Chapter Twenty-five: A Distant Gaze Longing For Home

 On the rooftop of the dorm, Noel gazed out toward the sea. Waves crashed into the shores. The breeze was gentle, with the ocean glittering in the sun's golden gleam; he placed his hands on the gridded fence.

 Sigh…

 When a small audible sigh escaped, he couldn't help but slump and unconsciously clench the metal fence. The cold iron burned. His hands slowly reddened—a subtle sting silently wept.

 His usually cheerful silver eyes loomed with loneliness. Only the shine of a star brightened them—the emptiness of loss, his aspiration—his family.

 -

 "Wh-what! Did you really buy Isak and me an amusement park ticket!?" his little sister excitedly asked, her silver eyes sparkly.

 "Hahaha, yeah~" Noel replied, grinning teasingly. "You really like him, right?" he added, leaning on the frame with his arms crossed.

 "Y-Yeah… he's my first boyfriend, after all…" his little sister bashfully replied, looking giddy as she stared at the mattress.

 "Hmm, yeah. I guess? Anyhow, consider it an early birthday present."

 "Whaaat? Really? I feel as though you're going to give me a present on my birthday either way…"

 Noel shrugged. "Yeah? Why not?" he casually replied.

 Happy, his little sister hugged him, saying, "Thanks! You're the best!" and left to tell Miu, running past her twin, Mathias.

 "Woah…? What's with her?" Mathias raised a brow.

 "A girl in love?" Noel remarked, grinning.

 "Huh? Freja? Really?" Mathias questioned.

 "Ask her—"

 "Nah, no way!" Mathias shuddered.

 "Anyways, I gave her amusement park tickets. Is there something you want?"

 "No, I'm good," Mathias waved his hand dismissively.

 "Ooh, you're just not cute at all," Noel shook his head and sighed.

 "What'd ya expect?" Mathias frowned.

 Noel shrugged. "Then I guess you don't want this reservation to this certain cat café," he grinned and took out a QR code on his phone.

 "Wha—wait, how do you even know?"

 "Want it?"

 "…" Mathias averted his gaze. "Thanks…" he murmured awkwardly. He then heaved a sigh and said, "Mom's probably home soon; I bet she'd be surprised to see her genius son visiting for the first time in months."

 He changed the topic, Noel thought, and chuckled inwardly.

 "Hmm, yup. Bet she's tired, so I better start cooking."

 "Yeah, yeah. By the way, did Dad tell you there was a change in his plans and that he'd head to the US again?"

 "He did—we spoke a little when I was on the train."

 "Uh-huh... Well, I'm going to my room now," Mathias yawned and waved.

 "Yeah, dinner's in an hour."

 "Yeah, yeah."

 "Then, I'll mail you the reservation. It's Saturday between 10 and 16."

 "…Thanks."

 -

—Sigh…

 "You've been sighing an awful lot," a beautiful voice rang behind him.

 "!?" Noel jumped, looking toward the source, even though he already knew who had come. "Hey, didn't expect to see you up here," he said, smiling faintly.

 Chely shrugged. "I come here often. If anything, why are you here?" she inquired, tilting her head quizzically.

 "…Well—" 

 "Homesick?"

 Noel's eyes widened. Chely's light emerald eyes seemed to shine brighter than usual—there was a certain mature air. Her hair, usually ash-brow hair, fluttered in the air—each strand now coated in the sun's orange light. Even her expression was neutral; he couldn't help but admire her. But he knew those eyes.

 "You too, huh?" he thought aloud, which surprised Chely.

 "Huh…?" a soft gasp leaked as her eyes shook for a moment. She crossed her arms. "I see…" A sigh then followed. "You…" as her words trailed off, she closed the gap between them. But… she didn't say a word.

 "…"

 Noel quietly watched as Chely clasped the fence, staring into the distance.

 "Hey… why are you even on the roof?" she asked, sneaking a glance.

 He crossed his arms and leaned backward. "Luna told me about this place," he said, then showed her an access ring.

