The Kazanari Castle and its surrounding area were huge, Serena thought idly to herself. She had heard from Tsubasa that it had taken almost twenty years for the castle to be built. The development of some areas was still going on even today. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that this place is like its own city. Fortified walls surrounded the whole vicinity, and now that she was paying attention, Serena noticed the many white flags that bore the Kazanari Crest, two feathers above two crossed katanas. It had been some time since Serena had arrived to live here, however, it was only now that she had taken the time to explore its grounds. She just wished that it didn't take a disagreement with Maria to get her to do so.

Serena let out a glum sigh, continuing to walk past a row of cherry blossom trees on the castle courtyard, their leaves already starting to fall. She made a game out of the fallen leaves, trying her best not to step on any as she continued to walk and tiptoe through the grounds, her brows furrowed in concentration. A few paces behind her, Shirabe followed her, quietly mimicking her. She knew it was a childish game, but it helped to calm her.

It made her think of the words she told Maria before she left their room; "I'm no longer a child!" Was she proving her words wrong by playing like this? She shook her head to answer her own question. The issue really wasn't playfulness or enjoying games. It was how Maria strove to protect her, even when it meant keeping secrets and not talking to her properly.

"Ah..." Serena was pulled from her thoughts when she heard Shirabe let out a soft groan of defeat. She had stepped on a leaf, thus losing their impromptu game. It made Serena smile a little. She straightened up, letting Shirabe catch up to her before starting on walking normally this time.

"I lost." Shirabe stated, just a hint of a pout on her lips. Serena's smile only grew as she regarded Shirabe fondly. She knew Shirabe's participation in her little game was her way to cheer Serena up.

"Is there anywhere else you want to go?" Shirabe then asked kindly as she too smiled softly.

"Hmm…" Serena hummed thoughtfully, clasping her hands together behind her back and skipping forward. There was no one else around and she didn't feel the need to appear respectful or dignified. Even here, it annoyed Serena that she couldn't act as freely as she wanted. They were technically commoners now but Maria had cautioned her to not act casually around anyone else that was not their friends. It was one way they could still have some modicum of respect and not give an impression of vulnerability here in this foreign land. Maria had always been better at keeping the stoic and elegant front up at all times. Serena hadn't had much practice since she rarely appeared in public. Besides, she was a foreigner. Her appearance often gave her unwanted attention here.

"How about someplace peaceful?" Serena suggested. "Where do you usually go when you want to think?"

"I usually go to the stables…" Shirabe answered thoughtfully. Serena's face lit up at that. Shirabe mentioned that Tsubasa and the Sentinels had their own stables. She had always been curious about seeing it for herself. Shirabe also mentioned that it was built at Tsubasa's request, with Tsubasa taking care of most of the horses, even taking care of ones that are too unruly or deemed too small or weak for war use. Serena found it to be very like Tsubasa. Though at first, she may appear cold, Serena knew that Tsubasa was extremely kind. Her kindness even extended to animals, and Serena found that admirable.

"Then let's go there!" Serena exclaimed, looking at the general direction where Shirabe had once mentioned the stables were.

"Are you sure you don't mind the horses?" Shirabe asked, raising her eyebrow a little.

"I was just startled the first time!" Serena insisted, pouting a little as her cheeks flushed. Shirabe cracked a grin at that but relented, leading Serena towards the stables.

They went through a well-beaten path in the same direction as the Sentinels' living quarters. Serena could already see the large field where the horses roamed. Wooden fences encircled the whole perimeter and the stables were situated just to the west of the mansion the Sentinels called home.

Shirabe hastened her pace as they drew nearer while Serena followed at a more normal pace. She watched Shirabe's excitement, betrayed only by a small smile on her face. She went straight to an unfamiliar dark brown horse, its long mane and tail the same black color as Shirabe's. It was quite large compared to Shirabe, similar in size to Tsubasa's horse and Serena assumed it was also male. Shirabe didn't seem to mind its size though, greeting the horse with gentle pats and murmured words into its ear.

