A/N: Here's another chapter, just for everyone!! Again, massive shout-out to Thanette for spotting the small spelling and grammar mistakes that I may have missed!! Also, I would like to give a HUGE shoutout to @Wrathful_Oni (commissioner) and @hainomajoeraina (artist) for commissioning and drawing Christmas fanart of Lyra and @arisuevaa for drawing Christmas fanart of Rem! They did so good and I am so happy that they did this for me!! I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and as always, thanks so much for reading!! I genuinely appreciate your support!!

Chapter 22: Pink At Night

Lyra could feel the covers of a bed wrapped and tucked around her body.

Feeling herself waking up, she could not exactly remember retiring to bed. Had she been so tired that it had slipped her mind? Was it ALREADY the beginning of the THIRD day?

Still in her state of waking up, Lyra mentally scanned her senses for any clues that she could find.

The first irregularity to stand out was that Lyra did not feel the twinkle of sunlight on her eyes. Having usually felt this EVERY time while waking up, be it in HER bed or the GUEST bed, Lyra was perplexed.

Sniffing the air, she smelled no freshly-cut flowers, thus ruling out the guest room.

It doesn't seem as if we've reset somehow, thankfully...

Turning her attention more inward, she let her arms and legs rouse to life. Going to stretch her legs, she found that they didn't move much from where they were.

Lyra felt around for the folds of the sheets and soon realized that she was tucked into the bed in a way that she wouldn't normally do on her own.

Did someone...—?!

With the sensation of consciousness letting her feel her arms and hands, Lyra soon felt something... something which was located in one of her OWN hands.

It was warm, soft, and smooth, yet textured in some spots, almost as if whatever she was holding onto was slightly weathered and worn.

Lyra let her hand slightly squeeze the object. She quickly realized that it was, in fact, a hand. SOMEONE ELSE'S hand.

It was around the same size as her own hand. It felt fragile, yet sturdy and strong. Lyra squeezed the hand once more, this time slightly stronger. The mysterious hand squeezed back. It wasn't a squeeze in simple reaction, but rather a squeeze in acknowledgment, one that was made in kindness and tenderness. That hand's squeeze was held and maintained in a fashion that implied strong feelings of concern for the well-being of the squeezed hand.

A wash of emotion stemmed up Lyra's arm from it. Her entire body was filled with reverence towards whoever was currently holding her hand.

Lyra squeezed the hand back in a manner similar to how her own hand had just now been squeezed, hoping to convey that this person's fondness of her was reciprocated.

She just HAD to see just WHO this person was now with her own eyes!

Lyra slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was somewhat blurry, but she still tried her best to look for whoever was handling onto her hand in such a loving , affectionate sort of way regardless. As she looked to the side of her bed where her hand was being held, a blue fuzz entered her view.

Just as it began to focus, a most-gentle, soft, and caring voice entered her ears.

?: Lyra-chan.

Lyra's vision finally became fully-focused. Her eyes laid upon a sight very similar to the one she saw back when she had previously woken up in the mansion for the first time.

Rem: Lyra-chan is awake. Rem is glad.

The first crystal-clear thing that Lyra saw was Rem's face, which was smiling and tilting slightly as she spoke to her. Lyra instantly and involuntarily smiled back at Rem. The two stared into each other's eyes, not wanting to look away or break the moment somehow.

Finally, Lyra's curiosity got the better of her. She broke the brief silence and stopped the eye-gazing session with a question.

Lyra: How did I end up here?

Giving her a look of sadness and concern, Rem answered.

Rem: Lyra-chan collapsed on the lawn from exhaustion and mana loss...

Thinking back, Lyra now remembered casting her second Jiwald and instantly becoming immensely fatigued afterwards. Looking down at herself while still in bed, Lyra spoke to both herself AND Rem.

Lyra: Oh, yeah! That's right! That second spell wiped me out...

Lyra asked Rem yet ANOTHER question out of her own curiosity

Lyra: How did I end up back HERE in my own bed? Did you or someone else carry me back here or something?

Rem: Yes. Rem was watching from the mansion windows. The first large explosion had caught Rem's attention, and so Rem watched the entire ordeal down below.

