Chapter 81 - Autumn Sky, Spring Air

After a lunch full of festivities, Zio and Cecilia finally found themselves quality time. Two hours straight Cecilia has been entertaining the crowd until her throat started to turns sore. Yet, as luck would have it, the eatery decided not to charge for their feast as she attracts large profits with her mellifluous songs.

“ You sang almost fifteen songs, are you okay? ”

“ Mmmhm. I could do ten more when I was a toddler. ”

“ You got to be kidding me. ”

“ No, I’m not! You want me to prove it? ”

Zio gave Cecilia a glass of water to soothe her aching throat which she tried to hide. It’s long past noon now, and they haven’t had their meals. Because the cook didn’t want to give them cold food, so she was waiting for Cecilia to finish singing instead back then.

“ Nah. I don’t think you should. I’d rather not have your voice cracked, or you might sound like an old man the next time we meet. ” Zio chewed on his leeks.

“ I’ll not have my voice- eh? Next time? D-Do you mean... you look forward to... have a walk with me again? ”

Instead of answering her question, Zio started to eat up his lunch devouringly. He eats so fast and loud to dusk his way, pretending not to hear anything. Truly, it certainly is the classic method of his.

“ Z-Zio? Do you hear me? ”

“ The food is getting cold. You should start digging. ”

Cecilia pouts a little until she suddenly thought of a way to make him do as she wishes.

“ Hmmm... I don’t know. My hands are stiff, and my fingers were all chaffed by the strings. I’m afraid I can’t properly eat my meal this way... unless... ”

Cecilia squirmed in peach. She glanced at Zio and his spoon several times, giving him a sign of what she wanted from him. Zio is getting a little bit annoyed but somehow amused at how demanding she is being right now. He thought that, if she had a tail, then she would have it wiggling by now.

“ Sigh. What a bother... Here, open your mouth. ” Even though his mouth is complaining, but Zio heartfully and patiently feed her. He even bothered himself to peel the chicken meat off its bone, to make it easier for her to chew.

Cecilia moves her chair closer to Zio and leans on him like a spoiled puppy, although it makes Zio questioning her inability to move her hands and fingers. Yet, it’s just simply no way for her to waste such a golden chance. A fool she would be, had she not made use of this opportunity to the fullest.

It’s the little thing like this that makes she fell for Zio even harder and deeper than she already is. The way he stands in her stead whenever she’s losing her feet, the easily overlooked little details in his action that shows his affection, and the way he masked his true feeling behind harsh and sometimes playful words.

After they finished their lunch with a warm and sweet honeyed apple pie, they sit for a while, giving their body the time it needs to digest all the hearty meal. They finally leave the place and set out for their next plan.

“ Zio, did you know? ”

“ Hm? ”

“ Today is supposed to be the day of Luminus. ”

“ Is it? ”

“ Mmhmm.”

The day of Luminus. A day when mana that lies within all things in the whole Aerdrin were manifested into light and slowly soar into the sky. No one knows why and how. But one thing for sure is that it’s something that one shouldn’t ever miss.

“ Maybe we should get somewhere higher to get a better sight? ” Cecilia proposed.

“ ...No. I’ll choose the place this time. ” Zio grabbed Cecilia’s hands and dragged her with him.

“ E-Eh?! Zio?! ”

The girl was startled by the young man’s sudden move. She never thought that Zio would be the one who took the initiative of holding her hand. She’s happy beyond anything. There is no word known to human, or even non-human that could describe her fluttering heart.

Zio wanted to take her into the riverbank. They walked and chat for 2 hours until they finally arrived at a marina where there is a lot of gondolas tied on many piers.

“ Zio? I’d really love the idea but... The gondola is off at this hour, especially at a natural festival like to- ”

Despite her dissent, Zio touched her lips instead. Shutting her down with all her words swallowed. Then, he looked and found himself a young gondolier who just berth his vessel on the pier. Zio then talked his way with the guy, even readily pay a large sum and rent guarantee fee without any harsh haggle.

" Let’s go. ”

“ A-Are you sure? How much should I pitch in? ”

Cecilia hesitates, and she pulled out her pouch instead of getting into the boat as Zio told her to. Irritated and offended by her response, Zio untie the knot and set off by himself.

“ W-W-Wait wait! I’m sorry! I-I’ll jump now! ”

The white-haired girl jumped to the gondola, but as soon as her foot touched the finely polished wood, she slipped and about to fell onto the water.

*Tap*

Zio grabbed her hand before pulling her tight to his chest. His hand circled on her waist, and the distance between their lips is but only a finger’s length. Before the gentle veil of the twilight, they stood, wafting above the lustrous crystal-clear river beneath their serene timber.

Cecilia’s eyes are trembling, her thoughts are overflowing with expectation, anxiety, and happiness all at the same time. The way Zio stared at her feels as if she is being stripped nude by him. The core of her soul swamped and lost in the stopping time.

“ Hm. ” Zio gave Cecilia the oar, asking her to row together with him. Thus, ending all the dancing romance in her head in a thunderstruck.

“ H-Huh? ”

“ What do you mean with ‘huh’? Help me row the gondola. ”

‘ O-Of course it will ended up like this.’ Cecilia said to herself in a broken spirit. Yet, she didn’t complain or anything and just row the gondola in an obedient silence. After ten minutes of rowing, they finally arrived at the middle of the river where it’s the most tranquil. Luckily, the river’s flow is not strong this evening, so they don’t have to worry about getting carried away by the stream.