"Hello, Tsuki." Shirabe said warmly, just loud enough for Serena to hear.

The sight made Serena smile as well. Tsuki seemed to like Shirabe, lowering his head to nuzzle into her hand to seek more attention. She kept her distance though, feeling slightly intimidated by the huge beast.

Serena enjoyed watching Shirabe interact with the horses. She noticed how even Susanoo and Himawari had come closer to her, indicating that they had already grown to trust Shirabe. Looking around, she then noticed that there was another horse that she did not recognize. It was standing off to the side, just a couple of meters away from where she was standing. It had a shiny golden brown coat and looked smaller than any of the other horses that Serena had seen. She had to wonder if it was just a little younger than the others but she had to admire its coat shone in the sunlight. Serena was not well-versed in the body language of horses, but for some reason, she got the impression that the horse was wary of its surroundings.

Serena stared intently at it, drawn by its beautiful appearance. She didn't notice that her feet started to move, curiosity getting the best of her as she cautiously approached the horse. The horse immediately turned its head towards her with its ears pricked up. As she got closer, it didn't bolt or move in any way. It merely watched and Serena made sure to step daintily as to not startle it. She was now within arm's length and if she didn't know any better, it only looked at her curiously.

Carefully, she reached out to touch the horse. Her fingers brushed against the underside of its large head. It was warm and soft. It didn't seem to mind the touch as Serena's hand was still intact. It leaned into her touch, catching her by surprise. It began to sniff and nuzzle at her hair and cheek.

"Oh!" Serena gasped, breaking shortly into giggles. "That tickles!" It was a good thing that she had recovered control over her magic and it only hummed calmly under her fingertips. She would feel very bad if she managed to accidentally zap the horse.

"My, you're such a friendly little one," Serena commented, getting her laughter in control as the horse pulled back. "What's your name? I'm Serena." She talked to the horse as if it could answer her, introducing herself and stroking its head with more confidence.

"She doesn't have a name yet." A familiar voice responded to her query. Serena tensed a little but recovered fairly quickly. Turning around, she saw Kanade. She looked like she had been rushing about, her hair and clothes mussed up. She was grinning as she usually was but there was an obvious amount of strain and nervousness that Serena immediately noticed.

Kanade approached Serena gingerly as if expecting her to bolt at any second. She supposed that was to be expected, with what happened yesterday. There was now an awkward silence as they stared at each other. Thankfully, she was saved from having to say anything when the horse demanded more of her attention, nuzzling her cheek impatiently and snorting at her. A startled laugh slipped out from her lips at the ticklish sensation.

"She's really quite taken with you, huh?" Kanade chuckled as Serena turned back to give attention to the horse. "She just arrived a couple of days ago and even Tsubasa's been having trouble getting her to open up. She was skittish and anxious with anyone who tried to approach. You're the first person she liked." She babbled on, obviously nervous. It was strangely endearing and some of Serena's apprehension lessened.

"I like her too, she's beautiful," Serena said softly. There was an awkward pause and at the corner of her eye, she could see Kanade struggling with her words. It was the same expression that she had while they were on the wagon yesterday. Serena patiently waited though she already had a rough idea of what Kanade wanted to say.

"Ah, good morning Serena. I'm surprised to see you here." A familiar voice called out, effectively interrupting the silence between the two. Serena looked to the direction of the voice, seeing Tsubasa approach with Shirabe in tow. From behind her, Serena heard Kanade let out a sigh. She wasn't sure if it was a sigh of relief or defeat.

"Fancy seeing you two here." Kanade sounded like her jovial self but Serena was able to tell that it was forced.

"Good morning, Tsubasa-san." Serena greeted back with a small smile. "I was just curious about where Shirabe likes to spend her free time." She explained. Shirabe nodded quietly in acknowledgment, her curious gaze mostly on Kanade.