Lyra gave a short laugh as she remembered Subaru's attempt at casting Shamak and responded.

Lyra: Yeah... it would have been hard to miss that for SURE, huh, Rem?

Giving a small laugh of her own, Rem answered back.

Rem: Yes. Subaru-kun has almost no control over his gate... but Lyra-chan on the other hand...

Rem brought her other hand to the one already holding Lyra's. She cupped Lyra's currently-held hand with both of her own hands.

Rem: Lyra-chan had such good control over her gate. Rem saw your magic and how well you had cast it.

With a slightly bashful tone, Lyra replied.

Lyra: Oh, please...that's just beginner's luck!

Rem: Perhaps so, yet, still...

With her cupped hands squeezing her singular hand a little harder, Rem continued speaking. A smile grew on her face again.

Rem: Rem is very proud of Lyra-chan. Rem is sure that Lyra-chan will use hed new skills to the best of her ability.

With her smile going away, Rem continued in a tone that sounded much more concerned.

Rem: However.. right after all of that was when Rem saw Lyra-chan collapse... so, Rem—

Lyra: So you came running down to make sure I was alright?

Rem's face expression changed into one of embarrassment as she moved one of her hands to her chest. A blush grew on her face.

Rem: R-Rem did not "run" !

Lyra gave Rem a cheerful and slightly-smug response.

Lyra: Yeah-huh... sure, Rem...*giggle*

Rem started to blush even more.

Rem: R-Rem m-m-means it, you kn-know!

Lyra: Whatever you say, Rem-Rem.

Letting Rem's blush calm down and fade away naturally, Lyra went on.

Lyra: Just how exactly DID I end up here , though? Did I get back up and manage to find someone to help me up into bed? I don't exactly remember...

Rem answered, having fully returned to her normal composure.

Rem: By the time Rem had made it down and outside, Subaru-kun was already going to look for Rem so that he could ask for assistance in the matter.

Lyra: So, did you BOTH bring me here?

Rem: Not exactly. Subaru-kun was NOT very helpful in keeping up, so Rem ended up carrying you here by herself.

Somewhat dumbfounded at what she said, Lyra quickly remembered that she DID possess VERY oni-like strength, which WOULD mean she would be PLENTY strong enough to carry Lyra into bed on her own by default.

A small blush appeared on her face as Lyra replied with a question.

Lyra: So, you just put me over your back or—?

Rem closed her eyes, shook her head, and let go of Lyra's hand.

Rem: Like this.

Extending her arms outward, Rem showed how she had carried Lyra. Leaving both arms extended outward, Rem looked down at Lyra in a most-caring way as the blush on her face grew increasingly brighter and redder by the second.

Rem had carried Lyra in a way one might imagine a knight or hero carrying a damsel in distress.

Lyra had a hard time imagining what that would be like, let alone if it were Rem doing it.

Stuttering out a reply, Lyra broke eye contact and instead averted her eyes nervously. She twirled a strand of her long blonde hair and could barely look Rem in the eye due to how shocked and flustered she was. She really didn't dislike Rem making her feel like this, though...

Lyra: H-h-h-HUH?! I-I-I was PRINCESS-CARRIED here?

Lyra started to twiddle her thumbs nervously. She also shyly snuck some repeated eye contact with Rem.

Lyra: I...I-I mean...if it's you who's doing it to me...th-then I guess I don't mind...

Without a verbal reply, Rem simply shut her eyes, smiled, and tilted her head. She giggled cutely as her cheeks turned a slight hue of red.

Laying her arms back down, she held Lyra's hand with her own hand yet again. The warm sensation that Lyra had previously felt had now come back to her.

There was something immensely joyous to Lyra about how casually she re-grasped her hand.

Lyra: I take it that you put me here so that I could get some proper rest in a more comfortable area?How long was I knocked out for?

Putting a finger to her chin, Rem thought for a moment before turning her gaze to the window. The blue sky that Lyra had remembered from earlier was just beginning to turn a slight hue of yellow in preparation for its departure.

Rem: The sun has just begun to set.