“ This gondola is a little bit heavy. Are you tired? ” Zio starts the conversation after a long quiet between them.

“ U-Uhm... To tell you the truth I... I-I don’t really row that much... hehe. ” Cecilia looked away, avoiding eye contact while scratching her cheeks in a cutesy manner

With furrowed brows, Zio splashed a little water on Cecilia. No wonder his shoulders and lower arms feel really sore despite rowing in duet.

“ Damn you deadweight! ”

“ H-Hey! I-I-It’s cold! Zio! Ahaha! ” Cecilia joyfully laughs and returned the splash even though the water is so cold, to the point that it made her nape stand straight.

“ How dare you free riding me! ”

“ W-Well it can’t be helped! What if I grow some muscles?! You might not like me anymore! ”

“ Who said I like you?! ”

“ So, you don’t?! ” Cecilia splashed a little harder. Clearly, there’s a lot of pent-up emotion behind her throw.

“ I never said I don’t! ” Zio replied while wiping his face with his hand.

“ So... you do? ”

Cecilia stopped splashing, and she stayed still. She quietly waiting for her long-awaited answer. Her eyes are sparkling with love, her lips are glistening soft, and her white hair is waving along the mild zephyr that stretches away its every strand.

“ ...I’m the one who decides what to like and what to dislike. ”

Eyes that stray away, vivid scars that take their place, and curved lips that couldn’t be straight. Again, Cecilia was brushed aside by his essentiality. She looked down and let out a smile. Her tears are welling up in her eyes, and eventually pouring down her face.

“ Lia? ”

“ Mmhm. I-I’m... it’s... i-it’s just a bit cold. ”

Zio’s heart is screaming at him as he saw Cecilia wiping her tears off her face, even after his steeled resolve to get rid of unnecessary things and thoughts in order to protect his sister. It’s as if something in his chest cracks a little, like a broken glass.

Zio slowly walks to the center of the gondola, approaching the girl who currently crying her heart out. After that, he sits right before her and keeps on staring. The longer he stared at her sobbing, the louder the crack in his chest sounds.

“ Come... ” He gently touched Cecilia’s hands that covered her face, exposing the tearful eyes which she was hiding.

“ I-It’s okay... You don’t have to... I was... I’m defiled after all... Surely no one wants... ” Cecilia sobbed hard until she can’t even properly finish any sentence. Her thoughts are overwhelmed by self-deplore and her heart was scattered.

“ ...Come. I will make it warm. ”

Zio pulled Cecilia to his chest once again. And suddenly, the day of Luminus begin. Mana are turning into bubbles of bluish light and slowly ascended into the sky. They are even starting to hear the festive celebration from the riverside and inside the capital wall.

Cecilia who was pulled by Zio, stopped her tears. She feasts her eyes on the wondrous scenery instead. Her eyes followed the float of the bubbles until her gaze met Zio’s face who was also relishing the moment into his memories.

With her hand being held by Zio, and her hips on his lap, Cecilia could never even dream of what she is having right now. Their heart beats next to each other, sharing its warmth and strength. To see his face under the shower of incandescence light, is a bliss that she won’t ever forget.

“ Zio, I love you. ” Cecilia touched Zio’s cheek.

Enthralled by the exceptionally sweet and amorous atmosphere, Cecilia decided to speak for her heart for good. She feels that there will be no better chance than this one to tell him how she feels.

“ You can be with anyone you want. You don’t even have to answer my feeling. But... But please at least let me say it, even if it’s just for onc- Hmff! “

Zio shut her mouth with a kiss at the moment when she least expected it. Warm, slightly sweet, and soft. It’s so much more than the first time they kissed.

“ ...Gah! W-W-Wait, I’m not rea- Hmff! ” Just when Cecilia was able to break free to gather her thought and catch her breath, Zio went after her lips again, giving her no chance to do so.

Soon, she overcame the suddenness and enjoyed every second of it. The kiss was magical. It was everything that she had always yearned for. Lip-locked, and tongue-tied, both of them kissed in tune with each other.

Zio pulled her hair back to expose more of her lower lip, making the crystalline pieces of the man fell on Cecilia. The kiss feels like nothing else, it’s so natural, intense, and enigmatic at the same time, making Cecilia feels an unending ethereal pleasure.

As her heart feels like it’s going to burst, the man pulled away. Cecilia’s lips tried to go after his, longing for more, but she was stopped as Zio hold her chin.

“ Any more than this, and I might lose myself. ” Zio said to Cecilia. But unfortunately, the girl is too immersed in the kiss, like she was being drugged by it. Thus, she didn’t clearly hear what he is saying.

“ Zio... ”

“ Still feeling cold? ” Zio asked.

“ ...Idiot. Of course not. ”

That night, they spend their time cuddling under the dark blue sky. The Luminus light up their eventide as they light up each other’s hearts. The glows of the buoyant light bubbles forming the picture of a reverse meteor shower. The reflection it made upon the surface of the water creates a heavenly optical illusion for both of them. Making them look like a lover who was going for an eternal journey to the far galaxy full of an ocean of stars, where the gods and their paradise resides.