Seeing that it was getting late, Shade and Miss Benanis had both lost any desire to search for the so-called "gold mine." They returned to the cave, then climbed back up to the narrow platform on the cliff face where the Black Night Spirit Temple stood.
Expecting that they would not return to in the city until quite late, Miss Benanis first used Thaumaturgy to send a message to Miss Lathers. Only then did she set up camp on the cliff face with Shade and prepare dinner.
After Shade sacrificed that ruby, the Red Dragon maid kitchen service only had one use left. He had no intention of saving it and used it immediately. Thus, although the surroundings were rather crude, dinner was still quite good.
At first, the setting sun still shone upon their profiles, but it soon vanished completely beneath the distant forest. When night had fully descended, the stars hung upside down in the sky like an ocean, and the Three Moons struggled to shine through the clouds, the campfire illuminated their faces.
Shade intended to wait a little longer and begin after night had deepened. Miss Benanis watched the flames and suddenly asked:
"Come to think of it, I bought some of the fabrics Sylvia made as well."
She glanced at Shade, quite certain that he absolutely understood what she meant.
And Shade did understand. As "she" chuckled softly, he tried asking:
"Then afterward... might I have the chance to admire how you look... wearing that fabric?"
The witch avoided Shade's gaze and brushed aside the loose strands by her ear with her head turned sideways.
"Mm."
As she nodded lightly, it was impossible to tell whether the flush on her face was merely an illusion cast by the firelight.
*I told you, she is the