Lyra figured that had meant that at least one or two hours had passed, which she had sort of expected in a way. Looking up at the ceiling, she almost had a sense of guilt due to the time that she had rested right on through as if it were nothing.

Lyra: That long, huh? *Sigh* I guess it just CAN'T be helped now, though...

Rem squeezed Lyra's hand just ever-so-slightly and responded.

Rem: It did not seem like that long of a time to Rem...

Lyra was about to ask what Rem had done during the hours that Lyra was unconscious for, however, her LAST sentence had given a VERY large clue as to WHAT her answer might have been would she had asked.

Lyra "Not that long", huh? ' W-wait a minute! Rem? Did you sit here the ENTIRE time that I was passed out?

Rem brought a hand to her chest, blushed once again, and gave a very bashful nod.

Lyra: You...even held my hand the WHOLE time, didn't you?

Rem replied with another bashful nod as her cheeks turned an even-deeper shade of red. Exhaling a breath, Rem loosened her expression and cast her eyes downward to her hand.

Rem: Lyra-chan was out of mana, so Rem gave her some of hers...

Lyra: Rem...

Lyra didn't know what to say. She knew Rem was a kind and caring person, but this specific action of hers just HAD to mean something substantial. Mana is what fueled her power to protect herself, the mansion, and her sister. Rem giving Lyra her mana had thoroughly surprised her.

Rem: Rem could have given it to Lyra-chan all at once, but slowly doing it would mean that Lyra-chan wouldn't have woken up so suddenly from the extra mana.

Not only had Rem carried Lyra to her room and sat by her bed holding her hand the entire time, but she had ALSO been concentrating that entire time, as well. Rem had slowly been dripping her mana into Lyra to help rejuvenate her gate.

Lyra's heart instantly fluttered.

Lyra: Then...that warmth I felt in my arm...this entire time... Rem... I have no way to repay this form of kindness at the moment... But I'll try—!

Rem: Lyra-chan.

Rem spoke Lyra's name, cutting her off.

Rubbing her thumb on the back of Lyra's hand, which she was currently holding. Rem explained herself.

Rem: There is no need for Lyra-chan to be worried about it. Rem knows that you will pay it back one way or another . Rem knows that there will be a day when you will have shown SO MUCH kindness to Rem, that Rem will NEVER be able to pay it back. That is the kind of person Lyra-chan is. That is the kind of person Rem KNOWS Lyra-chan is. So please...

Her voice growing slightly shakier as she spoke, her final words almost sounded like she was holding back tears, her grip growing slightly tighter.

Rem: Please let Rem have this...let Rem be ahead in kindness, now... Rem knows that it will be the only time that she ever will be...it might not even be for that long, either...

The two young women locked eyes.There was a silence only between the two of them due to the fact that BOTH of them were having a storm of emotions inside of themselves.

Lyra nodded energetically and smiled as she responded.

Lyra: Alrighty, then! Got it! Hey, Rem?

Somewhat startled at Lyra's saying of her name, Rem gave Lyra her undivided attention.

Lyra: — — —

Lyra gripped Rem's hand and gained confidence from doing so. She blushed slightly and gave Rem a warm and genuine smile.

Lyra: Thank you...for everything...I really do mean it, Rem...

Rem nodded and replied, also blushing slightly as well.

Rem: Of course. Anything for you, Lyra.

Rem and Lyra gazed fondly into each other's eyes for a few moments before being interrupted by a knock on the bedroom door. Knowing that their moment was drawing to a close, Rem gently let go of Lyra's hand, resting it on her bed as softly as she could.

Rem turned in her chair and faced the door.

Rem: Come in.

The door slowly opened. A black haired boy who was dressed in a butler's uniform stepped in.

Subaru: Uhhh...Rem? Ram asked me to come get you. She's ready to start making supper.

Rem stood up and patted her apron, smoothing it out.

Rem: Yes. It IS about that time, isn't it?

Heading to the door, Rem turned around for a moment to ask Lyra to do her a favor.

Rem: Please rest up and TRY not to overexert yourself. Rem will come find you when dinner is ready.

Lyra nodded and replied.

Lyra: Okay. I will do that. Thanks!