"I see." Tsubasa nodded as well. Serena didn't miss the meaningful glance between Kanade and Tsubasa.

"And it also looks like you made a friend." Tsubasa then smiled faintly, indicating the horse that Serena was patting.

"Yes! She's such an affectionate one." Serena smiled genuinely, leaning slightly on her newfound friend.

"I'm glad to see that you get along with her." Shirabe smiled in her usual restrained way. Serena knew her long enough to know that it was one of her most genuine smiles.

Serena giggled, nodding to that observation. "It's quite sad that she doesn't have a name yet though." She commented.

"How about in honor of your newfound friendship, you name her?" Tsubasa suggested graciously.

Serena perked up immediately, her eyes lighting up. "Oh! Is it really alright?" She asked, hardly able to keep the eagerness out of her voice. Everyone else chuckled at her excitement.

"Of course. I think she would also love it if you named her." Tsubasa assured.

"I already have the perfect name for you!" Serena exclaimed, not even needing a minute to think it over. She placed her forehead against its neck, feeling the warmth underneath her palms.

"Ethniu." She then murmured her chosen name.

"Ah! From that story with Nuada Airgetlam." Shirabe immediately made the connection, having been told the story of Serena's favorite mythical hero many times. "That's the name of his wife, isn't it?"

Serena smiled even wider, pleased that Shirabe remembered. "That's right!"

"Esnu?" Kanade repeated slowly, having a hard time pronouncing it. It unexpectedly made Serena smile in amusement, though she was quick to hide it. Serena kindly repeated it a few times, with the other two diligently doing their best to pronounce it. It warmed her heart a little to see them try so hard.

"It looks like she also likes it." Shirabe laughed softly as the newly named Ethniu licked the side of Serena's face, making her squeak in surprise.

"Alright, Ethniu. It's time for us to go back." Tsubasa then said, patting Ethniu on her other side. Ethniu let out a snort but allowed Tsubasa to guide her away from Serena.

"Tsukuyomi, do you think you can help me gather everyone else back to the stables?" Tsubasa requested of Shirabe.

"I'll be glad to." Shirabe's eyes immediately lit up in response and she nodded eagerly. "If that's okay, Serena?" Shirabe turned to Serena, asking for her permission.

"Go ahead, Shirabe," Serena replied kindly. "I'll be okay."

"Don't worry, I'll escort her back," Kanade spoke up. Serena glanced at her briefly, noting the look of determination on her features.

Shirabe stared piercingly at her in response. Kanade stared back unflinchingly, and Shirabe slowly nodded. "Alright. I leave her in your care." She turned to leave with Tsubasa.

There was a moment of awkward silence as they were left alone. Serena avoided Kanade's gaze, the air between them tense.

"Whew, Shirabe can be scary just by staring huh?" Kanade laughed weakly, scratching the back of her head nervously.

"She is my bodyguard you know." Serena pointed out lightly, bravely looking into Kanade's eyes.

"I know I said I'll escort you back to your room, but could I talk to you first?" Kanade steeled herself, her features going back to seriousness.

Serena wordlessly nodded and Kanade led her underneath a huge tree a few meters away. There was a lush carpet of grass under their feet and seemed like a nice place to relax in. It must be a familiar haunt for Kanade as she sat down without any sort of grace, her legs folded under her. Serena followed, lowering herself carefully until she was seated on the grass beside Kanade. They both quietly watched Tsubasa and Shirabe in the distance, guiding the horses back to the stables.

"Serena," Kanade finally broke the silence, calling her name. Serena shifted her gaze to her, seeing her face full of guilt and repentance. "I'm really sorry about yesterday." Her voice held full sincerity.

Serena let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She looked away from Kanade, feeling like she couldn't stand the full force of such an honest and beseeching gaze. "I know, Kanade. You've already apologized yesterday."

