The first rays of morning sunlight in Wales spilled across the girl's face. The treetops swayed in the breeze, and a withered leaf drifted down to settle on the tip of her nose, making her look utterly adorable.
Another light breeze stirred the leaf, as though the wind lacked the strength to lift it, or the leaf was reluctant to leave.
The girl slowly woke and brushed the leaf away. Just as she tried to rise, two hands steadied her.
"Lia, be careful."
"Mm... okay..."
Artoria instinctively wrapped her arms around the young man's outstretched arm, hanging her entire weight from it.
His mouth twitched. He wanted to pull his hand, which had gone completely numb overnight, out of Artoria's embrace.
But like a predator with its teeth sunk into its prey, the girl sensed the arm trying to escape and tightened her grip.
Oh boy. I'm doomed.
Faced with this situation, Sovell dared not use magical energy to clear his numbed channels. Artoria's face was far too close to his arm.
Fine. I'll free up whichever one I can.
With that thought, Sovell moved his right arm, which Artoria wasn't holding, away from her body. Magical energy coursed through it, and moments later, it was as good as new.
The fluctuations of magical energy made the girl furrow her delicate brows and cling even tighter to Sovell's left arm.
It felt as though countless fine needles were piercing his left arm. That strange, twisted pain made the young man's expression slip out of his control.
The cool morning breeze slipped down his collar, making Sovell shiver. He tugged the white cloak covering them both a little higher.
Sovell could clearly feel his heart beating faster than it had last night, but now was hardly the time to ask for