 Chely subtly winced for a moment, which he caught.

 "Is that so?" she calmly spoke, looking to the distance. "You seem awfully close with Princess Luna, calling her by name and all."

 "Oh? That again?" Noel teased, grinning.

 "…What do you mean again?" Chely raised a brow.

 However, she didn't buy his attempted carefree mood. She might've not known him for long, but she was at least able to tell if he was putting up a front, or… it might perhaps have been because she was paying attention to him—how could she not? After all that's happened? Nevertheless, she played along.

—Only someone like Noel would dare tease a Hero, after all.

 "So? You're just going to dodge the question?"

 "Haha-haa… Luna happened to notice and suggested I relax up here—and calling her by name… well, you could say we're rivals, I suppose."

 "…Rivals?"

 "And friends too… I think?"

 The moment Noel mentioned 'friends,' she looked his way.

 "You think?" she inquired. Relief subtly clung close to her words.

 "At least, I think we are. She might be aloof, but she's kinda caring in her own way?" Noel chuckled lightly. "I mean… no, never mind. Sorry, forget that last part, it doesn't have anything to do with us," he added, shifting position to look straight at her.

 Chely frowned ever so slightly. "What?" she remarked casually as if she hadn't heard at all.

 He flashed her a calm smile. "…Are we… friends?" he softly asked.

 The smile that was plastered on his face was gone—replaced with seriousness. Chely could feel her face heat up—but in the end, she crossed her arms and frowned.

 "Why ask…?"

 She averted her gaze, feeling her heart thump. It wasn't often Noel acted serious without a jest, after all.

 Truth be told. Chely did not dare answer the question, and neither did Noel. It was comfortable—they didn't want to ruin that. Thus, the best they could do was an ambiguous reply.

 "Pfft… hahaha," Noel burst out laughing as he noticed Chely's ear slowly redden.

 In mock annoyance, Chely nudged him with her elbow. "Stupid," she quietly murmured.

 "…" Noel softly smiled, pretending he didn't hear her words.

 Both of them turned toward the horizon. The sun was setting. Its shine and warmth hit their backs as they stared at the vast ocean.

 Then, suddenly, Chely stepped closer, their shoulders touched—Noel's eyes widened momentarily. As he felt her weight, he, too, leaned toward her. Together, they watched waves crash onto the shore—and then, the moon illuminated the sky. Thus, the two basked in its silver light, not moving an inch.

 "It's strange…" Chely finally spoke. "Don't you think—that I'd feel homesick at this age? …I haven't even visited the main house for a while now. And… it's more strange that I'd miss it even more now, with you by my side, an otherworlder. Ironic, isn't it?"

 "—I don't t think it really matters," Noel replied. "Distance, age, location. It doesn't matter. Not at all."

 "…"

 Even though they weren't facing one another, Noel noticed a faint smile on Chely's face in the corner of his eyes.

 "…What," Chely hesitated. "What was it like…?"

 "Back in my world?"

 "That and… your childhood." This time, her voice more quieter than before.

 "Hmm, where to start? Maybe with Miu—"

 Suddenly, Noel felt Chely pinch his hand, and he couldn't help but chuckle. Her expression screamed—don't talk about other girls when you're alone with me. Although, she didn't particularly seem actually to be mad.

 "…Well," Noel spoke, amused by her apparent jealousy—though he found her cute whenever she sulked or frowned. Not that he does it on purpose, of course. "Where do I start?" he pondered.

 "I don't know…" Chely murmured. "Fond memories, perhaps?" she asked, her expression innocent and genuine—even her eyes seemed larger than usual.

 "Sure. But… you'll have to tell me stories too," he said, grinning playfully.

 "…"

 Stories… is it? Chely thought.

 "If I have anything interesting," she shrugged.

 "At your pace," Noel remarked.

