Halfway through the masquerade, Durandal picked up a small dessert and stepped out of the cabin, seeking the cool sea breeze on the deck.
Not far away, Elysia had been sharing a drink with Eden, but her eyes had never truly left Durandal. Seeing her depart, she raised her glass in a silent toast of departure to Eden and followed her out.
By the sound of the footsteps alone, Durandal knew exactly who it was.
She turned around, leaning her back against the railing as she watched Elysia approach. "Why has the 'Young Mistress' abandoned her 'social duties' inside?" she teased.
Elysia looked Durandal up and down, a playful glint in her eyes as she played along. "Without my 'Butler' by my side, I can't even enjoy a drink in peace. I'd be far too worried about someone plotting against me~♪"
"Alright, jokes aside. I just came out to clear my head. You didn't really need to follow me; I was going to head back in after a bit of air."
With their brief roleplay concluded, Durandal confessed the real reason for her exit.
"And what's on your mind?"
Elysia took a delicate sip of her wine before continuing, "Wait, don't tell me—let me guess. Knowing you, I bet you're thinking about how to handle the Fourth Honkai Eruption, or maybe even the ones coming after it. Am I right? ♪"
"Yes and no."
Durandal took a bite of her dessert, suddenly finding the sweetness a bit cloying. A faint smile brushed her blue eyes as she looked at Elysia and took a step forward.
She wasn't fond of the tart bitterness of red wine, but she loved the lingering aftertaste it left behind.
As she had mentioned before, she could always experience that taste through Elysia from now on.
Driven by a sudden urge to wash away the sugary coating in her mouth, Durandal set her sights on her companion.
She leaned in slightly, pressing her lips firmly against the other girl's. Skillfully prying past her teeth, Durandal took a greedy draft of the wine-scented air within Elysia's mouth before finally pulling back, satisfied.
She gently released the beauty. Though she hadn't touched a drop of liquid, that wine-steeped kiss sent a flush of crimson straight to her cheeks.
Durandal felt a touch of helplessness toward her own constitution—she was the type who could get tipsy just from the mere scent of alcohol.
"Aren't you afraid someone might see? ♪"
Elysia lightly licked her lips, her gaze falling on the dessert in Durandal's hand.
The sweetness level was perfect for her own palate, but having spent seven days as Durandal's "exclusive maid" carefully observing her tastes, she knew it was far too sugary for the blonde.
Which meant... Durandal had done this on purpose.
She knew Elysia would follow her, so she chose a dessert that suited Elysia's taste instead of her own.
Realizing she had walked right into Durandal's little trap, Elysia wasn't annoyed in the slightest. On the contrary, she savored the realization.
After all, it really was sweet, and she loved it~♪
"Why should I be afraid? It's not as if our relationship is a secret... besides, we aren't doing anything truly scandalous, are we?"
In the past, Durandal would never have been able to say such things.
Kissing in a public space—even if common—was something she used to consider strictly off-limits for herself. But perhaps after spending so much time with Elysia, she had picked up a few of her habits. She had become much more cheerful, much more open.
Hearing this, Elysia nodded in profound agreement. "You said 'yes and no' earlier. What did you mean by that?"
"I am indeed thinking about the Fourth Eruption and the ones beyond, but it's not just about how to suppress them."
"Elysia, you once suggested that I should let everyone in Schicksal—even civilians—enter the simulated instances. I've been pondering how to maximize the efficiency of such a move. Besides, I have a lingering concern."
Durandal voiced her worries. "Elysia, you must have noticed from the previous simulations, right? Life inside Fire Moth isn't exactly what you imagined... well, perhaps you were already prepared for that."
"Even if those memories feel like watching a movie through a veil once the primary personality wakes up, the time spent and the experiences gained in there can truly alter a person's perspective."
"Not everyone is like you—seemingly never lost. Even I find myself unable to see the path forward sometimes."
"I agree with the sentiment, but you've got one thing wrong~♪"
Elysia looked directly into Durandal's eyes. "At least until yesterday, I had deep-seated anxieties about making our relationship official."
"I've loved everyone since I was a little girl, you see."
"But then I discovered that I love you even more than 'everyone.' I tried to ignore it, but it actually tormented me for quite a while! ♪ So you see, even I can't keep my heart perfectly steady all the time!"
Durandal hadn't expected to hear such a confession from Elysia's lips.
After a moment of silent reflection, Durandal exhaled softly. "Perhaps I'm overthinking it. I told you I trust you, and I trust everyone in Schicksal. I shouldn't harbor doubts before any actual betrayal occurs."
"In that case, there's nothing left to worry about. I simply need to make the choice that yields the greatest benefit."
"The choice for maximum benefit?"
Elysia asked curiously, "For example? Who do you plan to take into the Fourth Eruption instance with you?"
"You."
Durandal's answer was short and certain.
Elysia's expression turned subtle. "Just me? No one else?"
"Mhm."
Seeing the look on Elysia's face, Durandal added, "For the Fifth and Sixth Eruptions, it will also be just the two of us."
In reality, the key figures of those two Eruptions included Kosma, Kalpas, Sakura, Kevin, Mei, and even Aponia.
But for starters, she had no idea where Kosma and Kalpas were currently playing vigilante...
Wait. Durandal's expression shifted slightly.
She remembered that before the Fourth Eruption broke out, Kosma had been using private arms to dispense justice in unorganized territories, earning the title of "Vigilante."
And the reason he became such a fan of Kevin was because Kevin had saved him during that very Eruption.
If that were the case... finding Kosma would mean confirming the location of the Fourth Eruption's epicenter.
At that thought, the tension in Durandal's brow relaxed.
"Is something wrong?"
Elysia, naturally noticing the flicker of change in Durandal's expression, spoke up.
"I think I've figured out how to pinpoint the location of the Fourth Eruption."
In a technologically advanced modern society, finding a person whose specific appearance was known—especially with Schicksal's growing influence—would be a simple task.
"Now that's good news! ♪"
Elysia nodded happily.
--+--
T/N: If you want advance chapters, you can find it at [email protected]/AspenTL