"...But you're still mad at me." Kanade pointed out glumly. Serena glanced back at her, noticing how Kanade's shoulders had slumped. It made her feel guilty and she took a deep breath.

"I'm not mad." Serena denied, looking down at her folded hands. It wasn't a blatant lie, she really wasn't mad at Kanade. With the way Kanade looked at her in disbelief, however, she didn't say it very convincingly.

Kanade surprisingly stretched her hand towards Serena's cheek. She moved slowly and deliberately, unlike how she naturally was with her touches. It made Serena's heartache little. She had grown used to Kanade's casual and friendly touches. However, she still flinched a little when Kanade was about to touch her, her mind remembering when Kanade's hand was covered in blood. She could not hide the guilty look on her face and Kanade pulled back immediately.

"...I'm sorry." This time it was Serena who apologized, clenching her fists tightly. She didn't understand how she was still frightened. She knew in her mind that Kanade won't hurt her but her body betrayed her.

"It's alright." Kanade chuckled weakly. "I didn't think it would be okay just like that. I really did scare you, didn't I?" She was smiling but her eyes looked so sad. It only made Serena feel even worse.

Serena was unable to defend herself and instead kept quiet. Kanade looked pained, but nevertheless, she accepted it and shifted so she was sitting just a bit farther from Serena. Conflicting emotions rose in Serena, feeling both upset and relieved at the space.

"That wasn't really my intention," Kanade spoke quietly, fingers restlessly picking at the fabric of her robes. "I just… I couldn't help it. I was so angry." She exhaled, sorrow practically radiating from her.

"Why?" Serena whispered, placing a hand on her chest. Kanade's sorrow seemed to cut right through her very being. It was so cold and lonely, edged with unmistakable anger.

Kanade looked at her with her vermilion eyes full of grief and loss, and she spun her tale.

"My parents… They were traveling scholars..." Kanade's voice was calm, almost dull. "My little sister and I accompanied them everywhere even though it was dangerous, you know?"

Serena nodded to that. Even before coming to Japan, she had known for the past several years that the nation had been plunged into chaos. With the loss of influence of the Emperor, regional lords called daimyos endlessly fought to gain more power and land for themselves. With frequent wars, many peasants took the brunt of its effects. Many were forcibly drafted, their crops were seized, properties were destroyed and the local economies were left in shambles. Serena was amazed that Kanade's parents still traveled as scholars even during those dangerous times.

"Around seven years ago, we came here, to the Shimosa province. We had just arrived at a border town when we were caught in a bandit raid. I couldn't forget even if I wanted to. It was chaos everywhere. They slaughtered everyone just because they could." Kanade clenched her fists tightly, her shoulders tense. Serena could already guess where the story was going and she wanted badly to reach out to touch Kanade.

"We were attacked, right outside our home. Mom and Dad didn't stand a chance. They weren't used to fighting. That man, the one with the scar, he killed them easily. I tried to fight back, but I wasn't strong enough. I could only watch as Kotone was killed too, even as she cried and begged for him to stop." Kanade shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself, her fingers digging painfully into her upper arms. Serena could almost physically feel her anguish, crashing into her like a tide. It was a struggle to keep hidden how affected she was by the feelings alone.

"I only survived because soldiers had arrived led by Dad… By Genjuuro I mean. The bandits had fled, and I tried to stand up and run after them but I lost consciousness soon after. Dad found me and brought me back here to be treated by Mom." Kanade continued. "When I woke up, all that I could think about was how to avenge my family, how I wanted to kill that bastard."

"But Mom and Dad were so kind, and I met Tsubasa, Hibiki, and Chris… I lost my family, but I gained them as a family in return. I became a Sentinel to protect people so that no one else would ever suffer the same fate. I thought I had put revenge behind me… But when I saw him again, I just snapped." Kanade let out a sigh as she confessed all of that. "I don't really regret what I did, but I regret frightening you, hurting Tsubasa and the others, and betraying all my beliefs."

