Halfway through her meditation, a certain ash blonde-haired man stood outside the doorway to her classroom. He observed her as she meditated while seated on the grass, an aura of brilliant green enwreathing her.

Kai: "See, I told you, it's a habit of hers now."

Xue had established the link back to the soul fragments, and once Kai realised they were back in the academy, he started to yap at Xue to look after Cecil.

Xue was confused, but he agreed readily and Kai advised him to check the classroom. True enough, Cecil was here and immersed in her meditation.

Xue: "How did you know?"

Kai: "The entire time in the academy, Cecil would focus wholeheartedly on training and nothing else."

Kai: "It was a miracle if it didn't become a habit, which I would be more than thankful for."

Xue leaned against the doorway, staring at Cecil.

Alric: "Cecil is so hardworking..."

Zasiok and Leonaut agreed along with Alric.

Xue: "Why is she working so hard?"

Kai: "You know why. She picked up this habit because of us."

Xue recalled the memories where he absorbed Kai, and how Kai revealed how Cecil worked so hard for their sake.

From drinking the Widerlich, to drowning herself into training, and getting the Flaming Lavender.

Everything, it was all for them.

Xue: "...I remember."

Xue sighed, his gaze softening as he continued staring at Cecil. He approached the raven-haired woman, sitting down beside her.

Her eyes were closed, and her beautiful face was scrunched up in concentration.

She cried her heart out for Kai.

She almost died for Alric.

She blamed herself constantly for Zasiok.

She even allowed Leonaut a chance to redeem himself.

Another memory flashed by his mind, back in the alleyway, and he finally understood the reason behind her words back then.

Once again, he stopped him from absorbing Kai for his sake.

Even when he was so close to hurting her, he recalled the words she uttered.

"I want you to be happy."

Xue found himself overwhelmed by the profound feelings growing within him. His gaze was so tender, that anyone would be shocked to see that he was capable of showing a gaze like that.

Even himself.

"You fool," a faint, regretful smile appeared on his lips. "What if I really hurt you back then?"

If Xue had really hurt her, he didn't know how his current self would react now. Even now, the thought of hurting her made him wince.

Cecil's face scrunched up even further, her forehead glistening with sweat.

Something tugged at his heartstrings as he saw this sight, knowing that Cecil was working trying her hardest to reach the gate.

"Why are you going this far for someone like me?" Xue asked, his grey eyes caressing her face softly. "Why are you doing all this for me? For all of us?"

He reached his hand out, wanting to use his sleeves to wipe her sweat away.

Kai: "Don't touch her now!"

Xue halted.

Zasiok: "She's meditating, are you trying to disturb her?"

Xue drew back his arm, blinking.

Xue: "...oh."

He switched off the connection between them again.

He glanced at Cecil once more, smiling, before accompanying Cecil, meditating as well.

***

This time, it was eighty steps towards the gate.

Halfway through her steps, Cecil realised how much she underestimated the process this time, and she was tempted to shed actual tears of regret.

Just finishing the arduous task of opening the gate, Cecil laid down on the grass in her spiritual form. She was still in the elemental world, and was patiently waiting for the world to boot her out.

She was completely drained, and she could only maneuver her head around as she observed her surroundings. They were still the same as she remembered.

The world was a bright green, and the earth insignia below her was glowing. In front of her, the dead tree that sprouted after she unlocked the second form remained. However, after unlocking the gate, a few leaves had started to grow out, the barren tree was finally showing an inch of liveliness.

The vines still remained coiled around the tree trunk and branches. Though, compared to before, it had become thicker, or maybe even stronger. If Cecil looked closed enough, she could see thorns sticking out of the vines too.

The raven-haired woman panted heavily, smiling and she closed her eyes. A few seconds later, she felt her spiritual form disappearing from the world.

***

Cecil felt herself being gently swayed, and a comforting warmth enveloping her, particularly around her back and her legs. Her eyelids felt heavy, but somehow, something was beckoning her to open them, and she did.

She saw a figure and a face that she was all too familiar with. In her fatigued state, she was suddenly reminded of a certain yellow-haired man with a toothy grin.

Back in those days, he carried her back in his arms in the same manner; countless times.