Rem added in another request.

Rem: Also, promise Rem that you won't use ANY more magic for the next few days. Got it?

Lyra replied to Rem's request.

Lyra: Of course, Rem! Got it!

Rem walked past Subaru and gave Lyra a final smile before leaving.

Subaru was now alone with Lyra. He gave a laugh.

Lyra: Hm? What's so funny?

Subaru: You look like a sushi roll with the covers tucked like that. Did Rem do that?

Lyra giggled for a moment at Subaru's "sushi roll" comment before using a moderate amount of effort to untrap herself. Lyra threw the covers off of herself and put her feet on the floor.

Lyra: Yeah. She did. That's not the ONLY thing that she did, either.

Lyra explained things as she looked at the open palm of the hand that Rem was previously holding.

Lyra: She... replenished my mana for me.

Subaru replied with a confused tone in his voice.

Subaru: Huh? You mean you didn't use the Bokko fruit that Emilia gave you?

Lyra felt her pockets and found the fruit that she neglected to eat. She mumbled a "There it is!" to herself and responded to Subaru's question.

Lyra: Eheheh... no...I didn't. I didn't start to feel wiped out till it was too late... sorry...

Lyra continued answering as she stood up and put the fruit into a drawer in her desk.

Lyra: Well...to be completely honest, I saw the effect that it had on you. Because of that, I really wanted to just tough out the fatigue and see if I could just save it for later...

Subaru crossed his arms and responded.

Subaru: I guess that's some pretty forward thinking. Man, why didn't I think of that!?

Lyra: Well, you needed the energy to get through the rest of the day, right?

Subaru: Yeah, you're right.

Lyra stood up and stretched.

Lyra: Well, it seems like we DO have some time to kill before dinner is done.

Subaru: Well, maybe YOU do, sure...but some of us ARE still working...

Lyra piped up at Subaru's response and came up with an idea, seemingly out of the blue.

Lyra: Oh, right! I would be MORE than HAPPY to help you out then, if you need it!

Subaru: I mean...if you really want to...just...please listen to Rem and DON'T overexert yourself, okay?

Lyra smiled and flashed a thumbs-up sign at Subaru.

Lyra: Of course! I'll be extra-extra careful!

Subaru and Lyra set out to do more tasks until Ram informed them that supper was ready.

At the meal hall table, everyone was seated in their usual spots, except Emilia, who had taken a seat next to Lyra once more.

With the day's events of Lyra's magic-casting and subsequent blackout, Emilia's usual questions were much-more upfront and demanding.

Emilia: —and you're sure you haven't noticed ANYTHING odd? Not when you cast your magic? Not afterwards when you passed out? Not when you woke back up—?

Setting her utensils down, Lyra gave the most polite response that she possibly could to the concerned half-elf.

Lyra: No. I can't say I've noticed anything...but I completely mean it when I say that I am completely fine. I have Rem to thank for checking up on me after I had passed out. She took very good care of me, and I'm extremely grateful for that.

Rem's face turned an ever-so-slight tint of red upon hearing her name be mentioned with such praise.

Lyra: Oh! You wanna know who ELSE expelled a lot of mana AND roughed up their gate? I'm sure you could also see how Subaru is doing!

Lyra attempted both to redirect Emilia's attention to deflect the subject off of herself AND act as wingwoman for Subaru.

Having been completely tuned out to the conversation, Subaru looked over upon hearing his name. His cheeks were still stuffed with chewed-up food due to the face that he was still trying to eat during that moment.

Lyra sighed at the display from across the table. Ram had noticed this next and simply snorted. Subaru was working on clearing his mouth to speak, but was beaten by Roswaal, who sat at the end of the table.

Roswaal: Ahhh, yes. I heard there was a good deal of magic use today.

Closing one eye and staring with only his yellow eye at Lyra, Roswaal continued.

Roswaal: Teeeeelllll meeee, just how did it go?

Lyra felt pressure to answer by herself, however, Ram ended up beating her to her own answer instead.

Patting her mouth with a napkin, Ram explained.