"I… I'm sorry." Those were the only words that Serena could offer. So this was what Tsubasa meant yesterday. She had meant the loss of Kanade's whole family and she would forever grieve their deaths. Though h something similar happened to Serena's parents, she didn't hold a grudge as powerful. However, she understood Kanade's feelings of revenge and hate. Her guilt only grew and she wished that she had not reacted in such a way, or at least she should've been more understanding and believed that Kanade would not do such a thing without a very good reason.

"It's alright, you didn't know and it wasn't your fault." Kanade took a calming breath, giving Serena a weak grin. It was a relief when the emotions receded to a degree and Serena felt like she could breathe again.

Collecting herself, Serena felt that it was her turn to apologize properly. She lightly touched the back of Kanade's hand, ignoring the urge to pull her hand away. She did her best to convey her sincere regret and understanding of the situation. "I had been unfair to you when this is what you've been through. I'm really sorry."

"How you reacted was just natural, you were really scared, weren't you?" Kanade placed her other hand on top of Serena's. She was glad that she managed to suppress the urge to cringe away. Kanade's understanding made Serena frown a little, knowing that wasn't the only reason why she reacted that way.

"There's more to it than that," Serena mumbled, her mind racing as she debated whether to tell Kanade. Her recovered memories were still somewhat raw and she was still angry at Maria for not telling her the whole truth of that night. Who was she to judge Kanade when her hands had already been stained with blood?

Kanade looked at her thoughtfully, before she nodded resolutely. "If there's more to it, then I'd gladly listen." She offered, squeezing Serena's hand once before pulling away. "Though if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine too."

Kanade was so kind and earnestly understanding. It struck a chord in Serena. Her usual confidants were her sister and two handmaidens. She never really had anyone else who would listen to her problems. She had always been isolated, never allowed to mingle too much in the public eye. Her magic was an ever-present factor. Potentially dangerous to others yet also a danger to Serena herself. Yet, Kanade knew about her magic. She had not expressed fear, only gratitude for what she was able to do.

Hadn't she already taken a leap of faith when she had decided she wanted to help the Sentinels? She had already accepted them as friends. They were trustworthy, noble, and cared for them even when they had been mere strangers. She looked into Kanade's eyes and saw that these were the eyes of someone who genuinely cared for her.

And so, the words escaped from Serena's lips before she could debate with herself any longer. Serena talked of the night her parents died and how she had forgotten all of it.

"The blood made me remember," Serena explained softly, her hands folded on her lap calmly. "It's strange, I've seen blood many times as I've healed a fair share of injuries. I was alright when I was healing Chris-san, and when I saw those unconscious men when we were trying to find you all." She mused, letting out a soft sigh. "When you were beating up that man, there was just so much blood. Even from where I was, I could smell it."

Serena paused for a moment as she let out a shuddery breath. "There was so much blood too, on that night." She closed her eyes, feeling like she was taken back to that time. "Nee-san was in danger. He would have hurt her… And I wanted nothing more than to do something… Anything to get that man to stop."

"And I did. My magic had awoken and I unconsciously used it to kill him." Serena buried her face in her hands, her voice cracking as her composure slipped. "The worst thing was I felt it, the moment he died. I even felt his pain, just for a moment when my magic pierced him through. I felt his life slip away and it felt so cold ." She shuddered at the memory. It was by no means pleasant and it was difficult to explain.

"Did you also feel it yesterday?" Kanade asked after a long silence, her voice troubled and soft. Serena simply nodded, hugging herself to ward off the memory of someone's warm life slipping away to the coldness of death.

Suddenly, the chill was gone when she was enveloped in a warm embrace. Her face came to rest near a soft bosom. She felt Kanade's chin rest on top of her hair while her arms encircled Serena's waist loosely. She tensed for a moment before relaxing into the hug.

"Is this okay?" Kanade murmured above her.

