chapter 10

Celestia walked quickly through the streets of Solstice, which were beginning to be enveloped in dusk. Her mind was in disarray—between the dream of the mysterious cave behind Lean's house and her encounter with the old man in white robes in the cathedral.

"The Keeper of Time…"

However, before she could process it all, her body suddenly felt strange. A hot sensation spread across her skin, as if something was calling her.

–DING!–

The diamond on her forehead shone brightly, slowly turning a deep blue, emitting a soft light like the reflection of the deep sea. Celestia held her breath. She recognized this sign—it meant that her body longed for water.

"I need to take a bath now…"

Without thinking, she rushed back to Lean's house. As soon as she arrived, she headed straight for the bookshelf she had found earlier. The diamond on her forehead shone even brighter, and just like before, the cabinet slid open by itself, revealing a path to a secret room.

With quick steps, Celestia stepped inside. As soon as she entered the hidden cave, her eyes were once again treated to a magical beauty—shimmering crystal walls, faint blue light illuminating every corner, and water so clear, it seemed not to be from this mortal world.

Without hesitation, Celestia took off her clothes and slowly stepped into the water. As soon as her body was submerged, a refreshing, cool sensation enveloped her entire being. She could feel a strange energy blending with her, as if this water was not just an ordinary place, but a part of herself.

"Ahh…" Celestia took a deep breath, letting her body sink slowly until only her face was visible on the surface.

Suddenly, something happened.

The diamond on her forehead glowed brighter, creating ripples of energy in the water. The blue light spread, and without warning, an image began to appear in her mind.

—A vast ocean with roaring waves.

—The voice of a man calling her name.

—The shadow of someone standing on the shore with a gaze full of longing.

Celestia gasped and opened her eyes quickly. "What was that?"

Her heart was pounding. This wasn't just a reflection. This was a memory. A memory that seemed to come from herself… but also felt foreign.

"Who is it?" she whispered, feeling her chest pounding erratically.

That's when she heard footsteps entering the cave.

Celestia turned her head, and there, stood Lean with a surprised look. His eyes widened when he saw Celestia soaking, the blue light from the water reflecting its shimmer on the girl's skin.

"Celestia… what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice sounding more serious than usual.

Celestia stared at him wordlessly, still lost in confusion about what she had just seen.

"I… don't know," she answered softly. "But I feel like this place… is calling me."

Lean remained silent, his expression hard to read. However, in the dim light of the cave, his gaze contained something different—as if he was holding a secret that he had never revealed before.

Lean looked at Celestia with a faint smile. "Hey… you think too much, Celestia. Forget about it all, okay? Sorry, I just came back from my business, Princess."

Celestia took a deep breath, letting herself relax. Lean's voice always had a calming effect on her, as if all her worries could disappear in an instant. She looked at the man who was now standing on the edge of the pool, his body still slightly sweaty from his long journey.

"You left without telling me," Celestia said softly, letting her fingers play on the surface of the water. "I woke up, and you weren't beside me."

Lean smiled slightly and sat on the edge of the pool, dipping his feet into the warm water. "Sorry, I didn't want to disturb your sleep. You look so peaceful."

Celestia approached, her body still submerged, only her shoulders appearing on the surface of the water. Her eyes stared at Lean softly. "You know, when I woke up you weren't there. I was surprised, you didn't leave me a message at all"

Lean chuckled and poked her pouting lips "I was wrong princess, I'm sorry. I promised to buy you honey crepes hm?"

Her lips were still pouting but she smiled again. Before answering, "Okay.. I'll keep your promise, just be careful. And I really don't understand everything that happened like a dream, a man in a white robe everything"

Lean was silent for a moment, his gaze changed slightly. However, he quickly controlled himself and smiled a little. "Maybe it was just a dream."

Celestia stared at him deeply, as if trying to read his mind. However, Lean suddenly reached out and touched the girl's cheek, surprising her.

"I'd rather see you smile than see you lost in confusing thoughts," he said in a soft voice.

Celestia blushed, her cheeks heating up even though the water around her felt cold. She looked away, but Lean instead pulled her chin slowly, making their eyes meet again.

"Lean..." he whispered.

Lean stared at her closely before finally descending into the water, approaching Celestia. The water around them moved slowly, creating soft ripples as the distance between them narrowed.

"I wonder…" Lean said in a low voice. "What exactly did you see in your dream?"

Celestia swallowed. "I don't know… but there's something that feels familiar."

Lean smiled slightly, then his hand moved, stroking Celestia's long hair that was submerged in the water. "Maybe you just need to enjoy this moment and forget about the things that make you dizzy."

Celestia couldn't answer. The warmth that Lean gave felt so different tonight—deeper, more intimate.

And when she realized it, their lips were already so close…

The water around them felt warmer than before, or maybe it was because of each other's presence. Celestia stared at Lean with a gaze that was hard to interpret—a mixture of confusion, attraction, and feelings that slowly grew in her heart.

Lean smiled thinly, his fingers gently touching Celestia's cheek before moving down, tracing her jawline. Celestia let out a soft breath as Lean's fingers moved to the back of her neck, pulling her closer.

"Celestia…" his voice was hoarse, almost a whisper.

Celestia didn't answer, just letting herself be lost in this moment. Both of her hands went up, wrapping around Lean's neck, and without hesitation, she deepened their kiss. Their lips met passionately, softly at first, then turning deeper as the emotions flowed between them.

Lean pulled her closer, as if afraid that Celestia would disappear if he let go. Their breaths mingled in warmth, while the water around them created soft ripples, whispering secrets that only the two of them knew.

Celestia could feel her heart beating so fast, so strong. This sensation… this feeling… is this what is called love?

Lean slowly pulled his face away, looking at Celestia with eyes full of tenderness. "You drive me crazy, Celestia," he murmured in a low tone.

Celestia stared at him as her fingers traced his face, memorizing every curve. "And you make me feel… alive."

They stared at each other in silence, letting the moment speak louder than words. In that silence, they knew—whatever the future held, they were already bound together in a way that could not be explained.

That night, in the water that reflected the light of the diamond on Celestia's forehead, two hearts began to unite in a story that would continue to be written. Their lips met, the sound of a passionate kiss adorning them both. Caressing their naked bodies in the water filled with love.