"Kai?" Cecil muttered out weakly.

The man paused, glancing down at her.

It was the break of dawn, and the soft sunlight highlighted the features of Xue's handsome face.

"...or Xue?"

Xue was quiet, observing Cecil's pale and tired face. Inside his mind, all the alters were unusually quiet as well.

Cecil lifted her hand slowly, stroking his cheek gently, startling the man for a second. Since she was in such an exhausted state, her fingers were rather cold but it felt particularly hot to Xue instead.

The coldness in his eyes melted away and he relished in her soft touch.

He unconsciously leaned into it, just like how Kai always did.

Kai: "It's both of us, Cecil."

"It's both of us."

The two of them spoke at the same time, one on the inside, the other on the outside.

Xue smiled, showing a tiny hint of his white teeth.

It resembled a toothy grin.

Cecil smiled back.

"It really is the two of you." Cecil weakly agreed, still stroking his cheek.

Xue gazed at her gently, nodding.

"Thank you," her voice became softer, her eyes drooping close. "...always."

Her hand went back to her chest, and she snuggled into Xue's embrace, sleeping soundly.

Xue adjusted Cecil to a more comfortable position, his actions cautious as if not wanting to wake her.

He proceeded to walk into her room without another word. It was in the wee hours of the morning, and fortunately, no one saw them.

***

"All of you have really suffered too much in this trip," the principal stated with a heavy sigh. "I heard everything from Gom."

Hana, Xue and Cecil were seated in the principal's room. Xue was seated in the middle, with Cecil on his left and Hana on his right.

The wise elderly man stroking his beard, seemingly upset for the three students.

"It's okay, it was a lot of fun!" Hana chirped.

Xue and Cecil gave her a look.

The principal frowned in concern. "Hana, you are only so young, you don't need to force yourself to look strong."

"I am?" Hana tilted her head, blinking innocently.

"They say the most happiest and innocent ones are always the one who suffer the most," the principal shook his head with a sigh. "And you are one of them, Hana."

Hana was visibly confused.

"We are completely fine," Cecil answered the principal reassuringly. "You don't have to worry about us."

"It doesn't ease my heart, even after hearing that," the principal stroke his beard again. "I'll give you a break from the lessons, how long do you want it to be?"

"A day will be enough."

"...no preference."

"Until the sword mound expedition!"

Xue and Cecil looked at Hana again.

The principal immediately chose Hana's answer without a second thought.

"Yay!"

"Make sure you rest up well until then, especially you, Hana."

"Okay!"

Cecil was speechless at the heroine's bargaining powers.

Indeed, the heroine is on another level compared to us cannon fodders!

"I'll call your respective teachers here now, to inform them personally," the principal said. "Ah, and about your sword mound expedition, Hana..."

The principal started to drone on and on about warnings and tips, while Hana listened attentively.

Xue, on the other hand, was looking at Cecil almost the entire time.

Cecil looked at Xue, meeting his eyes and she glanced to her hand a second later.

She remembered being drifting in and out of consciousness after she passed the gate. Her memories were hazy, but she knew Xue carried her back, and in that hazy memory, she recalled herself touching his cheek with her hand.

Cecil grimaced.

...that can't be right.

I wouldn't dare touch the lord protagonist's face like that. Not when it belongs to Hana.

It's enough that he carried my back with those golden arms and hands! And he did it twice!

The lord protagonist is really too nice ever since he reunited with Hana.

Cecil nodded to herself.

I am remembering wrong, no way that happened.

No way!

Cecil nodded to herself once more, looking back at Xue.

He was still looking at her, his expression inscrutable.

Cecil forced a smile on her face.

...if that's true...why does the lord protagonist keep looking at me like that?

Maybe...maybe I did something worse?!

Not good!

Cecil dropped her smile, trying her best to appear indifferent.

"Xue, that night...did you carry me back after I passed out?"

"Mm." Xue nodded.

"Did I do anything wrong? That night?"

"Did you?" Xue frowned, geniunely confused, throwing the question back to her.

Cecil paused.

It's...it's a rhetorical question!

Which can only mean...I did something wrong after all!

Cecil panicked, immediately bowing her head down. "I'm sorry!"

Xue was more confused now. "What do you have to be sorry for?"