"Yes," Serena whispered truthfully. Carefully, she hugged Kanade back. She didn't realize how much she craved this warmth until she was enveloped so gently in it. They stayed silent for a long time, neither of them willing to break the silence and the warm embrace.

"I guess having magic isn't all it's cracked up to be, huh?" Kanade laughed dryly, breaking the silence. She was idly playing with the ends of Serena's hair with her fingers.

"It's not that I dislike it. It has its uses and I could be of so much help to people." Serena admitted with a soft sigh. "Although it's not understood by many people and my magic could be… difficult."

"What do you mean?" Kanade asked curiously.

"It's difficult to control since it's tied to my emotions," Serena explained, sighing softly. "When I'm upset or surprised it becomes volatile and could accidentally lash out at others." It was tough to admit as she had worked hard to hone her control for years, only to slip up at such a critical time.

"Ah, is that why you hate being surprised?" Kanade asked haltingly, probably realizing her playful tendency to try and surprise Serena wasn't exactly a good thing.

"Yes. It can be dangerous to others around me." Serena nodded against Kanade's chest.

Kanade hummed in acknowledgment and pulled Serena closer. Serena was faintly surprised at the gesture. She expected some caution, it was what she had been dreading when she decided to reveal the truth about her magic. Surprisingly, Kanade didn't seem to care much.

"That must've been tough on you." Kanade was sympathetic, gently stroking Serena's back. "But you know, you're amazing!" Kanade then looked down at her with a lopsided grin. Serena was taken aback at the sudden praise and she stared up at Kanade with wide eyes. "You seem to have good control over your magic already, and you've even saved our lives, especially Chris's. We're all grateful for what you did, your magic is a gift!" Kanade said earnestly and without a hint of lying on her face.

Serena was frankly stunned at Kanade's sincere praise. She had been warned over and over again since her magic awoke that people would only fear her. She had accepted that there was a high risk of being rejected when she used her magic to help the Sentinels. However, to be told that her magic was a gift even after all that she revealed... It was both mind-boggling and heartwarming.

"...Thank you." Serena managed to convey her gratitude. She felt tears sting her eyes and she blinked them away.

"You've been hiding this for a long time. If I could help in any way, just tell me. I need to make it up to you after all." Kanade's warmth and kindness were undeniable. She felt safe and comfortable, a contrast to how she felt earlier. She breathed out a sigh, relaxing further into the embrace. She understood now, Kanade was a complex person. She had her own sadness and anger she struggled with, but ultimately, she was a bright and kind person who cared deeply for those around her.

"You don't really need to make it up to me. I was also the one who acted out in such a way." Serena mumbled, feeling bad for how she had acted yesterday.

"Well, I guess we're both at fault." Kanade chuckled, pulling away from Serena to properly look at her. "We both had our own problems, and it's nice that we were able to talk about it."

"That's true." Serena mused, a smile now tugging at her lips. "I'm happy that we were able to sort it out."

"Me too… And I promise it won't happen again. I would never hurt you willingly." Kanade's eyes were gentle and looked at her with much fondness and sincerity. It made Serena blush, just a little bit.

"You know, maybe you should also explain it to Tsubasa and the others." Kanade then said thoughtfully, rubbing her chin. Serena tilted her head at her questioningly and she continued. "I mean, just the other Sentinels. Don't worry though, we haven't told anyone else about your magic. It's pretty much understood that we shouldn't talk about it until you do." Kanade assured her. It was obvious that she only had absolute trust for everyone else in the Sentinels. Serena did trust them as well, especially after how they revealed nothing to Ogawa and Ryoko about her magic.

"I agree…" Serena nodded. It would be better to discuss her magic sooner rather than later. They would no doubt understand and help her hide it. "I'll talk with them later."

"Sounds good. I'll get everyone together at our place later. The castle is a bit… Well… The walls have ears." Kanade lowered her voice significantly, eyes darting around. Serena only nodded, knowing that to be true.