 "…"

 "…"

 "Thanks…"

 The night had come, and the stars twinkled. Noel told her the story about the last time he saw his family—where they'd live, their dynamic, and his fond memories. After that, the conversation went silent. Moments passed—it was Chely's turn. The two of them still stood there quietly, side by side. 

 "I was never home a lot…" Chely said, her voice low and calm. "The moment I was chosen as the next hero, I was ecstatic—what child wouldn't be?"

 Noel listened attentively, nodding.

 "From the moment I materialized my divine blade, I almost swung it non-stop," she reminisced, chuckling lightly. "Father's gaze was filled with pride, and Mother's with joy. As for Ame… she was always so sweet—but I knew that, deep down, she felt inferior… and lonely."

 "…"

 Chely sighed and looked straight into Noel's eyes. "Compared to you… I feel like a bad older sister—I… I wasn't there for her and left her all alone. It wasn't just me—our parents had to travel across the continent, leaving her behind. But she's so sweet she couldn't possibly even resent us for it…"

 "Hmm, and she grew up to be a saint," Noel playfully added.

 "Pfft… I suppose," Chely chuckled lightheartedly this time.

 "But I don't think you're a bad older sister. If so, then… I'm in a blizzard with a coat not too thin to share," Noel shrugged slightly while grinning.

 Chely's eyes widened—she never thought he'd use an Aurlux idiom—not at all.

 "You sure learned unconventional things," she remarked, averting her gaze with a slight puff to hide the smile that'd tried creeping up her face—it meant: The cold might be too much to bear, but may I be there for you, only if for a moment.

 "Woah… you're changing the subject…"

 "Well…" Chely giggled lightly. "Because… pfft… that's not really how you're supposed to use it," she laughed, her smile dazzling.

—Adorable… Noel thought.

 "Whaat? Is that so?" he tilted his head quizzically.

 Chely flashed him a smug look of conviction. "You just wanted to use the phrase you've just learned, didn't you?" she teased. 

 "It's not like that…" Noel averted his eyes—hers seemed too bright.

 "So you do know what it really means! Hmph, I'm not that easy, you know?" she added, crossing her arms.

 "Aww, really caught, wasn't I? But I suppose I can't help but want to hit on you given the chance, haha-haha."

 "Hmph," Chely scoffed.

 It was as if time stood still, their eyes locked. Chely couldn't help but look into his gentle eyes, and despite the smug look on his face, she wasn't too annoyed.

 As for Noel—he had a sudden urge to brush off the strand of hair on her cheek. Her expression was adorable, he thought. Even though she sulked, he didn't fail to notice that she'd been holding back a smile.

 But as they were about to say something, the sky flashed a blinding blue light—instantly, Noel unconsciously held Chely as if to protect her, taking her by surprise and leaving her frozen in place.

 Sternly, he looked around and saw a beam of light—a tilting light ray? He pondered. And then, the light began to flicker until it completely vanished.

 The light had struck somewhere in the West Ocean—though Chely didn't seem nearly as confused as Noel.

 "It's Divine Light," she said, trying not to think about being in his firm embrace.

 "Divine light?" Noel tilted his head, unable to look away.

 "Y-yeah…" she affirmed, lightly pulling away.

 The moment she saw his wide-open eyes, her heart skipped—it had been beating funnily since this morning—at least every time she'd been with him. Then, his silver eyes shone soft greens and violets. As her eyes followed him, she was met with waves of auroras.

 "It's beautiful…" Noel murmured with gentle eyes.

 "…It is," Chely agreed, leaning her shoulder on his.

 Noel briefly glanced at her. His heart raced. Even though the show was for a few seconds, it was nostalgic—just like back home…

A/N

Kinda a short chapter compared to what I usually write, but honestly. The chapter kinda served its purpose, and that's what I usually aim for. (and it took some time to write; I've been struggling with writing as of late, honestly, so…)

Anyhow, if this sounds like an epilogue of sorts, it kinda is for the half of this arc; next part is a little shorter, but I think some of you will find it familiar if you've read the original.