After Emilia began thinking about what to do next, she gradually realized exactly what she had just done. A blush rose beneath the Red Moon, coloring even the tips of her ears. Shade had not expected Emilia to be so bold. Trying to guess the girl's thoughts, he froze and did not dare move.
The atmosphere suddenly shifted from tender to somewhat awkward. When Shade's gaze met Emilia's, the Outlander felt as though he had seen a rabbit that wanted to flee but had run headfirst into a tree trunk.
Yes, a rabbit.
"She" laughed softly. Though the joke was rather tasteless, Shade had to admit that it did a good job easing his mood, at least enough for him to speak:
"Emilia, perhaps you need to calm down a little."
Shade had not intended to do anything more while they were here, and he could tell that the elf had likely been swept away by a momentary rush of emotion:
"We should take this one step at a time."
"Yes."
Emilia squeezed out the reply from her throat. Then she realized she was still holding Shade's wrist and immediately let go in panic. But before Shade could withdraw his hand, she grabbed it again.
Having finally worked up her courage, the Elf Girl felt it would be a shame to give up after coming this far. She was no longer an immature little elf; she was a grown young lady:
"Shade, what have you done with Angelina and Iluna?"
Her bright emerald-green eyes looked at Shade. Shade knew that if he were willing to sweet-talk her, he could show Emilia what a real adult was right here on the deck. But the Outlander still preferred that the young ladies make such decisions only after thinking them through carefully.
*You