"And speaking of discussion... Maria has a message for you." Kanade said. At the mention of her older sister, Serena tensed a little. Their fight was still fresh in her mind.

"She says she's sorry." Kanade continued, conveying Maria's message.

"She… is?" Serena gasped softly in surprise. Maria had always been stubborn when she thought she was doing the right thing. It usually happened when it came to her overprotectiveness towards Serena. She loved her older sister to death but she hated how Maria coddled her.

"Would you like to talk about it?" Kanade coaxed and Serena didn't think twice to spill how upset she had been when she learned that Maria had kept quiet about the true nature of the night her powers awakened.

"I'm no longer a child that needs to be protected. I just… I wish I had known earlier and dealt with it properly and not finding out about it in such a sudden and critical moment." Serena sighed in frustration. She remembered killing a man for the first time and it caused her to lose control when she always worked so hard for that to never happen. It was dangerous for everyone yesterday, including those unfortunate people who called her a witch.

"There, there." Kanade soothed, hugging her once more and running her hand through Serena's hair. Maria used to do the same thing to her when she had been younger and got upset more easily. She felt herself relax and she let out another sigh.

"I know that you're upset, but I also understand why Maria didn't tell you. She just wanted to protect you, and it was a hard thing to say." Kanade's voice crooned soothingly against her ear.

"I know…" Serena buried her face at the crook of Kanade's neck. "But I don't want her to shoulder all the burden. She's been trying hard to protect me ever since our parents died and I'm always grateful to her... But I want her to trust me too and talk to me properly."

"Then you should talk to her about it," Kanade said gently. "Your sister's certainly the type who hates burdening others."

"Mmm…" Serena hummed a soft sound of agreement.

"Well, no time like the present. Discussion with Maria first, then we'll have another one with everyone else later." Kanade cheerfully announced, pulling Serena with her as she stood up. With both of them on their feet, Kanade offered her hand to Serena. "Come on, let's get you back to your room. Maria's waiting for you."

Serena gazed up at the easy grin on Kanade's face. She was back to her old self and Serena couldn't help but smile too. The world really wasn't as black and white as she thought it was. She knew better now. Kanade hadn't changed at all, she was still the warm and confident young woman that had fascinated her.

Gathering all her courage, Serena gently placed her hand on Kanade's. Kanade's smile turned blinding, and she grasped Serena's hand securely in her warm grip. She felt an almost overpowering surge of fondness for Kanade, her heart full of warmth. She made her decision.

"Kanade," Serena called out to her, a beautiful smile lighting up her features. Kanade glanced back at her in surprise. Serena had said her name without an honorific for the first time.

"Yeah?" Kanade responded a little breathlessly, her vermilion eyes sparkling in the sun. Serena stepped closer to her and Kanade's eyes widened a little.

"Thank you, for everything," Serena leaned forward to place a light kiss on Kanade's cheek, the same one that she had healed yesterday. It was a bold move but she thought that it was the most appropriate one to communicate her gratitude and fondness for Kanade.

"B-Buh!?" Kanade let out a strange little noise from her throat, her face turning a shade of red very similar to her hair. Her mouth was shaped into a perfect 'o', a precious look of utter shock on her usually confident face. She looked so adorable.

Serena couldn't help but laugh merrily at the reaction. It was the first time she had ever seen Kanade look so flustered and she felt her fondness for her increase.

"Well then Kanade, it's your job to escort me back to my room isn't it?" Serena tugged lightly on their intertwined hands. She smiled mischievously as Kanade followed her like an obedient puppy, looking dazed.

"...I can't win against you, can I, Serena?" Kanade chuckled as she snapped out of her daze, squeezing her hand. Serena only smiled innocently as they walked back to the castle together.

I apologize for another lengthy hiatus. Life happened again, and it was a difficult chapter to write. For those who have patiently waited and are still supporting me even up until now, thank you all.

Special thanks to Viermis and solopy567 for betaing this chapter!