The evening breeze greeted them as they stepped out of the cave. The sky had turned golden-orange, a sign that night would fall soon. They walked in silence. Neither of them knew what to say after… what had just happened.
Their footsteps followed the familiar path of rocks and roots, but their hearts were far from calm. Elara occasionally stole glances at Sylveras, then quickly looked away. Sylveras scratched his head, his expression still unsettled.
Finally, Elara spoke.
"What do you think… it meant?" she asked softly, almost like a whisper carried by the wind.
Sylveras looked up and took a deep breath. "I… don't know. But if that really was a shadow from within us…"
"…then maybe it was a feeling we've been hiding," Elara finished, her voice quiet but steady.
They paused for a moment at the edge of a slope, gazing at the sunset. Orange light danced above the trees, and the faint sound of forest birds began to echo.
"I didn't expect… I mean… that you… had feelings like that," Sylveras said, trying to find the right words.
Elara chuckled softly, bitter yet honest. "Neither did I. But maybe we've kept them to ourselves for too long. And that shadow was just… reflecting it."
Silence returned between them, but now it wasn't awkward. There was something warm in it, even if they didn't fully understand it yet.
Their steps returned to the hidden path leading to Gorion's secluded house, tucked behind ancient trees. When they finally arrived, the warm glow from the window welcomed them with familiarity.
Without many words, they entered. The dinner table was already filled with simple food, reheated by Gorion's automatic magic. Though tired, their stomachs couldn't resist.
After dinner, Elara cleaned up the dishes, while Sylveras relaxed on a small sofa near the door. He noticed a slip of paper glowing softly on the table, still lit with light magic.
"El, there's a note from Gorion," he said, reading it in an exaggerated serious tone.
"I have urgent business tonight. Don't wait for me.You may rest early… or have some fun, lovebirds~—Gorion"
Elara, who had just put down the last plate, immediately turned around. "L-Lovebirds?!"
Sylveras raised an eyebrow and grinned mischievously. "Hmm… so, we're… sleeping together tonight?"
Elara's face turned bright red. "W-Why are you acting like this?!"
Sylveras stepped closer, teasing, "Are you scared? Scared you might actually fall in love?"
Elara glared at him, then pinched his arm hard. "NO!!"
With an incredibly red face, she ran to her room and slammed the door with a loud thak! From behind it, her voice could be heard, soft but clear, "Sylveras, you perv…"
Sylveras rubbed his arm while chuckling softly. "Just a little… flirty, not pervy."
He walked casually to his own room, a smile still on his face. The magic lamps slowly dimmed, letting the night settle peacefully over the little house—along with new feelings beginning to bloom between two students who once only exchanged shy glances.