Another dodge. Parry. A block there and another here. Under the shade of a tree. The woman rolled onto her side and stood. She caught her breath as the vampire stretched. A taunting smirk caused her readjusting the grip on her sword.

"Tired already? And I'm just getting warmed up."

"Arrogant as always, Nevra," she said.

Meanwhile, two men stood some distance away from them. One watched each movement; the other, the rustling of the branches.

"Is it really okay to have her spar when she's still wounded?" Valkyon crossed his arms.

"Eweleïn and myself checked it this morning. There's evidence of recovery, but it's not gone. Miiko had expressed concern, so Kero's busy looking through every inch of the library."

"Ez, I'd thought you would be the one to stop her."

He sighed. "I know the idiot better than anyone, and it's a futile attempt to dissuade her from challenging Nevra."

The vampire clicked his tongue as his knife was deflected. He and the woman continued their clash with vigor while Ezarel yawned. Sleep eluded him. Ever since she came back, he rested only when she was near. The rest of the time involved his thoughts' buzzing without stop. He managed during those other years, but now the nights were too cold. Too lonely. Too unbearable now that she returned and the fact she would fly away again was...His attention returned to the spar, but it remained a stalemate. Those two could predict each other's move to some degree, after all. The elf yawned again, and his mind recalled the past. It was noon then. He did not remember asking for her to do inventory on the laboratory, but she wrote everything down. He took the list from her while she stretched with tired eyes.

"Didn't you collapse a few days ago? Why continue to push yourself?"

"It's...I just want to. I may lack skill right now, but surely I'll find a purpose if I continue to help with menial tasks."

"Normally, I would respect that, but at least take care of your health," he said.

And after she nodded, it was a strange feeling then. He took his hand and placed it against her cheek. Abnormally warm, clammy. She leaned toward his touch as if it were natural; he pulled away. He walked to the table and opened the tome, so she knew she should leave. But she stayed and talked for a bit.

He saw her more often since then, and there was a time where Nevra asked him to find her.

"Why do I have to be the one to order her to not overwork herself?"

"She's more likely to listen to you. Tell me your secret later," he said before a group of girls swarmed around him.

At that time, she was organizing some books since Kero was in a meeting with Miiko. Or at least, it was something like that; however, she had collapsed once again. That woman regained consciousness after Ezarel propped her into a sitting position.

"I...it's always you, huh..." Her voice sounded more like a whisper.

There was scolding— although she must have started to fall asleep then— and if there were a moment to designate the start of their "obsession" toward each other, it would have been that moment the next day when he visited her in the infirmary and that pretty smile was irritatingly charming as he saw it for the first time.

He refocused his attention when the sound of fighting stopped.

"Hah, I won again. You certainly lasted longer. Perhaps you beat your personal record?"

The woman groaned and insisted for a rematch. Ezarel sighed in exasperation as he decided to intervene...

Winter frost had settled then on ground and the branches. Snowflakes fluttered in the cold wind, and some landed on top of her head. Yet she could only focus on the still Draflayel in her hands. Beautiful plumage lay in shreds; its body covered in claw marks. This time was too cold compared to all the other times. Bitterly and sorrowfully colder.

"We need to get going," Ezarel said as he scanned the surroundings.

"Then go."

"I'm not leaving. Your leader isn't the only one who's going to throw a tantrum at me."

"If you're only going to stay out of obligation, then I don't want it. You're an adult. What's a little scolding gonna actually do?"

She shook her head as she placed the familiar into a recently dug hole. It was too cold.

"I'm not...This was out of my own choice."

"Not like all those other times? I knew Nevra told you to do it. I'm not that dumb," she said.

The woman took a pack of snow to fill the hole. Too cold. Much too cold.

"I'm not a mindless puppet if that's what you're thinking."

"Then why won't you leave?"

"Because I won't until you come with me."

She started to pack more snow into a pile on top of the hole. It was cold.

"Aren't I a bother?"

"Yes, but it's manageable."

"Why?"

"You're more tolerable than the other imbeciles. There's actual entertainment value."

"I'm an awfully selfish person, y'know."

"That's fine."

"Would you willingly satisfy those selfish sorts of needs?"

"Perhaps. Perhaps not."

"How come?"

"Is there a reason not to?"

"But I'm still a selfish person."

"And that's still fine. Even when you get lonely every so often."

"Why?"

"Because I don't mind staying. I'll stay until you leave."

"And then? Would you hate me?"

"...For only a moment. Just a moment."

"You're wasting time."

"It's not wasting time. It will never be wasting time."

"And for how long will you think that?"

"It's not mere thinking, dear. I know it's a fact. So, I'll stay because it will never be a waste of time."

And for that moment, it wasn't so cold anymore.