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As a healer traveling around Elyos, I usually didn't get too involved in the affairs of others. Nearly always, I kept to myself, healed the occasional fellow traveler, and then was on my way. Sure, I stopped by towns for supplies, but it was merely safer for me to not fight.

So why, oh why, was I amid a brawl between the recently risen Divine Dragon and a hoard of zombie-like men?

If it were any other situation, I wouldn't have hesitated to flee. It wasn't my fight. War wasn't invented yesterday, and I can't always play hero. That's for the more confident ones. Regardless, here I was, waving my staff around and healing everyone I could on one side of the battlefield.

When I was passing by the battle, I caught a glimpse of glittering aquamarine eyes, vibrant ribbons and excessive frills styled uniquely, and the bold sound of a laugh filled with daredevil glee.

Rosado.

I rushed in without another thought. I hadn't seen Rosado in years, ever since...

"Hey, watch out, girl. Get your head out of the clouds." A shrill, arrogant voice snaps me out of my thoughts. When I realized that one of the monsters had almost sliced me in two, I immediately turned to thank my savoir.

It was a girl, skillfully spinning a silver sword in her delicate hands like it was a baton and she was a cheerleader. But she didn't seem like she would cheer for anyone but herself.

"No need to thank me." Her smile was so fake I almost laughed. "Just watch out, I'm not saving you again. I'm far above you in strength and—"

"Goldmary! You watch out too!" I immediately looked up at the sound of Rosado's melodic voice — it was so familiar to me. He was riding his beloved wyvern, just like he always would, and his fashion had remained just as it did in our academy days.

The haughty girl, Goldmary, huffed, then rushed back into the fray with reckless conviction.

Once she left, Rosado leaped off his wyvern with a small grin, using his pet name for me as he greeted me. "(N/N)! Long time no see!"

Just as I was going to respond, I noticed the gashes running up and down his limbs and the crimson blood soaking his carefully selected outfit — all lace and pastel colors, as always. No amount of beaming from him could stop me as I fumbled for my healing staff. It was on its last use, but I hastily thrust it up to the sky, and a burst of light showered Rosado within seconds.

When the illumination faded, Rosado said, "You didn't have to, (N/N). But, truly and sadly, this isn't the place to talk. The Corrupted aren't hesitating now." One of the so-called Corrupted charged, and he tossed a javelin through its torso without a hiccup in his speech. "Talk later?"

"Right, yeah. See you." The first words I spoke to him in years, and that's what I went with. Super.

I can't even remember the last thing we said to each other either. It would've been... gosh, something at Elusia's prestigious academy — the same one the royals attended. We had so many classes together, I remember how we laughed for hours. And all the conversations we'd have. We'd draw together, although I was lacking in talent when compared to him. We'd dress each other up in the most frivolous things that were the height of trend.

But after problems in the village that I came from — it was unfortunately destroyed — I hadn't seen his face in so, so long. Far, far too long, if you were to ask me.

Now, we were both fighting side by side for our lives. It was a change of pace, but not entirely unpleasant. The fight was almost won, I realized, with a red- and blue-haired young man leading the charge with the refined strategies of a sage tactician.

After, when the battle was at last over with and thankfully not many were too severely harmed due to my frantic healing spree, Rosado rushed to my side immediately.

"(N/N)! You're as cute as ever!" He cried, tackling me into a hug without any hint of reluctance. Knowing his tendencies, I knew his affection was platonic, but the intimate gesture made my cheeks heat up slightly.

"Hey, Rosado." I return the embrace after a brief moment. He squeezes me tight, then releases me.

"I can't believe it's really you! I mean, yeah, it's you, but after you didn't return to the academy... We were torn apart so tragically..." He trails off, not seeming to know how to end that sentence. I didn't either.

Sighing, I reply, "I'm sorry—"

He cuts in, eyebrows furrowed. "No, don't apologize! I'm sure you had your reason, (N/N)." He assures me. I noticed he had died his lengthy curls again, this time a startlingly eye-catching ombre of baby blue and lavender.

