Chapter 5

After that fun-filled night, they returned to Lean's simple lodging, a small room that looked calm but simple. Lean sat on the edge of the bed, leaning his body against the wall, his eyes slightly closed, his body looking tired after a day of walking around the city and enjoying the festival.

Celestia, who walked gently after spending such a pleasant night, stopped in front of the bed. Lean lay with a calm face, in a deep and peaceful sleep.

Celestia stared at him sincerely. There was no denying, there was a strange feeling flowing inside her, something much deeper than the curiosity she had felt so far. She felt close to Lean, even though their worlds were so different.

She approached slowly, sitting on the edge of the bed, just inches from Lean. She stared at his face, taking in every detail of the calm expression painted on his face. There was something so human about him—something that made her feel at home, even though he was a creature from a distant ocean.

Celestia's hand carefully moved to Lean's hair, and gently combed a few strands of hair that had fallen on his forehead. She couldn't explain why, but her heart was pounding in a way she had never felt before.

"Lean," she whispered softly, as if afraid to wake him. "I…"

But her words stopped, because she saw Lean's peaceful expression, so deep in his sleep. There was a peace so real in him, something so rare and precious. Celestia took a deep breath, then turned her gaze out the window, realizing how vast the world was and how little she knew about it.

But in that moment, beside Lean sleeping peacefully, Celestia felt like she had discovered something more than the beauty of the mortal world. Something more difficult to understand—a feeling so soft and warm, almost like waves that came and went inexorably.

Lean, though asleep, seemed to sense her presence. Slowly, he opened his eyes, looking at her with a gaze that was still half-lidded.

"I don't want to bother you," Celestia said, a little nervously. "But I just… want to be here, close to you."

Lean smiled softly, as if he had heard her words even if only in a whisper. "Nothing's bothering you, Celestia. You can always be here."

Hearing that, Celestia's heart felt even warmer. She knew there was something deeper between them—something that couldn't be explained with words.

She looked back at Lean's face, their eyes meeting for a moment. Under the soft moonlight, the two of them just sat there in silence, feeling an unspoken closeness.

"Lean," Celestia finally broke the silence. "Why do I feel... something different when I'm with you?"

Lean stared at her intensely, then slowly sat down, moving closer to Celestia. "Because you carry something that this world can't have. You are the goddess of the sea, and I am only human. But somehow, every time I'm close to you, I feel like I can understand everything you feel."

Celestia stared at him deeply, her heart beating faster. Lean's words seemed to connect two worlds that could never meet—the sea and the land, immortals and mortals.

"Lean..." Celestia could barely continue, her soft voice trailing off for a moment. But deep down, he knew the answer. "I feel so... at ease when I'm with you."

Lean smiled wider this time, his face getting closer to Celestia's. "That's because we've found each other, Celestia. Even though we come from different worlds, we're here together."

Slowly, Lean touched Celestia's cheek, his fingers soft like the night breeze. Celestia closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the warmth of that touch, something so simple yet so meaningful.

And in the silence of that night, amidst the whispers of the wind and the soft moonlight, they sat together. Time felt like it had stopped for a moment, as if the world belonged only to the two of them.

"Can I stay here forever?" Celestia asked, her voice barely audible.

Lean stared at her intently. "Always, Celestia. Always."

With those words, their hearts connected in a comfortable silence, and that night felt more beautiful than ever.

Celestia was still sitting beside Lean, her eyes staring out the window, but her mind was in a deeper world—in their world, a world that was no longer separated by sea and land.

Lean sat quietly, his hand that had previously touched Celestia's cheek now drooping beside her body. They just sat side by side, feeling each other's presence without needing many words. The cool night air brought tranquility, and between them, the silence felt so meaningful.

Celestia finally turned to Lean, her eyes soft yet full of questions. "Lean, have you ever felt like... you were destined to meet someone?"

Lean turned his body slightly, looking at her deeply. His sharp eyes looked softer when he looked at Celestia. "I don't know about destiny. But I know one thing: I feel very lucky to have met you."

Celestia fell silent, hearing those words flow so sincerely from his lips. There was an inexplicable warmth flowing through her heart, and the feeling grew stronger, as if something that had been lost for a long time had now been found again.

"Lean," Celestia said softly, her voice trembling slightly. "I never knew what it meant to have a place in the human world. I only knew the ocean, only knew the peace that came from the waves. But now..."

Lean looked down slightly, seeing Celestia's hand reaching out softly towards him. Without thinking, he took it, holding it gently, as if it were something very precious.

"How do you feel now?" Lean asked, his voice quiet but full of meaning.

Celestia held Lean's hand tighter, feeling his closeness that made the world feel smaller and more beautiful. "Now... I feel like there is a place for me here, in this world. With you."

Lean smiled, a smile full of warmth and depth. "You are not alone, Celestia. Never will be."

They looked at each other, there was a silence between them, but not an awkward silence. The silence felt full of understanding, a closeness that was beyond words.

Suddenly, Lean slowly approached, his face getting closer to Celestia's. With a gentle and careful movement, he lifted Celestia's hand and touched her cheek, feeling the touch so soft.

Celestia could feel her heartbeat speed up, as if the world belonged only to the two of them. She closed her eyes, feeling the warmth that enveloped them, and at that moment, Lean's lips touched hers in a soft kiss that flowed slowly, full of feeling.

The kiss was not just a physical touch, but more than that—a confession. A confession of the closeness that had been established, of the feelings that were starting to grow between them.

When they pulled away, both of their eyes opened slowly, and the world felt brighter, more alive. Celestia could feel something new inside her, something far more beautiful than the ocean she had known so far.

Lean looked at her with tenderness. "I want to stay here, Celestia. With you."

Celestia nodded slowly, a smile filled with happiness on her face. "Me too, Lean. Me too."