadows over her flushed cheeks.
The distance between their faces narrowed to nothing.
Lips touched lips.
It was an utterly clumsy first kiss, yet it carried every ounce of sincerity, warmth, and emotion they had long held inside. Neither of them knew how to find the right angle or coordinate gracefully; they only knew how to hold on tight, pressing close as if longing to melt into one another.
Time stood still in the quiet of the woods.
Only after a long moment, when the breath in their chests ran thin, did Eliana gently push against his chest. They parted amid ragged breaths. A delicate thread of silver glinted beneath the moonlight between their lips before it broke.
Eliana's face burned crimson, her swollen lips parting slightly. Suddenly, she nudged him backward. Cassius fell flat onto the wide surface of the massive stump. Before he could react, Eliana slid over, straddling his chest with both hands planted firmly on either side of his head.
Her golden hair fell loose, creating a glowing curtain that shielded out the moonlight and framed his entire field of view.
Looking down at him, her brown eyes shimmered with unshed tears, reflecting only his silhouette within them.
She leaned down, whispering close to his ear in a voice so sweet and remarkably steady.
"I love you, Cassi"