Ram: Raly and Barusu BOTH used magic for the first time today. While Raly seemed to be quite adept at controlling her mana, Barusu left much to be desired. Had he tried to use his magic inside, there would SURELY have been a great mess.

Subaru fired back at Ram once he had finally managed to finish getting his food down his throat.

Subaru: Hey! That's not a fair analysis! At least I didn't expel so much mana that I ended up PASSING OUT!

Lyra:Eheheh...

Ram snorted and replied.

Ram: Ha! At least Raly can cast TWO complete Jiwalds before draining ALL of HER mana! You BARELY managed to cast a SINGLE Shamak!

Roswaal: Ahhh, 'Jiwald' and 'Shamak'. Yin aaaaaaand Yang users. Quite rare indeed. We may just have two new magical prodigies in our midst. Do either of you plan to advance your understanding of the arcane arts?

Before either of them could answer, Ram stepped in again.

Ram: Roswaal-sama, I recommend we forbid Barasu from using any more magic, lest he is a threat to himself and other members of the staff.

Roswaal: I will take it under consideration, but as for right now—

Turning to Lyra, Roswaal closed his single eye once more and stared at her with only his yellow eye.

Roswaal: Do you have any aspirations for furthering your magical aptitude? Any goal in mind?

Lyra gulped and answered nervously.

Lyra: I-I hadn't considered it. What do you think I should do?

Opening his other eye back up, Roswaal answered.

Roswaal: Well, considering you picked up Jiwald so eeeeeeeesaily, I might recommend working towards El Jiwald.

Lyra: 'El' Jiwald?

Emilia spoke up, stepping back into the conversation.

Emilia: Most spells have different degrees of power. Itself, 'El', 'Ul', and 'Al'. Each one requires higher levels of aptitude and mana to be able to cast them.

Lyra: I see...So once I'm more used to Jiwald, I might give El Jiwald a go.

Clapping his hands together, Roswaal spoke again.

Roswaal: A spleeeeeendid idea. I look forward to seeing you both develop.

With everyone returning to their meal, Rem leaned forward, giving Lyra a silent look of concern. Noticing Rem's look of concern, Lyra nodded and reassured her that she would keep her promise to not overexert her gate for a while.

Rem smiled at Lyra, knowing that she had acknowledged her promise through the silent exchange that they had both just shared.

Even if it means I can't practice this new skill of mine, at least for a while...just seeing HER smile is worth it!

With the meal adjourning, Rem followed Lyra up to her room for a study session.

Sitting down at her desk, Rem had brought several books, sheets of parchment paper, and an inkwell with quill.

Rem: Lyra-chan had mentioned that she needed some assistance with learning to read and write, correct?

Lyra: Yeah. I'm somewhat familiar with this country's writing, but my skills STILL need to be polished up quite a bit. Haha...

Lyra began to copy a sentence out of a book, reading it aloud as she did.

Looking at her handwork, Rem read it silently and issued her complaints.

Rem: It isn't much, but this is very good for someone who has only been in Lugnica for a few days. Did someone teach Lyra-chan before?

Rem asked her question with no suspicion in her voice. Her head was tilted just like it normally was when she asked a question like this.

Not wishing to lie to her, Lyta simply dodged the question, scratching the back of her head as she did.

Lyra:Yeah! They were a REALLY good teacher, too!

Nodding in acknowledgment, Rem asked another question.

Rem: Lyra-chan said "...this country's writing"... is your home land's writing style different from this in any way?

Realizing that she had made a tiny slip up, she decided to run with it, given how Rem was currently acting with her. Getting a blank piece of parchment out, Lyra dipped her quill into the ink.

Lyra: Here! I'll show you!

Lyra spelled out her name and wrote down Rem's right below it.

Lyra: This is MY name...and that's YOUR name, right there!

Rem picked the paper and carefully examined each name.

Rem: — — — —

Lyra: —? Is something wrong?

Rem shook her head and responded.

Rem: Rem has NEVER seen ANYTHING like it before...

Once Rem handed the paper back to Lyra, she had an idea. She dipped her quill into the ink again and wrote out a familiar sentence.

"Rem is very cute."

Rem looked over Lyra's shoulder and analyzed the lines on the paper. She was clueless as to what most of it meant, as she could only recognize one set of symbols in it.