"Eh heh, yeah... The village is no more." I admit sheepishly. It had happened a long time ago, and didn't bother me as much anymore; I was satisfied with traveling on my own. The thrill and freedom were positively astounding.

"Oh, I see..." The light in his eyes dimmed for a moment. "I'm so sorry to hear that, (N/N)." After a brief pause, a lull in the conversation that stemmed from us not being as familiar with each other anymore, he gasped and a lightbulb appeared. "Hey, I've an idea. To make up for lost time and catch up on our lives now... let's do each other's makeup and clothes like we used to!"

That quickly brings a smile to my face, as it always would. "I would love that, Rosado."

I was promptly whisked away to a stone castle floating daintily in the very sky above that belonged to the Divine Dragon. He was the one commanding all of the warriors, including Rosado, in the battle we just won. He apparently was fast asleep in his chambers for a thousand years, according to Rosado.

While the architecture was crumbling, it was still breathtaking and majestic, and Rosado didn't waste any time on bringing me to his room, which nearly mirrored his old dorm, giving me waves of deja vu big time.

"Huh. This place... it strongly reminds me of your room at the academy, Rosado," I note, taking in the clutter — all beauty supplies and the latest fashion, ranging from lacy tops to spools of ribbons in every hue imaginable. "So nostalgic, but very personalized. Very you."

"Thanks." He smiles, digging through his wardrobe and producing an outfit of his choosing. "Let's start with this, and then..." He scrambled over to his vanity and tossed a handful of lipstick shades into my hands. "Try these on too, they'll all look fabulous, I just know it."

And that was only the beginning. After being his model — trying on anything and everything, in addition to having him draw me — the war still raged on. Always, Rosado carved out time to hang out in between grueling battles and dances with death.

While we were still fighting, we grew closer and closer, even more so when we were the inseparable friend duo back in the academy. But, after many escalating efforts to save Elyos from unimaginably devasting fates, the Emblems left us and Alear was crowned officially as the new Divine Dragon that would protect everyone under this world's skies.

Sometime after that, just before everything could settle back to being how it was initially, Rosado invited me to meet with him on the highest mountain in Elusia at dawn. He was strangely adamant about the exact details, but I eagerly did as he instructed. After all, from now forward, we might not see each other as much.

I knew Hortensia returned to the academy already, but I was still undecided, as was Rosado. Alas, I climbed the bluff as he instructed, admiring the view before the sun crept up from its hiding place beyond the horizon.

When I had finally made it to the very top of the highest ridge, Rosado's beaming face was all I was met with. "(N/N)." he waves, his smile not faltering once, although there was something in his tone that made him sound tense, anxious.

"What's wrong, Rosado?" I asked hastily, noticing his subtle distress.

"There's nothing wrong per se, but... as you know, everyone is going their separate ways. Finding what they want to do for their countries and... admittedly pairing up as well. For a while now, I've known what I want to do, but..." He takes a measured breath and holds steady eye contact. "Will you allow me to say something?"

I nodded vigorously, my concerns not soothed by this wistful and vaguely cryptic way of addressing the matter. "Of course. Go ahead."

Before the words can leave his mouth, the sun rises from behind me, making a halo of a soft glow around him. After a fleeting moment, he decides to continue by basking in the sunlight's warmth and declaring "(Y/N)... Ever since we've reunited, I've to know this to be a fact. I want to say this in a way that's just as cute as you, but I'm going to be rather frank and plain... I have fallen in love with you."

At that moment, kissed by the morning sun and currently atop the highest peak in Elusia, it hit me. Ever since my village was destroyed... no, maybe even before that, the most important thing in my life was Rosado. Only one response came to mind as a smile graced my face and matched his.

"I love you too."

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Author's Note:

Hello again! This was another request for Cucho099

And yes, little miss narcissist Goldmary was in here... I hate her, but, alas...

Today's question: Who's your favorite Elusia character? Kagetsu all the way. Always and forever. Then, it would definitely be Ivy as well — I met her voice actor at a comic con in November!! I got her to sign a poster of Ivy too, it was amazing.

See you later,
Lillian

Word count: 1702 words

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