Cecil squeezed her eyes close.

I don't even remember what I have to be sorry for!

"For everything!"

"..."

"...huh?"

Xue reached out, pushing her up gently by the shoulders, meeting her eyes directly. "What are you--"

Cecil was biting on her lower lip, and her current expression would easily evoke anyone's pity. Her clear, onyx eyes were wide in guilt and fear.

Xue was stunned.

Cecil realised he stopped midsentence, and the hands on her shoulder tightened.

...he remembers...

He remembered, didn't he?

He finally remembered--

[ Previous impression points : 80
Remaining impression points : 90
Protagonist "Xue" finds you cute. ]

Cecil blinked rapidly, the incredulity written all over her face.

Xue quickly released her shoulders, turning away.

Cecil blinked once more, and the notification vanished.

"...AI500..."

[ Yes, Cecil Lan~ ]

"Th--that notification...just now..."

[ Are you talking about this? ]

[ Previous impression points : 80
Remaining impression points : 90
Protagonist "Xue" ✸✸✸✸✸ ]

"...are you having updates in the system again? It's all some weird symbol again."

[ ... ]

[ Your eyes must be having some problems again--
I mean, yes, we are having updates in our system again~ ]

"..."

The doors to the room burst open, and the respective teachers finally arrived.

Cecil glanced back to Xue, who was back to his usual impassive self.

I must be too tired from yesterday's meditation.

Cecil shook herself awake.

***

Since they were left with nothing to do, Hana suggested to head down into town, and Cecil agreed. She had been planning to find the time to locate an artisan to fix Leonaut's flute.

With Hana and Cecil going, Xue naturally tagged along.

Cecil switched out the academy's uniform, changing into a maroon dress of her own that emphasized on her lithe figure. The sleeves reached her elbow, and she wore gloves that matched her maroon dress, remaining in her black shoes.

Since she had no maid to help her here, Cecil let her hair flow freely, she doesn't know a thing about hairstyling after all.

Their rendezvous was at the entrance of the academy, and Cecil had something she needed to do first before heading there.

She carried the ointment in her hand, hurrying to the clinic. She had almost forgotten to return it to the healer.

"Sorry for disturbing!" Cecil announced herself, knocking on the mahogany door and pushing it open.

Cecil was surprised to find the healer sitting her chair, a medical book in her hands as she regarded Cecil with an indifferent stare.

The healer was a young woman, with short blonde hair. She was always dressed in a neat attire, and only wore a constant aloof expression on her face.

"Ah, hello," Cecil bowed. "I am only here to--"

"...return something you took?"

Cecil raised her head, blinking in shock. "How did you know it's me?"

The healer stood up from the chair, approaching Cecil in a languid manner, showing her palm to Cecil.

Cecil obediently returned the ointment to her, and the healer walked towards the cupboard, storing her ointment safely. She turned back, crossing her arms as she raised an eyebrow at Cecil.

"The clinic is a place to treat the injured," the healer said with a deadpan. "Not a place to flirt with the injured."

Cecil was bewildered. "Of course not, why are you telling me that?"

"You think I didn't see it? You were flirting with the man everyone calls "Xue", that day," the healer pointed to the ointment stored behind her. "And you ran away with my ointment."

"Flirting...flirting!?" Cecil gasped. "Me? Flirting? With Xu-Xue?!"

The healer raised an eyebrow at Cecil, still wearing a deadpan.

"No, no no no, definitely not!" Cecil shook her head and her hands. "Ho-how did you even jump to such a conclusion?!"

The healer rolled her eyes, massaging her neck. "That's what you all always say, do you think I am blind?"

Cecil wanted to vomit blood.

"If I fl-flirted with Xue, I am committing a great sin!"

"Oh really? And what's that?"

"Betrayal! To my very best friend!"

"Betrayal..." the healer trailed off, she had been interacting with Cecil long enough to know who her best friend was.

Hana Katae.

The number one beauty in this academy.

She started to recall the memories when she wanted to enter her clinic while reading a book, and she was blocked by someone.

***

《 start 》

Apologising for...everything?

What do you have to apologise for?

...

...so...

So cute.

...

I never knew she could look so damn cute.

《 stop 》