Rem: Is it something about Rem? It says Rem's name right there, doesn't it?

Rem used her index finger to underline her name in both spots. Lyra smiled at her.

Lyra: Yep! It sure does!

Rem asked what it meant in a slightly-excited tone of voice.

Rem: What does it say?!

Lyra: That's a secret. But—

Rem pouted, puffed up her cheeks and protested. She put her hands on her hips.

Rem: Why is Rem teaching Lyra-chan how to read and write if Lyra-chan is to be so cold-hearted by denying Rem her curiosity of her writing?

Lyra continued where she was previously cut off at.

Lyra: —But...if you can get me to the point where I can read AND write proficiently enough for this job, THEN I'll tell you what it means!

Still wanting to keep the promise that she he made to Rem about what she had written, Lyra posed the same promise to Rem.

Rem lost her pout and nodded in agreement.

Rem: That will only help FURTHER motivate Rem to teach you, so PLEASE be prepared to learn quickly.

Lyra giggled cutely and grinned as she flashed a thumbs-up sign at Rem.

Lyra: I'll try my best for us both, Rem!

Rem smiled and nodded.

Rem: Thank you. Rem appreciates it.

Rem looked up and walked to the window.

It had gotten even darker outside now than it was during dinner. The sun was now set beyond the horizon, but it's remaining light still reached outward and painted the clouds in a glaze of pink.

Parting the curtains and opening the windows to get a better look, Rem commented on the hue of colors outstretched across the sky.

Rem: What you said this morning...

Lyra iterated the first half as she got up and stood next to her close to the window.

Lyra: "Pink in the morning, sailor's warning."

Putting a hand to her chest as a calm, cool, evening wind blew in though the open window and gently swayed her hair, Rem spoke the second half.

Rem: "Pink at night, sailor's delight."

Rem and Lyra both watched as the leaves on the trees swayed in the breeze under the quickly turning twilight sky. Then, they saw the first star of the night.

It's own light struggled against the lingering light left by the sun, but it was dark enough at this point in the evening to where other stars would also begin to appear. Rem and Lyra were almost mesmerized by it.

Knowing that Lyra was standing right next to her, Rem embodied the moment, cherishing everything she felt; the sight of the sky, the feeling of the cool breeze, and Lyra's presence.

Slowly, Rem and Lyra's hands both moved from their sides and upwards.. Their hands both yearned for a companion. Another to grasp and share this moment with as one.

Lyra and Rem's eyes were still on the star. The star gave out a single twinkle.

A twinkle of acknowledgment. A twinkle of favor.

Their hands had each found a companion underneath the star's watchful gaze.

?: Teeeeeeeell me, how have our two new staff members been? Anything suspicious?

?: Nothing... yet. But rest assured, we ARE watching them closely.

?: I see. Is there anything new you can share about either of them?

?: Barusu is almost TOO eager to please in his duties. He gets SO involved, that it ends up causing even MORE work than what he sometimes gets done with.

?: Hmmm, is it genuine effort, or do you believe it is an act?

?: I cannot say, either way.

?: Fair enough. And what of Lyra? Our resident anomaly?

?: Only that she seems to be proficient in mana control, but that was discussed in length at the dining table.

?: Very well. Has your sister given any thought towards our new staff members?

?: She is highly suspicious of Barusu. She does not believe his actions are ones without outside motivation, but whether they are hostile or not is yet to be determined. But with Lyra—

?: Please make sure to remind your dear sister not to jump to any concluuuuuusions. We do not need any... unfortunate accidents in the mansion without due cause.

?: With Lyra though, she is not suspicious at all.

?: — — —

?: In fact, she has only given her words of praise during her conversations with me.

?: — — — —

?: Sometimes...almost bordering on... infatuation.. with her...

?: — — — — —

?: — ?

?: Do you suspect your sister is under the influence of any magic?

?: No. She would not fall for ANY such a trick. Her feelings are... completely her own...

?: 'Tis a rather... unforseeeeeen change of events. If anything new develops, please inform me right away.

?: Yes, Roswaal-sama.